Ladies, we know that you’re probably thinking about how little time you have in your busy schedules, but not having the time is never an excuse. Take blogger Chrissa Benson, for example. In addition to running her successful blog Physical Kitchness, Chrissa is the mother of two toddlers and the wife of a Marine currently deployed overseas.
“There’s way too much to do for the hours in the day that I have,” Chrissa told NYMM. “But even with all of the craziness that goes on in life, it’s still possible to treat yourself well.”
Physical Kitchness chronicles Chrissa’s journey toward a healthier and happier life. In addition to posting original recipes and workout routines, Chrissa also shares stories from her personal life and the struggles she’s encountered along the way.
“About two years prior to starting my blog, I developed psoriasis on my scalp and my skin conditions were really bad so I cut out gluten, which seemed to help. After the birth of my first, I also decided to cut out dairy. I noticed such a difference in my energy levels and in my skin and how I felt overall.”
When asked if it’s ever difficult to open up about some of the personal details of her life, she replied that it wasn’t at all.
“I’m an open book by nature,” Chrissa explained. “The main thing that helped was when I became a mom I got a true sense of who I am and my self-identity and a lot of it lies within my faith in Christ. I feel like if you have a strong sense of who you are and a strong support system it makes it easier.”
Chrissa has devoted an entire section of Physical Kitchness to “Toddler Approved Meals,” which she jokes are also “husband approved.” As all parents know, feeding toddlers can be a grueling task but it is one that Chrissa seems to have perfected.
“In comparison to other kids mine are not picky. I really think it’s because I worked hard when they were babies and first started solids to only give them healthy, real food,” Chrissa said. “I think it’s so important for moms to give their kids variety and to be mindful of what you’re putting in their mouths.”
As part of the interview, NYMM reached out to its followers to gather questions for Chrissa about Physical Kitchness.
Instagram user hanneymccormick asked: “[H]ow do you handle cooking for [your husband] as a military athlete when he is home. As a fellow military spouse, sometimes I find it challenging to make meals [that are] filling enough.”
Chrissa replied, “When he’s home, I really focus on protein and healthy fat because it keeps him sustained. I mean, every time I cook, even though I try to do mostly Whole30 or Paleo, I’ll still make rice or quinoa or potatoes or something as a side that is more of a carb. But it’s really all about the protein and healthy fats. Sometimes I eat more than he does, honestly.”
Kortjam27 said: “I read your blog post about postpartum hair loss and have started to add collagen and maca to my morning coffee. I was wondering how long it took for you to notice improvements?”
Chrissa answered, “My littlest is 20-months-old and I feel like it’s finally back to normal. Women who are dealing with this, give yourself some grace it’s going to take [time]. When I started taking collagen supplements and using maca it felt like it helped the postpartum stuff but it’s still something that takes time.”
Lastly, believeas8 asked: “What are your go-to energy sources? With how busy your life is it must be difficult to find the energy to get stuff done. What’s your secret?”
Chrissa said, “For me, my go-to energy sources are protein and healthy fats. I eat a lot of fat. I don’t eat a lot of grains. I eat stuff that will keep me full and energized. As for managing my busy life, that is the biggest loaded question I could ever get. As of right now, I am self-admittedly completely overwhelmed. I wake up at about 5:15 every morning and my kids are up by 5:45 and within that half hour I work, when they’re eating breakfast I work. I work until midnight most days. But I’m doing it for me. I’m determined to take Physical Kitchness to the next level. I have a vision. I know that all of this work and hustle will pay off.”
Be sure to keep up to date with Chrissa by following her blog, Physical Kitchness, and her Instagram @physicalkitchness!
Featured Image Provided by Chrissa Benson on Instagram
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