Every Friday I am going to feature a woman that I adore. They exude all the qualities of an Alpha Female and I want to dig into their lives to get some nuggets of knowledge to help us all live happier, healthier lives balancing life & work.
Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
Type A Alpha Females often come across as strong willed and selfish. When we stay true to our authentic selves and stay true to our mission we shine. A true Alpha Female puts the needs of herself first without sacrificing her principles or dignity. She fills up her cup or gas tank first so that she has enough energy for her friends, family, and coworkers. She strives for synergy with the world around her. She wants a perfect work/life balance but knows that it requires being true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with the people in her life.
Meet Sherry Strong!
Sherry Strong is a food philosopher, author & illustrator of Return to Food. In a previous life in the ‘land of Oz’ Sherry was a Chef, Nutritionist, the Victorian Chair of Nutrition Australia, Melbourne President of Slow Food, Co-Founder of the World Wellness Project, and a TEDx Tokyo presenter. As the founder of the Return to Food Academy, she now trains people to become Food Coaches. For her full story you can check out her Website, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
How are you an Alpha Female?
To be quite honest, I’ve never really thought of myself as an Alpha female, though most of how you define it, would describe me. Perhaps I’m a serotonin seeking Alpha female? There, I’ve created a new category 😉
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
Working for myself, from home and filling up my schedule with a mix of work with as little crazy time as possible and when there is that full on time that seems to happen, I allow for R&R time to make sure the tank is fuelled and refuelled before and after.
What are you most passionate about?
Helping food coaches develop a righteous income helping people develop a healthier relationship with food, their body and the planet.
What are your daily health habits that keep your immune system boosted?
Prayer/mediation 20 minutes 2 times a day, first thing when I wake and before I go to sleep. Lemon water in the morning 3-4 litres of spring water a day Eating high up on the steps of nature Limiting the Lethal Recipe Working standing up.
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
Ideally, 3-4 times a week serotonin seeking movement, hiking, walking, yoga and something fun, just now I went to gather my own spring water which means hauling 5 gallon bottles full of water from the spring to my car and up a fight of stairs. I get a lot more from movement when it serves a dual purpose.
How do you challenge yourself fitness wise?
Being a serotonin seeker, I’m anti challenge motivated so part of my self love and physical harmony is to be consistent and the forms of movement that inspire me, that is my biggest challenge.
What are your daily/weekly nutrition habits that keep you well nourished?
Shopping at the farmers market, Buying organic I usually prepare and eat most meals at home and many of them to order as I’m a chef and it is part of my art of how I do life, so I say this mindful that most people will not live by my example. I’m an plant centric omnivore, passionate about eating SLOW, seasonally, locally, organic and whole.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
I live alone, don’t have T.V, drink 3 cups of coffee a week and very few stimulating foods so I’m pretty wound down by shear tiredness at night, sleeping is one of my super powers and I’ve curated my life so stress comes from sources I can’t control and in those cases, extra doses of meditation and prayer help me.
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for?
I have a lot to do but I don’t have a husband or children or tv, so I have more time than many. I have a long to do list and know it will all get done. Problem solving for me is mostly done with finding ways to serve my tribe and help them with their challenges. My biggest challenge is solving problems around tech platforms and finding the most elegant combination to integrate. I’m still on that search. Deeper than that, I find the INGE’s always creep up in one form or another no matter how much you grow as it is, I believe an evolutionary tool for us to strive and not accept the status quo.
What is your definition of happiness?
Being able to do the work I love that brings me meaning and fulfillment. To have peace in my life, good people to love and who love me. Taking care of my health, which means movement, good food, spring water and great nights of sleep.