Avoiding Binge or Bust: How to Balance Our Health in Social and Work Situations

Author: Dr. Laura
Published: Tue 12 Aug 2025
Episode Link: https://drlaura.live

Dr. Laura welcomes Kirkland Shave, co-founder of the Mountain Trek health reset retreat, back to Where Work Meets Life™ for an honest and open conversation about mindful health and steering clear of binge or bust thinking in our eating and social situations. Dr. Laura uses her own life after her experience at Mountain Trek to illustrate the kind of “falling off the wagon” thinking that we tend to catastrophize. Kirk showcases how Laura, and by extension, each one of us, can shift our thinking to offer ourselves more grace.

Dr. Laura openly shares some of the nutritional and social choices she made that she views as falling off the health wagon and discusses with Kirk why one-off situations should not redirect our entire health focus into one of negativity. Kirk emphasizes self-compassion, a way of accepting the days when we can’t make the health choices we want to and simply allowing them to happen before getting back into our routine. Their conversation includes a vulnerable talk about alcohol and social drinking, the variety of non-alcoholic craft beer/cocktail options available, how to avoid instinctive self-judgment when we make an unhealthy choice, and ways to incorporate mindful health into events and travel. This episode offers a way forward after we’ve made a less-than-nutritious choice without the guilt that society demands we bear.

“I think contextualizing our life in what we do the most matters the most, rather than the one-offs that we should be hard on ourselves about. Okay, so, in that week, that one meal and maybe there's another one at the conference that you didn't have much control over. Those two meals are not going to be a deal breaker or a derailment for your whole life, or make you give up [your] conscious focus on eating well. So I think it's really about us having a bit of grace for what comes up day to day in our lives that is unexpected. That was an unexpected occurrence that you didn't really have control over.” - Kirkland Shave

About Kirkland Shave:

Kirkland Shave, founder and president of the world-renowned Mountain Trek program, now offers off-site interactive and eye-opening workshops — grounded in anthropological health science — to help professionals integrate lasting steps in reaching optimal wellness. With an inspiring, practical, and actionable message, Kirkland helps people see their own health through a fresh and practical lens.

With half- and full-day interactive health workshops and keynote presentations — designed specifically for a corporate audience — held at your company’s headquarters, Kirkland’s life-changing interactive presentation can be tailored to meet a number of health issues: Fitness, Nutrition, De-Stressing, Sleep Hygiene, Physical and Digital Detoxification, Habit Formation, Mindfulness.

His proven approach increases energy, productivity, and establishes long-lasting health habits. The program incorporates scientific anthropology blended with a distinctly mountain-centric approach to health. With 18 years’ experience as president and founder of Mountain Trek’s holistic health and vitality program, Kirkland brings more than 40 years of health-focused lifestyle expertise, with experience as a fitness instructor, lead hiking guide, wellness coach, Wilderness Park Manager, yoga instructor and meditation practitioner.

Kirkland’s off-site workshops for executives and employees have been hosted by leading organizations, such as Google, Young Presidents Organization of Western Canada, Fortis Gas, the CEO Network, European Entrepreneurs Organization, and more.

Contact Kirkland Shave and Mountain Trek:

Website: MountainTrek.com

Instagram: @mountaintrek

Facebook: @mountaintrek

Instagram: @mountaintrek

LinkedIn: Mountain-Trek

YouTube: YouTube.com/MountainTrek

Kirkland Shave on LinkedIn

Resources:

Website: MountainTrek.com

Guinness 0 non-alcoholic draught

Partake Brewing non–alcoholic beer