t . g . i . f . (and wanting to run away)

A reminder to myself to look at this picture when I feel overwhelmed.

TGIF!

Weekends are typically downtime, or party time, or quiet time … right? This can also be a good time to look at your 'normal' weekend habits and notice how they may or not be supporting the healthy lifestyle that you are working to cultivate. 

Connected. 
Rested. 
Well nourished.

Weekends tend to be maybe too much sugar, rich food, or wine? Too little sleep? Not enough ritual? And let me say, I SO GET IT. Maybe you are trying to de-stress. Maybe weekends are boring for you. Maybe you forget to eat until 9pm because you are so busy running around town having fun.

This is a gentle reminder to listen to your body and what she needs. Stay with your morning routine. Connect back with your self-care rituals. Nourish yourself well. 

Got Stress?
Mis-managed stress is a toxin you can actively work to release from your body and life. Mis-managed stress raises our cortisol levels, which can lead to:

• adrenal fatigue
• blood sugar imbalances
• high cholesterol
• hormonal imbalances
• poor skin health
• poor sleep
• low sex drive
• sluggish metabolism
• poor digestion
• unhealthy bowel movements

At the start of this year, I was struggling with about 8 out of 10 of the items on this list. My body started to let me know that something was seriously off in the late fall, then by November I was in tears in my holistic chiropractor's office. Total adrenal fatigue and my system was completely inflamed.

The source of it all?

STRESS.

I also had some gut/yeast issues that needed to be remedied with supplements and strict avoidance of all grains and all sugar -- from the foods I was eating and drinks I was drinking because of the STRESS. 


I am TELLING you. I get how hard this can be to come home to your body.

To find gratitude and faith for the life that you're living - right now.

I spent the better part of the past year wanting to run away. So here's what I did instead. 

• FOUND SUPPORT: My chiropractor has become my primary health provider and we've been doing Nutritional Response Testing to drill down into the core issues and weaknesses in my body (amazing! ask me more about it!) and every time I see him I say: but I'm the health coach! I know all this! And he laughs and gives me a hug as I leave. Love that guy.

• WALKED MY TALK: Yes, there is still stress in my life ... some very real. Some imagined. But I am back to eating clean, moving my body daily, and being gentle with myself as I heal. Up until recently that meant hearing my intuition say - "no exercise". All my energy was needed to cleanse and heal my burned out adrenals and yeast overgrowth in my gut.

•  CHANGED MY RESPONSE TO STRESS (again with support!): Creating a daily protocol of essential oils to support my well-being in body, mind, and spirit goes a LONG way in how I react to stress. I have about six specific essential oils and essential oil blends that are part of the many oils I use daily to feel amazing. I use the best oils that are out on the market today from a company that I am aligned with in terms of how they treat their farmers (fair wage), how they treat the earth (sustainability is key), and how they treat me. Love them! Let me know if you are interested in learning more about the essential oils I use and recommend to friends, family, and clients.

Remember that you're not alone in your journey to loving your food, your body, and your life. I'm right here with you, every step of the way. I had a teacher once who used to always say to us - we're all just walking each other home.

Wishing you an amazing, fun, and joyful weekend!

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