Just a little reminder that when you focus on your health holistically (mind, body, spirit) your weight will take care of itself.
When I began my journey to heal my eczema from the inside out, it was never about losing weight.
But as a result of the new lifestyle I led, I weighed less in my late twenties than I did as a teenager.
Focusing on a number on the scale is a skewed idea of health.
Use the looking glass of how you feel. Clearing your skin. Reducing inflammation. Having more energy. Being in a better mood. NOT having an upset stomach all the time. Giving your body the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
It’s about being the healthiest version of you within every cell of your body.
Food carries information. It tells your body how to feel. Food either fights dis-ease in the body or fuels it - there is no in between.
Eating closest to the source is the easiest way to know you’re eating a healthy diet. You want your food to come from a plant rather than be made in a plant.
It’s not about the low-fat, sugar free or calorie counting.
These are toxic and outdated ways of thinking. Fat doesn’t have to be bad. Sure, an avocado is full of (GOOD) fat, but do you really think fat free, sugar free pudding is a healthier choice?
What about diet soda? “Sugar free” and “no calories,” but is that really the better choice for your body than a nice, big Cobb salad? Or even roasted chicken with quinoa and veggies!
There is no one size fits all diet, but eating plenty of veggies, clean proteins & whole grains will make your body much happier and much less confused than the chemical filled processed foods. That's what keeps it working at its finest and you feeling your best.
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You’ve heard the cliche before. Becoming a mother changes you. It’s a cliche for a reason — there’s truth to it.
Having had my son, I know a love I’ve never known before. A love no one can know until they experience it for themselves. I have a responsibility I never had before. A purpose I never felt before.
Despite so much that’s changed, I still love being a health coach — talking about simple changes anyone can make to create real benefit in their life and therefore living a healthier, happier & longer life. Especially talking about naturally and holistically kicking eczema to the curb, since that’s what I struggled with for years.
But it got me thinking about my brand. And it all really started with a blanket I bought for my baby.
When you see the image of sun rays like the one above, what do you think of - a sunrise or a sunset?
When I first bought this blanket for my son, there was never a doubt in my mind it was a sunrise. But then I got thinking it could just as easily be a sunset.
Why did my mind automatically think sunrise when it could just as easily be a sunset? Because of what a sunrise means to me. A sunrise represents a new day, new opportunities, light after dark, fresh starts, endless possibilities, clean slates..
Every day is a new opportunity to make a healthier choice. Just because you fell out of your exercise routine, eating habits, meditation practice, etc. does not mean you can’t jump back in whenever suits you and your season of life. Give yourself grace and be constantly striving for your own personal best.
All that to say: my logo now sports a sunrise. The more I thought about what a sunrise represents, the more I loved it. Waking with the sun, living by the elements, represents a balanced life to me.
I want my clients, followers, friends to feel like optimal health is attainable for them no matter where they are in their journey. If you’re at the beginning or somewhere in the middle, there’s always a new chance for a new goal to be set, but you must also give yourself grace. Be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself like you would your best friend.
If you loved this blog post, there's more where that came from in my free Facebook group here where you'll find a 5 Day Eczema Relief Training and more!
First, let me say I’m not an expert in this. We all have room for improvement, and yes — I still use some single use items, and I’m sure you will too. The idea isn’t perfection. The goal is just improvement. Any eco friendly swap here and there makes a difference.
3 of the easiest things I do to minimize how much waste my family and I produce are:
1. Use reusable water bottles (glass & stainless steel are my preferences) that you refill at home instead of using plastic bottled water from the store
- Not only is drinking out of glass or stainless steel much better for your health than the plastic bottles, but this produces much less waste!
- If for some reason you need to use plastic bottled water, at least do your very best to recycle the bottle when you’re done!
2. Store food in glass containers (mason jars, pyrex dishes) rather than ziploc bags
- Food tastes better being stored in glass anyway!
- I’ll admit I still use ziploc bags for certain things. I definitely prefer to store food in glass, but sometimes I run out of containers or what I’m trying to store is just too big for the container I have available, etc. Also when packing a lunch, weight is taken into account.
- Using glass containers where you can is better than using plastic bags all the time! Remember, any reduction of waste is worth it!
3. Bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store
- We all have the infamous plastic grocery bag of plastic grocery bags - am I right?? Do we really need more? Bringing your own grocery bags into the store with you eliminates the accumulation of extra plastic bags that we don’t need.
- I do like to keep some plastic grocery bags on hand for household use! I line the bathroom trash cans with them and use them for other “waste” type purposes - without getting graphic :)
- When I don’t have my reusable bags with me, I choose paper over plastic when I have the choice. I’ll reuse paper grocery bags too, and I actually prefer them over plastic most of the time. Not to mention the paper bags are biodegradable where the plastic bags are not.
Remember, this isn’t an all or nothing kind of thing, and there are so many other things you can do to love the earth! What are some things you do to reduce the amount of waste you and your family produce? Tell me in the comments below!
If you loved this blog post, there's more where that came from in my free Facebook group here. You'll want to get in there now because that's where I'll be launching a 5 Day Eczema Relief Training very soon!
Want to get a head start? You can also grab my new guide on 5 Steps to Taming an Eczema Flare Up here!
Nature, Earth, the Universe, God's creation -- whatever you call it, it is so amazing.
Honestly, I really couldn't say I appreciated it until I got into the world of essential oils. That's what made me realize Mother Nature really knows what she’s doing.
Fresh air is like medicine. Not only can you feel a difference in your lungs - and really, your entire body - versus being cooped up inside all day, but have you ever let something “air out” outside?
Nature is like a natural deodorizer.
This is my latest “Nature is Amazing” encounter:
For probably a year (maybe more) I had clothes that smelled like fabric softener sitting in my laundry room in a designated basket. (Yes, a designated “I cannot get the smell out of these clothes” basket.) If you know me you know I cannot stand when clothes smell like fabric softener (P.S. did you know that dryer sheets are considered toxic waste?).
I tried washing the smell out several times but it must have been so engrained in the fabric that that just wasn’t going to do it. (I guess that’s what happens when you wash clothes in synthetic fragrance for years and years. They just cling onto that smell. I’m so grateful I know better now - know better, do better! No fabric softener or dryer sheets in this house!)
I definitely wasn’t going to wear them while they smelled like that. So in the basket in the laundry room they sat, until I could figure out how to get the smell out.
It finally occurred to me - “what if I let them air out outside?”
I could not believe it. After a few days of airing out in the backyard, the smell was gone. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?!? I then put in a formal request that my husband install a clothes line in our backyard.
Is it just me, or is this a testimony to how powerful nature really is?
Nature provides for us in so many ways, the least we can do is love the earth like every day is Earth Day. Next week we’ll talk about some really easy ways to do that!
If you loved this blog post, there's more where that came from in my free Facebook group here. You'll want to get in there now because that's where I'll be launching a 5 Day Eczema Relief Training very soon!
Want to get a head start? You can also grab my new guide on 5 Steps to Taming an Eczema Flare Up here!
My favorite way to store fruits and veggies is in large glass mason jars. They are space-efficient, sustainable, chemical-free & aesthetically pleasing. You really can’t go wrong!
It also reminds you that you have fruits and veggies in the fridge to eat because they’re staring at you right in the face!
When it comes to things that take up more space like lettuce, you could still stick with the mason jar method (chop it up and toss it in there), but you’ll end up using several mason jars.
This might be a good thing for you because you already have pre-portioned salads at your fingertips! You could also just use a big glass bowl and store it all in one container.
If I’m crunched for time, I’ll admit I will just wash the lettuce leaves and throw them whole in a plastic storage bag with a paper towel (if it’s too wet in there, it will go bad more easily). I’ve tried the reusable storage bags, but they just didn’t work for me.
While it’s best to buy produce that is in season, I do have my favorites that I like to keep in the house.
- Lemon slices for my morning water (or fish dishes - yum!)
- Pineapple chunks for my morning smoothie and to put in my yogurt for a yummy snack!
- Celery to eat plain, dip into nut butter or veggie dip
- Carrots to eat plain, dip into veggie dip (or hummus, if you’re into that)
- Slices of cucumber I’ll sometimes eat like a cracker with cheese! (But also, sliced cucumber is a really easy veggie to add into a meal)
- Raw green beans that I always eat plain because they’re so yummy on their own!
- Honeydew melon or cantaloupe when I crave a sweet treat!
Unfortunately, sometimes these fruits/veggies just look plain sad (because they’re not in season) BUT the good thing about this is that variety is the spice of life (and a variety in diet makes for a healthier gut) so this forces me to find something else to hold me over for the week (or sometimes the season).
I am so glad farmers market season is coming up soon because that’s always where you’ll find the yummiest IN-SEASON fruits and veggies. If you can find an organic stand, that a double win.
Also, if you’re like me and get a little overzealous at the farmers market sometimes by overestimating how much you’ll actually eat during the week - throw your produce in the freezer instead of watching it go bad. That way you can either toss it in your smoothie, or throw it in the skillet while you cook dinner!
If you loved this blog post, there's more where that came from in my free Facebook group here. You'll want to get in there now because that's where I'll be launching a 5 Day Eczema Relief Training very soon!
Want to get a head start? You can also grab my new guide on 5 Steps to Taming an Eczema Flare Up here!
