After I first began Wellness Mama I couldn’t have imagined the place this journey would take me. The entire analysis, connecting with you, and interviewing dozens of well being consultants. I nonetheless pinch myself that this has grow to be such a shared journey. It’s humbling, slightly surreal, and deeply significant to mirror on every thing I’ve realized, modified, and nonetheless imagine in spite of everything these years.
The Begin of Wellness Mama
At its coronary heart, Wellness Mama was born from a single second. I used to be holding my very first new child on the physician’s workplace after I learn a line in {a magazine} that modified the course of my life. It stated that for the primary time in two centuries, our kids’s technology would have a shorter life expectancy than their dad and mom.
That one sentence hit me like a tidal wave. I didn’t understand how, however I knew I wished to assist change that quantity. What began as a mom’s analysis challenge grew right into a mission, and finally a podcast, a enterprise, and a group I’m endlessly grateful for.
Over time, I’ve advanced proper alongside Wellness Mama. My infants aren’t so little anymore and my oldest, the one who impressed me to start out Wellness Mama, is already an grownup. I’ve healed from Hashimoto’s, realized extra about how the physique truly works, and found that the extra I be taught, the extra I notice how a lot I don’t know.
Over all of the years of interviews, analysis, and first hand classes, a couple of truths have emerged.
The Most Widespread Professional Recommendation (and Why It Nonetheless Issues)
Throughout a thousand interviews, one of many largest takeaways is that the easy issues matter most. Sure, biohacks may be enjoyable and dietary supplements are useful. Nevertheless, the recommendation that comes up many times from the brightest minds in well being may be summed up in a couple of fantastically easy concepts.
Prioritize Sleep
Not a single skilled has ever stated that sleep doesn’t matter. High quality sleep is foundational to every thing else. It impacts our hormones, blood sugar, temper, and even how effectively we detox. Only one or two nights of disrupted sleep can throw off hormones like cortisol and insulin.
As a mother of 6 I’m no stranger to sleepless nights and disrupted sleep. The excellent news although is that our our bodies are smart and forgiving relating to us dad and mom in sure seasons. We had been designed for resilience, and the physique appears to have protecting mechanisms throughout instances like these. I’ve written loads about sleep and learn how to have higher sleep through the years, and you may discover all of that right here.
Mild is Drugs
This is likely one of the most underrated items of wellness knowledge I’ve realized. Mild publicity impacts each system within the physique, from our circadian rhythm to our hormones and psychological well being. Getting daylight all through the day, avoiding blue mild at evening, and watching the dawn are easy shifts that may profoundly change sleep, vitality, and even temper. Mild, like sleep, is free, highly effective, and not possible to promote, which may be why it’s usually missed.
Minerals Matter
Over time, I’ve come to see minerals because the unsung heroes of wellness. They’re the “spark plugs” that hold our cells speaking and our our bodies conducting vitality effectively. We discuss rather a lot about electrolytes and hydration. Nevertheless, understanding the physique’s electrical nature has given me a complete new appreciation for a way minerals help every thing from nervous system stability to vitality manufacturing.
Small Constant Steps
Early in my wellness journey, I chased perfection. From strict diets and elaborate complement protocols to inflexible routines. What I’ve realized by way of each private expertise and skilled knowledge is that child steps win each time. Consistency builds momentum.
Tiny, sustainable modifications are way more highly effective (and peaceable) than all-or-nothing overhauls. And the factor about all-or-nothing is that it could possibly shortly grow to be overwhelming. So we find yourself doing nothing or getting burnt out!
Motion is Extra Than Train
Train is a necessity, however I’ve realized to think about motion as one thing a lot larger. Strolling barefoot exterior, dancing with my children, or enjoying frisbee within the yard all depend. Motion nourishes the physique in refined methods. It helps fascia, lymph circulate, and even our mobile battery cost. As one visitor fantastically stated, “Movement is lotion.” It’s not about punishing exercises however joyful motion that retains us fluid, robust, and related.
The Blue Zones around the globe are well-known for having the longest dwelling, healthiest individuals. So what’s their widespread denominator? It’s not simply what they eat, their location, or what number of dietary supplements they take. Longevity isn’t nearly weight loss plan or health, it’s deeply tied to belonging and connection.
Individuals in Blue Zones have robust communities and connections with others. We thrive once we really feel seen, supported, and beloved. This reality has formed my priorities a lot that I even opened an area wellness middle. Not only for the saunas and chilly plunges, however for the group these instruments create.
The Therapeutic Energy of Nature
The time period “nature deficit dysfunction” refers back to the silent epidemic of contemporary life. We had been meant to reside near the earth, barefoot on the bottom, and within the sunshine. Pure mild, recent air, and time exterior regulate our hormones, soothe our nervous system, and actually recharge us at {an electrical} degree. Even a couple of minutes of daylight or grounding every day makes a distinction.
The extra disconnected we grow to be from nature, the extra disconnected we’re from our personal our bodies. And the excellent news is that the treatment is as straightforward as stepping exterior!
Your Main Healthcare Supplier
In any case these years, I’ve grow to be extra satisfied than ever that nobody is aware of your physique higher than you. Professional steerage is invaluable, however essentially the most highly effective information comes from your personal physique’s suggestions. Your vitality, temper, sleep, and instinct. Each skilled I’ve spoken with, in their very own manner, factors again to that reality. I say it so many instances, however we’re every our personal main healthcare supplier.
What I’ve Modified My Thoughts About
Issues have actually modified rather a lot since I began Wellness Mama again in 2006! And I’ve modified rather a lot too. You’ll have observed this if you happen to’ve learn the weblog for any period of time. Listed below are a number of the largest methods I’ve realized and grown through the years.
Meals Dogmas
Within the early years of my therapeutic journey, I approached meals with the mindset that there was one proper approach to eat. After I was deep within the strategy of reversing Hashimoto’s, I relied closely on strict elimination diets. Every one served its objective for a season and taught me rather a lot about how meals impacts issues like irritation and vitality.
However I additionally observed that the extra I restricted, the extra disconnected I felt from my physique’s pure cues. These diets helped me heal bodily at first, but it surely additionally created a refined worry round meals. Now, I see nourishment by way of a a lot softer and extra intuitive lens.
I nonetheless imagine in actual, complete meals, however I additionally imagine in flexibility. I eat seasonally, select meals grown near residence when attainable, and take note of how I really feel after meals as an alternative of following strict guidelines. I’ve realized that true wellness isn’t about perfection or restriction, it’s about resilience. The healthiest individuals I do know are those who can journey, share a meal with associates, and revel in meals with gratitude as an alternative of guilt. My present philosophy: meals ought to gas, heal, and produce pleasure, not worry.
Dietary supplements
At one level, I had a complete cupboard (and spreadsheet!) stuffed with dietary supplements. I believed I might optimize my well being by filling each attainable dietary hole. Whereas a few of these instruments had been extremely useful at instances, I finally realized I used to be leaning too closely on exterior inputs and lacking the larger image. I used to be attempting to out-supplement way of life habits that couldn’t get replaced, like deep relaxation, mineral stability, and nervous system regulation.
At present, I take a way more minimalist and intentional strategy. My focus has shifted to supporting my physique’s innate intelligence quite than attempting to micromanage it. As a substitute of dozens of tablets, I depend on high-quality minerals, magnesium, and occasional focused dietary supplements primarily based on lab work or life stage.
I exploit natural cures and tinctures when wanted and prioritize meals first. I’ve discovered that dietary supplements ought to help, not attempt to compensate for being undernourished or overstressed.
Train as Punishment
In my twenties, train was one thing I did to “earn” meals or to vary my physique. I pushed arduous with lengthy runs, intense HIIT exercises, and heavy coaching. It was about chasing a sure aesthetic (that by no means got here) quite than listening to how my physique felt. Ultimately, that strategy led to burnout and hormonal imbalances. I spotted I used to be lacking the true objective of motion which is to construct capability, power, and pleasure.
Now, I transfer to really feel alive, to not punish myself. I nonetheless power prepare a number of instances per week as a result of muscle actually is the “organ of longevity.” Nevertheless, I’ve additionally added issues that nourish my nervous system, like each day walks, dancing with my children, fascia launch, sauna periods, and time barefoot exterior.
Motion needs to be various and intuitive, a mixture of power, mobility, play, and relaxation. I consider it now as motion diet. Quite a lot of inputs that hold the physique versatile, robust, and balanced for a concentrate on connection.
Parenting and Presence
When my children had been little I had a really completely different strategy. I believed good parenting meant doing every thing “proper” from wholesome meals to completely managed feelings. However actual life shortly confirmed me that youngsters don’t thrive on perfection, they thrive on presence. Attempting to manage every thing created pointless stress for each them and me.
Over time, I’ve realized to let go of the concept I can (or ought to) shield my children from each battle. As a substitute, I concentrate on connection and modeling emotional regulation. My objective now is to boost kids who belief themselves, perceive their feelings, and know they’re beloved unconditionally.
Meaning fewer lectures and extra listening, fewer guidelines and extra rhythm. I nonetheless set boundaries, however I attempt to do it with empathy and curiosity. This strategy has introduced a lot extra peace into our residence, and actually, extra pleasure into motherhood.
Worry vs. Belief
For a very long time, I noticed my physique as one thing fragile and even damaged, particularly after my Hashimoto’s analysis. I seen signs as issues to repair and spent years attempting to manage each attainable variable. Trying again, I notice I used to be working from worry. Worry of sickness, worry of getting old, worry of doing it incorrect.
However the extra I realized the extra I noticed how deeply our methods are designed for stability and therapeutic. My physique wasn’t betraying me, it was speaking with me. Now I see my physique as attempting to work for my profit and signs are lovely messages. As a substitute of attempting to micromanage my well being when one thing feels off, I get curious and attempt to pay attention. Calm and confidence are a number of the finest therapeutic instruments at our physique’s disposal.
What I Nonetheless Consider (Now Extra Than Ever)
Some beliefs have solely deepened with time:
- The physique is smart. It’s not your enemy; it’s your ally. Each symptom is communication, not betrayal.
- The fundamentals matter most. Sleep, mild, actual meals, motion, minerals, and connection are the true “biohacks.”
- Curiosity heals. Approaching well being with marvel as an alternative of worry modifications every thing.
- Nature is medication. The solar, the soil, the ocean…they provide what no tablet can replicate.
- Group modifications lives. The truest therapeutic doesn’t occur in isolation. We’d like one another.
- Progress beats perfection. All the time.
Life Classes and Understanding
At first, I chased wellness like a puzzle to unravel. One lab outcome, one complement, one new protocol at a time. However after years of analysis, experimentation, and hundreds of conversations, I’ve realized that wellness isn’t one thing we obtain. As a substitute, it’s one thing we align with.
Our our bodies are consistently transferring towards stability. The most effective factor we will do is to assist create the situations the place it could possibly naturally unfold. Meaning much less doing and extra listening. Much less worry, extra belief. Much less rigidity, extra rhythm.
Lately, my wellness routines are a complete lot extra intuitive than they as soon as had been. My each day non-negotiables embrace issues like ingesting mineral-rich water, getting morning daylight, and pursuing peace. I’m aiming for connection, with myself and with others, and dealing with my physique as an alternative of attempting so arduous to manage it.
The Journey Forward
For those who’ve been on this journey with me from the beginning, thanks. You’ve watched Wellness Mama develop from a mother’s late-night analysis challenge right into a shared exploration of what it means to reside effectively. For those who’re new right here, welcome to this kitchen desk of curiosity. We’re all studying collectively.
I nonetheless imagine, as I did holding that tiny child all these years in the past, that we will change the story for the following technology. We will increase kids who belief their our bodies, perceive nature, and know that actual well being is woven by way of connection, pleasure, and objective. Well being doesn’t must be difficult and it’s usually the best issues in life which can be essentially the most impactful.
What are some methods you’ve modified and grown in your well being journey? I’d love to listen to about it within the feedback beneath!