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 specialists. I nonetheless pinch myself that this has turn out to be such a shared journey. It’s humbling, slightly surreal, and deeply significant to mirror on all the things I’ve realized, modified, and nonetheless consider in any case 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 once I learn a line in {a magazine} that modified the course of my life. It mentioned 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 know the way, however I knew I wished to assist change that quantity. What began as a mom’s analysis undertaking grew right into a mission, and ultimately a podcast, a enterprise, and a neighborhood 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 really works, and found that the extra I study, the extra I understand how a lot I don’t know.
Over all of the years of interviews, analysis, and first hand classes, just a few truths have emerged.
The Most Frequent Skilled Recommendation (and Why It Nonetheless Issues)
Throughout a thousand interviews, one of many greatest takeaways is that the straightforward issues matter most. Sure, biohacks might be enjoyable and dietary supplements are useful. Nonetheless, the recommendation that comes up many times from the brightest minds in well being might be summed up in just a few superbly easy concepts.
Prioritize Sleep
Not a single professional has ever mentioned that sleep doesn’t matter. High quality sleep is foundational to all the things else. It impacts our hormones, blood sugar, temper, and even how properly 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 with regards to us dad and mom in sure seasons. We have been designed for resilience, and the physique appears to have protecting mechanisms throughout instances like these. I’ve written a lot about sleep and methods to have higher sleep over time, and you’ll 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 gentle at night time, and watching the dawn are easy shifts that may profoundly change sleep, vitality, and even temper. Mild, like sleep, is free, highly effective, and unattainable to promote, which could be why it’s typically missed.
Minerals Matter
Through the years, I’ve come to see minerals because the unsung heroes of wellness. They’re the “spark plugs” that preserve our cells speaking and our our bodies conducting vitality effectively. We speak quite a bit about electrolytes and hydration. Nonetheless, understanding the physique’s electrical nature has given me a complete new appreciation for the way minerals help all the things 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 means of each private expertise and professional knowledge is that child steps win each time. Consistency builds momentum.
Tiny, sustainable modifications are much more highly effective (and peaceable) than all-or-nothing overhauls. And the factor about all-or-nothing is that it might probably rapidly turn out 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 taking part in frisbee within the yard all depend. Motion nourishes the physique in refined methods. It helps fascia, lymph stream, and even our mobile battery cost. As one visitor superbly mentioned, “Movement is lotion.” It’s not about punishing exercises however joyful motion that retains us fluid, sturdy, and linked.
The Blue Zones world wide are well-known for having the longest residing, 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 food plan or health, it’s deeply tied to belonging and connection.
Folks in Blue Zones have sturdy communities and connections with others. We thrive once we really feel seen, supported, and cherished. This fact has formed my priorities a lot that I even opened a neighborhood wellness middle. Not only for the saunas and chilly plunges, however for the neighborhood these instruments create.
The Therapeutic Energy of Nature
The time period “nature deficit dysfunction” refers back to the silent epidemic of recent life. We have been meant to dwell near the earth, barefoot on the bottom, and within the sunshine. Pure gentle, contemporary air, and time exterior regulate our hormones, soothe our nervous system, and actually recharge us at {an electrical} stage. Even a couple of minutes of daylight or grounding every day makes a distinction.
The extra disconnected we turn out to be from nature, the extra disconnected we’re from our personal our bodies. And the excellent news is that the treatment is as simple as stepping exterior!
Your Main Healthcare Supplier
In spite of everything these years, I’ve turn out to be extra satisfied than ever that nobody is aware of your physique higher than you. Skilled steering is invaluable, however essentially the most highly effective knowledge comes from your personal physique’s suggestions. Your vitality, temper, sleep, and instinct. Each professional I’ve spoken with, in their very own means, factors again to that fact. I say it so many instances, however we’re every our personal major healthcare supplier.
What I’ve Modified My Thoughts About
Issues have actually modified quite a bit since I began Wellness Mama again in 2006! And I’ve modified quite a bit too. You could have seen this for those who’ve learn the weblog for any period of time. Listed below are a few of the greatest methods I’ve realized and grown over time.
Meals Dogmas
Within the early years of my therapeutic journey, I approached meals with the mindset that there was one proper solution to eat. After I was deep within the technique of reversing Hashimoto’s, I relied closely on strict elimination diets. Every one served its objective for a season and taught me quite a bit about how meals impacts issues like irritation and vitality.
However I additionally seen 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 means of a a lot softer and extra intuitive lens.
I nonetheless consider in actual, entire meals, however I additionally consider 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 luxuriate in meals with gratitude as an alternative of guilt. My present philosophy: meals ought to gasoline, heal, and produce pleasure, not worry.
Dietary supplements
At one level, I had a whole cupboard (and spreadsheet!) filled with dietary supplements. I believed I may optimize my well being by filling each attainable dietary hole. Whereas a few of these instruments have been extremely useful at instances, I ultimately realized I used to be leaning too closely on exterior inputs and lacking the larger image. I used to be making an attempt to out-supplement way of life habits that couldn’t get replaced, like deep relaxation, mineral stability, and nervous system regulation.
As we speak, I take a way more minimalist and intentional method. My focus has shifted to supporting my physique’s innate intelligence fairly than making an attempt 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 take advantage of 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 exhausting with lengthy runs, intense HIIT exercises, and heavy coaching. It was about chasing a sure aesthetic (that by no means got here) fairly than listening to how my physique felt. Ultimately, that method led to burnout and hormonal imbalances. I spotted I used to be lacking the actual 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 every week as a result of muscle actually is the “organ of longevity.” Nonetheless, 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 vitamin. A wide range of inputs that preserve the physique versatile, sturdy, and balanced for a deal with connection.
Parenting and Presence
When my children have been little I had a really completely different method. I believed good parenting meant doing all the things “proper” from wholesome meals to completely managed feelings. However actual life rapidly confirmed me that youngsters don’t thrive on perfection, they thrive on presence. Making an attempt to manage all the things created pointless stress for each them and me.
Through the years, I’ve realized to let go of the concept I can (or ought to) shield my children from each wrestle. As a substitute, I deal with connection and modeling emotional regulation. My objective now is to lift youngsters who belief themselves, perceive their feelings, and know they’re cherished unconditionally.
Which means 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 method has introduced a lot extra peace into our residence, and actually, extra pleasure into motherhood.
Concern vs. Belief
For a very long time, I noticed my physique as one thing fragile and even damaged, particularly after my Hashimoto’s prognosis. I seen signs as issues to repair and spent years making an attempt to manage each attainable variable. Wanting again, I understand I used to be working from worry. Concern of sickness, worry of getting old, worry of doing it unsuitable.
However the extra I realized the extra I noticed how deeply our programs are designed for stability and therapeutic. My physique wasn’t betraying me, it was speaking with me. Now I see my physique as making an attempt to work for my profit and signs are stunning messages. As a substitute of making an attempt to micromanage my well being when one thing feels off, I get curious and attempt to hear. Calm and confidence are a few of the greatest 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, gentle, actual meals, motion, minerals, and connection are the true “biohacks.”
- Curiosity heals. Approaching well being with marvel as an alternative of worry modifications all the things.
- Nature is drugs. The solar, the soil, the ocean…they provide what no capsule 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 continuously transferring towards stability. The very best factor we will do is to assist create the circumstances the place it might probably naturally unfold. Which means much less doing and extra listening. Much less worry, extra belief. Much less rigidity, extra rhythm.
Today, my wellness routines are a complete lot extra intuitive than they as soon as have been. My each day non-negotiables embody issues like consuming 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 making an attempt so exhausting to manage it.
The Journey Forward
If you happen to’ve been on this journey with me from the beginning, thanks. You’ve watched Wellness Mama develop from a mother’s late-night analysis undertaking right into a shared exploration of what it means to dwell properly. If you happen to’re new right here, welcome to this kitchen desk of curiosity. We’re all studying collectively.
I nonetheless consider, as I did holding that tiny child all these years in the past, that we will change the story for the subsequent technology. We will increase youngsters who belief their our bodies, perceive nature, and know that actual well being is woven by means of connection, pleasure, and objective. Well being doesn’t must be difficult and it’s typically the only 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!
