Once 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 change into such a shared journey. It’s humbling, a bit of surreal, and deeply significant to mirror on every part 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 after 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 mother and father.
That one sentence hit me like a tidal wave. I didn’t know the way, however I knew I needed to assist change that quantity. What began as a mom’s analysis venture grew right into a mission, and finally a podcast, a enterprise, and a group I’m endlessly grateful for.
Over time, I’ve developed proper alongside Wellness Mama. My infants aren’t so little anymore and my oldest, the one who impressed me to begin 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 study, the extra I understand 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 Frequent Professional Recommendation (and Why It Nonetheless Issues)
Throughout a thousand interviews, one of many largest takeaways is that the straightforward issues matter most. Sure, biohacks might be enjoyable and dietary supplements are useful. Nevertheless, the recommendation that comes up time and again from the brightest minds in well being might be summed up in a couple of superbly easy concepts.
Prioritize Sleep
Not a single skilled has ever mentioned that sleep doesn’t matter. High quality sleep is foundational to every part 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 clever and forgiving in relation to us mother and father in sure seasons. We have been designed for resilience, and the physique appears to have protecting mechanisms throughout instances like these. I’ve written loads about sleep and how one can have higher sleep through the years, and you’ll find all of that right here.
Mild is Medication
This is without doubt 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 evening, and watching the dawn are easy shifts that may profoundly change sleep, power, and even temper. Mild, like sleep, is free, highly effective, and unimaginable to promote, which is likely to be why it’s usually missed.
Minerals Matter
Through the years, I’ve come to see minerals because the unsung heroes of wellness. They’re the “spark plugs” that maintain our cells speaking and our our bodies conducting power effectively. We discuss loads about electrolytes and hydration. Nevertheless, understanding the physique’s electrical nature has given me a complete new appreciation for the way minerals assist every part from nervous system stability to power 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 via each private expertise and skilled 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 may possibly shortly change into 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 outdoors, dancing with my children, or enjoying frisbee within the yard all rely. Motion nourishes the physique in delicate methods. It helps fascia, lymph move, 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, robust, and linked.
The Blue Zones world wide 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 after we really feel seen, supported, and liked. This reality has formed my priorities a lot that I even opened a neighborhood wellness heart. 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 recent life. We have been meant to reside near the earth, barefoot on the bottom, and within the sunshine. Pure gentle, contemporary air, and time outdoors 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 change into 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 outdoors!
Your Major Healthcare Supplier
In any case these years, I’ve change into 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 power, 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 major healthcare supplier.
What I’ve Modified My Thoughts About
Issues have actually modified loads since I began Wellness Mama again in 2006! And I’ve modified loads too. You will have seen this should you’ve learn the weblog for any period of time. Listed here are among 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. Once I was deep within the technique of reversing Hashimoto’s, I relied closely on strict elimination diets. Every one served its goal for a season and taught me loads about how meals impacts issues like irritation and power.
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 delicate worry round meals. Now, I see nourishment via 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 dwelling when attainable, and take note of how I really feel after meals as a substitute 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 buddies, and luxuriate in meals with gratitude as a substitute of guilt. My present philosophy: meals ought to gas, heal, and convey 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 attempting to out-supplement way of life habits that couldn’t get replaced, like deep relaxation, mineral stability, and nervous system regulation.
In the present day, I take a way more minimalist and intentional strategy. My focus has shifted to supporting my physique’s innate intelligence slightly than attempting to micromanage it. As an alternative of dozens of drugs, 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 assist, 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 alter 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) slightly than listening to how my physique felt. Ultimately, that strategy led to burnout and hormonal imbalances. I noticed I used to be lacking the actual goal of motion which is to construct capability, power, and pleasure.
Now, I transfer to really feel alive, to not punish myself. I nonetheless power practice a number of instances every week as a result of muscle actually is the “organ of longevity.” Nevertheless, I’ve additionally added issues that nourish my nervous system, like day by day walks, dancing with my children, fascia launch, sauna periods, and time barefoot outdoors.
Motion must be various and intuitive, a mixture of power, mobility, play, and relaxation. I consider it now as motion diet. A wide range of inputs that maintain the physique versatile, robust, and balanced for a give attention to connection.
Parenting and Presence
When my children have been little I had a really completely different strategy. I believed good parenting meant doing every part “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 part 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) defend my children from each wrestle. As an alternative, I give attention to connection and modeling emotional regulation. My objective now could be to lift youngsters who belief themselves, perceive their feelings, and know they’re liked 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 dwelling, and truthfully, 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 analysis. I seen signs as issues to repair and spent years attempting to manage each attainable variable. Wanting again, I understand I used to be working from worry. Concern of sickness, worry of ageing, worry of doing it flawed.
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 attempting to work for my profit and signs are lovely messages. As an alternative of attempting to micromanage my well being when one thing feels off, I get curious and attempt to pay attention. Calm and confidence are among the finest therapeutic instruments at our physique’s disposal.
What I Nonetheless Imagine (Now Extra Than Ever)
Some beliefs have solely deepened with time:
- The physique is sensible. 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 surprise as a substitute of worry modifications every part.
- Nature is drugs. 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 want one another.
- Progress beats perfection. All the time.
Life Classes and Understanding
To start with, 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 1000’s of conversations, I’ve realized that wellness isn’t one thing we obtain. As an alternative, it’s one thing we align with.
Our our bodies are continuously transferring towards stability. One of the best factor we are able to do is to assist create the situations the place it may possibly naturally unfold. Meaning 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 day by 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 a substitute of attempting so exhausting to manage it.
The Journey Forward
In the event you’ve been on this journey with me from the beginning, thanks. You’ve watched Wellness Mama develop from a mother’s late-night analysis venture right into a shared exploration of what it means to reside effectively. In the event you’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 are able to change the story for the subsequent technology. We will elevate youngsters who belief their our bodies, perceive nature, and know that actual well being is woven via connection, pleasure, and goal. Well being doesn’t need to be sophisticated and it’s usually the only issues in life which might 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 under!
