Health Tips, Thoughts and Inspirations
The content of this blog will vary, dependent on the topic I feel led to share with you. My prayer is that it will be a blessing to those who choose to read it.
![]() We often hear about why we should get our bodies moving on a regular basis, and that the benefits are numerous. I totally agree. This past week, I found out what some of these are for me personally, but in reverse. I usually work out 4-5 days a week, doing a variety of HIIT, strength training, cardio, and stretching. I have been tired to the point of complete exhaustion lately, so I decided to take a week off, thinking that perhaps my body needed a rest. It is good to get more rest at times, which I needed to do, but in the process I learned how much my body needs the daily movement in order to function properly. One week off of exercising taught me it's many benefits by showing me how quickly other things in my health can go backwards when I ignore this one piece. Personally, daily exercise goes a long ways in improving my mood and outlook on life. This is even more apparent the past few months. Lovingly moving your body in a way you enjoy releases serotonin and endorphins, chemicals that give you that "feel-good" feeling. How long do you have to exercise for this to take affect? Serotonin is released in about 30-45 minutes, while endorphins may take up to an hour. Most of my workout days are under one hour, but it is apparent that the 30-45 minutes are extremely beneficial for my overall ability to deal with life. A second negative effect I noticed was that I had even less energy and felt I needed to consume more coffee. In moderation, coffee can have some benefits, but it does need to be balanced out with quality water and other beverages. Coffee itself is dehydrating, increasing our need for water even more than we would normally have to consume to be at a healthy level of hydration. If you are someone who needs a lot of caffeine throughout the day, consider replacing one caffeinated beverage with the equal amount of water, gradually increasing your water intake and reducing other drinks. You will be amazed at the benefits! One of my most unsettling discoveries was the change in my digestion. If I don't move, my gut is quite unhappy. If our body slows down, our digestion slows down. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to constipation, which in turn increases inflammation, toxins and pain. If this is a long term problem, we not only end up with toxins in our colon, but also in our bloodstream. Exercise, however, can improve blood flow, relieve stress, regulate weight and speed up metabolism, which can all contribute to a healthy, well-functioning digestive system. It has also been found that exercise can reduce the symptoms of gastrointestinal pain, including that linked to irritable bowel syndrome. How am I dealing with being too tired now? I am focusing on making it a priority to get to bed earlier and aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep. This means I have to turn off the electronics an hour before bedtime, quit trying to get more things done in the evening (they really can wait!), and avoiding anything disturbing such as news or social media at night. Exhaustion is one of the biggest concerns I hear in my office, but we can take measures to improve this. For me, cutting back on exercise definitely was not the answer! For another person, it may be necessary. Each individual has different circumstances and needs different answers. There is not a "one size fits all" when it comes to improving our health, and sometimes we need help finding out what our answers can be. It could be diet, hydration, stress management, sleep, movement, needing sunshine & fresh air or focusing on underlying issues to get to the root of things. This is where I can help! Personal consultation is a great tool for finding the cause and heading off bigger problems in the future. If you have questions about any of this, please reach out to me. I would be honored to help you!
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![]() Hello! Here I am on day 8. According to the booklet that comes with the OmniCleanse kit, days 6-9 can be the most challenging. For me, one of the hardest things is staying away from foods that I know will not help me to get the best results as I go through this process. Often, I am having to tell myself "You are not hungry. You don't NEED that!" This was more difficult over the weekend with family, but I was a whole lot happier with myself by pushing through it. Does it always go this way for me? NO! Definitely not! Knowing that I was going to be blogging about this detox has been a great help to keeping me on track, along with knowing that my sister is doing this along with me. I don't want to have to tell her that I ate/drank _______! Whenever you are aiming to make changes in your life, it always helps to have someone to hold you (lovingly) accountable. One thing that I have found that helps with cravings is to look for a healthy comforting food. This may be a favorite healthy recipe or simply a cup of warm tea with a bit of raw honey in it. It doesn't need to be complicated or overly time-consuming! For others, it may be that you're actually thirsty and need to drink more water. Perhaps a distraction of some light exercise is the answer for you. Each person is individual and has different needs. Find that "thing" that satisfies you without compromising what you are trying to accomplish! While I am happy to be a bit past the half way point, I am also looking ahead to the long term. Included in the booklet is guidance for the "Transformation Phase" which is another 14 days, for a total of 28 days. The food recommendations are a bit more broad, but still stay within healthy guidelines and can help solidify good habits along with promote weight loss. This first 8 days has gone quite well for me this time around, which I am thankful for! It is a reminder that making changes doesn't have to be miserable or painful. It can be looked at as a pleasant, self-care time. After all, if we don't take care of the body we are in, where are we going to live? And if you don't choose to do so, who will? Day 5 is in the books! Day 1 & 2 were easy, but as I was part way through day 3, I noticed that I was a bit more impatient than normal. A bit of lavender essential oil, a warm bath, and extra sleep went a long way in alleviating that issue. Yesterday (day 4), I had a more serious headache than usual. This is normal when going through a detoxification process. Drinking more water and getting exercise helps lighten this, along with either peppermint tea or peppermint essential oil. When doing a detox, it is vital to drink enough water! I know I have said this many times, but it is so important. Your body needs this to help clean out your system.
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