Wellbeing - An important piece of our everyday lives to ensure that we are at our best!

Wellness, diet, healthy, not healthy…where do we even start? We are bombarded all day long with nutritional information - both good and bad - that it tends to be overwhelming. Quite honestly if we listen to all of the “claims” out there no food is good for you or no food is bad for you - it is all confusing. For example, eggs. For the longest time I always heard about limiting your egg intake. They are high in cholesterol, they aren’t healthy, etc. etc. Then, I started hearing about incorporating eggs into your diet. They are high in this nutrient and that nutrient which is beneficial, so which is it? I mean if that isn’t confusing I don’t know what is! 😆

What I have realized is that just focusing on unprocessed, wholesome food works best for me. I have read through the book “Eat To Live” by Dr. Joel Furhman and this book really awakened me to what food is all about. We are so used to “rewarding” ourselves by having an extra piece of cake or “disciplining” ourselves for what we eat rather than realizing that the food we eat is meant to nourish our bodies. One of the eye opening pieces of this book was about how we need to consider how the food that we eat affects our bodies and our health. It’s not just about eating the cookie because we want it, it’s about what happens after we eat the cookie. What effects does it have on our bodies? Where does the sugar go?

When we focus on putting good food into our bodies we start to feel better and our bodies will start to work better. It isn’t easy to break habits and start new habits, however when we make a decision to succeed and set a plan to reach our goals - success is attainable. It is just in the follow through. For instance, I like sweets. Do I think cutting out all sugar is feasible? No, at least not at first. However, I also know that fruits are a healthy alternative to other unhealthy dessert sweets; so I have options. And, if I have a goal in mind and plan on how to get there, then I can make the switch. 

A big push for me was wanting to feel better and have more energy. Having little ones running around makes you realize how little energy you have. So I started to limit my processed food intake and focus on more natural foods. I ate more vegetables and tried to incorporate them in every meal and I added more fruits to my meals. Planning is key and food prep is a must.  First, make a menu and a shopping list so that you have what you need on hand. Nothing will derail healthy eating like not having healthy food in the house! Once you have all of your food on hand wash and chop as much of the fruits and vegetables as possible. Some handy storage containers for produce are these or these glass containers and another tip is to wash and dry the vegetables and lay a paper towel on the bottom of the container to absorb any excess water. Also, using a salad spinner will help to dry the veggies and keep them fresh longer. 

Having the food ready to use and easy to grab throughout the week is a step to choosing the right foods to fuel our bodies and be successful at modifying our healthy food intake. Happy Eating and Nourishing! 

Please note, I am not a doctor and these statements are only my opinions. Please always do what is best for you and under the guidance of your doctor. 

So I decided to document my attempt at becoming a “runner”. Not quite sure how I would define runner, however I guess just moving faster than a walk :) So, where did I start out? Honestly, very sedentary LOL. I once was a runner, in high school, many years ago. Well, I mean I was on the track team and I went to meets. Did I ever win? NO…thankfully (if I remember correctly) I at least finished my races and honestly, that was enough for me. So here I am now trying to be a runner again. And I decided that I will accomplish this! My first attempt will be a 5k, while it will be for fun (not trying to win anything here!!) I need to ensure that I can actually finish a 5k. I know for many readers a 5k is nothing...but for a lot of readers a 5k is HUGE! And for me, it is HUGE! So as they say, one step at a time.

I am not going to say the line of if I can do it anyone can do it because I don't think that is true. What anyone else can accomplish has nothing to do with what another person can accomplish, our accomplishments should be ours alone and not based on whether or not someone else can do it. My point being, I wanted this and I was determined to do it.

So I set out my plan, tied up my shoes and started running. Albeit slowly, perhaps more of a jog, but I would still like to call it running. One of the best parts of running - you don't need much to get it done. A good pair of running shoes, (Under Armour Running Shoes) and the wonderful outdoors or a treadmill. The bad news is that you have to find the ambition and time to get it done! I was having a hard time at this and as the 5k (that was already registered for) was looming nearer and nearer I really started to doubt the likelihood that I would even be able to finish. I knew I had to do it, but honestly, my confidence was pretty low. With less than a week to go I knew I really needed to step up my training and at the very least get one 3 mile run completed before the big day. 

**Update** The 5k has been completed! I did not win any medals, however the big win for me was that I finished it. I didn't give up and I didn't take any short cuts, no matter how badly I wanted to. 

Through this I have realized that I want to start running more regularly. When I crossed the finish line, the sense of accomplishment was so great to feel that I want to feel it again! Now I just need to put this on my to do list and make sure I get it done! Happy running, friends!

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