Everything is connected & connection is everywhere.
An actual human need, displayed vastly throughout nature, our brains function on connection, and our physical and mental health depend on it.
Today the long standing connections, from those within our gut lining, to our deep rooted connections to nature, to each other, to the power of our incredible minds and bodies, is slipping away. In its place we see an overwhelming increase in Auto Immune Disease, and most other Chronic Diseases such as Cancer, as well as Anxiety, Depression, and Loneliness, which is now an epidemic in the United States.
When we focus on HEALING the disconnection around us we begin to Thrive in Body and Mind.
The truth is…
I'm exceedingly passionate about life! I love life and I love people. I love connection! I am completely fascinated with the words, feelings, energies, intentions, and beliefs that make up our lives! All of it is incredible and it is all here for you to use to create the life you really, truly want.
I also absolutely believe that one thing we all need to do is be as true and loving to ourselves as we can possibly be so that we can then be authentic and loving to those around us. There are too many people hurting in this world of so little connection for any of us to sit back and be anything but the most authentic, bright, loving, happy connected selves we can be. Through nourishing ourselves, we can then nourish others and in today's world it's vital.
In loving ourselves body, mind, and spirit we are able to truly be present and flowing with life and good energy. The world needs you! The happily, authentic you. Living an anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle (Check out my new book!) is a big part of being connected to the Earth and to life. Feeling good in your body and being proactive about your health is essential. This lifestyle cultivates a clear, focused mind, which is where the real action is!
About 30 pounds overweight, full of gas, bloat, joint pain, and discomfort in my own skin
When you are in pain — real pain, day after day — it can be difficult to ignore.
It can become difficult to be nice and it can prevent you from doing things you would normally do. About 7 years ago I began to notice that when I stood up from being seated I would somewhat hobble around until my hip kicked into action. Soon I noticed pain radiating from around my hip, the pain eventually would make its way from my hip to my toes. Night after night I was in pain from my hip to my toes. I could feel my bones and they hurt. It felt good to hit my hip gently, like a little massage. Not long after that, I noticed marked weakness on my left side. If I were going up stairs, I'd need to lead with my right leg, not my left because it was too weak to support the step up. My range of motion was affected and soon I could no longer sit crossed legged on the floor nor cross my left ankle over my right knee. In bed at night, I could not lay on my right side as the weight of my left hip would pull downward, causing pain. If I kept my phone in my back pocket for too long the weight of it would cause pain in my hip. Does any of this sound familiar or hold true to what you have experienced?
When my doctor told me that I'd be a candidate for a hip replacement I was in total shock. Although I've always been athletic, it was far from what my water retaining, baby weight carrying, completely inflamed self identified as. Plus, I was a swimmer! My non impact sport should have been kind to my joints — but heredity, nutrition and my need for action dictated something else.
Light, lean, and healthy! This is what an anti-inflammatory lifestyle can do for you.
When he told me they were going to put me on anti inflammatories, I drew the line. I am far too much of a hippie to go on prescription drugs without trying alternate methods first. I called up Sonia, my guru, and we discussed inflammation. Sonia is an ostomy nurse who also happens to be an esthetician. She is a specialist on healing, skin, and nutrition who also fully embraces a holistic approach to integrated medicine, Eastern medicine, and supplementing. She led me to some good sources and I absorbed it all.
I changed my diet to a highly anti-inflammatory one and learned all I could about managing inflammation and pain. Nutrition is the major component, but strengthening and mindset are also vital. Within 2 weeks of my diet change I began to notice a reduction in my pain. By about a month in, my pain was almost completely gone and so were at least five of my extra pounds! The beautiful side effect to eating to reduce pain is that you are also eating for a healthy life! Extra pounds melt off of your body and your energy level greatly increases. There is really no need for outside motivation or help once you really get the hang of the anti-inflammatory diet, the way you will feel is motivation in itself.
A few years ago I began experimenting with running on the beach and on the trails. Would you believe it is a non issue! I run 7 miles with ease about 3 times a week, but only on the sand and trails, never on the pavement. The same doctor who told me not to run or walk for exercise anymore is absolutely impressed. He has declared that beyond eliminating the pain, I am actually repairing the hip through self care. I cannot say that everyone will have my results. I can only coach you along your journey, but it is something I really want to do. If I can help you overcome your pain or even just transition to a very healthy proactive way of eating regardless of if you have pain or not, I want to do it. Our health is too important, and we need it to rock this one life we have!
Speaking of change, gaining control of your diet, your weight, your health, is SO EMPOWERING! It was because of this change in my life that I have had the courage and the vision to make the sweeping changes that I have made in recent years. It's because of this that I know that I am in control of my life and am no longer living in a reactionary manner. Beside the fact that I lost over twenty pounds and have kept it off with ease, my skin and eyes are clear and my energy is abundant, I am living pain free and I feel amazing!
I love my supplements, my oils and all the other nutritional powerhouses I consume. I really know my boundaries when it comes to how much of what foods I can eat before I start to feel pain in my hip. I want to give you all the information that I have and to help support you on this journey. Inflammation is at the heart of every disease. Eliminating it will change your life. Let me help you get there.