A Quick Fix or A Lifetime of Modifications?

I often come into contact with people who ask me what pills they should take to fix their current ailment. It's so hard to say, "oh you have this, take this". Sure we can supplement once health is restored, but long-term health is not a quick fix. It's a lifetime of making modifications and re-evaluating what's going on. Everyone wants the magic pill, but what they don't understand, yet, is that long-term health means long-term work and adaptations. It means trying something and then trying something completely new. It means adding something in whether that be a supplement or new exercise program and taking something away like wheat, dairy, or constant cardio. I speak to this truth because I lived it. I wanted so desperately to just be healed. I mean shit, I abused my body for 20 plus years, it could be healed overnight with one supplement from Amazon delivery no?

I see this often with friends, family, and clients. They want to be cured, but don't really want to commit to the change/s. It's hard, it's grueling, it's frustrating, but then again isn't that how it's supposed to be? Think about it, if you're one of the lucky ones who came out of the shoot and ate super clean, organic foods, was super active, never exposed to pollutants or chemicals, then you probably don't have a lot of work to do? Is that the norm of our society? Unfortunately no. Most people truly abuse their bodies with the constant chemicals they are putting into them, the poor food choices, lack of movement, chronic dehydration, insufficient vitamins and minerals, drinking, smoking, you get the picture. I did it all for a long time and was then perplexed when my body starting retaliating? We often ask why is this happening to me? Well, don't get triggered or offended, but duh. Your body is angry with you. You are being a bully to your own body. It's speaking to you so listen.

Another question I get is so what do you do then? We all want the answers no? We come back to the quick fix, tell me what to eat, tell me what supplements to take, tell me to stand on my head and take shots of spirulina and I'll do it. We become so desperate to feel well again. This is a good sign. You have to hit rock bottom in order to pick yourself back up. But are you willing to do the work, I mean really do the work this time? I always ask my clients that and if they say well I can try for a little bit then I have to say I can't work with you. I want someone who wants to stop the bullshit and restore their health. Undo the damage that was caused. You have to really commit to see results with anything right? You want your business to grow, you have to put in work, you want to be a better friend, you have to make time to see them, you want to be a better spouse, you have to...well still working on that one lol, you want to be a better soccer player you have to practice, the point I'm trying to get to is all the "bad" can be undone, but YOU not anyone else, has to do all of it to get there. There is no easy way out, there is no loop hole when it comes to vibrancy and longevity. Sorry kids.

Maybe you're the type of reader that likes real life examples. You can sift through the fluff....okay that's fine. I respect that. Here are some of the things I've done to help my body heal and feel well. Disclaimer, this took years and I'm still working on things. To reiterate my previous points, there is no time frame on how long the healing process takes. It could be weeks, to months, to years, depending on the severity of damage you caused your body. Don't beat yourself up about the poor choices you made or what you did in the past, shit no one is perfect, but you can change, today if you'd like.

Here are the things I've done over the years to help stay well:

Diet- this is no riddle, You have to make better food choices. Maybe that means switching from the standard American diet to Whole 30, to vegan, to Keto, to Carnivore, then back to Paleo. The point is you have to make a change if something isn't working. My most frequent suggestion is remove gluten, grains, and sugars. This is a great place to start that will minimize inflammation in the body and support your digestion so you can absorb your nutrients. I was a vegan for awhile, then Keto, now am happy with a more low carb approach adding in healthier carbs around my cycle. Not the answer just what I am doing/experimenting with currently. I changed my strategy when something stopped working and then changed again.

Supplements- always work with a practitioner, but it's great to evaluate your blood-work and see what you may be deficient in. For me it was iron, most b vitamins, potassium, and vitamin D. I also knew that my gut was not functioning properly so added in some digestive support as well.

Acupuncture- this has been such a huge part of my healing journey and is now more of a preventive practice. I just love the way I feel and I can tell it's working the day after. My acupuncturist targets whatever issue I have going on that month.

Colon Hydrotherapy- I know weird, but did you know we carry around 5-10 lbs. of extra fecal matter in our intestines, that sometimes we can't eliminate on our own? Sick! That build up of toxins manifests into so many various health aliments. I have been going for years and although it's not the most enjoyable experience, I know how beneficial it is for my health and for those of you who don't know me, I'll do anything for my health.

Cupping- I've only done this a few times, but it's another great way to detoxify the body. Google some of it's benefits if you are unfamiliar with this therapy.

Chiropractic care- although I haven't gone recently, when things were really bad, I used to go all the time. This really helped with my alignment which in turn helped with my digestion, balance, and performance in the gym. I just felt stronger when I went.

Energy work- this might be far fetched for some of you, but hey, don't knock it to you try it. I worked with a woman years ago who helped me through my spiritual journey. We did a lot of energy work and cleansing. I just recently had a session with a different woman who helped me let go of some things that surfaced recently and during this session I just felt like I transformed into someone different. Again sounds hippie and lame, but why not? If it helps you be a more positive and light person....why wouldn't you try it? You have nothing to lose.

Yoga/Mediation- these are common, but under-appreciated, especially right now. People roll their eyes, but when you really do take those 10 minutes to calm the mind, it's astounding how it directly and positively it impacts you in a physical way. We are always on the go that we never slow down. Scrolling aimlessly through IG and FB don't count as decompression time either. That's just making you more anxious and potentially depressed. Try a yoga class or a free YouTube a mediation video before or a after a stressful day and see how your attitude changes.

Detoxes/cleanses- so even though our bodies are super efficient, they sometimes need a little bit of help. Think of it like an assist in basketball. This is where some type of a detox program could help you get the ball rolling. I've done them all. Juice cleanses, bone broth ketone cleanses, you say detox and I say which one? What's great is that you can always try them and see which one works for you. I know intermittent fasting works for a lot of people, I'm a fan. I've personally enjoyed a seasonal 3 day juice cleanse from time to time just to give the digestive system a break and let the body attend to other things that may need healing. I know the company Pruvitt does a great 60 hour reboot program with online support. The moral of the story is, it's good to try. See how you feel, under the supervision of a practitioner of course ;-)

Exercise- a no brainer. Since I was a kid, I've always been active. My daughter is the same way. I have to move. I don't feel well mentally if I haven't gotten a walk in, or lifted some weights, or ran a few miles, or swam some laps, or went to a yoga class, etc. No one has ever said uggghhhh I'm so mad at myself that I decided to move my body today. So know that no matter where you are in your health journey, you can always do something to raise that heart rate a bit and get that blood flowing. It's a small, but critical component to this puzzle we call health.

Ozone treated water- super weird, but super beneficial. I only can get this when I'm visiting one of my health clinics.

B12 shots- I get these during the winter months when my energy is low. They just shoot you with a bunch of b12s in the arm and you get a burst of energy. Easily absorbed and not expensive at all.

So you see that it's not one isolated thing that just makes you feel like the bionic woman or man. It's a combination of things that take time, money, and energy, but what's the end goal? What do you want in 5, 20, 30+ years? How do you want your body to feel? Do you want to be on a bunch of meds, in and out of the hospital, and constantly worrying about when your number is up? I don't, so I made the choice 10 years ago to prioritize my health. To make sure I don't set myself up for failure later on. You've gotta put in the work now though. It's no guarantee, but decreasing risks is always a good thing. It's never too late and know that you're always in control.

I hope you gained something from this rant and I hope I've inspired at least one person to make their health a number one priority TODAY because if you don't have that, why are you going through the motions of daily life? For what? Do it for you, do it for your family, kids, grandkids. Stop wasting time thinking about when and start thinking about how.

If you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start, search for health and wellness coaches. They're a dime a dozen. Look for credible ones who have been thorough some of their own shit. They just get it.

Love and peace. Namaste.

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