Hello friends! How’s your week going? I hope you have an amazing week. She was wild here as usual, working during the day and chasing the kids in the afternoons and evenings. I feel like summer was so peaceful and the school year is pure chaos. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance everything, especially since the kids are busy with their own activities + lots of homework.
For today’s post, I wanted to talk a little about my personal wellness and health journey and some of the things I had to learn the hard way. If you’re an OG blog reader (Hello! Thanks for being here for so long!) you’ve seen how things have changed over time. You’ve seen the cardio queen days, the raw food days, the pregnancies, the good, the bad, the weird, and everything in between. 🙂
It’s funny because as a health and wellness professional, it’s easy to assume that we have it together most of the time and follow our own advice. The reality is that many of us try different things, fail and learn along the way. Even the things you *know* (like the value of sleep, managing stress, and eating a dang vegetable) can still be challenging for those of us in this industry.
Here are some of the things I had to learn the hard way.
Things I learned the hard way about health and wellness:
– Not everything is for everyone. As someone who has tried just about everything (besides swimming related activities because I’m a raft girl and paddle dog), I’ve learned that my body doesn’t like every type of exercise class or format. Since I’m still on my healing journey and trying to keep inflammation under control, I know I still can’t do a ton of sprints or HIIT right now, and that’s okay. Barre and yoga make me feel a million times better than box jumps and burpees, and I don’t feel like I need to sleep afterward.
The same goes for nutrition and supplements. Some people do very well on a high-fat diet, while others do not. Some people need more B vitamins and protein, and less carbs, while others need higher carbs and don’t digest protein as well.
Probiotics can be amazing tools, but if you have gut bacterial overgrowth, it can actually make it worse.
Psychotherapy can turn an already overflowing bucket of stress around.
It goes on and on.. It’s really about figuring out what works well for you 🙂
– Good shoes make such a difference! I think back to my first long distance runs wearing baby wins lol. Glad I boosted my shoe!
I have tried so many shoes and my number 1 favorite right now is Vivobarefoot. (<— this link gets you 20% off) I have a whole post about barefoot sneakers, but I love that they allow you to use more muscles in your feet, grip the floor, let your toes spread fully and is extremely light for travel.
– Workout attire doesn’t matter as much, but it can be fun for motivation. I used to spend SO much on workout clothes, but now I only get dressed when I attend a studio class. If I’m at home, I’m usually barefoot and in my pajamas. Sculpt Society it’s my favorite pajama workout.
– Many raw foods can be difficult to digest. When you’re not eating a ton of fiber, it can be hard on the digestive system to add lots of salads and raw vegetables. Steaming, roasting, sauteing and roasting vegetables makes them easier to digest.
– It is worth skipping the afternoon scroll and bedtime. After a long day, I used to feel like I *earned it* to stay up late, drinking wine, watching TV, or scrolling on my phone. I had a lot of fatigue for years. Now that I’ve become super protective of my sleep, I’m a happier and more energetic person.
– Just lift the weights. I used to be passionate about strength training, but now it’s something I force myself to do at least 2-3 times a week. I think I got so burned out by constantly scheduling for others, and the last thing I wanted to do was schedule myself. When I lift heavy, it’s usually on an F45 strength day.
As a woman, strength training is so important. When I neglected strength training and overdid it on cardio, I was unhappy with my body composition. From a vanity point of view, it makes a huge difference and from a longevity point of view, it’s priceless.
– I don’t like alcohol. I love a little wine or a margarita, and I’ll still enjoy one here and there, but for the most part, it makes me look bloated, I sleep terribly, and it affects my blood sugar levels for the entire next day. I must deserve it. See more about how I’ve reduced my wine intake over time.
– Consistency beats tension, every day. When I was a young spring chicken, I was all about quantity and intensity. More hours, more sweat, more lessons. No wonder I was hungry and moody a lot of the time. I was also quite injured from overtraining. Now, exercise is a box I check every day. It’s not as intense as it used to be, but I’m extremely consistent in moving my body in a way that feels good. Exercise used to feel like a punishment. now he feels joy.
What would you add to the list, friends? Something you had to learn the hard way on your health and wellness journey?
I look forward to reading your experiences in the comments section!
Have a great day and see you soon.
xoxo
Gina
