Your Health and Wellness Journey Starts Here
Do you feel like you could use a little help?
Do you feel like you’re doing the right things? You’re working out, eating well, drinking your water, taking your vitamins, but still ending up tired, unfocused, and just not feeling your best?
I know the feeling, as I’ve been there myself. In fact, I’ve been through the wringer with my health and wellness journey, and I feel like I’ve tried just about everything out there at one point or another. But let’s start from the beginning.
Once upon a time…
You could probably find me on a treadmill at any given time of day, making sure I wasn’t gaining an ounce, with a protein shake on deck to follow-up. I was consumed by fitness, obsessed with my body, and completely lost on the inside.
This was about 10 years ago, and a lot has changed since then, thankfully. Back then, I was involved in fitness competitions, on the verge of disordered eating (if not already there), and about one M&M shy of a mental breakdown. I didn’t know what it was like to be healthy and live a normal life at the same time. To me, the two couldn’t exist together, and I was ok with the fact that my life would “never be normal.”
Eventually, my metabolism crashed. I spent the next several years gaining and losing the same weight over and over again, and overall just really hating my body.
Something had to change.
It took a divorce and me hitting rock bottom for me to finally let go of the rigid reigns I had on myself. In those moments, I could no longer obsess over my fitness plan or what I was eating. I had bigger things to worry about, like how I was going to pay my bills and take care of myself and my daughter.
After a very hard year of discomfort and massive internal growth, I came out on the other side healthier – not thinner or fitter – but healthier on a deeper level.
I was finally able to let go of the reigns and give my body what it needed to make it through some tough times. This sometimes meant rest when I had originally planned a workout. It meant fueling my body with nutritious foods that kept my energy levels steady. And it meant supplements that helped keep my mood elevated and my mind clear.
Did I magically morph into the same body that I had when I was competing? Absolutely not. In fact, I went on to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism and will forever have to take T3 and T4 hormones for the rest of my life.
But I did finally learn to appreciate my body in all its phases – a little fluffy, a little leaner, and everything in between.
Today, I am happy to report that I have a very happy relationship with my body. I absolutely still strive to maintain a healthy physique, but it comes from a place of loving my body rather than hating it. I also focus more on how I feel now, and make sure I’m implementing things that help keep me happy and vibrant.
My health and fitness goals today are set around:
eating foods that make me FEEL good
working out because I ENJOY it
progressing in the gym because I LOVE feeling strong
setting goals because I LIVE for the challenge
and supplementing with high quality products that help boost immunity, manage stress, and maximize energy.
Focus on the feeling.
A key part of my transformation came from my diagnosis of hypothyroidism. I was going through a phase where I was beginning to think I was depressed. I was noticing things like:
I was tired all the time
My skin was extremely dry and tired looking
I didn’t want to get out of bed many days
I was skipping out on work, or working below my potential
I was not excited or motivated about anything (which is out of the norm for me)
I was put on an antidepressant first, which I hated and quickly quit. It wasn’t for several more months until I found out I had hypothyroidism. And in that time between thinking I was depressed, and finding out my correct diagnosis – I experimented with a lot of supplements in hopes of finding my good mood again.
I later found out I had hypothyroidism, and was put on medication to rectify that. But in the meantime, I had found several things that had worked to really boost my mood, elevate my energy, and help me manage stress.
Today, I get most of my supplements from the brand I am partnered with. After years of research and trying different brands and products, these are the ones I can’t go without!
Full spectrum hemp oil with the best absorption and instant onset that helps enhance my mood, helps me focus, and keeps me calm.
Hormone and support, helps to balance estrogen, and aids in energy and muscle tone. This is my happiness in a bottle!
High-quality, daily nutrition in the form of chelated vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and probiotic. These provide the best absorption (a difference I can feel), with an added focus on inflammation and gut health.
All-natural vitamin sprays that make travel a breeze and the whole family can enjoy. The sleep spray is a favorite for all of us!
My little side-kick that helps curb appetite and provides clean energy! A lifesaver with my slower thyroid.
Something for everyone – whether you’re needing a boost in your mood, suffer from inflammation and chronic pain, need to manage stress, want to feel more energized, or want to reach some fitness goals. Click any of the photos to check out the links.
Aside from these, I also take a high-quality fish oil supplement and vitamin D.
These days, I’m feeling great! I’m healthy, I’m happy, I’m energized, and less stressed. If you’re looking to feel whole in your own life, or feel like you’re doing all the right things but coming up short, then give one or all of these a try! A good supplement can go a long way. And a healthy body and mind will take you far!
xoxo,
Liz
You Are Exactly Where You’re Meant To Be
Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.
1 Corinthians 7:17 The Message
Have you ever felt like you’ve missed your chance to pursue a dream or ambition?
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of a certain career but didn’t pursue it early on and feel like it’s too late now. Maybe you want to pick up a new hobby but don’t think you’re young enough or perhaps have missed the mark. Maybe you have a big dream but can’t see it coming to life because of kids, and jobs, and life. I’ve been there too, and to be honest, I still stumble across those feelings when a new ambition hits sometimes.
But the truth is, it’s never too late to pursue something on our hearts. I truly believe we are always right where we need to be, and it’s our responsibility to live, love, obey, and believe right there.
In 2018, I walked into class on my first day of nursing school. What would normally be an exciting time for someone going after a lifelong career goal was instead drenched in shame and self-doubt. I wasn’t an eager 18 year-old starting her first day of college.
Oh no, no.
I was 34. And a mom. And completely behind the curve. Plus, I already had a Bachelors degree. Most of my friends going back to school at this age were going for their second Masters or a PhD.
I’ve wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. In fact, I have several old “When I Grow Up” school projects riddled one way or another with nursing as the end goal for me. I even went as far as starting college as that 18 year-old girl with a nursing major and plans to get it done. But somewhere along the road my plans changed. I ended up leaving college to join the military, was later married and had my first child, finished my first Bachelors degree, and eventually divorced and remarried. All while throwing in a few cross-country moves, and several career changes.
So as I walked into class that first day, I wasn’t filled with excitement. All I could hear was my inner mean girl telling me that I was too far behind. That I could have been 10-years into this profession by now. That I should be pursuing something more noble like a Masters or Doctorate.
The following morning, I read a verse from The Message (I recommend the real Bible over The Message, but The Message is SO great for putting a modern tone on some amazing verses that could otherwise be missed), that reads, “Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.” 1 Corinthians 7:17. Talk about the kick in the teeth that I needed! God does that sometimes
And then it hit me.
I was exactly where I needed to be. Right there, in that moment. Sure, it would have been great to have a 10-year head start on that career, but you know what I would have missed? Every moment in between. I would have never had the opportunity to serve my country and to feel the immense amount of pride that comes from that. I would have missed all the hard lessons, integrity, and bravery I gained from that experience. I would have missed having my daughter Kira. I can’t even imagine life without her, and I would have missed out on it. There would be no “her.” I would not know so many of the amazing people I’ve crossed paths with over the years of moving and job changes. So many people have touched my life and ultimately changed my world, and I would have never experienced their magic. I would have missed meeting my husband. The life of my dreams that exists right now would have never happened. And so many more things would have been missed if life had gone “as planned.”
God’s plan is perfect.
His timing is perfect, and you must trust the timing of your own unique life and know that you’re always exactly where you are meant to be. You’re allowed to do life differently than the person standing next to you. Give yourself grace. And when God opens a door for you that you think you might be “too old,” or “too late,” for, then you better run through it, fully afraid, but fully trusting that he won’t take you anywhere you’re not meant to be.
Don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you that you’ve missed the mark. There are countless stories throughout history of people who seemed to be too far in life but went on to do and create amazing things. You’re not exempt from that list. Whatever your goal or ambition is, big or small, I encourage you to go after it. Make a plan and have faith that God will work out the details on the way. And be grateful for where you are now. The things you’ve done, choices you’ve made (both good and bad), people you’ve met, and lessons you’ve learned have all prepared you for what is to come.
Your story is unique. Your ambitions are yours for the chasing.