Staying Healthy in a Difficult Environment

Congrats!

I want to take a second to congratulate you. Yep. It's been one of the most difficult weeks that some of us have ever gone through...your 'normal' life has been pretty much uprooted, basically overnight. The level of uncertainty, lack of control, onslaught of information, and fight for pantry items and toilet paper has hit record highs for our nation. Not to mention the fear, confusion, frustration, and having to make really difficult decisions related to business. I'm giving you a virtual elbow bump - It's been quite a week, but you made it!

Living in Nashville, after a very recent devastating tornado, it has been quite difficult to process what's been happening. It’s to start asking ‘why’ but that will paint you into a dark corner really quickly. I’ve really started to focus on the questions I’m asking myself. Instead of ‘why me/us' start asking yourself ‘What good can come out of this situation?’ ‘How can I bless someone today?’ ‘Who can I reach out to and love on?’ It’s really amazing what can be accomplished when we now have all the time in the world - AND the internet! I hope this post helps you use your time a little wiser!

As a wellness professional, I feel like it's a bit of a responsibility to provide helpful resources, tips, advice, encouragement and support to enable you to prioritize your health. Health & wellness have always been important, but more folks are beginning to realize the need to really put their health at the top of the list more than ever before. Which is really exciting! Think about if everyone in the nation tried one idea from each of the pillars below, what could happen?

Disclaimer: This is not a post about what I think you 'should' do or shouldn't - I've had to catch myself from 'shoulding' on myself the past few days! (Geez, I should've been doing this all along!) I simply want to provide a little insight into what has worked for me in the past when going through seasons in challenging environments and hope that it encourages you to try something new.

A few things are FOR CERTAIN:

1. We're all in this together.

2. We can control a lot more than we realize and have a lot of options available. (more on that below)

3. We're figuring it all out as we go, one day at a time, and a truckload of grace is needed!

4. This is going to make our communities, cities, nation SO much stronger and the level of growth that's going to happen over the next few months will positively impact us for many years to come!

First, let’s clarify a difficult environment.

You’re in a small apartment with not very much space. You have kids that really need your attention 24/7, your spouse/S.O isn’t a fan of being healthy, you’re not really feeling motivated, etc. All of these are challenging but

Holistic approach to wellness:

Wellness is not measured in a silo. And it's not a one-size fits all deal. We all have different needs and are on a unique personal journey in our health. Wellness is also not just ONE thing - we all know that if someone runs marathons but eats fast food every day, they most likely aren't feeling their best. So, I've compiled a few tips and ideas for each pillar of wellness: physical, emotional/spiritual, social, intellectual, environmental, financial. Pick and choose what sounds like fun or even a challenge and go for it!

Physical: 

All of the gyms have decided to close up shop but many of them are utilizing social media to provide free live-streamed workouts classes - Check out this amazing effort in Spain to stay healthy while self-quarantined!

• Set aside an area in your house/apartment where you can workout - move furniture. Lay out a yoga mat. Put your hand weights and sneakers there along with any other workout equipment as a reminder.

• Set a time each day to workout - block out that time on your calendar with a reminder. Stick to it! If someone asks you your availability, that hour is blocked off.

• Set an alarm every 30-60 minutes to get up and move. Walk to get more water (hydration is key!), let out the dog, stretch, etc.

• Join a challenge! Most of the fitness devices provide a virtual challenge that you can join with other users. Create your own challenge and invite friends/family. (i.e. walk to California and back in steps over the next 2 months)

• Start with workouts that sound fun and then work up to more challenging workouts. (dance, yoga, etc)

• Take time to rest. Just because you're self-quarantined doesn't mean you have to workout every day - and you shouldn't. Take a day or two to veg, rest, make something with your hands. Recovery is important!

• Meal prep healthy meals for the week. Most restaurants are closed - so it's a great time to learn how to cook! There are loads of recipe books and YouTube videos out there that can help.

• Stock up on healthy pantry and frozen items. (you don't need to go crazy here!) Grab some healthy broth based soups, beans, rice and frozen veggies for quick & easy meal ideas.

• Try a new recipe each week and get your family members involved in cooking and learning. Get creative!

• Eat the rainbow! Building your immunity starts in your gut. It's important to have variety in your foods. Try a new veggie or fruit each week.

Here are some of my favorite apps to stay fit and active at home:

• Strava – great for running and cycling

• Nike Training Club – aimed at strengthening overall fitness levels through bodyweight/HIIT workouts

• Yoga Studio – great stress reliever

• Couch to 5K – take advantage of the Spring weather and get outside for a run!

• JetFit – great for strength training/body building if you have weights at home

• FitOn – Netflix style exercise classes (HIIT, pilates, dance, etc)

• Google or Youtube – “at home workouts"

• Not a fan of technology? No worries! Grab your pooch or family member, lace up your sneaks and hit the pavement. Walking at least 10,000 steps per day has been the recommended goal - but even an additional 5,000 will provide benefits.

Social: 

Yes, being social is a part of being well. Social distancing has made all of us introverts, which may not come natural to you! We still need human connection - social distancing doesn't mean isolation or disengagement. Keep showing up and take extra effort to interact with other virtually whenever possible.

• Skype/Facetime with friends and family. This is the best way to feel connected virtually.

• Pick up the phone when people call – call versus texting.

• Get comfortable with video calls for work meetings. This is the new norm.

• Start LinkedIn Live Stream interviews with peers and provide valuable content to your followers.

• Converse in online groups – and create your own! This is the time to step up and be a leader instead of a follower. Start speaking up on topics that are important to you - add your wisdom, insight and positive vibes.

Emotional/Spiritual: 

Mental health has been getting a lot of attention over the past few years in the wellness space, for good reason! We all know that our mental state can really impact our stress levels and thus physical health. Taking time to fill up your cup emotionally will really help you get through this season.

• Limit Netflix, social media and news. This is really important. Find out the facts and move on.

• Start a morning and an evening routine. Stick to a specific dinner time (with family) and bedtime in order to get on a routine - this will help ease your mind a lot! Our brains love structure and routine.

• Practice self-care - now more than ever, we need to be kind to ourselves. Take time to do a face mask, paint your nails, unplug from technology, meditate, etc.

• Practice some of these great mindfulness exercises to recenter and ground

• Go for a walk in nature – play a scavenger hunt with your family. (Easter egg hunts are great too!)

• Read positive media/news articles – these guys are my go-to Good News source – it’s amazing how much good is taking place right now!

• Break out the Crayloa’s and get artsy - Brit & Co are offering free art classes until 3/31!

• Journal your feelings - get it all out! Write down three-five things you're grateful for every day.

Financial: 

There have been a lot of folks who have been impacted financially from this pandemic, unfortunately. Try and use this time to focus on what you can do to support yourself financially.

• Focus on Financial Wellness for employees

• Here’s how to react financially during a pandemic

• Leverage your employer’s resources (401K, retirement, HSA, etc)

• Make it a challenge to see how much you can save during this season - the restaurants, bars, entertainment centers are closed. This is a great time to pad the savings account and/or pay off debt!

• Work on setting up an Emergency Fund of at least 3-6 months of living expenses saved (be prepared for emergency situations like these in the future)

Intellectual: 

Being at home doesn't mean we won't be able to learn and develop skills. Thanks to the internet - the world is our oyster! Keep yourself busy by learning something new,

• Struggling staying productive at home? Here are some great LinkedIn courses on how to make the most of your time working from home

• Virtual meetings are taking off – here’s a great article about how to have a successful virtual meeting

• Take online courses that expand your knowledge in all types of categories via Udemy courses (prices average $10-20 per course with a money back guarantee)

• Learn a new language via the Babbel or Duolingo app (I personally love this app!)

That should get you all going for at least a few weeks! I really hope you found this to be useful to you and you've got a few things you can add to you 'to-do-at-home' list. I'm cheering you on from my pj's and kitchen table!

Have fun, take it easy on yourself, focus on the good, and do your best to enjoy this time.

One day at a time.

Cheers to good health! Stay safe and well friends. Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback on if you tried any of these ideas and liked them! Would love to hear from you. :)

In Good Health,

Gretchen

PS: Friendly Reminder: This is just a season….

I’m sure you’ve heard this from at least one person over the past week. And if you haven’t then here you are: THIS TOO SHALL PASS. I don’t want to negate the fact that there are some crazy, scary, unknown things happening right now. But there are also so many amazing things happening - it’s your decision on what you want to focus on and how you want to react. You really have so much more control than you realize. Like a LOT. And the fact that you don’t have to commute anywhere, you don’t have to meet with your boss in their office every week, you don’t have to listen to your coworkers drama, you don’t have to worry about parking, you actually don’t even have to get dressed (but I highly recommend it!). That leaves you with an immense amount of autonomy and time that you haven’t ever had before. Hopefully that helps change your paradigm a bit and encourages you to take your life by the reins and make some things happen!

What it looks like to have 2020 Vision...

The year 2020 is upon us! A new decade requires a new lens to look through in order to have a change in perspective and continue to grow.

Hindsight is always 20/20

According to Google, 20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.

I know you’ve heard the term “hindsight is always 20/20.” Which means, "It's easy to know the right thing to do after something has happened, but it's hard to predict the future." Hindsight means understanding an event after they've happened. It’s much easier to know the right thing to do after you’ve done the wrong thing. The key is to use the knowledge that you gained as wisdom when making future decisions. When someone says to you “you should’ve done xyz” you can always say “yeah well, hindsight is 20/20. I’ll do better next time!” There is no need to regret or feel shame over a decision that you made. No matter how ‘bad’ or ‘awful’ it was because that’s all a part of the journey! We live and we learn.

20/20 vision isn’t perfect (and neither are you)

Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. Other important vision skills, including peripheral awareness or side vision, eye coordination, depth perception, focusing ability and color vision, contribute to your overall visual ability.

Trusting in a power greater than yourself, preferably Jesus, you are able to know that no matter what decision you make, you can trust that He is guiding you to the next right thing. Psalm 37:23 states, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”

Nearsighted vs. Farsighted

My first eye exam was an experience! I was only going for my wellness program’s points and ended up learning all about how our eyes operate. If you’re not familiar (aka: you have perfect vision!) Here’s a little nugget. Nearsighted means you’re unable to see things clearly unless they are relatively close to the eyes, owing to the focusing of rays of light by the eye at a point in front of the retina. Farsighted means you’re unable to see things clearly, especially if they are relatively close to the eyes.

If I had to have either condition, I’d prefer the farsighted. Farsighted in life allows me to use my clarity of vision and articulation of a successful future to pull people out of fear or shortsightedness and into hopefulness and a sense of purpose. When caught in the middle of a difficult experience or situation, I’m able to see far past it to know that ‘this too shall pass’ and it’s an opportunity to grow, develop and mature.

It’s still really important to be near-sighted as well because it allows me to be present. It’s really difficult to tackle a problem by pretending it’s not there. From my own experience, I’ve learned that being able to face the challenge head-on allows me to move past it and focus once again on my vision and goals.

The lesson from my eye exam: be willing to adjust! Depending on what’s ahead, it’s important that we’re able to see clearly from all angles in order to move forward. If you’re having issues with seeing things up close or far away, there are tools and resources you can use to help! (see below)

It’s all about perspective

What about when you’re flying in an airplane? Why do we always feel so much lighter when we’re 35,000 feet above everything? It’s a change in perspective. We can look down at our world and realize how small things actually are. We realize how vast our world and universe really is that it suddenly helps us see clearly.

I’m sure you’ve heard many people get their best ideas, come up with a solution to a problem they’ve had for months, or just find peace over their life when they’re flying. I think it’s because we’re closer to God and we’re able to just take a second to detach from everything. We’re also crammed in a small space with 100+ people and have zero control over really anything for an hour or more. Something about that situation just brings things more into focus for me. It helps me to realize what really matters and what doesn’t. Once I’m back on the ground, I feel refreshed and ready to do the next thing that will bring me closer to my goals.

Bringing the right things into focus

Have you ever had a moment of clarity? What does it feel like? To me, it feels like a light bulb is going off like I have a completely new way of looking at things. Or the things I’ve been looking at in my life suddenly look different. Many times this happens when I’m meditating on a word from God either through reading the Bible, being in church, worshiping, listening to a sermon, spending time with loved ones, praying for others, etc.

Clarity is a mixture of knowing who you really are and what is the direction of your life. Clarity in life also represents the understanding of what you want in life and what you don’t want in your life. In other words, having direction and purpose powered by the knowledge of who you are, what you are called to do and having a strong belief in yourself.

Having clarity over these areas are key to living your like intentionally:

• Communication with yourself and others - I’d have to say, this is probably THE most important thing to master. Have you ever paid attention to what you say to yourself? If not, I strongly suggest taking time to just

• Intentions/motives - what’s motivating you to do this thing, call this person, eat this food, work at this company? If it doesn’t line up with your vision, try tweaking them or trying something new.

• Needs vs wants - oh man, this is a tough one. But its is crucial if you’re wanting to up-level your life. First step - put social media away! We are bombarded with images/messages about what we need to purchase. When none of those things are needs at all!

• Core Values - There are MANY different values that someone can have, integrity, accountability, diligence, perseverance, discipline, loyalty, commitment, honesty, etc. Take time to think about the 5 core values that drive your behaviors and actions. If there are some that you’d like to foster, write those down too!

• Calling/Purpose - This comes with really focusing on what you enjoy doing and knowing what you’re naturally good at doing. When you have that fire in your belly about something, you’re most liking moving in the right direction. I spend a lot of time praying over this topic because we may think we know what our calling is in life, but ultimately - God’s plan is always greater!

• Knowing where you came from and who you belong to (surrendering to Jesus) - This is a GAME CHANGER. Period. I highly recommend getting into a good Bible-based church that can help lead you to this truth. It will change your life!

• Healing your past - It's almost impossible to rank these key areas - but if I did, I’d say this is THE most important. It’s what’s running in the background of all of you daily actions/thoughts/beliefs. (There are tools, resources, and professionals that can help - trying to do this on your own is really difficult!)

Staying focused

The 64 million dollar question is how do you stay focused on your vision and goals in the world that we live in today. If I had the answer to that.. oh man, I’d be much further along! It’s really not rocket-science though, if we really think about it! It’s all about your discipline and if your why is strong enough to propel you toward your vision vs. being caught up in the distractions always pulling at our attention. A few things that I try to practice daily include:

1. Setting crystal clear boundaries (aka. saying ‘no’) - oh how I have learned this the hard way - but it is now the guiding principle that runs my life! I am super intentional about boundaries with my time, with people, with

2. Line up your team/tribe - It’s so much easier to get things accomplished when you have an awesome team of people that understand your vision and know your potential AND want to help you reach your goals!

3. Master your time - (am/pm routines) - Again, more game changers! Setting the tone for your day and ending your day on a positive note are extremely helpful in creating the vision and life that you want to live. It’s the little daily habits that make the biggest impact.

4. Set a daily intention - Think about the person you want to be and how you want to show up for the day. This is just about the only thing you can control!

5. Be willing and able to pivot - If you’ve lived long enough - you know they are going to be curve balls. Be willing to change your plans, perspective, goals - while still keeping your vision in mind.

6. Stay open to creative opportunities - having vision and clarity requires creativity. Being open to new ways of doing things can help you see things in a whole new light.

7. Stay true yourself - Try not to get caught up in the messages that culture send you 100’s of times per day. Do what’s best for you no matter what the media is telling you. In the end, you will have more integrity with yourself which breeds confidence.

8. Set up quarterly check-ins - I do these monthly (hence, monthly intentions!) But once per quarter allows you to look back over three months and see what went well, what didn’t, and how you can improve and grow in the next three months. Taking a honest look at your life is a catalyst to seeing clearly and getting where you want to go!

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller

Your prescription for 2020

It’s important to remember that you will need a new prescription every year. If you wear glasses, you know it’s a good idea to get your eyes checked yearly. Just like your life, it’s important to have a yearly check in. Here’s a sample ‘eye chart’ for you to use to get yourself thinking:

• What do you spend most of your time on? Look at your daily habits, which ones do you feel add to your life? Which ones take away?

• What makes you feel alive?

• Who do you spend most of your time with?

• How often do you sit alone and reflect?

• When was the last time you wrote down a gratitude list?

• Who is in control of your life? Do you believe in a higher power greater than yourself?

• When was the last time you prayed?

• What/who do you lean on during challenging times? Do you feel better afterward or worse?

• If you looked at all areas of your life: Body (health and fitness), Mind and Emotions (psychology and beliefs), Relationships (intimate), Family, Social/friends/fun, Business/Career, Money/Finances, Spirituality (religion, meditation practice), would you say they are all balanced? If not, which areas can you focus on over the next year?

• Have you practiced blue-sky thinking lately? (if money was no object and you had all of the time in the world, what would you be doing?)

• Have you cried lately? Happy tears and sad tears are very therapeutic and actually aid the healing process.

• When was the last time you had a deep belly laugh?

• Have you made anything with your hands recently?

• Have there been past experiences that you feel like have been holding you back? What’s the best way you can you process them or make peace?

Take time to really think through these questions. If other questions come up, allow them. Follow the thought and see what your inner self is trying to tell you. Do a little investigating on yourself. There’s no better time than the end of a year and especially the end of the decade to take some time to really look at your life as clearly as possible. It’s not supposed to be easy or fun!

Do you actually enjoy going to the eye doctor? No! You’re probably going to leave with big pupils and feel disoriented the rest of the day, but you’ve just had something and someone look deeply into a very vulnerable place (probably one of the most vulnerable places, our eyes!) But you also left the office knowing more than when you got there. You can now course correct by adding in a new lens, or continue doing whatever has been working to keep your eyes and vision healthy! That is much like this practice. Take it slow. Make it manageable and treat it as a learning experience.

If any of these questions made you feel stumped or simply an “I don’t know” came out as the answer, please know I’m always here to help guide you! I’ve had some amazing therapists and support that have helped me work through each of these questions. I’m always here to help point you in the right direction! Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

A few great resources that I have been loving lately:

• Books:

  • “You are the Girl for the Job” by Jess Connolly

  • “Rhythm of Life” by Matthew Kelly

  • “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown

  • “The One Thing” by Gary Keller

  • The Bible - The Bible is ALL about vision! Jesus could see things no one else could and we now have a guidebook available to us to seek the gifts that He promises!

    • Scriptures on Vision

• Sermons:

  • How To Build Your Vision From The Ground Up - Q&A With Bishop T.D. Jakes

  • Fix Your Focus | The Other Half - Steven Furtick

  • 2019 Vision - Part 1 - Transformation Church

  • The Land of Make Believe | Vision Series - Pastor John Gray

If no one has told you lately.. I want you to know that you are doing AMAZING! You are really making some big moves, just by reading this blog post and taking time out to put your life to think about where you want to go!

Lift up your eyes! 2020 is going to an incredible year!

xoxo - Gretchen

Wellness Products I Can't Live Without

There are certain wellness products that I truly cannot live without! Well, I guess if I absolutely had to..I’d manage, but it would be tough! Ever since I entered the wild wild west of wellness, I’ve done my fair share of product testing. I have fallen for some of those silly fads and trends that were way overrated! (and some overpriced!) Rest assured that the following products are the ones that I go back to time after time and continue to make a positive difference in my life.

---

Nutrition

• Electric whisk - this guy is so necessary for mixing up frothy elixirs and hot drinks. I used to use my single serve blender but it would always crack and bust if I added super hot water and oils (coconut and ghee)

• Collagen - there are several different collagen brands on the market right now. I’ve tried Ancient Nutrition, Vital Proteins and a few others, but have always gone back to Vital Protiens. I switch between the beef and marine collagen. I always add this to my morning smoothie or hot beverage for added froth and protein. This is a great alternative to standard protien powder, becuase it has zero additives and zero sugar, just 10-12 grams of protein that your body recognizes!

• Iron skillets - Alright ya’ll, these are game changers! I inherited mine from my grandmother a few years ago and have loved cooking veggies and protein in them! They taste better from the seasoning and you get additional iron from the skillet. (Most women are deificient in iron, BTW!)

• Avocado Oil Spray - Do you even roast veggies if you don’t have Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray?! It’s seriously the most convenient way to roast veggies and oil pans, I don’t know how I lived without it! Avocado oil is great for baking and roasting because it has a smoke point high enough to avoid toxins and trans fats and low in polyunsaturated fat, there isn't another oil available that is better better for high heat.

• Food Processor - This was one of those items I thought only grandma’s owned - but no! It’s actually really useful. I make soups, slaw, date balls, etc. I use it quite a bit and love the mutliple settings. It’s also a really quick way to cut veggies with the slicer and shredder applications.

• Ninja Blender - Honestly, I would love to own a Vitamix, but I’m always hoping I will win one or Santa will just show up with one! :) Until then, I will continue to use my Ninja. It’s actually really great! I use it pretty much every day for smoothies, etc. It has yet to fail me! (Avoid putting super hot liquids in them, that can cause them to crack. Amazon will send a brand new one if it breaks under 1 yr.)

• Foursigmatic Packets - The most convenient way to get in superfood mushrooms and natural energy boost! I love the reishi chocolate, chaga, matcha and tumeric flavors. The mushrooms provide different properites (immune boosting, anti-inflammatory, energy & stamina, etc). Great alternative to the boring cup ‘o joe.

• Frozen fruit containers - this seems like a no brainer - but these guys have been such a game changer for me! I used to just rubberband the opened frozen fruit bags and leave them stacked up. Things always got super messy and fruit juice always seemed to go everywhere. Having frozen fruit in one container can really keep things organized and will keep your fruit lasting longer!

• Mason jars - I mean…if you live in the south - this is like owning duck-tape, you just have it! But in case you’re missing out on one of the best inventions - these are the best! I store nuts, seeds, powders, etc in them because they stay air tight fresh for months! Great for everyday items and for drinking. There are endless uses for mason jars!

• Weck jars - Similar to mason jars but a little more bouje! I love using them for my smoothies and great for putting leftover cooked and cut veggies. They come with seperate lids and brackets so be sure to keep tabs on them! They’re also very aesthetically pleasing!

• Water jug - Truly don’t know what I did before reverse osmosis and alkaline water! There are so many chemicals and toxins in our faucet water, so it’s super important to get water from a trusted source. Our local Whole Foods, Turnip Truck, and Sprouts have fill stations. Always store in a BPA free container!

• Hydroflask - My all time fave water bottle! No other bottle can rival when it comes to portability and keeping your drinks hot or cold. (okay - maybe Yeti!) They can withstand all kinds of bumps, drops, and falls - super durable! I had my first one for 8 years! Be sure to clean them thoroughly with a bottle scrubber and hot soapy water.

Fitness

• Mini Bands - I literally use these babies in almost every workout. The best on-the-go option for a really good workout. I use them around my ankles and knees to target my glutes and inner and outer thighs. They help build strengh in your knees as well!

• Light hand weights & Bala bangles - These are also great travel buddies!

• Sliders - I always forget about these but when I decide to pull them out, I’m always so amazed at how well they work! They will give you a great ab and leg workout (mostly abs!)

• Foam Roller - The ultimate way to stretch! I always foam roll before my workouts and once I’m warm, I will do more isolated stretching. Perfect for getting those knots and sore muscles loosened up.

• Hyperize - Okay - this is on my wish list! My chiro has one and I’m always grabbing it during our sessions. Great way to break up lactic acid and tension, helps muscles recover faster.

• Workout bag - there are so many good ones - but I love the backpack version. Easily fits my tennies, change of clothes, and all of my workout essentials.

• Apple Watch - what was life before this?! I thought I would never purchase one of these, but once I did, I was hooked. It helps me stay on track with my goals, and I love the convenience of checking apps without whipping out my phone.

• Obe Fitness App - Best $27 I spend per month. I thought it was a bit pricey at first, but you truly get boutique style fitness classes on-demand 24/7. They have live classes with trainers that live in NYC and are the real-deal! Highly recommend. They have a great community as well!

• Sweat App - BBG girls! $10 per month, I used this for about a year and loved the results I got. It can get kinda repetitive but a great start for beginners looking to tone and build muscle.

• Yoga mat - A must have! Always in my trunk for an impromptu yoga session. Extremely durable and great quality.

• Lululemon align pants - I feel like I’m not wearing anything when I wear these. So comfy and wick sweat so well. I wish I had them in every color!

Lifestyle

(Disclaimer: I realize that some of the therapeutic modalities that I have listed are luxuries and some may find them unnecessary - that’s totally okay! I have prioritized my health the past few years in order to heal past traumas and painful experiences. I am very grateful to be able to make them a part of my lifestyle and they may change as my life changes and evolves, but this is what works for me right now!)

• Nutritional Response Testing + Supplementation -

  Another great option is the Ritual vitamins and Care Of - I’ve heard great things about both brands. Care Of requires you to complete a quiz that better assess your supp needs and you get the best bang for your buck!

• Chiropractic care - It’s taken me several years to find the right approach with chiropractic care. It’s SUPER important to do your research on the physician - be sure to ask around and read reviews. I know there are some of you who will never try this - and that’s okay! If you have back/neck/hip issues, it may be something to consider. (My chiro is Dr Tyler Hurst at Berry Hill Chiropractic in Nashville - he’s great!)

• Brain training - Definitely not a mainstream self-care practice or therapy but THIS has been such a game changer for me! Truly don’t know what I would’ve done without this healing modality. After a not-so-great CBD experience, I started seeing Dr Hurst - who is a neurological chiro and uses eye movements, and several other training to help balance my brain, heal old traumas, and so much more! Highly recommend trying this out - esp anyone who has had mental health issues (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.)

• Acupuncture - There are SO many benefits of acupuncture! I initially went for stress relief but it has helped in all areas - relieving tension and increasing blood flow to sore muscles. It’s all about getting the energy to flow as it should and stimulates self-healing. It’s a great addition to a self-care plan!

• Massage therapy - I wish I did this more often, but this is one thing that connects me with my body. I realize ‘oh, wow - my shoulders are tighter than I thought!’ A great way to unwind, relax and release tension.

• CBT therapy - One of the oldest and most well-known therapy modalities - yet still very effective! Get it out with a trusted professional in order to connect the dots.

• Trauma therapy - I wrote about this some in my blog post on wellness practices - but if you’re serious about healing old trauma, I highly recommend Splakna, EDMR, and Group therapy. These have been very helpful in processing experiences that were being held in my body. So grateful for these!

• Float therapy - Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. You feel like you’re floating on air for an hour. It’s extremely relaxing - zero light or sound. Just pure relaxation! Some people are intimidated but you should definitely give it a try. It helps with body aches and pains, and SO many mental/emotional benefits.

• Infrared sauna therapy - I’ve only done this a handful of times, but each time I leave wishing I did it more often. Not as hot as a regular sauna but provides all of the same benefits. (Check out this article on deciding which sauna is best for you.)

• Proper Pillow - My chiropractor recommended this when I was healing my neck injury and I’ve loved it every since. It allows my head to rest in a neutral position and truly helps relieve tension. Give it try before you knock it!

• BlanQuil - One of the best things to have during the winter months and Great for kids too!

• 23 and Me DNA Testing - I have yet to do this, but I know it has been super helpful in educating people about their health predispositions, genetic information that ties them to past family members, and more!

• Coco Floss & Tongue Scrapper - Truly the best floss on the market! After reading about Glide floss being toxic - I decided to switch to the natural version. It has a great grip and really gets those flax and chia seeds out of tight places! Tongue scrapping is so invigorating, helps give you fresh breath and when you see the gunk that comes off your tongue, you’ll be a daily scrapper too!

• Electric toothbrush - I’ve loved my Phillips Sonicare but I’ve heard great things about Quip as well!

• Blue light glasses - By far one of the best purchases I’ve made! These are the best on the market - IMO. They help with regulating your circadian rhythms and reducing blue light exposure from screens - you will thank yourself in 20 years!

• Lull mattress - By FAR the best purchase I made in 2019! It’s amazing how much difference a good mattress makes. We spend 1/3 of our life in bed - so it’s super important to invest in a quality mattress. There are several on the market right now that are popular. I loved that there was a 365 day trial and full-refund policy available with Lull. Easiest purchase ever! Highly recommend.

• Daysy thermometer - After realizing the side effects of birth control, and noticing differences in my health with an IUD - I wanted to go all natural! The Daysy thermometor is a really great option. It is one of those things you have to be disciplined about and take your temp as soon as you wake up every morning in order for it to be accurate - but I think that’s definitley worth it to not have crazy hormonal side effects!

• Doterra essential oils - Two words: life. savors. I was skeptical of these guys at first but they are the real deal. My go to scents: frankincense, lavender, Balance, peppermint, Neroli, lemon, OnGuard, DigestZen. They have so many physical and emtotional benefits, and are truly the best at-home medications. (these work on people differently, so be sure to test it out first!)

• Bath salts - Instant relaxation! Great for increasing magnesium as well.

• Bucky sleep mask - The lightest weight sleep mask that I’ve found. I love that it doesn’t press against your eyes either - it’s a must have if you travel a lot!

• Dry brush -wonderful for exfoliating dry winter skin. It also helps detoxify by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage. Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also stimulates your nervous system, which can make you feel invigorated afterward.

• Gua Sha & Jade roller - Gua Sha is meant to be an act of self-care by slowing down your breath and allowing yourself to rhythmically contour the face with your stone of choice to release muscle tension and activate the lymphatic system. The roller is just a much simpler concept and can be soothing with just a quick rolling technique to activate a little energy and flow to the skin.

• Skin care products - Check out my Skin Health blog post for details on my go-to skin care products. Skin care is a great act of self-care and something I really find as a daily loving act towards myself.

• Books - it’s so hard to choose, so here are a few that I’ve read recently that have been impactful on my life

  • ESV Study Bible - if I could own just one book, this would be IT. The words truly come alive on each page and I learn something new every time I read it. God’s word is alive and will always bless you. Study Bibles are the best way to get started so you can understand context and read commentary on each verse.

  • “Big Magic” - all about how you can get your creative mo-jo back and go after your creative goals!

  • “Keep Your Love On” - very much about boundaries and how Jesus views them. Danny Silk teaches Jesus–focused boundaries defined by mature love—love that stays ‘on’ no matter what. Transformed by relationships!

  • “Boundaries” - I whole-heartedly believe everyone should read this book even if you feel like you’re a master at boundaries, these are really strong principles for having healthy relationships.

  • “The Best Yes” -All about taking control of your life and actually living it!

  • “Tools of Titans” -interviews and tips with the most influential people in health, wellness, business. Great reference book, not meant to be read once or from front to back.

  • “Rhythm of Life” - book of spiritual principles and teach you how to live in sync with the rhythm of your life - great for going through a tough time or if you’re in transition.

  • “Present Over Perfect” - the title says it all - if you’ve struggled with perfectionism, it’s extremely beneficial

  • “Essentialism” - If you struggle with burn out or being overwhelmed this book will help you stay focused on only the essential, which will move you closer to your goals and help you live intentionally

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Putting it all together!

As with any product or service that has claims to improve your health - I highly suggest that you try them out for yourself before you make any assumptions or judgement. And what works for me may not work for you in the same way. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!

A few years ago, I used to purchase things just because I saw ‘influencers’ promote it and ‘swear it was the best thing ever’! The purpose of this post is to provide insight into what I have found beneficial to my wellness journey. Some of these I still use and some of them I don’t but enjoyed during one part of my journey. **By no means am I saying for you to go out and try/use these items/services.

If you find them beneficial and offer you a little bit more insight into healing your body or providing you with tools that enhance your health, then that’s a plus! I hope you are able to decide what works best for you. If you have any questions at all, as always - don’t hesitate to reach out!

ENJOY!

In Good Health, GH

Skin Health: Why it Matters to Me

Our skin is our largest organ in the body and one that we sometimes take for granted because it’s always there, it doesn’t seem to ‘do’ as much as our other organs, however without it, we would just be a really gross looking exposed human walking around… not cute!

Growing up….

I was a teenager in the early 2000’s, so my skin health back then consisted of Seabreeze astringent, Oxy Cleansing Pads and Victoria’s Secret Love Spell lotion. I really had no idea what moisturizer was, and if I stumbled across it in my mom’s makeup, I would just write it off, ‘that’s for old ladies!’ Also, this was back when tanning beds were a weekly occurrence in the winter months and I lived at the pool during the summer.

My mom and grandmother have had the softest, plumpest skin, never seemed to burn from the sun, would easily tan, and had hardly any freckles or moles. Well, I must’ve ended up with all of my Dad’s German genes… I’ll never forget my pediatrician commenting on the mole that I had on the side of my mouth and saying, you know - you’ve got to watch those! I thought they were just what made me unique, not something that I should ‘watch.’ Then after the 10th time a stranger told me I had chocolate on the side of my mouth, I pleaded with my mom, “Can we please have it removed?” She agreed, there were several moles that were distracting that needed to be removed.

Little did I know, those three moles were just the beginning! I grew up in the 90’s, Brittany Spears was popular and all of the girls were competing to see who had the darkest tan. It was a challenge to see who could be the most tan by Spring Break every year - visiting the tanning bed two times a week. Everyone would justify it by saying “Oh - well this way we won’t burn when we get to Florida!” This was way before anyone really knew the real dangers of indoor tanning and skin health.

My outlook on skin health changed completely in 2012…

I was working in an inside sales job, not really loving what I was doing. It was spring and I was wearing a skirt, I crossed my legs and noticed a pink raised blemish on the inside of my thigh. It looked like the end of a pencil eraser, perfecting round! I thought, “hmm, I’ve got over 100 moles but none of them are pink!” I have seen a dermatologist annually since I had pre-cancerous cells removed from my shoulder when I was 20 (and loving the sun). My next appointment was in a few months, so I figured I would just ask the Derm about it then. A few weeks passed and half of it had turned really dark brown. Immediately, my instinct said “Call the doc!”

Sure enough, the doctor scheduled an appointment for the next day to biopsy and found out it was melanoma in-situ. At age 27, I was in the best health of my life, wasn’t drinking or smoking.. and yet hear the “C” word was quite a difficult pill to swallow. I was devestated but also extremely grateful because it was caught SUPER early. “In-situ” means before it gets to the fat/bloodstream - meaning full removal was possible!

It was quite the wake-up call for me… I was working in a job that felt lifeless, living 1,000 miles from home, and not following any of my passions. After the full removal - about a 2 inch deep and 2 inch wide chunk out of my thigh, I started to reevaluate and reprioritize my life. That experience is what actually motivated me to get into wellness! I moved back closer to home and haven’t looked back.

Melanoma and skin cancer awareness mean a lot to me … and I have particiapted in many advocacy events to help spread awareness and support organizations that are funding research and medications.

Surprising facts about Skin Cancer:

• Every hour someone dies from melanoma.

• Women age 49 and under are more likely to develop melanoma than any other cancer except breast and thyroid cancers.

• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven human carcinogen (aka tanning beds are like street drugs!)

• More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.

• People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily.

• Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent.

• Melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer in the world, especially in people under 35. It is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 25-30.

  *Additional stats can be found here.

Here are some way you can get involed:

• Miles for Melanoma 5K (actually won 2nd place in my age group in 2014!)

• The Big See - more info coming soon!

My morning skin routine

My morning routine starts my day and really sets the tone for the rest of my day. I love starting off with a healthy breakfast and a quiet moment to read and journal. After grounding myself, I move on to my bathroom routine. I start off with exfoliating using Tata Harper’s exfoliating regenerating cleanser with the foreo cleanser tool (love this thing!) Followed by my fave serums, moisturizers and eye cream. I don’t have a very complicated skin care routine - I like to keep it pretty simple. I love Tata Harper, Drunk Elephant, Beauty Counter, and Sunday Riley. I’ll venture off and try other things here and there, but I usually end up going back to these guys. I also really love this amazon find for taking off makeup - Bioderma Sensibio H2O.

Then onto makeup - again simplicity is my thing! I love Tarte and Beauty Counter but I also use NARS, Anastasia, etc. I like to follow the 80/20 rule when it comes to clean products. If a product is maing me break out or stinging my skin, I don’t use it - even thought it may look beautiful on others. It’s all about what works best for YOUR skin.

I cannot live without my Suntegrity 5 in 1 tinted moisturizer! Seriously such a game changer for me. I wanted to be sure I was protecting my skin from the sun but didn’t love the sticky, oily, thick face sunscreens and moisturizers that were out there. They would either sweat off or flake. Suntegrity is a top-notch product and contains certified organic aloe vera, jojoba, sunflower, pomegranate, cucumber and green tea to help provide hydration and a boost in sun protection. Zinc-oxide not only protects the skin from the damaging UV rays, but may also help soothe skin. Plus it provides mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 30 protection!

My evening skin routine

My evening routine is hit or miss, don’t get me wrong! As much as I would love to be religious with it - like I am in the morning. I don’t always get around to it every night - just keepin’ it real ya’ll! Just a simple swab with my makeup remover is sometimes all I get around to!

When I’m intentional.. I follow the same steps as my morning routine - cleaner + moisturize but I usually will add in a face mask or extra moisturizer for added self-care. I love using my gua sha and jade-roller for depuffing, helping reduce fine lines, and relaxation.

Favorite sun protection products

Moisturizers with sun protection:

• Suntegrity - the GOAT. Ya’ll I’m not kidding about this one - highly recommended! If you’re wanting to protect yourself from sun and add a high quality moisterizer to your routine with a pretty glow… this is it! Antioxidants and even protects against blue light!

• SuperGoop! - 100% mineral sunscreen - no harmful chemicals

• Murad- C-Day moisturizer with SPF 30

Sunscreens: (on the cleaner side)

• Coola - light, gentle and sheer - smells like mangos!

• Shisheido - invisbile face and body sunscreen

• La Roche-Posay - 100% oil-free matte finish, great drug store find! Derm recommended

• Beauty Counter - lightweight mineral sunscreen & water resistant

In sun(mary).. hehe.. see what I did there

No matter what your age, it’s imporant to prioritize your skin health. It is truly the one organ that takes on all of the wear and tear of our daily life and SHOWS it. Stress, sun damage, health issues, aging all show up on your skin. The sooner you start taking care of it, the better! And no - I am not a fan of putting artificial toxic chemicals in or on your skin in order to look like a baby face when you’re 90. Aging is beautiful and toxins are bad for you..no matter where they come from. But if you’re a botox believer, go for it! It just ain’t for me!

Happy to share additional details and my experience with various clean products, reach out anytime!

I hope this gives you a good place to start when it comes to protecting your skin!

xoxo - GH

Start with Smoothies

Alright ya’ll, the weather is getting nice in Nashville. The days are longer, summer is right around the corner! This is the time of year when everyone is thinking about improving the health - whether for aesthetic or health reasons.

• Are you someone who only buys the frozen meals during the winter and now considering buying fresh fruit and veggies but not sure what to do with them?

• Are your friends, family, and co-workers jumping on the keto, paleo or vegan train and telling you how great they feel and you’re thinking about doing the same but a bit intimidated by the meal prep and strict rules that are involved?

• Have you thought about improving your diet but you are overwhelmed with the options and don’t know where to start?

• Do you skip breakfast and end up eating way more than you had planned later in the day?

  If you answered YES to any of these questions, keep reading!

Why change everything when you can start with one simple thing?!

Smoothies are the catalyst to improving your health!

My personal experience with smoothies began over 7 years ago when I was really into fitness and protien powders were all the rage. (Did you even workout if you didn’t drink protien smoothies?!) As I began learning more about the power of fruits and veggies, I realized smoothies were a great way to get in several servings in one sitting! Plus, the energy I had after drinking smoothies for breakfast consistently made me a believer and inspired me to try other healthy habits. Smoothies were the gateway to my holistic health and wellness journey!

Why are smoothies so great? Oh, let me count the ways…

• They’re super refreshing in the summer! They’ll cool you off!

• They’re simple and easy to make - more on that below

• No cooking involved - however, there is a tiny bit of prep

• Endless recipe combinations - variety is key to staying on track with your health goals

• You can take them on-the-go - no waking up super early to make a healthy breakfast

• You can eat them year-round - stock up on your fave fruits and veggies when they’re in season, freeze and use when you’re ready

• You can eat them to help you lose weight and/or build muscle - ah, the power of macro-nutrients

• The entire family loves them - you can sneak in the spinach and kale with tasty fruits and the kids will never know

• You can eat them for any meal (or snack!) - smoothies are best eaten when you’re…hungry

What makes smoothies healthy?

They’re jam-packed with micronutrients and nutrient-dense means that you will stay fuller longer. Most adults skip breakfast and instead run out the door with a cup of joe or nothing at all! A recent study shows that 10% of Americans don’t eat breakfast. Which can lead to over eating later in the day. Having stable blood sugar is really important to overall health and wellness, and smoothies can provide the right amount of nutrients to keep you going strong all morning!

Tips if your goals are weight-loss:

• Eat less sugar (instead of bananas, sub with steamed then frozen cauliflower or zuchinni)

• Instead of milk, use coconut water or filtered water

• Add enough protien to serve as a meal replacement

• Add healthy fat - yes! Healthy fat will help you lose weight. Add 1/4 avocado, flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut cream/kefir, almond/nut butter

• Add more greens - spinach and kale are my go-to’s. Mix with fruit (esp bananas and citris fruits) to avoid tasting the greens

• Green tea powder (matcha) - green tea is known to speed up weight loss

Tips if your goals are muscle-building:

• Increase protein (double what you normally do)

• Add higher fat content (instead of just one healthy fat, add 2-3 servings)

• Add egg white powder or whole egg

• Increase the number of smoothies you have (one for breakfast and one in the afternoon for a snack)

  • Be sure to increase your strength-training exerices in order to see results!

What you need to get started:

• High powered blender - Some of my faves include

• Storage containers (freezer zip lock bags, sturdy Tupperware)

• Frozen fruit

• Frozen veggies

• Healthy fat (butters: almond, cashew, walnut, peanut; seeds/nuts: flax, hemp, chia, brazil nuts; yogurt or kefir, coconut oil or MCT oil)

• Liquid of choice ( milks: almond, coconut, macadamia, hemp, flax, cashew; juices: apple, orange, coconut water, pomegranate, cherry)

• Ice (if preferred)

• Superfoods: (if preferred): spirulina, moringa, barley grass powder, mushrooms (reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane), maca powder, acai powder,

• Clean protein powder (if preferred): some of my faves: hemp powder, Genuine Health vanilla protein, Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth protein, Orgain vanilla protein, Garden of Life organic Raw Fit protien

• Toppings: (if preferred) dried fruit (coconut, mulberries, goji berries) cacao nibs

• Mason jars or blender bottles

• Reusable straws (I use aluminum or glass)

Check out G+H Smoothie Recipes

Spring/Summer Smoothie Recipes:

• Tropical

• Berrylicious

• Green Goddess

• Watermelon Cherry

• Grape Slushie

• Kale Mango Glow

Fall/Winter Smoothies:

• Pumpkin Pie

• Orange Cranberry

• Warm Ginger Pear

• Sweet Pot Maple

• Butternut Cinnamon Date Smoothie

Check out these food-bloggers for even more inspo!

@BeWellbyKelly - FabFour Smoothies help you stay fuller longer (fiber + fat + greens + protein)

@Alison_Wu - layered smoothie Queen! Her layers are so colorful and look like art!

@naturally.jo - Her smoothie bowls don’t even look real! Way too cute to eat!

@befitsmoothies - a compilation of the most delish and aesthetically pleasing smoothies!

Happy Blending!

xoxo - GH

Need additional help in getting started with your daily smoothie?

I’m always here to help! Shoot me a note if you have questions.

An Open Letter to the Girl Trying to Recover from Addiction

First and foremost, I want you to know…

You are not alone.

As much as your addiction has led you to beieve that you are worthless, a lost cause, insecure, incompetant, incapable, unloveable, unable to be forgiven, shameful, and all of the other lies, the fact of the matter is NONE of these are or ever will be true.

Please know that it took me more than just a few day, weeks, or years sober to know that deep within my soul. The truth sometimes can get buried when you are in the midst of the endless cycles of addiction.

And also, let me start by saying that you may be reading this because you have opening admitted to yourself, to your HIgher Power or to somone you love that you have a problem with addiction. Can I say that you are LIGHTYEARS ahead of most folks?! There are millions of people on this planet that struggle with addiction that will never be able to admit to anyone, or themselves that they are struggling and powerless.

So - now that we’ve got that out of the way. The next misconception about addiction is that it all has to look the same. You have to have lost your job, your family, your health, your license, etc. to really have a problem. That is also 1,000% not true. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Most likely, you walked by 5-10 people today that are struggling that you would never have guessed it from the surface.

Let me be SUPER DUPER clear… I am not preaching to you. This is not a monologue. This is just me speaking (or writing) to the girl (or woman) who doesn’t fully feel seen in her struggle. The girl who doesn’t know if she has what it takes to fully recover. The girl who feels like she may be drowning a bit, not sure if she’ll ever see the other side of things. To the girl who has had recovery, went back to old behaviors, and realizing that recovery actually is the best choice. To that girl, I want you to know I’m am her too.

I speak from experience. The words on this page haven’t been copied and pasted from some textbook about how to overcome addiction. The only folks who have come close to understanding how to do so are Dr. Bob and Bill in the 1940’s. (AA’s founders)

No, these are words that come from my heart..knowing that there are so many others who struggle with this disease who feel like they don’t have a voice. I’ve been there! Heck, I’m 10 1/2 years sober and I still find myself playing small, thinking “oh, no one wants to hear from me..they won’t be able to relate, my struggles aren’t as bad as others, so who am I?” All of those limiting beliefs are not serving me or anyone else.

So, I have decided to put myself out there in hopes that you feel supported, lifted up, and most importantly that you find HOPE that you too can recover.

What I know for sure about addiction: (*channels inner Oprah*)

• It is NOT linear. And it can look messy at times. Alright, this is something that folks in early recovery tend to not realize and then they get let down after the ‘pink cloud’ wears off because they thought (and I did too!) that just because they’re sober, or have stopped doing the addictive behavior, that it can only go up from there! This is true. But life happens! We have things that happen in our lives that we have never encountered that require a whole new set of tools. Which can be scary, and challenging. During those times, we naturally turn to old behaviors to feel ‘in control’ admist the chaos. Slips, lapses, and relapses are a part of recovery. That’s just a part of the journey! I wish someone told me that early on, because it would have lessoned the embarrassment and shame that comes along with not doing this recovery thing perfect. Let yourself off the hook! You can always get back on the wagon!

• We all have some kind of addiction (or vice, or ‘thing’) - yep, all of us! If you’re human, you have wanted to escape from someone at one point in your life. Knowing this has made me feel so much less alone. And the fact that I have chosen to live in recovery, digging throug the muck and going into the darkness in order to bring it into the light is such a brave and noble thing! So many people live thier entire life never overcoming thier addiction. Hitting my ‘bottom’ was the best thing that could have happened because it made me realize how badly I want to live in the opposite direction! Contrast is a blessing. And just becuase you are in active recovery does not mean something is wrong with you. In fact you are BLESSED.

• You won’t be able to change overnight. And just getting sober won’t keep you sober. As much as I know this to be true, I still struggle with it on a regular basis. I hold myself to a higher standard because I’m sober, that’s really tough, ya know?! (eye roll) For an addict to get sober, that requires an immense amount of courage, faith, trust, and surrender. And to stay sober.. that’s an even harder challenge. I have met a handful of folks (outisde of AA) who are in awe of the fact that I’m sober. But the truth is, yes, I’m proud of my 10 1/2 years of sobriety…it’s like GOLD to me. But that’s not enough for me to live happy, joyous and free. It’s a great start. But in order to stay on the straight and narrow and living my best life, it requires doing the hard deep work. I highly recommend therapy (all types: talk, family, relationship, trauma healing, reiki, nuerofeedback, EFT tapping, Splankna, PSYCH-K, etc) Get to the root, forgive yourself and others. Feel the feelings, yes - the ugly feelings that addiction tries to numb. And then you’ll start to see the love and light all around you!

• Doing the next right thing is all you have control over. Plus your attitude and perspective! There are SO many things in this world that we have zero control over. Once I realized that I truly cannot control my external environment (esp. other people) I found so much relief and peace. Much of my addiction was rooted in the crazy idea that I thought I could control things that were completely out of my control. What empowers me is knowing that I can control my actions, beliefs and attitude. And that alone is enough!

• Faith in a Higher Power can and will save your life! And make daily life much more enjoyable. This is the first step is admitting that we are powerless and that our lives have become unmanageable. The second step is believing there is a power greater than ourselves. Thankfully, I grew up going to church (on Easter and Christmas Eve) and the seed was planted that there is a God, that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and there is a Heaven and Hell. In some of my darkest times, I always knew there was someone or something else in charge of this Universe. When I finally surrendered to this Power greater than myself, I realized He was the only thing that could break the chains that my addiction created. Each day that passes, I am reminded of His immense GRACE, forgiveness, mercy and love that he so freely gives to each one of us, no matter what. Praise the Lord!

I want you to know…

You are worthy.

You are loved.

You are forgiven.

Your life matters.

You are here for a reason

You have so much to offer this world.

You are ENOUGH!

Sending you So much love and light!

Yours Truly,

Gretchen

P.S. If you’re curious about how to recover, I’m always an email away! It would be my honor to help point you in the right direction. I know I wouldn’t be here today if someone hadn’t done the same for me. Check out these resources as well. And if you’re not ready just yet, that’s okay…just know that we will always be here waiting for you with open arms!

Finding Beauty & Strength in Your Scars

If you have lived long enough you probably have a memorable scar. You may even have multiple with a crazy, silly, or unbelievable story associated with them. Some of you may even have a scar that you wish you could get rid of and not ever think about ever again. The reasons of wanting to rid of them may vary: it may be discolored or a oddly shaped, it may be in a noticable place, it may remind you of something you wish you could forget. Ultimately, your scar(s) makes you feel INSECURE, less than, embarrassed, shameful, etc.

Side note: To those of you who somehow have skimmed through life without ANY bumps, bruises or scars - honestly, you’d have to live in a bubble to not have one scar - you probably have emotional scars that no one can see. With every hard life experience, there is always a scar that reminds us of what we have been through and ultimately OVERCOME!

To those of you who do relate to having physical scars, I hope this post helps you feel a little less alone and ultimately empowered by your imperfections instead of feeling less than, insecure, or unworthy because of them.

my scar Story

Now that I have you thinking about that scar you possess, you may be replaying how it happened in your head. That right there is your ‘scar story.’ What kind of story does it tell? Is it a story of hope? It is a story that makes people laugh or cry? How do you tell the story to people who see your scar and ask about it? Are you confident or ashamed?

Do you ever wonder why people ask you about your scar? Before I came to love and accept my scars, I would get so upset when people would ask me about about my scars. I would pause before answering thinking, “Why do you want to know? Are you trying to make me feel small or insecure? Geez, some couarge you have!” I would answer them with a quick answer and usually my face would turn red because of the shame and embarrassment that would rush over me. Now that I have come to peace with my scars and the stories they represent, my answer looks a little different:

Them: “Oh wow - what happened to your arm?”

Me: “Oh, I had a car accident a few years ago.

Them: “Oh gosh.. etc. etc. (these responses can vary)

Me: “Yeah, it’s discolored because that’s asphalt still in there! haha Can you believe that’s the only thing that I walked away with?!”

Them: “Oh wow!” …if they are curious about the accident or have had a similar experience I will then decide if I want to elaborate on what happened and what I learned.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please protect yourself. Don’t share with someone you don’t know all of the details of your tramatic or tragic experience. If you haven’t done the internal work yet, it’s important that you keep this brief, positive, upbeat, and expressing gratitude for your scar, then changing the subject. If not, you could walk away from the interaction feeling more emotionally scarred.

However, if you have a God-intervention experience, like I have, AND you have practiced healthy boundaries, then you can decide if you want to share your testimony with that person. I have found that sharing how my accident (or my other scar stories) helped me completely change my life around, fully surrender to God, and how I somehow escaped a near-fatal car accident with a crazy looking scar on my forearm, only helps bring me closer and connect with the other person. However, your reactions and responses may vary, so remember, those reactions have nothing to do with you or your scar story - they have everything to do with the other person and thier own insecurities.

My other significant scars that have shown me how powerful God is, how much strengh I have, and how incredible my body is - that I am sometimes asked about - include:

• 2 inch scar on my right leg behind my knee from melanoma in-situ removal (this scar motivated and inspired me to change careers and move back to Nashville to work in corporate wellness)

• 2 inch scar in the middle of my upper back from pre-cancerous mole removal (inspired me to no longer lay out in the sun without strong sunscreen/protection!)

• 1 inch scar on right shoulder from pre-cancerous mole removal (inspired me stop going to the tanning bed)

• internal scar tissue on C6-C7 spinal cord disc that continues to heal (motivated me to take care of my body and to treat it gently and kindly. Great reminder that we only have one body for our entire life! No more crazy acrobatic workouts in the gym or super heavy lifting and more yoga, stretching, therapuetic exercises)

• 1 cm scar on left wrist where a peice of windshield was lodged from car accident (the most painful but a funny story… feel free to ask me about it sometime!)

…And I’m extremely grateful for each and every one of them!

The significance of your scar story

All of us have a testimony from our scars. Whether it was a childhood experience, that one time in college, that freak thing that came out of no where that we had zero control over. The experiences we may have been able to prevent, but nevertheless, they happened for a reason. The reasons and lessons I have learned from each one of my scars:

• To stay humble

• To remember I’m not bulletproof or invincable (to be careful!)

• I’m not in control

• My life has a purpose and everything I overcome can and does help others

• My body is incredibly resilient (and so is my heart)

finding beauty in your scars

The truth is, your scar helps others to see VISABLY that you have lived life. That you have gone out there and risked getting a little flesh wound to LIVE life to the fullest! That you’ve overcome something uncomfortable and painful and they have added character!

Another important truth: We are all broken (and scarred). There is brokenness in the physical sense that sometimes requires surgery. But there is also a universal spiritual brokenness that always requires surgery and healing of the soul, that only by surrendering to God can provide.

Scars not only tell the story of past wounds; scars tell the story of healing. For if there were no scar, there would be no healing. A wound that was once open has now closed. Healing has taken place and has left its mark as a scar.

Whenever I find myself wishing my scars away, I remember that Jesus bore scars on His resurrected body. It was through His scars that the disciples believed in His resurrection. When Jesus first appeared to His disciples in a resurrected body, “He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side.” When the disciples saw these wounds, “…they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20: 20).

It takes time…As I mentinoned above, the scar on my left arm with the lovely black, purple, red, pink discoloration and funky shape took me about two years to fully accept and love. I spent hard-earned money on laser treatments (that I think may have helped but really didn’t work!), expensive makeup (that takes forever to apply and rubs off on my clothing!) I even have given serious consideration to covering it up with a salamander tatoo! (thanks for the recommendation, Dad! hehe)

Helpful self-love practices: In order to find the acceptance, love and beauty in my scars, I spend time doing the following self-love practices that you may find help you do the same:

• Spend time in the shower and in front of the mirror telling my scars how beautiful they are (out loud)

• Kiss and massage your scars (essentail oils, vitamin E gel and other scar creams may be useful)

• Thank them for protecting you and healing that part of your body. (out loud) It’s amazing how much your energy will shift if you take time to actually love on your body.

• I will also think about how strong I am in my meditations because of those experiences. Thanking God for the miracle of healing!

• Find supportive people who love you because of how much you’ve been through and who also have scars that they have come to accept and love

embracing your scars fully

Embracing your scars means being able to walk confidently and hold your head high when someone asks you about the story behind them. (I cannot reiterate enough how important it is for you to discern how and with whom you want to share your scar story.) Finding the confidence to share your story will take practice. You’re going to stumble the first few times. But be easy on yourself and give yourself grace. Your body has given you grace just by HEALING, so practice that same grace with yourself.

The bottom line: You are beautiful because of your imperfections. Owning them fully only makes you that much more beautiful and REAL. In this fake, image-obsessed world that we live in, seeing a physical scar is incredibly refreshing and draws me closer to the person that I can see isn’t ‘perfect.’

Love on your scars today…they are a beautiful reminder of what you’re made of!

15 Random Facts About Me

Hi, Hello, Hola, Ciao, Bonjour, Hey ya'll! 

My name's Gretchen Hoechner (pronounced HECK-NER, in KY!) I started this blog a few years ago as a place to share my love for everything 'health and fitness,' which has now evolved to include everything 'wellness' related. I know you're probably rolling your eyes thinking, "What's the difference between the two?" For me, quite a lot! (more on that later) I've been super slow in posting because well..I have a gillion ideas but always think, "oh, I'll blog about it later" and then later never comes. So - I'm making myself sit still and type! My hope is that you gain information + inspo + motivation + confidence in yourself and your health after reading my posts. I get a lot of questions about ME (not just food), which makes me feel oh so loved! So, I thought I'd share some random facts about me in an effort to help you get to know me better. I'm basically an open book, but some of these things you may not already know about me. If you have more questions, please feel free to comment below and I'll do my best to answer! :)

1. I used to be terrified of public speaking! I would get so nervous that my face would turn bright red and I'd sometimes start sweating uncontrollably. Thankfully, with lots of practice, I've actually become really fond of public speaking and speak at least 5-10 times throughout the year to audiences of up to 500+ sharing my story of recovery and educating about eating disorders. I've come a long way, but still have a lot to learn. I'd LOVE to do a Ted talk some day, that's definitely on the bucket list!
2. I've always been an athlete. I think I came out of the womb kicking a soccer ball! I was always super competitive in literally everything! From rainy day Battleship games with my family to P.E. class and wanting to beat ALL of the boys in every race/game/match/etc.  I usually can pick up sports pretty quickly, however - my hand-eye coordination isn't the best. My most loved sport was soccer (left-defender) but I swam year-round, gymnastics, dance, tennis, track (actually made it to State every year in HS for the 4x400 relay). My parents thankfully encouraged me to participate in as many sports as possible, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity. It's truly given me so much will-power, self-belief, grit and confidence in myself. Some of the most influencial people in my life were my coaches. 
3. We've had mini-schnauzers all my life - literally haven't gone more than 6 months without having one in our family. Token, Abby, Roxie, and now Margot! Miss Margot is truly such a LIGHT. I've never met such a loving and in-tune dog. She is so sensitive the people's energy and wants to love on literally everyone until she runs out of love. She has no limits! And she is extremely fast! Probably the most athletic pooch we've ever had! Roxie was my girl. We had her when I was age 15-28, so most of my life! She would go on runs with me when I was staying in shape for sports, she had such an outgoing (alpha) personality! When I came home from college/first real job, she would smile so big for hours! It was so funny! She made such a positive impact on everyone's life! (depsite her really LOUD bark that my mom tried to quiet by cutting her vocal chords but they just grew back stronger!)
4. The women in my family are really incredible. I have a really awesome legacy of women that came before me who really paved the way. My grandmother married a professional golfer in the 30's and modeled hats. Her husband passed away suddenly and she was widowed with two children. She ended up working odd jobs in order to make ends meet (she even worked in Oak Ridge, TN keeping secrets about the Atom bomb!) She decided to start her own framing business out of her home and ended up moving into a shop downtown Bowling Green, KY and expanded it to include antiques, interiors, gifts, etc. My mom has taken it over and has kept the business running succesfully for the past 60+ years! Work ethic + ownership + responsibility were values that were instilled in me as a kid and have helped me in every job I've ever had. 
5. I'm such a homebody and always prefer staying in over going out. 'Living my best life' is camped out on the couch in a comfy sweatshirt and slippers, eating a delish chocolate treat, wearing a face mask, and watching something funny on Apple TV. (I'm always open to Netflix suggestions!)
6. I'm a huge nerd! I really love to learn. I'm super open to other people's opinions and perspectives and always intrigued by different cultures. (I'd love to travel more in order to experience them first hand) I used to read the American Girls books out loud to my mom on long car rides. I love history and always love a good story about strong women. I'm always looking for new things to learn (not just wellness related) and spend a lot of my free time listening to podcasts + audiobooks + etc. 
7. Most of you know I have a twin bro. He's pretty dang cool. (not just b/c he's my twin!) I'm Baby A - one full minute older! We grew up playing with each other non-stop. My mom would have to pull us a part. Then around age 9, we started hanging out with our friends. I was into sports, he was into working outside. He started stripping tobacco and driving a truck on farms at age 12! He is NOT afraid of hard work. In fact, he started his own lawn care + landscape company when we were 13 years old. He now has a really successful business (15 years going strong!) and is well-known in my hometown. He's a business man, through and through. (And literally could teach any Dave Ramsey class!) We really didn't hang out much in our teens and twenties but now he's teaching me about business and I'm teaching him about marketing. 
8. I really love the hippie + bohemian lifestyle. I marvel at the people that can literally sell everything they own and hit the road for months living out of thier van/RV. I think that's how we really all should live. No schedules, no deadlines, no pressure, just BE. Experience all that life has to offer and help people along the way. I'm down! (I may try it out someday)
9. I was a brunnette for about 6 months in college. I hated it! It was horrid. I've always been blonde so the brown and blonde mixture came out this mousey-brown color that really washed me out. Everyone was like, ummm..yeah, I like you as a blonde! Same, people. Same. 
10. I was always a pretty healthy eater (mainly because I knew I felt better when I ate healthier) but I also grew up in the 90's so ya know, everything came in a box of some kind! My favorite foods as a kid were Snack Well's Devil's Food Cookie Cakes, Baked Lay's, Mini Muffins, Kellogg's strawberry cereal, ranch rice cakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins of any kind (I would eat the top off and leave the rest for the next person! haha, so rude!) 
11. I have always been horrible at math. I somehow only needed to take the entry-level math in college and changed my major 3 times so I didn't have to take an advanced class! (that's not the only reason but it definitely contributed)
12. As a kid, I always pictured myself in a job where I wore a suit and carried a briefcase (I think because I saw pictures of my mom doing this in the 80's). That evolved during my teenage years and I thought I wanted to be a graphic designer. I went to school for graphic design for 3 years and got to my advanced Photoshop class, looked around the room, and realized I would be fetching coffee for my boss and not designing ads if I continued. So, I switching my major to focus on branding and sales. I ended up graduating with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree. (basically a bunch of random advertising/marketing/sales classes hodge-podged together!) Who really cares what degree people have anyway, right?!
13. I got my first job out of college before actually graduating. I was OLD when I graduated college! I took the long route, ya'll. So by my senior year, I was so over it. I ended up going to a Sales competition with one of my professors and had interviews on the spot for a few sales companies. One of them landed and I was offered a job selling custom suits in Charlotte, NC. I ended up having 9 more hours to finish and completing them online during my first 6 months in Charlotte and also working in full-time commission sales. (not recommended)
14. I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Everyone is in this boat together and we're all doing the best we can with what we've got! Once I realized this, I started to see the beauty and grace in my daily life. Plus, I know how short life really is, so why not live it to the fullest! No regrets. 
15. I was born and raised in Kentucky. (pronounced CAN-TUCK-EE) I swear I'm not a red-neck or hick by any means but I have witnessed my fair share of jacked-up trucks with monster truck tires and big exhaust pipes and can understand southern folks who sound like they're chewing on cow curd! I know how to target and skeet shoot and could hold my own in a country line dance competition! I grew up listening to Garth Brooks, George Strait, Faith Hill, etc. and now live in Nashville, TN so, I haven't steered too far away from my roots! And no...Kentucky isn't just a bunch of toothless people wearing overalls without shoes on. It's a beautiful state, you should definitely visit!

Alright, ya'll! That's it for now. I'm sure I'll think of more random things to add to the list just for laughs. I hope this helped you get a better idea of who I am. This whole 'social media' thing is tough. We feel like we know people we follow but we really don't. We just see the 'highlight reel' and never really get to know someone's real life struggles and things they're gone through. If you ever feel like you don't really know who I am. Please know, you can ask me anything! I'm willing to share in hopes that you don't feel alone and who knows, we may actually become friends IRL. Thanks for reading! 

Have a question? Ask me here

My Eating Disorder Recovery Journey

Have you ever felt lost, alone, unsure, or just afraid of the unknown?

Have you been led to believe that you take up too much space, or that your opinions, thoughts, feelings don’t matter to those around you? Have you felt like you aren’t worthy enough to just be, and instead you perform for those around you in search of acceptance, love, and appreciation?

If you’re human, I’m sure you’ve felt some of these emotions!

*Trigger Warning: If any of my story distresses you or triggers negative feelings, please stop reading. It's always right to protect yourself and your emotions.

However, some of us take these emotions and internalize them, causing internal discontentment otherwise known as an eating disorder. Wait, did you flinch when you heard the word - ‘eating disorder’? Did it make you feel a bit uncomfortable? Maybe you yourself or someone close to you has dealt with disorder eating or destructive eating behaviors and maybe still are today. I’m hoping I can help shed some light on this terrible, awful, no good illness that affects 8 million people in the U.S. alone. Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of any other mental illness. There are many factors into why someone develops an eating disorder - but mostly, it boils down to environmental factors, genetics, and personality traits. For me, I think my personality plays a big part, but I was also environmentally triggered. The way that I perceived society’s pressures on women (men, too!) was something I thought defined me. I remember thinking as a teenager, that if I didn’t look like the girl on the cover of Teen magazine - not knowing photoshop existed - I wasn’t good enough, worthy, or even lovable. 

If you’ve been following me for awhile now, or you know me personally, you know that I struggled with an eating disorder right after highschool. My eating disorder was triggered by the fears of the unknown. I was on my way to a big college, a few hours away from home, and none of my high school friends were going with me. I was facing this big, bad world all alone, and I didn’t have my usual ‘comfort zone’ that I had become so accustomed to in high school and growing up in a small town in Kentucky. Sound familiar? We all have to leave the nest at some point, right? 

But, if we go back a few years, I remember my eating disorder started as a way to ‘get healthy’ for sports. I started playing soccer at age 5. I was a feisty little thing. I remember thinking there weren’t ANY boys that could beat me! I wanted to be the fastest, the strongest and the all star from a very early age. My parents noticed this drive and competitive nature and encouraged me to participate in any sport that my heart desired. I was fortunate to be able to play soccer, swim year-round, and run track. Despite my hunger and ambition to be the best, I wasn’t naturally the best. I had to really work at it, spending hours after practice and on weekends to condition myself, fine-tune my skills and really work on my ‘winning mindset,’ as my coaches called it. My friends would be out at the skating rink or the mall, and I’d politely decline in order to work on my juggling. I never felt like I was missing out, though. I loved nothing more than to work on myself and improve my skills. It was like a high. 

Thankfully, all of the hard work paid off and I was a starter, playing for the entire game on the Varsity soccer team. I went to State in the 400m relay as a freshman and won regionals in the 400m as a junior. I was doing just as well in swimming but I chose soccer over swimming because the thought of getting into an ice cold pool at 4am didn’t sound like too much fun!

I was able to spend more time with friends, once I had ‘perfected’ myself in sports. I remember thinking, if my thighs look a certain way in shorts, then I’m able to go hang with boys, because they wouldn't want to hang with me if I had fat thighs. My confidence was higher than ever. I was flying through school work and ranking top of my class at graduation. I was helping others with their school work, thinking I would be even more accepted if I could show them how smart I was too! Honestly, any opportunity to prove myself, I jumped on without hesitation. The feeling of getting the gold star, pat on the back and put on a pedestal was like food to my soul.

Senior year when things started to get a little less enjoyable. I had signed up for a weightlifting class and ended up winning the weightlifting award (beating all of the guys!) four years in a row. I felt like everyone around me had stopped trying to compete because they knew I’d do anything to win. So logically, I decided to just compete with myself. Plus, I was thinking I had to ‘prepare’ myself for this big State college. I didn’t want to let my family down if I got there and underperformed. Such pressure, right! Sheesh. 

I remember our high school graduation party was the day I decided - no more messing around, I’m going to stand out once I get to college. I was convinced that I may have been burnt out from soccer, so I decided to let go of the sports and focus on getting into a sorority. And that was a totally different kind of pressure: ‘Be the prettiest, skinniest girl so you can be accepted into the best sorority.’

It started out as an innocent effort to go to the gym a little more and quickly turned into an obsession. I had nothing else to do - no soccer or track practice, no homework. Instead of going shopping or lounging by the pool, I was at the gym. Four to five hours a day. I began tracking every single calorie burned and before I knew it, my friends and boyfriend at the time were concerned. I was lying about where I was and thinking I was invincible. And I was losing weight - quickly. I had lost thirty pounds in less than three months, and I didn’t have thirty pounds to lose. 

The first day of college was pretty tough. I remember feeling overwhelmed with emotion when my parents said good-bye. “Oh shoot, it’s just me, here, all alone.” Within 3 months, my parents were making an emergency trip to pick me up and take me home. Things had gotten way out of control and my eating disorder had taken over.

Thankfully, I was able to withdraw from school and go to an excellent treatment facility two years later. But it was a very slow process of crawling before I could walk. Those two years of being completely consumed by eating disorder behaviors and thoughts were going to take some time to un-do and I had to figure out who I was without my eating disorder. My quest for identity in someone that never existed before - the thought of not having ‘rules’ around food and exercise was hard to comprehend.

Treatment was more about putting on weight than anything else. It has taken me many years (and something I still work on every single day) to fully live in recovery mentally as well as ‘carrying around a little more weight.’ Eating disorders are about much more than weight. You may have heard the terms EDNOS or Orthorexia. EDNOS refers to an eating disorder not otherwise specified, which allows doctors to lump all of the people who have ‘issues’ around food into a general diagnosis in order for them to receive treatment. Orthorexia has just recently come onto the scene with the rise of the wellness movement and social media. Orthorexia is when someone becomes obsessed and compulsive around eating healthy. Yep! Even eating healthy can be taken too far. Social media has been a really big problem over the past few years as it relates to eating disorders. I speak from personal experience!

There’s no doubt in my mind that I dipped my toe into orthorexic territory once my Instagram account became my main focus after a tough breakup. I was getting validation for every ‘vegan’ picture that I posted. It turned into the next ‘high.’ Becoming concerned with the size of legs in pictures and if my face looked swollen. And truly living my life around my next Instagram post. Whew, talk about exhausting and talk about alienating and being out of touch with reality! I'm sure you can probably relate. That too started off with good intentions and turned a negative corner quickly. As you can probably tell, I like to do things ALL the way. Not half-way. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to be sure and take it to the limit! That’s something that I’ve had to really be conscious of and work on in recovery. Thankfully, I have an amazing therapist that is on speed-dial and a supportive group of people around me that helped me work through the healthy eating obsession. 

After leaving treatment (too soon due to lack of insurance coverage) in 2007, I turned 21 a few short months later. I won’t go into my cross-addiction (I’ll save that for another post!) but I quickly turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the world around me. I was so close to death in treatment, that I knew I didn’t want to die. Food was no longer the enemy. I was never a drinker before because sports were such a focus, but once I had my first real ‘drunk’ experience, I was hooked. I could feel numb and not deal with all of the emotions, specifically shame and guilt over my eating disorder. 

I will be picking up my 9 year sobriety token on January 20th. Wow - it’s hard to believe it’s already been almost a decade of not taking a drink or a drug. But the truth is recovery to me is not about the number of years under your belt. You can be 30 years sober and still miserable. 

Recovery is SO much more than that. 

It would be really cool to stand here and say, “Oh, and I’ve not had ANY eating disorder thoughts or behaviors for 9 years either.” But the reality is, there’s no way that would be true. There are definitely days, weeks, and even months where I forget that I even struggled with an eating disorder. I don’t think twice about what I put in my mouth, I don’t have rules around food, and life is GOOD. But there are times when I think, “Gretch, do you not remember anything you learned in treatment or over the past 9 years, what are you doing!?” That’s the funny thing about recovery. It’s a very complex lifestyle but one that I wouldn’t trade for the WORLD.

---

What Recovery Means to Me:

RECOVERY LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE

Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits all cookie cutter deal. It can be pretty messy, in fact. Recovery isn’t just about stopping the eating disorder behaviors, eating food without anxiety, and exercising for enjoyment. The physical changes are the first step. Changing long-held beliefs that are deeply rooted can take time to fully work through. I remember it wasn’t until 5 years sober that I started to fully understand myself and feel like I was coming into my true, authentic self. Patience is essential and allowing yourself to have set-backs. Relapses are a part of recovery, believe it or not. As much as I believe I would never pick up a drink or restrict my food ever again, it could happen. I’ve struggled with other areas like relationships and finances, that could most definitely qualify as a ‘relapse.’ And yet, without them, I wouldn’t have the insight and wisdom that I have know. Every set back is a set up for a come back. I know recovery isn’t ever going to be perfect, and I’m always learning and growing.

RECOVERY ISN’T LINEAR

Just like life! We have our good days and bad days. There are times when I can go out to eat with friends and eat whatever sounds good on the menu without breaking down the macros in my head. But then there are days when I’m so consumed with what’s going in my body that I don’t even enjoy the food. There are times of year when ole ED will rear his ugly head and say things to me when I look at myself in the mirror or convince me that others are thinking a certain way about my body, usually in the summertime and around the holidays. Then there are times when I I’ve gone days without even thinking about how much space my body is taking up or how much cellulite I have. 

RECOVERY ISN’T A DESTINATION

It’s important, for me, to never forget that I’m in recovery and always will be until I die. Whenever I hear people say, “I’m a recovered alcoholic,” or “I’m recovered from anorexia.” I get an uneasy feeling in my gut. I think to myself, oh gosh, I never want to think I’ve out-smarted my illness. It’s not like you finish treatment or work the 12 steps once and then get your ‘Recovery Degree.’ It’s a daily reprieve. I take a personal inventory on myself every day, ensuring that I’m moving in the right direction. My eating disorder (and alcoholism) is a progressive illness. If I were to drink tomorrow or start restricting my food, my illness will be full-blown and pick up right where I left off. I respect that fact, and treat recovery just as I would a family member - with compassion, understanding, love and acceptance. It doesn’t define me, but it most definitely has made me who I am today. I’m proud to say I am in active recovery. I don’t want to think I’ve got it all figured out, because that’s when I get a little too big for my britches! 

RECOVERY IS THE MOST COURAGEOUS ACT

Not many 22 year olds are forced to look at themselves and their behavior, admit they aren’t in control and completely change their lives. And then throwing on top of that being addicted to a substance or a way of life. If you know someone who has quit smoking, for example, you know that overcoming an addiction isn’t for the faint of heart! All of the underlying beliefs and reasons why you were doing the destructive behaviors have to be analyzed and understood in order for real long-lasting change to take place. It wasn’t easy, and still isn’t, even 9 years later. It requires an incredibly strong belief in a power greater than yourself. Realizing you are powerless over your addiction and then having to rebuild your confidence and self-esteem in order to act like a normal citizen is a tall order! It was a lot easier to just be the bum at the bar or the helpless anorexic. I had to choose LIFE and then take it one day at a time, sometimes even an hour at a time. I wish recovery and the 12 steps were taught in school. I think this world would be a much more peaceful, happier place to live if we all practiced the recovery principles. 

RECOVERY IS A BLESSING

I think about how much I have grown personally over the past 9 years and it astonishes me. I remember early in recovery, I couldn’t relate to any of my peers because I was 23 with the wisdom of a 33 year old. Being in recovery has required me to look into the deepest, darkest parts of myself and honestly face things that are extremely difficult to face. Most people go their entire lives never taking an honest look at themselves and the way they live their lives. Once I dug up all the garbage, I was able to live free from the bondage of myself and truly be happy. I honestly don’t know how people don’t live like those in recovery - it would feel like groundhog day to me. Get up, go to work, do the family thing, do my thing, go to bed. Repeat. And never stopping to smell the roses or wake up early enough to see the sunrise. I take delight now in the smallest things that I would’ve never noticed before. Having an eating disorder keeps you in a ‘belly-gazing’ way of life. Head down, focused on yourself, and nothing else. Recovery allows me to actually feel the chill bumps on my arms when I hear a beautiful song on the radio, laugh at kids being kids, play with pets, feel the magnitude of this incredible planet, delight in the birds singing outside my window and slow down to actually feel the joy in every moment. I am so blessed.
 

RECOVERY ISN’T SELFISH

Early on in recovery, I was spending a lot of time alone. Reflecting, journaling, seeking the truth within myself. It was a deep dive into self-discovery and soul searching. And it was required! I needed to step out of my life for a bit to understand why I was doing the things that had got me where I was. Some people didn’t understand, and criticized me for always needing to go home early or go to church on Sunday alone. It was a really vulnerable time in my life and required me to put my needs and my recovery first. Once I began to build confidence in myself again and forgave myself for the past, thats when I was able to show up fully myself for others - which is actually the most selfless thing you can do. 

RECOVERY IS A FAMILY AFFAIR

In the depth of my addiction, I had no idea that my actions were affecting anyone around me. In reality, my addiction was affecting pretty much everyone I came in contact with, especially my family. I could not have asked for a better family. I grew up knowing right from wrong, my grandparents instilled morals and values like honesty, integrity, work ethic, and respect into me every chance they got, my parents supported everything I ever wanted to do and helped build the belief in me that I can literally do anything I set my mind to. I never felt like we were lacking as kids. So, when things got tough, my family had a really hard time understanding why and of course questioned themselves. “What could we have done differently?” or “We should’ve never let her go off to college.” The truth is, I believe my addiction was going to take shape at some point in my life. I’m just extremely grateful that I was able to be in recovery at such an early age and now I have the rest of my life ahead of me! My parents took time to do their own therapy while I was early in recovery, giving me space to handle things on my own, which was the best decision they could’ve made. I’m beyond grateful for the family I have, and work hard every day to show them how much they mean to me. They are very often my ‘why’ behind staying sober. 

RECOVERY REQUIRES COMMUNITY

This is probably the lesson that has taken me the longest to learn. I’ve always been extremely independent. I always figured things out on my own and it seemed to work for me. I enjoyed being the expert and teaching others about sports or studies. I learned really quickly in recovery that I cannot do this alone. Faith is critical. Community of others going through what you’re going through is just as critical. The two things that feed my addiction: too much alone time in my head + not around people who ‘get it’ and are also in recovery. I’m a huge advocate of AA - it helped save my life early in recovery. But if that’s not your thing, there are a lot of other recovery communities you can join. Getting a sponsor, or someone that has been where you are and can help you along your journey is also really important. Even just joining a small group at a church or a book club can help! Getting around other like-minded people is the best medicine for me.

RECOVERY MADE MY HEART GROW 10X

If you were to have met me when I was deep in my addiction, you would’ve thought my heart was as cold as ice. When you’re consumed by addiction, the only thing you’re concerned about it YOURSELF. You will literally do anything to get that next ‘fix’ so to speak. And that means lying, stealing, and hurting those closest to you. I’ve had to made amends to people and continue to do so by always doing the next right thing. Living this life of recovery IS my amends to my family. I was without a place to live for a few days thankfully had friends that were able to help get me into a halfway house. Now, when I pass a homeless person on the street, I always wave, nod, smile and pray “By the Grace of God, there Go I.” Because, truly - I was a breath away from that being my life. The amount of compassion and empathy that I have for those struggling with addiction and difficult times is the size of the state of Tennessee. Just thinking about how grateful and appreciative I am for people that helped me makes my heart SWELL. And that’s also why I spend a lot of my free time serving in the community and giving back. I wouldn’t be where I am today without people doing the same for me. My experience has also allowed me to be able to relate to people from pretty much any background. I can point my pinky finger in the air with the high-rollers and I can laugh and cry with those who have nothing. I’ve been there, done that. I got the t-shirt. The amount of humility that gives me is hard to put into words. I know I can’t help everyone but there are a few places in Nashville that I try to make an effort to volunteer as much as possible. Check them out here. 

RECOVERY HAS SAVED MY LIFE

After many consequences and hitting my version of ‘bottom’ - I realize that this recovery way of life has (and continues to) save my life. I know I would not be here today if it weren’t for the people that showed up when I was without a place to live, helping me get back on my feet in every sense of the word! Treatment was absolutely essential to my recovery and something I think everyone should experience if they are able! Being away from the people, places and things that helped keep you sick and taking a pause on your life to heal is truly the best thing you can do for yourself. The things I learned in treatment are what fuel my recovery on a daily basis. (If you have questions about treatment centers, please contact me! There are a few resources you can access here as well.)

If you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU FOR READING! It means more than I can even begin to explain. My hope is that after hearing pieces of my journey, that you feel less alone. That you can maybe go easier on yourself if you relate to it in any way. That you know you are worthy, loved, accepted and valuable exactly as you are and you have nothing to prove or protect. Just by showing up as your unique beautiful self is ENOUGH.

For those that may be curious about recovery and feeling like you’re ready for a little guidance on how to live ‘in moderation’ or a little less strict. I thought I’d share a few recovery practices that I try and incorporate in my daily life to keep myself on track and continuously healing.

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What I do to Stay on Track in my Recovery:

1. Self care is a priority - Sunday self care is taking over the wellness world. Digital detoxes, time in nature, filling the bath tub with flowers, face masks, massages, red light therapy - ALL of the above. If you're not finding time in this crazy chaotic world to destress and tune out the noise, it will eventually catch up with you. I try to take at least one day a week to realign myself, whether that's through meditation or yoga, or just lunch with a friend. It's important to take time to get away from email, social media and responsibilities. Fill your cup up first!
2. Have fun in the kitchen - There are so many amazing delicious recipes online and I think everyone I know who has a website in the wellness world has a 'meal prep how-to guide' (mine is coming soon!) I love thinking of fun new meals to make that keep my tastebuds excited for each meal! I love having fresh produce cut and ready to eat every week. I also really enjoy making my meals colorful and fun so when I'm at work, I have something to look forward to mid-day that brightens my mood. Throw a meal-prep party every Sunday with friends. Bake something yummy each week as a way to treat yourself. Some of my most fond memories are those made in the kitchen. 
3. No more fad dieting - Paleo, Keto, LFHC, Vegan... you name it, I have tried it! There are certain foods that I enjoy more than others and I choose to be dairy free and wheat free. But above all else - no foods are 'bad foods,' food shouldn't have a label. It's just food. There are some foods that aren't the healthiest option and I try to avoid certain things like canola oil and packaged foods full of sugar and preservatives (i.e. Little Debbies) but if I'm out and about with friends and someone wants to get a donut, it's okay for me to eat a donut! I love having food freedom knowing that my body is an incredibly strong, resilient machine that will always find equilibrium and homeostatis no matter what. And it's important to enjoy life, including food! #balance right?!
4. Ask for help - This is one that I usually have a hard time with, mainly because I pride myself of being able to handle things - "I'm tough, I can handle it." That mindset is great 80% of the time, but there are times when it's important to let go of the wheel and allow others to help you. People truly want to help! Humility is a key part of my recovery and something that I have to consciously work on daily. Letting people over in traffic or cut ahead of me in line, holding the door for others, waiting to speak in a meeting - all of these things help me to remember that the world doesn't revolve around me! 
5. Animal therapy - I swear dogs speak to me! Whenever I'm having a down day I think about the fact that there are people in this world who are allergic to dogs! It can always be worse, right?! Animals have an amazing ability to love unconditionally and 
6. Always look for the good - No matter what you're going through, there is always something good that can come from it. It's easy to say that if you're not the one going through it! But I know that beleiving this to be true has pulled me through some really tough times. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you are NOT stuck, you are NOT alone you are going to be so much stronger after the storm has passed. The silver lining sometimes is that you're still here, breathing, alive and able to live another day. If you've got all of your limbs, that's a win right there!
7. Let myself off the hook - Whenever things are stressful or I feel like I'm not where I want to be, expectations aren't being met, etc. I naturally want to turn inward and beat myself up. That's when I have to stop myself and remember, we're all doing the best we can with what we have in each moment. If things aren't going as planned, I take a breather, go for a walk, call a friend, whatever I can to change my perspective and try again. Sometimes it's best to just make a cup of tea and start again the next day. 
8. Remember how far I’ve come - One of the best peieces of advice that I've been given is to take a personal inventory of how much I've overcome. In other words, write out a 'brag sheet' from as far back as you can remember. This list has grown over the years and whenever I'm feeling like I need a pick-me-up, I grab it and read every obstacle that I've successfully overcome. When you put them all out on paper it's amazing to see how much you've gone through and how strong you are because of each obstacle. Take out a pen and paper, this is a must do! You'll be standing a little taller with your head held high!
9. Stop comparing myself to others - This is EVERYTHING! So many of my 'problems' would be solved if I stopped comparing my life with others. Thank you Instagram! We don't have to fall victim to the social media comparison game if we set boundaries with our phones. Allow yourself 15 minutes a day (I know that sounds crazy!) to scroll through to see who's gotten engaged, who hates Trump and who got a new puppy or who has a baby on the way! Limits are KEY. And taking time to remind yourself how awesome you're doing. (see #8)
10. Find movement that I enjoy - As I continue to age I realize my body doesn't always want to do 30 minutes of HIIT or a super intense cross fit workout. Sometimes the best way for me to feel the endorphins from a workout is to just go for a 45 minute stroll. I've become obsessed with stretching and of course, yoga is magical. Our bodies are meant to move, not be the brunt of our stress and frustration. Treat it kindly, it's the only one we've got!
11. Allow for grace - Forgive yourself. Over and over and over again. You are human. You're going to have seasons of trials and sowing and seasons of reaping and joy. That's life. So expect that 'this too shall pass' (both good and bad times) and take delight in the good times because just like the weather, there are always going to be storms. BUT there's always a rainbow after the storm. Never give up on your goals and your vision. Find time every day (or at least every week) to take a personal inventory and right your wrongs. And remember to 'Live and let live.'
12. Be still - When life gives lemons, get still. That's the best piece of advice I've got for you! Stillness allows me to go inward. Ask myself the questions that need to be asked - what's creating all of this stress, discomfort, fear, frustration. Most of the time, the answer is really simple. But sometimes it takes a few days in a row of just being STILL. Once I find the truth in a situation, I turn it over to the power greater than myself and let it go. Sometimes, I'll write out my false belief on a napkin and burn it. It's very freeing. Knowing and trusting that God and the Universe have my back, always.
13. Get outside comfort zone - This could mean going to a networking event by yourself to meeting new people, volunteering at a place that supports a mission you believe in, trying out a new hobby, going ice skating - that's out of my comfort zone! Even just driving a different way to work can make a big difference on how you feel and the way you perceive your world. Find ways to shake things up and keep things fun, spontaneous and enjoyable. Life isn't lived inside of a bubble. Get out there! Share your goodness with the world, they're dying to meet you!
14. Stop hiding - We are here on this planet to build relationships and connections with others. People cannot live without love and connection. It's impossible. One of the easiest things to do when feeling down is to crawl back under the covers, avoid social interactions becuase you're afraid others will see how you're actually feeling on the inside. The truth is, they really have no idea what you're going through. The only way we can connect with others to allow people in, to share your true, authentic, unique and beautiful self. Show up, with intention to be seen. You'll be amazed at who rises to meet you. 
15. Share my story with others - One of the best ways to heal is to share your story with others. (ahem..trying to take my own advice!) It's important to remember who your audience is, however. And to only share what you feel most comfortable sharing. Some people don't understand and may choose to never understand, and that's okay. Share your testimony and truth with those who want to hear it because they love you. They're the ones who matter. The others, just bless them and move on. 
16. Present over perfect - There's an incredible book (you can purchase here) called "Present Over Perfect" that talks about how to get yourself out of a being overwhelmed and longing for connection, meaning, depth, but settling for busy. Instead of proving and earning your worth, she shares authentically how you can begin to give yourself the gift of perfect. This is a mantra that I repeat on the daily!

I really truly hope that this post was meaningful to you in some way, shape or form. If you could relate to a peice of my story, I'm so glad to know that I'M not alone. And if you learned a thing or two, that's icing on the cake! :) But at the end of the day, I hope and pray that my story helps others know that their lives matter, they are here for a reason and every single thing you go through is for YOUR GOOD. If you ever want to chat face-to-face or over the phone, I'm an open book and would love to serve you. Please don't hesitate to reach out! 

In Good Health - xoxo - Gretchen