Why I Do What I Do

I remember when I first started my health journey back when I was in high school. It's like the moment news gets around in your family that you are on a diet, all the judgements, side glances and of course, jokes upon jokes come rearing their ugly head at you.

It's not become easier for me to say the least.

When you tell people you are in the health field...suddenly everything you do is under scrutiny. Your life gets put under a magnifying glass. You can't even glance at a cupcake without hearing gasps all around you! (Yes, us Nutrition people are in fact...HUMAN.)

While I've learned to take the teasing, jokes and judgements easier these days. (Frankly, I find it amusing now...) I find it a challenge to really help people understand why health, nutrition and wellness are so crucial especially in this day in age where fast food is becoming an ever growing industry and healthy food is being compromised by pesticides, drugs and fake substitutions.

So, why do I do what I do??

• To be my best so I can do my best for the purposes of what I am here in this life to do.  When I workout consistently, eat clean, get sleep & rest, laugh and love others...guess what? That's when I feel my BEST.
• I want to be able to help others be their best. Plain and simple.
  
• I want to give my children the best life possible. And they won't get that if I am not taking the time to be intentional about my health now.
• I want to be around to see my kids have kids. I don't want to be in a rocking chair watching them run around. I aim to be right there with them, chasing butterflies and riding roller coasters!
• I want to be the best girlfriend, daughter, sister, friend, granddaughter, niece & employee for the people in my life.
• I want people to be happy. I know when I went through all my life's struggles, I couldn't help but notice the correlation between my poor health and the state of my mentality. They honestly go hand in hand. 
• I want to simply enjoy life to the fullest! A poor diet affects EVERYTHING. From brain function/mood, joints, mind clarity, sex, mobility, sleep, stress responses, digestion... should I go on?

This list can go on and on, but my point here is simply to ask you this...


What's holding you back from achieving your optimal health? Any excuse that comes to mind pair it with something or someone that is SUPER important to you.

Sometimes we forget that health is more than just looking good. Health is your family. They need you. We all need each other.

 In closing, think about this...

You wouldn't want to get any less then the best service when you go out to eat a restaurant, right? Well, that person can't give you their best smile, full attention, energy and focus when behind the scenes they are suffering from a poor diet, next to no exercise and extreme lack of sleep...on top of all those medications for the myriads of random ailments.

Same goes for the supermarket cashier, the car salesman, the teachers....no matter what your profession, you can't be your best if you don't understand the importance of your health...and do something, anything, about it TODAY.

It really goes beyond eating carrot sticks and lettuce ;)

Re:Creating Our Family Trees

We all come from a family tree of sorts. We all got passed on the same family traditions, religious practices or the same traditional food our Mom's and Dad's had. And they grew up living the same lifestyle their parents did...and so forth and so on...

You look around these days and decades ago it wasn't the same for this generation of kids and young adults like it was for our great grandparents...even our parents.

To say times has changed is a dramatic understatement.

From high school tragedies, bullying to now the ever increasing health issues arising in our country... it's alarming.

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I've been blessed with an opportunity to learn the value of true health and wellness. Moving away from my comfortable surroundings in Tucson, Arizona led me to my own self discovery of how we are really made to live.

It makes me deeply saddened to watch all my family take all these pills for all these random ailments, go through various health challenges and so much more. It's no way to live. And I understand some things we just can't help but most of what these pills are for are for things that CAN be controlled by diet AND lifestyle.


I'm the only one in my family who is NOT on high blood pressure pills. I am also the only one who has moved away and not constantly surrounded by the temptation of tortillas, chili con carne, tacos, enchiladas and a whole host of other mouth-watering Mexican dishes. (But how I do miss a good home cooked meal...)


By moving away from my hometown it caused me to see the world in several different lights. It caused me to see ME in many different lights...that I didn't like. I made a change. I made several changes...


And now I am making a decision.


I am changing my family tree.


I believe that educating others of the importance of eating real food and the importance of staying active, we can recreate our family trees. And what I am most excited about is recreating my own family tree (when God chooses to bless me with a husband and kiddos...)

I have been blessed with seeing first hand what eating real food can do. Making a commitment to my health has resulted in a joy I've never known.

This is the way God created us to live. Our bodies were meant for so much more... if we only just grasp the fact the times have changed. If we see our parents and family going through these health struggles, taking tons of meds, living a not so satisfying lifestyle...isn't it time we take a step back and think....

Maybe I should try something new? Something different. Maybe that stuff they've done for years...maybe I shouldn't do?

I'm not saying you have to move away. I believe changes can start small right where you are in your family...

Every time I make a visit to home I try to suggest something new like...using sea salt instead of iodized salt. Little changes...will eventually make BIG impressions.


What do you want your family tree to look like?

Here are some great places to get some ideas to start changing your family tree NOW! :)
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Beyond Organic
Dr. Axe --Health.Life.You