How I stay healthy – what I eat and how I move

NOTE: This is simply my story and how I live to feel my best. What’s best for you may be entirely different! Also, I talk about weight here but don’t get hung up on it. It’s not about that. It’s about making the commitment to take control of your health.

About 4 years ago, I was at the heaviest I’ve ever been – 30 pounds heavier than I am now. I even weighed more than I did on the day I gave birth to Callan. I didn’t mind how I looked, but I was uncomfortable. I remember wearing that bridesmaid dress and tugging at it the entire night. My confidence was at an all-time low. I think everyone has a weight or size where they feel most confident. If that’s lean and strong, great! If that’s softer and thicker, great! At the time, I was working out 4-5 times a week, eating healthy and even doing meal replacement shakes. But nothing was working. I was also sick ALL THE TIME. Constant massive sinus infections, colds, viruses. I even caught BOTH strains of the flu that came through my area – within a two month span. Something had to give.

The dairy/immunity link
I met with a naturopathic doctor and one of the first things she suggested was that I give up dairy. The thought of that was ludicrous to me. I ate dairy every day, at nearly every meal. I put cheese on everything and lived for ice cream. I actually laughed because I truly believed there was no way I could ever do that. She said my immunity likely depended on it and with how sick I’d been, I decided to give it a shot. It wasn’t easy. I made small changes at first – cooking with dairy-free butter, using almond milk creamer in my coffee. I made more changes over time and it got easier. After the initial dairy detox, I learned that I could sneak some dairy here and there. I don’t do it often, but let’s be real for a minute. I’ve tried every dairy-free pizza there is, but if I want pizza, I go for the real thing. Or when my husband comes home with tiramisu – you can bet your ass I’m devouring that.

So what happened once I nixed dairy? My immunity skyrocketed and the weight started to come off more easily. Everyone is different but it’s obvious my body knows it’s not good for me. One question I always get asked is how I get enough calcium since I don’t eat dairy. My response? You don’t need dairy for calcium. That is a perpetuated myth. It can be found in lots of other foods. And even many non-dairy substitutes are often packed with it. For me personally, I get more than enough through supplements as I outlined here so any additional calcium from my diet is just a bonus.

What I eat
There is no label for how I eat, though if I had to choose I’d say I am mostly pescatarian with vegan tendencies if that makes any sense at all. Related note – I despise the word ‘diet.’ I’m a firm believer that diets don’t work, but lifestyle changes do. That being said – I don’t just avoid dairy. I also follow these ‘guidelines’ that I’ve adapted over time:

• No meat. I haven’t had it for over a decade now. For no other reason than I just never liked it. I DO eat some seafood and have fish 1-2x a week.
• Limit gluten/bread to a couple of times a week.
• Limit soy. Soy of some form is in nearly everything it seems. My doctors had told me early on in my cancer battle that soy can impact hormone function which isn’t a great idea in general, but with my thyroid issues, that’s not an option for me. I’ll have some soy-based meat substitutes at times, but I try to avoid it for the most part.
• No processed or frozen foods/meals. If I can’t pronounce or don’t recognize ingredients, I don’t eat it.
• Limit pasta. If I do eat it, I opt for versions made with quinoa, chickpeas and/or brown rice.
• No fast food. There aren’t many options for me anyway but a lot of ingredients are not clear cut. And things like fries are often cooked in beef flavor/fat/oil.
• No soda of any kind. I used to drink one diet soda a day and never thought I’d break the habit but it was SO easy to nix. I don’t even miss it.
• No excess sugar and also don’t drink sugar (like fruit juices) often. If I want something sweet, I’ll treat myself every so often.

It sounds strict, but it’s really not. I eat what I want, when I want. Today, for instance, I had both a green smoothie and vegan chai cupcake. Balance, people. I just eat in moderation and try to make healthy choices overall. I also graze. I eat a lot but I do so throughout the day. And most importantly? I give myself grace. If I have a poor day of eating, I simply start fresh the next day. And I allow room for treats. I have a big sweet tooth and know that if I don’t allow them, then I’ll be in the pantry at midnight elbow-deep in a box of cookies.

I’ve talked to so many people who say they could never eat healthy or eat like I do. You don’t have to! But you should eat for wellness. Is the food really worth it if it makes you feel awful physically? If it’s literally making you sick? If it’s keeping you from reaching your goals? To me, feeling healthy overall is worth making some changes and sticking to them. Find what works for you.

How I move
Like I mentioned here, I do what I can, when I can. It’s not easy for me by any means. I’m a mom now and exhausted for obvious reasons. I don’t sleep well in general. My thyroid is still never regulated which also lowers my energy. And on top of that? I have fibromyalgia, which I’ll talk more about at some point. I’m in pain every.single.day. For me, it means I need to move to feel better, even though it hurts to move at times. And yet, the more stationary I am, the more pain I’m in. Working out can help but it can also cause flares, spasms and more pain. It can be a vicious cycle that leaves me unmotivated to move. BUT despite it all, I still try to workout 3-4 days a week.

I was diligent in staying active throughout my pregnancy. I was lucky in that I was able to feel well enough overall to do so. Even on the days that I didn’t want to budge, I always felt better after I moved. That being said, I listened to my body and if I needed to rest then I did. I kayaked (holding onto strangers’ docks thanks to nausea lol), swam, did yoga and walked. Now, I do the same, sticking with low-impact workouts for pain management. I simply feel better when I do. Yoga will always be a favorite and I swim all summer long. I walk and do some strength exercises whenever I think of them – found moment workouts, if you will. Leg lifts while brushing my teeth or cooking. Ab work while the baby is playing next to me on his play mat. Squats while on conference calls. Whenever you THINK of working out, DO it.

Is it easy to workout often with a baby and everything else I have to contend with health-wise? Nope. But it’s important to me that Callan know how vital it is to prioritize health and wellness. That he knows he’s my why, not my excuse. And bottom line? A healthy, happy mama = a healthy, happy baby.

If you’re still reading at this point, I’m impressed. Now it’s your turn. What do you eat and how do you move to feel well?