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What Is Your Health Journey?

Not gonna lie, I've struggled all week deciding what topic to write about. There is so much information out there when it comes to health, wellness, and nutrition.

And I want to cover so MANY of them! As I continue to learn, I want to share what I'm learning with others so it can help you all the way I feel like it's helping me and my family. 

We're on this journey with my husband because of his medical condition. 

My sons are far less interested in anything to do with health or nutrition because they still have the metabolisms of teenage boys. 

My daughter is a very active young teenage athlete who needs to properly fuel her body to be able to participate in the numerous sports she's involved in (softball, basketball, track, and she's now considering cross country). 

And I am working on my own health and wellness journey for many reasons: longevity, energy levels as I age, being comfortable with how I look and feel, stress and anxiety, and most importantly (for me) being able to not only "talk the talk" but "walk the walk". 

It's one thing to share about the importance of staying well hydrated, and to list all the benefits that drinking plenty of water every day can provide (and there are dozens of them), but it's another to share those benefits while I'm sitting in my recliner sipping on my third Coke of the day at 10:00am. 

(And in reality, I gave up sodas ten years ago. As of writing this post I'm on my fourth glass of water this morning, plus 20 oz. of unsweetened green tea.)

This journey is not an easy one, for any of us. My husband has been used to eating a certain way his entire adult life: lots of red meat, saturated fats, and highly processed foods. But because of his medications, his body will no longer tolerate those foods. So we are learning together to embrace a healthier eating style that includes more chicken and turkey, more veggies and fruits, and less processed food products (good-bye Velveeta!).

My daughter is learning that before she eats junk food (candy, chips, and other snacks), she has to eat the appropriate amounts of macronutrients first (complex carbs, protein, and health fats). So her typical breakfast is Greek-yogurt with granola and fruit. Lunch will look like a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with 2 pieces of bacon and guacamole, a side of baby carrots and hummus, and strawberries or a banana. Dinner varies depending on where we are (home or out) and the circumstances of the evening (am I home to cook, do we have a meal planned, or is everyone fending for themselves).

My sons still believe ramen noodles are their own food group.

Everyone will have their own reasons for making changes in their health, wellness, and nutrition. Even within our family, we are all on separate journeys toward healthier versions of ourselves. 

BUT....

We are also in it together. I will continue to modify recipes to fit my husband's new dietary restrictions, and to meet my daughter's increased energy needs. We will try new foods and find what fits our individual preferences, as well as what we all enjoy. And we will continue to make other changes in our lives to find our wellness "sweet spots".

Think about where you are on your own health and wellness journey. What changes would you like to make? Why do you want to make those changes? What does a healthier version of yourself look like? What sort of help do you need to take the steps toward a healthier you?

Embrace whatever answers you find, and don't be afraid to reach out for help.

Until next time....

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