When I decided to do a Spring Challenge I was trying to think about all the things in my life that have come together [slowly but surely] to make me into the person I am today — from a nutrition standpoint, a wellness standpoint and just what makes me me. What I’ve realized is that I’m a work in progress, always! And so are every one of us. That’s the beauty of life, health, wellness, etc. We can always change for the better. And we always have the power to turn our lives around. How cool, right?

So if you’re reading this then “go you!” because you’ve made a conscious effort to want to get better, healthier, stronger, or whatever you want. Maybe it’s your relationship with food that you struggle with. Maybe it’s your relationship with yourself. Maybe you just want to know a little bit more about what makes up a healthy lifestyle [hint: this can be different for everyone!]. Whatever it may be, you’re here, and I’m so happy you are because I’m here to guide you to a be a better version of you.

 

Let me start off by sharing something with you. I’m a Certified Nutritionist and I have a master’s degree in Nutrition. I’ve done the schooling, taken the classes and passed the tests. I’m extremely proud to be a Nutritionist. I do, however, sometimes feel like I’m not sure what my identity really is. Or at least, my identity as a Nutritionist has changed. See, when I look at myself as a Nutritionist with a master’s degree, I see numbers, equations and guidelines — and I feel like people expect me to provide them with a specific diet plan that, if they just followed, they’d automatically be healthy. But what I really am as a Nutritionist is a girl with an education and life experiences that have led me to understand the importance of health and wellness as an interconnected web. The way we feel about food impacts our health, the way we feel about our bodies impacts our heath, even the way we think impacts our health. It doesn’t just have to be what we put in our mouths that solely impacts our health. All of these things are interconnected, and this, my friends, is the golden ticket to living your best life.

But what does this even mean? It can mean so many different things.

It means that you don’t have to follow a certain food trend or guideline to be healthy [i.e. paleo, whole30, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.].

It means that you can eat a fast food hamburger and milkshake and still be healthy.

It means that you don’t have to compare yourself to anyone. Not anyone.

It means that you can eat to the point of being completely stuffed, and that’s a-ok.

It means that you give yourself the freedom to make choices — whether they’re negative or positive, and about food, relationships or really anything in life.

It means that you will eventually learn to love yourself and stop all the negative self-talk. This is everything.

It means that you simply move as often as you can — whether you weight train every day, go on a few walks a week, practice yoga, etc. And that you enjoy it. And that exercise is not a form of punishment, because if it is, we need to change that!

It means that you care about your body enough to nourish it, love it and take care of it.

It means that it’s okay to fail.

It means all of this, and more.

It took me years and years to see and truly understand this and practice it daily. And my goodness, I’m so thankful that I understand it now.

 

I remember so vividly a time in my life where I —

excessively counted calories,

thought that eating fat would make me fat,

thought that carbs were the enemy and bread was a no-no,

thought that a glass of wine or craft beer wasn’t worth the calories,

exercised beyond what my body could handle,

hated myself and my body,

and was just a miserable human being.

 

The truth is, those behaviors are what got me where I am today, so I guess I’m a little thankful for that, but what I’m most thankful for is my now positive outlook on life, my food freedom, my love for exercise and everything that has come together to make me, me.

I hope that through these 7 days you will learn what makes you truly happy, healthy, vibrant and energized because that is my goal for you. It’s my mission. It’s not all about eating vegetables for every meal, it’s about how food makes you feel and how it either fuels or depletes you. It’s not about burning so many calories while exercising, it’s about enjoying moving your body. And it’s absolutely not about a number on a scale. If there’s one thing you do right now — seriously, right now — go throw away, donate or hide that scale. It does not define you. It does not make you a better or worse person. That number literally means nothing to you. I promise.

So with that, I hope that you’re feeling inspired and ready to take on this week of challenges, because I am!

 

Day one email starts tomorrow so check your email, and let’s do this thing. You and me. Together. As a team.

 

And don’t forget, if you have a friend or family member who would benefit from this challenge, please share the love and forward this email to them.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE BY SIGNING UP HERE.