I was exhausted.
I was walking around in a mental fog.
I had crazy mood swings – moments of anger, anxiety, and sadness that came out of nowhere that made it difficult to navigate work and family.
Despite my regular routine of lifting weights and running, my weight kept going up and my clothes didn’t fit.
I didn’t feel like myself – I felt broken and I was tired of living my life exhausted, anxious, stressed, irritable, and feeling old and frumpy.
I knew if I wanted to show up as my best self – for my family, my friends, and my work – I needed to make some changes.
But how do we find the energy to change our habits when we’re already feeling exhausted and overwhelmed?
The transformation…
We think of transformation as something that happens quickly. We see people succeeding and think they were able to change overnight. And when we don’t see quick results from our own efforts, we assume we’re doing something wrong. Or maybe we believe we just can’t do it.
What we don’t see is the behind-the-scenes struggles. The progress followed by set-backs. Plateaus. The frustration. We don’t see all that because we only see the success. The results.
The truth is, transformation takes patience. And self-compassion.
Today I look back at how broken I was and wonder how I managed to function at all. I see how out of balance my life and my health was.
Oh, my current life isn’t perfect. I’m a woman in my 50s going through menopausal changes. Each year the aging process seems to accelerate. I work full-time, have two children still at home (both teen girls). I have a husband, an ex-husband I co-parent with, and I do more than my share of the household responsibilities.
But I sleep better at night. I have more energy for my life. I’m training for a duathlon event, with energy left over for my full-time job, parenting, gardening, homesteading, and working on my business.
I have a healthy relationship with food – I don’t stress over what to eat and I enjoy a diet that feels balanced without leaving me feeling deprived.
My clothes fit again and I feel fit, strong, and healthy. And I feel more confident.
So how did I “Transform” my health? How do I feel better now than I have in the last five years?
- It wasn’t from following a specialized meal plan (although I have made changes in what I eat)
- There was no magical herbal supplement (although I do support my health with herbs).
- No boot-camp style workouts or hours of strenuous exercise (but I do move my body in some way every day).
What I did do is give myself permission. I gave myself permission to start small. I had to lose the “all-or-nothing” mindset which kept me in a cycle of starting and stopping.
A healthy lifestyle is about doing a little each day rather than a lot once in a while. When we’re exhausted, pushing ourselves to perfection will knock us down every time.
This journey has changed my life, and for so many of my clients, and it’s why I put together my free guide:
5 Natural Ways to Have More Energy.
It includes the most impactful strategies I use to live with more vibrant health and energy.
Get a copy – it’s Free
And if you have any questions, let me know!
In vibrant health,
~ Michelle
