Lifestyle Changes

"what we put in, is what we get out"

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-The most overused and undervalued mom statement of our lifetime-

No amount of eye rolls and "okay mom" responses devalue its intent. In my opinion, we can hardly appreciate the advice until we reach an age where we begin to physically feel the metamorphic impacts of our bodies conditioned upon our internal and external behavior and environment.

Typically used to discern the kind of music we listen to and the friends we surround ourselves with, the meaning behind the message goes beyond the beat and past the inner circle. It's vastness extends to the very care and nurture of our existence. What we put into our bodies, sows an outcome and it's a fluctuating choice, somewhere on a pendulum, resting in your control.

What you eat, what you drink, what you wear, what you say, what you listen to, what you read, what you put on your body or in it, how you protect yourself, the list can go on...it all matters. It's important because of the influence it has over the chemical makeup of our existence and the

ideas we believe about ourselves. Things, stuff, shape our world whether that be right or wrong, it's true. Seriously, sit down and ask yourself what your intentions are with certain things around you. What are their intentions with you and are they joy producing and supportive or do they exist in your presence for a reason you either can't explain, think you need or disrupt your health?

When my periods went missing, I read a book called "Woman Code" by Alisa Vitti, HHC which in essence, discusses how products (or stuff) inside our homes and out, the ones we use on a regular basis, the environments we place ourselves in, and the things we believe could be effecting how our bodies naturally produce hormones, therefore effecting the natural occurrence of our monthly cycle. She writes, "New research from the National Institutes of Health confirms that a woman's menstrual health acts as a gauge of her vitality and overall health throughout her life." Vitti explains how misinformation, cultural conditioning, lifestyle toxicity, and quick fix approaches for healing contribute to hormonal dysfunction.

I would take it a step further and advocate on the lines of how you treat your body is a product of how you feel, mentally and physically, whether periods apply to you or not. Overtime, the compounding effect takes hold and you have to realize it's heavy, drab and tiring. Reading labels goes beyond the grocery store, it goes into every nook and cranny of our bathrooms, our vanities, laundry rooms and our floors. The things we touch every day, the shampoo we wash our hair with, the laundry soap we soak our clothes with, the soap we use in our dishwashers all add up to one hot mess in our bodies if we aren't carefully acknowledging the byproduct of our products.

So I decided to give it a try. There was nothing to lose because it was already gone. I threw away the shampoos, the conditioners, the liquid body wash. I tossed the dishwasher and laundry detergent and we ate mostly organic. I switched makeup companies and removed chemical laden cleaning agents from under the kitchen sink and I significantly reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. Most of these changes took time and resources and I understand how many are hesitant to switch however, it can begin slowly based on a priority of your choice. Something changed is better than nothing changed.

My periods resumed.

Disclaimer, at this same time, I was also following doctor's orders to stop cardiovascular exercise and be less mindful of the amount of almond butter and avocados I should consume. I didn't always listen though, which makes me less confident in the restoration of my periods based solely off of orders and more confident in the combination of changing all aspects of my lifestyle.

Hey hey- I'm not super crunchy, I promise. I fall in the middle of the pendulum most of the time. It's dependent on a number of factors such as, financial means, prioritization, how well I talk myself into an ice cream cone or how grounded I am during that particular season. Currently, Joshua and I do not eat mostly organic, the toilet bowl and kitchen sink cleaners are name brand and we enjoy a beverage most evenings. I'm having trouble finding certain items that work well within our routine, too. It's okay to balance. To prioritize the "high touch surfaces areas" of our lives and adjust accordingly, integrating where we can when we can.

What you put in, is what you get out. So what are you putting into your body, your mind, your home, your stuff and why? What if you began to consistently value the longevity of your health over the convenience of the here and now - in the ways that you are able?

Time for me to get back on track.

What do you have to lose?

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A List of Item We Use

*I do not receive financial compensation from these companies when promoting their product*

Currently Using

• Laundry & Dishwasher Pods: Dropps

• All Purpose Cleaner/Window Cleaner/Floor Cleaner: Young Living "Thieves"

• Makeup: 100% Pure and Lemongrass

• Body wash: Bought from a local farmer using goat's milk "Charcoal"

• Skincare: Plant Therapy Serum

• Eating habits: mostly gluten, dairy, soy & corn free (except your girl LOVES tortilla chips)

• Wine: (sometimes I pick this one up) Organic Goru Verde - look for no sugar and additives

Trying To Find:

• Toothpaste - tried YL and Burt's Bees but not a fan

• Shampoo - that doesn't make my hair feel greasy

• Face wash - I have trouble with this one from a financial perspective and hormonal breakouts