Crazy healthy
I have been going “good crazy” this month with juicing and smoothie recipes and working out. You might know that March is nutrition month and I have been so motivated to get even healthier.
As I get older I often think more about what I am putting into my body and on my body. I want to set a good example for my Squeak, and because my mom had breast cancer I want to be extra careful.
Another reason why is in January I had a pregnancy loss, probably one of the worst experiences of my life. I found out at 7 weeks that I was carrying two sacs that did not have babies in them. The medical term is twin-blighted ovum. The experience was hard, both physically and emotionally.
After my loss I felt depleted, drained and decided that I needed to some extra nutrients. I was tired and unmotivated. About three weeks after my loss, I was in bed on a Sunday and all I wanted to do was sleep, I flipped through Netflix and found the documentary “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”. I immediately dusted off my juicer and went to Whole Foods, grabbed a bunch of organic fresh veggies and juiced, kale, lemon, ginger, lime, green apple and cucumber. That healthy green juice made me feel so much better.
My health journey over these last few months have increased, my husband, Squeak and I drove to Southwestern Ontario to a farm called Oak Manor Farms in Southwestern Ontario http://oakmanorfarms.ca/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=111 to buy spelt wheat berries. We then purchased a wheat grinder attachment for our Kitchen Aid stand mixer. We started baking our own gluten free bread. I began juicing regularly, making my own creams using coconut oil, and lavender essential oil. As well I started using my own exfoliating mask by by combining ground organic coffee beans from the morning brew (which is organic) and olive oil.
As for physical activity I began by walking on a treadmill and reading to doing Julian Michaels’ 30 minute DVD. I downloaded an app called SEVEN- it is an amazing app- I highly recommend it. You are guided through a full body workout in seven minutes, 30 second intervals, and it is really building muscle tone that I haven’t had in years.
These are just some little changes that I have done gradually, partly because this is a hobby for me and because I want to have a healthy family and inspire others to do the same. And of course, it just feels so good to feel good. I still haven’t given up my green tea lattes from Starbucks- but at least those are unsweetened and are boosted with protein powder.
Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine’s social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 4-year-old daughter, a 9-year-old dog, and a hamster. She aspires to own chickens and a goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.
