My Journey To Better Health

I have been having health problems for about 8 months now. I have had test after test, and my Doctor still hasn't been able to figure out what is going on. So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I figured that my body has to be reacting to something I'm putting into it, and for a while it was reacting quite badly but it didn't seem to be to anything in particular - it was everything. So I researched and researched and began stocking up on foods and products that would be good for my body, and as natural as possible. I made healthier choices and upped my exercise as I find that I need it for good mental health as well as physical.

Then through a friend I came across ForeverFit. Nicola is amazing! She educates people about their bodies, and about what food and exercise you need to live a healthy well balanced life. She asks you to fill out a questionnaire and  then she goes over your answers and guides you to get the results you need. She has an Online Gym with workout videos you can do in the comfort of your own home - everything from high intensity workouts, to yoga and stretching. It was exactly what I was looking for. I knew the basics from doing my research but I needed a plan that was clear and easy to follow. I have learnt so much more from her and the changes already have been amazing. 
My symptoms have gone, and I have so much more energy. I am sleeping better, feeling lighter and cleaner, and a bonus is that I lost 3kgs in my first week.
I no longer eat processed foods, gluten, dairy, or refined sugar, and at times it can be challenging to figure out what I can eat in place of the things I used to eat and love. I have a real sweet tooth so I was worried that I wouldn't have the willpower, I don't miss out though! I can still have things that I love to eat, they are just a bit different and take a bit more time and planning. Basically I make everything I eat from scratch so I know there are no nasty additives or high amounts of salt and refined sugar.

Everyone's journey is different. Other people may be able to handle certain foods with gluten, or be ok with dairy, or just not want to cut certain things out, and that's absolutely fine! 
This is my journey, it helps me to be able to write it all down. I'm no expert, and I am still learning every day. If I can share tips, recipes, and advice that has helped me, with other people which helps them, then that's awesome. And if you have any tips, or advice that has helped you then I would love to hear them!

Things that have helped me:

1. Not being too strict. I have chosen to make this complete lifestyle change to improve my health, but I need it to be a goal that is achievable. I believe in moderation of all things, and I know if I deprive myself of things I love then I won't be able to keep it up. 
Example: I limit my alcohol intake now. Before I would have had a glass or two of wine a few nights during the week and on the weekends. Now I don't drink during the week, but allow myself to have a couple of drinks on the weekend if I really feel like it. Most weekends I don't, but if we get together with friends then I want to be able to relax and enjoy myself, so I will allow myself a few drinks then. Red wine has great health benefits, so when I do drink I choose red wine. I want to enjoy my life, so not completely depriving myself helps me to stick to my plan.

2. Take baby steps. Make small changes, one at a time. If you change everything overnight it will be daunting, and really hard. To make it easier I stopped one thing at a time, first sugar, then a couple of days later gluten etc etc. I still haven't been able to give up my cup of tea in the morning and at night - but I have cut down (I used to drink up to 6 cups of tea with sugar per day), and I no longer have sugar in it. I would eventually like to cut out caffeine, but for now there are other things that are more important for me to cut out. Taking everything away at once would be too much for me.

3. Be organised. Planning is a huge part in making this kind of change, and it being a successful long term change. Some friends have said they don't know how I find the time when I have 3 kids and a household to run. Organisation is the key. When you know what kind of foods you need to be eating, you know what you need in the cupboards. I make sure my pantry is stocked with everything I need to make a healthy meal or snack. If anything is getting low I go and get more. I try and make a couple of things a day when I know the last batch is almost gone. 

• Once a fortnight I make my own peanut butter and cashew butter, and I know if I have all of the ingredients then I can whip some more up in no time at all when I run out. 

• I make sure each week I have bliss balls, and birdseed bars made up in case I feel like a sweet treat - they don't take long to make, and having them there already made means that I will make a good choice instead of a bad one. 

• I always have a green salad and a brown rice salad in the fridge ready for lunches and dinners, and some chicken or salmon defrosted and ready to pop in the oven for meals. 

• Once a fortnight I buy 2-3 free-range chickens, which I butcher into different cuts of meat for meals for the next two weeks. I then use the carcasses to make stock which goes into the freezer all ready to be used in soups and stews.

• I make sure once a week or fortnight I make some condiments like tomato sauce, mayonnaise or aioli, pesto, hummus, or feta dip. I know if I have these healthy, non processed options ready to go in the fridge, then that's what i'll grab instead of something I shouldn't. 

• I always have raw nuts and seeds in stock for when I feel like a snack, or to add to my meals. And I always make sure I have plenty of fruit and vegetables at hand.

4. Be educated. Do your research in the right places. Know what you need in each meal to give your body what it needs to function correctly eg proteins and good fats. Once you know these key facts you will know what foods to buy, and you will be able to plan your meals and have the appropriate ingredients available.

5. Don't be too hard on yourself! I am a work in progress. I have slipped up at times, but that doesn't mean I've failed, it lets me know what I need to change so I don't slip up further down the track. 
There is always something to learn when you are on a journey like this. In the beginning I was feeling great with the clean eating I was doing, and then I learnt about the benefits of buying organic. It was overwhelming and a little disheartening when I thought I was doing so good with my healthy eating, and hadn't realised that if everything has been sprayed and is covered in toxins then I'm not really getting the benefits for my body that I wanted. So now I buy organic. I was buying gluten-free, dairy-free bread, and then realised that it's highly processed and contains more refined sugar and nasty additives to make it work without gluten and dairy! I still have changes I know I can make to improve what I'm putting in my body because I'm learning more everyday. There is always something to learn. Do the best you can, and any change in the right direction, no matter how little, is a good change. 


Note: I am not an expert! If you are thinking about making a change in diet like I have, make sure you talk to a health professional first to find out what works for you.