My Journey to Full Body Wellness
As a personal trainer, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with lots of wonderful people from all walks of life. I’ve come to know them and their experiences, both past and present, especially when it comes to diet, exercise, and forming healthy habits. While everyone is different, we all have something in common - we are on a quest to become our best selves. No two quests are the same, but the challenges and struggles we face tend to overlap. This is my journey, my adventure, my story, and as personal as it is, I hope it resonates with you in some way.
I was a healthy and active child. Some of my best memories involve playing outside, going to the beach, and having dance parties in my bedroom. My parents were great cooks and we shared a lot of healthy dinners together as a family. But like most kids, things like sugary cereals, Kraft mac and cheese, Fruit Roll-Ups, and Lunchables were a part of my regular diet. I developed a real sweet tooth (which I still have to this day), a love for salty snacks, and I didn’t know the meaning of “moderation.” As I grew into a teenager and had even more authority over what I ate, I would eat sweets and what most people would describe as “junk food” all the time. I didn’t give it much thought; I was only eating whatever I craved. As my screen time became more frequent, my activity levels lessened and my eating habits stayed the same. Little did I know, it was a recipe for disaster.
In my late teens and early twenties, I generally felt unwell. Lethargy and anxiety were a normal part of everyday life. My digestive system always felt out of wack to the point where I was almost always bloated. I started experiencing terrible brain fog and my immune system was weak, sicknesses always comprised of awful symptoms that put me out of commission for far too long. I knew things weren’t right and that I had to take action to change. I went down a rabbit hole searching for the answers to full body wellness.
I began by visiting doctors and was given single-use medication that at first seemed to help, but my symptoms would always come back within a few days. I wanted to avoid being put on medication for the rest of my life, so I decided to visit some naturopaths. I followed their prescribed vitamin protocols, diets, and cleanses of all sorts. I also researched alternative medicine and remedies. Everyone had a different opinion on what foods were harmful to human health. So, I cut them out one by one. I cut out certain fruits and vegetables. Even some of my favorite foods I thought had to go, including bread, white potatoes, and white rice. I cut out sugar and all processed foods, never allowing myself to have so much as a cookie if I wanted one. I avoided fat as much as possible. I went through phases of celery juicing, apple cider vinegar tonics, and warm lemon water every morning. After years of this rollercoaster, you know what I discovered? A newfound fear and anxiety around food and feelings of failure because ultimately, I wasn’t feeling any better.
This obsession and fear around food became what my life revolved around. I didn’t realize there was a name for it: orthorexia nervosa - a form of disordered eating in which an obsession with healthy eating is associated with restrictive behaviors. I didn’t understand the gravity of my situation or my mental state and I continued to sift through endless research for the right antidote to my health issues. I stumbled across the plant-based diet; this way of eating was completely new to me. I hadn’t ever considered taking animal products out of my diet, but some people swore by it, and the more research I did the more I thought it could be worth trying. For a couple of weeks, I was eating about 80% plant-based and continued to learn more about the diet. This search inevitably led me to veganism, a philosophy that deeply resonated with my love for animals, which made it an easy overnight switch to eating 100% plant-based. It only took a few weeks for me to see and feel a difference. I had more energy and I could tell the inflammation in my body had gone down; I could see it in my face - it looked brighter and more defined. I felt like I was on the right track, but there was a problem. I still had fear around food and was constantly in denial that I was feeling unsatisfied or deprived.
Contrary to what many might think, these feelings of deprivation and dissatisfaction had nothing to do with going vegan and the fact that I had cut out animal products. This was an easy adjustment for me and I found that there were delicious options of foods to eat everywhere I looked. The problem was that I wasn’t allowing myself to have these foods. A healthy plant-based diet would normally include every vegetable, fruit, grain, seed, and bean under the sun. It could even include processed foods, including sweet treats, and salty snacks. But not for me. I was already deep in an unhealthy relationship with food. I was avoiding carbs and fat like the plague. Even going out to eat with friends was stressful. I would always order the “healthiest” option, and yet I would still feel anxious about what I was putting into my body.
Fast forward a little; I’m still having issues surrounding food. My struggle and obsession with finding my healthiest self organically led to that one thing that everyone goes on about, every doctor tells you to do, and every active participant swears by: exercise.
I was 25 and the most I’d ever done was wandered into gyms, used a machine or two, and done a couple of squats and lunges. I didn’t really know what I was doing or why I was doing it. I was just doing what everyone said you were supposed to do. I never made it a habit and I didn’t have any solid intentions of making it one. I had lost the joy that came along with physical activity that I felt as a child. I was hoping to rediscover it.
I wanted to give myself the best chance possible at being successful with my new goal: to enjoy movement again. I decided to take a course in personal training. The more I learned, the more I realized why exercise was such a big deal. The benefits of exercise went way beyond moving and shaping your body. We’re talking brain health, bone health, reducing risk of disease and injury, improved sleep, agility, self-sufficiency, increase in strength, and better aging. I thought about all the people I knew, young and old, who were like me and experiencing health problems, aches and pains, had trouble getting off the couch, and had stopped doing a lot of activities they had enjoyed in their younger years because apparently “everything goes downhill once you turn 30.” I wondered, is getting older truly such an affliction or do we have the power to effect change? Years of putting too much junk into our systems and being sedentary is bound to lead to a cry for help from our bodies. I couldn’t ignore that cry any longer.
I started putting what I was learning about exercise into practice. Did I love it? Honestly, no. It was hard. I felt weak, out of breath, and the general consensus in my mind was “this sucks.” But I kept at it. I wanted to wake up one day to the realization that I had gotten stronger, it was getting easier, and I was making progress. And that’s exactly what happened. The weights I was using started feeling lighter. My heart rate became steadier. I went on hikes and realized they felt easier too. There was this sense of self-empowerment and badassery that flowed through me during my workouts and in every day life. I soon realized this new feeling I had was something I had never fully experienced before: true confidence.
The negative, unhealthy and obsessive path that had led me to positive lifestyle choices like veganism and exercise took a huge turn with this newly gained confidence. I started coming into who I was and felt like I was figuring out my purpose. I had this thirst for knowledge that I quenched with avid reading and eventually completing my course in personal training followed by a course in plant-based nutrition. My world views were changing for the better. My outlook was becoming more hopeful, my attention more focused. I slowly began to release the grip I had on myself. The grip that had exerted the immense pressure to watch what I ate and how that one simple and seemingly innocent sentiment had completely shaped my life into one of shame, anxiety, and stress.
I remained living in line with my values and stayed vegan, but I was slowly releasing control around food and actually started enjoying it again. Eating out became fun once more. If I wanted to have a veggie burger and fries, I would have it. If I wanted to get a cup of coffee and a piece of cake with a friend, I would do it. I started eating bread again; oh, how I’d missed it. Most of my diet was still made up of whole foods, but I was enjoying them now, consistently whipping up delicious vegan meals at home. I made a conscious effort to work on eliminating any stress in my life, whether it was to do with food, relationships, my job, or my daily habits. At times, that meant ending relationships that were no longer serving me, voicing my concerns at work and saying “no” when I needed to, and being mindful with my daily choices to set myself up for success.
Guess what happened. I felt amazing - unstoppable, even. My digestive issues disappeared. I rarely got sick. I felt clear headed and life felt full of promise for the first time in a long while, as if someone had hit the reset button. I found a career in personal training. I started developing beautifully genuine relationships and found myself surrounded by people who helped me grow. Exercise and eating well became a natural part of my life.
I’m 30 now and trust me, life is not without its challenges. Wellness is a lifelong journey. But let me summarize what I’ve learned works for me and what I believe when it comes to diet, exercise, and full body wellness:
There is no magic pill. In other words, there’s no ONE food or ONE practice that is going to get you to full body wellness. It’s a full-time practice made up of conscious daily choices.
Get rid of the stress. Maybe you’ve heard the saying “stress is a silent killer.” There’s actually a lot of scientific research that reveals stress’ negative effects on the body. Don’t stress about getting rid of the stress, but be mindful and do what you can to minimize the stressors in your life.
Exercise is a must. The benefits of exercise are not to be taken lightly, one of them being the reduction of stress. It can quite literally improve and extend your life.
Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re experiencing any health issues, I would definitely recommend talking to a doctor and possibly a registered dietician before making a plan of action. But my point is that you can live a healthy life by eating a well-rounded diet and still enjoying the foods you love.
Health and wellness trends should ALWAYS be questioned. We are always being bombarded with the latest health trends - think skinny tea detoxes, celery juicing, and the keto diet. Do your research and reach out to professionals to help discern what is legitimate and what is not as some health trends can be more harmful than they are helpful.
Find habits that make you feel good. Whether it’s a cup of tea and a book, going to a yoga class, playing a sport, journaling, meditation, taking a hot bath, painting, etc. Make time for these things.
My wellness journey is far from over; I know I’m going to be on it for the rest of my life. We go through seasons - things change, new obstacles come into view, and we are presented with challenges, some that we didn’t see coming. We have to adapt, overcome, and on occasion, just straight up survive. We have to wake up every day and make a conscious choice to love and take care of ourselves. It’s not always easy, but it’s essential. Wherever you are on your wellness journey, no matter how much you’re struggling or how defeated you feel, know that you are not alone. Keep working toward becoming the best version of you because I promise one day you will get to a point where you’ll look back and know that all of your hard work has paid off. You’ll know that your struggle has made you stronger and it’s that strength that will continue to propel you forward, into the unknown, yes, but an unknown that no longer scares you.