Autoimmune isn’t a word I really like to use when it comes to describing different conditions. In fact there are so many different thoughts and feelings around the word autoimmune. Some define it as your immune system mistaking parts of your body as foreign and therefore attacking healthy cells by releasing proteins known as autoantibodies.
Others say, not so much. In fact, when we believe our own body is attacking us we not only hinder our healing process, but often feel our body betrayed us and we become the scapegoat for this 'disease'.
When the medical industry cannot seem to figure out what is causing symptoms like fatigue, inflammation, dizziness, aches & pains it gets labeled as an autoimmune condition.
I know that because of my autoimmune (and the fact that I breastfeed too!) my body needs some extra TLC and that's my focus. I take care of myself for my son and I attempt to ignore what anyone else thinks or says and you should do the same!
The #1 concern as someone who has an autoimmune is to take the extra measures needed to take care of you.
Here's three ways I make sure to give my body some TLC:
✨FOOD
If you know anything about me, you know that food is my number one thing I go to when it comes to healing anything or simply feeling better. I truly believe that there is not one particular diet that literally works for everyone, however there are some overall ideas that typically help us all.
✨Oils
I never, ever, ever leave home without them. There are many uses for each one but some of the ones I carry with me for that extra TLC are lavender, believe blend, RC, lemon and white angelica.
✨Water
Hydration is super key for every single person. There is the balance of electrolytes when drinking water (I used LMNT) and you can drink too much water (yup this does happen), but for many people they're not getting enough. The general guideline for most is to take half your body weight, and drink that amount in ounces of water.
PS: these are things we can all benefit from; even if you don't have an autoimmune!
The holidays can be a hard time of year for many of us! From all the celebrations, parties and get togethers with yummy food and drinks, it can wreak havoc on our bodies. This year, I’m sharing a few tips to help you enjoy the season and feel good!
There have been so many years where I’ve been like, whatever let me just enjoy, but I’ve paid the price. Now I work to enjoy my holidays without going off the rails with food and drinks. It’s made a big difference in my overall health and no reason to start the year off feeling like garbage. We want to be able to start the year off feeling good and ready for a new year!
One of the things you might not be doing is breathing. Now clearly you’re breathing, but are you taking time to deep breathe? To really pause and breathe in and breathe out? Probably not, and boy does this make a difference. It reduces your cortisol levels, and although cortisol is needed at different times for different things, living in a constant state of stress does not help your body at all and can cause you to retain weight that you might otherwise not.
Another thing you might not be doing is making the healthiest of food options. I know there are so many good foods to enjoy, but it’s important to get a few good things in your diet too! I know there are typically a bunch of foods around that aren’t so healthy for you, cue every holiday cookie and boozy drink that’s served at all the different events you might be attending.
You can bring your own food, you can choose the healthier option out of everything (think the salad that is served or those veggies that likely not as many people will be grabbing for). There’s also the trusted, take a few spoonfuls of everything and eat slowly and mindfully enjoying each bite-but this is often hard for people so I don’t always suggest it.
Lastly, you likely aren’t making a plan. Yup this can be annoying for sure but it truly can be really helpful when it comes to getting through the holidays without feeling like total garbage come January 1.
So what are you going to do next holiday to make it easier for your body?
Do you ever take a moment to think about what’s in the products you use? Most often times we don’t, but they can have detrimental impacts on your overall health!
So many skincare products on the market today are just chemical filled garbage. Unfortunately, companies can throw so many different ingredients into a product and we don't even know what it is, some of them are pretty alarming.
They don't even have to disclose it all and can mark it under "fragrance" and claim it's a "trade secret." The worst part is that this is perfectly legal and is a loophole for companies to not have to disclose what is in their product.
So what you put on your skin really matters?! Yes! I harp on this and for good reason!
The average woman applies hundreds of different chemical compounds on her body, just before 9AM (think that morning shower, face ‘care’ routine, make up routine) and then it keeps on going - lotion, hand sanitizer, washing your hands every time you go to the bathroom (you do that right?) and the list goes on!
So why the big problem?
Well unfortunately many products out there have some pretty alarming ingredients.
Things like:
- Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen
- Mercury, which can damage the kidneys and nervous system
- Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates, which disrupt hormones and damage the reproductive system
These are just a few harmful ingredients and these aren’t even the full spectrum. With an autoimmune disease it is even more important to pay attention to these as our bodies tend to be more sensitive to it all.
The #1 thing I look for when I’m purchasing a new product is to look for the word “fragrance” in the ingredients list. If it’s listed at all, I’ll move onto the next! Believe it or not, there are companies out there that don’t use it. You just have to be mindful of which ones.
Do you know what’s in your products?
The autoimmune mindset is something that can be complicated and depending how you look at it, can have certain effects on your overall health.
In fact for many people, when we believe our own body is attacking us we not only hinder our healing process, but often feel our body betrayed us and we become the scapegoat for this 'disease'.
So do we have a condition or not?
Let me ask you this…. does it really matter?
For me, it didn't. I realized that I definitely had something going on that needed healing. I needed to clean up my act and treat my body and mind with respect.
I wasn’t feeling well and knew that if I didn’t make a change and take care of myself that nothing was going to get better. Whether I wear that label of having an “autoimmune” or not, I want to prioritize and take care of myself.
The first few things I did were diet, movement and mindset related and to this day those are a daily focus in my day to day life (even as a mom!).
✨Wahls Protocol. This protocol has been life changing for thousands around the world in healing different autoimmune conditions.
✨ I make sure to get in movement, everyday. Even if it was a short walk, or a quick arms workout - it helped so much mentally and physically!
✨ The way we think about things really matters. It's not just, oh think positive and everything will be alright, but it's deeper than that. Truly deeply believing and knowing that your body can heal itself has been shown in many cases (think Joe Dispenza) to actually heal your body (I do believe along with food choices, toxin reduction, movement and more).
I’ve made many strides towards better health and changes in my life so that I’m able to feel good and at the end of the day, that’s what matters to me.
Exercise has also been a passion of mine and something I have truly enjoyed. I have loved exercise since I was 16 years old when I realized it could help me feel better and bonus for looking better too.
Getting pregnant didn’t stop me one bit. I exercised all throughout my pregnancy, right up until a few days before birth; it helped me mentally and physically, not only prepare for birth but prepare for that 4th trimester.
As you're getting used to your body again (after holding a beautiful baby for quite some time) you may want to get back to movement, whether that's a mental or physical reason, it can still show up pretty heavily.
I wanted to get moving after the first month or so, but knew I needed to take my time or I could risk overdoing it, which I did not want to do as that can cause permanent issues (especially for that pelvic floor).
I have been doing some pelvic floor exercises (sent to me from my pelvic floor therapist), some arm workouts and walking, but now I wanted to up my game.
This last week I started running again for the first time in over a year. I LOVED it! I had missed it so much and it's something my little guy and I can do together! I have started very slow (again didn't want to overdo it) with the couch to 10k app which keeps me in check.
Here are a few tips as you transition to working out postpartum!
- Start gradually; it’s important not to push yourself and put undue stress on your body.
- Focus on core and pelvic floor exercises; a pelvic floor specialist can be a great resource
- Stay hydrated; so important, especially if you are breastfeeding
- Listen to your body; if something doesn’t feel right, take a step back or adjust the workout.
- Be patient; your body is completely different now, give yourself a little grace.
I'd love to hear your experience with working out after having a baby!
