Finding YOU again

Hi, to my fellow Moms out there!

I see you. I see you giving all of yourself to your family without a second thought. I see your tired eyes and your ever-present anxiety that comes with unconditionally loving the little beings that you brought into this world. One can never fathom how life changing having a child can be until they have experienced it for themselves. It’s a love greater than you have ever experienced and now that they are first, you and your health are most often put last.

From the moment I became a mother and held my son for the first time, my life as I knew it changed. It was no longer about me as an individual, but about the little person I was blessed with. The newborn stage is just hard, with lack of sleep and little desire to exercise or cook a healthy meal, but it eventually gets better and our kids learn to play on their own or start attending school. But old habits die hard. We need to be reminded that we are only the best Mom we can be when we are giving ourselves the same love we are giving our children.

It took me awhile...specifically 2 or 3 kids later to realize that I needed to learn to take care of ME again.

I started by re-discovering my love for running. Running is not for everyone, but for me, it is my escape from reality, my form of self-care and something that makes me feel strong. Running made me remember that I love my body and turned me back to making healthy cooking and nutrition a priority. After all, I went to a nutrition-focused culinary school, so why was I now surviving on the foods that I was cooking for my kids? All of this eventually led me to want to help others on their quest for their own health...the ultimate form of self care...and that is why I became a health coach.

My best advice is to start slow and take it one step at a time. What motivates you? What makes you feel good in your own skin? Is it yoga? Is it eating more vegetables? Is it meditating or journaling? These are all forms of self-care that can positively impact our overall health and wellness. We are only given this one body to live in so we need to give it the love it deserves! You'll be surprised what one healthy change can often lead to!

Yours in mind and body,

Jenny

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