Unveiling Health Secrets: Insights from My Health Journey (part one)

I typically refrain from sharing my preferred supplements and products due to the highly individual nature of health, I'm much more inclined to give insight into the routines and habits that have significantly influenced my wellness journey. Nonetheless, I frequently encounter the question, "What are your top go-to products?" It's important to emphasize that health is a personalized journey which is why I hesitate to share.I don’t want to risk women adopting supplements or products blindly. However, given the frequent inquiries, I thought I would share three habits and three products/supplements that have had a profound impact on my health.

Initially, I was on board with having electronic devices in my bedroom, particularly a TV, from my college days through a few years thereafter. Cozying up in bed to watch a show or movie felt luxurious at the time. However, as I delved deeper into understanding the impact of electronics on our health, I began to reconsider this habit. Fortunately, my partner shares a similar perspective and so it was an easy conversation to forgo having a TV in our new apartment's main bedroom. Reducing electronics in the bedroom offers two main benefits. Firstly, it positively impacts sleep quality–falling asleep with the TV on or waking up to it disrupts rest rhythm. Additionally, exposure to the blue light emitted by the TV can elevate cortisol levels, which ideally should be lowest at night–both our eyes and skin have blue-light receptors. Secondly, there are electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to consider. While some may dismiss EMFs as foolish, they play a crucial role. I challenge those who don’t believe to consider electrolytes' role in our health. Electrolytes, as defined by the Cleveland Clinic, “...are substances that have a natural positive or negative electrical charge when dissolved in water. They help your body regulate chemical reactions, maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside your cells, and more.” Our cells utilize electrolytes to facilitate electrical currents, such as muscle contractions. Consequently, the interference of EMFs from electronic devices during sleep can disrupt our body's electrical processes, potentially impacting our overall health.

Next, let's talk about building muscle and weightlifting! Strengthening my muscles through weightlifting has always been and will continue to be a cornerstone of my health journey. Building muscle is closely associated with longevity and an enhanced quality of life. It not only helps in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels but also aids in reducing accumulated fat and strengthing bones, thereby slowing down bone loss. While I've experimented with various workout styles, ranging from CrossFit to various boot camps, I consistently find myself gravitating back to simple and traditional exercises that can be done either at home or in a standard gym. This year, I've streamlined my approach by creating three distinct workout routines: one for the lower body, upper body, and full body. Each week, I adhere to these routines, dedicating three days to the pre-designed workouts with consistent exercises, while the fourth day is more flexible, allowing for variation, experimentation, and fun. By tracking my progress regularly, I'm able to visualize my growth and progress. For those new to weightlifting, this structured approach can serve as an excellent starting point, and it's easily adaptable for home workouts. I aim for 3-4 days of lifting sessions per week, complemented by 1-2 days of cardio activities such as walking or Vinyasa Yoga. Additionally, I synchronize my workouts with my menstrual cycle to optimize performance and results.

Finally, let's discuss meditation and breathwork. I struggled with severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts for about a year. While there were several factors contributing to it, I want to share how I overcame these challenges and the tools I utilized. Alongside improvements in my diet, lab testing, therapy, and supplements, I integrated nearly daily meditation sessions lasting from 1 to 20 minutes, even just a minute can help alleviate anxiety symptoms. Initially, I found a quiet space, sat on the floor, set a timer, and closed my eyes. Always, my mind raced with incessant thoughts, leading to frustration. However, I learned to acknowledge these thoughts during meditation and visualize them drifting away. I then discovered an app that guided me through various meditation techniques tailored for anxiety relief. Next, I adopted box breathing, a technique my therapist recommended to cope with all types of anxiety but more specifically when I was getting flight anxiety. It involves inhaling for four counts, holding for four, exhaling for four, and holding for four, repeated several times. Another effective breathing exercise involves inhaling and holding the breath, then exhaling for a longer time than the inhale. The last technique I found helpful for anxiety and a more active meditation is visualization. By visualizing scenarios that trigger anxiety, such as airplane rides, from start to finish with no issues.

Although these are just three of the lifestyle adjustments I've implemented, they have left a lasting impact and are changes I use in practice with clients. Stay tuned for next week, when I'll divulge three supplements/products that played a significant role in my healing journey—note that I refrain from using the term "recommend," as health is highly personalized!

With support,
Isabella