Four Unconventional Health Hacks + How I Lost 15 lbs in 90 Days

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Today’s show is packed with all the things our family has done to live healthier and happier.

From unconventional health hacks to sharing the exact way I lost 15 lbs and maintain a weight that I love, I’m spilling all the deets on how I live joyfully healthy!

This episode is going to dish out a lot of info in a short amount of time, so if you want to dig deeper or digest this info slower, no pun intended, download my free Getting Healthy (and Happy!) Guide here.

Please note: Today’s show does not contain medical advice, just some thoughts from a girl who thinks outside the pharmaceutical box! You should always consult your doctor before making any changes to your healthcare routine.

Today we’re walking through four unconventional health hacks that have improved my family’s health. I’ll also be sharing how I lost 15 lbs in 90 days and maintain a weight that I love. I’ll tell you what I eat, what I drink and what I don’t. Ready? Let’s do it!

On the journey to a healthy and happy family, the following four things have improved my family’s health in drastic ways!

#1. Chiropractic Care and Orthopedic Shoes

Chiropractic care has helped keep our bodies in alignment, which in turn has improved posture, sleep and overall health for my entire family of 5.

We found a local, well trained chiropractor who knows our family and medical history and he keeps us in tip top shape.

When I started having trouble with sciatic nerve pain, I had the chiropractor scan my feet and fit me for orthopedic shoes. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love them. I wear them 24/7 now they make a huge difference.

Believe it or not, orthopedic shoes actually come in a large variety of cute and comfortable options!

#2. Essential Oils

Oh, how I LOVE my essential oils!

My experience with essential oils began when my mom gave me a bottle of Lavender oil. I’m embarrassed to admit that it sat on my shelf for over a year before I used it. Yep.

I felt intimidated by it, because I didn’t have the slightest clue how to use it or why to use it!

Finally… I decided to learn about essential oils and I quickly found that education was the key.

Fast forward 3 years and you won’t catch this girl without her essential oils!!

I especially love to diffuse essential oils in our home. The combination of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint (what I call the “allergy buster”) has made a huge impact for my kids who have struggled with seasonal allergies and asthma.

#3. Organic Produce

Is organic produce a necessity? No.

Do I feel great about feeding it to my family? Yes. Especially because we eat a lot of salad, which I feel like may be hard to thoroughly wash free of sprayed on chemicals.

I will point out that it’s a bit more expensive and it doesn’t seem to last quite as long in the refrigerator.

However, I believe the pros outweigh the cons. I think that a lot of today’s health problems are linked to the things we are consuming, including chemical laden food.

Feeding my family fresh, organic produce (often served raw) takes me back to Eden, in a sense. Those foods (along with proteins) fuel our body in the way that God intended and they keep us healthy!

#4. Chewable Supplements

I started taking Emergen-C gummies about a year ago. I’m not an affiliate, just a fan. They are a Vitamin C/D combo and they help me feel great, especially in the wintertime when I feel like I’m really lacking in Vitamin D.

Also, my entire family loves their daily Elderberry gummy. Zarbees is our favorite brand! These are SO great for boosting the immune system.

Last school year, when the annual “pukes” were ripping through the local elementary school, my kids stayed healthy! (And all the moms rejoiced!) I attribute the healthy school year to the Elderberry gummies!!

Both of these gummies actually taste so good, they seem more like a treat than a health supplement, but we have seen HUGE health benefits from them!

If you asked me which ONE of these four things has helped my family the most….

I’d say Essential Oils, hands down. In fact, I did an entire episode on essential oils. Check out episode #6 to learn more.

Regarding essential oils, I’ll say it again: education is key!

Don’t be afraid of them by any means, but also PLEASE DON’T buy cheap oils from Wal-mart and start dousing yourself in them.

Instead, find a high quality, trusted company that produces pure, therapeutic grade oils and link up with an educator who can teach you about all the awesome ways to use them!

Whew! That was a lot already! To recap, these are the four things that have improved my family’s health in a major way:

Chiropractic Care and Orthopedic Shoes
Essential Oils
Organic Produce
Chewable Supplements

Let’s move on to weight loss.

About a year ago, I made three simple, sustainable changes to create a healthier lifestyle. As in, the things I changed, I changed for life. And I’m happy to live with that! In doing so, I lost 15 pounds and I’m feeling fantastic!

Now… some of you heard that word “change,” and you’re already thinking “I’m out.” If that’s you, go back and listen to episode #2, When You Want to Change but Think You Can’t. Let me share something with you friend… because I love you, I will tell you the hard truth: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting different results. If you are serious about becoming the healthiest, happiest version of you… you’re going to have to make some changes. Yep, straight up. #Here’sToChange

So here we go…

Change #1. I break my fast in a healthy way.

I have found SO much conflicting info about the first meal of the day: Breakfast.

I’ve read everything from eat a large breakfast to eat a small breakfast to workout before you eat. Or eat breakfast before you work out or down a bulletproof coffee upon waking or skip breakfast all together. Ack!

Finally, I found some information that worked great for me: Don’t worry so much about how you eat breakfast. Simply realize that WHEN you eat, you are literally breaking a time of fasting. (Your body has been abstaining from food all night!) So WHEN you eat and break the fast, do it in a healthy way! THAT made sense for me. THAT was something I could figure out!

For years and years, I had grabbed something quick in the morning. Typically it was something loaded with sugar, fat and carbs (you know those tiny, little muffins that are so conveniently packaged?). Yep, that’s what I did. Yikes!

Once I learned the concept of breaking my nightly fast with something that would actually fuel my body, instead of set me up for a blood sugar crash, I found a shake loaded with protein and probiotics. It’s low in calories, low in sugar and highly nutritious. Also, it works great with my on-the-go “Mompreneur” lifestyle. Find a shake, or a healthy breakfast option that works great for you and your lifestyle!

Simply changing my breakfast routine helped change my mindset. It’s easier to make healthier choices during the day if you start first thing in the morning. It sets me up for success!

Change #2. I traded soda for water, lots of water.

On May 5, 2019 I gave up Cola for good. I didn’t drink a ton of soda, but I had one every day at lunch, and I had done if for YEARS. On Cinco de Mayo, I put a stake in the ground and I quit, cold turkey. I also immediately upped my water intake to 100 ounces a day.

At the time, I had a month’s worth of soda cans sitting in my fridge. I dumped them out, every last one. Then I proceeded to experience a week of hellacious headaches, but there was no turning back. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

My skin cleared up completely, where previously I had experienced hormonal acne. The heartburn I had periodically dealt with was completely eliminated. After the withdrawal headaches subsided, the migraines I’d dealt with for YEARS were substantially improved and I lost 5 pounds super fast.

I look back at the one single soda I used to drink every day and I’m blown away to think of the empty calories, loads of sugar and nasty chemicals I was dumping into my body. No more!

These days, I drink water like a camel. Ha! Personally, I prep five 20 ounce water bottles each morning and keep them in the fridge, front and center. The water bottles are the first thing I see when I open the refrigerator door, making them easy to grab and go!

Change #3. I eat mostly protein and greens.

I grew up a corn-fed, comfort food, Midwestern girl. I thought meat, potatoes and allllll the carbs made up a well rounded meal.

I was wrong.

It turns out the foods that fuel my body best, and keep me feeling great are proteins and greens.

I thought this would be the hardest change for me to make. I just knew that I’d feel hungry all the time if I didn’t load up on carbs and bread at meal time.

I’ll admit, for a few days, it was a little tough… but only because I hadn’t conquered the mindset I needed to. This change was mind over matter and making simple adjustments.

I found that I could adapt almost any meal into a healthier version easily. A burger and fries turned into a burger with a “lettuce bun” and a side salad. So easy!

I quickly became a salad lover. Now salads are a side dish with almost every meal. I found that salads are SO versatile! When I’m grocery shopping each week, I’ll buy different types of lettuce, plus whatever raw veggies are on sale. This keeps every salad fresh and different and exciting!

I do still eat carbs, but they are in moderation. Instead of 2 dinner rolls with a meal, I’ll eat half of one. Or instead of a sub sandwich on white bread, I’ll do a wrap, loaded with veggies and meats inside!

If we’re out for Mexican food, I’ll eat 12 tortilla chips slowly, instead of inhaling the entire basket. (Come on, you’ve done it!) Instead of a full serving of mashed potatoes, I’ll take half the amount and pair it with a large serving of vegetables.

My body quickly adjusted to a diet rich in protein and veggies. Some of my favorite meals now include steak and a salad, shrimp and a salad with guacamole and homemade chicken salad on a lettuce wrap!

Delish!

Let’s recap those three simple changes that I made, which resulted in my 15 lb weightloss:

I break my fast in a healthy way
I traded soda for water
I eat mostly protein and greens

Life is for living, my friend!

I do still occasionally have treats. Once in a while, I’ll have a small ice cream cone with my kiddos, or a cupcake at a birthday party, or an iced Mocha (favorite!!). The trick is asking “Will this food bless my body?” Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it’s no. Everything in moderation and mind over matter.

I’m still making changes on the journey to the happiest, healthiest version of me. For example, my sleep pattern needs some work. Also, my exercise routine could be improved. As of now, I get walks in when I can, and I’m constantly chasing my three kids around. I think the trick is moving your body every day, in some way.

No matter what your weight or body shape is, or where you are in your journey, I hope that you choose to be happy. Your happiness and self worth should not be determined by a number on the scale. Happiness is a choice, one that you alone get to make. Only you get to choose who you want to be, how you want to look and exactly what happiness and the ideal life look like for you.

We’re all a work in progress! And there’s joy in the journey. I encourage you to not compare yourself to my journey, but rather use it as inspiration on your own journey to becoming the happiest, healthiest version of you! You got this!