My Wellness Journey

Naomi Furtado Photography
When I turned 39, I had a bit of an existential awakening. I was going to turn 40 the next year and after having two children, I had blood pressure issues with each pregnancy. When I spoke to my midwife, she told me that pregnancy is like a crystal ball. It reveals what happens to your body when under stress, so it was likely that I would have blood pressure problems when I aged. Seeing what my parents and brothers had experienced with heart problems, I knew that I needed to act now. I saw how hard it was to be on so much medication, to have double/triple/quadruple bypasses and I knew that if I did not change my path, I would end up at that destination. So, I started my journey. I just did not know what I was doing! I may have a Ph.D. from Yale, be a full Professor in Counseling and School Psychology, but none of that training told me how to take care of myself. I had excelled in so many areas, while feeling as though I had failed in one of the most basic - being able to take care of myself physically.

I want to start with a very important disclaimer. Many of these stories start with a sad, "fat" picture of the person "before" and then the after picture where everything is beautiful and golden, making the focus only on weight. I do not believe in that, and that has not been my journey. I have lost weight before, but I was grossly unhealthy. I was, emotionally, a wreck. I was skinny, yes, but unhealthy and in misery. That was not this journey. The picture below was me at my heaviest, about 280 pounds. I was at the happiest of my life - carrying a baby Waylon, settling into my identity as partner, mother and professor, and emotionally healed in a way that the younger, thinner version of myself had not - when I had full blown PTSD, was emotionally closed off, and was ill...constantly.


Laura Elyse Photography

I was happy here - was also pretty happy eating whatever I wanted too! I was making food for my baby (and about 3 other babies, since I was overproducing). I was amazed and so thankful for what my body was capable of doing. But, I was still physically unhealthy, with pain in my knees, a complete inability to do anything physically taxing, and fatigued constantly. I wanted to find a better way to live, but as I said before, I wasn't sure how or how even to start!

I tried for five months on my own (without a formal plan or support) and made some progress, but was still stuck - I was focusing on losing weight, which was not the main problem in my life. This made me frequently go back to unhealthy foods and feel like I was continually failing. In November of 2016, I chose a different direction and formally started a completely new wellness journey that would change me forever.

Me with my BFF Jess, who supported me
through this journey on her own wellness journey!


At the end of this part of my journey, after 10 months, I had lost over 130 pounds (90 of those pounds in the last 10 months), lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol significantly, and brought myself out of the red zone for heart risk (also cut my life insurance cost by 2/3!). I am mostly vegan, eating about 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, getting lots of protein through natural means or protein shakes, and exercising one to two hours a day EVERY day. I am centered, happy, and grounded in a way that I never was before. I have practiced yoga for 265 consecutive days, am able to do advanced yoga postures, and my physical energy and stamina are better than when I was in my twenties.



I also corrected a hormonal and skin problem that I did not realize I had for most of my life. I learned that I had a major issue with dairy, but since I had so much dairy all of the time before, I never connected my symptoms with food. Once I had restricted dairy, I noticed the symptoms worsening after I ate the small amount of dairy in my diet. It was uncovered that I had incredibly high estrogen (go figure!) and the dairy was pushing it even higher. With dairy out of my diet, some vitamins/herbs designed to lower estrogen, and some progesterone cream, I have also found a hormonal balance, which has stopped the progression of fibrocystic breast disease and reactive skin on my face, which would flush and turn into acne every day.


I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been, and even though this journey required me to make myself the priority, I found that I was a better mother, wife, and friend. I have more energy, feel better, and am happier with myself, and my choices. I have found my bearings on my life journey and finally feel in balance physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. I hope that you see what I see in these "after" pictures - not thinness, but health - a glowing strength that has aligned my spirit with my physical body.

Naomi Furtado Photography

In my next series of blog posts, I am going to share EVERYTHING I have learned on this journey, as I am hopeful that it will help other people on their journeys. I do not think there was anything extraordinary on my journey OR that my journey is appropriate for everyone. I do believe that the lessons I learned as I was helped by others have not only helped my physical wellness, they have bettered my whole approach to life. I hope that others will find these as helpful as I have.


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