My Wellness Journey By Melonie DePalma, Holistic Health Coach
My favorite definition of “Good Health” is from the wonderful selfhealing
author, Louise Hay, who described health as feeling good, sleeping
well, and having balance. She argued that, “For us to become whole and
healthy, we must balance the body, mind, and spirit. We need to take good
care of our bodies, and have a positive mental attitude about ourselves and
about life.”
I will share with you my last 12 months of shifting into more self-love. I
ran into quite a few locals at a fantastic ‘Gathering for Love’ a few months
ago, and it was requested that I write about my weight loss, or as I call it...
My Wellness Journey. And who doesn’t love to write about themselves and
their successes! As I’ve shared before, I have been studying health and
nutrition, and coaching others for 15 years; with that experience you would
think I would be able to easily stay feeling fabulous and fit... Well, with each
of life’s decades I’ve been handed different challenges in each one.
Since my partial hysterectomy three and a half years ago, it brought
hormonal changes, with side effects of energy loss and weight gain of 42
pounds.
I seem to be learning new things with each decade, with the change of
each chapter reaching toward optimal health. This chapter I have become
my healthiest version, mostly through superfoods. You say SUPER...WHAT...
that does not mean SUPERsize!
• su·per·food noun • A nutrient-rich food that 92% of Americans lack in
their diet, and considered to be a key component to health and well-being.
Superfoods are defined as foods that are thought to be nutritionally
dense and thus good for one’s health. Blueberries, salmon, kale and acai
are just a few examples of foods that have garnered the “superfood”
label. I define superfoods as foods that are nutrient dense and help keep
your body in balance. Eating nutrient dense food is important for healthy
hormone levels, metabolism, mood, skin health, and vitamin absorption.
We all have different shapes, habits, and bodies. The most important
26 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | DEC 2019
thing that I’ve noticed with self and clients is that we need food that gives
us fuel to have the energy to move.
With all the advancements in research and studies, things have changed
tremendously in the last 20 years and so has my body. My goal was to
incorporate things that would help me fight aging, feel fit and increase my
energy. As important as exercise is, I did not want to make that my priority
for the first few months. So I stayed with my normal few times a week bike
ride, stretching/yoga and beach walks. I wanted to show that you can lose
weight and feel more energy by incorporating the right foods first. Once we
get to that place that we have more energy, then the exercise comes much
easier.
I accomplished losing 40 lb. in a year and my goal was to feel fabulously
fit by 45!! I DID IT by adding a green juice in the morning with adaptogenics
and protein with collagen in the afternoon. Nine months into eating well, my
energy level began to rise and the exercise came easy. Yoga is my personal
favorite form of exercise and with my newfound energy I invested in a Yoga
Swing. I know what you’re thinking and YES - FUN and challenging!
One thing that I figured out that really helped me is to get to a place
in your mind that food is your friend. It’s your fuel. You want to get to
where you see food as your support of feeling your best, where you can go
out to eat, enjoy and not be hard on yourself. Remember, it is a wellness
journey not a pit stop. The truth is that just like everyone has different
goals, everyone has to take a different road to get to their ideal body or
energy to feel the best version of self. My road seems to be quite curvy (no
pun intended) and with each curve a new lesson in self-love is realized.
It really is about removing the things that no longer serve you, even if
they once did, to make room for all the new, better, and more authentic
things that bring out the best in you. As I did with a green juice every
morning and protein shake. Remove waste, hold space, and re-create your
life with a body detox, powered by nutrition. I know it sounds like a sales
pitch, but it truly works by going beyond the usual diet and weight loss
goals and make a lifestyle change. Customization is KEY in any wellness
journey. Get support that makes you accountable for your health goals.
There’s no “one-stop shop.” No cure-all elixir. This is why fad diets
don’t make EVERYONE lose. Try out different ways of eating, like highprotein,
vegetarian, alkaline, anti-inflammatory, then journal how you feel
after eating this way.
My start with the “before” was how I felt, how I wanted to feel, my energy
level... write it down and visualize feeling your best, moving around, and
fitting into your clothes comfortably. Wellness doesn’t work when it’s one
size fits all. We’re all living in our own unique bodies, further complicated
by different life journeys, different choices we make. You already know
this.
It’s important to do what makes you happy and do what makes you
feel your best. If you don’t like the protein shake, try a different version.
If you don’t like lifting weights then don’t, but don’t not do it because of
what someone else says or thinks or because you think you’ll get massive
or they don’t ‘like it.’ Some people that see you are making positive
changes in your life will not support your changes, it scares some. Let me
share, people who belong in the next chapter will celebrate your efforts of
improving self.
Keep trying different foods, stretching, yoga, running and don’t ever
worry about what anyone else thinks of you! It’s YOUR Journey - make it
one that feels amazing down to your soul.
Sending love and light.