Today is GUEST day here, and you guys are in for a special treat. My friend, Jamie Weaver, is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I was fortunate to meet Jamie last year at a conference through our partnership with Beachbody (the makers of P90X, Insanity, etc).Jamie runs her own online coaching business at The Fit Fiddler, and she is also a violin teacher (how awesome is that?!). She is passionate about helping women find peace in their lives through exercise and healthy eating so they can more effectively serve their family and community. Check out Jamie’s story below!
Try New Things, Especially When it Comes to Your Health – Jamie Weaver
It seems to me that all too often, people take a back seat when it comes to their personal health. During the past two years I have struggled with digestive issues and food sensitivity, and I was surprised at how many times I heard someone say, “Oh, I have that problem too! But I could never give up such and such food…”
Yes, I am a bit of a health nut. It’s kind of my hobby, so I enjoy learning about nutrition and how our bodies absorb and use food for fuel. If your tummy is always upset, it’s probably not your genetics causing the problem. It’s more likely that you are eating something that your body is not responding well to. The question is, are you willing to do something about it?
The past two years of my life have been an exercise in trying new things! Let me share a bit of my story. In the spring and summer of 2013 I began to rapidly lose weight. At first I thought it was great! Then, towards the end of the summer, I started to feel uncomfortable in my clothes. My stomach became extremely bloated…enough so that I looked two months pregnant! Because I was counting calories at the time, I kept reducing the number of calories I was eating, thinking I was gaining weight. Once my calorie intake had dropped to around 1100-1200 calories per day (all while I was exercising), I knew there was no way I could still be gaining weight. Since I had a friend who was sensitive to gluten, it occurred to me that I might have a food sensitivity.
The first step in trying something new for me was to call Aimee, my gluten-sensitive friend who had also just graduated IIN as a health coach. I set up several Skype sessions for us to go over my health history and to talk about what I was eating. Her guidance and counseling set me on the path to healing. I eliminated gluten and sugar and began drinking bone broth and eating non-inflammatory foods. There was one thing I knew for sure: Google and WebMd were not giving me answers. I needed to talk to a real person.
Throughout the next year I read a lot of information about nutrition. I followed numerous people on Instagram with health accounts. I tried eating vegan, raw, high carb (lots of fruit), mostly paleo, dairy, NO dairy… you get the idea. The best thing about that year is that each of those ways of eating taught me something about my body. My body has also changed as my gut has healed. When my stomach was irritated I couldn’t eat meat without feeling sick. Now, I follow a mostly Paleo diet and feel great!
If there is one thing I could inspire you to do, it would be to ask for help. Seek out a health coach or a friend who knows more than you, and don’t be afraid to spend money! After all, this is about your health. It affects every area of your life.
One of the best resources along this journey has been my Beachbody team and the connections I’ve made through that group of ladies. I have learned to be a better leader, a better friend, I’ve learned skills in business and I’ve tried workouts I never thought I could do. Most of all, I know I’ll never stop trying new things! I am currently finishing out a carb cycling and intermittent fasting program. If you had asked me two years ago if I would train and eat like an athlete, I would have said “I have no idea how to do that!” Now I feel ready to train others.
Investing in yourself is SO worth it! You never know what you can do until you try. So, in summary…
- Try new things
- Ask for help
- Don’t be afraid to make a financial investment
You. Are. Worth. It.
The Fit Fiddler… I LOVE that!!!