How To Self-Heal: Does Healing Really Have to Be This Hard?

Navigating the information around nutrition and exercise when learning how to self-heal.

Question:

I try and keep up with reading about nutrition, new diets, and exercising because I know how important it is for me to improve more than I am currently-but I am overwhelmed! All the information is confusing, and I find it impossible to stick to what I start with all the options.

Sometimes the information is just too much to understand, and I feel my body rejects a new diet or certain exercise programs. How am I supposed to improve my health if I am overwhelmed and feel I am running out of options?

Madison, NY

Answer:

Thank you for your question, Madison! I get this one a lot…

I, myself, am overwhelmed with all the information out there: the calorie restrictions, the lack of nutrition in our food, the “superfoods,” etc. Is meat good or bad? And why does it seem that the food that tastes the worst is the best for you, while the food that tastes good can hinder our health?

Not to mention all the information about exercise! Are we supposed to weight train or do cardio? No wait, yoga! And don’t forget to meditate!

And while I’m navigating all this information, who is keeping up with work, grocery shopping, laundry, pet and childcare, etc.?

Is learning how to self-heal with nutrition and exercise supposed to be this hard?

It is true what they say; Rome wasn’t built in a day. A lot of people tend to overdo a new routine too quickly, which oftentimes leads to a quicker fallout. Meanwhile, others commit to the routine so strongly that they end up overdoing it to the point of harming their health, instead of improving it. 

The first step in learning how to self heal is finding a program that is aligned with what health and wellness means to you. Forget for a minute about the culturally accepted norms and ask yourself, “What does health and wellness mean to me, personally?”

Until you have a strong direction on what you want, you will continue to fall prey to quick fixes and information overload. If you’re not sure where to start on this step, check out my free eBook, You Are Your Own Healer: What Does Healing Mean to You?

As you become clearer on your values and direction on this topic, I recommend going a bit deeper. Dive inward by connecting to your Body Within; this will guide you to making choices specific to you!

Let’s start with the basics…Are you learning about nutrition and exercise to lose weight? Or are you learning how to self-heal from chronic pain and illness? Maybe you’re just concerned with your overall health and aging gracefully.

Once you define your values, there are so many possibilities to making it a reality!

How should I start exercising? The easiest solution is just to get up and move! Try walking, running, swimming, hiking, dancing, or just going to the mailbox; as long as it’s more than what you would normally do, you’re off to a good start! Then, continue to build on that.

The goal is to slowly increase your activity to build stamina and strength for a long-term change. Most people don’t succeed when they try to make big changes all at once because our bodies don't like drastic change!

Get creative with the ‘exercise’ side of health and self healing. For example, a gym is a great resource when the weather is bad, your home doesn’t allow for the amount of space you need or you just like the motivation of watching those around you exercise.

However, if you choose to remain in the privacy of your own home, try using YouTube or On Demand on your TV to find tons of exercises, including stretches, walking and even weight-training!

If you’re confined to your house, because of the pandemic or a chronic condition, find an area to walk to and from within the house and do this twice a day. Again, it’s completely fine to start small, even if you’re just walking to the front door! Each day, add an extra lap until you become strong enough to get outside.

A lot of these creative solutions will allow you to get moving without making huge changes to your existing routine. For example, instead of scrolling through your phone or watching TV at the end of the day, try a stretching video or plan your workout for the next day. 

Instead of making your grocery run “quick and painless,” walk up and down each aisle, even if you don’t need anything from that row. Do circles or laps while you complete your shopping. It may take an extra ten minutes, but you will have accomplished more exercise than the alternative. 

If your kids play sports, take some time during their games to stretch or walk around the field, parking lot or wherever!

Also, consider your sedentary work life. How can you mix it up with a bit of exercise? You could try a small bike underneath your desk, upgrade to a standing desk, take a yoga break or try balance poses as you work. There are tons of isometric exercises that can be done anywhere, anytime.

If you have the motivation to get moving, you can find a way to make it happen without having to rearrange your life! Remember: learning how to self heal isn’t always a linear journey, so feel free to try lots of things until you find what works for you.

What about nutrition?

To start simply, make sure you take in protein and carbohydrates each time you eat. Then, while you're eating, start analyzing the food and figuring out which ones make you feel tired after you eat them.

Conversely, find out which foods make you feel strong and add more of those into your diet. That’s a great place to start!

There is no one-size-fits-all diet. Everyone has different tastes, genetics, lifestyles, food allergies/sensitivities, etc. There is a common misbelief that if it’s written down on the internet, it must be true. Unfortunately, that’s where many people can get tripped up.

Also, don’t put your focus on an ideal weight. Many people believe that they should weigh a certain amount and rely on a scale to tell them how healthy they are. Not only is weight a subjective measurement for health, but allowing a machine to dictate success or failure will seriously damage your motivation.

Once you’ve got that down, take it a step further by thinking of ways to improve other aspects of your health, like dental health, skin health, strength and energy. Weight loss is just the tip of the iceberg. 

As you take these small steps, keep learning more about overall health and how to self -heal. Then, make changes that will leave you feeling focused and strong. This is truly how to find habits that will stick and start making things happen for yourself!

Most importantly: relax and have fun! 

Take it one day at a time and don’t give yourself a timeline. Learning how to self heal and creating a well-rounded approach to health is your life’s work, not a weekend adventure.

For more guidance on using nutrition and exercise to learn how to self heal and live a balanced life, try my 3-week, self-study course: Tapping Into Your Body Within.