Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

I know, it has been a long time since I last blogged. Whew. A lot has happened since we last talked. I am coming back to celebrate a win and, more importantly, to inspire you to keep going on your journey toward a healthier, more grounded version of yourself.

I have been fighting for my life! Literally. At 56, I have watched too many loved ones suffer strokes, heart attacks, and other serious illnesses. Conditions that once felt distant began knocking at my own front door. My doctors were on the verge of prescribing medication for high blood pressure and diabetes, and that reality stopped me in my tracks.

I have never wanted to live a life dependent on medication if it could be avoided. Still, I had to be honest with myself. My lifestyle and daily habits were leading me toward an early grave. That truth became my wake up call.

So I took a leap of faith.

Since the spring of 2025, I have been far more intentional about my choices. I began going to the gym regularly, starting slow with walking and then rewarding myself with time in the sauna. I started cleaning up my diet, beginning with a raw fast supported by supplemental herbs.

It has not been easy. Mostly because... I like to eat! But also because I am dismantling habits that have been part of my life for decades. Still, the process has taught me powerful lessons, ones that continue to guide me. Here are ten truths that have been real eye openers for me:

1. There is no such thing as perfect. Perfection kept me stuck for years. Progress began when I accepted that showing up imperfectly was still showing up. This allowed me to think in ranges vs absolutes. Even my step goal is 6,000 as the low, but 10,000-13,000 as the goal. :)
   

2. Consistency is the most important factor. I wanted to make drastic changes. But in the end, I made the most progress when I focused on showing up consistently, every week. Some days I'd just go to the gym, stretch, sit in the hot tub and sauna. And, yes, that counts.
   

3. When you do not feel like it... do it anyway. Motivation is fleeting. I had to figure out how to keep going once my enthusiasm ran out. Some days I wanted to just go home. On those days I just drove my car in the direction of the gym. At the end of the day I felt better and was happy that I didn't detour towards the house.
   

4. But also, when you don't feel like it, take a break. I had to remember, rest is not quitting. It is listening to your body and honoring the need to recover so you can continue. Some days, I didn't "feel like it" and I honored that feeling. Sometimes rest is the answer. Tomorrow is another day!
   

5. Everything is easier with a friend. I have been on this journey alone for so many years. It wasn't until I partnered with friends that I've been inspired to stay consistent. They talk me through the hard times, they celebrate the wins and they remind me of my greatness.
   

6. There is no such thing as never. I stopped saying, "I'm never eating ______ again." It doesn't work for me. Instead, I decided moderation is key. Moderation allows me to live a full life, while rigidity causes me stress.
   

7. Waiting too long is a form of self sabotage. When I wait too long to eat, I wind up binge eating. When I wait too long to go to the gym, I skip that day. I learned not to wait, this was my biggest lesson.
   

8. Stress is the enemy of healing and progress. Stress made me want to eat, want to sit on the couch and kept me in a low vibrational state. I leaned into my walking when I realized it reduced my stress and lifted my spirits. It's a fairly easy way to release the stress from work, from life and to regain my center.
   

9. Good Music can carry you through. I found it so much easier to finish my goals when listening to the right music. Finishing 13,000 steps is much easier with House Music in your ear buds! Even when I found myself overwhelmed by life, I remembered the calming effects of my meditation music. Now I keep a playlist for all occasions... you should try it.
   

10. When you fall off, begin again. This process has taught me the power of the phrase, "begin again". The journey is never over. Each morning gives me another chance to get it right. When I come face-to-face with my imperfect self, I love myself, give myself grace and start again. And it's working.
    

This journey has reminded me that change does not require perfection, only honesty, intention, and compassion for myself along the way. If you are in a season of starting over or recommitting, know that you are not alone, and it is never too late to choose yourself.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race