8 Reasons Every Mom (and Dad) Should Begin a Wellness Journey.

Health is all the rave right now. Yet, a lot of people still have a hard time convincing themselves to embark on a wellness journey.

What does it even mean to embark on a wellness journey?

There's a huge misconception about health and what it really means. In my experience, people tend to oversimplify health, seeing it as the absence of disease alone.

Yet, health is such a complex construct that means so many things to different people that it simply cannot be defined as one thing.

In fact, being healthy is both mental as it is physical.

Health is usually always defined as a complete state of mental and physical well-being that is essential for living a wholesome life.

Does this mean that people living with diseases aren't healthy and so can't live a wholesome life?

I don't think so!

I think health is an ongoing quest. A pursuit. If our lives are dynamic, then it makes sense for our health to be.

For instance, A 65-year old man living successfully with type -2 diabetes and hypertension, who follows a diet rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables and takes daily brisk walks (45 mins). He also strength trains 3 days in a week for 30 mins and is happily married to an amazing woman with children who are productive members of the society. He doesn't smoke, hardly every drinks sugary or alcoholic beverages and keeps highly processed food to a minimum.

And... A 45 - year old man who smokes a packet of cigarette everyday, goes out for drinks with the guys every other evening, gets about 4 hours of sleep every night, before rushing off to a job he absolutely hates. This guy let's call him Fred, so, Fred is currently in a legal battle with his wife for custody of his kids. This legal battle is costing him a fortune and he spends the better part of his day gambling in hopes to hit it big and pay off his loans. He is lonely, depressed, stressed and barely eats any nutritious food.

Which of these men is most likely to develop complications from their lifestyle? Definitely not the first guy! Even though he's living with two chronic diseases.

Health really isn't about what you have or don't have. It's about living your life in a way that makes your experience on earth awesome.

This is why I refer to wellness as a journey. It's not static. It's something we have to keep pursuing.

It's so much more than losing weight and eating healthy.

Now that you know what wellness is and why I call it a journey, let me share with you 8 Reasons Why Every Mom Should Begin A Wellness Journey.

8 Reasons Every Mom Should Begin a Wellness Journey?

1. A Healthy Mom is More Productive:

Believe it or not, carving out time for yourself to get healthier can significantly boost productivity. How many times have things gone undone because you were too tired, too stressed or too sick to do it. By making small (initially uncomfortable) changes to your routine, you could have more energy to do the things that matter to you.

2. A Healthy Mom is a Happier Mom:

Prioritizing your needs (physical and mental) as a mom can arouse feeling of guilt and anxiety initially, because of how society depicts motherhood as being sacrificial up to the point self-sabotage. Yet, nothing makes a woman happier, than when she's actively pursuing her dreams and feels healthy, confident and accepted for who she is.

Overworking yourself to the bone, does the opposite of this. You end up feeling resentful and unhappy for putting your life on hold for so long so that every other person can live theirs to the max.

3. A Healthy Mom is a Confident Mom:

Taking out time to relax, hang with your girls, exercise and cook wholesome nutritious meals does wonders to your psyche. When you start pursuing wellness actively, you'll adopt a lot of healthy behaviors that'll help you shed some weight, improve your complexion and build physical and mental strength. As you conquer your lower self (the side of you that wants the easy choices) everyday, you'll begin to see the results and this will boost your confidence like nothing else.

4. A Healthy Mom is the Perfect Role Model:

The first role model a child has before his opinions are shaped is usually their parents. If they're parents are doing the right things, they end up being their role models for life. When your child see's the happy, confident woman that you are, who takes care of her physical and mental health, they pick up on this vibe and learn the importance of prioritizing their health and self-care. This makes it easier for them to develop healthy habits that are the foundation for a healthy, wholesome life.

5. A Healthy Mom is a Stress - Free Mom:

When you're feeling overworked and miserable, it's usually because you crammed too much into your life. Maybe you said "yes" too many times when you already so much on your plate or you slept too little because you're trying to be a super mom and breast feed throughout the night without expressing some breast-milk and having someone else watch your baby while you get a good nights snooze.

The problem with motherhood is that we try to do it all! We're doing all of these things we really can't do by ourselves in hopes that someone crowns us "Mom of the year". I say, screw that! Give that baby to your spouse/mom/nanny and get some much needed sleep. Say "No" to being available to everyone all of the time and go for a brisk walk instead.

When you put your sanity first, stress levels drop dramatically.

6. A Healthy Mom Looks Younger for Longer:

When you start eating healthier meals, working out and prioritizing self-care, not only do you begin a positive change inside of you, you also begin to look much younger because your daily healthy habits improve the appearance of your skin and now you know that it's not a sin to invest in a good skincare regimen.

7. A Healthy Mom Hangs Around for Longer:

Nothing is promised, but adopting a healthier lifestyle definitely improves your chances of staying alive for longer. And not the kind of life riddled with pain and endless discomfort, but the life where you're fit and healthy enough to be the kind of person people want around them.

8. A Healthy Mom Contributes To a Healthy Nation:

Mothers are the driving force of humanity. We're the ones who teach and nurture. When a mother understands and adopts a healthy lifestyle, her family is better for it and her children go on to practice these habits as adults and teach their children the same. In the end, her decision to actively pursue wellness creates a ripple effect that transforms her world.

There you have it guys! 8 of the very best reasons to begin your wellness journey today. And If it gets too hard, you know your girl is right here to support you.

In the meantime, I have a special gift for you......Drum roll Please!!!!! Taa Daa!

Click on this widget (button) to get access to this FREE CRASH COURSE on Nutrition. You'll learn:

• The basics of Good Nutrition

• The Cost of Getting Lean.

• How to get yourself to begin a healthy lifestyle and stick with it.

• How to eat for the results you're after.

Your's in health,

Jenn.