Shed the Dead

Shed the Dead
A Moment with Michelle 
Shed the Dead is my new mantra--I came up with it just this morning while journaling!! Does that ever happen to you? 
Another round of the Jumpstart has come and here we are already.  Is it just me or did we get in a time warp?  I feel like since the time change time is zipping by and I'm like waaaaiiiit what is happening.  Just me?  
OK As I said, the last few months have really taken a toll on me and getting back to, well me has been terribly hard.  If you have been through any type of trauma, depression or transition you probably know.  It's a human experience.  Well, this week I've been really learning to give myself grace AND creating short goals for myself and let myself just be guided instead of should-coulda-woulda-ing.   Today was one of those days where I asked to just be guided.  And go along with it.  Somehow I'm blogging about it....

And so I was guided to Shed the Dead.  Huh I thought to myself.  So I hopped on my chi machine and wiggled my lymph system.  I love my chi machine bytheway! Did a short workout 10 min workout.  Slapped on the Charcoal face mask, created an oily hair mask and sat in reflection while doing a foot detox soak with my son, all while inhaling the aroma of my diffusers running with Joy and Orange oils.  Then I randomly decided to wax all my leg hair off, body brush and exfoliate, and took a nice long shower.  Then clipped my nails, moisturized and oiled my body, fluffed my hair and well here I am!  
AHHH Inhale Exhale  I'm SO glad I listened to myself today.   
Sometimes you just need to take a day to focus on yourself, your body and mind.  
I do not regret this.  

Ingredients to avoid in your products

Ingredients to avoid in your products
What I love about a quick DIY perfume, air freshener or linen spray is that I get to decide what goes in my home.  I mean I am the gatekeeper.  Just because the tv commercial or store shelf promotes it does not mean it's good for me.  I'm so happy I've learned how to read ingredients, research what they are and make a choice that best suits me and my family.  Now that I have become an ingredient snob, we no longer suffer from sinus infections, harsh coughs, headaches, rashes and a host of other things "we thought were normal".  

It all started with food first, but that's another chapter.  This one is about products.  I love that one bottle of plant blood can not only support our health, mind, body, but also do some cleaning, cooking and make other products I no longer have to buy from the store.  Like cleaners, perfumes, air fresheners, goo gone, linen sprays, etc.  

First and foremost, if your product says the word "fragrance" in the ingredient list, say NO! That one word alone can have a whole host of harsh toxic ingredients in the product.  A few words to steer clear from in your products include but not limited to include: 
parabens (look for words with methyl, ethyl, butyl)
alcohols
chlorine
aluminum (heavy metal)
phthalates (plastics)
talc
ceteareth-20
PABA
anything synthetic
dyes
and preservatives.  

So what do I use in place of some of these ingredients you ask?  Great questions...organic vodka, witch hazel, filtered water, seed to seal guaranteed essential oils, medical grade diffusers, and lots of fun bottles and labels! I hope this helps you on your start to choosing toxin free products.  

Always reach out to me at livewellwithmichelle@live.com or check out my clean products choices I use for my family.   
I'd be happy to do a cabinet consult with you where I walk you through a cabinet sweep or product swaps.  

Living Well, 
Michelle

Hot Mess Moody Biotch

Hot Mess Moody Biotch

I was and sometimes still am such a moody thing, up down and all around feeling like a total hot mess.  Turns out estrogen dominance is a key player.  When I first had my full hormonal lab panels drawn, vials and vials of blood, I learned of this is a type of hormonal imbalance in which the body produces too much estrogen. 


Experiencing estrogen dominance during the transition into perimenopause, the body will produce less progesterone but keep producing the same levels of estrogen. This causes an imbalance that causes unpleasant symptoms; similar to those of perimenopause, menopause, or even PMS. 


Precisely timed lab tests are required to diagnose estrogen dominance. If you experience the following symptoms, I encourage you to schedule an appointment with a hormonal specialist, OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist. I prefer a holistic functional medicine hormone specialist. To find one in your area, do a search or ask for recommendations or referrals to a specialist, and/or demand your doctor perform the precise hormonal lab protocols.  Reminder, they work for you.  


BioIdentical Hormone replacement therapy can help alleviate these symptoms. I highly recommend bio identical hormones and NOT mainstream medicine synthetic hormone replacements.  My personal favorites hormonal help to support my hot mess include Progessence Plus Serum, Endoflex, Thyromin, paleo, exercise and rest.  


Common symptoms include: 

Mood Swings

Any slight change in hormones can cause emotional and mood swings. If your mood changes quickly and dramatically for no identifiable reason, it may be because you have too much estrogen.  


Irritability

In addition to noticeable changes in mood, women experiencing estrogen dominance may also be more irritable in general. Everyone has their bad days, but if everything is getting under your skin all the time, then a hormonal issue might be to blame.


Decreased Libido

Women with estrogen dominance may have a lower libido than normal. This is due in part to the imbalance in estrogen and progesterone, but you could argue the other symptoms on this list wouldn’t exactly “put you in the mood” either.  With these changes comes vaginal dryness and discomfort. Be sure to use toxin free natural products like coconut oil for assistance. 


PMS Symptoms

Another sign of estrogen dominance is worsening PMS symptoms. Breast tenderness, headaches, acne flare-ups, and mood changes may become more pronounced.


Irregular Menstrual Periods

Hormone imbalances in women will often disrupt their menstrual cycles. Menstrual periods can occur less frequently or more frequently. They may also change in duration. This symptom can be hard to notice for some women who already have irregular cycles.


Heavy Periods

Women with too much estrogen may have heavy and painful periods. This can happen to women who still get their period regularly and those who are experiencing irregular periods.


Bloating

Women experience bloating at different times in their menstrual cycles. Most women who get regular periods can estimate when in their cycle this will occur. In cases of estrogen dominance, you might be bloated at a different time. Irregular and heavy periods may also cause unexpected bloating.


Breast Tenderness or feeling of Engorgement  

Enlarged swollen and tender breast tissue sensitive or hot to the touch, and even cystic is a red flag for estrogen dominance.  Many women have fibrocystic breast tissue which can cause glands to swell and feel painful to touch. Estrogen increase can enhance this and cause pain.  Proper nutrition and hormonal balance can help. 


Puffiness & Swollen Extremities  

Extreme hormonal imbalance can also create inflammation and cause tissues to swell making you look puffy. 


Weight Gain

Putting on weight when your diet or exercise habits have not changed might be a sign of another health condition. This symptom may also present itself as an increase in body or carrying your weight in different places than before and less muscle tone. 


Anxiety

Women with too much estrogen often experience anxiety and have panic attacks. There’s a major difference between anxiety and worrying about the things that most people do. Anxiety is more of a general feeling while worries are about specific things. Anxiety may also cause physical symptoms like light headedness, nausea or a racing heart or tightness in the chest.


Hair Loss

As women age, they may experience some hair loss. This can happen during perimenopause or menopause. But if it happens before menopause it might be one of the signs of estrogen dominance or even a Thyroid condition. 


Sleep 

Trouble sleeping is a common symptom of many problems involving hormones. If you toss and turn and can’t get to sleep even when you’re tired,  or

The opposite. If you experience extreme fatigue or sleep too much you should consider an appointment to see your doctor for lab tests. 


Fatigue

Unfortunately, estrogen dominance can cause extreme fatigue. This symptom can occur whether or not you have insomnia. If you experience persistent tiredness or feel more drained of energy than usual, talk to your doctor about being tested for hormonal issues.


Fertility Issues

Fertility issues are not uncommon in women who have hormonal imbalances like estrogen dominance. This issue may also be compounded by the fact that women with estrogen dominance are often over 35 but could also be younger when fertility naturally declines and not enough progesterone.  


Memory & Mental Fog

If you have consistent problems recalling details or putting your thoughts together, then you may have an imbalance in hormones.


Hot Flashes & Night Sweats

Just like with menopause, hot flashes and night sweats can be signs of estrogen dominance. 


Want more information and support with a community of women with similar experiences? 

Join my free group here http://bitly.ws/cDIT

I am Woman

I am Woman
Why is my heart beating out of my chest? 
Why am I happy one minute and balling the next? 
Why I am motivated with one idea only to feel fatigued and helpless over it the next minute?  
Why do I love everything and hate everything in the same millisecond? 
Maybe I am crazy. It’s not like I am never called that. Maybe I am. 
Why am I still in my pjs the third day in a row? Is it just because it’s 2020?

No...NO... I am a woman. Blessed with cycles and phases—a taboo that no one seems to talk realistic about unless I chat with my dr.  You know, like post partum depression-It’s a thing friends—Perimenopause is real. Why isn’t it addressed more? My path with perimenopause has been a long haul to say the least. All this time, I seriously thought I had some legit mental health issues. Well maybe I do. 


Thankfully, I’ve been equipped with tools, resources, and exercises in my tool belt over the years to combat some of those symptoms.  Sometimes though, no matter what, these tools just don’t seem to help. I follow the cleansing, plant based, toxin free, mindset shifts, fitness, restful, supplemental, mindful route and still STILL I feel at a total womanly loss some days. 


What am I doing wrong? What’s wrong with me? 
I feel like an outcast sitting with loneliness, withdrawal from friends and family, self pity, low self esteem, weakness, sadness, total unsexy, mean and hostile feelings of helplessness.  
Moody anyone? It’s like worse than the snarky teen years.


Let me tell you, hormones can be nasty to us when we are in a state of unbalance, which can be often; because hormones are constantly changing with our chemistry and cells; especially menopause. 
No matter what we do. It’s a never ending ebb and flow, like the waves of the ocean. 
Especially in the peri- menopausal state.


Beating myself up because I’m experiencing all that God has made me to be and experience as a woman is not the way to self acceptance. Just like every *body* is different and unique, all peri-menopausal experiences will be too. 

The endless crying like my cat literally just died, the painful cramps and release of what seems like gushing forceful gallons of blood with cramps like birthing contractions all over again, the sleepless nights, the overly tired days of exhaustion….

Just when I think I get it all under control with all my tools in my belt and feel great….
WHAM 💥 that wave comes and blasts it all away leaving me feel like a drowned rat.


Let’s just say with a little rest and self reflection, choosing the right tools in my tool belt, and loads of grace and ease, I WILL embrace this aging time in womanhood. 

Right now, I am so happy and grateful for the education I recently experienced in my Yoga Teacher Training on breath work as it has been a total blessing, along with using my essential oils to support my emotions and uncomfortable symptoms;  while also choosing healthful foods and lots of rest.

Grace and Ease ladies. 
Grace and Ease. 
You are not crazy. 
You are Woman. 
A Beautiful Perfect Woman. 
Embrace each phase.
With Gratitude and Faith. 


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