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

Detox Foot Bath

Detox Foot Bath

I’ve been feeling a little sluggish lately so I got out my Foot Detox Bath knowing I have been exposed to a lot crud recently plus it’s been a good month since a good foot detox.  


So here I am chilling in my back porch pampering, enjoying nature and the soothing of all this.  Ahhhh.  

My ahhh quickly turned to EWWW immediately when I looked down at my foot bath.  What is the world is all that??  Never have I EVER had my water turn this before (see pic)  Usually it’s a good orange (joints) and black flecks (heavy metals) mixed with a little this and that.  But THIS?  Oh my whatta detox.  


Well, as Shrek would say, better out than in I say to myself! 


PS-I know…I was skeptical too until my Accupuncturist had me start doing them and I did my own research as well so I decided to get my own. Want one of your own too? Get it here using my discount code cause I’m all about saving money- that’s what friends are for—

https://optimum-detox.kckb.st/livewell 



Good thing after all this pampering detox, I received a surge of energy to make dinner and relax the rest of the evening.  I would suggest doing the foot detox in the morning and/or evening time.  BOO with what works in your day, starting slow and building up.  It can have detox effects if the body in deficient.  

Check back to see my results as this detox wellness support journey continues! 

Do you Detox in some way? I'd love to hear from you! 


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. 


Get your cork yoga mat from a this environmentally friendly and family owned biz 

cork yoga wheel 

Perspective

Perspective
I find it interesting when people tell me I'm 'the picture of good health'.  I mean what does that even look like!?  I am, of course, a high-vibing, fitness fanatic, crystal loving, zen making, nutritional self care guru.  Haha! But really, what they don't see or know is the journey I've been on--now the middle aged woman who has spent years of research of nutrition, digging deep into self development and discipline with learning, unlearning and relearning, daily work outs and lifestyle choices.  As well as learning to let go of others opinions, shift negative thoughts, and work really hard on creating a healthy toxin free environment in my home both physically and mentally.  It doesn't happen over night.  

You see, for much of my life I've let my fear of what others think of me control me and my choices. I let these views direct and defeat me, even let people use me and abuse me.  In turn, I chose to abuse my own body, make unhealthy choices, and even went against my values just to fit in just to make others happy.  

It took me years to figure out that I have to work on myself and be happy with myself, that it's an inside job.  Many self development workshops, coaching and buckets of tears later...I experienced so much guilt and shame from it all AND I learned to let that shiz go.   I was told many times--if you're not growing (personally), you're dying.  So now I invite growth and development daily.     Let me tell you--the choices you make today will definitely have impact you tomorrow.  

You see, when I was a teen I found interest in fitness, nutrition and wellbeing, What I didn't know is that I was just doing it all wrong.  I wrestled with a negative mindset, letting others opinions take over me, abusing my body with food and alcohol, with years of eating disorders and loads of over exercise.  I had finally hit a wall and made a complete 180 in taking total care for myself.  The right way.  

These past choices turned into an ongoing battle with hormonal imbalances and nutritional deficiencies.   I've spent the past 20+ years trying to solve my puzzle.  Our bodies are so fascinating as are our minds.   I am positive I created these imbalances from my past choices, toxic environment and mindset.  Now I feed my body to support my hormones and my mood and this has been a legit game changer.  Especially as I age.  We don't know what we don't know! 

So when you see me drinking the celery juice and think 'oh she's the picture of good health',  I want people to know there's a story behind my lifestyle lectures and it's to feed my body nutrition and share the outcome with others.  When you see people who you think are the picture of good health, fitness or always carry joyful mindsets--take wonder at their story...Be curious.  How did they get there, what was their journey like?  What choices did they make?  Seek them out and ask them.   

Everyone makes choices...It's the choices you make today that will create your tomorrow.   Make good choices.  Go inward.  Listen to your body and the observe the circumstances you surround yourself with.  Take note and search for your solutions.  Everyone has a story and this is just a snippet of mine.   

You my friend are worth taking the time for.  

I'm just curious, what do you do to keep in good health? 
Also, do you juice? 

Organic Celery for juicing available at your local grocer or garden 
Get your Omega Juicer here