Two days ’til Thanksgiving…I really don’t get excited about the winter holidays much since my mom died in 2022. I enjoy them, and do what I need to do to have celebrations and traditions for my family, but I don’t get too excited. I don’t get wrapped up, no pun intended, in the hustle bustle of the to do list.
I’ve worked hard over the years, both in my own learning and with the wisdom of other professionals, to learn about my own barometer…how to know when my body is in a state of homeostasis, which is when all systems are working optimally together, in balance.
I know that I am in homeostasis/systems in balance when:
I sleep soundly
My HRV is higher
My bowel movements are the “holy grail” (you ALL know how amazing that is when it happens!)
My skin is clear
My mood is bright and optimistic
My energy is solid
My clothes fit well
I can get into a state of ketosis easily
I know that I am NOT in homeostasis/systems out of balance when:
I have diarrhea and have to run to make it to the bathroom
I am gassy and stinky
My back breaks out
My thoughts trend negative and pessimistic
I am irritable
I crave sugar and wine
I am sluggish
My glucose runs high and is difficult to get back down.
Which is where I am today…
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take this beautiful, sensitive system of mine, to tip out of balance! It truly frustrates me and at times really pisses me off, but at the same time I am incredibly grateful that my body lets me know what it needs and doesn’t need to keep me healthy. I watched my mom die the slow cruel death of Alzheimer’s…I’m not doing that.
And, my life and everyone in it, does much better when I am in a state of balance, homeostasis.
I had a patient recently who was burning the candle at both ends…her body is struggling and sending LOTS of messages to slow down, rest, nourish…However, she, and many of may other patients, struggle to make the connection of lifestyle with poor health and chronic symptoms. The medical institutions and pharmaceutical industries have trained us very well in “there is a pill for that”…even back pain and muscle aches. Just watch the commercials that come through on your Disney Plus streaming account. Even in Functional Medicine, which I love, practice, and preach, can often go into the model of “there’s a supplement for that”
It takes awareness…if you don’t have awareness and connect the dots…it’s REALLY hard to make changes in your life.
Back to the holidays…
The stress is underlying and in the air, even if you, like me, don’t get “wrapped up” in the holidays either. There are more invitations and gatherings, meaning less time at home and at the gym, and later bedtimes (later bedtimes are rough on our circadian rhythms, especially in the short days of winter. The sugar, gluten, dairy and alcohol are sitting on the counter waving you to come taste.
Yes, we should enjoy and celebrate, and believe me, I do…but we have to be sure to work a little extra hard to recover or else we’re going down…read sitting duck for those nasty viruses and all of the above I mentioned earlier. And our families, patients, coworkers can’t have us going down.
What can you do???
Be gentle with yourself…
Plan ahead…
Going to be out late? Make sure you carve in nights of early bed time. Be sure to get light in the morning, sunlight is best, but the Happy Lights are the next best thing.
Planning on indulging a bit at an upcoming party? Go back to your Power of Food eating habits a few days before and immediately after.
Your to do list is piling up? — Block out 15 minutes for a bath and a book, prayer and/or journaling
Write in permanent marker on your calendar when you are going to the gym and for a walk or run. Treat it like an appointment you would attend.
It may not be the optimal schedule you like, but perfection is the enemy of done
And perfection is not our goal, our health is.