Our Family’s Healing Journey Reflections
Everyone always asks and/or searches for the best way to: lose weight, heal the gut, increase muscle, detox, find supplements, etc., etc. They’ll ask friends, see what’s trending online, look at the bookstore (yes, those still exist) and then make a choice. That may work for some but not all.
Throughout our health journey, I quickly came to realize a few important things. They’re things that changed the game for us and allowed us to keep moving forward when quitting seemed easier. Today I’d like to share those with you in hopes of encouraging and perhaps broadening your own journey.
Trust your Gut
There is a saying “Mother Knows Best” – or insert whoever you want. We have found it be true. While pregnant with our first child, we spent a lot of time researching different pediatricians. We wanted someone with views like ours that was more naturopathic. We interviewed our first choice and the doctor was wonderful and on the same page with everything we wanted to do (very minimal approach).
After our daughter was born, she started having crying (more like screaming) bouts that would last for hours at a time and chronic constipation. The doctor assured us it was normal – just a bit of colic. We discussed some foods to remove from my diet and that was that. We implemented changes but her crying didn’t stop.
As Jason and I thought about our daughter and the continued feeling of helplessness; something kept telling us there was more to the story. We agreed there was no reason it should be “normal” for a baby to cry this much. A family member referred us to a holistic clinic 1.5 hours away. We were desperate for any help, so we made the trip.
That day changed the trajectory of our journey forever. A form of Nutrition/Muscle Response Testing was used to immediately identify several foods our daughter was showing sensitive too. In addition, a cold laser was used to treat her belly button (a scar the body forms from cutting the umbilical cord), which was believed to cause the constipation.
We were offered two different whole food supplements to aid in her digestion, while the foods I was now to avoid left my body. Before we even left the clinic, she had the biggest bowel movement she’d ever had. Within just 3-4 days of removing even more foods and taking the digestive supplements her crying jags had almost completely stopped.
Had Jason and I just accepted what our pediatrician told us there’s no telling how long she would have suffered, how long her digestive system would have been increasingly out of wack, or how long we would have lasted mentally.
Don’t give up. Keep searching for answers. Don’t just accept answers “as is” if they don’t seem right. You are your (and your child’s) biggest advocate. Nobody’s going to do the fighting for you. Some people might find your method odd, but if your gut says to try it – go for it!
Don’t Be Afraid to Branch Out
Some of you might be thinking we’re weird – and what’s Nutrition/Muscle Response Testing anyway? And we’re ok with that!!!
As you start researching new things or talking with other people about their health journey; you may hear a lot of new words and/or a lot of different experiences. Some of them might seem completely crazy. Some might seem complicated. Some might not be available where you live.
Please don’t let that scare you away! I must confess – my husband is so much better at branching out than I am. When he first approached me about cleaning up our diet/muscle testing to help our health/CrossFit; I balked. Mostly because I didn’t understand and didn’t want to appear uneducated. Not a good reason to not try something that may help.
As we started learning about the whole food supplements our holistic clinic uses and the various ways foods can heal our body, our medicine cabinet started to change. Our house has not contained one single over the counter anything for the past 6 years. Again, this may seem extreme, but we’ve been able to use the supplements (along with other things mentioned here) and food for almost anything.
Then we started learning about Electromagnetic Fields/Frequencies (EMF’s) and how harmful they are. We now have several variations of holographic chips used to help negate the harmful frequencies found in electronics and foods.
Then we started learning about different ways to reset the body using kinesiology and myofascial release. Different from a chiropractor, these techniques helped release deep knots and move groups of muscles back into place enabling correct range of motion and less pain.
Then we learned about the GAPS diet and how it can heal the inner lining of the gut. So, we followed that for a while and still incorporate many things into our daily diet/regiment.
A journey is just that – no defined path. Don’t be afraid to try something new even if it seems quirky. If you try it and it isn’t right for you, move on.
Don’t Get Stuck in a Rut / Everyone’s Different
These two go hand in hand. You may find that even after following a certain protocol/diet/workout for a few months there’s no change. If you’ve been adhering to the required guidelines, strictly, that might be a sign to look at something else. It may not seem like it, but even little “cheats” can be detrimental and cause setbacks.
Remember no two bodies are the same. What works for some people will not necessarily be your golden ticket. Jason can eat like a horse and not gain a single ounce of fat. Me on the other hand, no! Some of our family members love using acupuncture but it didn’t really click for either of us. I had several friends who loved yoga as a workout, and I tried it for a while, but didn’t see the results I was looking for and found it boring. Turns out I prefer high intensity varied workouts like CrossFit.
Same can be said for general supplements. After our son was a few months old we started giving him Cod Liver Oil (CLO) just like everyone else in the house. A little while later he started struggling with constant chest congestion. After trying multiple things at home, we took him to see our nutrition consultant, and after muscle testing discovered his body didn’t like the CLO. It was the last thing we expected!!! He does great with Tuna Omega-3 oil, but to this day does not test well with CLO.
When we started following the GAPS diet, our daughter responded well to cultured dairy high in protein and our son did not. His body wanted cultured dairy high in fat. I do better with meals higher in carbs and Jason does better with high protein.
If you’re not seeing the results you expected, try something else!!! Switch up your ratio of carbs vs protein vs veggies vs fruits. Maybe you need to drink more water to keep things flushing. Maybe the supplements you’re taking are aggravating your symptoms. Maybe a different diet all together would trigger your body to release unwanted fat/toxins.
Sometimes more than one puzzle piece needs to be unlocked before seeing results. It could be there is something different your body needs to heal first before it will allow xyz to take place, such as hormones, scars, skeletal adjustments, or emotions. Which brings me to my last suggestion.
Find a Coach/Consultant/Clinic/Team/Etc.
No one (except God) knows everything. It’s simply not possible for one person to specialize in everything. Trusting your gut will only get you so far. At some point in your journey, you will need help/advice from someone with more knowledge. Take the time to find someplace and/or someone you can go to when you get stuck!!! Please don’t assume you can conquer your journey yourself. I tried – it sucks!
We love the holistic clinic we use for our entire family. Our consultant is a wealth of knowledge and has helped us with so many things. She is also wise enough to refer us to someone else when things pass her expertise, has seminars to teach us about things she’s learned along the way, and NEVER assumes anything.
Our chiropractor is also awesome. My kids like going to her office. She is patient in explaining what she’s doing and waits for them to be comfortable before adjusting. When it’s my turn she asks what’s bothering me and listens while doing her own review.
The pediatrician we’ve used also takes time to listen to our point of view and decisions on certain topics. He has respected them and offered alternatives/an honest opinion when needed.
As you can see – it takes a tribe to raise a family. Our tribe has been built on honesty, respect, and an open stream of communication. We would not be where we are today without every single person involved.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If a provider’s not clicking with your family or values, try someone else. Keep searching until you find the ones who will take your journey to the next level!
I could go on and on, but these are some of the major things that have helped us. The path to healing will never be straight or simple. Questions on anything you read here – Please ask!!!
