Blog #5 | Is this thing on?

Have you ever pushed your body to “not be sick” for just one more day to get through a big event? Or cut a cold short because you were “fully recovered” (not really) to make that big presentation?

We tell our bodies how to feel. All. The. Time.

Regardless of how much we don’t want to admit it. Often, I pretend that I can control my body and each of its reactions to everything around me. I probably lived in that space of telling my body what, when and how to feel for over 20 years. And around year 25 it was clearly done being bossed around. It wasn’t feeling well, and it needed me to know that.

So strong warning shots like blacking out after eating a banana were fired. Okay, I got it.

Another great tip I learned earlier on in my journey was to stop and listen to my body. A clinic shared with me that my body is constantly telling me things, regardless of if I choose to listen. I could only choose to dismiss the messages for so long before the messages stockpiled and something would stop me in my tracks.

Most of my not listening was around reactions to food like dairy or uncooked veggies. Because honesty butter is just so good and it’s hard to cut it out even with tummy aches. But my body sent other messages too that I dismissed around my stress, anxiety level and odd moments like ringing ears after eating certain foods.

Being fully transparent, I still don’t listen to my body as often as I should. There are days I’m having a reaction to food and I just push through. Sure, there are times pushing through doesn’t work. But every now and then if I’m really tired of by body controlling my days, I’ll go to that concert or have that coffee date. And after my body usually shares its opinion on that decision.

The journey with food allergies and intolerances is a truly moment by moment journey. Some days you don’t think about your body much at all, she feels good and so life moves along swimmingly. Other days, it is the primary thought throughout the full day.

Listening to my body is definitely not easy or something I wanted to do this much in this life. But it’s becoming a daily habit. If you’ve been on this journey and have some tips on how to do this better, please let us know.

Always with you on this journey, thanks for joining me.

With love,

Ashley