Going Vegetarian - My Story

In the spring I went through a few months where I was feeling really lousy. I was absolutely exhausted! All. The. Time. I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I was sluggish all day, I didn't have the will to care about things that normally excited me. I had no energy whatsoever. After a month or so of this constant exhaustion, I started feeling really depressed and frustrated. In my despair, I realized that there was something really wrong with me. It wasn't just some type of cold, this was something serious. It was getting worse with each passing week, and it had lasted for months! Maybe it was thyroid? I knew I wasn't pregnant, but maybe my hormones were all messed up? Maybe a light case of mono?

I was baffled. My diet had never been better. I had slowly transitioned to a vegetarian lifestyle over the past couple of months. I had gradually upping my intake of whole carbohydrates, vegetables, and non-meat forms of protein, while I gradually decreased meat.

If there is one thing that I know to be true about the human body, it's that it is smarter than we think. It is smarter than our mind, because it knows when something is wrong with us before our mind knows something is wrong. It is also smart enough to communicate with us. And my body was absolutely communicating with me, I just could not figure out how to fix the problem.

Usually the first thing I do when I'm not feeling well, is to improve my diet. No matter how well I'm eating, there is always room for improvement. Nine times out of ten, this solves my problem. This time though, my diet was better than ever. I thought my body just needed to "catch up" with my new vegetarian lifestyle so I kept pressing on.

After three months of continued exhaustion, that had only gotten worse with each passing month, I finally had a breakthrough. I was meeting with a client, and we were discussing the Metabolic Type Diet. This diet is based off of the theory that their are three types of human bodies, when it comes to metabolism and digestion. There is the body that thrives off of protein, the body that thrives off of carbohydrates, and the body that needs equal portions of both. To find out which type you are, you take a lengthy quiz. As I was discussing this with my client, I began to wonder if maybe I was a person that thrived off of high levels of protein consumption.

I went straight home and took the quiz for myself. Turns out, not only does my body thrive off of high levels of protein, but I am so dependent on protein that I need both meat, and non-meat forms of protein at two out of three meals every single day in order for my body to run efficiently. It was like a light bulb had come on. All of a sudden it all made sense. As I had been decreasing the animal forms of protein from my diet, my energy levels had slowly decreased with it. Even though I had been making sure to eat non animal forms of protein with each meal, it wasn't enough for my body. My muscles had been weak, sore, and shaky for months, and my hair hadn't been growing (I'm growing my hair out, so it was really starting to annoy me that it was NOT growing at all for months on end. If you've ever grown your hair out, you know what I'm talking about). My body had been trying to communicate with me. It had been trying to tell me that it wasn't getting the right nutrients, it wasn't getting the foods it needed to grow and repair cells, it wasn't getting what it needed for me to have enough energy to make it through the day. Instead, I had been upping my intake of whole grain health carbs, which, according to my Metabolic Test results, do nothing for me. My results showed that my body is abnormally inefficient at digesting carbs. They basically go in one end, and out the other.

Immediately I switched my diet. I added crushed nuts to my oatmeal in the mornings. I started eating more eggs for breakfast. I started having meat for dinner every single night. I went crazy over protein. With DAYS I felt a difference! It took about two weeks of eating animal protein everyday before I really felt "back to normal."

I've always been a big believer that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to a diet. Ultimately it is more useful to listen to your body, versus a health professional (including myself!) because your body knows what it needs in order to be healthy. After this vegetarian experience of mine, I now believe this even more strongly! Do I think going vegetarian is bad? Of course not! Some people really thrive off of a plant based diet. Do I think going vegetarian is right for everyone? Of course not! Other people need animal forms of protein to thrive.

No matter what the current diet craze is, listen to your body first. It will tell you what it needs in order to thrive.

If you're interested in taking the Metabolic Type Quiz for yourself, click here to sign up!

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

June's "Oil of the Month" is ... Oregano

I use Oregano Oil more than any other oil that I own.

The best thing about this oil is that it's used to fight off colds, and it does a better job than any other over the counter product I've ever tried. I have a pretty weak immune system, so once I feel a cold coming on, it's usually too late to stop it. If a cold is going around, I'm going to get it. However, since I've used Oregano Oil, I haven't had one cold! Seriously, not one.

Oregano Oil is a natural immune stimulant, which means it strengthens your immune system so that it will fight off colds more effectively. I apply this oil at night, before I go to bed. You know those nights when your throat is feeling a little scratchy and you have a headache, or a lump in your throat; all the tell tale signs of waking up sick in the morning? Yeah, those are the nights that I make sure to apply it. I also apply it when I know I'm more susceptible to getting sick. For instance, if I'm up really late, and I'm not going to get very much sleep, or if I've been around someone with the flu all day, I'll apply some Oregano Oil before bed, just to be safe.

To apply it, I place one drop on the heel of my foot. Some information says that this oil should be diluted, because it can cause skin irritation (drying out of the skin), but I have never had a problem. I know many people that apply the oil directly to the skin. If you decide not to dilute the oil, just remember that a little bit goes a long way. One drop is plenty. If you do want to dilute it, use a 1:3 ratio, or 1 drop of Oregano Oil, or every 3 drops of carrier oil. I would suggest diluting this oil if you plan on using it on your children, otherwise, just apply it directly.

Oregano Oil is also really well priced. It is fairly cheap, and because it is used so sparingly, it will last forever. If you are interested in trying Oregano Oil for yourself, you can order it here: www.mydoterra.com/abbyshroka  Click on "shop for products" in the top right hand corner. After entering the country of shipping, click on "single oils" to find Oregano Oil.

For those of you who are interested in all natural cleaning supplies, next month, I will be featuring an oil that I use for cleaning in my kitchen. Subscribe to this blog to make sure you don't miss it!

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

If you missed last month's essential oil, click here, to read all about Thyme.

Jesus Won't Let You Go

Often times, God speaks to me through songs. Verses of a random song, that I haven't heard in years, will pop into my head while I am in the process of meditating with God. They're usually always lyrics from christian songs, but today I kept getting lines from a country song. I thought it was weird, so I was trying to block it out of my mind, so that I could hear that "still small voice" of God. But the lyrics just would not go away. In fact, God started speaking them over me, breaking the lyrics up into one or two words. Clearly, God was trying to drive a point home. Below is a snapshot of the lyrics He spoke over me today:

Cope

When you've done all you can do
And you can't cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go

Silence
Cope

It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it's dark
This part of life

When it rains
I will stand by you

Remember. Remember that you are mine. I won't let you go. Satan can't have you.

We all go through dark parts of life. I have been in a dark time for awhile now, and sometimes I find it hard to truly believe that God is still here with me. I know in my head that God is here, but sometimes it is really hard to truly believe it with all of my heart. When I'm sitting alone, crying out in the dark and watching Satan have his way, sometimes I wonder where God is. Well, He clearly gave me an answer.

God has always been there, He is still here, and He's going to be there through it all. Jesus won't let me go. Satan CANNOT have me. I am God's.

Remember. Remember that you are mine. I won't let you go. Satan can't have you.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

p.s. if you want to listen to the song from above, it's called "I Won't Let You Go," by Rascal Flatts

May's "Oil of the Month" is ... Thyme

Thyme has been a life-saving oil for me. Before I started using Thyme for my sciatic pain, I was getting at least two flare ups per week. After three months of using Thyme, I now get only one flare up every 3-4 weeks.

I have suffered from sciatic pain for the past five years. It all started with an injury I had back in college.  It is constant pain. CONSTANT. Some days it is manageable, other days it is literally crippling. There is a whole laundry list of things that I cannot do because the pain will flare up. I have tried so many things, and nothing helps, except for taking pain pills, which obviously I'm not a fan of.

In February, I decided to try some essential oil therapy, because honestly, I figured I had nothing to lose. After doing some research, I decided to start with Thyme. The first time I used it, I was shocked! It was as effective as pain medicine!!

Thyme is known for being an antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial. It is a tonic for nerves and the stomach. It helps to energize the immune system, muscles, and bones in times of stress and physical weakness. It also has been known to relieve depression. Thyme has been known to improve numerous medical conditions, including sciatica.

The thing with sciatica is that once it flares up, there is NOTHING you can do to get rid of the pain. The first time I used Thyme, I was in the middle of a bad flare up, and in considerable pain. Within a couple of minutes after applying the oil, the pain had reduced down to mild, and it stayed that way for the rest of the day! Other remedies I had tried would relieve pain for a couple minutes, but then the pain would come right back. Not with Thyme. It actually takes the pain away and keeps it away.

To apply Thyme, I place a drop on my spine, close to where my back pain is. I place it on my spine, instead of where I feel back pain because sciatica pain originates at the spine. I also place a drop on my hip right where there is pain. I usually rub in the drop on my hip. I also use Peppermint oil and Helichrysum oil, along with Thyme, when my pain is especially severe. (a drop of each on my spine, and a drop of each on my hip). These oils work great together to relieve pain, but usually Thyme works just fine on its own.

Since I have been using Thyme, my sciatic pain has gotten considerably better. Instead of having flare ups 1-2 times per week, I'm now getting a flare up once every 3-4 weeks. I have also noticed a difference in my yoga practice.

Before I started using Thyme, there were some poses that I couldn't do, such as pigeon pose, shown above. In only three short months, I was able to, not only do pigeon pose, but do sleeping pigeon, which is a more advanced version.

If you are interested in trying Thyme Oil for yourself, you can order it here:  www.mydoterra.com/abbyshroka. Click on "shop for products" on the top right hand corner. After entering the country of shipping, search through "single oils" to find Thyme.

If you have any questions about Thyme Oil, or other Essential Oils, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

We Need to Stop Believing that God Can and Start Believing That God Will

Lately I've been stuck in this "can" space. These past couple of weeks have been filled with tragedy, grief, death, despair, and destruction that have shaken me to my very core. They have completely stripped my belief in the will, so that all I have left is God can, I know that God can...

I know that God CAN answer prayers. I know that God CAN do miracles. I know that God CAN heal the sick. While these are great truths to remain in during dark times, they are also dangerous truths to remain in. Is the word "dangerous" a little extreme? Maybe, but I really don't think so.

It's dangerous because our thoughts and prayers either limit God, or allow God. See when we limit God to "can prayers," we are showing doubt, disbelief, and lack of faith. You're kidding yourself if you think that Satan can't sniff these kind of prayers from a mile away. And Satan loves it when we experience doubt, disbelief, and a lack of faith. Let me ask you, are you a "can prayer?" Are you surprised when a prayer gets answered? If you're a "can prayer," you're limiting God instead of allowing God.

It's a different thing entirely knowing that God WILL answer prayers, that God WILL do miracles, and knowing that God WILL heal the sick. When you believe that God will, you are choosing to believe in a God that is alive and active. A God that is moving and working, even when we can't see it.

I have a good friend, who is so steadfast in her "will" believing that it's almost unsettling. I recently asked her how she can be so sure, all of the time, that God "will." Her response was this: Everyday I get up and look in the mirror and I see all of the miracles that God has done in my life, and all of the seemingly impossible things that he has helped me overcome. That is how I know He WILL, because my life is living proof. Wow! I've been using this logic ever since. Anytime I feel myself slipping into that "can" space, I make a point to start thanking God for all of the things He has done in my life. Once I start focusing on all of the things that God has done, it gives me complete confidence in knowing that God will continue.

One place that we have completely lost our "will" faith is with our health. How often do you pray to God for your health truly believing that God WILL bring healing? Knowing God can heal isn't hard to believe. Just read the book of Matthew. But I challenge you to go farther. To start praying "will" prayers over your health. Start praying to a God that is alive and active, asking him to intercede with your chronic disease, constant pain, or lifelong struggle with your weight, knowing that He WILL.

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

Introducing... The Jesus Way

Where do I start? Well, when I started Health, Hope, & Happiness, I wanted to be a Health Coach so that I could share the gift of holistic nutrition with other people. Holistic nutrition has so radically transformed my life, and I knew that so many people could benefit from it. I wanted to bring health and healing to people's body and mind. My knowledge of food, health, weight loss, and wellness was deep, but it never felt like enough. There was something missing.

In the summer of 2012, I stumbled into Holy Yoga. I say stumbled because it truly was an accident, coincidence, and a miracle that I signed up to become a Holy Yoga instructor. The good news is, that nothing is an accident or a coincidence with God, and He had a HUGE reason for me being there. Throughout the training to become an instructor, I was blown away at the fact that Jesus was fully integrated into every single aspect of Holy Yoga. I began to ask myself why I couldn't do the same. Why couldn't I fully integrate Jesus into health coaching? Why couldn't I bring health and healing to not just the body and mind of my client, but also to the spirit? After all, Jesus is the ultimate healer. 

It might surprise some of you that the Bible is FULL of information about health, nutrition, weight loss, body image, and even dieting. Why are we not using it? Instead, our country is obsessed with dieting, yet we continue to get sicker every day. It's time to go back to the biblical principles of health. It's time to seek the ultimate healer, Jesus. It's time for Health, Hope, & Happiness - The Jesus Way.

If you're curious to know more about how I am integrating Jesus into every aspect of Health, Hope, & Happiness, I invite you to read through my website. All of the details are there.

In the coming weeks, I will be blogging about some of the basic principles of biblical health, and about how you can apply it to your own health. You can sign up to receive these blogs straight to your email, by entering your email address at the top right hand side of this page.

You can also follow me on twitter @Abby_Shroka

Wishing you all Health, Hope, & Happiness
Abby

There are Some Big Changes Coming...

There are some big changes coming to Health, Hope, & Happiness. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself! The details are still being ironed out, so for now, you just get a few basics.

1. Health, Hope, & Happiness is getting a major face lift. Here is a tiny preview:

“For the Holy Spirit does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong and courageous and to love them and enjoy being with them." 2 Timothy 1:7

"I came that they may have life, and have it to the fullest."John 10:10b

What does this have to do with health and nutrition? You will have to wait until Monday to find out! The official announcement is coming on Monday, April 15th. Check back for all of the details.

2. You can now subscribe to this blog, and receive it to your email! This method is so much easier and more convenient for most people, so I'm excited to be offering it to you all. To subscribe, enter your email address into the section titled "Receive blog entries via email," located at the top right hand sidebar.

3. I'm going to dedicate one blog per month to the "Oil of the Month." If you've followed this blog in the past, you know I blog about once per week, and I blog on a variety of health issues, that are centered around natural and holistic health. I will still be following this topic and frequency. So, why am I dedicating one quarter of my monthly blog to essential oils? Essential oils have played a major roll in my personal healing, and overall daily health. For this reason, I feel that it needs to be shared. It has to be shared! Because it has really truly worked for me in some amazing ways. "Oil of the Month," will be starting in May. Here is a short excerpt:

I have suffered from sciatic pain for the past five years. It all started with an injury I had back in college.  It is constant pain. CONSTANT. Some days it is manageable, other days it is literally crippling. There is a whole laundry list of things that I can't do because the pain will flare up. I have tried so many things, and nothing helps, except for taking pills, which obviously I'm not a fan of. I decided to try some essential oil therapy, because honestly, I figured I had nothing to lose. The oils I used worked, and worked well! I even have pictures to prove it! (yes you read that right, I have pictures). 

The full post will be coming May. I'll share the pictures, let you know what oils I used, and how I used them. Subscribe to my blog to make sure you don't miss this entry!

4. I'm going to be adding more complementary material to this blog on the right hand sidebar. Obviously, I can't possibly blog about everything, so I'm going to be adding other blogs and links to my side bar, so that you can all stay well informed. I hope that this information from others will help to answer your health questions that I don't get a chance to cover. For those of you that don't know, I am a Holy Yoga instructor. I don't get a chance to blog about Holy Yoga as much as I would like to, so I've added a complementary blog: "Breathing in Him." This blog is written by my beautiful and talented Holy Yoga Selah sisters. They love Holy Yoga and they love Jesus. Check them out!

Check back next week for all the details on the changes that are coming to Health, Hope, & Happiness.

Abby