Current Faves For Feeling Beautiful Inside-Out.
I’ve always been OBSESSED with trying to look “beautiful”. I think it started when I realized I wasn’t. When I gained weight in puberty, got acne in high-school, and felt far from worthy of adornment. This was me for my later childhood and into my later teen years.
But then I did something transformational: I started prioritizing myself. I moved out on my own, bought my own food, followed my own workout plan, bought the clothes that I liked, and made life my OWN. This is when the magic happened. I started feeling beautiful - first on the inside, but then eventually on the outside too. See, I believe that’s the real path towards “beauty” - it’s wholeness. It’s becoming a more complete version of YOURSELF.
There was a short time in there where I took these wellness rituals & practices TOO far. I started doing it for the EXTERNAL (vs INTERNAL) reasons - and that’s when things took a wrong turn. It made me realize (in crystal clarity), that it isn’t BAD to be BEAUTIFUL. It’s your CHOICE. As long as it’s your choice, and you’re making that choice from a place of self-love, then the rewards will be abundant in all aspect of your life - beyond “beauty”.
For example, when I feel confident in how I show up in the world - I am more comfortable acting as my highest self: successful, kind, innovative, daring, adventurous, etc.
Thus, I’d like to de-mystify what it takes to be beautiful - because it’s not something you’re “born” with, it’s something you create. When you create from a space of joy & excitement - while maintaining a strong sense of intuition for what’s serving you (or not), it can be the best process and experience of your life - at least, that’s how it is for me. Taking time to care for myself form the inside-out has always been my secret obsession, but now it’s time I share it with you…
Here are some of my practices, tools & resources I am loving right now for this very purpose:
10-Day Detox
While I’m not one to subscribe to strict diets or encourage restrictive mindsets when it comes to food - I was craving a little reset. Sometimes we get into the same old patterning with eating - some may serve us, and some habits we may start to do on autopilot, without really connecting to if it’s what we need in that very moment. For myself, I was beginning to eat the same old breakfast, snacks, and then felt a bit scattered when it came to eating out - making short-term decisions that I would later regret. It was starting to manifest in my body: feeling sluggish, heavy, and a sense of “stuckness”.
This is where a mighty cleanse or “detox” comes to the rescue! It’s a change to reassess what’s working and what’s not as it relates to what you’re consuming on a nutritional basis, and give your digestion a bit of a break - to give it an eventual boost.
It starts with a 2-3 day “quasi"-fast of tea, broth (bone or veggie), and if you like, some cooked veggies or stewed fruits in the midday when your digestion is naturally the strongest.
From there, days 3-10 consist of a simple, whole-foods based diet - think: lots of fruits and veggies, minimally processed proteins & fats (hemp, flax, coconut, avocado, and tempeh being my go-to’s), and taking a break from any processed foods, as well as any grains, dairy, or caffeine (alcohol too…although I don’t consume this normally anyways).
Get creative and make it your own. When you’re at the grocery store, see what foods “speak” to you…pick them up - if it’s a FOOD (i.e. from the produce aisle), it’s a green light! Soups are easiest with this type of program - I make one with peas, carrots, celery, broccoli, green beans, onions, garlic & parsley. A huge pot will last me a few days - then I’m back at the market to see which veggies will call my name for the next batch. While some cleanses suggest avoiding fruit - I never do. Fruit has always been a blessing to my body, so I indulge as much as I like. When doing this in colder months, I stick to stewed fruit warmed with cinnamon & ginger so that I don’t end up feeling constantly cold!
Minerals
Enormous amounts of research have been building for decades showing the connection between trace mineral deficiencies and serious debilitating diseases. In fact, Dr. Gary Price Todd claims that "The lack of minerals is the root of all disease."
And here’s the deal, we are almost all deficient. Mineral deficiencies in our diet exist only because of mineral deficiencies in farm lands and garden soils.
The good news is that we still have the ocean, which is the perfect source for organic trace minerals. It contains the perfect proportion of all the elemental minerals.
Financially you can't get more bang for your buck than with liquid sea minerals. One teaspoon a day of concentrated ionic sea minerals provides the full spectrum of easily absorbed, low sodium sea minerals. Concentrated ionic sea minerals meet some of our most pressing nutritional needs, plus are a great source of electrolytes. I take 40 drops daily and order mine from iHerb here.
Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that works on the lymphatic system, stimulating it to work quickly by moving the lymph to the lymph nodes (which are located all throughout your body). Its main function is to accelerate the process of removing the accumulated liquid between the cells and their catabolic residues, directing them to the capillary vessels so that they are eliminated.
I was recommended this due to my less-than-stellar circulation (my hands and feet tend to be very cold!) and because I have kick-started my workout routine again, and could use the extra support for my tissues. The benefits are quite extensive, as it stimulates blood circulation and tissue regeneration, reduces swelling and water retention, and improves the immune system due to the important elimination of toxins.
Personally, I find the sessions incredibly meditative and EVEN better than a regular massage. I feel my body literally pulsing and it’s like I’m being lifted to a higher plain! You can’t beat the energized yet feeling of lightness you experience walking out of one of these sessions. They usually take 40-60 minutes and I go weekly.
Sun Exposure
Yes, I said it. While the sun gets a bad rap these days, I am still a proponent of getting my AT LEAST 10-15 minutes of direct sunlight each and every day. Sorry, not sorry. There’s actually bountiful scientific evidence that we need to stop our sun-fear and get outside. Of course, the best-known benefit of sunlight is its ability to boost the body’s vitamin D supply; most cases of vitamin D deficiency are due to lack of outdoor sun exposure. At least 1,000 different genes governing virtually every tissue in the body are now thought to be regulated by Vitamin D3.
As for what constitutes “excessive” UVR exposure, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, says Lucas: “‘Excessive’ really means inappropriately high for your skin type under a particular level of ambient UVR.” (1)
But…cancer? Whereas skin cancer is associated with too much UVR exposure, other cancers could result from too little (ibid). Living at higher latitudes increases the risk of dying from Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and other cancers, as compared with living at lower latitudes. A randomized clinical trial by Joan Lappe, a medical professor at Creighton University, and colleagues, published in the June 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, confirmed that taking 2–4 times the daily dietary reference intake of 200–600 IU vitamin D3 and calcium resulted in a 50–77% reduction in expected incidence rates of all cancers combined over a four-year period in post-menopausal women living in Nebraska (ibid).
This all goes to say…trust your body & trust your needs for sunlight before you go slapping on sunblock like there’s no tomorrow or blatantly avoiding the healing rays of the sun! I personally find my skin gets better with a bit of daily sun (brighter, clearer, and of course that gorgeous bronze glow!) + I am happier & more energized throughout my days.
Daily Movement First Thing (Pre-Coffee!)
I used to wake-up and head straight to work! Yes, I’d always do a morning meditation of sorts upon rising, but then it was time for lemon water…so I could caffeinate! Perhaps you’re the same - you wake up to coffee up. Look, I get it. BUT I’m going to share with you a game-changer hack I used that does not entail giving up your coffee (promise!).
Instead of exercising (or practicing whatever kind of mindful movement you like!) POST coffee - I decided to be diligent about doing it BEFORE my AM caffeination. Especially for fitness regimes like Barre or Yoga, it is SO helpful not to have stimulants in your system so that you can really connect with your body & feel your muscles without the “buzz”. When we teach our body’s that we can indeed produce energy and movement on our own (without drugs, such as coffee…sorry…it’s true!), we are better equipped to feel energized and balanced throughout our entire day.
Pilates
I love switching up my fitness routines, and my current obsession is Pilates. It’s low-impact, high-intensity - such a good combo. You well & truly FEEL your muscles working & strengthening, but it’s also stretchy & enjoyable all at the same time. I never dread a class. I find 2 private reformer classes each week plus 2 regular mat Pilates classes treats me well, in addition to my AM daily movement practice which I do solo from my home (thank you YouTube!).
Photoshoots!
Okay, this one might be a really unique one to me…but I just love showing up and channeling my inner confidence in front of the camera! It’s a powerful energy when you FEEL beautiful and want to share that with the world through captured imagery. Own it. If you’re scared or feel like it’s a waste of time or just “superficial” - then you definitely need to do it. Enjoy it babe. Have fun being beautiful. Life is too short!