Abbie’s Story - A Pretty Wholesome Life

If you haven’t read the inspirational works of Dr Edith Eger, I urge you to make time to read ‘The Choice’  and ‘The Gift.’  I adore inspirational women and Edith is next level, actually no, she’s a level all of her own!

What a life, what a woman and what a gift her positive psychology is to the world. 

For me this quote really sums up the last two years of my life.

I was 46 years old, a mother of four suffering from severe burnout. I was working 60+ hours a week in my family business and working for a charity, I was also carrying the majority of home/family duties as many of us ladies do. 

My health had taken a nose dive, I was stressed, anxious, exhausted, sick and stuck. Peri menopause had also decided to stick her two pennies worth in and I just didn’t know who I was any more. I’ve always been busy, ambitious and capable but now I didn’t know which way was up. I felt like a failure, unable to keep up this crazy Superwoman pretence any more.

My Wake-Up Call

I was struggling, wading through treacle with every step I took. I was terrified people would think I was useless or incapable and imposter syndrome started to creep in. Public speaking was apart of my role and self-doubt was crippling this skill. 

I was stuck in this work/no life/no balance situation and had so little breathing space that I couldn’t see a way out and for a few terrifying fleeting moments I considered driving my car into the central reservation of the M4 at speed so that I wouldn’t have to deal with how dreadful I felt any longer.

This split second thought was a huge wake up call. I pulled into the slow lane, came off at the next junction and drove home, climbed into bed, pulled the duvet over my head and vowed enough was enough, my life had to change.

I rested and reflected. 

I realised that walking away from my charity team wasn’t going to make me happy, it was just going to compound my self-loathing. So I did what any good leader should and I worked my way out of my role. I found great people to replace me and when I had found enough people and knew that the project was in safe and in amazing hands I stepped down. 

My fabulous husband made me promise not to replace the hours I had been spending on the charity project on other work but that I must use the time for me and that’s what I did. I thought I would get better instantly without the gruelling working hours and the stress but I didn’t. 

Moving towards a wholesome, healthy and vibrant life

I had put myself last for so long my health had suffered. Tests reviled that I was prediabetic, I had thyroid and liver issues and my hormones were shot.

I had inadvertently ramped up my drinking to 50+ units a week as a way of self-medicating and as a result of all of the above I’d gained a couple of stone in weight and I hadn’t exercised for years.

The thought of hitting the gym in my sorry state was unimaginable but I wanted to change.

As the wonderful Edith Eger recommends, I needed to leave behind dysfunctional habits and beliefs and replace them with healthy ones. Zero self-care, stress and anxiety had to go and I chose to move toward a wholesome, healthy and vibrant life. I pointed my arrow and followed it.  

My Nutrition & Movement Journey

My journey led me to a Nutritional Therapist who taught me how to use nutritional food that fully reversed my pre diabetes and my thyroid issues and a Functional Medicine GP who balanced my hormones. Both practitioners urged me to move and exercise.

This was probably the scariest aspect for me and it took a while but after extensive research and a couple of failed attempts I found the Nimble and Wild website and instantly loved the way Jenni spoke about movement, empowerment and community and I plucked up the courage for a 1-1 session and boom, I was exercising again! 

Quitting Alcohol & finding my purpose

All these positive and healthy habits led me to quit my most unhealthy habit.  I quit alcohol over a year ago and I’ve unleashed my superpower.

I am happier, have good quality sleep, energy, liver function restored, amazing skin and almost two stone of weight lost.

An unexpected bonus of not drinking is restored confidence. No more self-doubt or self-sabotage and with my newfound self-belief I decided to put my passion for wellness into action.

I’m currently training to become a Nutrition and Health Coach. Finally, after countless years of searching I feel that I’ve found my purpose in life. 

When Women Gather….

Looking back at this journey it really struck me that my Nutritional Therapist, Functional Medicine GP and Pilates Instructor (the wonderful Jenni) are all women!

It took three highly trained women who are passionate about other women’s health and wellbeing to put me back together, to build me up and get me back on track.

I’m fitter and healthier approaching my 50’s than I was in my 30’s! I hope to follow in their footsteps, to help as many other women (and men) as possible to reclaim their health and happiness and to live a pretty wholesome life.   

I’ll be sharing lots of nutritious recipes and tips with you all via Jenni’s Feel Good Friday weekly email and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can support you in your own journey. 

Abbie

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