Why healthy eating alone is sometimes not enough
In the previous blogs, I've been sharing about the "construction site" of your body and how cell membranes act as the gateway to recovery. But there is another crucial factor that determines whether those gates are actually open: stress, rest, and what we (often unconsciously) ask from our body.
After my severe burnout in 2012 and my diagnosis of chronic fatigue in 2014, my world became very small for several years. Around 2013, heavy medication had a huge impact on my system. Within one month, I gained 10 kg, and in the months after, another 9 kg.
Even though I stopped the main medication within a month, the weight stayed with me for years. At my heaviest, I weighed 82 kg, a big contrast to the 63 kg I used to weigh before. After the medication, my metabolism felt like it had been put on "pause".
Looking back, I realize I asked too much of myself for too long. I often got sick and couldn't hold onto jobs for long. I always gave 200%, and that's simply not sustainable.
I often describe it like this: my battery was empty, and my generator was broken. In September 2012, I hit a wall. My body was completely depleted. Between 2014 and 2020, I could do very little and spent a lot of time in bed. At one point, even 5 minutes of walking was too much.
The power of rest and North Sweden
In March 2023, after a very intense year due to Haro's surgeries and complications, we moved to Northern Sweden. The peace, the space, the nature, and fewer stimuli helped me finally come out of that constant "survival mode". Because when your body feels unsafe, it lowers energy production.
My rituals for recovery
Right now, I'm at the end of week 2 of a 3-week "Spring Reset". It helps me stay consistent with hydration, movement, and relaxation. I really notice how much better my body responds now that the foundation (my cells) is in a better place.
My daily rituals have become non-negotiable:
- Hydration: a 1.75-liter water bottle stays with me all day. Every morning, I also prepare 1.5 liters of fresh herbal tea (ginger, mint, rosemary, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and fennel seeds), which Haro and I drink together.
- Magnesium baths: I regularly take long, warm baths with magnesium salts. A book, 1.5 hours of relaxation.
- Balance: daily support to keep my cell membranes flexible.
- Fiber support: daily extra fiber to support digestion.
The result? I'm recovering to a point where I can do more with the horses again. And those 5 minutes of walking from 2021? They've turned into 10,000 steps per day.
I'm still healing. I still need to listen carefully to my body and take enough rest. But the difference is huge. Every day I walk with Boots and Vinn for 10 to 15 minutes.
The biggest lesson for me: listen to your body. Recovery is a combination of the right molecules, a clean system, and a nervous system that feels safe. In the next blog post I'll share how we stopped guessing, and started measuring what's really happening inside our cells.