Hey everyone! Today’s lesson focused on the importance of staying checked in with our food journals. It's all about engaging with the process and gaining awareness to help us move forward, even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable. Staying Engaged with Food Journaling Here are some key reflections from today’s lesson: Awareness and Behavior How does recording my intake influence my behavior? I have focused a bit more on what I am making to eat during this process. Am I altering my choices because I know I'll be writing them down? I am making sure that all of my meals are PN plates - so yes being aware of my food choices helps me make more mindful decisions. Journal as a Tool Am I using the journal as a helpful device or letting it dictate my actions? It's a bit of both. I am adding extra veggies/fruits for sure. I'm trying to see the journal as a tool for reflection rather than a source of judgment. Resistance Do I find myself resisting the process? Yes. I really don...

Thanks for coming by again! Today, being Saturday, there were no new lessons in the PN program, but it was filled with plenty of activity and a couple of pleasant surprises. Extended Walks and Gardening I took advantage of the day for some active recovery, starting with an extended walk with my dog. We also enjoyed her usual walks throughout the day, which always adds a nice rhythm to our routine. In addition to our walks, I spent some time in the garden, moving my strawberry plants into the new berry garden alongside the blueberry bushes. Learning that strawberries can create beneficial shade for blueberries was a delightful bonus to optimizing my garden's layout. Aurora Borealis Surprise A special highlight of the day was my husband capturing a fantastic photo of the Aurora Borealis in the middle of the night while I was sleeping. It was quite unexpected, especially given the usual light pollution in our area. This rare sight added a magical touch to an already relaxing day. Usin...

Hello, everyone! Day 94 has been a whirlwind of emotions and activities, heavily influenced by yet another night of broken sleep due to my period—a common challenge but one that hasn't troubled me this frequently in a while. Tired is indeed the word of the day, pun fully intended. Navigating Through Fatigue Today's lesson was making ourselves the experiment. I embarked on another scientific endeavor—collecting a snapshot of my body's current state, but not through photographs. Instead, I focused on tracking how I felt at various intervals, aiming to read my "inner compass" more effectively. This wasn't just about adhering to an abstract concept; it was about concrete data gathering to improve my day-to-day living. Tracking the Inner Compass Throughout the day, I used my phone’s timer to remind me every two hours to record my energy levels, calmness, focus, and mood on a scale from 1 to 10. These periodic check-ins helped me recognize the fluctuations in my fee...

Hello, everyone! Today marks the 93rd day of my PN for women journey, and I want to share both the challenges and triumphs I've experienced, particularly over the last two days. Living with PCOS means dealing with unpredictable and often painful symptoms, and the past couple of nights have been particularly tough with severe pain disrupting my sleep. Starting Despite the Odds Despite being tired, grumpy and the the cramping and overall discomfort, today was a scheduled workout day and I managed to get it done. Honestly, I wasn't feeling up to it initially—skipping seemed like a reasonable option as I sipped my morning tea and had breakfast. But as the day went on, I decided to start with just the warm-up exercises, which are the same as the last phase and walking on the treadmill and see how it went from there. Surprisingly, I found myself completing the entire workout, including a second stint on the treadmill. I even scored over 30 minutes of Zone minutes on my Fitbit, which ...

Embracing Feedback Over Failure Today’s Precision Nutrition lesson today emphasized the shift from viewing mishaps as failures to seeing them as valuable feedback. Using examples like if you stumbled on a rocky path, it just means you found a rock that wasn't steady—no worries, you haven't failed at walking. This one really hit home to me, I use something similar when I am working with mums as a lactation consultant - if you latch the baby in X position and it doesn't work for one of you, that doesn't mean you have failed at breastfeeding. Their gym example, if you lose your balance in the gym trying a new exercise, it's just a sign you might have leaned a bit too far one way. That's not failing at exercise, that's learning to balance better. And if those super spicy wings gave you a tough night, well, you've just learned what doesn't work for your stomach. You haven't failed at eating; you've just discovered more about your body's reacti...

Hey everyone! When I was 17, I first learned that I had PCOS following a second surgery to remove cysts from my ovaries (my first was 18 months before) and it was all pretty new to me back then. I struggled with the typical symptoms: irregular periods and unwanted hair growth, though, luckily, no weight issues initially. But after starting various medications, I noticed my weight began to slowly increase. In my 20s with PCOS Fast forward a bit, and I found myself rushing to the ER with what was thought to be appendicitis, but turned out to be a burst cyst. After recovering from another surgery, which included both appendix and cyst removal, my journey with weight challenges really began. Seeking better control, I switched doctors and got referred to a diet clinic. This place was strict—meticulous calorie counts and thrice-weekly check-ins—but it worked! I shed the weight, ditched the meds, and for the first time, my periods started evening out. Having a baby with PCOS In my late 20s, d...

Welcome back to my daily blog as I focus on holistic living! Continuing the Journey with Guided Meditation Walks Today's workout session was another guided meditation walk, which I chose to do on my treadmill at home. This setting allows me to fully immerse myself in the guidance provided, focusing deeply on the words and their meaning without external distractions.  Despite this indoor meditation practice, I still ensure that my dog and I spend plenty of time outdoors, enjoying multiple walks throughout the day. This balance between focused indoor activity and the freedom of outdoor walks enriches my daily routine with variety and mindfulness. Learning to Embrace Discomfort The day's lesson delved into the concept of embracing discomfort, a theme that resonates deeply as we navigate the journey of changing habits and overcoming challenges. The program encouraged us to reflect on past experiences where we faced and overcame obstacles, highlighting the growth and resilience that...

Embracing 2024: The Year of Me Hello and welcome to My Precision Nutrition Journey, a lifelong adventure that begins anew in 2024. As I approach the milestone of my 49th year, I am committing to making this year the starting point of a transformative journey that extends far beyond. This blog is more than just a chronicle of nutrition and health; it's a deeply personal narrative of my experiences, struggles, and triumphs. I hope that you will join me as I navigate this path of transformation, health, and self-discovery, not just for a year, but for a lifetime. A Glimpse Into My World I'm Jacqui, a soon-to-be 49-year-old, happily married, and a proud parent of a brilliant 20-year-old son who is currently navigating the world of university. Our home is a bustling hub of love and activity, shared with our adorable dog, two mischievous cats, and the heart of our family, my mum.  I'm fortunate that I am able to work from home as an IBCLC, or as most people know it as a lactation...