as originally published in CincyChic

This morning I woke up early to work out in the small gym we built in our basement a number of years ago. All three of the children and my husband were fast asleep upstairs and I was close enough to hear them if anyone woke up and needed me, but far enough away to focus on my workout. It made me think about how valuable it’s been to have that space to work out in my home. Truth be told, I’d prefer to run outside with my girlfriends or to head to the yoga studio for a class taught by someone other than my DVD player, but many days, our home gym is my safest bet to ensure I get in a workout at all.

Does your home support your healthy living goals? To answer “yes” you don’t have to have a treadmill in your basement. I’m simply asking if you’ve set up your home to support the lifestyle you want to achieve. Here are a few areas you might want to consider:

Kitchen

If you intend to cook some meals at home, it’s important that your kitchen is set up to support you! Is your pantry well stocked with healthy ingredients? Is your refrigerator brimming with fresh produce and free from expired items? Do you have the right cooking tools? Are your appliances clean and in working order? Taking care of these basics will make it feel less daunting when you decide it’s time to channel your inner Martha!

Eating Area

Once you’ve prepared a healthy and delicious meal, it would be a shame to eat it while standing up at the counter! Have you kept the table clear of clutter? Do you have linens, tableware and silverware that make you happy? Are there enough chairs for everyone who will be at the table? Investing a few dollars in table accessories that make you smile will be well worth it when you are motivated to eat at home more often.

Workout Corner

Home gyms are terrific, but you don’t have to go all out to make this idea work. Can you keep a yoga mat and exercise ball in a designated workout corner with some workout plans you’ve cut out of SELF magazine?  Some people have great success keeping them near the TV so that they can get in some exercise while catching up on The Bachelor. Also, keep your workout clothes in one drawer so it’s easy to get dressed when it’s time to exercise. If you’re digging through laundry baskets looking for a clean sports bra you are far less likely to work out!

Quiet Zone

Your healthy living intentions probably go beyond diet and exercise to include some form of relaxation or meditation. Can you set up a peaceful corner where you can retreat for those moments of calm? I have a favorite chair in a sunny corner where I can steal a few minutes to sit and think or to read something for inspiration. Carve out a space that’s just for you and cherish it!

Following a few of these suggestions will help you bring your home in line with your healthy living aspirations. Instead of battling with your surroundings, you’ll wake up each day knowing your home has been set up to support you, which is exactly what it should do!

I’ve been in a little battle of wills with my body, specifically my rotator cuff, for several weeks now. Despite ongoing twinges, aches and soreness, I’ve generally ignored the fact that there was something just not right in my right shoulder and upper arm. It felt nonspecific and too mild to warrant action in my overflowing life. Oh, I whined about it. Reluctantly stretched it. Googled it. But did I back off from exercise? Stop hoisting my one year old with one arm? Pull my suitcase on wheels with my (healthy) left arm instead of my right? Forego my twisty-turny-bendy hot yoga class? Puh-leeze. I carried on as though it would just magically stop hurting as I put more and more stress on these clearly-already-stressed muscles.

On Thursday, my rotator cuff won our little battle. It simply gave up (unhelpfully, right in the middle of a long awaited and much needed yoga class) and I was left unable to lift anything with my right arm. I could not lift my yoga bag. I could not put the car in gear. I could not raise my arm above my head to get undressed. I could not use that arm to wash my hair, dry my hair or hang up my clothes. I took one look at the baby, needing to be picked up, and knew I was in trouble.  I. Was. Scared.

One phone call to my doctor and several rounds of Aleve later, I have some mobility back in my arm, but that nagging pain (the one I’d been ignoring) is definitely still there . So, I finally did what I should have done weeks ago. I made an appointment to see my doctor to get to the root of the problem and learn what I need to do to fix it.

As a healthy living expert, I should know better. Health isn’t just about eating well and having the discipline to get regular exercise. It’s about having your whole well-being in balance. It’s about being in touch with yourself enough to know when something is not right and being responsible enough to take action to correct it. Your body is smart, way smarter than you are, and it will give you signals when something is amiss. It may start out using a whisper but it will speak more and more loudly until it gets your attention. Don’t make it shout. Tune in to the signals and commit to heeding them.

What is your body trying to tell you? Where is is whispering to you through low energy, weight gain, irritable bowels, recurrent headaches, interrupted sleep, skin outbreaks, or persistent pain? Find some stillness and check in with yourself. Listen for signals that something may be amiss. And then get some help to bring things back into balance before your body gets your attention in a really big way. Next time, I’ll take my own advice.