WILD ROOTS VITALITY

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  • Running on Empty? Check Your Power Source

    I’ve been learning about off-grid power sources—specifically solar energy and how battery banks work. One thing really stood out to me: you can’t mix and match battery cells of different ages, brands, or capacities. A mismatched bank will only perform as well as its weakest cell. Using the cheapest or incorrect charger causes uneven loading, and poor connections can even destroy the entire system.

    Now… how does this relate to your health?

    Think about your last meal. How did it make you feel afterward—heavy, tired, and weighed down? Or light, energized, and ready to take on your day?

    Food is our power source.

    When we consistently choose the cheapest or fastest options instead of foods that truly nourish our bodies, we create disruption at the cellular level—especially in our mitochondria, where energy is produced. Over time, this can lead to low energy and a cascade of health issues, from diabetes and heart disease to depression and anxiety.

    So pause for a moment. Put a little thought and intention into what you’re using to fuel your body.

    👉 Eat real, whole foods.
    👉 Support your energy at the cellular level.
    👉 And don’t forget the water—hydration matters more than you think.

    Your body is your power system. Treat it like one.

  • Stop Feeding the Sugar Burner & Unlock Your Fat-Burning Superpower

    Remember our ancestors—the cave dwellers?
    Where would we be if they hadn’t discovered fire? Probably toast. Or…not even toast, because toast didn’t exist yet. Either way—not ideal.

    The point is: progress only happens when we stop clinging to old habits. Your health works the same way. To grow, you’ve got to try new things and release what’s holding you back—including what you eat and drink.

    Ask yourself: Do you feel energized after a meal?
    And no, I don’t mean that buzzy, jittery “boost” from sugar or refined carbs like bread, pasta, and pastries. That’s a trap—a quick high, quick crash, and a whole lineup of problems you don’t need.

    According to nutrition expert JJ Virgin, too much sugar can lead to cravings, weight gain, fatigue, bloating, poor gut health, and an increased risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Sugar overload can also throw off your hormones—messing with satiety, fueling acne, and wreaking havoc on your mood and sleep.
    (So if you’re wondering why you feel blah…hello, sugar.)

    Does giving these foods up feel dramatic? Like life might not be worth living without them? Trust me—I get it. But here’s the secret: food actually tastes BETTER once you reset your sweet tooth. Your taste buds wake up again.

    Give it 30 days.
    That’s all it takes to reset your system. You’ll start feeling changes around day 10, but by day 30 you’ll be thinking, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
    I dare you to prove me wrong.

    You’ll feel better. Look better. Sleep better. Think clearer. You’ll basically upgrade to the deluxe human version of yourself.

    When I first ditched my morning toast…my Friday Mountain Dew…my “pasta counts as a meal, right?” habit—it was tough. Your body craves these things because they give a quick dopamine hit. But once your system resets, you stop needing them just to feel okay.

    Same goes for alcohol.
    You might think you’re fine, but you have no idea how good you can really feel until your body gets a break. Your body is a powerhouse—it wants to heal. Remove the junk, add the good, and let it do what it was designed to do.

    Soon you’ll notice you’re smiling more…snapping less…maybe even letting that person who cut you off in traffic survive the day, lol.

    And here’s another truth bomb:
    Your body has two main fuel systems—fat burner and sugar burner.
    If you snack all day or constantly sip sweet drinks, you’re feeding the sugar-burning system nonstop. Which means…

    You never dip into your fat stores. Not even a little.

    To activate the fat-burning system, your body needs breaks from food—sweet drinks included. The easiest time to do this? While you sleep. Try finishing your last meal 2–3 hours before bed and waiting 8–12 hours before eating again.

    And despite the old saying, breakfast isn’t automatically the most important meal of the day. What is important is listening to your body. Sometimes it needs nourishment…and sometimes it needs a rest.

    Refined carbs also spike insulin, which signals your body to store fat. Your muscles and cells can only hold so much. When they’re full, the overflow gets pushed into fat cells—your body’s way of protecting your organs from excess sugar.

    As Dr. Jason Fung says:
    “When your fridge gets full, you move food to the deep freezer.”
    But when you’re hungry…which one do you raid first?

    Exactly.

    Ready for the next step?

    If you’re curious, overwhelmed, or ready for guidance on cutting sugar, balancing insulin, or resetting your body’s fuel system, I’ve got your back.

    📩 Email me: janice@wildrootsvitality.com
    🌿 Visit my website: Wild Roots Vitality
    💬 Or schedule a free consultation—let’s create the healthier, happier version of you together.

  • Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Redefining What It Means to “Treat Yourself”

    Do you ever feel like you’re living in a vicious cycle? You finally get back on track with your healthy habits… you’re feeling great… and then—boom—the weekend rolls around.

    Suddenly that little voice whispers, “You’ve been so good—you deserve it!”
    And before you know it… wine, bread, ice cream—it’ll be fineeee, right?

    Then Monday hits. You’re back to promising yourself that this week you’ll get back on track. Sound familiar?

    I’ve been there too. It’s such a strange loop—we want to love ourselves, yet we often “reward” that self-love with things that make us feel awful afterward. Why is that?

    Part of it isn’t even our fault. The relentless marketing from alcohol, restaurant, and processed food industries tells us that “cheating” is part of living. They sell indulgence as joy—but the truth is, it’s a trap. Because when we “cheat,” we’re the ones who end up feeling cheated… tired, bloated, and low-energy.

    Now don’t get me wrong—sometimes a treat is worth it. Your favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, or a single scoop of Graeter’s ice cream—those can be moments of real joy. But what if we reimagined what “comfort food” really means?

    What if comfort wasn’t about the food at all—but about the comforting moments?
    💛 The laughter at the dinner table.
    💛 The cozy evening with loved ones.
    💛 Cooking a fresh, farm-to-table meal together with friends.
    💛 The memories made—not the calories consumed.

    What if true nourishment came from vibrant, real food that fuels your body—and deep connection that feeds your soul?

    So next time you feel like “treating yourself,” try something different:
    💆‍♀️ Book a massage.
    🚶‍♀️ Take a hike with friends.
    👩‍🍳 Cook a farm-fresh meal together.
    🌅 Watch the sunrise and breathe it all in.

    Because waking up refreshed, clear-headed, and full of energy feels so much better than waking up to “Ugh… why did I do that again?”

    You deserve to feel wildly vital—not weighed down. 🌿

    Ready to start feeling your best? Let’s talk!

    I help clients uncover simple lifestyle shifts that support deep, restorative sleep — naturally.

    👉 Visit www.wildrootsvitality.com or DM me on Instagram @WildRootsVitality to start your journey.
    💬 Found this post helpful? Share it with someone you care about—it might be exactly what they need.
    📩 For regular tips, tools, and inspiration, subscribe at www.wildrootsvitality.com or email me at janice@wildrootsvitality.com.
    👋 Need personal guidance? I offer 1-on-1 coaching to help you create sustainable, science-based changes that truly stick.
    ✨ Book your free clarity call today at www.wildrootsvitality.com.

  • 🌙 Sleep: The Unsung Cornerstone of Health

    Dr. Rubin Naiman, a leading expert on sleep and dreams, calls sleep one of the four cornerstones of health—right up there with nutrition, movement, and emotional wellbeing. And he’s absolutely right.

    What many people don’t realize is how deeply connected our sleep and eating habits are.
    What and when we eat affects how we sleep — and how we sleep affects what we crave and how our metabolism functions.

    Think about the last time you slept poorly…
    Were you more likely to grab a donut or a slice of pizza instead of something nourishing? 🍕🍦
    I know I am! When I’m overtired, my willpower takes a nap of its own, and suddenly all I want is carbs and sugar.

    Here’s the truth:
    We’ve become a rest-less society. We confuse distraction with rest — things like binge-watching shows, scrolling, drinking, or using other substances to “unwind.” But these aren’t true rest. In fact, they often make it harder to get the restorative sleep our bodies crave.

    Sleep issues like sleep apnea are more common than ever and, like other chronic conditions (think diabetes or heart disease), they can often be improved — even reversed — through lifestyle changes:
    🌿 Eating nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods
    🏃 Getting regular movement
    🚫 Reducing toxins and inflammation

    And let’s talk about a few common sleep saboteurs:

    ☕ Caffeine – Even if you can fall asleep after that late-day coffee, it doesn’t mean it’s not disrupting your sleep quality later in the night.

    🍷 Alcohol – A double agent. It may help you fall asleep initially, but it tends to wake you up in the middle of the night and throws off your circadian rhythm.

    🌾 Gluten sensitivity – For those who are sensitive, gluten can cause fatigue during the day and restless nights. Pay attention to how your body feels after meals—it might be trying to tell you something.

    The takeaway?
    Rest isn’t a luxury — it’s a biological necessity. Quality sleep is one of the most powerful ways to restore balance, regulate appetite, and support overall vitality.

    💤 Ready to Sleep Better, Feel Better, and Live More Fully?
    Let’s talk! I help clients uncover simple lifestyle shifts that support deep, restorative sleep — naturally.
    👉 Visit www.wildrootsvitality.com or DM me on Instagram @WildRootsVitality to start your journey.
    💬 Found this post helpful? Share it with someone you care about—it might be exactly what they need.
    📩 For regular tips, tools, and inspiration, subscribe at www.wildrootsvitality.com or email me at janice@wildrootsvitality.com.
    👋 Need personal guidance? I offer 1-on-1 coaching to help you create sustainable, science-based changes that truly stick.
    ✨ Book your free clarity call today at www.wildrootsvitality.com.

  • ✨ Shift Your Thoughts, Shape Your Reality ✨

    Happy Friday, Friends! 🍂✨

    Are you ready for a beautiful fall weekend?

    I’ll be honest—yesterday wasn’t my best day. Some things in life aren’t unfolding quite the way I hoped, and it really had me feeling down. But instead of staying stuck in that energy, I decided to turn inward and give myself some much-needed self-care.

    I pampered myself.
    I meditated.
    I practiced Wim Hof’s breathing.
    And my favorite—I made a warm cup of herbal tea with raw honey, curled up with a great book, and snuggled with my dogs. 🐾📖

    As I shifted my focus to all the good things in my life, my mood lifted. This morning I woke up refreshed, grounded, and in a much more positive mindset.

    Here’s the truth: we all have the freedom to choose how we feel, how we react, and how we show up for others. Our choices and our mindset shape our reality—and while we’re not free from the consequences of those choices, we are free to begin shifting them at any moment.

    So I’ll leave you with this question:
    👉 What do you want your reality to look like?

    Start with your thoughts. And if you need support, stay tuned—I’ll be sharing tools and tips right here on the blog to help you strengthen your mindset and create a life you love. 💛

  • Stop Masking the Symptoms: Get to the Root for Real Health

    Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “Whoa—what is that smell?”
    Your first instinct is probably to find out where it’s coming from. Maybe you open a window, spray some air freshener, or light a candle to cover it up. But if you don’t actually find the source—maybe a leftover meal, a leaky garbage bag, or something even deeper in the walls—the smell doesn’t go away. It lingers. No matter how many air fresheners you add, you’re just masking the issue, not solving it.

    Now think about how often we do the same thing with our bodies and minds.

    We feel tired, anxious, bloated, foggy, irritable, or just “off,” and our first reaction is often to reach for something to fix it fast. A pill. More caffeine. A crash diet. Another scroll through social media to distract us from the discomfort. These may offer temporary relief, but they don’t address what’s really going on underneath.

    And sometimes, those quick fixes come with side effects—new symptoms or complications that leave us feeling even worse. What began as a simple attempt to feel better turns into a cycle of chasing symptoms while the root cause continues to grow.

    The truth is: your symptoms are not the enemy. They’re signals. They’re your body and mind trying to get your attention.

    From a Social, Emotional, and Intellectual (SEI) perspective, this matters deeply.

    • Socially, our health habits are shaped by the people around us. If everyone’s normalizing burnout, poor sleep, or surviving on takeout and stress, we start to think it’s normal too.
    • Emotionally, we may carry unprocessed stress, trauma, or self-worth struggles that show up in our physical health—through inflammation, digestive issues, fatigue, or mood swings.
    • Intellectually, we owe it to ourselves to question the surface-level solutions we’ve been sold. True wellness requires us to think critically, get curious, and take responsibility for exploring what our body truly needs.

    Does this mean medications are always bad? Of course not. Medications can be life-saving, especially in acute illness, injury, or infections. But when we rely on prescriptions alone for chronic issues—without also examining lifestyle, nutrition, stress, movement, sleep, and emotional well-being—we often miss the opportunity for true, lasting healing.

    The good news? There is another way.
    Making intentional, sustainable changes to how you eat, move, think, feel, and connect can help you find and address the root causes of what’s holding you back. And when you start healing from the inside out, everything shifts. Energy improves. Mood stabilizes. Digestion calms. Sleep deepens. Life starts to feel lighter—and more aligned.

    You don’t need another temporary fix.
    You need support, awareness, and the tools to go deeper.

    Because the root is where the healing begins.

    💬 Found this helpful or eye-opening?

    Please share this post with someone you care about—it might be the missing piece they’ve been searching for.

    📩 Want tips, tools, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox?
    Message me at janice@wildrootsvitality.com or visit my website http://www.wildrootsvitality.com.

    👋 Need personal guidance?
    I offer 1-on-1 coaching to help you implement sustainable, science-based strategies to reach your health goals. Visit my website to learn more. http://www.wildrootsvitality.com

  • Tried Everything to Lose Weight? Here’s Why It Hasn’t Worked—And What Finally Did

    Have you tried every diet under the sun—keto, paleo, low-fat, low-carb, even the old advice of eating five small meals a day to boost your metabolism—and still can’t lose the weight?

    You’re not alone. I’ve been there too.

    When I followed the “eat every few hours” plan, I was constantly hungry, frustrated, and exhausted. I couldn’t figure out why the weight wouldn’t budge. I was eating “clean,” prepping meals like a pro, and doing everything right—or so I thought.

    Then I discovered intermittent fasting… and everything changed.

    I felt better almost immediately—cleaner, lighter, more in control. Plus, it cut down on constant meal prep. Total win-win! But the biggest benefit? I finally started losing weight. And it wasn’t just the scale—my energy improved, my cravings disappeared, and my mind felt clearer than ever.

    So What Makes Intermittent Fasting Work When Other Diets Don’t?

    It all comes down to insulin—your body’s fat storage hormone.

    Whenever we eat, especially carbohydrates or sugar, insulin levels rise. Your body uses some of that sugar for immediate energy, stores a bit in your liver and muscles as glycogen (which have limited capacity), and converts the rest to fat for long-term storage.

    Here’s a great analogy from Dr. Jason Fung: Think of your glycogen stores as your refrigerator and your body fat as a basement deep freezer. If you keep restocking the fridge all day (aka eating constantly), your body never taps into the freezer (aka your fat stores). So fat just keeps piling up.

    The Hidden Insulin Triggers Sabotaging Your Weight Loss

    It’s not just sugary treats causing insulin spikes. Even things you think are healthy—like fruit juice, “diet” soda, sports drinks, and flavored coffee—can trigger an insulin response, pushing your body to store more fat.

    Yes, even zero-calorie sweeteners can send the same signal to your brain and body: “Store fat now.”

    We’ve been misled. Big Food marketed low-fat, high-carb, and “sugar-free” as healthy alternatives, but the truth is, we’ve been stuck in fat-storage mode for decades—and it shows.

    Are You a Sugar Burner or a Fat Burner?

    Most people operate in sugar-burning mode all day. This constant grazing and snacking keeps insulin elevated, which means your body never accesses fat for fuel.

    Even worse, it halts your body’s natural cleanup process—called autophagy—which is essential for cellular repair and longevity.

    Meanwhile, excess sugar intake is overloading our livers, leading to a rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, even in kids and teens. That’s right—sugar, not fat, is the real culprit.

    The Truth About Belly Fat and Cravings

    Certain calories—especially from processed carbs and sugary drinks—make your fat cells hungrier, especially the dangerous visceral fat around your belly. This belly fat isn’t just stubborn—it’s biologically active. It sends signals to your brain that drive cravings, leading you to overeat… the wrong kinds of food.

    That’s why willpower alone won’t fix it. You have to change the system.

    Final Thoughts

    If you feel like you’ve “tried everything,” it’s not your fault. The weight loss industry has fed us decades of bad advice. But now you know the truth: It’s not just about how much you eat—it’s about how often and what you eat.

    Intermittent fasting helps reset your metabolism, lower insulin levels, reduce inflammation, and finally unlock your fat stores for energy.

    Feeling better, losing weight, fewer cravings, and less time in the kitchen? That’s not a fad—that’s freedom.

    💬 Found this helpful or eye-opening?

    Please share this post with someone you care about—it might be the missing piece they’ve been searching for.

    📩 Want tips, tools, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox?
    Message me at janice@wildrootsvitality.com or visit my website http://www.wildrootsvitality.com. Watch for my free guide coming soon “Kickstart Your Fat-Burning Journey with Intermittent Fasting.”

    👋 Need personal guidance?
    I offer 1-on-1 coaching to help you implement sustainable, science-based strategies to reach your health goals. Visit my website to learn more. http://www.wildrootsvitality.com

    Let’s ditch the diet noise and finally get results that last.

  • Wildly Vital Living: How to Overcome Fatigue, Aches, and Mood Swings Naturally

    Wildly Vital Living: How to Overcome Fatigue, Aches, and Mood Swings Naturally

    Why Feeling Tired, Achy, and Moody Is Not Just Aging — And How to Get Your Energy Back

    Hey beautiful people 💛

    I’ve been a little quiet here lately… between vacation and getting my daughter ready for college (she moves out tomorrow! 😭), life has been a whirlwind. But today, I want to talk about something I keep hearing from people my age — both men and women:

    “I guess this is just what getting older feels like — tired, achy, moody…”

    Here’s the truth: It’s not aging.

    The Real Reason You Feel Tired and Achy (It’s Not Your Birthday Candle Count)

    Most of the time, low energy, joint pain, brain fog, and irritability aren’t caused by getting older — they’re caused by chronic inflammation.

    Your immune system is designed to protect you. But when it’s forced to fight 24/7 — thanks to poor diet, high stress, lack of movement, and environmental toxins — it never gets the rest it needs.

    Think about how you feel when you have a virus:

    • Exhausted
    • Achy
    • Drained

    That’s exactly what’s happening when your body is bombarded daily with inflammatory foods and lifestyle stressors — just at a lower, ongoing level.

    Why You Shouldn’t Ignore “Minor” Symptoms

    Those little signs — fatigue, stiffness, bloating, mood swings — are your body waving a yellow flag. Ignore them, and they often progress into bigger issues over time.

    Remember the old TV show Weakest Link? Your body will show inflammation in its weakest spot:

    • Your heart
    • Your joints
    • Your muscles
    • Your brain

    Studies now link chronic inflammation to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease — which can start 10, 20, or even 30 years before you feel any symptoms.

    How to Give Your Body a Break (and Boost Your Vitality)

    If you want to feel more energetic, clear-headed, and vibrant, you’ve got to take the pressure off your immune system.

    One of the quickest ways to do that?

    • Cut out gluten, dairy, and added sugar for 30 days.

    It’s not forever — it’s an experiment to see how much better you can feel. I have no doubt you will notice improvements in:

    • Energy
    • Mood
    • Joint comfort
    • Digestion
    • Skin clarity

    Is It Hard? Yes… and No.

    Is it challenging to change the way you eat? Sure.
    But you know what’s harder? Waking up every day feeling tired, sore, and foggy.

    For me, choosing vibrant health over bread, pastries, candy, and soda is a no-brainer.

    What about you? 🌿✨

  • Information vs Transformation: Create the Health You Deserve

    Information is Useless…Unless You Use It

    We have access to more information than ever before—literally at our fingertips. Just ask Google! But here’s the truth: information alone changes nothing. It’s what we do with it that actually moves the needle.

    So… why is it so hard?

    We get stuck in old habits. They’re familiar, comfortable, and automatic—even when we know they aren’t serving us. Even when we know they’re making us feel sluggish, unwell, or contributing to chronic health issues. Knowing we need to change is not the same as actually changing.

    Why?
    Because change is hard.
    Holding the status quo is easy.

    So what do we do about it?

    All or Nothing… or Baby Steps?

    Are you someone who needs to dive in headfirst? Or are you more of a baby-steps, one-thing-at-a-time kind of person?

    There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to transformation—and that’s okay. Me? I’m an all-or-nothing kind of girl. Baby steps don’t work for me. I tend to fall back into old patterns when I try to “ease in.”

    Take my old nightly glass of wine. For a long time, I tried cutting back—telling myself I’d only have it on weekends or just one or two nights a week. And I did okay…for a while. But then a stressful day at work would hit and I’d say, “F!@* it”—and the pattern would repeat.

    What finally worked? Making a big, decisive change.
    When I stopped giving myself the option altogether, something surprising happened: the mental chatter stopped too. I was no longer constantly negotiating with myself. And that gave me freedom.

    It might sound small, but tune into your own internal dialogue—how much time and energy is it draining, just debating with yourself about the changes you want to make?

    Small Changes, Big Results

    Now, if you’re a baby-steps kind of person—don’t worry. That method isjust as valid, and often more sustainable for many people. Small, consistent changes over time can lead to massive transformation. The key is tostart—and to keep going.

    Ask yourself:

    • How do you want to feel each day?
    • How do you want to show up in your body?
    • What kind of life do you want to live—today and in the future?

    Then get honest:
    What needs to go in order to create that version of your life?
    And what healthy habit can you add into help crowd out the old ones?

    Start there. Start today. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time—there’s no such thing.
    Your body, mind, and spirit are ready for the shift, and they will thank you.

  • Finding My Flow: Reclaiming Energy and Embracing Sustainability

    Feeling Like Myself Again – Mind Clear, Body Energized

    It’s Friday—five days since getting home from vacation—and I’m finally starting to feel like my calm, energetic self again. It took this long to truly regain my composure, balance my sleep, and restore my energy levels. The brain fog has lifted, and I feel clear-headed and ready to tackle the day!

    It’s amazing how the body works. If you notice feeling “off” a day—or even two or three—after eating something, don’t ignore it. Maybe you’re achy, unusually tired, mentally foggy, or breaking out. These are often subtle signs that your body is reacting to something in your food. It’s not always immediate like an allergy. Sometimes, sensitivities take a little longer to show up.

    Your body is smart. It’s always trying to tell you something. Tune in. Be intuitive. Make small changes—even micro-adjustments—toward a better, smarter, healthier you.

    This weekend, I’ve got a few things on my agenda:

    • Visiting the farmers market to find new partners in my health journey
    • Laying new floors in the basement
    • Replacing baseboards in the bedrooms
    • Prepping the house to go on the market

    Alongside my wellness journey, I’m also on a mission to live a simpler, more sustainable life. That means downsizing and intentionally surrounding myself with things that bring peace. One fun step I took this week? I started a worm composting bin! Have you ever tried that? I’d love any tips, ideas, or sustainable living hacks you’ve discovered.

    Peace

    More updates to come soon 😊
    Wishing you a wonderful, grounded da