WILD ROOTS VITALITY

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  • 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

    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.

  • Unlocking Health Through Epigenetics: Small Changes, Big Impact—for You and Your Dog


    Curious About Epigenetics?

    For years, we believed our genes were our destiny—determining whether we’d be overweight or thin, healthy or sick. But science now tells a different story. Genes are only part of the equation. What we eat, how we move, how we sleep—these daily choices influence which genes are turned on or off.

    That means we have far more control over our health than we were led to believe.

    Food is a tool.
    Sleep is a tool.
    Movement, breath, connection—all powerful tools.

    They speak directly to our biology, influencing our gene expression, interacting with our mitochondria, and shaping our energy and vitality. These choices are either building us up—or breaking us down.

    Do you feel energized and alive, or constantly drained and dragging through your days?

    Let’s use every tool in our toolbox to prevent disease and create a vibrant, fulfilling life—instead of waiting for symptoms and trying to manage them with a pill. The choices we make today are the gateway to our future.

    Choose the ones that bring your body back into balance.
    That’s what it craves—homeostasis.

    And don’t forget your furry family members…

    The same principles apply to our pets. That highly processed industrial food many dogs and cats are eating? It’s contributing to cancer, skin issues, digestive problems, and shorter lifespans.

    Here’s the good news: you don’t need to overhaul everything.
    Even changing just 10% of your pet’s food—like their treats or meal toppers—can make a noticeable difference.

    Try sharing fresh, whole foods like:

    • Blueberries
    • Chopped apples
    • Fresh cilantro

    Just be careful—never feed your dog the following foods:

    • Onions
    • Grapes & raisins
    • Chocolate
    • Nutmeg
    • Chives
    • Macadamia nuts

    My favorite healthy treats to share with my pups? Check out for healthy homemade treats crafted with love!  My dogs absolutely love them!  https://thepawstrychef.com

    I’d love to hear yours too! Let’s keep our entire family—two-legged and four-legged—on the path to wellness.💚

  • 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

  • Gut Health Gone Wild: Lessons from the Road

    Hey friends!

    Last week, my girls and I had the best vacation. We took a road trip to Niagara Falls and spent a few days exploring both the beautiful U.S. side and venturing into Canada. Believe it or not, this was my first time traveling out of the country—and it definitely won’t be my last! The falls were stunning from both sides.

    One of the highlights was the Maid of the Mist tour. Feeling the raw power of the falls up close was incredible—absolutely worth getting soaked! Thank goodness for the ponchos! The Canadian side felt a bit commercialized for my taste, but the girls loved it. And I have to say, the ice cream from Sweet Jesus might have been the best I’ve ever had. (Even though my stomach wasn’t thrilled afterward… I’m just not used to that much sugar and dairy anymore!)

    Then we ventured up to Acadia National Park—so beautiful! One day, we hiked up a mountain over rock scrambles… it was steep but the views from the top were absolutely worth it. The trip down was just as epic—more scrambling and even some ladders into a ravine. So cool! 🔥

    We actually started the trip off strong, food-wise. I packed healthy travel snacks—nuts, grass-fed meat sticks, crunchy veggies, Applegate lunch meat, cheese, and Simple Mills crackers. We even brought food to cook over the campfire like burgers and shrimp—so good!

    As the week went on, we ate out more, which was fine—we tried to stick to less-processed, more home-style meals. But let’s be honest: there was ice cream… and s’mores… and then came the 16-hour drive home. That’s where it all went downhill. We hit a fast-food place late in the drive, and I ordered a burger, fries, and a Frosty. Yikes.

    The next day, I felt awful—fatigued, foggy, bloated, and just off. I’m normally up early and working out before the day starts, but instead, I went back to bed. My energy was zapped.

    Here’s the deal: ultra-processed foods are typically loaded with sugar, which feeds the bad bacteria in your gut and disrupts your microbiome. That imbalance can lead to inflammation throughout your body—including your brain. Many of these foods also contain refined grains that rapidly convert to sugar, compounding the problem. Add in the genetically modified corn and wheat (which are often sprayed with glyphosate, a pesticide originally developed as an antibiotic), and your gut flora takes a major hit.

    This isn’t how I normally feel—and that’s why I’m so grateful for my usual clean, whole-foods lifestyle. Today, I’m back to basics: clean water, no gluten or added sugar, minimal dairy, and lots of gut-loving nourishment. It makes such a difference.

    Processed food and excessive sugar don’t just mess with digestion—they can cause fatigue, depression, aches and pains, brain fog, poor sleep, and more. No thank you!

    Next vacation, I’ll still enjoy a few local treats—I’m all about balance, not deprivation—but in moderation. I want to keep traveling, trying new things, and living fully for the next 50 years! And to do that, I need to fuel my body in a way that supports my health and vitality.

    Nourishment is the highest form of self-care. Give your body—and your gut—a chance to thrive. Choose real, whole foods over processed ones. You’ll feel the difference. And when you feel better, you’ll naturally want to make other healthy lifestyle changes too. You can feel strong, vibrant, and full of energy—at any age.

  • Why I Tried a 72-Hour Water Fast for Pain Relief and Anti-Aging

    Hello health seekers!

    I’m currently two days into a 3-day water fast—yep, just water (well and black coffee:))! You might be wondering… why on earth?! Well, I’ve been dealing with a nagging hip flexor injury that just won’t seem to heal. It’s stiff in the mornings and flares up after walks or hikes. Honestly, it’s been bothering me for years. I first injured it chasing after my dog (total cartoon moment), and then re-injured it falling through a hole in my deck—don’t ask!

    I’ve been practicing intermittent fasting for quite a while now and love how it makes me feel. Plus, it frees up so much time—no need to worry about making breakfast every morning!

    Recently, I came across Dr. Mindy Pelz’s book, Fast Like a Girl, and was intrigued by what she calls the Immune-Reset Fast—a 72+ hour fast designed to help with chronic inflammation and pain from long-standing musculoskeletal injuries (sounds familiar, right?). Even better? She shares that longer fasts like this can trigger a stem cell surge that supports cellular repair and anti-aging. I mean, aging backwards while healing my hip? Sign me up!

    So how’s it going?

    Day 1 was a little rough. I’ve done several 24-hour fasts—I typically do them weekly or every couple of weeks for gut health and as a reset—but pushing past that mark was new.
    Day 2 honestly hasn’t been too bad. I had a stressful moment at work (which usually sends me reaching for a snack), but once I got home, I was surprisingly fine. I didn’t even miss dinner!

    I’m super curious to see how I’ll feel tomorrow. I’ll be sure to report back and share what I’ve learned, especially if this helps ease my hip pain and gives me that youthful energy boost!

    Thanks for following along—and if you’ve ever considered fasting for healing or anti-aging, I’d love to chat more about it!

    Have a beautiful evening 💧✨

  • You’re Not Stuck: Rewrite Your Path

    🎆 Declare Your Independence: Are You Living the Life You Love?

    This Independence Day, take a moment to ask yourself:

    Are you living the good life — a life you truly love?
    If not, what’s holding you back?

    Our ancestors followed a call for freedom—can you hear that same call within your own soul, nudging you toward a life you love and saying goodbye to old habits, toxic relationships, limiting beliefs?

    What if, each day, you took just one brave step toward a life that feels more joyful, more meaningful, and more aligned with who you really are?

    Think back to childhood — what made you feel alive and free?
    Now take a deep breath.
    Face your fears.
    Ask yourself:
    How do I want to feel — emotionally, physically, spiritually?

    Start there. Start small.
    Take intentional steps toward that vision.
    Your journey won’t be perfect — freedom never is. But it is possible.

    Remember:
    You’re not stuck… unless you choose to stay stuck.

    Every choice you make —
    What you eat, what you watch, who you spend time with —
    It all adds up to the life you’re creating.

    So this July 4th, light your own spark.
    🔥 Let go of what’s holding you back.
    🔥 Create a “stop doing” list — as powerful as any bucket list.
    🔥 Make space for the life you really want to live.

    Declare your independence — and start living the life you love.

  • Glow from the Roots: Your Vitality-Boosting Summer Smoothie

  • “The Hidden Struggles of Dining Out Gluten-Free—and How We Can Make a Difference”

    Why Is Eating Out So Hard When You’re Gluten-Free?

    Last Saturday was a special day—my daughter’s graduation party! It was filled with love, laughter, and meaningful conversations. One of those conversations really stuck with me.

    As we chatted with family (yes, even though I’m no longer married to her dad, I still consider his family an extension of mine 😊), the topic of gluten sensitivities, celiac disease, and even food dyes came up. It’s something I’ve had personal experience with—both my daughter and I have eliminated most gluten from our diets due to health concerns, and the difference has been noticeable.

    For me, avoiding gluten hasn’t felt overly difficult. I enjoy cooking and baking from scratch, and I’m not someone who eats out often. But during our conversation, it hit me—for people who are more social, who love dinners out and catching up with friends over a meal, navigating food sensitivities can be incredibly challenging.

    And honestly, that got me thinking: why does it have to be so hard?

    There are so many people dealing with food sensitivities—not just to gluten, but also artificial dyes, MSG, excess sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup, which are rampant in most restaurant foods. Shouldn’t we be able to go out and enjoy a meal without fearing a reaction or spending the night feeling awful?

    So, I’m Taking Action.

    I’m starting a mission to find and support local restaurants that are gluten-free friendly and celiac-aware. Not big chains—but smaller, community-focused places that might actually listen and care.

    Over the next few months, I’ll be reaching out to restaurant owners and managers, sharing what I’ve learned, and asking if they’re open to adding more inclusive, allergen-aware options to their menus. I’ll share what I find here on the blog.

    And Here’s Where You Come In…

    Let’s start a movement—because change starts with us.
    If you or someone you love has struggled with food sensitivities, don’t stay silent. Speak up at your favorite local restaurants. Ask questions. Share your needs. Encourage them to consider healthier, safer options.

    🌱 When more of us raise our voices, we create momentum—and that’s how real change happens.

    Please share this post with friends and loved ones who care about wellness, real food, and safe dining experiences. If you know of a great gluten-free spot, please share it with me—I’d love to highlight them!

    ✨ Follow along for updates as I connect with local restaurants, share tips, and post progress.
    My full website is coming soon—and I can’t wait to grow this community with you.

Janice Eglseder's avatar

Janice Eglseder