I Repeat, It Is Not Okay to Give Up.

Don’t give in. Don’t Give up.

Photo by Michael D Beckwith on Unsplash

Don’t give in. Don’t Give up.

Take Pride in Your Health. It is Truly and Only Yours for the taking.

I want the world to know that it is okay to live with sickness and disease, but it is NOT okay to give up.

I repeat, it is not okay to give up.

It is okay to live with sickness and disease in our modern world because there are so many influences that hinder our potential to live healthy lives. Our normal structures of everyday life have become so unhealthy it is actually challenging to live healthfully in our day and age.

It is a sad story, but I am certainly not casting guilt or shame onto anyone. The last thing I would want someone to believe is that it is “their fault” or that they are alone and destined for an unhealthy life.

Yet, as an aspiring nutrition and dietetics professional, I want everyone to be fully aware and understand that any given diagnosis, is just that — a description or identification to a set of signs and symptoms for an illness or disease. If someone is given a diagnosis that does not equate to a lifelong journey or arduous battle which we so easily believe suggests one gives in, gives up, and comes to grip with a life of deprivation.

You are not alone.

Health is a Journey and a Pursuit.

We make decisions every single day that influence our health, and thus just because someone may look or feel “healthy,” that does not mean that he or she is healthy or even knows what a healthy lifestyle is.

Health is not a finish line.

Health is incredibly complex and encompasses every infinitesimal detail of our lives, whether or not we believe it impacts our health or not.

If you ever have a discussion with someone in the professional role of building healthy cities and communities or healthy architecture, you’ll soon realize health is overwhelmingly intricate and is best approached with a systems-perspective.

Health is impacted by an infinite number of external influences;
it’s NOT all on you!

I say all this because many people live their lives with the mental and emotional barrier that hinders their growth and entire health journey.

It’s okay to receive a diagnosis, but it’s not okay to give up.

Health is dynamic — not a static status or destiny.

You are not a statistic.

- — -

How dare we ever do the disservice of giving in and giving up, quitting along the road of our health journey when we are valuable beings — cared for by others and someone deserving of love.

I care about you.

I have seen people who are only 30 years old… give in and give up, only to compromise the following 65+ years of their life by not thinking their health could be improved. Each small step can make a huge difference in the long-term approach to Health when we realize the journey. Given the proper lifestyle, appropriate nutrition, and BAM — the body begins to work better.

The signs and symptoms we’ve grown accustomed to and associate as “NORMAL” are anything but. We don’t have to accept it, so DON’T.

Similarly, I’ve seen grandparents in their sixties give in and give up with anger and guilt in their heart, thinking they won’t have the chance to enjoy more time with grandkids due to their current health ailments or a new diagnosis.

A diagnosis does not equal a destiny, but rather it demands a difference of direction.

The prognosis does not pertain to a pill alone, but is simply one of many available perspectives to consider for your health. Have you reached out for a second opinion? Have you considered a Functional Medicine practitioner?
Look here to find one near you — p.s. this may be of greatest benefit to those suffering with chronic diseases and issues of autoimmunity.

Change your lifestyle,
Change your habits
Change your diet

Change your disease
Change your future.

Turn your lifestyle around and you can recreate and reimagine your future.

Change your direction, and direct the changes for your reimagined future.

Health is within your reach. Health is yours to pursue.

Lifestyle adjustments can be viewed as opportunities and catalysts,
not just a problematic roadblock along the journey that is life.

Who’s to say that the sixty-five-year-old grandparent could not live their best years of life from the ages of 75–85, rather than in their twenties and thirties or perhaps the last ten years of their life? Why should we look at our lives as a downhill climb.

Health can be a constantly flipping roller coaster, but it should never have to be in constant decline.

No one should ever look back with regret thinking “oh I should have done _______ while I had the chance.”

Take advantage of the opportunity to take care of YOU today and strive each day to take full appreciation of every experience. If someone in their 30s wants to sit in a lawn chair and cast a fishing pole down an oval hole of ice in the arctic tundra, I want to help that person see that dream come true.

If someone in their 70s wants to go on a walk with their grandchild, I want to help see that dream come true too, for the grandparent and the child.
This is a valuable relationship for both.

Health should be our launching pad to the infinite opportunity of experience, yet we so often only see and accept health as a potential stumbling block between us and the world, an obstacle to our dreams, between where we are right now and where we want to go.

I believe in Health.

I believe in your body’s ability to Heal.thy.self.

I believe in Health.

I believe in Your Health.

You can make a difference; in fact, you can make all the difference.

Don’t give in. Don’t give up.

Photo by RawPixel on Unsplash

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I often hear people in their late twenties or early thirties spew off words such as, “Well, I guess I’m a diabetic,” or “I guess I just have to deal with this thing for the rest of my life now.”

- On the contrary.

As I said before, I believe Health is a journey, not an abosulte destination.

As with many diseases and illnesses, the set of signs and symptoms that prompt the diagnosis can be remedied, be better managed, or even cured!

It may not be easy, it may take time, effort, and research — but it is possible.

It is definitely possible.

I hope you’re willing to walk through this journey of unknown exploration and dissolve any and every expectation for life. I stand by you in your health.

I pity any doctor or health professional who wouldn’t stand by your side.

For me personally, motivational interviewing and counseling are things I practice with my friends, family, and with my clients for sure.

But, it is also something I have learned to practice with myself throughout the years as well. Health is not easy, trust me. I have my own story to tell, and it doesn’t have anything to do with bright colors or fresh flavorful food.

My story involves one of Pop-tarts, Frozen Pizza, Chex-mix, Doritos, and Bread, lots and lots of bread.

Oftentimes, I would even go out on a limb and combine two of these staples in my diet, like placing Chex-mix in my applesauce or constructing a highly adored BBQ chip sandwich.
— Don’t judge me; as I said…. Health is a journey.

I was not a healthy kid growing up, not even close.

I was not in a healthy place as a kid.

My journey of health was just beginning.

Had I not began my own health journey at the time of early elementary school, I would be in a very different place today. There were many personal emotional struggles, tears, fighting, and grimaced investigations of labels, packages, and products throughout those early stages.

I’ve grown tremendously from where I used to be but had I continued with the unhealthy lifestyle I was practicing, I would probably be headed down a path challenged with similar physical, mental, and emotional battles that many others are faced with today.

Now as I am in the field of nutrition and dietetics, determined to heal the lives of others — from the inside out. I believe Food is Medicine.

I know I could easily be battling with diabetes, depression, obesity, gastrointestinal distress, sleep issues, stomach ulcers, headaches, and mental and emotional fatigue, or who knows what else!

Eating and Enjoying Life Should Be Easy.

Food should not be difficult, yet in our modern culture, it has become quite utterly impossible to live a healthy life. But there is Hope. Oh, is there HOPE.

I was asked to step up to the plate to be the champion of my health journey and I followed the lead of my doctor and those in my family who were worried about me. I listened. I struggled through the challenge at a young age.

I was willing to stand alongside those who love me and care for me as they prompted the question, “Is there something else we should be doing?”

This key question may not come up for many individuals or families, especially considering how busy our typical lives are these days.

But, when we give ourselves the time and attention enough to ask those paradigm-shifting questions, we can alter the course of history… literally.

We can never change or improve unless we allow ourselves the time to stop, to breathe, reassess and possibly switch direction.

So let me ask you, “Is there something else we should be doing?”

I switched my direction and I reaped long-term benefits.

I know now that health is a constant pursuit, and it is challenging to balance.

I try not to polarize much because the world does so much of this for us, but I know that I have the heart to help others reach a happier and healthier life, that is for sure. That is my story.

I firmly believe that each of us, YOU especially deserve the time and attention to live out the happiest and healthiest life possible!

Photo by Margot Pandone on Unsplash

That’s right, you DESERVE.

You’re not the queen of England or the king of France, but you are a fellow human being that deserve to enjoy your life.

I believe in a healthy community and I believe its good for us to encourage and empower one another to live our healthiest lives.

What is good for you — is good for me — and good for all of us.

- Thus, I continue in my pursuits to improve this world and make it a better place, one person at a time, one journey at a time.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask and share.

I would love to hear about your own health journey.

I’ve heard many before and am always learning more.

Take Pride in Your Health. It is Yours for the taking.

Jonathan Isbill #ZigZagNutrition

Your health is yours for the making and yours for the taking.
I’m here to help you navigate the nuances of Nutrition on a daily basis.
We live busy lives that change every day.
I take the approach to empower others with freedom to ZigZag
their way to live a happier and healthier life.
I live my life to make your life easier to be Happy and Healthy.
If you’re interested in working together, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or simply leave a comment here.