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10 things I learned while in Hawaii last week that made it to be the most magical trip to date.

Hawaii is magical of course but that wasn’t the reason why I found it so be so magical. It was magical because of my perspective. My state of mind.

I’ve been very privileged throughout my life and have had the opportunity to go on some really stellar trips. From seeing lions and giraffes in Africa, to hiking Machu Picchu, going to the rainforest with my children, dancing salsa under the stars in Cartagena, and now swimming and surfing with sea turtles in Hawaii.

I noticed this time in Hawaii, something was different. After much contemplation, I realized that the reason I enjoyed this trip so much was because I was feeling different. In the best way.

Therefore I was able to fully enjoy myself. Fully be present. Fully immerse myself in everything we were doing.

Coming back I feel so relaxed, stress free, and ready for the rest of the year. Ready for what is to come.

10 Things I Learned While In Hawaii

1. “Wherever you go, there you are” – Jon Kabat-Zinn. No matter what part of the world you go to, if you have internal turmoil, that turmoil will always follow you. It will not allow you to fully enjoy yourself and be present. Making you miss some of the most magical moments in your life. This doesn’t pertain to just vacationing somewhere really extraordinary. This is in your everyday life as well. We miss so many moments when we are not curious as to why we are not feeling good and growing.
2. Get curious about the people around you. Everyone has a different perspective. A different story that can really open up your mind to see things differently. At a dinner I sat down next to a woman who didn’t drink alcohol, like me. So naturally I got curious and came to find out that it was because she was Mormon. Instead of brushing it off or judging for no apparent reason, I decided to really immerse myself in the conversation with her. I was fully present, genuinely asking her questions about her life. I came out with such a different mindset towards the Mormon religion. It is actually quite beautiful and I could relate to so many things she had to say. I would’ve never had such a shift in my mindset if I would’ve just been there scrolling on my phone.
3. Life is 100% what you make of it. As cliché as that sounds, you can either decide to be miserable because you don’t want to do something or be somewhere, or you can take those moments as an opportunity to do something different and enjoy yourself.
4. We never know what we are fully capable of until we challenge ourselves. I found out I am pretty bad a** at surfing. Who knew. LOL. While in Hawaii, we challenged ourselves to do different excursions that we never really do. I’ve only taken one surfing class in my life. This time, being my second surfing lesson, I got up right away no problem, and rode the wave all the way to the end. It was like my body knew exactly what to do. Now, I can’t wait to go surfing again and to teach my kids too!
5. The food industry here in the states, or the mainland as they like to call it + our busy lives = recipe for a health disaster. On the second day we got to Maui, did the road to Hana. Which is essentially a 12-hour car ride because you are doing so many different stops along the way. We didn’t fully prepare with snacks, so without a plan, we were relying on the food that was available to us. Lo and behold, I was able to fully nourish my body. Why? Because they had so many health food stops along the way. Smoothies, fruits, vegetables, poke, homemade banana bread, you name it. It was the only thing that was available. Now, think about anytime you go on a road trip here in the U.S. The only thing that is available is gas station food, McDonalds, Chic-fil-a, Wendy’s, etc. No wonder our health is the way it is. If you want something convenient, you are getting fast food.
6. Many people want to feel better, but they just don’t know how to actually take action towards living a healthier lifestyle. It is a deeply ingrained habit that is really hard to break. They know they need to eat more nourishing foods. They know they need to exercise. Get more sleep. Stop drinking so much caffeine and alcohol. When it comes down to it though, they just don’t choose it. Insert <this is why you need a health coach to help you break those toxic habits>.
7. Stop taking life so seriously. It leads to burnout. It leads to feeling stuck and unhappy. Having fun is necessary for you to enjoy yourself and your family.
8. You have to prioritize mom and dad time. I can’t tell you how different my marriage is when we are on vacation. When there is no responsibility except waking up and enjoying each other. It is pure bliss and you remember why you married each other in the first place 😉
9. Doing outdoor activities is SO MUCH BETTER than going to the gym. I will always love yoga and Pilates but wow doing a challenging hike really sets your soul on fire. You challenge your body and your mind to see how far you can go. There’s nothing like making it to the top after working so hard and soaking it all in that you did it.
10. Sleep and rest is absolutely crucial to feeling and living well.

Are you ready to start living your life differently?

Tired of paying the price of all the stress and putting yourself and your health last?

There is a way out.

That other way out is through a health coach. Your own personal coach that will look at all areas of your life, to see how you can make changes.

Changes that will create long-lasting results.

These changes come from looking at nutrition, self-care, movement, and daily habits.

As your coach we will work on a step-by-step plan together on reaching all of your health goals and then leaving you empowered to continue making changes on your own.

If you are ready to start living well and say goodbye to the stress and burnout that has you surviving instead of thriving – contact me now.

Let’s Chat

How are you spending Father’s Day weekend? Shoutout to all of the fathers out there that put in the work at home!

Life Update

I went to my first explant consultation this week. I AM BEYOND excited to get them out. At my initial consultation I found out that my implants have leaked. I chose saline so nothing to worry about there except now I really want them out ASAP. I do have to wait at least 3 months to do it because I just stopped breastfeeding and they want the inflammation and milk to settle before I go into surgery.

My target date is September. I do really believe these implants have contributed to fatigue and upper back/neck pain. I get tired very easily. I have tried to cut caffeine completely out of my life but after 30 days I always need to go back to 1 cup a day. I am incredibly lucky that I take care of myself and listen to my intuition so I have learned how to hack it but some days I can really struggle.

I am going to 2 other consultations next week to make sure I choose the right surgeon. I cannot wait to put that 20% deposit down and schedule a surgery day!

Thanks for being here!

Alejandra at Living Well Co.

As I come to the end of my breastfeeding journey with my 19-month-old, I wanted to write about the benefits of breastfeeding.

I whole heartedly believe in fed is best. I have met many women who tried breastfeeding but it did not work out or it wasn’t for them for many reasons. Which is completely okay.

For me, it was a priority. I knew from the get-go that I wanted to breastfeed my babies. My first time around I only lasted for 10 months. I was a stay-at-home mom then and stuck in childhood trauma. I thought that by stopping breastfeeding, it would solve all of my emotional and mental problems. It didn’t. So I told myself that for my next baby, I would breastfeed for as long as possible.

My second baby, was just so natural and holistic all around. I did a home birth. I was prepared. I did all the research. Prepared all of the foods that would help in healing and lactation. Had every single device to help me get through engorgement and mastitis. I was incredibly lucky with latch and supply with both of my babies.

At first, I had a goal of 12 months. Breastfeeding, working, pumping, sleepless nights and having a 4-year-old was a lot. The constant burn out was very real. I also traveled twice out of the country in her first 12 months of life, devoting a lot of my energy into making sure I would come back with frozen milk and a healthy supply. Which was a lot of stress as well.

I had to keep telling myself “do not quit on your worst day” on a regular basis in order to not stop all together. The benefits really outweighed the cons for me.

Benefits of breastfeeding

• Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies.

• It can help protect babies against short- and long-term illnesses.

• Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

• Breast milk shares antibodies from mother to baby.

• Improved intelligence and cognitive outcomes.

• Improved infant gut health.

• Lessens risk of breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer.

• Provides time to relax and bond with baby.

• It continues to provide immunities and vitamins for toddlers.

• The World Health Organization recommends babies be breastfed until 2 years of age.

The one thing I didn’t know and I don’t think most women know, is that once you hit the 12-month mark, breastfeeding is a breeze. There is absolutely no pressure. My daughter only wanted to breastfeed at night. So it went from an all day affair, setting alarms every 3 hours, to not even having to really think about it.

So why did I decide to stop now when I only have 5 more months until her second birthday?

For many reasons.

1. I wanted my body back.
2. I want my cystic acne to end.
3. I want to get an explant this year.
4. I am so extremely busy and needed in so many different capacities that I really need to feel good, internally, most of the time.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but ultimately I had to choose me over continuing to push through.

I will cherish these 19 months forever The bond that breastfeeding brings is like nothing else I have ever experienced. Also, the most challenging and rewarding at the same time.

I’ve felt guilty so many times about it but I know that I am listening to my intuition. Which I know by now that it will always lead me in the right direction.

Tell me, what has your experience with breastfeeding been like?

Are you ready to start living your life differently?

Tired of paying the price of all the stress and putting yourself and your health last?

There is a way out.

That other way out is through a health coach. Your own personal coach that will look at all areas of your life, to see how you can make changes.

Changes that will create long-lasting results.

These changes come from looking at nutrition, self-care, movement, and daily habits.

As your coach we will work on a step-by-step plan together on reaching all of your health goals and then leaving you empowered to continue making changes on your own.

If you are ready to start living well and say goodbye to the stress and burnout that has you surviving instead of thriving – contact me now.

Let’s Chat

Remember that podcast I mentioned I was on a couple of weeks ago?

Well you can listen to it now!

Meet The Elite Podcast – Alejandra Ruff.

Life Update

I am going to Maui, Hawaii with just my husband next week. Which is the perfect time to unplug and fully rest. I know my heart and soul needs this so I am going to pause my newsletter and blog next week. I will post again on Friday, June 16th.

I will be posting on social media so follow me on Instagram and Tiktok.

Has anyone been to Maui before? I never have. I am so excited because I have always wanted to go. If you have, give me any and all recommendations!

Anywhere I go, I try to visit a farm to learn more about nutrition, farming practices, cooking so I can better serve you.

So while we are there, we are visiting O’o farm (Kula). I can’t wait to bring you new tips and tricks.

I hope you all enjoy these first few weeks of summer with your little ones.

See you soon!

Alejandra at Living Well Co.

References

La Leche League https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/benefits/

La Leche League https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/toddlers/

World Health Organization http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/

A special note to all of my mothers who do it all, for Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is such a special holiday because you finally get to be celebrated for everything that you do.

You get to be honored. You get to feel seen.

You finally get a day off.

You finally get to sleep in.

Maybe not even have to do laundry, empty the dishwasher, or cook.

As beautiful as parenting is, it is also extremely hard. Especially motherhood. We go through the most transformation and we are so connected to our little ones emotionally.

Not only did our bodies go through some serious transformation, but we also had to deal with the emotional and physical toll that came with pregnancy.

We lost sleep, had aches and pains, had to sleep in certain positions, change so many daily habits, and go to so many doctors appointments.

Then came birth. We either had to push a human out of our vaginas or had to have our bodies cut open.

Then came breastfeeding. The hormones, My god the hormones associated with breastfeeding. You either were flooded with oxytocin because breastfeeding came easy to you, or, you were flooded with guilt, pain, and fear because you couldn’t make it work.

The sleepless nights.

The joy.

The confusion.

The pain.

In addition to the all of the things we have to do to be able to live a normal life. Work, chores, housework, paying the bills, managing school, activities, caretaking, etc.

I wanted to bring to light all that you have done and all that you do, so you can understand that you should be celebrated and appreciated not just on Mother’s Day.

You should be celebrated, everyday.

You are the core and center of the family.

When YOU feel good, the entire family feels good.

Make this the last Mother’s Day where you wait an entire year to ask for what you want.

There should always be space for you.

With absolutely no guilt about it.

Remember, the guilt you have about taking space for yourself, just literally means that you are doing WAY too much for everyone else.

Doing it all is unrealistic. You can’t give from an empty cup.

But you can give from an full cup.

How do you fill it, or maybe even, overflow it?

With self-care.

Are you ready to start living your life differently?

Tired of paying the price of all the stress and putting yourself and your health last?

There is a way out.

That other way out is through a health coach. Your own personal coach that will look at all areas of your life, to see how you can make changes.

Changes that will create long-lasting results.

These changes come from looking at nutrition, self-care, movement, and daily habits.

As your coach we will work on a step-by-step plan together on reaching all of your health goals and then leaving you empowered to continue making changes on your own.

If you are ready to start living well and say goodbye to the stress and burnout that has you surviving instead of thriving – contact me now.

Let’s chat

What’s the best Mother’s Day present you have ever gotten?

This Mother’s Day my husband surprised me by booking us a quick getaway to Savannah, GA. I’ve been talking about it for a couple of weeks, how we should go with the kids soon since it’s so close. Which means he was listening. Look at that!

Fun fact, when we first went there as a family, I was pregnant with my second. While at the Savannah Children’s Museum (which I highly recommend), I met the homebirth midwife that ended up delivering my baby! Such a kismet moment. We were meant to be there at that exact time. It gives me goosebumps every time I think about that story.

One of the reasons I love living here in Jacksonville Beach, FL (we moved here 3 years ago from Chicago), aside from living a couple of blocks from the beach, is that there are so many quaint places to go nearby. For example, Savannah is just 2 hours away. Disney is 2 hours away. St. Augustine is 45 minutes. Charleston, S.C is 5 hours. Asheville, N.C. is 5 hours. Miami is 5 hours. Atlanta is 5 1/2 hours.

We make it a point, as a family, to get away often. We love to travel, far and close.

Life Update

My son, Lukas, who is 5, is officially ending his Pre-K school year in 2 weeks. I can’t believe that he is soon going to be in Kindergarten. I was so emotional when he turned 5. I cried at every celebration. It just feels like such a big birthday. He’s a kid now. Soon he’ll be going to college lol. It is such a fun age though. Like tonight for example, we are going to do a movie night with popcorn and milkshakes (healthy milkshakes of course;)). I can’t freaking wait. I’ll post the recipe next week.

My daughter, Lucy, has officially transitioned to her Montessori floor bed. Well, kind of. She sleeps on the floor by the door. She knows exactly where her bed is and that she is supposed to sleep there but she chooses the floor. It literally breaks my heart ha. I put a blanket by the door for her. I even took out the pack ‘n play mattress and put it by the door. She still chooses not to sleep on either! Just the floor. I keep reading that this is just a phase. We will see how long it lasts.

Has this happened to anyone before?!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend.

To your health and happiness,

Alejandra at Living Well Co.