Depletion.
It’s a more common issue than most know.
Lots of mommas in 2021 experiencing the signs and symptoms of depletion with no idea of the root cause.
What signs you ask?
digestive struggles
hormone imbalances
autoimmune conditions
pelvic floor problems (especially prolapse or frequent urinating/incontinence)
thyroid issues
poor sleep
skin and hair struggles
irritability
anxiety
exhaustion
migraines
persistent soreness following exercise OR the inability to even motivate or move towards exercise at all.
Can you relate?
If so, what’s it all about?
Why do you feel so dang broken?
It’s depletion. And it’s happening more and more to women in developed nations like the US.
Why does it happen?
Mineral deplete soils that produce foods lacking essential minerals and nutrients
Lack of nutrient, practical and emotional support in motherhood
Pressure to do and be too much
What minerals are we lacking and why?
Motherhood (pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, healing from birth and mothering our children) takes a TON of energy and energy produced by the body comes from food and experiences.
On the food side, without the appropriate numbers of calories and supporting vitamins and minerals in the body, we struggle to get the essentials done while also maintaining happy, balanced, vibrant bodies.
Our soils in the modern world have been STRIPPED of the healthy microbial communities that help plants to absorb adequate minerals from the soil, so our food just isn’t as nutrition as it used to be. It’s missing key components.
Minerals, vitamins and nutrients like:
Vitamins A, E, B3, b6, b12, K, D, C,
Choline, Thiamine, Folate
Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Iodine
Sadly, new moms that are already in a nutrient deprived states make things worse but dieting and exercising to lose that baby weight and their chickens come home to roost shortly in the forms of hair loss, dry skin, thyroid problems, mood disorders, digestive distress and anything else from the list above!
Even as we lose sleep (it’s estimated that we can miss out on up to 700 hours of sleep in that first year of motherhood) we still feel have to return to work, run our homes, feed our children, honor responsibilities and we don’t properly address that our bodies now need MORE nutrition, both to restore what was used up during the actual pregnancy and birth, but also because our plates are MORE full now.
On the experience side of things, emotional stress, lack of sleep and lack of spiritual support also takes its toll on mamas.
We are told to exercise and clean up our diets to re-claim our bodies after babies, but how often are we told that spiritual connection, relationships, rest and nutrient support is ESSENTIAL for our recovery and longterm health.
I know from experience when you have three little kids under 5, it’s difficult to prioritize getting in a nutritious meal, getting together with girlfriends or even strangers (that could relate to where I am in life) at mom groups resting, spending time nurturing my spiritual needs and so there was a lot of coffee, burning the candle at both ends, rushed meals and workouts to help myself feel like, well myself.
None of this is bad per se, BUT the prolonged periods of not addressing my depletion DID lead me to a place where I was battling adrenal fatigue, intestinal permeability, pelvic floor problems and irritability.
It was a bummer and it took me a while to connect how I was feeling to how I had learned to treat my body during that VERY busy season in my life with little babies.
And so what should you do NOW?
First off, we have to acknowledge that these health issues (listed above) are related to our depletion.
We have to accept this and NOT beat ourselves up for what has happened historically, but rather look to changing our ways.
It’s also never too late to start working on depletion! If your baby is 7 months or 7 years old, there are still lifestyle changes you can make to help your body find balance and nourishment.
Secondly, we need to take depletion seriously and determine to honor restoration and replenishment as part of our health. No more beating on your tired, nutrient deprived body with exercise and excess commitments.
Now is the time to honor SUPPORTING your body with movement, nourishing foods, and quality time spend doing things that make you feel good.
Specifically broths, organic and pastured or grass-fed animal products like organ meats, tallow, grass fed beef and lamb.
Supplementing with actual supplements is fine, but whenever you can obtain your nutrients form ACTUAL food, I encourage you to do that!
Locally produced organic fruits and veggies are another great way, but beware of salicylate or oxalate sensitivities!
I love humic and fulvic minerals and tissue salts for addressing depletion too!
Ain’t nothing like drinking dirt to get dirt-derived minerals!
Working with professionals that can help us address our health issues is part of this and who works best for you will depend on your specific health challenges.
Typically chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, functional medicine doctors, functional nutritionists are a good start!
Thirdly, we need to adopt a movement practice that nourishes us and helps us to nurture our bodies rather than beating them into submission.
Feeling strong can be a powerful antidote to many of the depletion associated health issues.
Pelvic floors, thyroids, guts, hormones, headaches, achy bodies ALL respond well to routine movement and strength training WHEN applied in a smart manner that doesn't foster burn out.
Bodies need to be moved.
Muscles need to be used.
Cores need to be strengthened with stability work (mostly breath work).
So yeah, you want to train your bodies, but you’ll need some gentle guidance to ensure that you’re not over-doing it!
To get started, grab my Free In 3 guide!
It’s a three day exercise and movement formula designed to help you train your bodies without STRESSING them out!
And DON’T forget the spiritual nourishment piece as well!
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. 31But those who wait upon the LORDwill renew their strength; they will mount up with wingslike eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Our God is a divine healer. He knows every piece of us, every struggle.
NEVER discount how routine spiritual nourishment through time spent worshipping the Lord, reading His word, crying out to Him and surrounding yourself with fellow believers can heal your body, mind and soul!
Listen to my recent podcast episode on this!
