Pilot: The One Where Jessica Started a Blog

So yes, I started a blog.

I’m Jessica Kishpaugh, mom of 2 boys, Holistic Nutritionist & Life Coach and owner of LoYo Wellness in Wyckoff, NJ.

Why not add to the craziness of my life, right? Sleepless nights. Crying babies. Terrible twos. Sound familiar?  I recently gave birth to my second boy in late March. Life has been a whirlwind while also juggling a 2-year old toddler. They say 1 + 1 is totally not 2 when you have your second child and “they” are definitely right! One would think I’d be crawling under my covers to hide from overwhelm and anxiety.  Motherhood is one of the hardest jobs no matter how young or old your children are. But as a Mom, you can either let the hard control you, or you can take control of the hard with grace and strength. I choose the latter. And it all starts with self love.

So I started a blog so I can share my stories of motherhood, my healthy lifestyle and weight loss tips, my stress reduction and mindfulness tools, my easy, my healthy recipes and anything else that may benefit your wellness goals!

As a nutritionist, life coach and a Mom, self care is my anchor. It’s a non-negotiable in my life.

So I want to talk a little about self care. You’ve probably heard the buzzword self care, but really, what exactly is it?

Many of us, especially busy Moms like me, are so focused on caring for everyone else around us that we often neglect to take care of ourselves. And the result? We suffer. We gain weight. We feel stressed or overwhelmed. We feel exhausted, fatigued, lethargic even. We feel unbalanced and perhaps out of control.

Enter the concept of loving ourselves. The relationship we have with ourselves is directly related to how we take care of ourselves - from the words we think and speak, to the food we eat, to the daily actions we take. 

So how do you incorporate self care into your life as a non-negotiable part of your existence so that you can overcome stress with ease? 

First, change your mindset and perspective. Start by letting go of past actions, experiences or people that no longer serve you.  Keeping yourself in the present, rather than ruminating about the past or worrying about the future will bring you inner peace, calm and relaxation.

Next, incorporate mindfulness.  Being mindful is the simple practice of slowing down and enjoying each step, each breath. How often do you drive to work in the morning thinking about all the things you need to do at work when you get there? You get to your destination and you haven’t even noticed anything about your surroundings. Mindfulness occurs when you pause to take a breath of fresh air, feel your leg muscles working as you walk, aware of each foot as it meets the pavement, and aware of the grass and trees around you.  

Third, establish a healthy, present relationship with food.  To eat mindfully, rather than mindlessly, means you know what you are putting into your body, how much you are eating, and the pace at which you eat. It means you are enjoying each bite and the company surrounding you, rather than shoveling food in your throat in one hand, while feeding the kids and checking your email on your Iphone in the other. 

Lastly, incorporate gratitude as a habitual part of your life.  Gratitude is more than simply feeling thankful for something; it is more like a deeper appreciation that produces longer lasting positivity.   Acts of gratitude are done unconditionally to show to people that they are appreciated and come with a plethora of benefits - reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, improved sense of well-being, openness and calm, strengthened interpersonal relationships, improved optimism, happiness, discipline and focus, better physical and mental health, and an overall better life.

Oscar Wilde said it best - “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”  

Check out how STRESS & OVERWHELM may be sabotaging your sexy jeans and how to improve your stress management with this super short free quiz: https://bit.ly/2KLXgH8 

Jessica Kishpaugh is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist & Life Coach and owner of LoYo Wellness in Bergen County NJ (www.loyowellness.com).  Jessica specializes in healthy weight loss, intuitive eating, recovering from emotional eating, stress reduction and mindfulness. For your FREE nutrition breakthrough call, schedule a consultation here.