Are you dealing with leg pain? Marks on legs that resemble bruises? Or those horrible bulging veins?

(Yea, varicose veins)

You’re not alone. Years ago, I had them too. I was on my 3rd pregnancy and during the 2nd trimester, my legs slowly became consumed with these “bruises”. Spider veins were everywhere, I felt so embarrassed. As if that weren’t enough, the veins started bulging at a rapid pace and I was disgusted. Disgusted to bathe myself because I could constantly feel them Disgusted with how I looked and completely overwhelmed with the immense physical pain these veins were bringing. I can remember so vividly feeling all of these symptoms at one point or another…many every day…

• • Excruciating pain
• • Trouble walking
• • Painful/sore to the touch
• • Felt warm
• • Seemed to be progressing more and more
• • Budging/raised/swollen
• • Aggravated pain when I lift or push things like toddler and stroller or shopping cart
• • When lying on back- felt like I couldn’t breathe
• • Cramps, spasms, aching, throbbing, stinging pain in legs
• • Pelvic and vulva area bulging

Trust me when I say, You are NOT alone & I KNOW your pain. I know it is an extremely difficult thing to bear. I know it feels so painful. But you CAN and you WILL push through this. I know you’ve heard enough doctors tell you that they will decrease or fade completely after birth, but right now, it just isn’t cutting it. I get it. But here is the truth-every woman’s body is different, however, for the most part, they will indeed disappear… But what’s a mama to do with the pain she’s feeling now? Would you consider prayer and/ or natural resources? (or just the latter if you’re not open to prayer?)

***I’m not a doctor. (I only play one on myself & sometimes my family. Welcome to motherhood!) Consult YOUR physician. Just sharing my own experiences. Ok Sorry, #endoflegal***

I remember researching all the natural alternatives I could find for this condition and the intense pain and wondering if it was all a hoax. Did natural mean less effective? Would it even work or was it placebo? (Side note: At this point, I would have even taken placebo if it meant relief!) You see, it was difficult at the time for me because I needed to follow a budget and taking a chance on something like this was risky. Not to mention, the nervousness I felt about taking these with no medical consultation because my doctors didn’t support natural alternatives. Yay for pharmaceuticals. Not [insert sarcastic disappointed angry face]. Now, I’m no doctor and I write this as encouragement for you, to share my personal experience that worked for me. I opted to use essential oils and a cream that was actually given to someone I know for their muscles. This is what I used and found to be really effective in both reducing pains in my legs and reducing the actual size of the veins. I also found that the veins didn’t progress as quickly while using these oils.

• Helichrysum
• Cypress
• Geranium
• Lemon

Because I was dealing with such intense pain, I opted to only slightly dilute these oils into virgin coconut oil. Each and every day, immediately after having a cool/warm shower [hot water worsens the veins]

I would:

1. Use a dry brush to improve the circulation in my legs [brush upwards to the heart]
2. Place a quarter size of coconut oil in the palm of my hand, then mix several drops of essential oil
3. Let dry Because of the research I found, I chose to variate the use of each oil. I would use one for a few days then switch to another as this is stated to be more effective. (As I update this post & fish through some 5,738 bookmarks & tabs LOL- I will provide the links to the studies/journals/articles & websites I used to create this strategy) After consulting your doctor: Feel free to try and experiment to see what works for you. I also found it extremely helpful to: 1. Not sit with my legs crossed
2. Elevate my legs whenever possible
3. Stay hydrated & eat [healthy] anti-inflammatory foods And all of these essential oils are deemed safe for pregnancy.

***Note that these statements are not regulated by the FDA and I am NOT a medical professional. These are simply my experiences & results***

Have you dealt with spider veins or varicose veins?

Have you tried any natural remedies?

How Prayer, Meditation, and Gratefulness Can Help You Forgive

  Forgiveness is a big part of all major religions. It makes sense then those most major religions – be it Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, or Judaism – have tools and practices that help you find that forgiveness. Let’s take a look at how prayer, meditation, and even the practice of gratefulness can help you forgive. Forgiving someone who has done you wrong isn’t easy. Many Christians struggle with the idea of holding out the other cheek. Yet there’s an important reason why it is such a big part of all world religions. It’s because forgiveness isn’t really about the other person. It’s about you. It’s about starting the healing process and getting past an issue, an argument, or a bad situation. It’s about finding your way back to peace and happiness.  

Prayer And Forgiveness

  Let’s start by looking at how prayers can play a positive role in forgiveness. Prayers are our way of talking to God or a higher entity. It’s a way to let it all out, share what has happened and know, without a shadow of a doubt that there’s a kind ear on the other end. Prayers can help us be heard, without being judged. There is someone out there who understands your pain and loves you unconditionally. That same entity also forgives no matter what. All you have to do is ask for it. You may feel guilty for holding on to the hurt and anger but He forgives and leads by example. Prayers can help us come to terms with our anger and by following His example; you can find our own path to forgiveness.  

Meditating To Help You Forgive

  Meditation is an ancient practice that helps us clear our minds and helps us let go of our emotions. Meditation brings us peace of mind and that allows us to see both sides of the story. That alone makes it much easier for us to forgive the other person. Mediation is also a great way to strengthen our mind and spirit. It helps us become a better, stronger person. It helps us develop into the type of person that can forgive and move on. Of course, experiencing the peace of mediation where you let go of your pain and anger, also makes you want to feel that way in everyday life and forgiveness is your path to that peace of mind.  

Gratefulness Can Put Things In The Right Light

  Last but not least, let’s talk about practicing gratefulness. Being grateful is very powerful, particularly when done with intention. During your prayers and your meditations, think about everything you have to be grateful for. Trust me, it’s hard to hold on to a grudge when you’re remembering all the wonderful things in your life. Being grateful for everything and every one good you have in your life makes it easy to forgive others.

Could You Have an Eating Disorder? Are you a mom too?

  Do you find yourself gaining weight during times of stress? Do you fear boredom because you know you’ll simply eat to fill the time? These are just some of the symptoms of emotional overeating. If you think you’re suffering from any sort of eating disorder, some signs and symptoms may help you identify whether or not this is what you’re struggling with.

Mindless Eating

If you have a binge eating disorder or emotional overeating problem, you may stuff food in and not even really taste it or realize what you’re doing. It’s as though you are “out of it” and just mindlessly stuffing food into your mouth. It’s especially easy to dismiss this kind of thing when you’re a mom because it sometimes feels like you hanging on by a thread. (we need our energy!) But there’s a fine line between eating for health and eating for chewing sake. (and I’m not judging girlfriend, I’m right next to you)

Feelings of Guilt and Shame

Many people with emotional overeating disorders feel really embarrassed and hateful of themselves after they’ve got through with an eating binge. The problem, of course, is that these negative feelings may make you reach for more food for comfort. If you find yourself reaching for food when you’re stressed and then feeling sh*tty afterward then, this can be a sure sign. I know (I KNOW) how hard it is to acknowledge this and even more so to share with someone else. However, remember that life is bigger than you. And this is simply a moment in time. You WILL get through these emotions.

Eating in Secret

Because of being embarrassed, may emotional overeaters will eat in private, reserving their “naughty” foods for when no one is looking. That chocolate bar you hid in your drawer or the snacks you ever so meticulously stowed away IN THE BACK of the cabinet. Yea, it’s tough to overcome this habit and easy to continue in silence, but I promise you, nothing is ever secret, and whether you, believe it or not, your kids ARE watching. You deserve to be the healthiest version of YOU. And your family deserves honesty. You got this.

Always on My Mind

Do you think about food all the time? Do you feel anxious about the prospect of leaving the house without snacks or money to buy food? Constantly thinking about food (food obsession) may be a sign that you have an emotional overeating disorder. An unhealthy motto I still  live by is:

I don’t eat to live. I live to eat.

Feeling Sick

Sometimes, emotional overeaters will eat and eat to comfort themselves, and then feel sick afterward. This is your body’s way of telling you you’ve eaten far too much more than is good for you, but for emotional overeaters, this sickness does not necessarily deter the next binge. I placed this one last because I know I ignored this for A LONG TIME and brushed it off as I’ve always had stomach, digestive issues. UGH. There’s a load of mental blocks and breakthroughs to be had before you may be able to overcome this issue. That’s okay. Just commit today.

Identify Your Triggers

Emotional overeating is usually triggered by something – emotions, yes, but sometimes we need to be more specific than that. Identifying your triggers can go a long way toward helping you overcome the disorder. Basic trigger categories include: * Emotional – Eating to relieve boredom, stress, or anxiety * Psychological – You may eat in response to negative, self-destructive thoughts * Environmental/Situational – You may eat simply because the opportunity is there. Also in this category is the habit of eating while doing another activity, such as reading or watching TV. Do any of these signs and symptoms describe you? If so, don’t worry – there are treatment options available for emotional overeaters. Check with your healthcare provider for advice on therapists or specialists in your area.