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Thank you for visiting! I am so glad you are here!
I am just like you: parent, spouse, daughter, friend. And just like you I have experienced the absolute bliss that life brings as well it's grief, loss, and challenges. It is through these experiences that I learned how important it is to prioritize my health and happiness. That keeping myself busy was the perfect excuse to not address my physical and mental health when in reality it is entirely possible to be busy AND healthy AND happy. My story is meant to inspire you to create that healthy sustainable lifestyle! My hope is that my story will resonate with you and be a catalyst for change. So you can see that wherever you were before doesn't shape where you are now or where you are going. And that together, we can all live well. |
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In 2013, I decided it was time for a change!
In the summer of 2013 I was living the daily grind like most do: waking up, working, coming home, making dinner, falling asleep on the couch, moving to my bed, and waking up to do it all over again. While everything seemed great on the outside I was in desperate struggle with my mindset to lose weight. I was dancing, running, and coaching five days a week with no real change. I was defeated and down. After a good friend approached me with Arbonne's 30 Days to Healthy Living program, I learned to reset my health habits so that I could be feel more fit, manage my weight and have more energy. What really sold me was that I would learn how to sustain this beyond 30 days and on my own terms.
It sounded to good to be true. I didn't believe that it was possible. I had tried everything. How would this be any different? Then came the internal questions:
It sounded to good to be true. I didn't believe that it was possible. I had tried everything. How would this be any different? Then came the internal questions:
Did I have what it would take to keep up with new habits?
What if there was no change, even if I followed the program diligently?
What if I just threw away my investment?
What if it was too challenging?
No one else in my family is doing this, what if I want to quit?
Exercise? Ugh! How am I going to do that?
What if there was no change, even if I followed the program diligently?
What if I just threw away my investment?
What if it was too challenging?
No one else in my family is doing this, what if I want to quit?
Exercise? Ugh! How am I going to do that?
I had so many fears but my desire to have my body back, to have more energy, to understand food as fuel, to learn about triggers for my stress was so much bigger than my worry of failing that I gracefully dove in head first. Okay, it was more like a dog who jumps into a lake to chase a stick, but I did it nevertheless. I was learning what healthy meant. I learned how to fuel my body without sacrificing taste. I learned how to be more in tune with the messages my body was sending me. I was not only learning how live healthier, I was able to keep these new habits going!
And that was what I needed. I needed the flexibility, the accountability, the sustainability of building healthy habits. I was on cloud nine and I felt like nothing could take me off course.
It was okay to slip once and a while because I had a plan in place to always get myself back on track. Or so I thought.
The summer of 2018 would pull the rug out right from under me and give me the reality check.
And that was what I needed. I needed the flexibility, the accountability, the sustainability of building healthy habits. I was on cloud nine and I felt like nothing could take me off course.
It was okay to slip once and a while because I had a plan in place to always get myself back on track. Or so I thought.
The summer of 2018 would pull the rug out right from under me and give me the reality check.
Everything was awesome. Until it wasn't.
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Life has a way of throwing us into situations that challenge our strength, patience, and faith. In not one, but THREE situations my strength as well as that of my family would be tested all in one summer. In the spring of 2018, while I was finishing up my masters in educational leadership, I learned I was pregnant. While I was nervous about the changes we would be going through, I was excited that we were adding to our family, especially since I had suffered two miscarriages previously. Our visits with the doctor gave us lots of hope and we were elated when we were given the "okay" to share the news with our two boys.
Shortly after this visit my husband had a terrible accident that nearly took his life and our beloved Alaskan Malamute was diagnosed with cancer two days after the accident. Thankfully my husband survived his accident and made a full recovery and we were able to save our dog. August 18, 2018 will be forever engrained into my memory. I am forever grateful for my best friend, Melissa. At her urgency (I was in serious denial at what was happening and tried to convince myself that I was just really stressed and tired) we went to the hospital and I would deliver my baby at 15 weeks. |
Nothing can prepare you to hear the words, "I'm sorry, your baby has passed." Devastation, anger, jealousy, and depression set in pretty quick.
As you can imagine this was an incredibly difficult time. All that I had worked so hard to achieve with my health went out the window. I hadn't planned for a massive life event that would derail my mental health and make me question everything.
It was so much easier to abuse my body with junk food than to have to really face the shattered heart that lay beating inside me.
It was easier order take out and go to our favorite bakeries to ease me of the guilt that I felt when I told my oldest son he wouldn't have another sibling.
It was easier to sit on the couch and binge Netflix than to exercise to alleviate the cramps from the procedure I had had.
It was easier to add the weight than to remove it.
It was easier to prioritize my family's health and happiness over mine because of the guilt and shame I felt.
It was easier to just stay busy than it was to deal with the grief and anger.
As you can imagine this was an incredibly difficult time. All that I had worked so hard to achieve with my health went out the window. I hadn't planned for a massive life event that would derail my mental health and make me question everything.
It was so much easier to abuse my body with junk food than to have to really face the shattered heart that lay beating inside me.
It was easier order take out and go to our favorite bakeries to ease me of the guilt that I felt when I told my oldest son he wouldn't have another sibling.
It was easier to sit on the couch and binge Netflix than to exercise to alleviate the cramps from the procedure I had had.
It was easier to add the weight than to remove it.
It was easier to prioritize my family's health and happiness over mine because of the guilt and shame I felt.
It was easier to just stay busy than it was to deal with the grief and anger.
I have to admit it's getting better, a little better, all the time.
There really is a silver lining to everything. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, even if I don't understand the reason right away.
Losing, not one, but three children really changed my perspective on what I wanted from my life. I instantly felt that it was important to spend as much time as possible with my boys. Not out of obligation but because I felt such gratitude to have them in my life and that I was chosen to be their mother.
I knew that I was meant for more and that I had been gifted the opportunity to help others on their health journey.
Almost losing my husband made me realize that life is too short to not be living it exactly how I want to: with love, happiness, laughter, and health. I knew I wanted to be around for a long time for my children and their children, and their children's children.
I was going to take my health and mindset back.
So here I am: balancing my nutrition, establishing health sleep patterns, incorporating movement, shifting my mindset.
I am prioritizing my health without sacrificing all my other important commitments!
My husband and kids are on the journey with me too. We're working through the uncomfortable, resetting our habits, and making our way back to ourselves. I am happier, stronger, and more grateful than ever before.
Losing, not one, but three children really changed my perspective on what I wanted from my life. I instantly felt that it was important to spend as much time as possible with my boys. Not out of obligation but because I felt such gratitude to have them in my life and that I was chosen to be their mother.
I knew that I was meant for more and that I had been gifted the opportunity to help others on their health journey.
Almost losing my husband made me realize that life is too short to not be living it exactly how I want to: with love, happiness, laughter, and health. I knew I wanted to be around for a long time for my children and their children, and their children's children.
I was going to take my health and mindset back.
So here I am: balancing my nutrition, establishing health sleep patterns, incorporating movement, shifting my mindset.
I am prioritizing my health without sacrificing all my other important commitments!
My husband and kids are on the journey with me too. We're working through the uncomfortable, resetting our habits, and making our way back to ourselves. I am happier, stronger, and more grateful than ever before.
I know you're on your health journey as well. It doesn't matter if you're just starting or on your third attempt at figuring out what works. Wherever you are on the journey the important thing to recognize is that you are on the path, and most that's the most important place to be.
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For me being healthy isn't apologizing for enjoying food, forcing myself to exercise rigorously daily, or excusing my mental health as "just stress," or ignoring it altogether. |
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It's understanding food as fuel.
It's listening to the messages my body is sending me.
It's balancing my nutrition.
It's establishing healthy sleep patterns.
It's setting a goal and taking steps towards that goal.
It's balancing my time so I can make time for my health and wellness.
It's improving my gut health.
It's saying no to the things that no longer serve me.
It's loving the body I have IN THIS MOMENT.
It's managing my response to stress.
It's challenging myself to be a better version of myself than the day before, NOT the person I was year ago.
It's listening to the messages my body is sending me.
It's balancing my nutrition.
It's establishing healthy sleep patterns.
It's setting a goal and taking steps towards that goal.
It's balancing my time so I can make time for my health and wellness.
It's improving my gut health.
It's saying no to the things that no longer serve me.
It's loving the body I have IN THIS MOMENT.
It's managing my response to stress.
It's challenging myself to be a better version of myself than the day before, NOT the person I was year ago.
Life hit me so hard in 2018 but it gave me a clear vision of what I want my happiness and health to look like. I better understand the hesitation that comes with making changes. I no longer let the fear drag me into the unknown but I allow it to propel me forward and release it as I go.
I want to show you how to do the same!
READY TO START YOUR HEALTH JOURNEY?
TO FEEL MORE FIT?
TO MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT?
TO HAVE MORE ENERGY?
TO LIVE IN A CALMER STATE?
TO LOVE YOUR BODY AT EVERY STAGE OF YOUR JOURNEY?
You have the power within you to reach your health goals and to sustain them long term and the time to start is now.
There is no perfect time to start; there will always be obstacles but you have the power to face them and move through them. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. So don't wait, and trust me when I say there is no time like right now!
Lean into your fear and allow it propel you forward to a healthier and sustainable lifestyle.
TO FEEL MORE FIT?
TO MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT?
TO HAVE MORE ENERGY?
TO LIVE IN A CALMER STATE?
TO LOVE YOUR BODY AT EVERY STAGE OF YOUR JOURNEY?
You have the power within you to reach your health goals and to sustain them long term and the time to start is now.
There is no perfect time to start; there will always be obstacles but you have the power to face them and move through them. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. So don't wait, and trust me when I say there is no time like right now!
Lean into your fear and allow it propel you forward to a healthier and sustainable lifestyle.
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Kathy Mills is a wife, mother, creative and intuitive. She is the founder of Chatliveswell.com where she supports busy people in prioritizing their health to balance their nutrition, incorporate movement, and manage their response to stress.
She focuses on teaching people to make small manageable foundational health changes that allows them to create the healthy lifestyle they've always wanted to without sacrificing all their other important commitments. Chat holds a master degree in Educational Leadership, a certificate in holistic health coaching and is bilingual. |
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In Loving Memory
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Hunter Bailey Mills
March 19, 2009 - October 4, 2019
Loving family member, faithful companion, and loyal to end.
