Choosing a wellness lifestyle isn’t always a conscious decision, but rather a gradual process. Some people may start exercising more, eating healthier, and taking better care of themselves without really thinking about it. However, for others, the decision to live a healthier life is a result of a specific event or experience. For Nutrition and Transformation Coach Beverly K. Johnson, it was her life-changing diagnosis that made her realize the importance of controlling her health.
“Years ago I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and with that, I had adhesions attached to random parts of my organs. That led to a massive surgery and recovery. Then I had to speak with a gastroenterologist and he discovered polyps,” Johnson explained. “Here I am mid-30s having to go in for a colonoscopy due to complications from something else. What would’ve happened had I waited until the normal time until I had a checkup? And those polyps went unchecked for 10 years?”
Endometriosis is a painful, inflammatory condition in which the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. Many of the women living with the diagnosis experience painful menstrual cycles and sexual intercourse, and infertility. It is estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis.
Faced with the decision to keep seeing a doctor and risking a colon cancer diagnosis, Johnson took matters into her own hands. She began changing her diet, incorporating more whole foods and eliminating processed foods and sugar, exercising regularly, and consistently hydrating. Over time, these changes became habits, and placed the wellness advocate on a path to change lives.
THE EPIC ACADEMY
Today, Johnson is a certified personal trainer helping others achieve optimal health and wellness. Her clients are guided to have a new outlook on life, starting with mindset in her signature hybrid program, The Epic Academy.
“The academy was fostered by clients I worked with. I took everything I’d do with them and created a three to six month program based on what was being asked or suggested. They wanted access to online and in-person trainings, with a more holistic approach,” she recalled.
Source: beverlykjohnson.com
Most of Johnson’s clients come medically diagnosed as pre-diabetic and borderline obese, with high blood pressure. Yet the willingness to reverse those conditions is often met with an unfortunate series of limiting beliefs initially.
“I can give you all the programs, affirmations, and cheerleading, but we first must address how you got here and make peace with that version of yourself. You have to sit in that ugly and uncomfortable part of yourself, acknowledging you’re an emotional eater, or you don’t know how to cope with the stressors of my life. You have to find the courage to sit with yourself, and that’s when the change will happen,” encouraged Johnson.
AGING GRACEFULLY INTO AUNTIE MODE
Rather than focusing on anti-aging tricks, Johnson leans into the journey of aging gracefully and all that it entails. Aging is a natural part of life that we all experience. And it’s a lifestyle that Johnson supports, ten toes down.
“As we age, our bodies change. It’s inevitable. It requires you to sit and redefine yourself through a new lens. Metabolism changes, fatigue sets in, you’re developing a new dimple here and there, your vision is changing— we all make that shift into auntie mode,” Johnson empathized. “You’re still fierce, still a powerhouse, your mind is sharp, and you’re still active!”
While it’s a struggle for women of all ages, she highly encourages mindfulness of how fitness goals are influenced.
“It’s easy to develop body dysmorphia. What starts out as well intentions will move into something serious, if you’re not careful. If you follow celebrities and influencers, remember, they have personal chefs, trainers, dermatologists, and services that you don’t have access to. You’re idolizing something that may be unattainable for you,” she warned.
In all her years of life, the wellness coach expressed that she’s never felt more confident after accepting that there is nothing anyone can do about getting older.
“It is what it is. I know what I bring to the table. As a matter of fact, I am the table, the factory, and the forest— I’m everything!”
BEVERLY K. JOHNSON
WELLNESS TIPS FOR AGING WOMEN
Whether you’re approaching your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, the truth of the matter is we’re all aging. But the natural occurrence doesn’t have to be so daunting. As a personal trainer, Johnson encourages everyone to take the proper steps to treat their bodies well.
Dropping wellness gems, she advised, “You have to hydrate. If you have to, start using flavor packets and see how that goes. What we don’t always realize is that when you’re dehydrated, you have headaches and food cravings. While you’re thinking you just want a snack, your body is really saying ‘I need water’. If you’ve never been the type to get through a bottle of water, challenge yourself to a bottle a day then move up.”
“Don’t try a fitness program that’s going to intimidate you and result in you doing the opposite of what you’re supposed to do. Start with a goal. Be it walking 30 minutes a day on the treadmill or going to a group fitness class, eventually you’ll develop the discipline to stick with it.
Resist the temptation to look at an influencer, celebrity, or trainer and assume that if they’re doing something, you’ll get the same results. Because we’re all different.
Discover what makes you unique and what’s motivating you to make this lifestyle change. Put yourself on a course of success that works for you.”
Lead Image Source: Beverly K. Johnson
