Natural Zest

Welcome to Natural Zest’s blog! I wanted a forum to share some of the wonderful information out there that I come across and think about. Hopefully, something here will inspire you to bring some zest into your life, naturally!

A little explanation about what Natural Zest is about. A healthy, happy life needs a few things, primary nutrition and secondary nutrition. Food is the secondary nutrition, what we eat, and it can be healthy and enjoyable! But primary nutrition takes first place! Primary nutrition includes our relationships, career, spirituality and activity.

So today I’d like to share a little about activity. In my path to Natural Zest and health counseling I have worked on my secondary food, cooking more, more vegetables, local food, delicious! And I have been exploring my primary food. So today, I took a big step (actually, quite a few little steps) and went for a run.

I have ALWAYS hated running, my whole life, every gym class, hated it. Until about 6 months ago. A little voice started whispering to me, “run, you want to go for a run. go outside and run.” What?!? No! I don’t like running! Stop telling me that! “but you want to go outside, you want to run, you will feel good.” No! It hurts, it’s not fun. No. Ok. Well, maybe.

So I told my dear friend Matt, my running guru, that I want to start running. And this wonderful soul not only gives me some running tips but sneakers! So today was the day. 70 degrees. Crystal clear skies, a light breeze. I headed outside to Tower Grove Park.

Was it easy? No. Am I out of shape? Yes. Did I feel self-conscious? You’d better believe it. Will I do it again? Most definitely YES!

I’m not sure what changed, but as other areas of my life have grown and come into focus, my desire for more physical activity has as well. I NEED this to keep up with my life, to expand my life, and to improve it.

Physically I feel better for what I did today. And my mind feels clearer. My food felt more nourishing. And this is something that I want and need in my life.