So you’ve heard all the hype about essential oils, right?  It’s the new big thing, right?  Let me just tell you something…that’s WRONG!!!  Essential oils have been around FOREVER!!  The plants that were used to process the oils were used in the Bible, for goodness sake (think Frankincense, the KING of all oils!!)!!  The reason we’re all talking about them now is because we are in a healthcare crisis!  Our healthcare system and the costs associated with health insurance are INSANE!  So people are looking for natural alternatives to the high costs and the dangerous side effects of medication.

I know that’s why I turned to essential oils.  I talked all about how I got into essential oils in a previous blog post, which you can read here.  But let’s just say that doTERRA oils have completely changed my life, in more ways than one.  I can’t even tell you the last time I bought medication!  Because I haven’t needed it!

That’s why I have this AMAZING offer for you!  If you’ve heard all about essential oils and have been on the fence about becoming a doTERRA Wellness Advocate, let me tell you about this deal I have just for YOU.  For the next two people who enroll with me as a wellness advocate AND purchase the Home Essentials Kit, I have 15 ml bottles of doTERRA’s Grounding Blend and Metabolic Blend, PLUS, a Modern Essentials oils guide book and a 5 ml bottle of wild orange!! Don’t wait, because this offer is only good through the end of February!

Here are a couple links to the oils and the kits, because I know you want to hear more about these amazing oils!  You can view the Home Essentials kit information, as well as all the other enrollment kits offered, here.  Find out more about the Grounding Blend here.  And the Metabolic Blend?  Who wouldn’t want this blend?  Find out more about it here!!

If you are on the fence about it and need a little more information, here’s a great video to watch about becoming a doTERRA wellness advocate. I love this company and I love this product. It truly has changed my life!

I know I’ve provided a lot of information in this post.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at wellnesswisdom.whitney@gmail.com and check out my website at mydoterra.com/whitneycumpson/ to learn all about the amazing essential oils doTERRA has to offer.  I’m here to help you become the happiest, healthiest version of YOU!!

I look forward to hearing from you and continuing on my journey of learning all about these oils and what they have to offer me and my family!  I can’t wait to hear about your experiences with them!

With love and wellness,

Whitney

Some days are harder than others. This is true for everyone. And I’m not saying this because I feel like my days have been especially hard, but because I think it needs to be acknowledged every now and again. We’re all told to stay positive and focus on all the good things in our life. And yes, this is true. Because when you focus on the good things and you stay positive, you continue to be positive and have good things happen to you.

But this isn’t always the case. Because we all have bad days. We all wake up on the wrong side of the bed and don’t know what’s wrong…days where we can’t quite place our finger on what exactly is wrong. And that doesn’t make us bad people…or negative people. It makes us human.

Because I’ll be honest…there are days where I haven’t the slightest idea why, but I am overwhelmed and stressed and just want to stay in bed hiding under the covers all day. I know I have an amazing life. I am truly blessed with the life I have and the people I have in it. But some days are harder than others to focus on those good things and to stay positive and upbeat.

Here’s the long and the short of it. I don’t dwell on my bad days. I allow myself to feel what I’m feeling…to really figure out what it is that’s bothering me. What I find works best for me is to journal about it…I start out writing what the problem is and how I’m feeling and I just write. I don’t think about it or stop to wonder if what I’m writing is okay…I just let the words flow. And 9.5 times out of 10, I feel MUCH better after I’m done. I’ve either figured out what exactly was bothering me or realized there was actually nothing bothering me…it was just in my head. Or, better yet, I’ve thought of a solution to help me make the situation better!

Because let’s face it, how often do we sit around dwelling on a problem, only to make it worse? We overthink or overanalyze it to the point of worrying ourselves to sickness. In reality, half the things we worry about end up being nothing that comes to fruition.

And believe me, I am the *Queen* of doing this. Scott is constantly telling me to stop living in the “what if” world. And he’s right. He doesn’t realize how much he’s helped me by telling me that. Because I’ll go to say something – you know, to make a valid point in a disagreement we’re having – and I’ll stop dead in my tracks because I’ve realized I was going to say something that started with “what if.” You know what I’m talking about…what if the car won’t start? What if we get stuck? What if I can’t do it? What if I fail? What if…what if…what if… Because what if I succeed?? What if I CAN do it?? Think of all the possibilities that are out there if you GET OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD!!

We are our own worst enemies. Doubt and fear creep in and we wonder if we’re good enough to start our own business…or to have that class or talk in front of a crowded room…or to approach the hot guy (or gal) across the bar. Don’t let your own self-doubts get in your way. Because courage, real courage, is about feeling that fear and DOING IT ANYWAY! We’re never going to be 100% ready for any big changes in our lives…but we get up, put our big girl (or big boy) panties on, hold our heads high, and we do it anyways. We take the leap!

My friend sent me this picture awhile back and I often look at it as a reminder that sometimes I’m the only thing standing in my way. We all need that reminder every now and again, huh?

So don’t let the bad days hold you back…don’t let the bad moment become a full day, or the full day become days. Embrace your feelings…figure out what it is that is bothering you…then change it. Find something that takes your mind off of it. Write down the wonderful things in your life…or the wonderful things that have happened to you. Don’t dwell too long on the negative because you don’t want to stay there. It’s really true when they tell you to focus on the positive…because then positive things will come back to you. I promise, it works :)

Here’s a good challenge for you over the next week…every day, right before you go to bed, write out three good things that happened to you that day. They don’t have to be huge things…they can be as simple as a random stranger smiling at you or holding the door for you. But focus on those three good things. And every morning, write down three things you are grateful for. A bed to sleep in, a roof over your head, food on your table. Anything you are grateful for. And watch how your outlook changes. Focus on the good things in your life! It may just become a habit :)

With love and wellness,
Whitney

So I completed my Whole30 this week (on Tuesday, February 10th to be exact), but I really haven’t added anything back in yet. I’m actually kind of afraid to add anything back in, because I don’t want all my old problems to come back…plus, I *may* or *may not* be addicted to sugar too, so I’m leery of adding that back in. I’m sleeping better, my acne is clearing up, I’m not as anxious, my PMS was pretty much non-existent last month, my joints aren’t as sore/inflamed, and I’ve set a few PRs this past month at CrossFit. Overall, I feel MUCH better than I did before I started it. However, here’s the one setback. I only lost 1.4 pounds!! I must admit, I was a little bummed about that. As someone who doesn’t ever weigh myself, this was kind of a blow to my ego. Especially because Scott (my loving boyfriend who did the Whole30 with me) lost 10 pounds!! Seriously…10 in 30 days! Ugh. Men.

After weighing ourselves this morning, we took after pictures (see below for before and after pictures). Don’t mind the fact that I have a disgusted, silly look on my face…we should’ve taken the pictures before we weighed ourselves, LOL (also keep in mind it was 5am). Before I go any further, let me just point out that the number on the scale is just that…a number. It doesn’t define who you are and it certainly is not a reflection of you as a person. I’ll admit that as of this morning, February 12, 2015, I weigh 137 pounds. This is, by far, the most I have ever weighed (well, except for the start of the Whole30 when I weighed 138.4). But I looked at the pictures of myself (both the before and the after), and I see the difference. I feel the difference. And I know that if I lost 10 pounds like Scott did, I would be way too thin and wouldn’t be strong enough to continue my CrossFit workouts and PRs.

I know that my body is exactly where it needs to be. My clothes fit well (I haven’t had to buy new clothes because I gained or lost too much in quite a while), I’m happy with the way that I look, and I’m even happier with the way I feel. Because, you see, isn’t that what it’s all about? So what if I weighed 115 pounds, like I did in high school and into college? How would I feel? Would I be able to keep up with CrossFit? Would I be as toned and muscular? I don’t think so. Because I look back at pictures of myself in high school and college when I thought I was very fit and looked my best and I realize I was flabby and not toned. Yes, I was thin (probably too thin at some points), but that was it. I was just thin. I ran all the time, so I wasn’t out of shape. But there was nothing else there.

I look at pictures now and think, “Damn…I am muscular!” In fact, I just said it yesterday about a picture one of our coaches took. I said to Scott, “Holy cow! My arm looks huge! And I mean because of my muscles!” I LOVE how I look now. I LOVE how I feel. And to me, that is SO MUCH MORE important than the number on the scale! I know that I can pick up heavy items without the help of Scott (even though I let him help me more than I care to admit, LOL)…and I know that my body will support me doing the crazy things I do at CrossFit. Most importantly, I know that my legs and especially my knees are now strong enough to support me should I jump off another 6 foot wall and NOT tear something (circa 2013, I tore my ACL and meniscus attempting to run a Tough Mudder and came off a 6 foot wall wrong…it wasn’t pleasant). But now, my knee and quad muscles are so much stronger! It’s amazing what a year at CrossFit will do for you!!

So I encourage you to NOT get discouraged if you’re doing a Whole30 or some other detox and you’re not losing weight. Because the number isn’t important! Are you feeling better? Do your clothes fit better? Are you sleeping better? Is your skin clearing up? Are you thinking more clearly? Think of all the non-scale victories instead! And also remember that it takes 4 weeks for you to feel a difference in your body after working out and changing your diet, it takes 8 weeks for you to see it, and it takes 12 weeks for your friends and family to notice and see it. Keep it up! Because YOU are totally WORTH it!!!

With love and wellness,
Whitney

Last weekend, I went to Boulder, CO for a doTERRA essential oils conference.  I don’t know what I was expecting, but I can tell you that the conference was from 9 to 5 both Saturday and Sunday, and as much as I wanted to learn more about the oils, I was also dreading sitting in a conference for both of my weekend days. I mean, how am I supposed to enjoy being away from home in Boulder when I’m sitting in a class/meeting room all day for both days??

My mom and I flew in Friday night so we were prepared for an early Saturday wake-up. And that it was…aren’t vacations meant for sleeping in?? My sister-in-law also joined us for the weekend, so it was a nice girls’ weekend (at least there was that) :) Well, the three of us head downstairs around 830 or so (after breakfast, of course, which was Whole30 compliant!!) to get signed in and find some seats (in the back, closest to the door for easy escapes!). The first thing we’re told is that there were going to be no breaks because they had so much information to cover. What?! Don’t they know how much water I drink and how often that means I’m in the bathroom?? Ugh.

But then the conference started…and boy, was I wrong for dreading it. Because it was absolutely amazing! Hayley and Wes Hobson, the people holding the conference, were amazing! Their stories were so relatable and they were so personable and easy to talk to. Plus, the other stories I heard were so uplifting and life-changing. Knowing that I wasn’t alone in my struggles was refreshing. I can’t tell you how many times I cried that weekend listening to others’ stories and seeing how the oils have changed
their lives. I’ve been there! I have the same stories!

My weekend in Boulder changed my perspective on essential oils. I used them daily prior to the conference (and I still do), but how I view them as a part of my life and a part of my business is very different now. The fact that there is an oil for EVERYTHING still amazes me! Have a sore back? I have an oil for that. Having hormonal/cycle issues? I have an oil for that. Have an insect bite? I have an oil for that. Have acne? Yup, you guessed it…I have an oil for that! What about snoring? I have an oil for that too! This stuff is amazing! And it is truly life-changing!

I got into using essential oils basically as a last resort. I had tried EVERYTHING for my insomnia, fatigue, and acne. My mom started using them and suggested a few that she thought would work best for me. At first, I wasn’t a believer. I thought it was going to be something that I spent a ton of money on and then it would end up under the bathroom sink, only to be thrown away months later when I was cleaning out the mess that accumulates there (seriously, how many half-empty bottles do you have under your sink??).

So I signed up for a wholesale account with doTERRA in July 2014. I bought a small kit so I could have the oils and see how they would work for me. Almost immediately, I could see and feel the difference. I started using lavender on the bottoms of my feet to help me sleep and noticed I was falling asleep easier. I purchased the calming blend and added it with the lavender and holy crap! I was sleeping through the night!! I started using the digestive blend for my digestive issues and noticed I wasn’t having issues going to the bathroom anymore! I even started using the oils to help balance my hormones! And for the first time in YEARS, I have a normal cycle…WITHOUT ANY MEDICATION! I’m not on birth control and I’m not taking anything to keep me regulated. Oils have helped me with that (plus a healthy diet and exercise)! Seriously though…how crazy is that??

Then, one day at training for work, I got bit not once, but twice, by a horsefly. Now, if any of you have been bitten by one, those suckers are super itchy, like above and beyond a normal bug bite itchy! Nothing was helping! So I did a little research on the oils I had on hand and it said peppermint and oregano would help. I thought it was a bit weird, but I tried it. And the itching stopped!!! Within a matter of days, the bites/welts were gone and I no longer itched! I was a believer! Oregano helps with stopping infections and if you aren’t careful with horsefly bites, they can get pretty badly infected. I would have never known that without using the oils! I mean, I smelled like a minty pizza, but I wasn’t itchy anymore!

Seriously, these things are amazing. They have changed my life and how I look at medications. I first turn to the oils when I have a pain (headaches, anyone?). There are oils for headaches/migraines. I even got my boyfriend, Scott, converted. He used to have migraines pretty badly and would take medicine routinely for it. Now he uses the oils instead. He knows they aren’t messing with his internal system like regular medications do. We also use them on his three children, who are 12, 10, and 5. I’ve even used them on my godson when he was 3 months old!!! These oils are safe for everyone, people (caveat is that they need to be diluted with children)!!! And they work!!

If you are interested in learning more about essential oils, please reach out :)I would love to work with you on any health concerns you may have and determine how we can make you the happiest, healthiest version of YOU!! If you are interested in making some money by sharing the essential oils, definitely reach out! It’s a great opportunity to be a part of an amazing organization that has even more amazing products!! I truly believe in this product and how it’s changed my life. What can it do for you?

We woke up to this Sunday morning in Boulder :)  Isn’t it beautiful?!

With love and wellness,

Whitney

So you’ve done it…you’ve decided to change the way you eat. You started eating better, whether that was incorporating real, whole foods into your diet or going paleo (you know, the caveman way of eating…meat, fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.) or **gasp** you started counting calories. Now, I won’t get into this in detail here, but counting calories is (in my humble opinion) one of the WORST ways to lose weight. Especially because most people eat those fat free frozen meals or the fat free desserts thinking they are good for you. Guess what?! They are chemical shit-storms (pardon my French). They are empty calories that are not nutritious!! How can you possibly be getting what your body needs from a frozen meal?!?! Anyways, I digress.

So you’re eating healthier, however that may look for you (remember, everyone is an individual and what works for me won’t necessarily work for you – it’s that beautiful thing called bio-individuality). But you’ve noticed you aren’t losing weight…you aren’t feeling any better, you aren’t sleeping better. What gives? You’re frustrated and about to throw in the towel. It can be SO disheartening to feel like you’re doing everything “right” and yet still not having any results…at least positive results.

But let’s stop and take a step back. First things first, are you keeping a food journal and being completely honest with yourself about what you’re eating? When I first started learning how to cook (i.e., broke away from the frozen meals and microwave dinners), I didn’t pay too much attention to what I was eating or when or how much…until I started keeping track of it. I kept a food journal for quite awhile, mainly to keep track of what was bothering me and causing me symptoms, but also to keep myself accountable to what I was actually consuming on a daily basis. If I didn’t write it down, then I didn’t have that piece of pie (or three), right?! This is the time to really hold yourself accountable and be honest with yourself!

Also, take a look at some of the “swaps” you’ve made. For instance, I used to be a sucker for no-bake cookies…you know, the oats, chocolate, peanut butter balls of goodness that you threw together when you needed a chocolate fix. OMG – I could eat those for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Have I mentioned I’m a sugar addict?!

So when I switched to eating healthier and focusing on real, whole foods, I also switched my sugar/”sweet treats,” as I called them. I would still make myself a “sweet treat” after dinner, but use the “healthy” ingredients. So it couldn’t possibly be bad for me! I would make a chocolate brownie in a mug with coconut flour and coconut sugar and cacao powder and all the other little ingredients that went along with it…or a pumpkin pie in a mug…or fruit “ice cream” with cacao nibs and coconut milk. It was all natural and not processed, so it had to be good for me! Right?!?!

Except I still felt awful…I was bloated and my acne wasn’t improving and I continued sleeping poorly and feeling exhausted all the time. Having these “sweet treats” became an every night treat for me…it was an after dinner treat that I couldn’t not have. It became a necessity. That’s when I took a hard look at what exactly these treats were doing to my body. Because the harsh reality is that our bodies do not differentiate between the highly processed sugar treats and the all-natural “good for you” treats. Sugar is sugar is sugar, according to your body.

So for me, being super sensitive to sugar and having reactions to eating a ton of it (think acne and mood swings and trouble sleeping), having these treats every night was extremely detrimental for me. And I have to be careful when I do have them because I tend to go a little overboard.

My point in all this is to be careful in making these seemingly healthy treats. Hop on google and there are countless ways to make desserts paleo or healthier or “better for you.” But be careful…because it is still sugar!! And your body will still react to it, whether it’s “healthy” sugar or not!

This one thing may be one huge reason you aren’t seeing any results. I know it was for me. So keep track of your food intake…are you eating too much sugar? Test it out…take it out for 14-21 days, and see how you react. Do you feel better? Are you sleeping better? Does your skin clear up? Are your mood swings better? Keep track of it! I promise, you will see results and you will learn so much about yourself in the process!!

Have a fantastic weekend! I’m in Boulder, CO for a doTerra conference :) I’ll fill you in about it next week.

With love and wellness,

Whitney