We are beginning our last installment on supplementation and we’re going to talk about Essential Oils. I have to tell you, I am absolutely nuts about essential oils (pun intended), adding them into my diet has gone a long way toward improving my health and wellness.  These components are, as the name implies, essential.  In order for our brain, muscles and other organs to function properly we need these oils in our body.

Though you may not notice a huge difference in the way you feel when you take these important supplements, they can make a vast difference in your everyday life. Here’s how:

• You will see an improvement in your HDL or “good” cholesterol
• You will see a noticeable difference in your skin’s appearance and elasticity
• You will often find yourself in a better mood
• Losing fat will become easier
• If you have problems with acne, this will be improved as well
• Your brain will function better
• Your other organs will work more efficiently

Important Facts About Essential Oils

Essential oils consist of fatty acids like Omega 3’s (linolenic acids), Omega 6’s (linoleic acids) and Omega 9’s (oleic acids). Something you should know about essential oils is that while our body needs them, we cannot produce them.  So, we have to find ways to get them through the foods we eat and supplementation.

Good Food Sources of Essential Oils

Here are some great ways to improve your diet with essential oils.  I always think it’s fun when you can eat your way to better health (but I am a bit of a foodie with chef friends, so that could have something to do with it.)

• Eating fatty fish, like Salmon
• Incorporating nuts, seeds and nut butters into your diet (I LOVE pumpkin seeds)
• Eating good, healthy oils like first cold pressed Olive Oil for example
• Choosing whole grain breads (make sure you read the labels)

An expert in the field of nutrition, Audrey Sommerfeld of ViSalus Sciences, says you should always eat lots of colorful foods and avoid the “beige, processed foods”.  Oh, and just to clarify, ketchup, though colorful, is not a food group.

Personally, I would recommend finding a good supplement source for essential oils.  I actually take supplements that include all of the components I have talked about and then some. Make sure ALL the essential oils are in it, not just one. It’s important that your body get all of them and you don’t want to be taking 7 different capsules just for your oils.

How to Learn More

Great sources of information can be found online, in health food stores, from nutritionists or distributors of high quality supplements and let’s not forget, your local personal trainer.  My trainer, Zach Hunt, at Physzique in Spokane is not only excellent at helping people get into shape, he is also a good resource for finding your way through the supplement minefield.  There are many supplements to choose from and not all of them are good or effective.

You can also find great oil blends in health food stores, one of my favorites is Udo’s Oil which is a little pricey, but well worth the expense. Don’t just take my word for it though, make sure you know what you are getting! Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions, it’s important and you only get one body. Do your best to take care of it.

Hi, my name is Whitney White and I am a new client at Physzique Personal Training in Spokane. I am thirty years old, have been married for 10 years, and have two beautiful daughters, Kat who is 9 and Bri, almost 7. I have used every excuse in the book for the last 4 years or so not to take the steps needed to get back in shape. I am 5′1 and when I started working with a personal trainer in Spokane about 3 weeks ago, I was 168 pounds. I didn’t even want to know my measurements! I knew I would be totally disgusted.

My tenth wedding anniversary is on September fifth. My long time dream was for my husband and I to renew our vows on our 10th anniversary, and for me to be able to wear my wedding dress again. Sadly, there is no way that can happen right now. Even though I was about 4 months pregnant at our wedding, I am still much heavier now than I was then, by about 30 - 40 pounds. It broke my heart to realize I had let my self go so incredibly far. Meanwhile, my husband can once again where his USMC Dress Blues, and he looks just as incredible in them today as he did ten years ago.

It was the mind blowing shock that I needed. I can’t play with my kids at the park because I get winded too easily and half the time, I can’t fit in the same places that they can. I can’t wear the clothes I want to wear because they make me look like I am about 12 months pregnant. And now to top it off, I suddenly realized that my dream cannot happen. At least not this year.

I just happened to stumble across one of Zach’s postings on craigslist.com, and decided that the excuses just weren’t going to work anymore. It was time for a change. My dream to renew our wedding vows is going to be pushed out a year, but it will happen. I will be able to wear my dress again, and maybe even need to have it taken in!

The first workout I had with Zach was the hardest thing I have done in years for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I had to make time for ME. Like most moms, I have a terrible habit of putting my husband and kids needs and wants way ahead of my own needs. I had to realize that my health and longevity are what my kids need the most. They need me to be there for them for a long time. So just taking the step to make time for me to go work out was a big step. Second, I am so incredibly fat and out of shape that it was just flat out HARD. I could barely breathe and my muscles were screaming at me. But I pushed through. The second work out was just as hard, but the third one was a milestone. It wasn’t as hard to get through the actual work out, and afterwards, my muscles actually hurt less than when I started! It was amazing.

It was after that third session that I realized something else. I felt good. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Instead of being grumpy and tired most of the time, I felt well rested and … happy! It was a small miracle. I even woke up witha smile on my face. And since I have to wake up about 4 AM most mornings, a smile on my face is a BIG miracle. And with every session at Physzique, I feel better and happier.

I look forward to posting my progress once or twice a month, and after there is a noticable difference, I will post a recent photo! As hard and embarassing as it is, I am posting the photo that Zach took of me at my first session. I could make all the usual excuses “My shirt makes me look fatter than I am,” or “Zach is nearly a foot and a half taller than me, so I look fatter than I am,” but the truth is, photos don’t lie. (Although I do look a bit shorter than I actually am hahaha.) I am fat and out of shape. But I am taking the steps needed to be healthy, slender, and in shape!