Anita: 0:00

You want to get healthy because you've got things that you want to accomplish in your life. I get that. So now you're at this place and you're wondering what are the most important things I need to know when I'm at this, the beginning of this journey when I want to get healthy, but I just don't know where to start. Today, we're talking about the top five most important things you need to know when real health is your goal.

INTRO: 0:25

You're listening to the smarter Healthy Living podcast where we firmly believe that getting healthy should never feel like torture. We're your host, Jared and Anita Roussel were college sweethearts, and health professionals who help you redefine what getting healthy looks like using a whole food plant based lifestyle. It's time to hear from the experts and learn the best tips and tricks that helped others get beyond the overwhelm, to create a vibrant life they love. If you're sick and tired of being sick, and tired, you're in the right place. So pull up a virtual chair, grab your matcha latte. And let's get started. If you're one of our old friends, we want you to know we're so glad to be hanging out with you again today. But if you're new, and this is your first time here, we also want you to know you are welcome to pull up a chair. And we just love having you join us as well, because what we're talking about today is really, really important when you're looking at making yourself the healthiest possible person you can be. And usually that's because you got something you want to accomplish. You want to live a longer life, you want to have more time with your children, your grandchildren, you want to build a business so you can help more people. You've got some kind of mission that you want to accomplish.

Jarrod: 1:35

Now unfortunately, also too, you may be in a position where you don't feel your absolute healthiest. And you may be thinking something's gotta give. I've got to do a little better.

Anita: 1:47

I'm desperate.

Jarrod: 1:49

You may be 40-ish like us. And you think. I don't feel like I did when I was in my 20s. Although I will say I believe we feel better than we did in our 20s.

Anita: 1:58

We do! But we didn't. Not long ago we were not feeling well. I mean, you go back 10 years. And we were right at 40. I'm kind of a aging us right now but I'm just saying I would not want to be my 10 year younger self. I just wouldn't, because I was not in a good place health wise and living healthy plant based has changed so many things for us...so many things for us! And there's just...there would never be any going back for us. It's just that simple. It really is. It's been quality of life, amount of years I'm positive of, because I don't think I'd be here today if we hadn't changed what what we were doing.

Jarrod: 2:32

And she's not kidding.

Anita: 2:33

No, and we were eating healthier.

Jarrod: 2:35

There were times when she said I feel like I need you to take me to the ER. And if she felt like she would have gotten the answer she needed, we probably would have. Yeah, but thankfully we've gotten the answers we have because it's made all the difference.

Anita: 2:48

It was a rough place to be but there is do not give up hope there's hope there is a way out. Generally nine times out of 10 there is something you can do there is, and it doesn't just have to be medicine. Now if you've known us for long, you know that we're both health professionals. Jared is a physician assistant. And I am a registered nurse as well. But we also have additional certifications. Jared has a certification in lifestyle medicine. And I'm a certified integrative nutrition health coach. And so we don't not medicine, I mean, we've been in health care for a really long time. It's not that we say

Jarrod: 3:23

20 years here.

Anita: 3:25

So we're not saying never, never, never is there a place for medicine. We just know that it's greatly over used. And that even in conjunction with medicine, there are things that you can do that can totally change your life. Many times studies have shown and research has shown and our experience has shown and other people's testimonials have shown including our clients that you can reduce your need for medication that many times even come off it under a doctor's supervision, living and eating the right way. So we're saying all that just to let you know, there's hope there is something you can do. Even if somebody tells you your genes are in the way you know you've just inherited this your mama had it and her mama had it her mama before her it doesn't have to be your story.

Jarrod: 4:10

I want so badly just to break out into *singing* "You got the power." Yes, I will spare you though.

Anita: 4:20

Did you really?

Jarrod: 4:21

Well, I'll spare you any more. But you do have more power than you realize, which is what I was trying to get out with that. Alright, alright, let's move along. Let's move along.

Anita: 4:35

But most important things when real health is your goal number one, you have to you absolutely must, must, must look at the long term effects of the way you're considering adopting. So if you're thinking about starting to live a certain way, be at whatever vegan be it keto look at the long term effects of it. Not just what happens Short term, you know, some people look at keto. And they say, hey, my blood glucose has gone down some and ever since I've stopped eating keto,

Jarrod: 5:06

Or that they have lost some weight.

Anita: 5:08

Yeah, I've lost a little weight. But how does that march out over time, and what studies show over time is, insulin resistance can actually get worse.

Jarrod: 5:17

So as you started keto diet, and you're limiting the starchy vegetables, then yes, blood sugar levels will drop, because you're not eating as much sugar. And you may still be eating some of the greens and some of the other lesser starchy vegetables. But as you continue to eat meat, and the saturated fats get into the muscle cells, that gums up the process where insulin comes and doesn't have the same effect. And it's just like you said, your insulin resistance goes up, this then makes your diabetes worse. So the benefits you once had you lose, then you have to eat less and less vegetables, and then you're basically just eating nothing but animal products. And then you start having the vascular issues with the saturated fat questions they start, it's just that they will start to become more evident, because stuff's going on under the surface, you have stuff going on in your blood vessels, it just may not be evident at first. So like you're saying, Look at the long term goals, look at the long term effects.

Anita: 6:16

What's going on on the inside that you don't see yet?

Jarrod: 6:19

Well, they're going to be immediate effects, like with the blood sugar, but they're going to be long term effects that may build more slowly that you don't see, unfortunately, until years down the road, by then it can be too late. Or it can be more difficult to try to reverse that.

Anita: 6:34

So look at the long term effects on blood glucose, what's the long term effect on the vascular system, you know, if you're eating more of the animal products over time, it causes problems and blockages in your blood vessels. And that affects so many things. Yeah. And on top of that, you're not getting the fiber you need ,animal products have no fiber, dairy has no fiber, eggs don't have fiber, you're not getting fiber in those foods, and then you're eating the oils and things. And then you've got problems. I mean, your bacteria, your gut bacteria, the good ones are dying off, because they don't get the food they need, which is the fiber. And again, animal products don't have any, what are you gonna do long term, I mean, the gut, look up your gut and how it affects your entire health, your immune system, you want to fight off infection, you don't need to be eating this way. Right? So you've got to look at how these things march out over time, and really look at what's going to work best for you long term. That is number one, it's the most important thing to look at when you're looking at adopting a new health plan, or continuing the one you're on really. And then number two, be intentional. There's so many different things we could talk about with being intentional. But be intentional about how you set up your life is what we're talking about here. I mean, what are some things you think about there that are the most important?

Jarrod: 7:53

Well, I think about the people that you surround yourself with a supportive group of people. Because in thinking about intentionality, there's so many times that we just think that things are gonna happen, that we don't really decide to do something. And that's what we mean by being intentional, make the decision and do it. Because if you just tumble through life, I hope this will happen. It's not going to

Anita: 8:20

And if you're not surrounded by motivational people. I mean, everybody that you hang out with always just wants to sit around and eat junk food and watch movies or, you know, go to the restaurants that aren't the best choices for you or they're just on a totally different path. They're just not interested in what you're doing. You need to get around those people that will motivate you that are on the same path. And that's the same in any area of your life. If you're trying to build a business you want to get around other entrepreneurial people who are doing that. It just skyrockets you forward. It's amazing what the people that you surround yourself with, can do to affect you and motivate you or pull you in the opposite direction. It's like the crabs trying to climb out of a bucket. I mean, have you ever watched a crab trying to climb out of a bucket? And it's like the other Crabs will reach up and try to pull it back down. And yeah, so that's the thing. You don't want to be around?

Jarrod: 9:10

crabs

Anita: 9:11

Crabs, there you go, all right.

Jarrod: 9:17

Well, another aspect of having the right people around, you would be even having a coach. That's even another step. So you have somebody you have one person that is there that is trained to hold you accountable and will help keep you steered. Is that is that right,

Anita: 9:35

Steering you in the right direction? Yeah,

Jarrod: 9:37

I was just thinking past tense of steered in the right pointed in the right direction.

Anita: 9:42

There you go. And then it's an important part of being intentional because again, we found that we skyrocket when we get a coach. I mean, we do or if we get into even a group coaching type situation, a membership, something like that the memberships that we belong to have caused us to skyrocket our health it's all part of being intentional. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are you constantly learning and growing with people who encourage you and motivate you and getting these new ideas you would have never thought of on your own. I mean, that can make such a huge difference in your life. You've got to get an environment set up for success, too. So think about what about your pantry? or your purse or your desk drawer? Or how do you set up all these spaces for success, your environment around you? What path you take where you go, that can make a difference, you have to be intentional about what way you drive to work. And you know, do I walk by Starbucks? Or do I take this other path into my office, you know, things like that, they are going to set you up for success. These are all intentional things, you've got to find the way to make plant based joy to build a life you absolutely love. And that involves being intentional about how you set up your life. Because those types of people, those types of situations, setting up the right types of environments all set you up for a life that you enjoy, and for success. Absolutely. And then number three is invest, investing brings results. We've always found it true to be in our lives, whatever it is that we're doing. And we've heard other people say this as well. And think about in your own life. You know, when you're getting ready to start something, or you're doing something new, if you're not willing to invest in yourself. And that means even putting some money with what you say you want to do. The odds of you doing it are so low think about all the free things you've ever gotten in life. I mean, Jarrod and I did this a while back, just think about, we got this for free. And that for free in this for free and that for free. How many of those things did we actually, or did you actually put into practice and use and do I mean, you might have consumed them, you might have read them, you might have listened to them. But did you start actually doing it know where the work usually starts happening is when you have a little skin in the game, when you've paid a little bit, it doesn't even have to be a huge amount of money, it could just be something that shows that you are intentional, that you have decided to invest in yourself. And I'm going to make this a go and I'm going to go all in. And investing can be a huge key because it can be the difference between whether you take action or not. It's crazy, but just that one little shift of knowing I paid a little something for this, it doesn't even have to be a lot. Like I said, it's just it makes that shift of I'm gonna do this

Jarrod: 12:36

You take it more seriously. You're gonna show up. A great example would be a coach. I mean, if you have a health coach that you pay for their time, then you're going to show up, you have an appointment, you have paid them money. So you have invested, and you're going to be there, it's just time and time again, it shows that you get more results. Personal Trainer. Now, we don't typically use the E word on this podcast, although sometimes it slips, exercise, but we like to refer to it more as movement, because it doesn't have to just be within the confines of four walls. But in the case of a personal trainer, if you will just throw a couple of examples. If it's just you. Now you may be very disciplined and you may go into a gym and workout. Many don't, you may decide to get a friend who will meet you there now that ups the ante, okay, someone's counting on me being there, I'm gonna spot them when they're working out, they're gonna spot me that ,again, ups the ante that you will show up and do the work. But if you have a trainer that you've paid money ahead of time, they're there, they're waiting on you, they're not just going to do their little routine and then leave, but my pay them, then that's even more, hey, I've wasted this money. And this time, if I don't go and you don't get the results,

Anita: 13:53

It's huge, think about all the things that you invest in on a regular basis, or even not a regular basis that you've invested in, that just don't really bring you a return. But there are a lot of things that you can invest in, which is your education, your health, all those things that do bring a return. And honestly, if there's a will to do it, there's a way for you to do it. Now think about us, even in business, the things that have moved the needle that have made us do the things and step out of our comfort zone and start building the new habits that make things just go great for us. It's always when we've invested in ourselves so this is the important part of building real health. Okay, this is number three, invest in yourself because you are worth it. And number four is adopt ways to make things not only enjoyable, but livable and easy. You know, things like time savers, and money savers and stress reducers. You've got to find tools and appliances and formulas, all those things that are going to make living this way. enjoyable, and simple. And I'll just say delicious, because I love good tasting food, right? You've got to find ways to do it, that will work for you. That will make it quick and easy with a real life. Because we're living in real life like some of these things you see out there you think, I don't know, I might have time to do it that way when I retire. But there's no way I'm spending five days in the kitchen cooking, or even the whole weekend to prep my food. I mean, that's just not gonna work. For me. I'm a busy mom of four. I'm a homeschooling mom, we run a business full time. And I have coaching clients, and we have a membership, and I'm writing cookbooks and recipes. I mean, you've probably got a ton of stuff on your plate. And when do you have time, you may be running children to this practice or that practice or, you know, you've come home from work and you're trying to figure out how do I get dinner on the table, you've got to have these formulas that you don't have to think about, they're just second nature, it's just a pocket full of goodness that you can just pull out at any time and put to use and put to work for you.

Jarrod: 15:54

Well thought of an example that if you now we live in Florida, let's say we want to take a trip to Washington State, and we go by car that's going to take several days is going to take some money, gas, lodging, and all that. What if for just a few dollars more, we could take an airplane, that would save us time, it would be so much easier, we'd get there in a few hours, we'd be well rested,

Anita: 16:16

we'd be living the life we wanted to live that we were trying to get to.

Jarrod: 16:19

So, I'm thinking that the airplane is like the tools that you're referring to tools that make food prep faster. Yeah, I mean, you might have spent a little money on it. But these are tools that you have long term and the time that you save, and the things that you can be doing with that time, well make up for all that

Anita: 16:39

absolutely far beyond. It's amazing. All right, so now we're on to number five, and this one might be the most important, these are not really an order, honestly, this is taking action, just take the first step, I don't care if it's a baby step, look, this is key. Because the truth is, it's like reading a book, you're not gonna lie down at night, lay a book open on your face and wake up in the morning and have read the book, you've got to do something, you've got to take the action, for the work to happen for the results to come your way, you know, you're not going to be able to enjoy the book, you're gonna miss all the wonderful things inside it, if you don't make the decision to start reading the book.

Jarrod: 17:22

And you don't have to read the entire book in one night.

Anita: 17:25

Exactly. I mean, it can be a process, it can go as fast or slow as you want to.

Jarrod: 17:29

read a chapter, read a paragraph, but just do it, just do the work. And bit by bit, you'll reach the end of the book, you'll have read the entire story, you will have enjoyed the experience of the story.

Anita: 17:42

And if we're talking about whole food plant based, look, it's not going to be long till you start having health improvements, your taste buds change, your energy levels go up

Jarrod: 17:49

and your excitement will grow,

Anita: 17:50

excitement grows, things don't even taste the same. You're eating something going, I never tasted this before. Or this is the best blah, blah, blah, I ever ate. You know, it's just because your taste buds have changed. You're tasting things in the food that you couldn't taste before. Because the truth is, it's always tasted that good. You just didn't know it. I mean, we say that stuff all the time, like is this the best even even later on down the road, this is the best blah, blah, blah, I think it just keeps tasting better and better as you go on this journey. We've been doing this for a long time. But we enjoy it more and more every single day. Because when you have the systems, and you know how to prepare, and you know how to get those flavor profiles. And you know how to build food formulas that don't even require a recipe. And you have these simple go-to recipes and all these different things that you can do. You're going to love living this way. That's the key, you've got to find plant based joy. So those are the five most important things that you can do when real health is your goal. Drop us a note, email us at

Jarrod: 18:51

podcast@smarterhealthyliving.com

Anita: 18:52

You're always so good at remembering the addresses

Jarrod: 18:56

Because I'm the one that set it up.

Anita: 19:00

That's why I don't know I think sometimes you just have to make room in your brain for the things that are most important. And then you just let somebody else remember the rest of the things that are most important.

Jarrod: 19:11

We complement one another though

Anita: 19:12

we do absolutely. I wouldn't have it any other way. All right. So until next time, have a wonderful week. And before you go make sure to leave a review. We'd love to hear from you. And if this has helped you in any way, that review is going to also help other people come to this podcast, hear what they need to hear and get the life changing information that they need to have a great day we can't wait to hang out with you again next time on smarter, healthy living.