I’ve been through it all.

The ups, the downs. All the ways it goes sideways.

The last thing parents think about when trying to raise a safe, smart, happy family is our own selves. We were strong enough to get to this point in our lives, what’s a few more years of toughing it out to get to the “easier” years.

But what many people don’t realize, not taking care of yourself is just as big a risk to your family’s well being as any outside threat.

Despite my best intentions, I too fell down the path of ignoring my body’s signs, taking the easy shortcuts to health and eating. Although I knew better, I didn’t give myself the right nutrition, or the proper exercise, or enough sleep.

When the unthinkable happened, my kids’ futures and well-being fully depended on what actions I took going forward. Their physical, mental, and emotional health were at the precipice of irreparable damage if I made the wrong choices and couldn’t be there for them.

Although none of us can prevent the things that happen in this world, what we can control is how we treat our bodies. Making sure our body isn’t always on defense with itself just to survive, but actually creating a healthy foundation on which to thrive.

Being able to recover from my poor fitness and unhealthy nourishment has been an ongoing journey, but one that gives me much higher confidence in my family’s future. You don’t have to experience rock bottom before you take action. Your turning point can start right now.