Why “Trying Harder” Won’t Fix Your Health (And What Actually Will)
If you’re like most of our functional wellness clients, it may seem like you’ve tried everything to make positive health changes, only to be stuck in the same place (or feeling worse!). You’ve counted the calories, cut the carbs, swapped the sodas, and bought the supplements. And yet…
You’re wiped out each day, with your energy crashing. The weight on the scale hasn’t moved at all. Your brain fog still lingers. Looking at most traditional health experts, they will tell you to simply “try harder”. The problem is trying harder at something that isn’t working, still doesn’t work. You may feel like giving up, like you are not doing enough or like you are doing something wrong. What if the problem isn’t you? What if the problem is the approach itself?
The Hidden Flaw in Traditional Health Advice
Most traditional health experts and traditional health solutions are built on a broken system. They treat symptoms while largely ignoring the causes behind them. They push quick fixes in the form of pills or surgery while ignoring the fact that real health is deeply connected and personal. This is the reason you can follow a traditional health plan perfectly but still be stuck.
The real question that needs to be asked is not “how do I get rid of these symptoms?”. The real question is “why is my body struggling in the first place?”.
Enter Functional Wellness (A Different Way to Think About Health)
Functional wellness is all about the WHY. Why are these symptoms happening? Functional wellness is not focused on just fixing a symptom with a pharmaceutical bandaid. Instead of just treating the surface, we dig underneath. We don’t guess, we test.
Guessing is what you’ve most likely been doing. We refer to it as the “cycle of trial and error”. Its like throwing darts on the dartboard, hoping to eventually hit a bullseye. For example, if you’ve ever seen a commercial for a pharmaceutical product, they will hype it up, showing people loving life again. As the commercial goes, the voiceover eventually starts listing off all of the potential side effects of the product. Guess what? If you end up having one (or more) of those symptoms then they’ll give you another pharmaceutical option to fix that! Trial and error most often leads down a dark rabbit hole where you usually end up feeling worse than when you started.
Through our Functional Wellness program at Luminate, we don’t ever do guesswork. We test and uncover details about the body as a whole and try to understand how the dots are connected. Looking at hormones, digestion, detoxification, immunity, stress, inflammation, and other body systems allows to paint a picture of the deeply connected issues of your health.
SHIFT: The Framework That Changes Everything
While short term health success is wonderful, our functional wellness program is focused on the long game. To do that, we work with each client to transform their lifestyle habits and behaviors across key health categories. Like mentioned before, the body is deeply connected and transforming these areas of health allow the systems of the body to experience restoration and communicate more effectively with one another.
Let’s take a look at the elements of SHIFT:
S = Stress Reduction
Stress is a major contributor to health issues with over 80% of doctor’s visits being connected to a chronic stress issue. We help you learn gamechanging strategies to properly manage the stress in your life while reducing it to as little as possible.
H = Holistic Nutrition
What we eat and drink is what the body uses to fuel the countless processes required every day. Like putting the wrong gas in your car, the wrong foods can have a massive effect on the quality of your health. Here’s the issue: every person needs a different mix of fuel. What might make one person feel amazing might make another person feel off. You’ll learn the RIGHT nutrition for your unique makeup.
I = Incorporate Movement
The word exercise can often carry a negative connotation. That’s due largely to the people who have taken it to the extreme. Is having six pack abs nice looking? Sure. Is it actually a sign of someone being healthy? Not at all. That’s why love the term movement. Our bodies were made to move! We help you add movement to your life, no matter your current health, age, or experience.
F = Focus on Rest
Sleeping is not the same as resting. Everyone can sleep at night but getting true rest is a whole different story. You’ve probably had those nights when you wake up still tired and feeling off. For most of our clients, this is happening on a regular basis. We work to teach you the ways to enjoy restorative rest and how to set up your environment, and your life, to make sure this becomes a priority.
T = Tailored Supplementation
Like pharmaceutical options, supplements are not the “cure”. We like to think of them as a bridge that helps close the gap on your health deficiencies. A big problem with supplements is that there are an overwhelming amount of options. In addition, the quality of the same supplement from company to company can differ wildly. We work with every client to put together the most effective supplement protocol for their unique needs. We also use companies that have a proven track record of testing and efficacy.
Why Most People Stay Stuck (And How to Get Unstuck)
Here’s what no one tells you: if you don’t fix the root problem, the problem never actually goes away.
-That’s why you can eat less and still gain weight – your metabolism is stuck in survival mode.
-That’s why can sleep 8 hours a night but wake up exhausted – your body is inflamed and causing continual damage.
-That’s why you can meditate and still feel anxious – you’re in a place of chronic stress where you can never feel relaxed.
Your body isn’t broken – its responding to something, and until you remove what’s causing the issue, the issue will stay.
Its Not Just About Effort
Its true that staying consistent with positive health actions can be effective, but doing more of the wrong things will do nothing for your health. Its not about doing more – its about doing the right things.
We need to start asking better health questions:
Not, “what quick fix diet can I try?” But “what foods are the right ones for my unique body?”
Not “how can I get more energy?” But “What’s draining my energy in the first place?”
Not “how can I change my health quickly?” But “how can I be in control of my health for the rest of my life?”
Functional wellness isn’t a band-aid. It’s a roadmap.
And if you’ve been stuck, this is your way out. You don’t need another diet. You don’t need another supplement. You don’t need another round of “try harder.”
You need clarity.
Clarity on what’s actually going on inside your body. Clarity on what’s helping and what’s hurting. Clarity on how to stop treating symptoms and start fixing the cause.
Are you ready to stop guessing when it comes to your health?
Because this time, it’s not about effort. It’s about finally seeing what’s been holding you back—and doing something about it.
Your Next Step: Book Your Discovery Call
Our Functional Wellness team is ready to help you start your health transformation journey. Schedule your Discovery Call! We’re excited for you to say “YES” to your health…and your life!
To your health,
The Luminate Wellness Team