Healthy Living Blog: 80 Years, Stage 4 Cancer, Spinal Surgery, Light, Feng Shui…and the MUST Have Protein Helper
Notes from Natalie
As you’re reading this, I’m in the Washington DC area celebrating my mom turning 80.
When I first checked the weather it said 17 degrees and I briefly considered celebrating her via FaceTime from Arizona. 
But now it’s almost 50 and that feels downright tropical. Midlife standards are wild. Fifty degrees? We’re outside and we’re not freezing.
Now let’s talk about something I’m really excited about this week.
You might remember Maria Kang from years ago. The “No Excuses Mom.” The viral Facebook post with her baby and two toddlers, looking insanely fit, asking:
“What’s your excuse?” It blew up. Some women felt empowered. Others felt triggered. The internet did what the internet does. And Maria? She stood in her truth unapologetically and became a force.
Years later, we reconnected and I learned she had been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer.
Stage four!!
This is a woman who exercised 4-5 times a week. Ate organic. Meditated. Did breath work. Did all the “right” things. She had the appearance of health.
And cancer still showed up.
She will tell you today that cancer became her greatest blessing. Which sounds insane…until you hear her story.
She’s now on the other side of it and it is powerful.
I had her on the podcast this week and we talked about:
– What she believes actually led to her diagnosis
– The emotional blind spots she had
– How she redefined health
– What she would do differently
– What midlife women need to understand about stress, suppression, and resilience
Whether you’re navigating cancer, love someone who is, or simply want the breakthrough without the breakdown, this conversation is worth your time.
Now over on Instagram this week…
I answered the question: Is a strong core just about doing ab exercises?
Spoiler alert. No. If it were, we’d all have six packs and no back pain and that is clearly not the case. You can see that post below.
I also shared an update on being 7 months post disc replacement surgery.
Seven months! Recovery has been humbling. Empowering. Frustrating. Educational. All of it. I shared where I’m at now and what I’ve learned so far. You can see that update on IG below.
And if you want the deep dive on the surgery itself, here is the interview I did with my surgeon, Dr. Ament. We break down what disc replacement actually is, who it’s for, and what recovery really looks like.
Coming soon on the podcast…
I interviewed Sarah Kleiner and I am so excited about this one. We talked about light, circadian rhythm, and how artificial light impacts our hormones in midlife. Whether you are on HRT or not, this matters.
I also interviewed Marie Diamond, who you may remember from The Secret. We got into simple feng shui shifts that can impact love, abundance, mood, and energy. Yes, I asked all the skeptical midlife questions for you.
Then I sat down with Phillip from Quantum Upgrade to talk about their new platform. If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I love my quantum tools. We broke it down in a way that even your most practical friend will understand.
What I’m loving this week…
Compression socks.
I know. Glamorous.
Over 50 flying cross country? They are not optional. They are necessary. They are not cute. But neither is swollen ankles in a DC hotel room. Choose your hard. I do not have fancy ones lol just search “compression socks” on Amazon and you might thank me later.
And of course… my MUST order protein helper.
You already know how I feel about muscle in midlife. It is not about vanity. It is about metabolism, insulin sensitivity, bone density, independence, and not needing help getting off the floor when you drop something.
If I did not have KION Aminos, I would struggle to consistently hit adequate protein every single day. Travel days especially. Random meals. Airport salads that are 90 percent lettuce.
These give you all nine essential amino acids. The building blocks your body actually uses. You can eat protein all day long, but if you are not getting the full amino profile, you are leaving muscle support on the table.
Midlife muscle is not optional.
If you don’t have them, this is your sign — you MUST order protein helper.
You can grab them here (and if you use code NATALIEJILL at checkout they gave you a discount!) I am telling you, these are a LIFE SAVER!
Now I’m off to celebrate in 50 degree “heat.”
If this is what 80 looks like, we are just getting started. Talk next week.
-Natalie Jill
The post 80 Years, Stage 4 Cancer, Spinal Surgery, Light, Feng Shui…and the MUST Have Protein Helper appeared first on Natalie Jill Fitness.
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