Hello Vitamins, We Meet Again
Depending on who you ask, self-care can mean different things. For some, it’s a relaxing epsom salt soak after a long day at work. Other people think it’s a trip to their local Sephora or Ulta. On another hand, I think self-care and wellness are interchangeable. It wasn’t always this way though.
I used to try to separate the two because self-care felt like a trendy buzz word, but now I don’t feel the need to do that. In my opinion, prioritizing your wellbeing — mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically — is taking care of yourself.
Treating yourself falls under that category (IYKYK), but my primary focus right now is making sure my internal world is healthy. How, you ask? Well, I’m starting simple by taking vitamins.
My Doctor Made Me Do It
“Are you thinking about conceiving again,” my doctor asked me in my post-op appointment. It was a question I’d been asking myself following my second surgery because I was scared, but I also didn’t want to make any impulsive decisions based on that. So, I took a deep breath and said, “I think we’d like to try again in another 4-6 months. You know, just to give my body time to heal.”
She could’ve easily sent me on my merry way, but she then asked about birth control methods in the interim and told me what she’d like me to do prior to approaching pregnancy. “I already told your fiancé absolutely no alcohol for you, but I also want you to start taking prenatal vitamins now.” Coming from a Black OBGYN that specializes in high-risk pregnancies, I knew to trust what she said.
It’s been a little over a month since I’ve started taking my prenatal vitamins, but I can already sense a difference. My skin’s inflammation has calmed down after back-to-back hormonal shifts and I’m not craving certain things like I used to. Honestly, I’d gotten to the point where I couldn’t go a day without juice, cookies or mild square snack cheese from Publix or Kroger. The fact I’m über specific about my last craving should tell you all you need to know.
I’ve also stopped eating pasta weekly, including spaghetti, and guess what? I can comfortably button my size 8 pants again. Don’t judge me, but I’ve been consistently bloated for a while. Though it’s still there, I can see it slowly starting to disappear and that makes me happy. Like, it feels good to not feel stuffed in my clothes because whew! The struggle has been real. But, guess what? I didn’t stop with prenatal vitamins.
Entering the World of Black Girl Vitamins
God has a funny sense of humor even when we don’t always see the vision. For the past couple of years, I’d been curious about Black Girl Vitamins, but I’d always stop short of switching my vitamins. Oh, who am I kidding? I stopped taking vitamins at the end of 2023 and always made an excuse for why I couldn’t start again.
But, the Black Girl Vitamins team reached out to me a few weeks ago about a new launch of theirs and I knew this was God’s way of supporting my efforts…of encouraging me to keep up the good work with my wellness journey. I mean, hello? I’m specifically focused on The Jasmine Jenai Edit and Black Girl Vitamins recognizes that. Amazing, right?
I was able to sit in on a press junket where I learned about their latest launch, Her Balance Vaginal Probiotics, and was sent over a bottle along with the Once a Day Gummies. To know me is to understand that I love probiotics when I’m locked into my wellness journey. From Kombucha to capsules, I know taking care of my gut and vaginal health are essential.
Her Balance Vaginal Probiotics
Once a Day Gummies
The Final Takeway
Realistically, I know taking vitamins and cutting out certain foods are just a portion of my wellness journey. There’s also staying consistent with exercises to support daily movement. I’ve been doing a better job of getting up from my desk at my 9-5 every hour for 5 minutes at a time, but next I want to incorporate walks on my lunch break. Eventually I’ll get there, but for now? I’m taking pride in being consistent with my vitamins because it shows me that I’m capable of getting back on track after having a lackluster wellness journey for the past few years.
What are some ways you’ve been taking care of your health this year?
