Be Well With Michelle

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I’m having fancy, paleo waffles for breakfast. And I am working to love every bite.
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Only a few days after my body love post (oh my goodness, thank you all for all the love on that) and I am noticing my brain starting to change bit by bit, for the better.
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One way I notice this is in a slowly decreasing lack of food guilt.
Permission to enjoy food: GRANTED.
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It does take a lot energy to embrace that permission. It takes a lot of energy to practice embracing my current self now, versus embracing the idea of a much more stereotypically fit and productive version of myself. I have a lot MORE thoughts in my brain — I have both the negative and the positive.
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It can be a lot. But it is definitely cool when the positive thoughts beat out the negative ones. Maybe I will transition to having mostly positive thoughts? Or maybe my stamina for all of the thoughts will increase?
I dunno!
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Trying to be optimistic.
I guess that is a huge part of all of this.
TRYING... that feels like a millennial concept in my brain that I don’t want to embrace.
Participation award mentality and all that...
Hmmm...
Never did I think a waffle post would get so deep.
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I guess I am not sure about all these thoughts.
But. I am sure about these waffles.
👍🏻👍🏻
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This is what I wear under most outfits when it’s chilly outside.
(Oh hey snow in April in Chicago.)
My brain tells me I should never wear something like this on its own. I am worried about sharing what my body actually looks like with the world.
Why? Because I have tried so hard to hide my true proportions most of my life. I judge the lower half of my body because it isn’t as small as the upper half of my body.
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My thighs aren’t the same size as my calves.
My hips have dips.
My arms are so long and lanky.
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Like many women, I have a daily, internal battle of wanting to love all of me but not always knowing how. Wanting someone else to validate me, but realizing I also have to learn how to validate myself.
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I have never seen someone with my body. But instead of waiting for my body to show up on someone else’s Instagram, I will post it on mine. With fear, but with confidence.
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Thirty years into life, and I have decided to go full out with this body acceptance journey. To start wearing outfits I like and to embrace the way MY body looks in them, as opposed to what someone else’s body looks like in them. •
I am doing this for myself, but I am also doing this for anyone out there who may need to see and read this.
And I am doing this for my hypothetical, future kids. So that they see me loving all of myself, and they will want to love all of themselves too. •

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Spring in the Midwest is the best.
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I love Spring.
A lot.
Lots of love for Spring.
Growing up in California, I never reeeeally saw Spring. I had visited snowy places, but never Spring-y places!
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Blossoming trees are SOME.THING.ELSE. Seeing them legitimately increases my mood... and overall quality of life. 😂👍🏻
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Corner view of a passionfruit cheesecake from .
This is the first place I ever got dessert from in Chicago, nearly two years ago, and it is still my favorite.
All their items are raw and vegan, and most are grain-free as well! QUITE delicious, and super beautiful too.
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Anyone in the Chicago area with food sensitivities or restrictions, I absolutely recommend you check this place out. They have great meal and snack food stuffs too, along with the fancy and fun desserts.
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Where is your favorite Chicago food place that accommodates all kinda of dietary preferences??
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(Plate shoutout to .)
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I SAW A SPRING TREE TODAY!!!
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As I continue learning about my Chicago surroundings and how to make them feel like home, I CHOOSE acknowledge and give space to the childlike joy in seeing a blossoming tree.
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When I post my dancing videos, I use that phrase very intentionally. Happiness doesn’t always sit in your lap, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is far away.
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What happy do you choose to find today?
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Wishing Dana of WellSpring Healing Arts the happiest of birthdays!!!
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Find people who inspire you to be a light!! I am incredibly grateful to have found that in Dana.
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My dressing room thoughts are not the friendliest thoughts.
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As I was pants shopping earlier today... I remembered why I hate pants shopping.
Finding a “good” fit is so odd and difficult.
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I found myself posing different ways, and approving of myself from certain angles, while frowning at other angles.
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I found myself getting frustrated that women’s pants don’t go off of measurements, but instead assign numbers that definitely don’t translate from brand to brand.
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I found myself feeling upset that I grew up learning to value myself with numbers — height, weight, calorie intake, pants size.
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And now that I’m an adult, I find myself feeling overwhelmed that I get to add the numbers for LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure...
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It’s enough to create a super sour mood on an otherwise perfectly fine day.
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So. I sent this picture to a friend I was texting with, and her feedback was totally reasonable, unlike my overly self-critical feedback.
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It’s okay to get angry at systems that created unhealthy and unhappy thought processes in your mind. It is also okay to ask for validation from those you trust when you feel all the lame feels from those unhappy thought processes.
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Thank you, , for the validation of my frustration, as well as the perspective shift to help me see that I do really like these pants.
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I bought them.
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“Strong women lift each other up.”
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Cheers to wonderful women. ❤️
Drinking: REVV tea at — an herbal, organic citrus ginger tea.
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It was both snowing AND sunshining the other day so of course I ran outside to take a photo. It was like shimmering fairy dust was falling from the sky.
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Lots of people are saying: “Spring is just around the corner!” to get through the gloomy days.
I do look forward to springtime. ..
I also still think snow is really pretty and cool.

I did a post for !!!
Repost below!!
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IG TAKEOVER DAY 1 - ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Loving Confrontation through TCM Acupressure Points ⁣
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TCM = Traditional Chinese Medicine! (Also Turner Classic Movies, but, for the purpose of this post, it’s Traditional Chinese Medicine.)⁣
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Chicago bestie Dana is a shiatsu massage therapist and sparked my interest in TCM. After a handful of massage treatments from her, I curiously started looking up information about acupressure points.⁣
And.⁣
There is a LOT of information “out there” about them.⁣
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I’m gonna focus on two of them in this post: He Gu, AKA LI4, AKA Large Intestine 4 (pictured with ❤), and Kidney 1 (not pictured, but will be described).⁣
((Do you even He Gu, bro?))⁣
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Let’s start with He Gu! This is the acupressure point most people are probably familiar with in some way. So. What the heck is it used for?⁣
Headaches...⁣
Congestion...⁣
Stress...⁣
Dana once described it to me as as the body’s “reset button.”⁣
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I had a head cold during one session when Dana was working on me, and every time she went to the He Gu point my sinuses felt clear and my head fog seemed to evaporate. There was also a sense of calmness of mind. ⁣
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Speaking of calmness of mind, my other favorite acupressure point is Kidney 1, which is located on the sole of the foot. ⁣
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Directions to Kidney 1!⁣
Start with your left foot. ⁣
Imagine the bottom of your foot is divided into four, even quadrants. Start just above the horizontal line and to the left of the vertical line in the top left quadrant. Press thumb pad to this point and slide until you are just below the ball of your foot.⁣
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When this point is used, I feel my mind go completely blank... BUTINSUCHAGOODWAY.⁣
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My mind is so busy all the time. A highly analytical (and often skeptical/questioning) mindset is my norm, but it is sometimes necessary to take a break from my own thoughts. Both He Gu and Kidney 1 provide me with relief and relaxation I have had trouble attaining through meditation or other means.⁣
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PART 2 CONTINUED IN COMMENTS!

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Found these tasty treasures at a . (Back when I was in California for vacation. Have not seen Grocery Outlet stores in the Midwest anywhere. Sad face.)
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Anywho! They were delicious. I sort of learned how to use my brother and SIL’s toaster oven on the way to deliciousness. I don’t think I was very efficient about it. But. It was un-frozen when I ate it. So. Yay!
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Aaaaaaand here are dem Paleo- friendly ingredients:
Almond Flour, Water, Egg, Honey, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Evaporated Cane Juice, Natural Chocolate Liquor (Non-Alcoholic), Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter), Cocoa Powder, Coconut Flour, Egg Whites, Kosher Salt, Baking Soda. •

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Nothing like FRESH PRESSED juice.
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I have struggled to find a place in Chicago that makes juices in front of you. There are plenty of pre-bottled places, but that’s not what I craaaaaave.
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My old grocery home of California Fresh Market takes organic veggies and juices them to order! I got one off the menu called “Optimum Detox” that is a whole lot of greeeeeeen.
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Juice can be a great way to add some veggies and nutrients to your life. It’s also a decent alternative to caffeine if you’re taking a break from or avoiding that.
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Breakfast with Dylan’s family was delicious.
There were SO many options because we are a group of diverse eaters!
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I have my mainly-paleo dietary needs, there is also one vegetarian, two gluten-free vegans, and three anything-goes eaters. The final plates were all different but all beautiful and .
(Learning cool words from The Great British Baking Show. 👍🏻)
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Most (maybe all?) eats were organic, or non-GMO. Eggs were organic and cage-free. Potatoes were made in an air fryer.
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And shoutout to the gluten-free vegans of the group that are ! They actually just posted a seven-day meal plan of gluten-free, vegan eats. It’s in the link in their bio. 💚👍🏻
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The tradition of a turtle-bread-baking event was smaller than usual, but still alive and well. Mom bought a artisan bread mix, and we shaped out some cute little friends to munch on with a grain-free soup.
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Family holiday traditions are their own kind of special. I am grateful that there are ways to keep them going even when my food restrictions have changed so much since I was a kid.
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A simple, delicious, paleo-friendly breakfast at Mom’s.
It has been an amazing yesterday and today so far. Family is everything. Food is also great. ❤️
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Straying away from typical food restrictions...
Is it worth it?
Today, it was.
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My boss brought homemade peppermint bark and flourless brownies into work today. The peppermint bark has white and dark chocolate (with milk) and the brownies were made with butter.
Dairy is something I never include in any of my own cooking, and also something I avoid when eating when out at restaurants.
HOWEVER. Today, I chose to not avoid it.
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Because of this small amount of dairy I consumed, the mildest of stomach twists followed. But it was definitely with it.
Also, it really is a compliment to eat (and enjoy) other people’s homemade food.
So. Bonus thing.
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TIS (my phone autocorrected that three times in a row to “it’s”) the season to eat all the sweets...
Similar to the rest of the year... for me, anyway.
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But THESE sweets were baked and shared by my Team Leader at work!
We overlap in some food sensitivities, but I have a few more restrictions than he does.
What does that mean for today?
I am eating things with dairy in them.
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Dairy is something I never add to any of my own food, and avoid as best I can when eating out as well.
HOWEVER. When someone says they have homemade dark chocolate/white chocolate/peppermint candy bark (white chocolate has milk) and homemade flourless brownies (made with butter).... you are allowed to decide if it is “worth it.”
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And. In small amounts. For special occasions. For me. It is definitely worth it.
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Selfies are great. (Seriously, I love that people can document themselves doing things.) HOWEVER. Having someone else take a photo of you is pretty nice too — they can capture moments you wouldn’t think to.
At brunch the other day with Dylan, I tried to seriously pose with my espresso shot. I ended up liking this mid-giggle outtake he got of me better.
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It ended up being a super fun and lovely day, but I was nervous about it going well.
Why?
Because I have a fear of being boring to other people.
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Dylan told me to plan a day that I would enjoy, and even with that permission I worried he would be let down by it.
This worry is one of the reasons I tend to choose alone time over social time.
While I do really need my alone time to recharge, I also use it to do the simple things I like without worrying about boring others. That is my self-absorbed, social-related insecurity. I choose to make my free time about me so that I don’t have to worry about “them.”
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However, when I make myself aware of the other side of it, when I DO make it about the other person... that is when I realize that people are actually happy to do things for and with each other, even if it isn’t something they would choose to do alone.
For that, I am so grateful.
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Also, “boring” is subjective. The more I think about this, the more of a small fire I have inside me, to be honest. If someone thinks you are boring, maybe don’t spend time with them. That isn’t a positive energy to be around, and could keep you from doing things that make you very happy.
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Okay, that took an unexpected turn. But I am glad it did. I feel much more lifted after writing this that I could have anticipated.
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I find myself my more into holiday-y things this year than I am used to. They are comforting to me. I feel genuinely tickled when I see wreaths on street lamps or decorations on houses or Christmas trees lit up in windows.
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While I don’t want to sound like a broken record... my broken record self and patterns in human thoughts and behavior are real. So here’s that track y’all have heard before, some internal hardship followed by some optimism:
I am having waves of homesickness, and the holidays seem to increase the frequency of those waves.
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Those waves give me opportunities to choose to find bits of happiness where I can, and to do my best to focus on feeling present with those bits of happiness.
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I take photos of things that make me feel happy. I dance to songs that make me feel happy. I watch cheesy Christmas movies that make me feel happy. I craft and decorate my house to make me feel happy. I go out for coffee or tea with friends to share the happy with someone.
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And I keep encouraging and loving words of friends and family especially close to heart this time of year. One friend recently said:
“The first few holidays away from home are so hard. But you’ll be ok! And it gets easier. And home and family and your friends are always here.”
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My chin is up in this moment. It will nod up and down the next few weeks until I am able to visit so many loved ones back in California.
Throughout it all, I want to choose gratitude and happiness wherever and however I can.
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Cheers, with a cup full of green tea, beet juice, and MCT oil.
I am also roasting some beets right now (with coconut oil, salt, and pepper) for later noms.
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”Why?!” (you might ask.)
“Because the body and mind are all connected, doncha know??” (I might respond, as I live in the Midwest now.)
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After a Chinese shiatsu massage this morning from at , I was recommended dark red foods to support my “kidney.”
(Kidney is in quotations because Chinese medicine kidney is diff from what you typically think of as a kidney.)
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The “kidney” can be associated with fear. While there are many things I love about my life right now, I also have a fairly constant feeling of being unsettled. For me, unsettled translates to a lack of groundedness (new word I just made up), and very much a form of fear.
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So. I had my muscles and meridians worked on. I have some mental things I have been working on (and will continue to work on). And now I have some food things to help with all of the working-ons!
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I may also add in some cherries of some form to this dark red food adventure. Stay tuned.
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In a moment of feeling very bummed out the other day, I walked over to Dylan, buried my face in his shoulder, and mumbled: “Why is life so hard?”
He hugged me tightly and responded: “Because if life wasn’t so hard, we would never be able to improve.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
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Him saying that didn’t make life easier, but it provided some light and optimism for my foggy and sad mind. My #1 Love Language is Words Of Affirmation, and hearing an encouraging phrase from someone I love and trust can really help me out of a wonky mood.
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Find out what fills your love tank, and find people who love to do or say the things to fill it.
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Soup for DAYS.
SOUPER spicy.
😆🤣😂 ⬅️ tears mostly from cayenne
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The recipe I used as inspiration is called “Flu Buster” from the website cupcakesandkalechips.com. Ingredients include: carrots, potatoes, celery, cauliflower, zucchini, ginger, lemon juice, onion, garlic, turmeric, and cayenne — I used organic chicken bone broth instead of veggie broth, and coconut oil instead of olive oil. The recipe also suggests using Greek yogurt, which my paleo self omitted.
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TO BE HONEST... I couldn’t really taste it the first day I made it. I had Dylan taste it for me, and when his eyes started watering almost immediately, I knew it was seasoned how I wanted. (Thank you, and sorry, Dylan.)
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What is your favorite soup for sick days???
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brought to you by and the Korean Market a quarter mile from our place.
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Sweet potato noodles and coconut aminos are the main swapped food items you will need. Everything else just use what toppings and spices and add-ins you like, and voila!
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#잘먹겠습니다

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Matcha Yogurt
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- Add 1/2 Tsp Matcha and 1 Tbsp Raw Honey to 2/3 Cup Yogurt of choice.
- Mix well.
- Top with Chia Seeds, Cinnamon, more Matcha, and more Honey!
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I used Cashewgurt, Organic Matcha, Cinnamon, Chia Seeds, and a Local Raw Honey.
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Note: A big spoonful of chia Seeds was added after this photo was taken. It adds such a great crunch!
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So cool that the Whole30 is able to support this!!

Having an on-call 24/7 family doctor has been a game-changer for my family, and thanks to SteadyMD, Dr. Henriksen can be your doctor, too. No co-pays. No office visits. No waiting. Just 24/7 access to your own personal doctor, offering healthcare support in a connected, personalized, one-on-one environment.” - Melissa

We are excited to announce that for the first time ever, you can now partner with a primary care doctor who understands and who can support you during your Whole30 journey and beyond! Dr. Rick Henriksen, the personal doctor to Melissa Hartwig and his team at SteadyMD are changing the way healthcare works in America, and we're excited for you to see how it works, too.

SteadyMD is now accepting Whole30 patients in the following states: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA. Don't live in these states? No problem. Sign up now and get notified when a Whole30 doctor is licensed in your state.

https://w30.co/SteadyMD

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Foodiegramming in the snoooooow.
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This photo is brought to you thanks to the deliciousness of .snacks and the beauty of tiny frozen things falling from the sky!
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Unreal Snacks makes super tasty candies, and many that are grain-free and dairy-free!!
I keep mine refrigerated. Or... in the snow.
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Who else leaves their groceries in the car during winter weather times??
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GRAIN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, PROTEIN, PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES
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It has been a while since I measured all my ingredients and wrote them down and formed them into a post. But, here we are!!
I will put which brands I used in parentheses.
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Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup Non-GMO, Canned Pumpkin (365 by Whole Foods Market)
- 1/2 Cup Coconut Flour (bobsredmill.com)
- 2 Cage-Free Eggs (Kirkland from Costco)
- 3 Tbsp Organic Tapioca Flour (Arrowhead Mills)
- 1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (Vega Sport, Pea Protein)
- 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Spice Seasoning (Trader Joe's - Chicago , IL)
- 1/4 Cup Organic MCT Oil (Nutiva)
- 6 Tbsp Honey (Local)
- 2 Tbsp Organic Maple Syrup (Simply Balanced from Target)
- 1 Tbsp Non-GMO, Creamy, Unsalted Almond Butter (MaraNatha Nut Butters)
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract (Kirkland)
- 1 Tsp Baking Soda (Trader Joe’s — sourced from tapioca and not corn)
- 1 Pinch (or a few cranks) Himalayan Pink Salt (Kirkland)
- Organic Coconut Oil, for brushing onto cookie sheet (Nutiva)
- Optional: Raw Almonds, to top cookies (Kirkland)
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Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven to 350 F
2. Mix liquid-y ingredients together: Pumpkin, Eggs, MCT oil, Honey, Maple Syrup, Vanilla, and Almond Butter
3. Add in dry ingredients: Coconut Flour, Tapioca Flour, Protein Powder, Baking Soda, and Salt
4. Stir until well combined — I used a chopstick to mix it all together
5. Brush melted coconut oil on cookie sheet, and measure out 1 Tbsp of dough per cookie — lift cookie sheet and gently tap on counter/flat surface a few times to spread out the dough
6. Optional Step: Gently press almonds onto tops of cookies
7. Bake for 12 minutes
8. Let cool if you want, or eat ‘em warm — I dipped mine in a bit of maple syrup 😋
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These cookies are softer and puffier than I imagined. You could prolly flatten them out a decent amount and cook them for a bit longer to get crispy cookies. Also, if you wanna go full Paleo with this, use a legume-free protein powder. I really like the taste of this Vega Sport one for baking adventures.
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ENJOY.
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EVERY DAY IS THE BEST DAY.
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A friend(/old coworker) used to say this all the time back in California. I picked it up while I worked with her — the more I said it, the more I understood it and believed it.
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But I hadn’t said it since I moved to Chicago, until today.
Just in passing, when talking to someone at work, I used it, and I felt it too!
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I have a big smile on because of it.
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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Even being very far away from most of my loves today, I feel SO grateful for all the amazing people I have met in my life.
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Here is a photo of breakfast. The thing next to the eggs is made of mostly of eggs, with some tapioca starch and water and salt too. A thin, paleo, tortilla of sorts.
Eggs for the win.
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Today is filled with a mix of optimism and frustration. I feel SO MUCH better than I did when I injured myself two weeks ago. But I still have a ways to go til I am 100%.
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Danced for a bit. Now sitting down for a longer bit.
My still-healing intercostals let me know when I need to stop a certain kind of movement. Today, I am listening to them.
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Watching my crew dance while I sit down is like being a kid seeing other kids play with a new toy and not being able to play along.
But if I try to dance now, I’ll probably be out for even longer.
So...
Patience.......
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Not a natural state of mind for me.
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How do YOU find peace in patience?
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