10 Oct When Your Bucket List Bites Back (Literally)
đź’Ś Notes from Natalie
Hi friend,
I am finally back in the swing of things after what felt like an entire season of Survivor: Bali Edition. You know that trip you plan forever, dream about, build up in your head to be pure paradise… and then it laughs at you? Yeah, that was me and Bali. (I will spare you the whole recap as I shared that with you last week!)
Don’t get me wrong, there were beautiful spots. But wow, that place had surprises. And not the good kind. I came home with the dreaded Bali Belly Bug. Not exactly the souvenir I had in mind. 🤪
As you know, I’ve worked so hard on my gut health over the past few years. Explant surgery, moving out of mold, studying everything I could about detox and digestion. So naturally, I went to Bali with my full gut armor: probiotics, enzymes, clean water, sensible eating. I basically traveled like a wellness prepper.
And I still got hit.
It threw me for a loop, not just physically but mentally. When you think you’ve got your health all figured out and your gut’s like, “Ha! Watch this,” it’s humbling.
So what did I do?
I started with a gentle prescription, then my doctor added Flagyl. I took two doses and suddenly turned into an itchy, hive-covered human strawberry. My throat started to tighten, and I was like, “Nope, not today, pharmaceutical roulette.” Tossed it in the trash and decided to do this my way. Back to my gut regimen, what I’ve learned, and detox mode on! Hydrogen and sauna are must.
Since getting home, I’ve been easing back into normal life. But upping my detox regimen
My meals have been… let’s just say “beige chic.” Think rice, maybe a banana if I’m feeling wild. Normally I’m all about high protein, fiber, veggies, and fruit, but right now my stomach’s like, “Absolutely not.”
What I am loving being back to (and they are both helping me get the Bali gunk out!)
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My sauna. Normally I use it to relax, detox, and feel good, but now it feels like my body’s best friend. After all this, sweating it out feels like therapy. And it’s great for lymph flow, which after Bali I think I really needed.
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My hydrogen breathing machine. You might have seen me on Instagram looking like a cross between a spa queen and a science experiment (as you can see below LOL). I’ve used hydrogen tablets and water before, but breathing it is next level. It’s been amazing for detox, inflammation, and gut repair. 💯
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I’ve been testing a few different machines (yes, I’ve turned my house into a wellness lab), and there’s one I’m loving most. I’ll share which one soon, but for now I’m doing something even better.
What you may have missed this week:
📸 On the Gram
I’ve been oversharing my Bali saga. Honestly, at this point my stories are basically a reality show called Natalie vs. Parasites. I DID post a new video on how I’m using my sauna post-surgery and post-Bali to get my energy back. Watch it by clicking the image below 👇
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🎙️ On the Podcast
I released an episode with my DNA expert friend about detoxing smarter and how hydrogen ties into it. Watch it by clicking the image below or listen on Apple here and Spotify here.
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đź’ Thought For The Week
My 18-year-old daughter hit me with a truth bomb the other day. She said,
“Mom, I realized I need to consume less and create more. When I consume less, I feel inspired to create more.”
Mic drop.
It got me thinking about how true that is for all of us. We scroll, we read, we overthink, and sometimes the best medicine is to just create. Write, move, speak, build — whatever makes you feel alive again.
So that’s my focus this week. Less consuming, more creating. And maybe a little less rice.
Until next week, keep sweating, sipping, and staying curious.
Love,
đź’– Natalie Jill
