[LYOF Podcast – E07] Jacqui Jacobs. Paramedic. Improved health – Improved life.

This episode turned out as great as I thought it would. My sister, Jacqui, is a pretty unique individual, in many ways. One way, is her ability from a young age to “let things go”. She was always very good at not caring about things other people cared about - I guess it’s a sign of not having much of an ego (“ego” being built from past and future thoughts) – which is a great attribute for helping reduce “stress”. Jac talks about her dislike of the word “stress” and gives us a much better way to approach and deal with stress. She’s also pretty funny so I hope you get entertained as well as learn something from this show. After nursing for many years, Jac became a paramedic and has continually gained higher qualifications through work. We talk about how she deals with the traumatic experiences she encounters and the times she has had to talk to the employee provided psychiatrist  and the unique circumstances that lead to that. Jac gives us a great insight into how she changed her approach to health in her late 30’s and still maintained her incredibly balanced lifestyle. We chat about how she keeps on track to achieving goals for living pain free and enjoying exercise more than when in her twenties. One of her goals is her annual 100km walk for MedEarth charity, which we talk about. If you’d like to donate here is the link to Jac’s fundraising page. A pretty amazing feat for someone who had pain walking 1km before putting her health and movement as a priority. We cover the changes that helped get her there and much more. A big part of her change was due to employing Chris Jones from Primal Movement to help with a holistic approach and be accountable for her actions. We interviewed Chris in a previous episode about his business Primal Movement, helping Jac and his other clients, and how he survived being crushed by a huge tree last Christmas. Jac and I have a laugh and discover how she influenced her partner to get involved in the cooking at home, and then become a good cook himself, which is pretty important for the nights she gets home late from work and now can eat healthy home cooked meals Barry has prepared for her. Night shift is a big factor of health and for some can’t be avoided. We talk about the impact of night shift work on health, and also on food cravings. There is some gold advice for anyone of all walks of life in this chat, and is also a fascinating insight into life as a paramedic, and as a Jacobs sibling! haha. And lastly, if you liked this podcast please donate to Jac’s 100km walk fundraising page for Med Earth. It’s an incredible charity, and it would help me stay Jac’s favourite brother if you donate and mention this podcast ;)  haha! Beat this Tim! Thanks everyone! Have a great day! And if it's not going great so far, take a few slow breaths into your belly and pause for a moment. Don't sweat the small stuff, and stop thinking about the stuff that will make you feel crap, just like Jac does everyday. PJ