Day 143

In just over 20 weeks my life has been turned upside down, sideways and flipped over.  I still remember being just a few days into the program and looking back I realize I had NO IDEA what I was getting into.

5 months ago I went through a series of tests to figure out exactly what was going on with my body. Blood tests, spit test and even a stool sample (gross). The findings were depressing and a little scary. I had high cholesterol, low vitamin D levels, almost non-existant cortisol levels, my blood sugar was all over the place. I was also gaining weight despite regular exercise. My thyroid levels were also low. Plus I had a parasite, a gastrointestinal yeast infection and bad bacteria growing in my stomach/digestive track. I was also sensitive to Whey protein, Hemp (dang, no more smoking weed), Oats, Corn and much more.

It was an overwhelming amount of information to take in. Here I was, only 23 years old, with all of these problems. I cried, and then I became determined. For the first time in my life my health was almost entirely in MY hands. My behavior would change the way I feel. I wasn't going to depend completely on medication and hoped it worked. With the help of nutricuticals my diet could almost completely eliminate every problem I had. I took a Vitamin D supplement for a while and a supplement that helped kill my parasite. I was also giving a prescription for my thyroid. Despite the supplements I had been given, I was told that 80% of my success would come from my diet. By eliminating certain food groups like iodized (table) salt, processed and unnatural sugars, gluten, most dairy products and pretty much anything in a box or bag (minus frozen veggies) I was able to transform my entire life.

If you have been reading about my journey you know it's been hard. It's been one of the hardest things I've had to go through. Because of that, it has also been one of the most rewarding things I have gone through.

Well a few weeks ago I got my blood taken again and here are the new results:

My cholesterol levels dropped more than 40 points with all but 2 of those points being the bad cholesterol. My vitamin D levels are now at a healthy range and my blood sugar has stabilized. Thanks to my medication my thyroid levels have come back to a normal level and I no loner have anything weird growing in my stomach. My body now releases the stress hormone Cortisol so I am able to run further than I ever thought possible. It can now handle the stress. I have lost 25 pounds and my skin has finally cleared up.

After seeing my results my doctor told me there is nothing in those results that we need to work on. He is happy with what he sees. He said at this point it's a matter of learning how to maintain these habits for the rest of my life because that is what will continue to make me healthy. I would like to think that the foundation has been laid to keep on this path but I'm not naive enough to hope that it will ever become extremely easy to live this way.

I will just take it one sweet potato at a time.