3 Weeks of Whole30

Now I know what you're thinking "Um, Megan....whole30 is something you do for 30 days...hence the name?" and you're correct. Except we only did it for 3 weeks so let's call is Whole21 for this post shall we?

4 weeks ago Bart started up the conversation about how he was feeling exhausted all the time, was emotionally eating (he was at the peak of the business between end of school, start of summer football and start of a new semester for his masters) and just overall not feeling super awesome about himself. So of course I immediately took advantage of his vulnerability and said we should do Whole30! It's not a secret that I have stuck to an anti-inflammatory diet for the last 4 years, but Whole30 is even different and "more strict" than that! So after some discussing and "but can I just have ranch and one cheat meal? (no and no)" he finally agreed to do it with me. This is the FIRST TIME EVER Bart has agreed to do something like this with me that actually had real rules with no exceptions and a required length of time. I was totally pumped because I see so much value in real food and it's connection with health that I knew this would be awesome for him. I was also looking forward to having some motivation for myself too.

So I make a menu, stock up on food and we get this party started. I think Bart asked "how do we feel about Ranch?" multiple times that first week- but he stuck to it! I have to say it was totally easy for me to do this kind of restrictive eating when he was along for the ride. We both had the same things for dinner. I didn't have to worry about adding anything to his plate. He complained about the situation, but not about me and my cooking :) I finally had my person on board with the boring and depressing way I had to eat- haha!

We got the hang of it and got sick of eating eggs for breakfast. Our new favorite snack was a heated up apple sausage with mustard on it. mmmm. Bart ate more vegetables than he had in the last year combined. I was more motivated and did much better too. I usually can have corn and rice, but Whole30 says nay, so we didn't. That was an adjustment for both of us, but I realized I am totally good without it! Bart really missed rice and tortillas, but seemed to be fine without bread. He also really missed his milk. I can usually eat dairy, but Whole30 says nope to that too, and again, I didn't miss cheese or yogurt that much at all! Sure, those things are convenient and make for a quick healthy snack, but not having them wasn't a big issue for me. Bart did fine without them too (although we both agreed cheese makes EVERYTHING taste better).

The hardest thing for both of us was our craving for sweets. A sweet at the end of a long day or on a Sunday night when the kids are in bed- let's just say we tried to fill that void with a smoothie or a bowl of fruit but it didn't quite hit the spot. I am so proud of Bart for staying away from Pepsi! Even though our Whole21 has ended (more on that later) he still hasn't had any soda. Proud wife moment.

Bart lost about 7 pounds almost instantly and I've lost 5 this past month. We weren't too motivated to exercise religiously so I say that's a pretty nice side effect! Bart didn't say "I'm tired" ONCE  that first week and didn't need a Saturday nap (which was pretty awesome). I could tell he was seeing a change, even if he wasn't super vocal about it, because he really didn't complain or ask if we could be done. (okay, so he only did that a handful of times.)

To be honest, we stopped at 21 days because we were both just over it! Bored of the food, and straight up sick of all the time it took to cook/prep. We also felt like we had gained some really good habits and broke a lot of our bad ones (there's something about that 21 day mark!) We also had a discussion before we officially stopped and decided what we wanted to add back in. So we are saying yes to rice (even though I'll probably not include that just because I've been fine without it) and milk for him (but not the rest of the dairy products) and then a sweet treat on the weekends. Whole30 has SO MUCH PREP WORK in the kitchen. Like soooo many dishes and time spent prepping and cooking and cleaning. It can feel a bit much sometimes. But I tried to embrace it and find recipes that were realistic for us to cook and enjoy without taking hours to make. I should note that Kenzie ate mostly what we did, but did have yogurt and sandwiches for lunches here and there.

As much as I hated spending all that time in the kitchen, I was reminded of how warped our perception of eating has become. Our grandparents or great-grandparents spent all day in the kitchen cooking for the next meal. Real food means real cooking. And I'm trying to embrace that. We don't eat prepackaged/premade dinners anyway, but something about these specific food restrictions made it feel like we spent a lot more time prepping and cooking.

When we officially ended the first thing I ate was a bowl of plain cheerios with almond milk. It was so good- and then I INSTANTLY got a headache. -cue the eye roll emoji here- Despite it being gluten free, and only having 2 grams of sugar per serving, my body wasn't super happy about it. My autoimmune disease will always have a big impact on how my body reacts to things and at this point I've just gotten used to it!

So here is a sample menu from one of the weeks:

Breakfast:
Banana pancakes
Fried egg "sandwich" (fried egg on top and bottom with a piece of turkey in the middle)
Sweet potato hash
Scrambled eggs + fruit
Egg muffins
Sausage + veggie hash
Omlets

Lunch:
Leftovers!
Salsa chicken lettuce wraps
Turkey wraps (turkey, lettuce, bacon, avocado)
Salad

Dinner:
Fried cauliflower rice
Chicken poppers
Taco soup
Spaghetti squash + marinara sauce
Salmon + veggies
Pot roast + veggies
Veggie soup
Grilled chicken strip salad

Snacks:
Veggies + hummus
Apple + peanut butter
Fruit
Mixed nuts
Leftovers
Turkey slices


So as you can see, there's nothing fancy about this menu! It's just whole, real food. We didn't make any "whole30 ranch" or our own mayo. We just stuck with what was naturally whole food.

One of my favorite things about doing a restrictive diet like this for a set amount of weeks, is that it helps reset your eating habits. It teaches you what "hungry" feels like, and it helps your mind get over the thought that you really NEED that the-kids-survived-another-day-and-you-deserve-a-treat moment that comes every other night. I don't think it's realistic to do this long term, but I would recommend it to anyone who feels like their eating habits are out of control. Because learning to control your eating and diet is such an empowering feeling! Not to mention your body loves you for it too :)

30 Whole Days

It's no secret that nutrition has become a huge part of my life. The last three years I've been living on a moderated diet that excluded things like caffeine, gluten and fast food. There was a period of time as I was helping my body heal from several different things that I was even stricter than that. MUCH stricter. That temporary diet was never meant to be a lifelong crazy thing I had to uphold forever. When I got pregnant and when I was nursing, I felt the pressure to eat enough calories to keep my body/baby/milk supply functioning so I started getting further and further away from my recommended food plan.

This year I have mostly avoided gluten (but still ate it sometimes) and didn't really try too hard with sugar (eating it daily- most foods you eat have added sugar in them). It struck me last night that it's November. 2015 is almost over and I've gone a full year of not following my program. I know I still eat better than a lot of people, but I haven't been taking my auto-immune disease and my treatment plan seriously. I'm disappointed in myself, but I also know that this year my attention and focus has been needed other places, more than just what's on my dinner plate.

So I've been thinking a lot about what my next plan is going to be. How do I get back on track? How do I make that track realistic and doable for me? I'm still trying to figure it all out, but I have decided to dedicate the next 30 days to really focusing and trying.

Why 30 days? Because in 31 days my butt will be on a beautiful Mexico beach with my sexy husband and that sounds like a pretty good reward, doesn't it? If I can do really well and restart my behavior with food for 30 days, then on day 31 I think I will be able to enjoy my week long vacation a little more.

So I'm going back to my old rules, which means my thoughts and behaviors are going to revolve around that for a while. And that's OK. I think it's OK to sometimes take a moment and be selfish about your health. Forget that it might inconvenience others or take time/energy away from other worthy things. I think right now in my life, this thing is worthy.

I've never done the Whole30 program, and I don't plan on making my next 30 days a technical "whole30". I will be eating beans and quinoa (because we all know how much I LOVE quinoa). But many of my restrictions line up with the rules of Whole30. No added or processed sugar. No grains. Protein and veggies at every meal. I plan on having a little dairy in my diet which Whole30 doesn't allow.

So who cares? Probably no one. But I'm writing it down and sharing it with all of you so I hold myself accountable. I have done this before, and it was even harder because I was sick and my body was trying to heal.  I'm not doing this to lose weight or feel better about my body. I love my body right now and I'm proud of it. I'm healthy now, and I know this will just make me feel even better.

I stumbled across a blog where the girl documented what she ate every day during her Whole30 process and it was so helpful for me to have that visual! I'm going to have a weekly update of what my meals looked like, and how I am feeling. Again, mostly for me to have a reason to keep track. During my treatment program I had a doctor who I talked to every single week and he held me accountable. I'm hoping this plan helps me the same way he did!

So sit back and read my journey- or don't! I'm sure there will be plenty of other baby-filled posts to keep you occupied!

Daily Dose of Energy

My body never ceases to amaze me! The last several months I have been feeling pretty crappy. Not horrible, but I didn't have a lot of energy. I was needing to take a daily nap AND be in bed before 9pm just to hopefully function the next day. Since I wake up between 5-6 a.m. I just assumed that was part of the reason for my early bed time. But I was feeling overall frustrated with how I was feeling, specifically with my Hashimotos. It felt like I was so fragile and every little thing was throwing me into a flare up.

I finally got some blood work done and it turns out my thyroid was ridiculously low! Like, almost double the number for the low range. No wonder I felt so bad! The thing about Hashimotos is that it affects the thyroid pretty aggressively and I guess I never really got back on the right dose of thyroid medication after Mckenzie was born. Yikes!

After I started taking the increased dose of medication I noticed an instant difference and almost thought it was a bad thing! I was still use to taking a daily nap, but when I got into bed at 9pm I wasn't able to fall asleep for a few hours. Immediately I thought that must mean the dose is too high, but I stopped taking naps and things got a little better. I still wasn't falling asleep until after 10 or even 10:30pm (and anyone who knows me knows that's really late in my book!). Finally Bart said something that totally struck me. He said my body was so use to functioning at that lower level, that it got use to needing all that sleep. Now that my body is functioning at a higher level it doesn't need as much sleep- which means I don't need to go to bed as early. Ding ding ding! As soon as I adjusted my bedtime to be later I was back to falling asleep pretty quickly.

I definitely feel a lack of "thyroid" in the morning when I wake up and I just want to stay in bed, but once I'm up and take the dose and get going for the day- I really do feel great. Now I sometimes take a nap, but more for relaxation than for necessity. ;) I am feeling so much better and I love that sometimes it's just a little tweak that can get everything working again!

The crappy part of this health journey

Ugh. Health. It's a &%$@& sometimes isn't it??

I've been dealing with a Hashimotos flare up lately and it's been really hard to stay positive and not just say screw it. At the end of my 6 month treatment I felt so good. The best I can remember feeling my entire life. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. I felt like I was able to find a pretty good balance and I had adjusted to all the changes I had to make. I was good. So good, that I was able to get pregnant! I had a healthy pregnancy and I had a beautiful healthy baby girl. And it's all been downhill from there.

But Megan, you aren't eating as good as you use to. You aren't as strict. You aren't as obsessed. And you're right. I'm not. and I don't think I will ever be able to be that strict again. It's just not worth it to me to obsess about everything that goes into my mouth when I feel like I have better things to worry about. See my dilemma? Obsess and feel good. Or don't obsess, live life and feel not as good. Is there a happy medium when it comes to an autoimmune disease? If there is I'm just not seeing it right now.

I am so happy with so many aspects of my life right now, but my health isn't one of them. I haven't been able to progress in my running like I was hoping to, I still have 10 pounds to lose from my baby weight and my energy level is pretty low. It's hard because I know how good I could feel, and yet I'm not there. Even my doctors have told me that I shouldn't have to live a completely strict original diet to feel good. But I just don't know if I want to keep spending money to figure out all the little details of what might be wrong with me. I know it was worth it before, but it's starting to feel like a never ending money pit.

I have always felt like balance is the most important thing in life and especially in health. What's the point of having a perfectly healthy body if you can't have a healthy and sane mind along with it? I know health is a constant journey. I just don't like this part!

Cheeseless

Day 5 of eating my anti inflammatory diet. Remember that one? The original? As in no eggs, corn or cheese (or gluten, sugar, soy, processed food, etc)? Ya. That one. FIVE DAYS! I honestly haven't done that since the beginning of my Hashimotos days. Whenever I've gone back to my strict diet I've always included at least eggs and usually corn and cheese too.

After several several several months of not behaving- I had just had enough. I knew it was time to restart and get disciplined. It's ALL about discipline. The first two days were actually pretty easy which was surprising because they are usually the hardest and the reason I always end up adding things back in. But by day 3 I had really committed and it seemed like a waste to just "cheat". I had made it three days- why not keep going? 

Last night I was feeling emotionally hungry and was about to give in to that block of cheese that was laughing right in my face. But instead I ate carrots and hummus and went to bed early. 

I'm not creative in the kitchen. I don't like spending a lot of time with a recipe so you won't see me using veggies in a super creative way or making my own paleo mayo. Nope. Not happening. I eat carrots raw, sautée my veggies in olive oil and grill my chicken with simple spices.  Poor Bart always goes hungry when I'm cleansing because I don't really make dinner. I just eat a bowl of brown rice and I am good to go. (Seriously- NOT CREATIVE) I will say I'm not really missing sugar this time around which is weird since sugar is my jam. Right now I'm really just wanting something to fill up my stomach like gluten free bread and cheese! I am easy to please when I'm hungry :) 

The scale says I have lost 4.5 pounds which doesn't surprise me. When you have Hashimotos it is so easy to get inflamed and inflammation translates to pounds on the scale. Within a day or two on the anti-inflammatory diet that inflammation leaves your body and the number on the scale goes down. My skin is also breaking out- another sign that my body is cleansing. I did get a migraine last night which is super weird since I've only had a few in my life- so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. 

I think I'm going to at least go a full 7-10 days and then just add one food at a time every few days. I can't believe I did this for 4 months! I was a freakin rock star with such great willpower. I'm trying to get that back a little bit! 

So ANYWAY. I'm sitting here as my baby sleeps and thinking of food. Because I'm a fat kid like that. Cheers!

2 Cents: Finishing last

I read this article on Facebook and couldn't resist! When I ran my first 10K two years ago I hoped I was ready. Little did I know that my body was sick and my addrenal glands were pretty much not functioning.

I had trained and ran and was nervous but ready! The idea of coming in last didn't even cross my mind...until 10 minutes into the run when I was in last place. Actually that's a lie, I was barely in front of 3 women who were walking. 

When the race first started it only took a few minutes for most people to get ahead of me. Whatever I thought, they are all going to burn out and I will just pass them later (it had happened in previous 5Ks I had ran). Well those peeps never burned out and I stayed in last place all the way to the finish line. 

I crossed that finish line, went straight over to my mom who was waiting for me and cried on her shoulder. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. Honestly looking back I would compare those 6 miles closely to the 13.1 I ran for my half. 

Before the race (happy and ready to go!)

After the race: I was NOT happy

I didn't know I was sick at the time, that that was the reason I had such a hard time. But even though I finished last, I finished. And I was pretty proud of myself. 

As the cheesy saying goes: it's not about finishing first or last, it's about finishing.

Day 365

Wow, it has already been a year since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos! Hard to believe it's already been a year, and that it's only been a year! Getting pregnant while still getting use to the lifestyle changes has felt like two steps back in the whole process, but I am still proud of how far I have come. In fact, 21 weeks pregnant and I still don't weigh as much as I did a year ago before I found out what was going on with my body. Crazy right? Obviously my weight loss wasn't the most important change I went through, but it is pretty easy to measure.

To say that Hashimotos changed my life would be the understatement of the year. I learned self disciple and gained a greater appreciation for my body. I finally understood that I have so much more control over my health than I realized. I became more conscious of my decisions and how those decisions impacted my life. My cravings for sugar have NEVER gone away and I have probably eaten my weight in carrots. Some days I really hate having to wonder about what I am eating 24/7. Other days I don't have to think twice.

Before being diagnosed I felt like crap all.the.time. Bart really wanted a baby but I couldn't even imagine having to take care of a little person when I could barely take care of myself!  I knew I eventually wanted to be a mother, it just didn't seem possible with my current health. I got pregnant within a few months of completing my program because I was finally confident with myself and my body and I knew I would be able to handle it. I'm so thankful for the diagnosis because not only did it change my life and my health/body, but it made it possible for me to want a baby and know that I could be a good mom. I don't know if there is any greater blessing than that!

I would go through all the great things that have changed with my body and treatment but the current prego situation kind of reverses a few things...that being said, I'm interested to see how my post-baby experience goes as I continue to live this lifestyle.

Here is a look back at a few posts as I was in the thick of things!

Day 6
Sick Like a Normal Person
Day 28
My Moment
Fresh Food Grocery Shopping
Day 118
Day 143

No, I don't want your effing Quinoa

I want to start off by saying: If you're a man NO PREGNANT WOMAN IS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. Not about our diet, about our exercise, about our weight, not any kind of advice. We aren't asking you because you're a freaking MAN and you will never get it. So just shut the hell up and tell me I'm pretty.






So as you all know if you read this blog I have Hashimotos and have been treating it with a pretty strict diet since April 2013. I love my doctors and they have helped me feel so much better.  

Now that I'm pregnant I want to punch those same doctors in the face. I was talking to one of them today explaining how hard it has been to follow my gluten free, sugar free, processed food free life now that I'm prego. I told him how my OBGYN said I wasn't getting enough calories and I needed to start eating a little gluten to help. He immediately went off with a bunch of really helpful suggestions:

"There is no nutritional value when it comes to gluten, that stuff is poison blah blah blah"
My Response: Do you really think I give a crap about nutritional value most times of the day? I don't. I care about taste and texture and convenience and if it's going to fill me up.When nothing sounds good I'm not super interested in the nutrition label.

"There are plenty of healthy snacks....eat a sweet potato!" 
My Response: I use to love sweet potatoes. I would eat one pretty much every day. Now I can't choke them down. So no, I will not just eat a sweet potato.

*This is where that "don't speak you're a man" philosophy comes into play. When I told him about my aversions to vegetables (as in I will puke on you if you make me swallow this broccoli) he just stared at me with this face that said "You're just using that as an excuse and you need to get over it because vegetables are good for you...." When I tell a mom that I can't choke down veggies they nod and understand and offer helpful solutions. Men just look at me like a fat little kid who is lying so they can skip to dessert. When I tell you I can't eat vegetables I'm not exaggerating, I'm not lying and I'm not making excuses.

"There are other things that can fill you up besides gluten...like Quinoa! Just eat Quinoa!"
My Response: Let's get 100 pregnant women in a room together and ask how many of them are just dying for a big bowl of quinoa. I hated that shit when I wasn't pregnant. I'm sure as hell not eating it now!

I know it's really hard for a health care professional to understand why a woman might throw all of her healthy habits out the window when a little person is cooking inside of her and I know being pregnant isn't an excuse to let yourself go and destroy your healthy habits.

But being pregnant also isn't the time to obsess about what you are eating for lunch and if you're sitting on the couch too long even though you feel like crap.

My body is changing every day and I am trying to mentally, emotionally and physically deal with that. I don't need the help of men telling me to "just get over it" for my health. At the moment the best thing for my health ( and the safety and well being of my husband) is eating Raspberry Jello and watching stupid shows on Netflix.

Getting my butt kicked by Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels kicked my butt tonight! As I type this my arms are shaky and my husband is grouchy...a good indication that it was a hard work out! I use to hate workout videos. They really are pretty tough for only 20 minutes! But then we moved away from a gym and I would rather stay home than drive across town...and now we do workout videos.

Bart and I have decided to run the Ogden Marathon next Spring and decided we needed to do a little strength training along with our running routine. Tonight was the first night of strength training. I have a feeling we're going to be a bit sore tomorrow!

I have been dealing with an inner battle for the majority of 2013 when it comes to working out and exercising. When I first started my Hashimoto's treatment I had to stop all kinds of physical activity. Short of going on a walk...I was more or less assigned to the couch. I hated it! I missed running with Bart and going to the gym most days of the week. I missed pushing my body and making my muscles hurt. However I quickly got over it and within a month was thoroughly enjoying sitting on the couch. It made sense that I couldn't exercise since I was barely eating enough calories to sustain life (or so it felt)...much less an active one. During my time on the couch I also lost 20 pounds. Why in the world would I want to get off my butt and do something??

Once I got the OK to exercise I didn't go to the gym..I hit the pavement. I started running and really that's all I did. 4 days a week I ran and ran and ran and eventually I ran 13.1 miles. It was awesome! I felt strong and healthy and pretty dang cool. Once the race was over I went back to my couch (literally and figuratively) and it's been hard to get off of it!

I use to exercise and work out because I was worried I would gain weight if I didn't. I didn't feel good about myself if I sat around all day. I felt tired and insecure. Then I was diagnosed with Hashimotos and once I started the treatment I felt amazing-without going to the gym once. See the problem? I no longer gain weight randomly if I don't exercise for a week. I don't feel tired or fat or sluggish. I just feel normal and a bit lazy.

I need to re-train my brain to think of working out as a way to make me stronger-no thinner. a way to prevent injury and become faster. There are so many benefits to regular exercise that has nothing to do with a smaller waist....I just need to remember that when it's time to do something!

Day 193

Today was my last regular visit with the folks at Red River Health and Wellness. I did it! I graduated! There was no cap and gown. My parents weren't there to congratulate me. I shook hands with my amazing doctor and was sent on my way. I will be back for a follow up in 3 months and then periodically check in every 6-12 months after that. It's all on me now. No more doctors to answer to. The real test begins!

I can't believe it's already been 27.5 weeks. 6.5 months. I haven't had a piece of bread or a glass of milk or a Crunchwrap Supreme for the most of 2013. This is craziness! It feels like I just started, and that I have been doing this my whole life. In the past 193 days I have eaten more sweet potatoes than most people will in their lifetime. Potato chips and dark chocolate are my "junk food" and soups are the best Gluten Free meals out there.

But it's not all about the food (okay, it's 95% about the food). I have also been able to run 4 times the distance I was ever able to run before. I no longer have stomach pain every day. (translation: I NEVER have stomach pain) My skin is "supermodel smooth" and my energy level is that of a normal 23 year old.

You guys! I'm healthy! I feel amazing! I am living the way my body was meant to live. I am enjoying my life the way I deserve and I couldn't be happier!

These past 193 days have changed my life. And the next 193 will be just as exciting. I don't know if I will ever love Quinoa and I'm sure I will always secretly want a York Peppermint Patty shoved in my mouth, but I will learn and grow just like I have learned and grown the past 6 months. It's a process, and I'm nowhere near the finish line.

You probably don't really totally care, and that's cool. I probably wouldn't care if I was on your end either. Health is such an individual thing, it's hard to share that feeling with other people. I do want to publicly thank everyone who has supported me and listen to me whine, cry, yell and pout. Especially Bart. I couldn't have made it through this program without him by my side. He is my rock and I know I can do anything if he is cheering for me. It's a nice feeling knowing there is at least one person always in my corner...even if that corner is occupied by a crazy person who cries at candy commercials.

Day 160

As my treatment gets closer to ending I can't help but think of the past 5.5 months! I was just put on my final round of supplements that will be addressing my brain/mental side of things. Brain fog and haziness has never been a major issue which is why they have waited until the end to fix it. We started with the biggest problems and now we are just finishing up! I'm almost there! I have said it before, and I'll say it again: It's amazing what a few months can do!

Here was my update from Day 6:

.  There are many different ways to eat chicken...learn those ways

. carrots for breakfast? why not?!!

. It's amazing to have a best friend who is going through exactly the same thing. What are the odds? God knew what he was doing when he put us together all those years ago.

. Quinoa is still nasty. I invite anyone to cook me "tasty" quinoa and bring it to me so I can learn what it's supposed to taste like.

. Apparently 80oz of water a day isn't enough...potty breaks anyone?

. a week of being sugar, dairy and process food free and my skin is breaking out like a teenager. Where's the justice in that??

. the "I feel full" feeling only lasts about an hour.....I miss you carbs....

. Coconut Milk and Almond Milk mixed together kinda sorta tastes like Fat Free normal Milk

. I felt super healthy at the grocery store. helllloooo produce aisle. 

Here is my update from Day 160

• There are still many ways to eat chicken. I have become the best at grilling it. Even Bart is impressed with my skills.
  
• I now have an egg, turkey bacon and corn tortilla burrito for breakfast. it's amazing the progress I've made in choices :)
  
• I still love my bestie who has supported me through all the hard days when all I wanted was some candy and a hug
  
• Quinoa is STILL nasty. The original bag is in my pantry...every time I use it I end up throwing most of it away.
  
• My water intake has definitely decreased...probably not a good thing but oh well!
  
• 5 months of being sugar, dairy and proccess food free and my skin is AMAZING! The justice came.
  
• The "I feel full" feeling still only lasts an hour..but the "I feel hungry all the time" feeling isn't here anymore either.
  
• My new found love is the dark chocolate Almond Milk
  
• I still spend all my time in the produce aisle. I haven't decided which store has the best food..

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.

6 Miles

I ran 6 miles today. Not only did I run 6 miles, but I ran 6 miles without crying which technically means I accomplished one of my new years resolutions (run a 10K without crying).

13 months ago I ran a 10K and it was the most miserable thing I had ever done. Even after training for 5 months it was hard! not only was it hard, but it was painful. I walked a lot of it and hated every step. At that time I just thought I hadn't worked hard enough. I thought my body just wasn't made to run. Little did I know that I was half correct

My body was too sick to run. It wasn't producing the chemicals bodies need in order to not only improve, but recover. My cortisol levels were pretty much non existent so when I was pushing myself and putting "stress" on my body there was nothing there to back me up. My body was not supporting me! Of course I didn't realize that until 4 months ago. I stopped exercising all together and just 2 months ago I started up again. I could Immediately tell something was better. So THIS is how it feels to have your body function properly! I'm no longer in constant pain when I run, and I can see improvement if I train.

Which leads us today and my 6 miles. Last weekend Bart ran his 3rd Half Marathon

 
I was so proud of him! He is such a stud and trained hard, beating his personal record! My friends Jess and Debbie were there and were talking about the Nebo Half Marathon on September 7th. 6 weeks away....it got me thinking....could I do it? I was currently training for a 10K and the thought of running twice that distance made me a little nervous. I asked Jess what she thought and she told me to run 15 miles this week with a long run of 6 miles and see how I felt. So I did! That was a 4 mile increase from my total weekly distance and I was curious to see how my body was going to handle it.

This past week I ran 3 miles three separate times and then this morning I ran 6 more. And guess what? I didn't cry. I kicked butt. I felt strong. I felt empowered. I felt my body working like it normally should.It gave me the confidence I need to say YES to that Nebo Half Marathon. Next Saturday will be 7 miles, then 8, then 9, 10 and finally the half. I know my body is going to have some aches and pains. But I also know if I don't commit to something like this half, than I'll never have an excuse to train and see what happens.

It's amazing how bodies function when they're healthy. When everything is in order they are a MACHINE! A well oiled machine that is capable of so much. I'm so thankful to have my machine working correctly and I look forward to pushing that machine to places it's never been before.

Day 118

I know I say this all the time, but it's hard to believe it's only been 118 days since this crazy Hashimotos journey started! It has officially become a lifestyle. I'm no longer fighting back habits and cravings, I just live my life "normal" and sometimes think back on my life "back when"

Back when I could drink milk and have cold cereal in the morning.
Bach when I "watched what I ate" but really if I wanted it, I'd have a piece
Back when I was the best taste tester on our shows
Back when I didn't have to obsess over everything that went into my mouth.

Back when I didn't understand what was wrong with my body

Back when my stomach hurt every. day.
Back when Bart would ask me all the time why my body acted like it was 80 years old
Back when running 3 miles seemed impossible and every step was painful.
Back when I couldn't lose weight and my self esteem was hitting an all time low.
Back when I hated doctors because they just gave me a new pill for the pain.
Back when I was starting to resent my body
Back when I didn't feel like I was ever going to be ready to be a mother because I could hardly take care of myself


When I'm having a hard day, I just think to "back when" my whole life was different. Was I happier in some areas of my life? Absolutely. But was I living a happy life? Not compared to the happiness I now live.

Now I realize a veggie omlet can be just as yummy as cereal
Now 3 miles are my easy weekday runs
Now I don't ever think "will I feel sick today" because my body is functioning the way it should
Now my few pieces of dark chocolate can be enjoyed, guilt free. And that small taste of sugar is enough.
Now I love my body and appreciate everything I'm able to do.
Now I can wake up ready for the new day confident I'll be able to tackle my responsibilities.
Now I can picture myself with babies and children and know I'll be able to be a good mother.
Now I'm living healthy, and living happy.

Almond Brown Rice Pudding

As I was eating my tasty tasty snack today I realized this is a perfect recipe to share with all of you! I can eat it which means it's gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, etc. Plus, it's delicious! We eat it as a Saturday morning breakfast, a quick afternoon snack or a happy dessert. A little goes a long way so make a bunch and save for the week!

Almond Brown Rice Pudding 

Ingredients
1/2 Dates (we just use Raisins throughout this whole recipe since we don't have dates)
1 cup uncooked brown rice
4 cups unsweetened vanilla almondmilk
1/2 raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 roasted chopped almonds

Directions
Place dates(or raisins) in a bowl and pour 1/2 cup boiling water over them. Let soak 15ish minutes. Transfer dates and water to a blender. Add vanilla and cinnamon and puree until a smooth syrup.

Meanwhile bring rice and almondmilk to a boil in sauce pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until rice is tender and absorbed most of the milk (about 45 minutes. Some of the milk will still be there, just taste the rice to see if it's done). Stir occasionally or it will boil over (learned that the hard way...twice).

Put cooked rice in bowl, add syrup and almonds. Serve warm and enjoy!

Day 106

I'm coming clean...I'm a cheater.

I took a bite out of a cupcake that was at work today
I had some salad with dressing that probably wasn't "allowed"
I have more dark chocolate than I should
I haven't been eating veggies with every meal
I forget to take my mid-day supplements
I'm not as bad ass as I use to be.

shhhhh don't tell. 

Help a Sista Out

Hey all! For my online class I had to create a Twitter account about a specific topic with a specific audience. I chose Hashimotos since Twitter was one of the first places I looked when I was diagnosed. Help a sister out and follow me! (My few tweets a day won't get in your way...I PROMISE) :)

https://twitter.com/HashimotosHelp


Just do it.

Numbers

I ran across this article from Beauty Redefined and I continued to think about it all day. As most of you know, I'm not exactly a feminist, I don't think men are evil and I think women were meant to be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. HA! That being said, I love this website and the mission these ladies have.

The main part of the article that got to me was the part where it said, what will happen when you reach your goal number? I thought about this because recently I met my "goal number" and guess what? Nothing has changed. I still have a husband who loves me and grabs my butt every chance he gets. I still have the same respect at work and I'm still wearing pretty much all my "old" clothes. People don't treat me differently. I don't all of a sudden have tons of friends. I still sit alone in Math class (by choice, shhh I'm focused!!) The ONLY thing that has changed in that regard is the number on the scale.

Yes I feel better and have more confidence, but why? Why are we so obsessed with numbers? Honestly it wasn't until recently, when I passed the 20 pound mark, that I even noticed a difference in my body. When I looked in the mirror I still saw a short girl with small boobs, hips and scars on her stomach with freckles and a tan. I don't know what I was expecting to see when I reached my "goal number" but I was surprised when it was my same body I see everyday reflected back at me.

So what's in a number? A pant size or two? More self worth? But why? How have we become so focused on a number? I now have a new "goal number" because that's just what we do right? We reach our goals, even exceed them, and immediately set new ones. I never dreamed of being down to the number I'm at, and yet, a smaller number is now in my mind....and I guess deep down I am hoping for a different result. Am I  hoping to see someone else reflecting back? Am I hoping I look and it's a tall girl with long legs and smooth skin with no signs if growth & surgery? Or am I going to be happy with what I see? And what exactly is going to happen if I reach my new goal number? I'm going to guess: NOTHING. My life won't be any better, or any worse, if I lose 5 more pounds. That's the simple fact of it all. The number on the scale doesn't matter.

I'm sure some of you are thinking, well Megan, it's easy for you to say that because you've actually LOST the weight and achieved your goal number. Yes, I have, and honestly it's been a life changing experience...and that's why I feel like I'm able to say all of this. I've lived it. I didn't just lose 5 pounds for a weekend and then gain it back. I've lost more than 20 and multiple inches off my body. And I'll say it again: nothing has changed. We live in a world where nothing is good enough. Numbers are arbitrary. I'm not talking about obese adults who lose over 100 pounds and get their lives back. Obviously that's a different story. I'm talking to the majority of young adults who read my blog who are always searching for those last few pounds..who are always focused on the weight they want to lose. on the number they hope to achieve. To those of you reading I'll ask you the same question: how will your life be different if you make it to that number? Chances are, not much will change.

 I'd like to think that through this journey I have come to understand my body and appreciate all that it does for me. But that little voice in the back of my head will still be there searching for someone it thinks should be there when the goal is reached.

Day 94

94 Days into my Hashimotos treatment and here's an update

I have finally stopped losing weight. Grand total? 20 pounds! I also found some measurements from last November (before I reached my peak of heavy weight) and compared it to today's measurements. I've lost 5 1/2 inches off my waist and more than 5 inches off my legs. (plus inches off my hips, arms and chest). It's pretty cool to see the numbers side by side.

I am officially training for a 10K (and beyond) and I'm feeling great. I am able to see the improvements in my running and for once my body isn't holding me back

We have finished treating all of my gastrointestinal problems and we're on to the adrenal glands! The goal is to get them to start functioning at a normal rate and get my energy level back to where it should be.

My skin is still clear and beautiful. I don't feel the need to wear lots of makeup and I spent this weekend wearing none at all! Even my hated acne scars are fading. YAY!

He added potatoes back into my diet. I tried them and all seems to be fine, but I'm not really planning on eating them very often. Potatoes weren't something I missed very much.

Speaking of add-on's...here is a list of the things that have been added on to my diet since I started.

tomatoes

eggs

lean beef

shell fish

brown rice

pork

soy

cheese

Greek yogurt (plain)

peanuts

potatoes

corn (kernels...not chips or oil or any of the good stuff) 

I have been a little less strict when it comes to what I eat...for the first 10  weeks I was extremely strict and didn't have anything that might have something I couldn't have. Now, if it generally fits the bill I'll have a bite. Not a good habit to get into I know, but some days I just need SOMETHING with flavor.  At the end of 6 months I will be able to have a lot of the foods I want now, I just need to be patient. 

Like I mentioned before, Bart is somewhat doing this diet with me (he added whole grains and dairy to his diet after a week of following mine). So we have been cooking dinner together and coming up with some great dinner ideas. It's all about variety!

Sometimes I wonder if all the worrying/obsessing about what I'm eating is worth it. Some days the answer is no, but most days the answer is yes.

last but not least, sometimes a bubble bath makes everything better.

Fresh Food Grocery Shopping

Bart and I this past weekend in the 103 degree heat

Happy July everyone! It's smokin' hot and straight up Summer outside. I love coming home from work and relaxing in the pool for an hour. A little R&R goes a long way.

I have been kind of MIA in the blogging world. my bad! I haven't had tons to say, and I have had less time to say it! Things at work have been crazy busy and when I am home I just want to spend that time with Bart. Since he's home for the summer he needs a little lovin' when his sugar momma gets home :) I only have time now because he went to the store for some avocados so he can make a little guacamole.

Bart decided to join me in my quest of health (aka forced diet) last week. He's been struggling but he's doing a great job. This is the longest he has ever gone without Pepsi so that right there is a huge accomplishment. It's been fun to have him diet with me because he actually likes to cook so we have been trying a few new recipes that are Doctor approved! I told him he should have started this with me months ago and I don't think I would have been so hungry!

Grocery shopping is quite the interesting experience for me. It amazes me how many things I CAN'T have because I eat 100% fresh/non-processed foods. Basically the produce isle is my best friend!

Here are a few pictures of what a typical grocery store trip looks like.

Basically the things I buy on a weekly basis (assuming they are in season)

Bananas

Apples

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Yams

Strawberries

Raspberries

Grapes

Spaghetti Squash

Yellow Squash

Zuchinni

Green Beans

Red, Green and Yellow Peppers

Avacado

Spinach 

Romaine Lettuce 

Almonds

Chicken

Eggs

Almond Milk

I add to this list when we have new recipes to try, or when I run out of staples in my pantry like black beans and almond butter.

We tried out the local farmer's market last weekend and picked up a few things. There wasn't a ton of options, but it was fun to buy fresh local food and know you are supporting local growers!

Bottom line? If you are trying to incorporate this diet into your lifestyle plan on taking a few trips to the grocery store each week. I try to make sure to pick everything up, but things run out and you don't want to buy too much at once or it will go bad. I like to plan out our weekly menu and then go shopping. Also, don't forget about leftovers! I don't plan specific lunch ideas because I know we can just have left overs from the past couple nights. It adds a little variety into your day. I will do a future post on a few of my favorite go-to snacks and quick meals.

Last piece of advice. Experiment! As I have mentioned before...not all recipes work, but it's still worth a shot! This week we made Cabbage Wraps and those puppies just had ZERO flavor. Not only that, they were a pain to make. Definitely not attempting that one again. A new favorite of mine is a mushroom/onion mixture on top of Spaghetti squash! Courtesy of my mother, it is delish! ( I will have to post recipes later...)


~ live happy, be healthy~