“The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.”
It has been what feels like forever since I last posted and I apologize. I let myself as well as all of you down when I allow so much time between posts. I spent time prioritizing aspects of my life and spent time with my family but I will do my best to be back on here! Writing to you holds me accountable in a way that nothing else can.
The last update I gave you was on my hormonal hell, the lab testing, and the plan my coach and I set forth. Let me make this clear – MY hormones – are not balancing out quickly. Hormones control so much of our life – including our weight, mood, life – it is remarkable.
Side note: do not put synthetic hormones (i.e.: birth control) into your body. Just do not do it. Let your body function how it needs to/wants to/and should.
I stopped taking birth control in June of 2016, hopped from minefield to minefield trying to be reactive to the battle that came next, and decided after going a year without a period that I would see my OBGYN. Granted – I saw a nurse, spoke over her ‘scope’ of knowledge, heard unremarkable and ludicrous comments like ‘maybe we should put you back on birth control’, and walked out with a prescription for Progesterone to try to jump start my system. The abundance of Progesterone forced a cycle 9 days later and my body cycled on its own another month later but the following remains:
I weigh the most I ever have (not counting when I was pregnant)
Mono has relapsed in the last few weeks (due to stress on my entire system) causing me to be extremely tired at all times - EXTREMELY tired which is EXTREMELY hard to explain to people in a way that they understand
While it sounds like I have backtracked, let me set you as well as myself straight (a little pep talk to myself tends to happen quite often). Over the past 1.5 years I have accomplished:
Fixed the sciatic pain in my right side caused by a protruded L5S1 disc in my back with stabilization strengthening (this, itself, is a lifetime win I think)
Stopped taking all medications: Restless leg medication, sciatic pain mediation, and birth control (also a huge accomplishment)
Continued to learn what nutrition works and does not work for my body (i.e. my body is insulin resistant – too many carbs causes extreme bloat and digestive issues)
Here is my current plan after Eric interpreted my latest blood lab:
Stopped drinking coffee two weeks ago (and limiting my heavy cream and artificial sweeteners)
Increase water consumption to half my body weight in ounces
Weight lift 2 days a week, cardio for 3, and yoga/relaxation 1-2
Hit macros and calories daily – which are set for gut repair and will taper down in calories as I go
Detoxify my liver using Douglas Labs Detoxification Pack for 15 days - currently on day 7 of 15
Follow with proper supplement intake to help my liver function and improve my digestion
My goal is to lose 30 pounds while getting my hormones balanced. I lost the weight last summer – I plan to do it again. This time I will do it in a more sustainable and less hap-hazardous way for my body. Keto has its place – but not so much for me for a lifetime. If I lose 1-2 pounds a week I should hopefully see this in 15-30 weeks. The biggest feat will be cutting my calories and becoming obsessed with tracking macros to a tee. The monster in the closet is/are my hormones and if they would drop their guard I would fight them to submission. To blatantly sum things up for you:
I’m oftentimes depressed with the situation.
I’m let down with myself.
Hell hath no fury like a pissed off woman, right?
Several clients come to me thinking they need to bust their butts in the gym working out in order to lose weight. My answer is always the same – you are wrong. Get your nutrition and supplements under control for YOUR goals and YOUR body and you will lose the weight. I hate to harp on that over-used phrase but – you truly cannot out-exercise a bad diet. And you most certainly cannot out-exercise your raging hormones. You can look at me and where I am holding weight and see the hormone imbalance. Right now, I just need to lovingly show my hormones the way to equilibrium. See you on the other side – or, at least, the journey to it! Luckily, and happily, I am not as alone this time. <3
The title quote was said by Benjamin Mays, by the way. Here are two more (anonymous) for you that may inspire you today:
"If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got."
"Your problem isn't the problem. Your reaction is the problem.”
*For all of you out there that have followed me, written me kind messages, sent me fantastic questions, are going through the same things - and I have failed to reply - please know that I have/will read them, I appreciate you, I have faith in you, and I am one of your biggest fans.*
