I've been planning several blog posts for a while and for one reason or another, I always put them off. So, today is the day of updates on everything from my ute to my weight to my head.
::pause for a moment while my drink lovers go pour a glass of wine or grab a beer::
The thing I'm most proud of myself for is the eating changes I made at the start of this cycle. As I have mentioned before, studies have shown an connection between Endometriosis and gluten, among other things. None of which are proven and there is no answer as to what causes Endo. ::end disclaimer portion of post::
Falling into this rabbit hole of research touched on another problem that I've been plagued with for at least the last 10+ years. A decade later, this research has changed my life.
I remember my first migraine being around my college years. I graduated in 2003.
Sidenote: typing that makes me feel so old. I just want to yell crotchety things to people. Get off my lawn whippersnappers!
Anywho. Several doctor visits later and countless hours hugging the porcelain throne while wanting to curl up in a dark closet, I had no answer for the cause of my migraines. The doctor gave me a daily Rx. That made them worse. He gave me a Rx to use when I get one. That one helps but knocks me out in 15 minutes. I have to make sure I'm home before I can even take it for relief. Doctor Head (tehehehe) told me to keep track of my diet to find my triggers. I did and the only thing I could pinpoint was I needed caffeine like I needed air to breathe. I still got migraines after almost anything i ate. Sunlight is the only other connection. If I'm outside with no glasses, hat or shade for longer than 30 minutes, then hello freight train in my head.
Fast forward to 3 weeks ago. I have gradually been trying to cut back on gluten and figure out recipes and how to work it around our lives without making a complete drastic life altering moment for me and DH. When I cook at home, I don't fry anything. I use coconut oil and cook fresh veggies and meats. Basically, anything with flour, wheat flour or bread in it is off limits.
If I go out, I stick to grilled options and away from sandwiches. I am not living gluten free, per say, but my intake has been cut back drastically.
And guess what, I have only had 1 migraine since.
I blame it on a moment of taste bud orgasm and coconut cake. I ate the piece of cake at 8 pm and woke up the next morning with a headache. It doesn't take rocket science to tell me that cake tried to kill me.
Overall, I feel great. I'm eating more fruits and veggies and more white meats. With this change, I'm also cutting back on red meat. DH doesn't like red meat too much so this has been easy. And, I have an order placed for 8 pounds of freshly filleted tilapia from our nearby fish farm.
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Along the same lines, I've started exercising more. I've mentioned the Couch to 5k program I am doing and that's going great.
In total, I've walked/jogged/ran 15.58 miles in three weeks. My work schedule makes it difficult to run every other day or three times a week sometimes, but I'm making it work. Slowly, but surely. I'm technically done with week 2 of the program, but I have two friends who started the week after me, so I'm going to repeat week 2 and let them catch up so we will be on the same pace.
Our plan is to run in the Color Me Rad in September. I'm overly excited about this and can't wait to do my first official 5k. Since starting the routine, someone asked if I had plans to run in an event. I searched local events and had a few ideas but this one makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside to mark it as my first official I-will-run-this-entire-5k-event.
There are a couple local festivals that I may register and use them as training days, but the Color Me Rad is my ultimate goal to be in shape and run it start to finish.
The great Bumpie Spookster gave me the idea of logging my miles on my blog sidebar. During part of my blog redesign, I will add that counter in to help keep track and motivate myself.
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Physically, I feel better. My mental state is an up and down daily roller coaster, but I try to think about my physical accomplishments and not the negative right now.
I'm not fat. But I am trying to get away from my heaviest weight from last year at 134.
Granted, I know that isn't overweight, by any means, but it was a moment for me that I realized I had let myself get lazy. I'm working towards getting my body in better shape, and if I lose weight in the process, then good. I am down to 124, with 6 of those pounds being lost in the past month.
I am built on a tiny frame and have ALWAYS been small. I weighed less than 100 pounds when I graduated high school, back before the turn of the century.
Get off my Lawn and Turn down your Music Whippersnappers!
I don't want to be that small again. I looked like a sick child, but I swear I ate. I ate A.Lot!
My goal is to eat healthy and complete my workouts. I have no weight goal in mind, since I don't want to put a number on it.
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Last update, I swear and you can get up and get another beer.
As for TTC, I am 7 dpo and still no closer to a decision for next cycle. I also wish I would have asked for a P4 test this cycle to see how strong my O was, but it wouldn't make any difference, I guess?
Thanks for reading my updates. Y'all deserve cookies for making it to the end. Spookster has caramel delights that she will share since I can't have any. Lol
Hugs, kisses and bewbie squishes to everyone of you!!!!!1!1!1!
I enjoyed reading your updates, and chuckled at the whippersnapper comments. I think I'm a year behind you (graduated HS in 2000), so I can relate! I was driving down my street today after work and there were a few HS kids walking past my house. I actually had the thought "Damn kids" cross my mind. Ha! Anyway, I'm glad the nutrition and running plans are working for you. Keep up the awesome work! I'm looking forward to your race in September (yes, I am living vicariously through you). I know you're gonna do great!!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing on the gluten light living. Sometimes it can be difficult to cut those things out of your diet. It sounds like you're doing amazing. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sitting on the lawn whether you like it or not. I'm comfy here ;)
FYI, if you're going to sit in my yard, you may see snakes. Being a hoe or a gun. :)
DeleteGood luck with everything and def with cutting out the gluten! My sister recently cut out gluten and said she has not had any migraines since and feels great. She is so energetic now and almost always in a positive mood. I hope it helps you too!
ReplyDeleteSo cliche, but I kinda want to say, "You go gurl!!" - it just feels so right after these awesome updates. Good for you on making the dietary changes to limit gluten, I hope that you have a noticeable improvement with regards to your migraines, and every time I read about your C25K updates, it adds a little motivational kindling to my fire, so thank you for that :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are in a good place! The whippersnapper comments made me giggle. I am such a little old lady and I get annoyed with those damn kids too!
ReplyDeleteL- I get wicked migraines, too. I have actually had really good luck recently and have only had 3 or so in the last 7 months compared the to multiple a month I was having. I have been getting them since I began puberty though so I think mine are hormone related as well as being triggered by outside factors.
ReplyDeleteI too have chilled out on consuming a lot of products that contain MSG and Gluten. I have increased my intake of veggies and fruits and have cut back a teeny tiny bit on red meats. I feel healthier in general and feel a lot less sluggish. Though sitting at a desk for 12 hours a day, doing what we do, and under the amazing florescent lights at work doesn't bode well for us.
(I actually helped convince my bosses to allow us to sit in the dark with the over head lights because I cited evidence about migraines because it seems all of us suffer from them!)
Anyways, I wanted to do a color me rad. I'm sure you're going to knock it out of the park and I love all of the progress you're making. <3