My Favorite Things

My Favorite Things on My Journey to a Healthier Me. 

If Oprah can have a My Favorite Things list so can I. 😉

Books:

#1 My Bible -KJV

Gods Word gives me the encouragement, focus and the understanding I need daily on my journey of making my health a priority that I can't get anywhere else. Like I said in previous posts I need encouragement & motivation daily to help me start and get through my day and get me through my rough spots and there are rough spots. 

#2 It Starts With Food by Dallis & Melissa Hartwig - this book was the beginning to helping me realize how food and what kinds of foods were doing to my body and that I needed to change my diet big time. 

#3The Root Cause by Izabella Wentz Pharm MD - this book gave me such in site on the additional changes and nutritional additions I needed to make in order to feel and be well. 

iPhone Apps:

Map my walk - This app logs all my miles I walk. I love it because not only logs and I see my miles go up & up but it also has this voice the lets me know when I reach each mile while walking. It tells me my pace as well so if I'm slacking I'll know it and can pick up my pace. It a creat tool to have. 

Lose It - this app is great because I can log all my food, exercises and it totals up all the calories eaten and burned. It also has great monthly challenges you can join and connect with others like you on a journey to health & wellness. 

Gadgets:

Veggetti - I love my Veggetti! I can finally eat a "like spaghetti" dish without feeling deprived. I love pasta but with the gluten and high carb count it doesn't like me. The Veggetti lets me have a delicious dish using zucchini in replace of pasta. It's awesome! 

Fitbit & app - My Fitbit is great for keeping track of your daily steps. It will show if you've had a couch potato day or not. It not only does that but with it comes an app that allows you to log in your meals as well. It give you badges and cheers you on. 

Airi scale - This scale is great! Yeah scales haven't been my friend in years but this one is slowly becoming mine. It's wireless so it links up to my computer to my FitBit app as well. It shows not only my weight but BF. It's another great tool to show my progress and to stay focused on my journey to a healthier weight. 

iPod nano

Music when alone walking really helps me get in a zone. For a long time I didn't listen to music and thought it may hinder my focus. Boy was I wrong! I get music that I like, up beat and push play and I'm off. It makes the time go faster and before I know it I'm at the end of my miles. 

Shoes:

HOKA Sneakers - When I first started walking my feet were really paying the price. Lots of blisters! I went and tried on several kinds of shoes, I was even measured and walked for the shoe fitter (not sure of professional name, lol). I was given a pair of socks first to try and instantly my feet were happy happy. The socks were cushioned in all the right places. The HOKA sneakers were not only the best fitting but man did my feet feel like they were in heaven! Even with the blisters I already had I did not feel one of them in these shoes. I have yet to have another blister which in my book is sensational. I still get my heel bursitis pain and inflammation but it is not as bad as it was prior to these shoes. 

I'd love to hear what your favorite things are that have helped you on your journey. Please feel free to post them as I may be interested in adding to my list. 

Well Wishes, (((Hugs))), & Prayers

Janine. 

Finding Balance

Well November has come and gone. It was a busy month for me I must say. I started to volunteer in a local elementary school  in second grade. I love it! I used to work in the same school years ago and it feels great to be back and be with the kids, helping & encouraging them daily. It requires time and some days I stay through the entire day. Well November I did just that and became very busy. I also offered to volunteer for the week long book fair. It was so much fun watching the excitement of kids looking and buying new books. I met some great people in the library as well and saw some past coworkers while doing it and that was great too. But with all the greatness, fun and time I put in I noticed something, I was giving so much of my time of myself to others and other areas I was slacking on giving myself of the time I needed for myself. The time I needed to stay focused and on top of my monthly goals I set for myself. 

I don't want to come off sounding selfish, as that is the last thing I believe I am. I think of myself as a very giving person, not in the sense of giving things but of me (my time & heart). I love doing things for others. It's been my nature since I could ever remember. 

When I was just a very little girl I would help my godmother fold the laundry, so what I didn't know it was the dirty pile. Lol.  By age 11 I was helping in the care of my terminally ill step dad while my mom was working to keep things going. I started to babysit at the age of 10, it wasn't to make money it was just to help others get out and my bonus was I get to play with the little ones and maybe make a few dollars here and there. As the years went on I've been in many job positions that I was able to give of my time, love and care such as working as a paraprofessional, home daycare provider and as a home caregiver to the elderly. All of these positions I loved because I was able to be who I am and give of my heart. My most favorite role was and is being a mom, my boys were and are my life and through the years have required so much of my time with homework, school events and just being present in their lives. 

With all the giving of myself over the years to job positions and being a dedicated mom & wife something came as a cost, time for me. I don't mean time to get my nails or hair done, or time to hang out with the girls or even time to do what I want, none of those things mattered to me. However I do mean time in the sense of taking care of me. My health issues started years ago and I just put them to the side. I over looked so many times for so many years on what was going on with me. I was the type of person that was so focused on others that I forgot about me, my health and well being. 

With all that being said it was in July I started to put me first. Not the selfish me but the me who needs and must get well to still be here for others. I was doing great for months until November came. It has been an eye opener for me to see how quickly you can fall into old habits or ways. Although I don't think giving of yourself as a habit nor one that is a negative one either really but I do think I need to find the right balance. 

Just like finding the right combination and balance in my diet and exercise regimen I need to find a healthy balance on me time verses the giving of me time.  The reflection on my Novembers goals will explain why I need to find a better balance. 

Reflection or should I say confession

# 1 For the first time since setting my walking goal inAugust  I didn't even come close.  I only got in 49.5 miles. Tsk tsk. 

# 2 Because I didn't walk as much my attempts for my sprints were pitiful. At rate Ill never learn to run a mile without stopping. 

# 3 I went strong in the first week with trying PIYO and other yoga poses then things turned, I got busy and I (to put it plainly) put it off. 

# 4 I lost 2 of the 5 I set for. No one is  to blame but myself.  If I want result I must put in the time. 

# 5  Blog 7 times! Yikes!!! I only fully completed one that I posted. I started a few topics but never finished them to post. Sorry. They are still in the works so I hope to get them up in the coming weeks. 

All in all I've learned a lot about myself. 

Mostly I need to find a healthy balance when it comes to giving of myself (funny I'm writing this but also participating in my churches biggest out reach ministries for the Christmas season for 6 nights). Because of what I've learned the past month I will be getting in all my committed goals and challenges no matter what even on the days I need to be at the church.  I also have learned that it doesn't make me a selfish person when I find time to take care of myself. Whether I give myself an hour and a half to walk five miles, three hours to walk ten or some quiet time to do research, logging results & blogging  I'm doing it.  

Comeback in the coming days and I'll post my December monthly goals and I'll show my holiday wellness challenges I hopped on board to do for the month to keep things fun & different. 

Well wishes, (((Hugs))) & Prayers,

Janine 

Reflection and New Monthly Goals

 Before I let you in on my update on how my October challenge/goals went and what my November challenges/goals are let me just say it's not always easy to stick with it. Some days are just plain hard at getting and staying motivated. Let's face it, life happens and sometimes what you plan on happening for your day ends up all wrong. Keeping and staying up beat can be a challenge in itself but when curve balls are thrown at you it's even that much harder. I do try hard to stay focused on what I set out to do but I just want you to know, I like many of you, have difficult days, and getting through those days can be hard. There was a time they were much harder, so what changed, I have more support now than I ever did. Support of family and friends have been a very big key to my success this far. 

Now on to business! 

Last month

Reflection on October's challenges.

    I came up short on some things but I think October turned out to be a great & successful month just the same. #1 was to lose 3% 6-7lbs, I ended up losing 4.5lbs. To me that's great! In the past the weight wouldn't even budge now it finally is. #2 was to walk 125 miles, I came up short on this too and my total was 107.6 miles. Even though I came up short I gained so much more in my experience of training for and participating in the 1/2 marathon. #3 Long walks twice a week; I was able to meet which was my commitment to my training.Those long walks were a great time to clear my head and give time to focus and embrace all of my changes. 

I also joined some challenges on the Lose It app. Here are my results of that. Some challenges were for the month of October and some are for a certain length of time, mostly ending in December. 

Now for new my challenges/goals for November. 

    Keeping up with my walking is the most important on this list. First because I love how it makes me feel, I also believe it is the key to my slow but surely weight loss, and for that Im not changing a thing. However I am challenging myself to try some new things, one is adding sprint running to some of my walks and second is to try PIYO, a type of multi yoga movements. These two things will be interesting to say the least but willing to give it a try. Now on to the losing of 5 lbs, this I'm not going to stress over too much, my body will do what it may. I only can hope it MAY lose 5 pounds! 😄 The last two are not something of fitness but on a different track on health.  My blogging helps me as I write my thoughts, experiences and tips to stay on track of my priorities and also that it may reach others and maybe ignite a desire for someone else to make their health a priority. And as for being thankful,  I always believe that being mindful of all we have and to be thankful for is extremely important. I will spend some personal peaceful time each day reflecting on those very things, and thanking the one who truly deserves them, my Heavenly Father. What a perfect month to do just that than the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. 😊

Well I hope this post has found you well and hope you check back soon for some up coming yummy recipes, healthy tips, personal reflections and info on autoimmune disease issues.  

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes, 

Janine

So Many Changes!

     I've made a ton of changes since last year. I started adding to eat clean and exercising in September of 2013. My weight didn't budge much and when it did go down it just went right back up.  It was a very frustrating time for me to know all the time I would put in to exercise and preparing meals and very little was happening.  I kept at it regardless of the brick wall I seemed to face time and time again. It wasn't till April of this year my health started to spiral out of control. It didn't happen all at once so it was hard to recognize it as a Hashimoto flare up. Basically, my system was starting to go wacky and I didn't even know it.  I started with shoulder pain that just seemed to get more intense regardless of what I did. Believe me I tried ice, heat, stretching & rest but for weeks it was just getting worse.  The pain would radiate down my arm till my fingers and lower arms would get numb. I can't tell you how many times I dropped items out of my hand, broke drinking glasses, and even had a hard time talking on the phone.  I knew I needed to suck up and deal with it as an important trip was planned to see my daughter in law graduate from the air force. This mom in law was NOT going to miss that! 

    Once we returned from Texas I still was dealing with the pain however, it slowly started to feel better just in time for other symptoms to arise. The tiredness creeped up and was so bad I didn't want to wake up and start my days.  I started to feel a dark cloud come over me. It wasn't long and I found myself sleeping in, not dressing, having no desire for anything and basically living on the couch.  I tried to force myself to get up and attempt to do cooking and very limited cleaning. The depression was coming on fast, quicker and deeper than it ever had before. It wasn't till I started having heart palpitations which certainly frightened me, joint knee pains every evening that I could have cried they hurt so bad and my neck started to swell, glands were large like never before. All my pain, discomfort and swelling were all generated in the front of my neck (thyroid area) so I knew something was really off. I have never had such a cycle of problems before and it was time to address this problem head on. 

My own dr wasn't in but knew I needed to be seen to get the ball rolling on labs and any other tests needed.  The physician assistant said it was probably my thyroid and sent me for labs. I originally had an appt scheduled with my primary doctor in coming few weeks so I kept that one too.  Yes, my numbers were higher than I ever had and so I started my next phase (July 10, 2014) and started back on a low starting dose of thyroid meds, the whole30 (to help kick off a clean eating start) and did some more research before my next appt.  by the time my appt came to see my primary dr my symptoms had subsided a good bit.  I still addressed my concern for the symptoms so we ran a few more labs like, testing for Lupis & RA. Then I requested my vitamin levels checked. Well I came up positive for RA (no surprise there) and my Vit D was low.  

    I gradually added a few things that were off limits on the Whole30 and started to transition into becoming gluten, dairy, egg & soy  free. All the studies show, those with autoimmune diseases have a better chance at feeling well & "normal" with a elimination diet.  So in August I transitioned to this AIP diet and I found out  little by little I was feeling so much better, the scale was gradually moving down and not fluctuating back up. My pain everywhere was finally subsiding and I was able to do daily tasks, feel awake and desire to do things again.  

    With all the changes I've  made I finally am seeing changes happening to my physical appearance.  This is exciting as it's been so long that I personally have seen changes for myself. We all have taken a selfie a time or two but if your like me - I dread when the camera is out and facing me. I love pictures! But it's me usually taking the pictures. It's a safe place to be behind the camera but Ive lately stepped out of my comfort zone and have taken a few selfies along the way.  I did this mostly to see if by chance Ill be able to see some changes happen. 

    As you can see some changes are happening. I'm sharing only to show that over time your hard work,commitment to yourself, dedication to changes in lifestyle and making yourself a priority will start to pay off.  I'm not ready for a full body post but I think my face shots speaks for it's self.  

     These changes are just one piece to the puzzle of changes that are happening and look forward to what the coming weeks and months shall bring. 

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes, 

Janine

The Basics of Hashimoto

THE BASICS
     Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid. Hashimoto is also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis. Either name it still is an autoimmune disease. With an autoimmune disease it causes your body’s immune system to attacks your body’s own cells and organs. With a normal healthy functioning immune system it protects the body from infection by identifying and destroying any bacteria, viruses, and other harmful foreign elements.

With Hashimoto’s the immune system attacks the thyroid gland on which causes inflammation and interferes on how it produces thyroid hormones. Hashimoto usually leads to reducing thyroid function, or commonly known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones for what is needed for the body. Our thyroid hormones control metabolism, the way the body uses its energy and affect practically every organ in the body. With not the right amount of thyroid hormone much of our body’s functions slow down.

* Hashimoto is NOT curable. Once you have it, it's with you for life. HOWEVER, I do believe it is manageable over time with a combination of numerous tactics and in some cases medication as well.  

SYMPTOMS
For most of us with Hashimoto's we have no symptoms at first. The actual symptoms present themselves later on down the road. Not all with Hashimoto's disease develops hypothyroidism but for a lot that do, the hypothyroidism may be mild or without symptoms, especially early in its course. With progression to hypothyroidism, most may have one or more of the following symptoms:
Fatigue
Weight gain
Cold tolerances
Joint and muscle pain
Constipation
Dry and or thinning hair
Heavy or irregular menstrual cycles
Infertility problems
Depression
Memory issues
A slow heart rate
*These are only the common symptoms
   Hashimoto is more common in women but is found in men as well. However, even the disease also occurs in adolescents, it generally appears between 30-50 years of age. 
    The one thing with autoimmune diseases is, if you have one you are more likely to develop Hashimoto. This also goes for those with Hashimoto's , you are likely to develop another autoimmune disease. Here are some of the more common autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, Graves' disease, Sjögren's syndrome, and Type 1 diabetes.
DIAGNOSING
Getting diagnosed is a process of clinical examinations, tests and sometimes procedures. 
Checking for:
~TSH & T4 (blood tests)
~Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
~High levels of antibodies thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) -(blood tests)
~Fine needle aspiration or biopsy of the thyroid
~Ultrasound
    In my own experience the antibodies tests TG and TPO were the best confirmation of my diagnosis. Your TSH & T4 levels may still be in the normal range according to labs & MD's even though all your symptoms are there, which was true in my case.

I hope this basic overview was helpful about Hashimoto; symptoms and diagnosis.

Coming soon: My own personal experience with; diagnosing, symptoms, struggles, how I treat/manage it. 

(((HUGS))), Prayer& Well Wishes,
Janine

 

My Personal Whole30 Experiences

     The Whole30 has been a great asset to my life.  It has changed my outlook on food, my health, bad habits and made me more in tune with how I feel and how I should feel. 

     Here you will read some sporadic posts I journaled during my Whole30 rounds.  I'm not on Whole30 now but have adapted many of the meals to fit with my lifestyle now.  Since my diagnosis of Hashimoto I have had to remove some things to see how my body responds. Just because I'm not fully Whole30 now I fully believe in what it has done for me and what it can do for others. 

     May my journal posts encourage or amuse you to give it a try.  

     First Whole30 September 14, 2012

September 16, 2012 : So Ive completed Day 3 of Whole30.  Feeling good!! 

Quite proud that I have stuck to the program very well even though it's only day 3,  not one cheat, nibble or even a finger lick of "off limit foods". YAY me!!!! I can't speak of the up coming days but my attitude is good and I feel committed fully. My outlook may change in the coming days as I expect some not so fun headaches and withdrawal symptoms to come on. :0( Not looking forward to that part of the process but as of now I feel like I can overcome them.  :0)

I can't believe the things I haven't had in the last few days, (milk, cereal, butter,cheese, soda, I could go on& on)  and in all honestly not missing them thus far. Well, the daily slices of bread slathered with butter I make for my client daily is still oh so tempting, but this chickie will continue to say no! 

Day 5: Woke to a slight headache. took 1 med an it's gone by 9am. Yay! 

Still feeling pretty good.  The last couple of days I've had no slump of tiredness in the afternoon.  

Day 6: Horrible, restless night sleep.  Flashes of dreams.  

Woke to a slight headache

Day 11: Wow 11days in and not 1 slip up.  I really wasn't sure I'd make it this far but I have and so thrilled.  Feeling good minus being tired from my hectic weekend. 

Day 12: Praying for no tough spots this week but hopefully will be prepared in the event of one. Really like how I'm starting to feel.

• my mind is clearer (not as foggy brain)

• my skin isn't full  or puffy ( if that makes sense)

• handling stress better (I can't get rid of the stress so I need to handle it better) 

• fall asleep faster and sleep more sound

• feel more awake and energized ( not like hyper but motivated & willing)

I may need to cut back on my intake of veggies :0(  (flaring my gastroparesis up a bit) or I may need to just purée them. (something about mushy baby food like veggies turns me off) but I'll try. My focus on food is changing. I'm thinking of the value & benefits of what I eat not how to satisfy or please my emotions.  

Day 15: Passed another test! Lol

My mom had a lovely turkey dinner for us all last night with all the fixings. (mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, broccoli, corn, rolls & sweet potatoes (she made on my behalf)

Well I just had the turkey, broccoli (no butter) & sweet potato.  I brought a peach with me to cut up while the rest had cookies.  

It really wasn't as hard as I thought.  Slightly tempting but totally not worth it, I never gave it a second thought.  I was very satisfied with what was on my plate and no need for a second helping. In my mind I was feeding my body not my tastebuds. definitely a different turnaround in my thoughts.  :0) 

Second post day15: For the first time ever I actually feel like I can change things around & that my efforts are not a hopeless cause with no results.  Instead of being unhealthy, tired, out of shape and according to the charts obese,  I am on my way to being what I feel is right.  After this round of Whole30 I plan to keep it up with maybe just adding a couple of things back in with extreme moderation.  Once the 30 days is up I will then implement an exercise routine that works for me.   I could have done both together but I really wanted to focus fully on the food factor. 

Day 23: Actually today  I woke up thinking about my future with Whole30. It absolutely is a keeper in my life! I also did think on if, what and how I would handle indulging in treats.  I'm sure I will, but I know I will need to be very careful to keep my mind on the way I feel now and how things are so much better and not rely of emotional connection of them. After this week to come I plan to incorporate a realistic routine to exercise. Now that the food issues and my head are on a healthier track,  I can add the physical benefits to my life.  

I feel approaching all 3 at once like in the past with all diet plans I attempted it was a sure way for me to fail, and boy I did each time!  I feel much more confident that health and success are in my foreseeable future and very doable and realistic without misery.  

From day one of the Whole30 I found writing my personal thoughts down and sharing some with others has helped me tremendously and I plan to continue to do so in the days, weeks and months to come.  

Day 41: Whole30 is working in so many ways!!

Tried on the dress for the kids wedding and it is too big in some areas.  :0)

Went to alteration ladies house this morning and she will be taking in an inch on both side of the dress. Love when you see and feel the results of your hard work and dedication right before your eyes.  :0)

Day ?: So this pic (above) was totally how I felt 30+ days ago, screaming for help on the inside! And getting no answers. I was a mess, just diagnosed with Hashimoto, had months & years of health issues and  gaining weight daily.  It all became very frustrating & and honestly quite scary.  

I looked into the ISWF book and found some answers that really made sense to me. I contacted an old friend about it, Coach Bob!! He really was so helpful and a great supporter to me.  Thanks Bob!!!!

Today I can say I've completed my first and surely not my last Whole30 program.  

I finally feel great!   :0)

I can think without a cloud of fog over me. I fall asleep and actually feel like I slept when I wake. My cravings and desires are squashed and over taken by my thoughts of what is good for my body not what will spark my taste buds. I love how colorful my plate is at each meal.  I truly enjoy having my tight fat clothes start to loosen and even almost fall off. 

For the first time in a very long time I feel I found and done something right for ME, and it feels darn good!!!

Finally to the weight issue, I'm excited to announce that I lost a total of 17.5 lbs in my 30 day journey!!  I new I would lose some with all the garbage I removed from the pathway of my mouth.  I know I will continue this way of eating as it working so well for me and I don't feel the least bit deprived. 

     Second Whole30 experience January 7, 2013

Day 3: End of day- Whole30 and I'm feeling really good!!!

Nice to not be doing this solo for once.  Having others in the house (Josh & Keisha) on board is surely a different feeling one I'm enjoying.  Having others to be excited with is great, on how our bodies are feeling, the colorful healthy meals we are eating and the positive changes we are making that can have long lasting affects for us if we stick to them.  

*Breakfast:

1 egg

2 slices of uncured bacon

1 cup of potato, apple n sausage hash

*Lunch:

Sautéed Turkey Italian sausage over lettuce

Side of fruit

*Dinner:

Steak

Sweet potato

Zucchini & squash

Feeling satisfied, full of joy and overly blessed.  

Day 6

Feeling good & energized! 

Day 11!  

This being my second Whole30 it seems to be coming more natural with thinking and creating meals. Last go around I seen changes with my sleep (more sound), thoughts (no foggy brain) , energy (no afternoon crash), less headaches, lost 18lbs and the best part it changed my view on what I choose to put in my body and how I see food altogether.  Food to nourish my body not to feed just my taste buds or my emotions is the key.  Does that mean I'll never eat a bowl of cereal or have sugary or fried junk etc? No, of course not.  But I do believe it has given me a sense of control back to me with the knowledge Ive learned from the book (ISWF) and from my own personal experiences with the Whole30 program.  It has shown me what I put in my body will determine how it feels, functions and looks! I know how to make the best choices for me and to know how not to over indulge and limit the things that are NOT  good for me in the long run.  Im truly enjoying my second journey with Whole30 just as I did my first! Seeing the same changes I mentioned above this time around is more proof to me that this is to be my lifestyle. 

Day 17: Letting it out! 

Second day of this horrible emotional battle!!   It's taking  all I have not to just drive to Dunkin donuts or a publix bakery to buy something sinfully delicious.  When  your cup is already full and one more worry is added, it over flows. For years I have learned to either suppress or feed my emotions of stress, worry and even physical pain which in the end only sabotages my goals and makes me feel more guilty. So this morning I have pulled into a parking lot not one to feed my emotions but to seek my Heavenly Counselor for help through prayer and scripture. Some people would just say "do it", "it's just one slip up" , but to me I've not only committed to this change for me and my health but my Father in Heaven to make me accountable of my negative behaviors and change how I handle them. This is one of my greatest  weaknesses I believe, weak in not seeking Him in my OWN troubling moments.  I seek Him for others needs, lean on Him for other stuff and thank Him for all He has done but not leaning on Him in my weaknesses of this perticular battle. Loving myself enough to know the difference.

2 Peter 1:5-8  (NIV)

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Day 29: Whole30 reflection!

One day to go till my Whole30 is up. I plan to continue it well past the 30 days.  Feeling great over all so why end the progress here.  I really can see a life style change this time around. It's funny in the past weeks I don't think Ive been on the inside isles of the grocery store but to get seasonings and olive oil.  I hit the meat counter and produce section for all my needs. It can be costly at first but once you cut out all the junk and boxed foods that we all think we must buy because it's such a great sale it evens out.  I now must go through my cupboards and clean them out.  With Hubby  and son still eating as they please I'll have to save some aside to keep them happy.  I will splurge every now an again but it will be limited choices and not ones to make a habit of.  

I'm not where I need to be weight wise but I'll get there, but I am down another 13lbs. Feeling better is the key to it all, having energy, good sleep, clarity of the mind & generally feel good. Ive been back in the gym and that's a plus, now to get a set routine to make it all come together as it should.   :0) Thoroughly enjoyed having Josh & Keisha partner up with me this time around.  Sharing in meal planning's & ideas has been fun. I'm so proud of their commitment and the changes not only in their bodies but how they see food now and how they want it to nourish them. I hope we all can keep this experience going and not loose sight of the big picture of our over all health.  

     Round 3 Whole30 experience, July 6, 2013

Day 3: It would have been day 4 but.... Sigh...I blew it!! 

I did real well all day at breakfast, lunch & dinner with no slip ups and then I looked at the oh so delicious Apple Crunch Pie  I work so hard on making perfect sitting on the counter.  (that I only had 1 slice of on July 4th) that I was feeling a bit jealous of my hard work and knowing I wouldn't get to enjoy another slice which meant my hubby would get it all.  Not a chance!! Lol So I enjoyed another slice of pie and made a clean slate on July 6th.  It's in the past and I'm moving forward.  :)

Day 10: Doing pretty good so far, my meals are yummy, colorful & filling.  Not sure why I steered away from having zucchini or a sweet potato daily but I'm happy they are back in my life!!!  I love the variety of ways you can cook & enjoy them, even for breakfast. :)

I'm glad the kids are doing it too but have to admit it was easier, more enjoyable & more accountable when they lived in the same house and we did it together.  We do get together for some meals and are still supportive for each other but it's just different not being in the same household cooking meals and discussing over it daily together. 

Day ? (Lost track): One of the best effects of the Whole30 I look forward to, SOUND SLEEP! 

I read in the 'It Starts With Food' book that I would get the best night sleep during the Whole30.  I was a sceptic at first because I have tossed and turned and had always had restless nights for years. With each Whole30 Ive done it has been a proven fact you do sleep sound and I love it!! Feeling refreshed and ready to be productive today! 

I hope you could follow my sporadic thoughts through my Whole30 experiences okay.  As you can see some days were not so peachy.  Lol. I had some difficult situations I had to deal at times with but never shared them out loud, one of which my mom dealing with Thyroid cancer and some other stressful family situations.  All in all managed to stay committed and reap the benefits of the Whole30. I did do another Whole30 this year back in July to help transitioned into an AIP diet, adjusted for my autoimmune issues. 

Places to start if interested in the Whole30:

Book: 

(ISWF) It Starts With Food

Web: 

http://whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/

Whole30- http://whole9life.com/2012/01/whole-30-v2012/

((Hugs)), Prayers & Well Wishes,

Janine

New Month, New Goals

As I say goodbye to September and welcome a new month it's time for me to create a new monthly goal/challenge. Before I create a new one for October and post it I like to reflect on the one I just completed. 

This was last months goal

      For September I challenged myself a few things. Some things I had big doubts about but said what the heck, go for it! 

     My first challenge on the list was on weight loss, this was particularly hard for me. With my Hashimoto,  losing weight is especially hard and I don't like to put a number out there or one to commit to. Trying to meet this goal puts added pressure on me and not meeting it would only be a disappointment. I'm thrilled to say I met my challenge of losing 7.9 lbs this month, completely shocked! I did fixate on this part of the challenge the most, I worried if my body would cooperate and actually react to all the changes I had implemented or not. With autoimmune issues you just never know what you'll get in a response. This goes to show me Ive found the right mix at this point in time.  

     The next challenge I had was to exercise 3,000 minutes.  I can't really recall where or how I came up with this number.  I thought it was a doable number to acquire with my walking and fit camp times. I missed my mark but this doesn't disappointment me, I know I didn't make excuses and I stayed committed to my routine- it just wasn't an attainable number for me at this time.  

     Now with this next challenge I really worked hard to conquer, I think mostly because I notice small changes in my body and I need to be ready for 1/2 marathon in October.  115 miles walked in 30 days.  When I first started the month out I was only walking 1 1/2- 21/2 miles most evenings.  I knew I would have to step it up a bunch to meet my goal. I quickly upped my miles and was regularly walking 5 miles each evening with my neighbor. I walked a few times 6 miles at one shot and many times I walked twice in a day that totaled 8-9 miles. The last day of September I challenged myself personally to walk 9 miles in one shot,    I did it! It took 2 1/2 hrs, not bad I think.  

    Now my last challenge was to weed my garden beds. This was a task that I kept putting off. I love to garden and my garden beds are really sad looking, mostly because my last Hashimoto flare up had caused lots of joint aches, depression & left me with no energy to do much. With all the diet changes I now have my energy back and my aches & depression is at bay too. Although I did not complete all my own garden beds I have put my energy to good use.  I now volunteer in my walking partners second grade classroom. Her class also has a raised garden bed that was full of weeds. I took 2 days and with lots of little second grade helpers we fully weeded it.  Once the gardening task was done I started to volunteer in the classroom. I'm thrilled I have the time, energy and a happy mood to be helpful to others. 

Lessons Learned:

Setting goals is helpful to your success

Find the positive in any size victory

Self doubt isn't worth it

Just like my garden beds, I'm a work in process. 

Octobers goals- keeping it simple but notice I still put weightloss on it with a number.  

Bring it October, I'm ready! 

I'd love for you to share your goals with me! 

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes,

Janine

Gastroparesis: My Road to Healing

Gastroparesis: My Road to Healing

 

     Well getting a diagnosis of all the pain and discomfort was a relief. I finally knew what I had but now what to do about it was the next step. 

     I was left with a phone call with an unheard of disorder and medication. No office visit to tell me what this is, what to expect or really how to fix it. I first took the prescribed medication, erythromycin, yes an antibiotic just to help with my immediate discomfort as directed. I also was on a medication to tranquilize my stomached to help with pain.     

     It wasn't until I sat down and research what I actually had, how severe it could get and the medications I would be taken for long term that I new I needed to do something about this. So I took the medications for a little over a month while I gathered information and came up with a plan on what to do. This is where mashing my foods, sometimes pureeing them & the Whole30 came into my life.

     With gastroparesis it can progress to such a severity that fixing it is extremely hard. I learned many people don't recover and continue to get sicker. * I have to say up front Im not a doctor or nor do air claim to know much about this except my own personal experience and what I thought was best for me. I knew what and how the way I ate had to change drastically. It was recommended by most of the research to:

Eat smaller meals more frequently.

Eat low-fiber forms of high-fiber foods, such as well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables.

Choose mostly low-fat foods, but if you can tolerate them, add small servings of fatty foods to your diet.

Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli, that may cause bezoars.

If liquids are easier for you to ingest, try soups and pureed foods.

Drink water throughout each meal.

     Because it was very painful in the beginning I had to mash and purée my foods just to eat and stay nourished.  I avoided breads, carrots for sure, most veggies & fruits  as each time I had them I would be doubled over in pain.  I then said to myself it was ridiculous to avoid things I know are healthy, especially fruits and veggies.  My main symptoms were starting to back off  with the combination of meds and diet so I then implemented the Whole30 after reading Its Starts With Food and a recommendation from a good friend. Here is the link to Whole30. http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/.  Basically the Whole30 is a plan that helps clean your system and rid your body of the garbage, chemicals and God knows what else that is put in our foods thus giving your body a clean slate to work with. 

     I knew the foods I would be eating were things recommended to avoid but I did not avoid them.  I ate simple, clean, free of sugars, grains, legumes, alcohol, preservatives and so on.  I ate them in small mashed portions at first then increased them as tolerated.  It was great being able to eat, eat good food and start to feel good for once.  My symptoms faded to a point no medication was needed.  I lost 16  pounds on my first Whole30. My digestive system was finally responding well to the good foods and smaller portions I was putting in my body. I had energy like I never had before! I was actually sleeping sound and as strange as it sounds my vision was clearer. Yes, everything looked crystal clear.  I also had a huge foggy cloud move from my brain.  I could think better and my thoughts were processing properly.  I expected changes but not this good.  

     After time I was symptom free from my gastroparesis as long as I didn't over indulge in larger meals.  I don't place blame for that on my Gastroparesis for the pain from being full very may be from the hiatal hernia.  

     Im happy to announce I'm fee of the extreme bloat, embarrassing gas and unbearable pain for a couple years now that was brought on by my Gastroparesis.  Am I cured, NO, but I'm healing and symptom free, and I'll take it! I can't say for certain the Whole30 can fix gastroparesis but in my case I feel very strongly it was a main contributor for me.  

     I thank God every day for my health, being pain free and for this moment - a solution for relief.  

     I'm thankful for the info I got along the way from:

Whole30.  http://whole30.com

Living (Well) with Gastroparesis. https://www.facebook.com/CrystalSaltrelliCHC

Book: It Starts With Food. http://whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/

Lessons Learned:

Listen to your body!

Make changes as neccceasary to gain wellness!

Stay committed! (Whole30 experience and your health needs your full commitment to get the best outcome)

Put Criticism to the trash! (Everyone will not agree with you or think they know all the answers for your health and body) really! Who's body is it anyways.

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes,

Janine

Gastoparesis : A Road to Diagnosis

    It's interesting to me to sit back and think how far I've come in making myself well with my diagnosis of gastroparesis over the years, sadly despite the lack of help from PCP & Specialists. I'm not giving myself a pat on the back just realizing how I've taken initiative of my own health. 

     On the night of Thanksgiving 2010 I became very ill with severe stomach pains and bloat. Now mind ya my mom ROCKs an awesome Thanksgiving dinner. I look forward to her creamed carrots (cooked carrots in cheese sauce) & her stuffing every year.  That evening after dinner I really was in agony, it was more than the over stuffed turkey after a holiday meal feeling.  By the next morning I was still miserable.  As the days & weeks went on it only felt a tiny bit better. I still had severe bloat and gas, Yes gas! It was so embarrassing I didn't want to leave the house. (Seriously it was the worst you could ever imagine)  I only could wear elastic waist pants to keep from adding to my already hurting rock hard and bloated stomach. I tried numerous OTC things.  I went through a ton of pepto, gas-ex & Tums.  Just when I thought it was subsiding it would flare right back up again with one bite of food.  It didn't matter what it was I ate either. 

     I finally made an appointment with my PCP and he referred me to a gastroenterologist. Mind ya this is now March 2011.  Yes months of pain and discomfort. When I saw the specialist she scheduled me for a series of tests; Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and a Gastric emptying scintigraphy. 

     An Upper GI involves using an endoscope to see what's going on inside the stomach area. The endoscope is fed down your esophagus and into the stomach and duodenum while you are under general anesthesia.  There is a small camera on the endoscope that transmits a video image to a monitor which allows the doctor to examine your intestinal lining. 

     The Gastric emptying scintigraphy test involves you eating a small plain meal (mine was 1/2 egg sandwich) that contained a small amount of radioactive material. No anesthesia is needed for this test. An external camera scans the abdomen to show where the radioactive material is located. The radiologist is then able to measure the rate of gastric emptying in increments of an hour all the way to 4 hours after the meal has been eaten. If more than 10 percent of the meal is still in the stomach at the 4 hours, the diagnosis of gastroparesis is confirmed. For my experience I basically ate 1/2 sandwich, laid on a flat hard table for hours while a machine basically saw what was happening inside. Then a tech injected me half way through the session with an antibiotic. It wasn't much longer when I physically felt my stomached contract on its own which was allowing the food to finally pass through the digestive system.  

     The Gastric emptying test was my final test. It was only a couple of days later that the office called to say, you have Gastroparesis and the doctor prescribed you medication and it is at the pharmacy for you to pick up.  Oh and you also have a hiatal hernia.  

     That's it! I have what!? What is this gastroparesis? Here's medicine you will need to take on a regular basis and have a nice day. SMH

     So now I'm left with an unexplained disorder and medication. I got the medication and took it and had relief. Thankfully! It wasn't until I sat down and research what I actually had, how severe it could get and the medications I would be taken that I new I needed to do something about this.  

     I took the medications for a little over a month while I gathered information and camp up with a plan on what to do about this. This is where mashing my foods, sometimes pureeing them & the Whole30 came into my life.  (Story of recovery to come soon)  I was determined to turn this around, I was not going to be defeated. 

Lessons learned:

Never give up! 

Have FAITH! 

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes

Janine

 

Victories & Blessings

Victories whether big or small are still victories! 

     Along with a complete diet change overhaul and back on thyroid med all starting on July 10 of this year, I decided I needed to get moving daily to aid in my remission of Hashimotto. Come to find out I've taken on a liking to walking.  Who would have thought! So when I saw a post from a FB friend who shared a walking challenge I decided this was a good start to push myself. So the walking challenge started August 16 and went till September 21st (yesterday).  At first I doubted myself but as the days went on and the miles started to add up I realized I could really do this. I'm proud to say I completed the challenge and went beyond the 75 miles total it suggested.  I've totaled up my walking log and I have 104.2 mile completed for this challenge.  Yay, me! 

     With my new found passion for walking so much neat blessings have come out of it.  First my good neighbor friend joined in on my nightly walking ventures.  We have found it to be a great de-stress time for both of us and we enjoy our girl time together, not to mention we are doing something good for our health.  Another really neat blessing is all the support I get now. I have acquired a cheering squad near and far. Two of my sisters both live in different states but text me regularly to see how I'm doing.  Their encouragement means so much to me! They are both avid runners so they know the benefits of a daily run and walk for me. I look forward to their check ins.  Along with their encouragement, my sister in Atlanta has registered us in a 1/2 walk/run marathon. Of course I will be walking but what a great challenge and boost of "You Can Do this Janine" from her. I can't wait for it! My mom is another big supporter and encourager in my road to healing. She has always been there for me, she also knows what I struggle with daily as she to has traveled the ugly thyroid road. She recently treated me to gift of a Fitbit Flex and the Fitbit scale.  What a blessing it has been to have these new gadgets to not only keep me interested but help me keep track of my progress.  I once thought it was impossible to get 10000 steps in a day but that's a breeze now! I now try to surpass 20000 steps a day.  I've hit it a number of times so far so I do know it's doable.  Along with those mentioned and sweet friends that I get to meet up with to walk at the park with it's also nice to have my hubby being interested in how my progress is going and my boys joining me on an occasional walk. 

I never thought of myself as a walker but I sure am glad I'm one now! 

This is the challenge that was posted. 

 

Lessons learned: 

DONT KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT! 

DONT DOUBT YOURSELF! 

May you be inspired to find something you enjoy too.  

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes

Janine

I'm a Pumpkin Lover!

    

     Fall is just around the corner and the stores, bakeries and fast food place are already putting out the pumpkin treats from donuts, creamers to lattes. I love just about everything pumpkin, especially during the fall.  Living in the south I miss out on the color change in the Autumn which I absolutely love.  I refuse to miss out on the flavors of pumpkin this season just because I have to eat differently to stay well.  So this weekend I tried a new recipe. 

     With going gluten, dairy, & egg free and with only an exception of a tiny bit of raw sugar on occasions it makes it very difficult to find pumpkin things that are compliant with my new life style.  So in the coming weeks I am on a mission to find some pumpkin treats I can eat or drink in small moderations this fall season.  

     I came across a recipe for a pumpkin bread typed treat made in a bundt pan.  The recipe only has 2 ingredients so I new it would be fairly safe on it being compliant. Here is the link: http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2011/11/two-ingredient-pumpkin-bread-with-apple-cider-glaze/. 

     I opted out of making the apple cider glaze this time around but will make the full recipe again closer to the holiday time.  I however did add cinnamon & nutmeg to the batter. No exact amounts just till I could taste them.  

My review:

Recipe is very simple to make

Smells delicious just like fall. 

Tastes good & very pumpkiney 

It's dense so if you were expecting a big plump cake/bread this isn't it.  

It's a little on the chewy side, not sure if Apple cider glaze would make a difference once drizzled on but Im sure it would be a great finishing touch either way.  

Overall I liked it and will make it again especially with the glaze.  One thing for sure with being GF, DF & EF you have to learn to adjust your palate and taste buds because things will look, taste, & feel much different than what your used to.  

Feel free to share with me your favorite pumpkin recipes. 

(((Hugs))), Prayers & Well Wishes

Janine

  

What is Autoimmune Disease?

    Over time I've gathered some basic info that I've learned along the way to help explain to myself what is happening to my own body and what autoimmune disease is, how it affects, how it is  diagnosed and what treatments are there. 

     An autoimmune disease starts within your immune system. Our immune system defends our bodies from diseases but with an autoimmune disease it decides that our healthy cells are foreign. Once this happens our immune system starts to attack our healthy body cells. Depending on which autoimmune disease you have it can affect one or several types of body tissue.

     Here is a list of common autoimmune diseases:

rheumatoid arthritis

lupus 

multiple sclerosis

celiac sprue disease

scleroderma

psoriasis

inflammatory bowel disease

Hashimoto’s disease

Addison’s disease

Graves’ disease

reactive arthritis

Sjögren’s syndrome

Type 1 diabetes

     The actual cause of autoimmune disease is unknown. Studies show that if a family member of your has an autoimmune disease that you are more susceptible to developing one as well. Some possible theories as to what triggers an autoimmune diseases are:

A bacteria or virus

Drugs

Chemical or toxin irritants 

Environmental  irritants

     Since there are many different autoimmune diseases the symptoms can vary. Most all  autoimmune diseases causes fatigue, fever, and general malaise, feeling ill. When your in a flare up the symptoms worsen and the list can increase. An autoimmune diseases can affect many areas of the body. 

The most common affected organs and tissue are:

joints

muscles

skin

red blood cells

blood vessels

connective tissue

endocrine glands

     Usually our immune system produces antibodies that seek out and protect against harmful invaders in our bodies, like viruses, bacteria and parasites.  When someone has an autoimmune disease, their body produces antibodies against some of their own tissues. To diagnose an autoimmune disease it involves identifying the antibodies in which your body is producing.

Some tests use to diagnose an autoimmune disease are:

antinuclear antibody tests

autoantibody tests

complete blood count (CBC)

C-reactive protein (CRP)

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

     Sadly, autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions with no actual cure. Once diagnosed with one you will always have it. There are treatments to help to control the process of the disease and to decrease or if lucky eliminate the symptoms, especially during a flare-up. 

Here is a list of ways to try to help in feeling well with an autoimmune disease and aid in relieving the symptoms too: 

eat a balanced and healthy diet

exercise regularly

get plenty of rest

take vitamin supplements

take hormone replacement, if needed

take anti-inflammatory medication for joints if needed

take pain medication

take immunosuppressive medication

get physical therapy

decrease stress

limit sun exposure

avoid any known triggers of flare-ups

*There are other alternative therapies that also have shown to be helpful:

herbs, chiropractic, acupuncture, hypnosis

Personally for me, in order to be feeling my best I need to: avoid stress (that's a biggie), eat very clean (free of gluten, dairy, egg, soy & grains), be well rested, exercise regularly, thyroid med, take Vitamin D twice a day, plus add in multi vitamins daily and B12 & Biotin (a few days a week). 

I hope you found this helpful. 

((Hugs)), Prayers & Well Wishes

Janine

BIO

ME: Wife, mom, mom in-law, nana, daughter, sister, friend & a Gods Girl
 I love each person I am except the one I've seen in the mirror. As each day goes by I'm learning to love her more and more and realizing she ROCKs! It can be so frustrating to do all the right things, try numerous programs, see Drs, try medications, research to the wee hours, think your going insane and wonder for years what is wrong. Finding out what's wrong is what has led me to here; learning more, seeking support, exercising, eating clean, enjoying each day, praying & blogging.

Brief Description:
     In my school age days I was fairly healthy. I don't remember needing much of a doctors attention. I had a few issues but either treated them on my own or with the care from my mom.  After years later and looking back now the issues I did deal with were early symptoms is now from PCOS & possibly my Hashimoto. 
     I was diagnosed after my first son was born with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian syndrome). After 2 miscarriages and 4 years later we were blessed with our second son. Since I had the two boys I never pursued the issues of my PCOS except be somewhat careful of my diet. PCOS is an insulin and hormone imbalance and classified under as an autoimmune disorder which causes infertility problems along with other issues.
     Several years down the road I developed a severe pain in my stomached that caused the most embarrassing bloat that I looked like I was 8 months pregnant. It was so bad none of my clothing would fit on my bloat days. It got so bad that as soon as I took one bite of any food went in I was in pain and immediately started to bloat. I almost broke down and bought maternity pants just to be a little more comfortable.  After numerous scopes & tests I got a call to say I have gastroparesis  “stomach paralysis" in which your stomach does not empty. I was told to take an antibiotic to help assist my stomach to contract and to help it empty at every meal.  I also was told to purée my meals, don't eat veggies and other healthy foods. Well not eating good for you foods just didn't make sense and got old real quick and I was not comfortable taking an antibiotic daily for life. Changes needed to happen. This is where the Whole30 came in to my life, more on that to come.
     It wasn't until 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto. (autoimmune disease)Hashimoto is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid. This result came about while my mom was undergoing treatment & biopsies for thyroid cancer. It was the result of her very own biopsy that came back that she had Hashimoto and after researching (which I do a lot of) I came to learn it was hereditary. Since my mom and I seem to travel the same bumpy road when it comes to our health I right away scheduled an appointment with my PCP and requested the necessary antibodies tests to see if I had it too.  Bingo!

     I've learned that if you have one autoimmune disease you may have or develop more as time passes. Yup. That's me, just this year I was recently diagnosed with RA (rheumatoid arthritis)  at 45 years old. Oh what joy, not!
     I'm embracing all this and in the process finding ways to help, heal and relieve any symptoms from all these diagnosis. It won't happen over night but I'm on the right path.

No time to sit back and wait and see. Now is the time!
Making My Health A Priority!

In my coming blogs I will go further in depth and break down each of my diagnosis along with my personal experiences with them. I also will share my successes, victories and even disappointments on my journey.

((Hugs)) & Prayers,
      Janine

Newbie to blogging.

Trying something new! 

Seems I like to post more than the usual Facebook posts while I'm on my journey to health and wellness. I'm going to try and post here and give the ones who don't care a break. Lol. I'm finding it's therapeutic to jot down my experiences, thoughts, challenges & victories of my day to day life.  Maybe this is just what I need to help achieve my own goals and if I can help inform, inspire or motivate someone along the way then great. 

My next blog (strange to say) will be a little bio of me and a description of some health diagnosis and topics.  

I hope you stick around, learn some things & cheer me on. 

I am here for you as well. :)

(((Hugs))) & Prayers