Making My Health A Priority. : 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.