Challenge: Days 1 & 2

DAY 1: SUNDAY - NOT OFF TO A GREAT START
So today wasn't the best of days. I was able to stay on program until about dinner. However, because I had a nagging headache for most of the day, I never made it to the grocery store, so we didn't have anything to eat for dinner. So, my husband and I (who has decided to take part in this challenge) went out to Moe's for dinner - which really didn't help my headache, but reiterated the reason why I so desperately need to get back on track.

After Moe's we attempted to do our grocery shopping at superTarget - bad mistake, as all the fruits and vegetables on the list either not there, or were almost to the point of being bad.

Results: Able to stick to GFCFSF until dinner, didn't take my prenatal, and didn't have the allotted 84-100 ounces of water.

DAY 2: MONDAY - HEADACHE, HEADACHE AGO AWAY!
Monday morning came after an extremely fitful night of sleep, which early morning thunderstorms seemed to only make worse. I had set my alarm for 7:30am so that we could get up and get to the gym first thing to start off the day right. The plan was I would go to Whole Foods so we could have everything we needed for the day and week. But this plan was squelched again.

When the alarm sounded, I reset it for an hour later thinking another hour of sleep is what I needed. How was I wrong - my headache was still there from Sunday, but this time, it was turning into more than just a headache. So I took some Advil, drank a little water, and headed back to bed for another 2 hours. This time when I woke, my headache was worse... on the verge of becoming a migraine. But because I had already taken Advil, I couldn't take anything else. So I just laid on the couch, wishing for it to go away. But by lunch it was evident it wasn't going to budge, so my wonderful husband offered to do the grocery shopping and I stayed home, had lunch, more Advil and water, and took it easy (stayed off the computer as much as possible, not watching a lot of TV... non-brain stimulating things).

As bad as my day started, it finally started getting better around 6pm. And even with all the pain, I have managed to stay true to the challenge. So hopefully this will start the healing process and make tomorrow a better day.

Breakfast: 2 prunes
Snacks, various throughout day: peanut butter, GFCFSF pumpkin spice bars,
Lunch: Ian's Fish fillet and tortilla chips
Dinner: Altamira Stuffed Chicken & Ratatouille

Results: GFCFSF all day, only got in 64 ounces of water, and missed prenatal at lunch so took it during dinner.

Challenge: And We're Off....

Today I begin my 6-week Challenge. I haven't gone grocery shopping yet, so I'll be rummaging through my pantry, freezer and refrigerator for breakfast and lunch. I have options that are safe, so I should be fine until dinner. After I publish this post, I'll finalize my meal plan for the week, do a last look at the grocery list, and then head out to conquer the grocery store. The hardest part of today is going to be getting in the 84-100 ounces of water, as I haven't been getting in enough water daily. So, for the next few days I'll feel as if I need to be hooked up to an IV and catheter.

I am really excited to start back on my program. Yesterday, as with the past few months, I ate whatever I wanted. I didn't go overboard, as I usually do when I'm about to start a new diet or program, nor did I stuff myself to exploding. But when I got home from spending the day in Helen, Dahlonega, and Marietta with my best friend, I felt like I had a stomach bug. During the night, it felt as if someone was stabbing knives into my side and stomach, where at one point I couldn't even move from the pain. Thankfully, this morning the pain and nausea is gone, but I feel like I'm suffering from a food hangover - sluggish, exhausted like I didn't get any sleep, dehydrated, headache just below the surface trying to break through, body achy and stuffy - basically, the way I feel everyday.

Starting Stats.... Yes, as much I can't believe I am about to post these numbers, I'm more appalled that these numbers are real. But by documenting this journey, maybe I can stay on plan through and past this challenge. So here goes everything I can put into this....

Height: 5 foot, 1/2 inch (yes, I count this half-inch)
Starting Weight: 214.5
BMI: 41.9 (ouch!!!)
Pants Size: 18-22
Shirt Size: XL, 1X or 14-16

And with that embarrassing, reality hitting declaration....Here's to becoming a Healthier, Stronger, Skinnier version of my current self.

6-Week Challenge

To recommit, I am starting a 6-Week Challenge. This challenge is something I've created for myself for the sole purpose of becoming healthy once again, and hopefully to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming pregnant (after 8 years of trying).

Challenge will begin on: Sunday, February 21
Challenge will end on: Sunday, April 3 (Easter)

Here are my GOALS for the next 6 weeks:

1. Kick my dependence and cravings for the offending foods - anything containing gluten, casein, and soy.
2. Lose 18 pounds - which is approximately 3 pounds per week
3. Incorporate exercise into my life once again - being able to workout 5-6 days a week

Here are the CHALLENGE RULES for the next 6 week:

1. No Gluten
2. No Soy
3. No Casein
4. No Caffeine after Week 1 - gradually reduce
   
5. Drink 84-100 ounces of water per day
6. Limit of 5 meals a week that contain "safe" grains, rice, starches and beans (i.e. gluten free oatmeal, desserts)
7. Take a prenatal vitamin daily that is also GFCFSF (gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free)
   
8. Exercise 4 times a week, plus one day of pilates/yoga/ballet-type workout to stretch muscles
9. Must post in blog at least every other day to keep self accountable
   
10. Must weigh-in on blog 1 time per week (can't weigh in more than once a week)

You are welcome to join in at any time and feel free to post your results in the comments.

Here's to becoming a Healthier, Stronger, Skinnier version of myself (basically rediscovering who I used to be).

A yo-yo I will no longer be...

Almost 2 years ago I went on a mission to determine the root cause of my PCOS, headaches, psoriasis and eczema that had popped up on my face after a mild sunburn, fatigue, mental fogginess, mood swings, inability to lose weight easily (gained 20lbs in a 2 month boot camp with nutritionist support), multiple sinus / bronchial / viral infections, and constant injuries (7 broken bones in a 10 year period).

Fortunately for me, I found my answer within 6 months - an article on PCOS indicated that an OB/GYN did research on her PCOS patients and found that 80% of them had either an allergy or intolerance to gluten. Doing more research, I discovered there are multiple scientific studies trying to prove this link. So I took this information to my fertility specialist, my primary, and my ob/gyn and they all agreed I exhibited the symptoms of food intolerance - especially considering I could bring on my cycle within a 2-week period just by completely eliminating dairy from my diet (previously, I would go 3-4 months between cycles to then have a prescription for progesterone).

After being tested, I was diagnosed with Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance, as well as intolerances to casein (protein found in bovine milk) and soy. You would have thought this is what I needed to change my life... Well, almost! In the past 18 months since being diagnosed I have done more yo-yo dieting than I have my entire life. I'll eliminate the offending foods for a month (no more) and something will happen where I'll fall off... and I'll fall off hard.

But things have to change! In the past 10 months I have... had several sinus / bronchial infections, H1N1, a level 1 sprained ankle that took over six months to heal, and have started to lose hope and faith that being a mom is in my future.

This brings me to this week. I have made alot of decisions, written down goals for myself, and decided to turn this adventure into a challenge - since I can't continue to go through the emotional ups and downs of trying to conceive and have a family, I am setting a time line. If I can not get pregnant by the age of 37 (which will be in 18 months) through aggressive changes to my diet (to account for my food intolerance) and fitness routine; and with the help of my doctors, then I will be content with that fact that having biological children are not in my and my husband's future.

So... as the title of this post states: "A yo-yo I will no longer be". I am beginning my journey with 100% commitment, heart, faith, hope, and a full belief in God that I will become a strong and healthy Mom!

To be continued... 6-week Challenge

Cooking Classes and Birthdays....

I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks since I started my plan. I'm sure I've unintentionally ingested the offending ingredients of gluten, casein, and soy; but all in all, I think it's been an extremely successful adventure.

Restaurants... I'm becoming much more vocal when I dine at restaurants. I always ask to speak with the manager, explaining my "special" interest to the waiter. On the instance I didn't talk with the manager, I was sick for two days. It's amazing that my symptoms when I eat an offending ingredient are worse now then they were when I was eating them daily - but then again, I was talking daily doses of advil, and almost daily doses of tums and pepto chews, so I guess I was in denial of those symptoms. I have become over concerned with cross contamination, so eating out is a rare treat. Although I really don't consider it treats anymore. They've become more of a necessity when I do eat out - dinner with friends, birthday celebrations, lunch with co-workers so they don't think I'm ditching them.

Cooking Class... A few weekends ago, David and I attended a gluten, casein, soy, peanut, and shellfish/fish cooking class. It was hosted by Sally from Aprovechar and Moore Farms & Friends. We both thoroughly enjoyed it!! They started our class off by serving us breadsticks, followed with a Slow Cooker BBQ Beef (with pasture-raised beef), Mac 'n "cheese", coleslaw (minus mayonnaise), sandwich bread. The night was topped off with a Fruit Gelette. Everything was fabulous. We recreated most of the menu items this past weekend and are now enjoying leftovers (yum).

The cooking class reinvigorated my love of cooking great food. Unfortunately, I can't cook things "from scratch", but I recipes I follow turn out amazing (or so I think), so that's a start. I hope the ability to rearrange recipes and make things "from scratch" will follow with practice. Either way, cooking has become my replacement to eating out. It's been wonderful to know that what I'm eating is completely safe, and therefore comes with no additional worries about whether I'm going to have a stomachache, or have a bad headache or mood swing the next day.

Celebrations.... Yesterday was my 35th birthday (shh! don't tell anyone I'm over 21). I celebrated with my family at Joe's Crab Shack. As always, I asked to talk to the manager, assuring the waiter it wasn't that I didn't trust him, it was because I needed to make sure the manager followed my order through the kitchen. So it was a great relief when the manager on duty happened to be a manager I had worked with several times before when dining at this restaurant. Having 10 people in our party, I was a little more anxious this time, but when she walked up, I felt much better. After a wonderful Steam Pot dinner (steamed crab with corn and potatoes), we all indulged our chocolate addictions by eating the Chocolate (safe mind you) Cake my husband made for me. Ahhh... heaven!

These past 3 weeks have gone by fast. But I finally feel as if I have control over my food situation and not the other way around. I have lost 7 pounds, my face is clearing up, I don't have daily headaches, my brain-fog isn't as bad (although it's still there), I have more energy (at night more than in the morning), and I more importantly, I'm starting to feel like my old self. Now to start tackling my ankle injury with the same focus and start exercising (again). This is my year... 35 IS going to be my best year yet!! So here it goes....