Health Challenge Week 1

There was a time I could not even fathom the idea of changing my eating habits to the level I am now. I’ve been told by several people that they could never do it. My response is always that it has been a slow process. I used to eat fast food 3-4 times a week. When I cut out meat, I still ate a lot of processed food. Now, 5 years later, I have an all-plant based diet. Even leaning toward mostly raw.

 

I am going to send out a health challenge each Monday. Not to convert anyone to a plant-based life style, but to get you thinking (and acting) about being more healthy using baby steps. This week’s challenge is to drink water.

 There is nothing healthy about soda. I previously heard that the carbonation leaches calcium, but upon further investigation it is the phosphorus acid in colas that does the leaching. So, you think you will just drink the non-cola sodas. No. The sugar content will play havoc with your blood sugar, teeth, and weight. Don’t believe that the diet sodas are any better! The artificial sweeteners actually make you gain fat!

 Here is the challenge: Replace one bottle/can of soda a day with water. By Sunday evening, try to have replaced all soda with water. Need that carbonation? Buy some carbonated water. Put a twist of lemon or orange in it for flavor.

Are you up to the challenge?

Getting Better Day 10

Today is Day 10 of my wellness journey. Actually, a couple of days before I received the test results, I bought a Vitamix blender and have been making myself a green smoothie every day. With the smoothies, I still have the waves of exhaustion, but they seem to be a bit more tolerable.

There is not much change so far. However, it has only been 10 days with the supplements; 10 days of avoiding the 24-food items on my list. It took 50 years to get to this point, it will take more than 10 days to get better.

Doctor A wanted me to take the supplement to raise my serotonin twice a day. However, she is keenly aware of just how sensitive my system is so we started with one at night with the plan of increasing. I took one this morning to see how it would affect me during the day. Doctor A had asked if I experienced anxiety. I guess I have been on high anxiety for so long I did not realize I did. Took that pill this morning, and feel pretty good; calm. I’m tired, but that is normal for me right now.

We are still waiting on the adrenal results.

Upside: I’ve lost a solid two pounds.

Gonna Get Better

I’ve been tired, it seems, my whole life. The tiredness varies. I’ve been loosely diagnosed with depression; sometimes I made that diagnosis myself and asked for medication. The medication just made me more tired and more depressed.

Over the last several years, my diet has changed from fast food three or more nights a week, to junk food vegetarian, to vegetarian, and now vegan. I am still tired. This tired has interfered with many areas of my life: work, relationships, fun.

A few months ago it got so bad I started feeling as if I had the flu, without the head cold symptoms. Tired, achy, irritable. I came home crying more days than not. I told God I couldn’t live this way for the next 30-40 years.

I’ve been going to AC Chiropractic since 2006. They have evolved into AC Spine and Wellness Center. Dr. “A” has been gently encouraging me to get tested. I finally got to the point where I was ready to try anything.

Most of my tests came back and I had a consultation with Dr. “A” on the results and we have a wellness plan. Here are some things I am dealing with:

Serotonin level is very low. (Depression, fatigue.) Norepinephrine a little low, but should get better with raising the serotonin.

Heavy metal test shows that I have a high level of lead.

Stool analysis reveals that three of the beneficial bacteria that are necessary in my intestines are missing;  plus one that should NOT be there.

Multiple food sensitivities: highest that pertains to me is wheat and gluten. Egg whites are really high, but being vegan, it is irrelevant. The others are not too difficult for me to avoid.

Thyroid is fine. We are still waiting for the adrenal results.

We will be treating ALL of this with natural supplements and dietary changes.

Will update with the progress. I KNOW that God has put AC Spine and Wellness in my life for a reason. Maybe, my going through this will encourage and help someone else.

Thanks for reading and for caring! :-)

-K