Symptoms - Why?

Above is ONE picture I took of my thyroid, you can't really see the swelling, but I circled the

swelled area... not sure if this helps anyone who didn't know where the thyroid was.The one

on the left is the actual picture... its the better judge of my neck, because the one on the right

I had to move around and re-size.

Everyone keeps asking me 'Why are you doing this to yourself?' My symptoms this time are bad, but nothing new to report. I have headaches. I feel like a drug addict going through withdrawal. My head throbs and things get fuzzy. I lost all of my patience and my head is congested. My throat is all full of thyroid and I feel nauseous most of the time. I am tired, but not sleepy and I feel drained of all energy. So... why do I do this? Because these symptoms perfectly display the nasty side affects of a sugar addiction. The way I am feeling is because I took away all the crap my body had come to depend on. No I don't like feeling like this, but if my diet was good year round... I wouldn't feel like this during detox and as much as I call it 'detox' all it really is, is eating well; cutting out the crap, the fast food, the easy meals. Its finally treating my body the way it needs to be, to be healthy and happy for a lifetime. I wish I could sustain this mindset forever. I know that in a week I will feel better. I will feel fit and energized. I just have to get over the hump and learn to curve my cravings.

It helps that in 4 days I have lost 5 pounds, which i find very motivating. I want to hit my FINAL goal for my birthday. Its the same goal I have made for the last 3 years. I didn't expect it to take this long, but the journey is the memory and worth every nauseated step.

I feel all profound and smart today.

The other reason why I am doing all this... I want to keep my thyroid. I am willing to do anything and this diet/detox, might alleviate the stress I have put on my thyroid and give it a chance to recover. Who knows?

Love!

PS - My throat is still swollen and my thyroid is still bothering me. I was suppose to re-start the drops today, but I decided to give it ONE MORE day. Tomorrow I will re-start the drops in a smaller dosage.

Pounds to Lose: 20

Post FINAL Naturopath

It was an interesting meeting and because we are all friends here, I intend on sharing the highlight of yesterday, but that comes later.

First...

Yes that is GSP holding my countdown.

And then the meeting... I first met with Nancy. I still don't know her title, as I forgot to ask. She is the one that tested my system against 200+ foods, and chemicals. I wondered how it was going to work and asked a lot of questions (and you say I never do anything for you).

First she explained our bodies carry an electrical current that travels vertically from our feet to our heads. This current can be disrupted by any number of things, but today we were testing foods. Eating a food your body struggles with pulls more energy to a certain area and affects the flow, the digestive system and any other organ in its way. She explained this is why you react differently to different foods.

To test that theory she asks you to hold a large metal cylinder with one hand, while sitting in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. She than prods your other hand with a metal poker that carries the electronic break down of the foods you're testing. At no point did they rub milk all over me and wait for a reaction, its all internal and it doesn't hurt... except the constant pressure on your middle finger, which gets annoying. The results are sent to a computer and shown on a little graph. If the little line spikes above 65 you're intolerant of what is being tested. If it is below you're fine. The higher it is the worse it is for you to consume.

I hope this all makes sense.

Any who... after an hour Nancy had tested 234 things. She had a booklet of results and I had to discuss them with Nicole (my Naturopath). The only real concern she stumbled across was lettuce. I have a severe intolerance to lettuce, which is VERY rare... unless you are Celiac, which I am not (yay). She had to delve into my upbringing, because the only other reason you may have such a huge problem with Lettuce is the pesticide in the lettuce. So maybe i grew up on a farm or worked at on a farm with the constant contact with pesticide, but no. It's still a mystery and they recommended I avoid lettuce, unless its organic.

I never noticed any problem with Lettuce... although any digestive upset after eating lettuce was always attributed to the thing accompanying the lettuce. Sneaky Lettuce.

I left my appointments knowing what I should and shouldn't eat. Nothing will kill me, but its better for my health to avoid.

The other interesting thing... I am NOT lactose intolerant, but have a severe issue with Casine and Whey, the other proteins in milk products.

I am not intolerant to Gluten, but I can't have yeast or wheat... so I can have yeast free rye without concern, but that is a pain to find. I probably won't follow that rule to a tee, but its good to be aware.

The List of 'shouldn't's

Sodium Nitrate (the preservative in deli meats, bacon and sausage)
Dye, Red
Carageenan (the thickener in cheap ice cream, yogurt and soy milk)
MSG
Sodium Nitrite
Dye, Blue

White Vinegar
Yeast - Bakers
Chocolate
Soya Sauce

Red Wine
White Wine
Cola
Rum
Coffee
Root beer
Cocoa

Peanut Oil
Corn Oil
Superheated Vegetable Oil (Anything deep fried)

Cream Cheese
Parmesan
Camembert
Casein
American Cheese
Swiss Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Whey
Cottage Cheese
Cheddar Cheese *tear*
Butter
Yogurt
Brie

Clam
Crab
Shrimp
Red Snapper

Date
Lemon

Whole Wheat
White Flour
Wheat Bran
Spelt

Sugar Cane
Brown Sugar
Beet Sugar
Dextrose

Corn
Mushrooms

Catsup
Sweet Pickles

It seems like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things its not. I just have to be aware of what I am putting into my body, which I should be anyways.

The biggest concern I have (according to Nicole) is the natural yeast in my system. Yeast is a beast and takes on its own life when left alone. I have always had an issues with bladder infections and yeast infections, but never knew why. Turns out my yeast is off the charts. In perspective the average woman is about a 40 on the scale of yeast (I don't know what the number means, so I made that last part up, but it will make sense in a minute, bare with me) My yeast scale is around 82. So its high.

Nicole went on to explain what that means. It means I am always suffering from the aforementioned infections. It also means I crave sweets. Yeast becomes its own being inside your body and it craves sweet things. It needs sugar to grow. Thus my sweet cravings have perpetuated the problem. This much yeast in my body also affects my digestive system, my liver and a few other organs.

Nicole said my biggest concern has to be to get my Yeast number down. In order to do that I have to stop feeding it and give up sugar... in all forms, including fruit. I am also taking an anti-fungal. It is helping to attack the yeast, but it is making me so sick. The headache is out of control and its VERY uncomfortable, but its all for a purpose and i think I am beginning to understand.

I don't do well with restrictions, but i do, do well with the 'why'. Explain WHY I need to do something and I am more likely to do it. If, of course, it makes sense. This makes sense to me.

And the scale continues to drop so I can't complain. Show me results and I will stick to it.

As of today I am 4 pounds away from my 20-10 New Years Resolution. I never thought I would make it this far. As soon as I meet that goal it is on to this years goal. Another 20 pounds and being the lowest I ever have been as an adult.

Whewf! This is a LONG ass post... the funny story will have to wait till later.

Love!

Its Tuesday.

Yup! The countdown has left Facebook, or grown from Facebook on to this blog.

Only a few days left of Mother-in-Law goodness, mere weeks until total independence, and 41762 minutes until NAKED Tuesdays!

And what am I doing to distract myself? Besides making countdowns in every form possible...

I am triumphing over smaller countdowns, like today a countdown ended. The Post-Detox Diet countdown is over today. Technically I can eat WHATEVER I want. I am not going to, because I have no desire to spoil my 6 weeks of hard work, but I could and that is all that matters.

The Post-Detox has gone well... I had a rough week last week and it shows. I battled mother nature, a disgruntled parent, a vigilante bunny made of chocolate and the birthday of a much deserving foodie. I cheated, but I felt the consequence and probably won't do it again. I say 'probably' because we all know I LOVE food and will give in to temptation again, but my cravings have lulled and I feel better about myself. My body is functioning at high capacity and my mind is clear.

I would recommend a guided detox to everyone (and I have).

I am curious about tonight's appointment, in fact I have two. My first is with a 'Food' doctor. She has a 'real' title, but I don't know it. She is going to test my system with over 250 different foods and give me a full break down of my bodies intolerance and possible allergies. I don't know what to expect, but chocolate may be on the chopping block (I teared up, just typing that *sniff*).

I also can't decide if it is all a scam. For 28 years I have been eating food. How can I now have an issue with them? My best guess (because I often argue with myself) is I have always had issues with foods... it would explain all my ailments, but I hate it.

Oh well... I have rambled enough.

29 days... that's it!!

Yay!

Love!

The day after...

I am a mess today... bloated and crampy, heavy and full. I went above and beyond yesterday to enjoy too much Easter. I cheated on Sunday with chocolate... it was bound to happen, its the chocolate holiday, its allowed.

Turkey dinner with my in-laws, was great... I didn't cheat with dinner, but I did eat A LOT! I mean 3 helpings of turkey, 2 baked sweet potatoes, a bushel of brocoli. I didn't have the gravy or the stuffing... I was good, until dessert.... warm chocolate chip cookie cookie with ice cream, drizzled with caramel sauce... I am only human!

It was so good, but I am feeling it today and based on the scale that splurge made me gain 3 pounds!! 3 POUNDS! That's insane... I am sure it is also because I ate a mountain of food right before bed (it was late dinner) and we're leading up to that time, when my body retains water and causes a muck.

So all and all... I feel ok with my weekend episodes... I am not proud and I am being accountable for my actions.

I will head to the gym today and run away from it all.

Wish me luck.

Love!

Day ONE

I have finished the first 24hours and I want to say I feel good. I think I feel proud, but not good. I had the predicted headache and was BY FAR the bitchiest I have ever been.

I slept a lot and I am relieved I started this process at home and NOT at work.

The morning shake is disgusting! It's grainy and terrible, not to mention lumpy because my magic bullet does NOT work. That in and of itself makes me angry.

I went shopping and after reading a lot of labels I left the store with a lot of goodies.

My new favorite thing... Cashew Almond Butter. YUM! It's all natural and only contains Cashews, Almonds and Sunflower oil. It's incredibly yummy and with or without the detox will be found in my cupboards.

As for my diet... my first day menu is below.

I feel good today... even though my shake was even worse and my oatmeal (without sugar) was terrible. I am a little hungry, but will be heading down the gym soon.

I woke up this morning 4 pounds lighter than Sunday morning (before the detox) so I LOVE that side of things.

The hardest part I have found so far is the fruit. I can have all kinds of fruit (No grapefruit or oranges), but because I tend to consume only fruits and no veggies my Doctor limited me to TWO fruits and I have to use one in my morning shake of gross.

Ok... this blog is a little bit of a ramble, but that's only because I haven't done much of anything yet.

Oh yea... my other good news. I can eat homemade Guacamole and Hummus. Mmm... I make my own Guac and only like it when I do.

Its...

2 ripe avocados

1 green pepper diced

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 a red onion

salt

pepper
and fresh lime juice.

**Don't forget to leave the pit in to keep it green ;)

My other childhood treasure I have a new appreciation for is raisins. I forgot how yummy they are and the perfect snack. They do count as a fruit, but I am ignoring that little detail.

Ok.. Menu Below.

Love!

Shake:
1 cup Frozen Field Berries (Blueberries, Raspberries and Strawberries)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 scoops of gritty detox powder
4 ice cubes.

Breakfast:
3 Omega Eggs (scrambled)
1/2 green pepper diced
1 small tomato diced
1/4 yellow onion diced
with Sea Salt and Pepper

Lunch:
2 tbsp Cashew Almond Butter
10 rice crackers
3 celery stalks

Dinner:
1 grilled chicken breast
1 sweet potato, roasted with onions and garlic
1 cup spring mix with oil and vinegar dressing

Snack:
10 Cashews
1 cup Fresh Pineapple
3 rice crackers with homemade guac

Squeaked it in!

Elliptical: 35minutes
Calories: 520

I managed to squeak in a work-out... I shouldn't have. I was WAY too busy, but I try to book my work-outs like I book a meeting, without the ability to 'cancel' or 'postpone'. It's also nice to get away from my desk and clear my head.

I weighed in and lost 3 pounds this week! Woo!

Sadly this weekend wasn't good to my diet... I was surrounded by temptation and didn't win... it's Monday morning and I am up 4 pounds. I am sure I will be back on track by Wednesday, but I wish I didn't have to get 'back on track' at the start of every week.

I know as I am eating the chocolate, cookie and candies that its bad for me... that it is the reason I am not skinny and that I will have to work EXTRA hard to get BACK to where I was, but it doesn't stop me. I wonder is that is how junkies feel... hmm...

Anyways... it is a new week and with a VERY healthy packed lunch I start my day.

I also contacted a few naturopaths... I think I am going to see if I can naturally treat my hypothyroidism... I have to do something.

Wish my luck.

Love!

Pounds to lose: 20