If you're like me, sweet things really finish a meal nicely. They also start a meal nicely, they're great in the middle of a meal, and are great for in between meals.
I challenged myself to make a few "desserts" for my sanity's sake.
No-Guilt-Bake Cookies
1 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup blue agave sweetener
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Cups Oats or Buckwheat Groats
1 cup Oat Bran
dash of vanilla, if it's sugar free!
I just threw the coconut oil, vanilla, agave in the pot, waited til they mixed well.
I then added the cocoa powder and made sure all the clumps were gone.
I then added peanut butter, and raw almond butter (unsalted)
(I didnt do this, but i bet shredded coconut and cinnamon would be good!)
Once those were all boiling, I turned the heat off and added the oats and oat bran and chia seeds.
Just stir and spoon onto wax paper. You can shape them how you want. I like to put them in the freezer.
Granola
Ok, so I hate recipes, so I didn't really follow one for this, but I'll tell you how I made it and hopefully you can figure out how to make it in a way that is good. Everything is pretty much to taste.
1/2 cup Coconut oil
2 cups Buckwheat Groats or Regs Oats
1 cup Oat Bran
handful of Cinnamon
Stevia to taste
handful of Chia seeds
1/2 cup Almond slices
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut shredded
Pour all the dry stuff into a bowl, minus the shredded coconut, mix it around. Add the coconut oil and make sure it's all coated. Put on a pan and bake at 300 for 12 minutes. Throw it all back in the bowl for a second to mix in the shredded coconut and then back on the pan and put it in for 12 more minutes. I'm not quite sure how to make it stick together, it kinda just was warm and awesome with plain yogurt and some berries.
Gourmet Parfait
Use the granola you just made and add some almond butter (unsalted) when you've mixed it around put a little patty of it in the bottom of a cupcake cup.
In a separate bowl, grab some berries and mix em around with stevia to taste (steve's not necessary though)
I like to squish em a little.
Add the berries to the top of the cups. Bake at 300 for like 15 minutes. Let them cool, but not in the fridge. They're good room temp or warmer. Add cold plain yogurt to the top and you have an awesome fancy looking dessert.
Hope these help, and that I've explained them well. I tend to throw stuff in a pot until it looks good. I urge you to do the same. If it looks good, it'll probably be good. Be creative and use the food you have in your cupboard!
Here's a list of things to buy at the store that you probably don't have laying around that have saved my life.
Coconut oil
unsweetened coconut shredded
stevia packets
blue agave nectar sweetener
oat bran
chia seeds
almond butter
plain keifer or plain yogurt
frozen berries
YAY!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Day #19 I think I just want some green beans
I didn't think I'd ever break through the glass ceiling of WANTING vegetables instead of a cookie.
It happened just now. I have some no-bake cookies I made myself for a snack today. They are SO GOOD. Thank you my great friend for suggesting an alternate recipe. DANG. I owe him a great big front hug.
I'll include my recipe below, but first I want to tell you what just happened.
I'm sitting at work and I look over at my iced coffee and my no-guilt no-bake cookies and I thought:
"Eh, I think that might be giving me a headache, I should just drink water and have those fresh green beans in the fridge instead. Maybe they'll make me feel better and give me more energy."
Then I immediately stopped to write down this momentous occasion. My mind is changing slowly but surely. I think it's starting to make sense to me that what I eat matters. When I made my delicious cookies, I thought it would be the perfect out. I could eat this oat bran, coconut oil based food and no one would be the wiser. Technically I'm totally not cheating, but in reality my diet isn't only about what I'm not eating, but what I am eating. I can stick within my guidelines and still feel like crap because I am not getting what my body needs. I think I'm gonna start munchin' down on some green beans and doing water keg stands.
I also learned a lesson on control yesterday while I was eating dinner with said great friend.
Control has a different definition than I thought it did. In my mind, control is the act of being in charge of what I do, and in turn doing whatever I want. If I'm in control of my diet, that means I can eat/do whatever I feel like. No one can tell me what to eat, when to eat it, what not to eat, why not to eat it. This need to control, and control in the wrong way, is spilling over into my life in many ways.
Turns out that what I thought I was controlling was actually controlling me. If I "have" to eat what I want to be ok, then it's the food that's actually in charge of me. If I cringe at the thought of saving my money, then it's really the money that's controlling ME. If I can't hold myself back from walking into Starbucks or any given coffee shop in the morning, it's those places that are in control of me. Control, in fact, looks a little like the opposite. Real control would walk by a Starbucks and think, "HA, I don't need that. I mean, I want it but I will restrain for the sake of my health and wallet today." Real control says to impulsive buying or eating: "I don't need you, I am going to restrain and save money and come back once I've decided whether or not it's a good idea."
It makes me cringe to even write this. It's all so crazy to me. I'm at the beginning of this new knowledge. I'll let you know how it goes as I grow.
For me the biggest struggle in this lifestyle is control. When I can't have what I want, I feel out of control, but actually I'm in control. When I choose not to drink a beer (mmmmm) I am in control. When I discipline myself and don't do what I want, but what I need, I'm in control. This is a fruit of the spirit that I had no idea about. I'm totally scared but excited to dive farther into this part of my journey, because this could change everything.
It happened just now. I have some no-bake cookies I made myself for a snack today. They are SO GOOD. Thank you my great friend for suggesting an alternate recipe. DANG. I owe him a great big front hug.
I'll include my recipe below, but first I want to tell you what just happened.
I'm sitting at work and I look over at my iced coffee and my no-guilt no-bake cookies and I thought:
"Eh, I think that might be giving me a headache, I should just drink water and have those fresh green beans in the fridge instead. Maybe they'll make me feel better and give me more energy."
Then I immediately stopped to write down this momentous occasion. My mind is changing slowly but surely. I think it's starting to make sense to me that what I eat matters. When I made my delicious cookies, I thought it would be the perfect out. I could eat this oat bran, coconut oil based food and no one would be the wiser. Technically I'm totally not cheating, but in reality my diet isn't only about what I'm not eating, but what I am eating. I can stick within my guidelines and still feel like crap because I am not getting what my body needs. I think I'm gonna start munchin' down on some green beans and doing water keg stands.
I also learned a lesson on control yesterday while I was eating dinner with said great friend.
Control has a different definition than I thought it did. In my mind, control is the act of being in charge of what I do, and in turn doing whatever I want. If I'm in control of my diet, that means I can eat/do whatever I feel like. No one can tell me what to eat, when to eat it, what not to eat, why not to eat it. This need to control, and control in the wrong way, is spilling over into my life in many ways.
Turns out that what I thought I was controlling was actually controlling me. If I "have" to eat what I want to be ok, then it's the food that's actually in charge of me. If I cringe at the thought of saving my money, then it's really the money that's controlling ME. If I can't hold myself back from walking into Starbucks or any given coffee shop in the morning, it's those places that are in control of me. Control, in fact, looks a little like the opposite. Real control would walk by a Starbucks and think, "HA, I don't need that. I mean, I want it but I will restrain for the sake of my health and wallet today." Real control says to impulsive buying or eating: "I don't need you, I am going to restrain and save money and come back once I've decided whether or not it's a good idea."
It makes me cringe to even write this. It's all so crazy to me. I'm at the beginning of this new knowledge. I'll let you know how it goes as I grow.
For me the biggest struggle in this lifestyle is control. When I can't have what I want, I feel out of control, but actually I'm in control. When I choose not to drink a beer (mmmmm) I am in control. When I discipline myself and don't do what I want, but what I need, I'm in control. This is a fruit of the spirit that I had no idea about. I'm totally scared but excited to dive farther into this part of my journey, because this could change everything.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Day #17 - I think I can see the light.
Yesterday my friend Margo came over.
"There's something different about you" She said.
I just smiled and thought, "I ain't even got lip gloss ooonnn!"
"No, your eyes look different, they're brighter, and your BOD looks good!!"
I spun around in a little circle, tilted my head downward, looked up, pointed my foot inward and drug it across the ground in front of me.
"awww, thanks!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My body is truly changing, and FAST. You know the feeling when you just wake up and you're not bloated in any way, so you can wear whatever you want and it looks good? That's how I feel all day!
Before my mornings looked a little like this:
Hear my alarm, laugh at it and set it for 20 minutes later.
Drag myself out of bed, throw my hair up in a bun so it doesn't look like it's so messy.
Try to decide what to wear.
(Remember: i only have like 20 minutes until I have to leave to get to work, at the most.)
While deciding what to wear: "Ok, what is going to be comfortable after I eat and change sizes. I shouldn't wear tight jeans AND a smaller shirt, because as soon as I eat, I'll balloon at least a half size. I can't go around with a muffin top later! Oh, if I wear this skirt, I have to wear something tight underneath to keep it all in check. etc.."
So, I'd choose tight pants and a loose, non-flattering shirt, or a large dress with a large sweater.
This was my every day. Choosing an outfit based on how much I would bloat and feel fat later.
Now it's totally different!
I wake up early naturally!
Since I am not eating anything my body HATES and is trying to FIGHT, I can wear whatever I want in my closet. I can wear what I want when I want, and my body doesn't bloat and change sizes. I can even wear my skinny jeans. Not skinny like the leg cut, skinny like when I'm having a non-bloated day and they fit me. We as girls all have some of those. They don't get as much play as we'd like, but hey, we couldn't possibly get rid of them!
I guess what I'm saying, is the good is finally beginning to outweigh the "bad"
Now, I've been trying to "lose weight" and "be healthy" for my whole life so far, and have failed horribly. The only time I lost significant weight was when I quit smoking weed, drinking, and eating only pizza. I lost 35 lbs on the lifestyle change diet.
Ok, ready?
I'm gonna just be really real for a minute because if you don't know me you won't know the significance of my health change if you don't know a little background. I am 27 years old and I have been over 200 lbs since middle school. I was always the fat kid. I was always the cool, funny, bigger girl. I was never quite comfortable at a pool, or the beach, or at any parties because of my body. I was never quite comfortable doing anything "extreme" because my body couldn't climb very far, or my weight wouldn't allow me to do things I wanted because I was too big. I've never shopped in a juniors section. Ever. Everyday for my whole life practically I have thought to myself "I wish I was healthy." I've been dreaming of a healthy body for 15 years. I've tried to think my way into health, I've tried to trick my body into health, I've worked out with a personal trainer, I've done tons of few week cleanses and fasts. The lowest I've ever been is 202. That was right after I came back from an extended mission trip in Cambodia where I couldn't keep food down for the last week.
Just to be clear, a number on a scale is not my goal here. The weight loss that comes with gaining health is a great plus, but not the end all be all. There are plenty of skinny people with heart disease. There are plenty of people with low weights and no muscle. That is not my goal. I don't even own a scale. This is not being written to be a sob fest for me. I simply want you to know, if you are struggling and you're reading this blog:
If I can do it, You can do it. Seriously.
Today is a day of hope for me, because my small decisions are adding up to one big decision. The decision to treat my body as a temple. I am seeing results not because of any magic cleanse or diet. I am seeing a change because I am allowing God to show me the reasons I can't change and fix them. I am seeing a difference because I am respecting my body and treating it with the golden rule. I am seeing change because I am making consistent choices. I am plugging away day by day. It's hard, and it seems like it's not working, but I have to have faith that it IS working. It IS WORKING.
"There's something different about you" She said.
I just smiled and thought, "I ain't even got lip gloss ooonnn!"
"No, your eyes look different, they're brighter, and your BOD looks good!!"
I spun around in a little circle, tilted my head downward, looked up, pointed my foot inward and drug it across the ground in front of me.
"awww, thanks!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My body is truly changing, and FAST. You know the feeling when you just wake up and you're not bloated in any way, so you can wear whatever you want and it looks good? That's how I feel all day!
Before my mornings looked a little like this:
Hear my alarm, laugh at it and set it for 20 minutes later.
Drag myself out of bed, throw my hair up in a bun so it doesn't look like it's so messy.
Try to decide what to wear.
(Remember: i only have like 20 minutes until I have to leave to get to work, at the most.)
While deciding what to wear: "Ok, what is going to be comfortable after I eat and change sizes. I shouldn't wear tight jeans AND a smaller shirt, because as soon as I eat, I'll balloon at least a half size. I can't go around with a muffin top later! Oh, if I wear this skirt, I have to wear something tight underneath to keep it all in check. etc.."
So, I'd choose tight pants and a loose, non-flattering shirt, or a large dress with a large sweater.
This was my every day. Choosing an outfit based on how much I would bloat and feel fat later.
Now it's totally different!
I wake up early naturally!
Since I am not eating anything my body HATES and is trying to FIGHT, I can wear whatever I want in my closet. I can wear what I want when I want, and my body doesn't bloat and change sizes. I can even wear my skinny jeans. Not skinny like the leg cut, skinny like when I'm having a non-bloated day and they fit me. We as girls all have some of those. They don't get as much play as we'd like, but hey, we couldn't possibly get rid of them!
I guess what I'm saying, is the good is finally beginning to outweigh the "bad"
Now, I've been trying to "lose weight" and "be healthy" for my whole life so far, and have failed horribly. The only time I lost significant weight was when I quit smoking weed, drinking, and eating only pizza. I lost 35 lbs on the lifestyle change diet.
Ok, ready?
I'm gonna just be really real for a minute because if you don't know me you won't know the significance of my health change if you don't know a little background. I am 27 years old and I have been over 200 lbs since middle school. I was always the fat kid. I was always the cool, funny, bigger girl. I was never quite comfortable at a pool, or the beach, or at any parties because of my body. I was never quite comfortable doing anything "extreme" because my body couldn't climb very far, or my weight wouldn't allow me to do things I wanted because I was too big. I've never shopped in a juniors section. Ever. Everyday for my whole life practically I have thought to myself "I wish I was healthy." I've been dreaming of a healthy body for 15 years. I've tried to think my way into health, I've tried to trick my body into health, I've worked out with a personal trainer, I've done tons of few week cleanses and fasts. The lowest I've ever been is 202. That was right after I came back from an extended mission trip in Cambodia where I couldn't keep food down for the last week.
Just to be clear, a number on a scale is not my goal here. The weight loss that comes with gaining health is a great plus, but not the end all be all. There are plenty of skinny people with heart disease. There are plenty of people with low weights and no muscle. That is not my goal. I don't even own a scale. This is not being written to be a sob fest for me. I simply want you to know, if you are struggling and you're reading this blog:
If I can do it, You can do it. Seriously.
Today is a day of hope for me, because my small decisions are adding up to one big decision. The decision to treat my body as a temple. I am seeing results not because of any magic cleanse or diet. I am seeing a change because I am allowing God to show me the reasons I can't change and fix them. I am seeing a difference because I am respecting my body and treating it with the golden rule. I am seeing change because I am making consistent choices. I am plugging away day by day. It's hard, and it seems like it's not working, but I have to have faith that it IS working. It IS WORKING.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Day #16 Irritable and Pissed Off
I've been following the yeast free diet for 16 days now. It definitely has its ups and downs.
This 2 week process has been hell and heaven all at the same time.
My mind and my flesh is raging against this beast inside of me that is making me think I need sugar or I'm going to DIE. If you know me well, you know I'm pretty even keeled. I don't get outwardly angry or even INwardly angry very much or even at all.
Let me tell you a story of my first experience just being straight up pissed off and whiny in public.
A group of friends and I decided to go to a water park for a full day in Chelan. It was one of the few days I was able to take off of work and relax, and I was SO excited. I knew it was going to be tough at a water park, but I grabbed a bag of apples and called it good.
I started out the day with a starbucks double shot. I made the mistake of getting coffee from a friend who was working when I was on my way to a water park. This is what she gave me.
.JPG)
So after a long day of running around, going down water slides, floating in the lazy river, talking with good friends, and people watching it was time for dinner in Chelan. This was their tradition, all day working up a good appetite and then eat burgers at their favorite place. I guess I was in denial that I couldn't eat there. It wasn't til we got there that I looked the menu that it hit me. I can't have almost anything on this menu. More importantly, I can't have what I WANT on this menu. My body was screaming for a double bacon cheeseburger with fries and a shake. I mean, screaming.
So like any 27 year old, I crossed my arms, almost started crying and ordered a green salad with no dressing. Something inside of me was manifesting outwardly for the first time. The realization that I can't have whatever I want whenever I want it. I threw a certified hissy fit, sat in silence and ate my salad. I was fuming mad, I was boiling on the inside that I couldn't just give in. I knew that If i did, it would hurt me to eat it and it would set me back. I knew that if I gave in here, I would give in again and again in the name of socialization.
So I bucked up, ate it and the worst part was I felt great. My body felt more than great, I felt totally revived and awake. This pissed me off more, because it just proved that I don't know how to feed my body. If I give it what it wants, it hurts. If i call the shots, and eat burgers, it is like poisoning myself on purpose. I simply did not want this to be true so I sat in denial the whole car ride home and the whole next day.
That was day 12. The hardest day I've had so far.
Since pushing through the great burger crisis of 2013 I have had so much realization.
Food Revelation #1
I don't know how to eat, I have no idea what my body needs.
Food Revelation #2
I am wrong about most things when it comes to my body, historically.
Food Revelation #3
I have been consciously poisoning my body for my whole life so far, because I didn't care about it.
For whatever reason, we believe as a society that quick and easy is the best. That whatever tastes good is fine. That whatever our body says is true. THESE ARE LIES. I can't trust my body, I can't trust my flesh, I must die to it everyday and choose health. I must die so I can live.
This 2 week process has been hell and heaven all at the same time.
My mind and my flesh is raging against this beast inside of me that is making me think I need sugar or I'm going to DIE. If you know me well, you know I'm pretty even keeled. I don't get outwardly angry or even INwardly angry very much or even at all.
Let me tell you a story of my first experience just being straight up pissed off and whiny in public.
A group of friends and I decided to go to a water park for a full day in Chelan. It was one of the few days I was able to take off of work and relax, and I was SO excited. I knew it was going to be tough at a water park, but I grabbed a bag of apples and called it good.
I started out the day with a starbucks double shot. I made the mistake of getting coffee from a friend who was working when I was on my way to a water park. This is what she gave me.
So like any 27 year old, I crossed my arms, almost started crying and ordered a green salad with no dressing. Something inside of me was manifesting outwardly for the first time. The realization that I can't have whatever I want whenever I want it. I threw a certified hissy fit, sat in silence and ate my salad. I was fuming mad, I was boiling on the inside that I couldn't just give in. I knew that If i did, it would hurt me to eat it and it would set me back. I knew that if I gave in here, I would give in again and again in the name of socialization.
So I bucked up, ate it and the worst part was I felt great. My body felt more than great, I felt totally revived and awake. This pissed me off more, because it just proved that I don't know how to feed my body. If I give it what it wants, it hurts. If i call the shots, and eat burgers, it is like poisoning myself on purpose. I simply did not want this to be true so I sat in denial the whole car ride home and the whole next day.
That was day 12. The hardest day I've had so far.
Since pushing through the great burger crisis of 2013 I have had so much realization.
Food Revelation #1
I don't know how to eat, I have no idea what my body needs.
Food Revelation #2
I am wrong about most things when it comes to my body, historically.
Food Revelation #3
I have been consciously poisoning my body for my whole life so far, because I didn't care about it.
For whatever reason, we believe as a society that quick and easy is the best. That whatever tastes good is fine. That whatever our body says is true. THESE ARE LIES. I can't trust my body, I can't trust my flesh, I must die to it everyday and choose health. I must die so I can live.
Doctors Visit Aug 12, 2013
On August 12, I went to see Dr. Patty.
I was about 45 minutes early, and I sat in my car anxiously awaiting my first doctor's appointment maybe EVER. I was clutching my pre-visit form in my sweaty, overprepared hand. I was Indescribably scared and at the same time curious about what she would say to me. I thought for sure she would be able to look at me and tell me everything. I thought she'd look at my skin in horror and tell me I should have worn sunscreen. I thought she's tell me I was allergic to everything and I better go eat cucumbers for the rest of my life.
Luckily, none of that happened.
I awkwardly sat in the waiting room while she got ready for me. I only imagine what a naturopath does to get ready. Maybe she does a quick neti-pot, puts some nettles under her tongue and smokes a damiana/lavendar cig? Whatever she was doing was lost on me, I got lost in the magazine article on being really old and healthy. Apparently it's whiskey and walking! I might have to try that.
Anyway, she calls me in.
"Hello April! How are you! How did you hear about my office?"
"Um, my sister, Lindsay Schief"
"OOOHHH LINDSAYY!!! YES!! sit down, sit down, would you like some water?"
"uh, no thanks. I dont actually drink water, I solely drink iced coffee" (ok that was made up, but true)
She looked at me and said "well? what's ailing you? why are you visiting me today?"
SHOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ME AND TELL?
"Well, mostly my sister made me come here to get my food allergy test and to ask you about a possible Candida overgrowth"
"ah, yes. tell me about your symptoms"
"Well, I'm always tired, I need sugar or I turn into a monster, it hurts when i eat most things, i can see clear pictures of the things floating in my eyes, my skin breaks out when i eat sugar...and I am curious to see if it's just food allergy or normal."
She then proceeded to do a full physical examination on me, made sure my heart was good, my lungs were good, my eyes were good, my ears were good. My blood pressure and so on. She was extra impressed with my ears. I was like, I know.
She then wanted to check on my Thyroid. She grabbed me a glass of water, and asked me to take a drink while she felt the front part of my neck. That's where my Thyroid is apparently. As soon as she put her hand on there she said "oh, no need to drink the water. I can feel your thyroid is inflamed and there are a few nodules on it. I'm going to give you a thyroid test to take at the lab along with you food allergy test.
Diagnosis:
Candida overgrowth
Treatment: For 3 months minimum
Yeast free diet (no sugar, dairy, yeast, anything fungus related or fermented)
Supplements of Magnesium, Pro-biotics, licorice extract, vitamin C
Exercise
This is where it gets real. I left and immediately started crying, not crying like a little sniff and a few tears. Crying like, uncontrollable sobbing and inability to stop. Granted, it was the first day of shark week. It was shocking how much I was crying. I couldn't see the road, I couldn't control my wailing. I can't remember a time before that I cried so hard (minus some choice prayer times) Usually my crying is one forced tear, and maybe a few silent sniffs. This was so out of character for me!
I think it was a mix of hormones, relief, and worry all at the same time. The overwhelming thought that now that I know, I can't ignore my body anymore. Now that I know for SURE I have no excuse to treat my body like crap. The information about my health was right in front of me. Now that a DOCTOR said I have candida, I have to take care of it. Now that the DOCTOR is worried about my thyroid, IM worried about my thyroid.
I needed someone to tell me it was going to be ok, and possibly just hug me and give me my last cookie maybe ever. I decided to see Linz at work. I love Olympia Coffee Roasters, and I was SO excited to sit there and cry for a while. It actually felt kinda good! I walked in to OCR and it went something like this
Linz - "Get over here little guy" holding her arms out for a hug
Me - "IM CRYING!" then i sobbed and sank into her arms.
"ok, let's go outside"
So I sat outside and told linz everything. She is so wise, she just looked at me and said, "I know this is overwhelming, but you might not have even gone to see her in the first place, so you can take your time with starting treatment and paying for expensive tests. Do what you can do on your own and save some money to do the rest!"
She then had a customer so she ran inside and I sat, still crying (It had been atleast 20 minutes) on the front stoop of the shop. Her extremely attractive boss pulled up in his nice car, got out and walked toward me to go inside. I looked away like, CRAP now a really cute guy (i now know he's married and stuff, so it was ok) is here! Of course!
He just looked at me and said "Are you ok?"
I said, "yeah, yeah, (awkward hard swallow) I'm good" as i turned away in shame.
As soon as I collected myself, I walked inside and sat down. Linz offered me an americano, an orange juice, and hot chocolate. I shook my head yes to all 3.
I was about 45 minutes early, and I sat in my car anxiously awaiting my first doctor's appointment maybe EVER. I was clutching my pre-visit form in my sweaty, overprepared hand. I was Indescribably scared and at the same time curious about what she would say to me. I thought for sure she would be able to look at me and tell me everything. I thought she'd look at my skin in horror and tell me I should have worn sunscreen. I thought she's tell me I was allergic to everything and I better go eat cucumbers for the rest of my life.
Luckily, none of that happened.
I awkwardly sat in the waiting room while she got ready for me. I only imagine what a naturopath does to get ready. Maybe she does a quick neti-pot, puts some nettles under her tongue and smokes a damiana/lavendar cig? Whatever she was doing was lost on me, I got lost in the magazine article on being really old and healthy. Apparently it's whiskey and walking! I might have to try that.
Anyway, she calls me in.
"Hello April! How are you! How did you hear about my office?"
"Um, my sister, Lindsay Schief"
"OOOHHH LINDSAYY!!! YES!! sit down, sit down, would you like some water?"
"uh, no thanks. I dont actually drink water, I solely drink iced coffee" (ok that was made up, but true)
She looked at me and said "well? what's ailing you? why are you visiting me today?"
SHOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ME AND TELL?
"Well, mostly my sister made me come here to get my food allergy test and to ask you about a possible Candida overgrowth"
"ah, yes. tell me about your symptoms"
"Well, I'm always tired, I need sugar or I turn into a monster, it hurts when i eat most things, i can see clear pictures of the things floating in my eyes, my skin breaks out when i eat sugar...and I am curious to see if it's just food allergy or normal."
She then proceeded to do a full physical examination on me, made sure my heart was good, my lungs were good, my eyes were good, my ears were good. My blood pressure and so on. She was extra impressed with my ears. I was like, I know.
She then wanted to check on my Thyroid. She grabbed me a glass of water, and asked me to take a drink while she felt the front part of my neck. That's where my Thyroid is apparently. As soon as she put her hand on there she said "oh, no need to drink the water. I can feel your thyroid is inflamed and there are a few nodules on it. I'm going to give you a thyroid test to take at the lab along with you food allergy test.
Diagnosis:
Candida overgrowth
Treatment: For 3 months minimum
Yeast free diet (no sugar, dairy, yeast, anything fungus related or fermented)
Supplements of Magnesium, Pro-biotics, licorice extract, vitamin C
Exercise
This is where it gets real. I left and immediately started crying, not crying like a little sniff and a few tears. Crying like, uncontrollable sobbing and inability to stop. Granted, it was the first day of shark week. It was shocking how much I was crying. I couldn't see the road, I couldn't control my wailing. I can't remember a time before that I cried so hard (minus some choice prayer times) Usually my crying is one forced tear, and maybe a few silent sniffs. This was so out of character for me!
I think it was a mix of hormones, relief, and worry all at the same time. The overwhelming thought that now that I know, I can't ignore my body anymore. Now that I know for SURE I have no excuse to treat my body like crap. The information about my health was right in front of me. Now that a DOCTOR said I have candida, I have to take care of it. Now that the DOCTOR is worried about my thyroid, IM worried about my thyroid.
I needed someone to tell me it was going to be ok, and possibly just hug me and give me my last cookie maybe ever. I decided to see Linz at work. I love Olympia Coffee Roasters, and I was SO excited to sit there and cry for a while. It actually felt kinda good! I walked in to OCR and it went something like this
Linz - "Get over here little guy" holding her arms out for a hug
Me - "IM CRYING!" then i sobbed and sank into her arms.
"ok, let's go outside"
So I sat outside and told linz everything. She is so wise, she just looked at me and said, "I know this is overwhelming, but you might not have even gone to see her in the first place, so you can take your time with starting treatment and paying for expensive tests. Do what you can do on your own and save some money to do the rest!"
She then had a customer so she ran inside and I sat, still crying (It had been atleast 20 minutes) on the front stoop of the shop. Her extremely attractive boss pulled up in his nice car, got out and walked toward me to go inside. I looked away like, CRAP now a really cute guy (i now know he's married and stuff, so it was ok) is here! Of course!
He just looked at me and said "Are you ok?"
I said, "yeah, yeah, (awkward hard swallow) I'm good" as i turned away in shame.
As soon as I collected myself, I walked inside and sat down. Linz offered me an americano, an orange juice, and hot chocolate. I shook my head yes to all 3.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Not sure where I left off...
I feel like a roller coaster when it comes to my eating, and my health in general.
Some days I'm super committed and some days I see a chocolate croissant and mow it like no one's watching. I was doing really well for a while, and then I had a majorly busy and un-routine week. When I'm not prepared, I easily cave. When I'm really hungry, I think something like this..."well, I don't want to starve myself, that's equally as unhealthy. I'll get some food in me and start again later."
There's nothing really wrong with that if it only happened a few times, but it's been a full week of that! Luckily, my body is not having it. I can simply NOT eat whatever I want now. My body reacts harshly to sugar. My body reacts violently to dairy. My body gets tired and headache-y when I don't drink water.
It's like I can suddenly hear the voice of my body when I couldn't before. Maybe I wasn't asking before.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little down about it all and I really need some moral support and practical help. If any of you who read this want to call or text me encouragements, I know that would help me. I obviously can't do it by myself.
I'm NOT feeling condemned, but I'm picking back up again and starting where I left off.
HERE'S TO MY BODY!
Also, I posted an aaliyah song. I love it.
Some days I'm super committed and some days I see a chocolate croissant and mow it like no one's watching. I was doing really well for a while, and then I had a majorly busy and un-routine week. When I'm not prepared, I easily cave. When I'm really hungry, I think something like this..."well, I don't want to starve myself, that's equally as unhealthy. I'll get some food in me and start again later."
There's nothing really wrong with that if it only happened a few times, but it's been a full week of that! Luckily, my body is not having it. I can simply NOT eat whatever I want now. My body reacts harshly to sugar. My body reacts violently to dairy. My body gets tired and headache-y when I don't drink water.
It's like I can suddenly hear the voice of my body when I couldn't before. Maybe I wasn't asking before.
Anyway, I'm feeling a little down about it all and I really need some moral support and practical help. If any of you who read this want to call or text me encouragements, I know that would help me. I obviously can't do it by myself.
I'm NOT feeling condemned, but I'm picking back up again and starting where I left off.
HERE'S TO MY BODY!
Also, I posted an aaliyah song. I love it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)