It's been a while since I've written. The Winter season is in full swing, and we've passed the New Year with a long January. While I enjoyed celebrating the holiday season gluten-free, it's now my birthday month and Valentine's Day that brings more food temptations. I must admit I continue to struggle to maintain my extra strict paleo diet because I felt extra hungry with such restrictions. After testing clear for them, I've added some grains back into my diet. My gut doesn't seem to react negatively to rice or oat, but we'll see what the doctor says at my appointment in a couple of weeks. My joint pain has continued to stay low, and my energy has been getting better and better over time.
Except I'm currently on the mend from a viral and secondary sinus infection. Did you know holistic treatments can take longer to kick the bacteria to the curb? Nevertheless, I'm thankful to work from home at a job I get to pick my hours and intensity levels. As a result, it's been easier to have self grace with my thoughts and expectations and take extra naps with the dogs.
Thank goodness I've learned not to quit on myself and understand that I need to make good food decisions, take my supplements, and move my body to feel better. Speaking of body movement, it's been a while since I've been able to ride my bicycle. It seems I injured my Achilles ' tendon and have had to rest it for a couple of months. The good news is I miss riding!
With that in mind, I have come so far in my journey and have experienced so much success; it gives me the mental resistance to continue this health journey. I've lost over 40 pounds and kept it off thru the holidays. I still have weight to lose, but now I eat the foods my body needs and resist falling back into eating fast food, junk food with empty calories, and poor nutrition.
I like going back and looking at the grocery lists I've ordered over the last 11 months. The items are so different from before, and it is a great way to see my wins!
Honestly, I need to give myself credit for making so many significant changes quickly and for keeping them for so long! Patting myself on the back along the way has been my new ritual! You know that graphic of our plans towards growth being a straight line and how, in reality, it looks like a bowl of spaghetti? Yes, this is why it requires us to have a bucket full of grace for ourselves and keep on going!
A note to add, I have learned that I can make poor gut choices and continue to lose weight. While I never intentionally eat gluten, I sometimes make less optimal choices with grains, fats, or sweetener contents. This will get me closer to one goal and farther from another. It's a good thing to check my weight on my smart scale, but I have to use my brain to keep my food ingredients in check. It takes work to order vegetables, lean grass-fed meat, or wild-caught fish, learn to cook them, and choose to eat them. I see these choices as opportunities and investments into extending my life.
And as far as the Candida, I've not eliminated my white tongue, so the doctor is retesting some of the initial tests we ran earlier in the Year. I'm not sure we know the natural source of the overgrowth yet. I'll be sure to share it with you when I find out. It's my goal to encourage you or someone you know who struggles with eating healthy.
I see myself as a continual work in progress and enjoy learning and growing along the way. I'm genuinely thankful for the ability to make these financial investments into my longevity and share them with you. I hope you are encouraged by hearing about my journey to continue to take the following steps in your health journey!
I'd love to hear what you are battling against, so I can root for you!
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