How long has this been going on???

OK - so I've been away from my blog...but not away from my "responsibilities". Here's where I am today...

Still taking all my supplements (though I'll admit to occasionally skipping the godawful B-juice in the a.m. 'cause it tastes retched)

Trying to eat "right" and mostly failing! I AM successful at having a protein and veggies for breakfast which I figure is getting me a good start to the day at any rate. Haven't missed a day yet on this point. Decided two days ago that I had to give up dairy again...and then promptly had Thai Wontons for supper...YUM. So - I AM giving up dairy again...with the notable exception of State Fair cheesecurds because I just don't think that I can give them up 2 years in a row. This morning I was 142.4. Ugh. Considering I WAS at 134...this is pretty disappointing. And I'm out of my Size 6's and INTO my size 12's (though they are a bit looseish).

I have been running the "Couch to 5K" program every other day and have been really enjoying it. I started Week 2 this morning and it was tough but not overly difficult. I plan to run the Turkey Trot...the big question is - will I be running alone or will I be lucky enough to have the challenge of finding care for the girls so that Chris can run with me?

I pooped on Friday...and I pooped yesterday. I know I'm not drinking enough water though I AM trying on this point and I'm drinking significantly more than I "Usually" do so I'm calling it a minor success for now.

What else? Oh - I'm TRYING to do yoga on the "off" days for the C25K program...but have you ever tried to properly execute yoga poses with a 1 year old crawling between your legs and a 3 year old standing on your foot? Tough. Some days it works...most days it doesn't.

That's what I know. HAPPY BIRTHDAY "Doctor H"!

so far...a good morning

Day 3 begins...

Slept really pretty well last night. I don't think I woke up until about 5:45. Went right back to sleep and slept until my alarm went off at 6:30. Yup! Set an alarm! I got up, got dressed and began Day 1 of Week 1 of a Couch to 5K program that I found online. I'm supposed to run 3 days a week for 9 weeks...and at the end, I should be able to successfully complete a 5K. The run was nice. I started off feeling like it was 'too easy' but I dutifully stayed with the guy on my podcast. Turns out - it was just about perfect. By the time I got done, I was sweating profusely (that hopefully has something to do with the amount of humidity & heat in the air already by 7 am), was redfaced and slightly winded...feeling good. I want to try to get Chris to do it every other day so that we can be running "together" but "alone" and can do the Turkey Trot together. My plan is to run every other day alternating with yoga.

Took all my supplements and have had 2 glasses of water and a big cup of mint tea already this morning. Had a hard boiled egg and a pile of veggies for breakfast.

Now - the toughest task for the day will be to figure out how to entertain two energetic little girls who desperately want to go outside and play...it's supposed to be mid-90's again today. ugh.

...and today Denise Austin kicked my ass...

Day 2...still...

Took all my supplements plus some extras to try to deal with this cold. I still say my pee looks like Mountain Dew. And - I just pumped some milk (I think I'm done nursing as of this morning) and it looked a little greenish as well. I pooped. A bunch. Of squish. And I've been uber-gassy for the last 36 hours or so. Not sure if that's herbs or somtehing else. I felt fairly ill when I got up this morning but was feeling better after some breakfast and a shower. I haven't been keeping track of how much water I've been drinking but I think I've had roughly 1 cup of tea (btw - the immunity tea was not good...but I think i screwed up and made it too weak. We'll try again) and 5 glasses of water which is 5 glasses more than usual! I also, of course, had 1 Diet Coke. no refills...that's something. Had my now 'usual' breakfast of chicken and vegetables. Ate 3/4 of a Chipotle burrito and only about 4 chips. That IS something! Truly! Can't remember the last time I didn't finish both. Had homemade pizza for supper with nummy basil, mushrooms, sauce and cheese. It was supposed to be made on the grill but we were out of gas. Oops. It was HOT today so I didn't like heating up the kitchen but it was nummy nonetheless. Chris took B to work with him today so it was just E and I! I got a bunch of work done, we got to play together just the two of us AND - while E napped, I took on the 20 minute yoga workout that K sent. And yes - Denise Austin kicked my arse. I was quite literally SWEAT from head to toe but it felt awesome. And Chris just downloaded a "Couch to 5K" podcast for me onto my phone. So - tomorrow morning I'm going to try running before it gets hot. We'll see. I really want to run the Turkey Trot this year but I've said THAT before, so...anyhew - that's hte update! 'Night!

Day 2

Recap Day 1:

Took all of my supplements (except that I missed the noon fish oil dose...oops).

Diet - I did....medium at best. Had chicken & vegetables for breakfast, roast beef sandwich and a couple of french fries for lunch, taco salad for dinner (homemade - greens, tomatoes, black beans, lean ground hamburger, cheese & dressing). Then royally screwed up and made nachos with leftover ingredients after the girls went to bed. Had 3 cups of tea and at least twice the water that I usually have (which, I know, is still not 'enough'), only part of 1 small diet pepsi and 1 beer.

Activity - B and I did the 10 minute leg burn yoga workout while E napped.

Felt OK all day until dinner time or so and then deteriorated pretty quickly. In short - I feel like poo again. This neverending cold had gotten a lot better...I was still coughing but felt fine. Now I have a raw throat and I feel icky and I'm NOT happy about it.

Day 2

143.2 lb which is NOT the right direction and a direct result of the aforementioned nachos. Didn't sleep well...sore throat kept me up...and Chris was hot and sweaty...E woke up once...and all the water kept me peeing. (BTW - I think my pee is a funny color. Chris disagrees. With all the water I was drinking I figured it would be pretty well clear but it looked a bit like watered down Mountain Dew. Is that the supplements?) Up with B at 6:30 this morning, tired and with a sore throat. I've had my supplements as well as my chicken & vegetables and water. I'm just about to gargle with the Wintertime Support stuff and make myself a cup of tea. On with the day!

Should have posted these with the last...here you see all of the 'stuff' that came in the magical box yesterday. It's an imposing pile!

And here is my breakfast this morning. Tasted a lot better than it looks. I've never been a big breakfast eater...eggs don't thrill me...cereal is 'meh'...I LOVE pastries of course but they aren' exactly good for me...somehow it never occurred to me to just eat "regular food" for breakfast. So - rotisserie chicken, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers...5 pills...1 tbsp of cherry flavored 'stuff'...a HUGE glass of water and a HUGE cup of tea...ready for the day!

Do I really want to do this?

So I had a nice, long conversation with K a few days ago. I told her that I would really like to use her expertise to help me get my health, my attitude, my body to a "better" place. Specifically, I'd like to find a way to keep my weight under control, keep myself healthy and - when that becomes impossible - to keep myself off of traditional Western 'drugs' as much as possible. I also know that I already have a touch of arthritis (which has already caused some issues with my jaw and my knee) and that the chances of me winding up with some form of cancer is pretty high. So I would like to explore some options to keep those thihgs at bay as long as possible. So here I am. When B and I checked the mail yesterday I was delighted to get a big whiff of herbs when I first unlocked the mailbox. The awaited "box" had arrived! So - here I am!

Day 1, I guess!
Status Report -
I'm starting the day with STILL a lingering cold (it's been over two weeks) and a night of interrupted sleep. It's going to be another 100 degree day with ridiculous humidity. I feel tired but no more than usual. I feel "poofy" but that's because I had a bowl of ice cream before bed (I know - I know!). On our bathroom scale I'm at 142.6 which is 6 pounds higher than I was at E's 1st Birthday but still 14 pounds lighter than I was before I got pregnant with Em. Size 10 is about right...Last poop was on Saturday (Aug 7) (since that's a big goal of Kristen's)...

My goals for today -
1 ) figure out what pill/herb/concoction I'm supposed to take every day and take it.
2 ) Drink lots and lots of water
3 ) try out the new yoga video Kris sent
4 ) eat "right"


This is what K sent me:

Here's the email:So here is a list of the supplements that are coming your way, and some suggestions of things to focus on every day!.. Im a little nervous that it will be too much and will overwhelm you.... but remember that this is about 4 visits or more of supplements from what I would actually give a patient, so be easy on yourself and do what you are ready for. First I want you to read over it all (yes it is about 4 pages worth) and then talk to me about it so I know you understand and can answer any questions or frustrations that you have. I also want you to take all of the information and create a schedule for it all that makes sense to you. I think that after you do this, it will seem ALOT simpler.
Im very excited to see how this all works for you.. I really want you to try all of these things for a month. If you hate me after that time, you can fire me, but I really think you are going to feel like a million bucks! I am really excited to have the chance to treat my sis, because I will actually get to see how these things make you feel!

And as far as your worries regarding diet coke and chipotle and other things that you are worried about. dont worry!! I am not going to take them away!... Please remember that although you are pretty damn close, you are not perfect and I dont expect you to be!... plus, chipotle is made with fresh ingredients and has alot of protein so screw it-- dont feel bad about eating it, feeling bad about it is worse than letting yourself enjoy it:). just dont eat it every day. Chipotle is one of our favorite fast foods, and FAR outweighs burger king or mcdonalds...

Ok. read over it all and give me a jingle tomorrow when you get a chance.

LOVE U!!and here is what the attachment said:


Stuff to take every day: ( I know, it seems like a lot, but I want you to feel awesome, and you are an organizer, so I know you can handle it)
Multivitamin: Take 2 caps in the morning, 2 with lunch, and with dinner. This is a really good quality, potent vitamin and I think you are really going to feel the difference!
Alka Calm (Magnesium): take 1 tsp every night in water a little while before bed(it dissolves best in warm water, but in the summer cold is fine)… this is going to help relax your muscles before bed, keep your blood pressure low(along with lots of other good heart support), and help you to take a huge poop the next day (but probably not right away with you because you have such a constipation issue, so be patient… I used to poop every 5 days too, and this stuff totally rocks. ) It can also be used when you have sore muscles from overdoing activity, or when you have menstrual cramps.
Phytisone: Take 2 caps in the morning with your vitamins. These are herbs that are awesome for your adrenals. They help you to be energized and help your body adapt well to stressful situations.
Liquid B vitamins: Take 1 tablespoon in the morning with your breakfast. I sometimes take it on an empty stomach and it can make you feel a little nauseous, so whatever works for you….. B vitamins are important for a thousand reasons, but basically they help support all your cells, give you energy and replenish your body after stress. If by the afternoon you are feeling drained, you can take more, but not any later than early afternoon because they will really energize you and I don’t want it to keep you up at night.
Fish oil: Take 3 to 6 caps a day, with meals… start with one with each meal at first. Fish oil is anti-inflammatory so will be good for fighting arthritis, good for your brain function, your skin, your heart, and many other things…..
Probiotics: I didn’t send these because they should be refrigerated, so go out and pick up a bottle. Check any good health food store, in the refrigerated section (I know the grain bin has some… and I actually may have left some pretty good ones in mom’s fridge)Take one of these every day for awhile until we get your digestion working properly. Especially take them when you are feeling like you are getting sick.

Stuff to keep in the Cabinet:
Immunoplus: this stuff is amazing.. it has lots of immune supporting herbs and ones that kill bugs, so it’s good for both viral and bacterial infections. Take it at the first sign of feeling sick and then every 2-3 hours. Do this with a boat load of water, lots of rest and a modified fast (this means broths and steamed veggies, stuff that is easy to digest, small amounts of food… and NO sugar!...to give your body a chance to fight the infection versus using energy to digest food), keep up with this and the infection will either not show up at all or will be over in a couple days……… and Chris can take this a couple times a day before flying to prevent an infection from happening…..
Immune tea: This is a mix of dried herbs that are awesome for supporting your immune system and fighting off viruses and bacteria. Use it when you feel like you are getting sick. there will be instructions on the bag, but take a couple pinches full and put it in a french press and pour water from the tea kettle over it….. let it brew for 10 minutes or so….. leave it on the counter and drink a cup at least 4 times a day…. If it is summer, you can put it in the fridge so it is cold….. You might not like the taste of it right away… .. I do because my taste buds have learned to love herbs and stuff… so you can add some stevia and lemon to make it sweet if you want. ( Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from a plant, so it is a good substitute for sugar;)
Winter support: this is the stuff that I sent home with you after the wedding. Take a couple dropperfuls in a little water every couple hours when you feel sick….. if it is a sore throat, gargle it before you swallow it and it will help kill the bugs on the way down…
Arnica: This is a homeopathic remedy. Use it for trauma or bruises. Say you fall of your bike (unlikely to happen because you are an athlete) or bang your head, or have sore joints after a fall or something. Shake the little container, turn the cap and get 3-5 pellets in the cap. Without touching them, dump them under your tongue and let them dissolve.
Rescue Remedy: This is an Awesome remedy for stressful situations. It’s so awesome that it allows me to draw blood and put in catheters when I have a fear of needles. It also allowed me to get married in front of 300 people when I have a fear of being in front of crowds Take a dropperful or two before or after times when there is anxiety… it is a blend of flower essences in brandy. Not sure if it is the flowers or the brandy, but it is a naturopathic must…A good example: say you almost got in a car accident. You know that feeling when your heart is beating and you cant feel your feet? This stuff will make that go away.
Cramp Bark: Use this tincture for menstrual cramps. It is a phenomenal herb that is very specific for cramps. If you are having cramps, you can take 30 drops 4 times a day in a little water, or if you are having really intense cramping you can take 15 drops every 15 minutes until they go away.

Spec ial Order for Chris:
Sleep tincture: This is a tincture of herbs that I made up for Chris. Take 60 drops (count it out at first, but it is roughly 2 droppers full) in a little water one hour before bedtime. Then repeat at bedtime.

Things to add to your daily routine:
Diet:
Focus on getting protein at EVERY meal as well as snacks…. But focus on healthy protein sources-Meat, beans, nuts, eggs, etc….. This is especially important at breakfast, because it helps to regulate your blood sugar and metabolism for the whole day and you will find that you are actually less hungry throughout the day because of it… if you don’t have time to make a protein breakfast, you can buy some protein powder (rice protein, whey protein, etc) and make a shake, or else just mix some in with water and choke it down, or make sure you have some leftover meat from dinner the night before. Whatever you have to do to get it in. very important.
Increase veggies (but don’t include potatoes because they are high in carbs and increase your blood sugar). Try to get them in with every meal (yes, including breakfast if possible), and snacks. The best way that I found to do this is to get a bunch of veggies and cut them up once a week so they are always in the fridge ready for snacks and salads. And you can buy bags of frozen veggies to just throw in a pot and heat up quickly. No this does not make you lazy, it is a quick and easy way to get your veggies….. surprisingly frozen veggies can actually have more nutrients than fresh because they are picked and frozen at their peak ripeness and by the time veggies and fruits reach the market, they are often past their peak nutrient time.
Try to get mostly non-processed foods. ( I know this is tough). I like to think of this part as the “God diet”. If God put it on the earth as food, eat it! This means veggies, fruits, nuts, meats, whole grains. Basically as soon as man gets his hands on stuff and starts processing it and adding artificial colors, chemicals, bleaches and high fructose corn syrup to everything, it pretty much takes the nutritional value out of foods and stores all these additives in our cells. Eewww….
Try to eat whole grains (look at labels, get breads that are made with whole grains and not high fructose corn syrup, no white breads). A really good source of whole grains that I found is Quinoa… not sure if you are familiar with it or not, but it rocks… it is a whole grain and has lots of protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, is gluten free and is pretty yummy in lots of stir fries and salads….
Decrease sugars. Mostly processed sugars. But of course fruits are Gods natural sugar and are good for you… that being said, they are still full of sugar, so you should try to eat like 3 servings of veggies and protein for every 1 fruit.
Diet journal: Make a little journal on your computer or notebook. Jot down what you ate (I realize you are busy, so whenever you think of it). Note your exercise, how you feel physically, mentally and spiritually, and make a section for goals you have. This will give you a chance to reflect on your progress. I will also want to see this because it will give me an idea of how things are going, and how to focus any additional ideas that I might have… (but just because you know I will be reading it, don’t lie!... if you really ate 9 bags of Doritos and 65 donuts, don’t write that you ate broccoli and chicken. Remember that you are human, and I would be disappointed to find out otherwise;)
Water: This is REALLY important. Go out and buy a couple good water bottles. Try to get ones that are BPA free and that have ounce markings on them. Try to drink AT LEAST half your body weight in ounces every day!! ( for example: say you weigh 150 pounds; drink at least 75 ounces every day.) This is a base amount. You need more if it is hot, or you are sweating, breast feeding, exercising, etc. If you are not used to drinking water, start out less and work up to this amount.
Exercise: Try to get 30 minutes of exercise a day. ( or at least 3-5 days a week) You may need to ask for help from Chris on this, and he may want to do the same…. This is really important for you both physically and mentally. It will get your metabolism going, get your blood and lymph moving, help to clear your head, and create some “me time” for you. Put on some head phones and rock out to some good tunes while you go for a power walk for at least 20-30 minutes. You can also use the yoga dvd that I sent you to squeeze it in whenever you can….
Daily prayer and reflections: Do this when you wake up and/or before bed. I do this every night before bed (and several times throughout the day). For me, it is best to do it at night….Go out on your balcony when it is quiet. Just take a few minutes to be by yourself and say some prayers. Use it as a reflection time. Reflect on the things that you are thankful for and the things that are amazing about yourself. Ill give you an example if you need help for a starting point!….-you are a smart, beautiful, loving, and amazing mother, wife and sister
Sun!: get yourself and your family out in the sun and fresh air whenever possible!.... the sun is amazing for several reasons. It gives you Vitamin D (Which every Minnesotan is deficient in) and makes you happy and energized!
Hydrotherapy: At the end of every shower, turn the knob to COLD for 30 seconds ( or as long as you can stand at first). I know this sounds terrible, but trust me. It increases your metabolism, boosts your immune system, and rejuvenates you. You will notice that you don’t feel cold when you get out and you feel more awake and energized.
Drink a large glass of water in the morning when waking up: Fill as big a cup as you own with water and slam it as fast as you can right away when you wake up in the morning. Drink a couple if you want. Then do some stretching. This causes your stomach to wake up and makes your gut start moving and makes you poop. This may not happen for you right away, but it will help to re-train your body to poop in the morning. Not sure if you are a coffee or tea drinker in the morning, but if not, an awesome thing to get you pooping is to heat up water like you are making tea and squeeze a lemon into it (or buy organic lemon juice because it is easier and just as effective). The combo of the hot water and lemon gets your bowels moving
Stretching: in the morning and before bed (and after exercise) get on the floor and do some stretching…Add in some deep breathing… breath in so deep that your belly fills up with air and breath out twice as long…..
Wish me luck!