Yoga, Breakfast and Updates!

I'm trying to get out of my "day to day" routine. All I do is either work, bake or go to the gym. Well, I do yoga too, but at home. So I ventured out! I went downtown Detroit to do Sproga with Yoga Dan! What is this you say? Well, it is yoga and much more. Here is description from the website.

"Join Yoga Dan, founder of Yoga Training Club, for the launch of his newest class, Sproga™.  Start with a strong pull of espresso from our Anthology Coffee barista, then begin an all levels yoga Vinyasa flow. Follow with a restorative rejuvenating foam roll, using HyperIce technology, finishing the class in seated meditation."

It was held at the Detroit Foundation Hotel, which is opposite of Cobo Hall and just a gorgeous 

hotel. The picture I took was in The Apparatus Room as I arrived early so I could enjoy my 

espresso.

It was so beautiful there.  As I arrived
they were opening the large wooden
doors/shutters to reveal the large
floor to ceiling windows.

A wonderful espresso curtesy of
Anthology Coffee at 6:30am.














The view from the event room was more beautiful than this picture shows.

I came home to let the pups out and headed to Toast Birmingham for breakfast.  It's my
favorite meal!

 First up was decaf coffee, just black!

I got the Petoskey omelette.  Brie,
caramelized onions, bacon, and
dried cherries.

On the side - rosemary red skins















It really was a great breakfast but now hours later I know that the potatoes were not the best
idea.  I have been playing with different starchy carbs and timing but still get hungry after,
not immediately but under 2 hours later.  It seems that these carbs just don't work for me.
After talking to my functional med doctor (Dr. Brett Allen) I will be focusing on non
starchy carbs.  Working on more fats and proteins on days I'm training and more veggie and
fats on days I'm not.  I think this balance will work well for me.  Also, making sure I am
limiting extra sugars that have creeped into my diet and making sure if I have dairy it is rare.
So no brie on that Petosky omelette!  Haha!

I do have stage 2 Adrenal Fatigue.  But I will talk more about that in the next post, which
will come soon!

New Old Things to talk about

As I move along on my autoimmune journey with intros and pulling back on some things (nuts) and trying new combos (smoothie bowls with minimal fruit).  Food aside, I have found three things that I am having issues with and are being worked on.  I have even scaled back on any endurance/cardio besides my Sunday runs.  I mean seriously, I am not stopping all running.  It's nothing where it use to be and that makes me sad because I loved to compete and I did a lot of races.  I'm just not at that level anymore and at times it does make me sad.

So, I posted that I read Elle Russ's book The Paleo Thyroid Solution and that I am switching to a natural thyroid medication with the help of my fabulous functional medicine doctor - Dr. Brett Allen (seriously you should have him help you!  it's all over Skype consult, revolutionary!). That I actually get in the mail on Monday and we have to talk about the hows to move from Armour to this.  I'm excited about ditching my endocrinologist.  She amused me with all the testing I have wanted to do but when it came down to treating me she was so 1973!  UGH!  So, there will be more on that topic as I switch over.  I want to talk about any pros and/or cons that come with it.  I'm thinking that since my labs have never been off the chart that it will be pretty manageable.

The next is bowel movements or lack there of AND that they are still not "normal".  I don't think I have ever mentioned it but I have a neurogenic bowel dysfunction.  Plainly put is when I have to go there is zero waiting.  I have to go and I have to go right now and not in one minute.  There is no such thing as "holding it".  I have had some serious issues when I have gone on runs and try to make sure I have gone to the bathroom prior, otherwise it can be disastrous and humiliating.  Right now I would say I have been a number 4 on the chart.  Come on let's be honest - this is real life and we are learning here so we can help ourselves and help others at the same time!

While I still have candida (massively).  The bloat has been slightly better but still not great.  I'm trying to not have the same foods everyday, except avocado!  I am hoping by the end of this coming week I will up the game with something stronger in my protocol.  So that is a TBD too.

Yes I am both - when I am not constipated I have to go RIGHT NOW!!

The other issue that I was hoping was worked out but D had pointed out the other day.  I haven't had a period again for several months.  So clearly hormones are out of balance and I have been wondering if I have been getting enough calories and fat.

I love Xena!  I can be like this at a drop of a hat for no frickin' reason!  It's better than what it has been but still.  I have to try and catch myself.  Remember it's better to think before we speak.  It doesn't help when you have a husband that likes to joke around and you just happen to fly off the handle all the time.  Yet, according to my endocrinologist I don't have an issue.  I'm thinking now if I really need to keep my gynecology appointment this week.  What's it going to do?  Do I really need to go?  Is she going to test anything and will she put a bandage on it by suggesting birth control pills. UGH!!  I so hate conventional medicine!

I think I'm spent!  Just thinking about conventional medicine has exhausted me!

What issues are you still facing with your autoimmune (your root cause)?  What have you read that you think is a must for all with autoimmunity?

Tuesday - Dr Brett Allen Appointment

I got my test results back this past Friday and I was hoping for better.  Of course, I immediately went to typing an email to Dr. Brett Allen about the whys and the what nows.

Don't get me wrong, I feel great!  I expected my thyroid levels to be near perfect and my candida to be back in normal range.  I even wrote - "Maybe I should have detoxed harder!"   I can't say that would really have been a solution.  We don't get where we are overnight do we.  How can we expect to heal overnight?!

Totally unrealistic!  I want it now, but I get why I can't have it now.  It takes awhile and even 4 months is not enough time.  Some people heal quicker than others.  Some people can give up things and never look back.  I have been told I have great will power.  I beg to differ.  I just remember how I feel eating certain foods and what happened when I ate those consistently - like losing my job because my brain fog was so bad and the worse I would feel as the day went longer.  January was my worst month ever.  I was paranoid beyond belief, anxious, headaches, exhausted.  By the time noon came around I just wanted to lay around and sleep.  I got my blood work done then and knew the path I needed to go on.  I was starting a new job and needed focus so I went AIP.  Within a couple days I felt better but I know I needed to do more.

I looked into functional medicine, set up apps with 2 different doctors and asked questions.  I chose Dr. Allen because I didn't need to travel to an office, not that it was a deciding factor but it was a nice addition.  He focused on wanting to help me without breaking the bank.  Yes, my bank still got a bit broken since our current health care system doesn't acknowledge functional medicine, so zero coverage.  But, I knew this going in and it wasn't life altering where I couldn't get the supplements I needed.  I had told D and my family that I was at a point that I didn't care what it was going to cost me I wanted and needed to get better!  Honestly, yes I cared - a growing credit card causes stress!  I've managed it the best I could and hope to have it paid off way before the end of the year.  Dr. Allen was focused on answering all the questions I had and answered all my emails quickly!  

So, getting back to my lab results.  Yes, I still have candida.  How can I expect that it would have gone away or become manageable in that little amount of time.  What was the biggest factor and the solution to get the rest of the numbers to become within normal range -STRESS!

Honestly, I don't feel this at all.  I feel pretty good and am trying to relax in the evening and get rid of the electronics.  As of today I work within walking distance so walking is relaxing.  I also need to lower my exercise load.  This means following my training plan closer and when it says to not do cardio - don't do the cardio!!  No adding on more exercise because it seems like it was easy or I think I can add on more.

Honestly - I will probably gain more muscle!  Cue The Bigness Project!  I'm at the end of week 4 (again), so I will tweak what I have been doing and actually follow the program to the letter.

So slight disappointment that I need to continue the candida supplements - but I'm certainly ok with it.  I'm looking forward to the continued healing and learning process.  It's interesting if you just pay a  little more attention to your body it will tell you what works and what doesn't.

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Weekend Recap

Ah, the long weekend!  

What isn't there not to love?!  They can be lazy or productive or both!  They usually end with wine!

I did forget to go to a birthday party though!  Oops! I was so busy Saturday that I totally forgot.  I got up my usual time which is generally between 7 and 7:30.  I did 45 minutes of cardio then went out for coffee and made breakfast.  Weekends it seems I like to get all my workouts in at home, so I will continue that until I prefer to go to the gym.  I did some upper body in the weight room (basement).  I need to get a few more weights then I think I will be all set.  The adjustable weights would be great!  For right now at least. I like the look of these!

Saturday morning cuteness right here!  How can you not love a kitty cuddled up in a blanket?!  Ok, if you are a dog lover than this isn't the cutest.  But, I post about the pups all over the place! 

Nostrand in her chair and blankets

Week 3 of project walkway and I finally finished it!  Yes, I did this all by myself.  No help, except for bringing in the pea gravel because my back just couldn't take anymore lifting.  I moved enough bags of sand from Home Depot to the car then to the backyard.

For dinner we went to Mt. Chalet - right across the street.  We went there all sweaty and sat outside.  Me sweaty from my morning workout and then my walkway and D from riding.  Their burgers are just so good!  Piedmontese burger with bacon, coleslaw and guacamole!  Guacamole on everything!  What can be better?!

I wanted a treat and a cold hard cider sounded so good.  It had a hint of cherry, yum!  Zombie Killer - not my favorite name but worth it!  It was cold and more sugar than I have had in a while, I didn't even drink it all.

Sunday morning I wanted a smoothie bowl.  This isn't the prettiest or most elaborate one by far - there are so many out there.  I stumbled on Earthy Andy, check out her site - everything is so bright and delicious looking.  My smoothie bowl has a whole banana -which is more than I should be eating in a single day, but I only eat fruit once or twice a week.  I added Maple Hill Creamery plain greek yogurt to my shake mix and topped it with a coconut/peanut butter mix.

Sunday night some storms came in, though not nearly what they were suppose to be.  None the less Jack hates any loud noises and was just shaking.  So we wrapped him in his thunder shirt which helps and gave him his duck for comfort.  It definitely helped.

There really isn't too much more to the weekend -Monday was pretty much the same even though it was the holiday.  I worked out at home, D went riding and we headed to my dad's for dinner by the pool.

Some things I am working on that I will be writing about soon.

Beautycounter - I'm a consulant now.  Visit my page to learn more. http://www.beautycounter.com/heathermattice

Nutritional Therapy  - going to start down that path in September!

Last "official" appointment with Dr. Brett Allen and lab results.

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