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Disclaimer: I won't be doing a "traditional" challenge this go around. This challenge is more directed towards "Life Goals" rather than "Fitness Goals". Feel free to scroll on by if it's not your thing. I cried the first time I read the script. I knew that it was a play I HAD to be part of. I cried a bit the next day when I was telling my boyfriend about how beautiful it was (much to his confusion until he realized that the emotions were from sheer passion for the play). I went to auditions on Monday, Jan 29th and was asked by the director to come back Tuesday, Jan 30th for the second night of auditions. I waited for the cast list for what seemed like an eternity. It was Thursday afternoon (Feb 1st), just about 15 minutes before the end of my work day when I saw that the cast list had been posted on Facebook. My stomach dropped and I took a deep breath before clicking on the link. I near screamed when I saw my name! I landed the only female part in the show! I came running out of my office in absolute hysterical joy, and my boss asked me to sit down because she thought I was going to faint! I have not acted (or been involved in theatre in any way) for over 5 years, but I miss it every day. Acting is probably my number one passion in life, but these types of shows don't come along very often. Most audiences prefer musicals and comedies, but I prefer dramas....plays that challenge me...let me stretch my acting wings. I cannot wait for rehearsals to begin! This will be, by far, the biggest role I've ever had! I pray for health, energy, and pain management so that I can enjoy this experience to the fullest. That being said, I had an appointment with my Naturopath this morning and we're adjusting my thyroid meds again (dropping one prescription altogether and increasing the dose of the other one). In 8 weeks, if my TSH goes down and I'm still in this much pain, she wants to run a Rheumatoid Panel. **Fingers crossed that the pain goes away before that happens** My goals are going to be VERY lax this challenge. My Naturopath gave me a free pass for diet for now. She said with all the eliminations I've tried over the last couple years, she doubts I'm having any specific food triggers. She said that food triggers are not subtle and I should know for sure if something was triggering the pain at this point. Since I avoided potatoes so well in January and was still in pain most the month, she doubts potatoes are the source of my pain. So YAY POTATOES!!! Not that I'm going to binge on them or anything, but I'm just glad I don't have to feel guilty if I eat them for now. Obviously, my diet has room for improvement (because pizza and cheeseburgers happen!), but in general, I feel I eat fairly healthy. But I've been so hard on myself because the scale keeps slowly creeping up, but she told me that was probably thyroid related and not to worry about it for now. Exercise has to stay pretty mild in the meantime. If the pain starts to subside, I can adjust accordingly (with being extra careful not to overdo it on the good days). Mostly, my goals for next month are to continue my tracking spreadsheet with how I feel each day as far as fatigue and pain. I'll track my workouts, and keep that the same as far as only walking or doing some light yoga. My #1 goal is going to begin memorizing the daunting amount of lines I have for the play. GOALS 1 - Memorization! 30 minutes every single day of studying the script. I'd really like to be off book before the director's deadline. 2 - Tracking spreadsheet Track pain levels, fatigue, etc every day Track workouts (aim for 3 a week, with forgiveness for not working out on rehearsal nights or days when the pain gets the better of me) So that's it. I'm starting now.

I think that potatoes are trying to kill me. No, seriously. I have Hashimoto's. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and you'd THINK that getting on some thyroid meds would make everything all better. I've found out that this isn't the case. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm unable (for the time being) to exercise like I used to. I definitely can't eat the way I used to. And I have to pay attention to my body so diligently that I've about exhausted myself into not even caring anymore because I haven't had a "good day" since like...August... But up until a few months ago, I didn't realize that potatoes are a nightshade....and I eat potatoes ALL the time! I gave them up a few months ago (perhaps around the end of July or so...hence why I probably felt really good in the month of August), but then I eat a tater tot or something and my brain goes into some crazy addiction mode and then I can't stop eating them no matter how awful I feel. So. I've decided to try an experiment. A potato elimination experiment. I'm desperate to feel better again. I mean...what have I got to lose? Except the delicious, magical, deliciousness of potatoes... ...But NO! I must prevail! If cutting potatoes results in better days...then f*&k 'em! I can't take living like this anymore!! My goals have shifted for now...from trying to lose weight to just feeling like an actual human being again. GOALS 1 - Eliminate White Potatoes Reason: To assess whether or not these tasty little devils are a source of my widespread pain. Spoiler Alert - They probably are! 2 - LIGHT Exercise - 20 minutes/4 times per week Reason: I’m basically back to square one. Overdoing it always backfires and causes massive pain (not DOMS) and results in major setbacks. 3 - Daily Assessment: “How am I Feeling Today?” Reason: To determine possible trends as to why I’m having bad days*. *BAD DAYS = Mornings I wake up in so much pain I can hardly crawl out of bed Brain fog that makes it difficult to concentrate at work...or anywhere else really... Debilitating fatigue that results in naps exceeding 2 hours Leg pain that causes me to hobble around like the Tin Man in serious need of an oil can Stiffness that makes everything I do seem like a big, fat NOPE . . . . . 2018...here I come!