Mir got talked into doing a challenge

[PrincessHeather]

Anyway, yay you're back! Lots of us (you, PH, me, IIPI) chasing our old weight numbers. Not to get there in one challenge, but to focus on the road back. So we'll all walk together!

 

Side note: My nephew was a tornado for Halloween. I love him. 

 

This made me legit LOL. There are even four of us.... but I'm not sure I want to explore which one of them I am

[Strawberry Squatcake]

This made me legit LOL. There are even four of us.... but I'm not sure I want to explore which one of them I am

As the constant over-thinker, I considered it while posting... But all the reasons I related yo each character were digs on myself, and outside the boundaries of ok during the challenge. So, discounting that garbage, I did relate to Dorothy liking sassy shoes. And I love beards, and am distracted by shiny things... But I honestly like the Scarecrow's outfit best. So I choose him.

[Morrigainz]

I'll be the cowardly lion if I can't be Scarecrow

[Morrigainz]

Okay, so I've talked about this everywhere else, and I'm going to talk about it here too.

 

Pretty much ever since SSS/the end of my cut (it seems), I've had this belly bloat. And it's getting worse and worse and worse. My diet hasn't been great, but it also hasn't been terrible-horrible. It's gotten to the point where my pants that fit me in May/June/July now produce a pronounced muffin top. I swear to God it's not fat. I don't know if it's salt. I tried some diuretics and it didn't help. I tried a day-ish of fasting, and that didn't help.

 

I think it's time to go to the doctor to rule out the scary stuff while at the same time making diet changes. Because I'm getting really frustrated/mad/sad/scared/annoyed and pissed at myself.

[StarGazer]

As anxiety provoking as it may be, I think going to the doc to be sure it's not something scary is a good plan. At least then (assuming the visit goes well) you can turn off the part of your brain that is thinking it could be something terrible. They also may have other ideas of what could be going on that may help you.

 

We all prefer happy Mir to frustrated/mad/sad/scared/annoyed/pissed Mir, even if we are not the target of those emotions.

[MasterOfCows]

I was reading this earlier today…  maybe your cut back when you were cutting was too extreme for you?  I'm not sure how long you were cutting for, so it may not apply.  But it may not be a "scary" thing at all.

 

http://gokaleo.com/2013/08/17/what-to-expect-when-you-stop-dieting-part-3-what-the-heck-is-happening-to-me/

[AKLulu]

 

I'm here too! And I'm staying

[Loren Wade]

Any chance you can clean up the diet completely and see if that fixes it? Then reintroduce foods to see what it is?

[Strawberry Squatcake]

I was going to go the same direction as Loren - maybe there's one or two foods specifically causing bloat. Like a food intolerance? 

[Morrigainz]

Well I think the diet thing is going to be one of my things to destress me - I'll try to be organized and batch cook, etc on the weekends. Especially breakfast and lunch. And I want to get Mr. Mir in on the planning too.

[catspaw]

Okay, so I've talked about this everywhere else, and I'm going to talk about it here too.

 

Pretty much ever since SSS/the end of my cut (it seems), I've had this belly bloat. And it's getting worse and worse and worse. My diet hasn't been great, but it also hasn't been terrible-horrible. It's gotten to the point where my pants that fit me in May/June/July now produce a pronounced muffin top. I swear to God it's not fat. I don't know if it's salt. I tried some diuretics and it didn't help. I tried a day-ish of fasting, and that didn't help.

 

I think it's time to go to the doctor to rule out the scary stuff while at the same time making diet changes. Because I'm getting really frustrated/mad/sad/scared/annoyed and pissed at myself.

 

Cortisol?

Cortisol is known to cause bloat specifically in the front of the belly.  And it's entirely from stress, so stressing out of it of course makes it worse.

 

Might be worth reading through this: http://robbwolf.com/2012/04/09/real-deal-adrenal-fatigue/

 

Even if you're not at the levels of adrenal fatigue yet, front-of-belly bloat could be a warning sign that you need to take steps to lower your stress.  Just a thought.

[Morrigainz]

I don't *feel* stressed in particular. Although I have been experiencing some anxiety (more ever since the choking incident in August).

 

I'll take a look at that article too. 

 

How do they test for cortisol?

[catspaw]

I don't *feel* stressed in particular. Although I have been experiencing some anxiety (more ever since the choking incident in August).

 

I'll take a look at that article too. 

 

How do they test for cortisol?

 

You can get a cortisol salivary test.  If you want to do that, make sure you get a 4-point test, in other words a test at four times in the day.  Because the cortisol you're "supposed" to have in the morning is high (to wake you up) and at night it's supposed to go down.  So a single test at any point in the day isn't a great indicator.

[Morrigainz]

Interesting. Well I have the dr appt. Now to convince him to test my cortisol. Woooo.

 

The appt is next Friday in the morning.

 

Also: we are going to San Diego tomorrow (wheeee) so I probably won't be on here updating much (if at all) until Monday or Tuesday, with the official start of the challenge.

[catspaw]

Also, if you want to try flushing water weight (to see if that's what it is), you need two things:

 

1) Dandelion root tea (like this brand)

2) Fresh nettle leaves (bulk is better but tea bags work okay too).

 

Before you go to bed, boil 16-32 oz of water and add it to 2 Tbsp of nettle leaves.  Leave it to steep overnight, then strain out the nettles.  Sip that throughout the day, either cold or warmed in the microwave.

 

In addition, drink 2-3 cups of dandelion root tea.

 

In addition to that, drink your normal amount of water.  Not less.

 

Expect to pee a ton.  Like, constantly.  After a few days of this, your water weight'll be down without too much other effort like salt manipulation.  It doesn't last long before the water weight'll come back, but it can be a temporary way of seeing if what you're experiencing is just water bloat or fat storage.

[Dirty Deads]

Expect to pee a ton.  Like, constantly. 

 

No joke. when I'm dropping water weight, I use dandelion teas and as soon as I'm done I often feel I get right back up and go again.

[IfItPlugsIn]

Great goals, Mir!  I'm with y'all on chasing the past PRs.  If you can get your doctor to run the tests, it won't hurt to look at the cortisol, other adrenals, reproductives (testosterone, estrogen, and another I can't remember), and thyroid.  My doctor suggested IBS and anxiety for some of my similar issues.

[Stronkey Kong]

Anxiety sent my last challenge off the rails.

 

I'm subbing.

[exjamieus]

Hey there! Cheers!

[Loren Wade]

Are you ready to start Mir?

 

And don't you dare forget we're here for you.

[catspaw]

I've got my huggles all ready, Mir.  Just a'waitin'...

[cline]

Ohai.

Tossing support hat into the ring.

[Rob__]

Hai Mir!

 

<3

[CourtnieMarie]

let's get rolling buddy

[Brometheus]

Let's do this!