LittleTurtle's Discoveries

[LittleTurtle]

For anyone who is currently doing a Whole30 and/or for anyone who ever thinks they want to do a Whole30, I do not make this next statement to discourage you from completing or starting a Whole30, but:

 

Whole30 blows.  

It BLOWS!

It blew so hard for me.

 

I completed my first and ONLY Whole30 on April 27th, 2016 and I'm still jaded over the whole ordeal.  I think I have an aversion to eggs and that is probably what made it the most difficult (I hated life every single day from Days 15-30).  If I never eat another egg again...it will be too soon.  Also, I'm pretty sure that I started bordering on Orthorexia Nervosa.  The whole experience kinda took me to a dark place and I feel like I'm still recovering.  I guess the one good take-away thing from the awful experience is that I discovered that I have a "wheat threshold"...I can eat wheat in small amounts, but there is this very fine line, and once I've crossed it, I get horrendous headaches and body aches to the point of being completely debilitating.  Coming to this realization has helped me to stay fairly pain free lately.

 

One of the lowest lows that sticks out the most in my mind was this one day when my boyfriend and I went on a road trip and I packed my lunch like a good little turtle, and when we stopped to get gas, I purchased some almonds and two small boxes of organic raisins for a healthy and compliant snack.  When I began to open the package of raisins...I instinctively looked at the ingredient list and vegetable oil was listed as an ingredient.  I almost started crying right there in the car.  It was exhausting and horrible.  I wanted to quit and eat the fucking raisins and be done with it, but I kept on with it (mostly because I was stubborn).  I put the damn raisins in the cabinet and didn't eat them until well after I had completed the Whole30.  

 

I am thankful and happy every single day that I don't have to worry so much about the foods that I am putting in my mouth...especially now that I've recognized the symptoms of orthorexia nervosa and am slowly working myself out that deep dark hole.

 

All that being said; I think I want to focus more on exercise and less on diet for the next few weeks.  My diet is pretty decent.  Is there room for improvement?  Of course, but I can't mentally endure the strictness of that kind of business for the time being.

 

Basically, I just want to focus on getting back to a regular exercise regime.  Other than a bit of walking most days and some very minimal yoga...I've done nothing that resembles exercise.

 

That being said:

 

I finally found a doctor who helped me figure out my fatigue issues!  I finally found a doctor who listened to me!  Who really, REALLY listened to me, and asked questions, and actually cared about me as a patient.  A doctor who finally solved the mystery of my unbearable fatigue.  I thought for years that I either had thyroid problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, or narcolepsy, but every time I went to a doctor to express my concern, I was only ever told:  "Fatigue is a symptom of depression."  And then I'd be dismissed...feeling like a hypochondriac.  

 

This new doctor said something I'll never forget: "I'm more convinced that your fatigue is causing your depression."  After a couple of visits with her, some blood/lab work, and a bit of conversation...we discovered that I might be suffering from hypoxia.  She prescribed an inhaled steroid and I've been a whole new person.  I figure that there is no better time than now (with the newly found energy levels and less need for sleep) to get back into some physical activity.

 

MAIN GOAL

Exercise 3-4 times per week*

*Does not include daily walks at work and minimal yoga/stretching

 

Now...I think I might head over to the Academy to see what kind of fun stuff I can find over there.  

[Varelse]

I've been doing Whole30 during the past two or three weeks and I feel it too restrictive, too. One day I felt like shit because my mother prepared rice to eat the only day we ate together. The same the following week when I ordered a coconut smoothie and I discovered that it has been made with milk. I think Whole30 is useful like a general guide, but not so restrictive that you couldn't be able to enjoy the life.

[Sandylion]

I've wanted to do whole 30 for a while but I don't think I would follow as strictly as you did. Not allowed to eat organic raisins?  Pfft,  never mind that. 

 

I have suffered from crippling fatigue also. It's the worst!  Feeling like you are dragging your butt through partially dried cement all day long... Found out my B12 was really low. Started taking a supplement  and in like... 2 weeks started really perking up!  

I hope your new doc helps you sort it out! Did she mention a sleep study at all? 

 

Sorry... I need to keep my nursey nose out of it!  

 

Happy Challenge!  

[Ahyar Dreamspark]

Holy shit. That's terrible about the Whole 30 o_O I've considered attempting it in the past (and sometimes still do) but then remember that it would be practically impossible to do it while living at home.

 

HOORAY FOR THE NEW DOCTOR LISTENING TO YOU!!

 

 

Best wishes for this challenge, and as much energy as possible!

[Sunmage]

These are great news!

It makes me happy to read that you solved a giant piece of your personal puzzle!

 

Now its time to live the summer and be awesome, isn'T it?

 

Be well!

 

Sunmage!

[Waanie]

I'm glad you found a doctor that listened and found something that works . I agree that fatigue can cause depression, I feel so much better now that I sleep every afternoon and therefore dealt with the fatigue as well .

 

How's the first week of exercise going?

[LittleTurtle]

On 6/7/2016 at 6:45 AM, Varelse said:

I've been doing Whole30 during the past two or three weeks and I feel it too restrictive, too. One day I felt like shit because my mother prepared rice to eat the only day we ate together. The same the following week when I ordered a coconut smoothie and I discovered that it has been made with milk. I think Whole30 is useful like a general guide, but not so restrictive that you couldn't be able to enjoy the life.

Exactly!

On 6/10/2016 at 0:26 PM, Sandylion said:

I've wanted to do whole 30 for a while but I don't think I would follow as strictly as you did. Not allowed to eat organic raisins?  Pfft,  never mind that. 

 

I have suffered from crippling fatigue also. It's the worst!  Feeling like you are dragging your butt through partially dried cement all day long... Found out my B12 was really low. Started taking a supplement  and in like... 2 weeks started really perking up!  

I hope your new doc helps you sort it out! Did she mention a sleep study at all? 

 

Sorry... I need to keep my nursey nose out of it!  

 

Happy Challenge!  

She did mention a sleep study, but thought of it as a last resort because she figured my boyfriend would have noticed if I had sleep apnea or restless sleep since I was sleeping in front of him night and day for hours and hours...and hours.

On 6/11/2016 at 9:16 AM, Naxius said:

Holy shit. That's terrible about the Whole 30 o_O I've considered attempting it in the past (and sometimes still do) but then remember that it would be practically impossible to do it while living at home.

 

HOORAY FOR THE NEW DOCTOR LISTENING TO YOU!!

 

 

Best wishes for this challenge, and as much energy as possible!

Thanks!  Love the gif!

On 6/12/2016 at 7:44 AM, Sunmage said:

These are great news!

It makes me happy to read that you solved a giant piece of your personal puzzle!

 

Now its time to live the summer and be awesome, isn'T it?

 

Be well!

 

Sunmage!

The biggest piece of my life puzzle!  It feels so great!  Much love to you my friend!

On 6/17/2016 at 1:21 AM, Waanie said:

I'm glad you found a doctor that listened and found something that works . I agree that fatigue can cause depression, I feel so much better now that I sleep every afternoon and therefore dealt with the fatigue as well .

 

How's the first week of exercise going?

First week should've been better.  I had a really amazing workout session one day, but then *insert excuses*...

 

I was in a work conference for the majority of the week that went into the late evening a couple nights.  And then the other night, I had a weird bout of food poisoning.  But there is so much exercise coming this week!  My mom and I are going our annual summer trip to the mountains where we hike, play games, and swim until we get deliriously tired.  SO MUCH FUN!

[LittleTurtle]

Hello!  Just a quick check in for the week:

 

My Mom and I had SO much fun on our Annual Mountain Retreat last week.  We swam and played badminton and played catch with some velcro hand thing.  I did squats and lunges and incline push-ups using the picnic benches and some deep yoga stretches.  I feel very happy with my exercise last week.  It may not have been much, but I had FUN and that is the most important thing.  

 

This week has been pretty stressful at work, but it should level out by next week and I can hopefully get back to normal.  I get a full body massage tomorrow after work and then I get a three day weekend for the 4th of July.

 

Note to Self:  Go grocery shopping, Old Mother Hubbard. 

 

 

PS - I was going to attach a sweet ass picture of me in the mountains trying a badminton serve that rarely ever works for me, but I always feel bad ass doing it…but I can't figure out how to upload it here.  I shall play around and see if I can get it to work...

 

[LittleTurtle]

Aw, yeah!  I guess it helps when you remember that your account is Photobucket; not Flickr.

 

Here I am…in all my badminton glory…in one of my favorite camp spots in all the land (I feel like I am the Druid-iest Druid ever! ):

 

 

[Ferngirl]

Good luck! 

Those sorts of diets are often not at all helpful in the long run.  Plus they make you miserable when you're on them.  It would be a lot less unpleasant to pick one thing about your diet to change.  The example I've seen on Nerdfitness is to cut out one soda every week.  Just for a start.  Then you can slowly build on it, and make those changes permanent. 

Good luck with your exercise!  And it's great that you're getting health stuff sorted out. 

[LittleTurtle]

Last night, I was doing some bodyweight squats when I heard and felt something pop (my left leg right by the hip bone).  I asked my boyfriend if he heard that, and he said, "Yeah…gross…" and when I went to stand up straight, the pain was so intense that I couldn't move at all!  My boyfriend had to come over and help me scooch over to the couch where I proceeded to writhe in pain for awhile.  The intensity subsided and I can walk, but it still smarts!  Damn squats.

 

I don't think it's anything too serious, but it has me feeling very leery of my form.

[LittleTurtle]

Good Lord...we've reached the end of the challenge?!  How on earth does time go by so quickly anymore?

 

All is well with whatever happened to my leg/hip a couple weeks ago while doing bodyweight squats.  It hurt for about a day and a half, but then I made some weird movement at work (in my chair, no less) and felt it pop again and it was instant relief.  

 

I've been full of energy and free of pain for awhile now and it feels good.  I found a phenomenal massage therapist that can work out the random kinks and knots I get when I have a little bit of stress, and I've just had an overall sense of happiness.

 

I'm working really hard at body acceptance.  My body has some squishy areas and some dimply areas, but I force myself to stand in front of the mirror and tell myself something positive everyday.  The most important part is,  I feel happier than I have in a long, long time.  I have the energy and desire to do things again, and I'm having fun doing them.

 

OOH!  And I got a fierce new haircut that makes me feel super bad ass.  It's the shortest it've ever been in my whole life...like...the side is shaved a little, and I feel like a rockin' pixie.  It takes almost no time at all to style in the morning!

 

So, I guess I'll just keep doing what I've been doing.  I might not ever have rock hard abs and a backside without cellulite, but you know what?  I'm okay with that.