Moving….

This is where I might be….

http://seethebluesky.blogspot.com/

Hmmmm…..

I was pretty much of the mind that I was not blogging anymore.  I also had closed this one down so that no one could see it.

Have to say that nothing has been wrong, that nothing bad has happened.  I just haven’t been dealing well with winter it would seem.  Who knows? 

The fact is that life isn’t always easy or fun.  I still seem to be searching for the same answers to the same questions I think I’ve had my entire life.

Maybe I’m just asking the wrong questions or something….

Anyway… things I’ve been doing lately include reading.  I got a NookColor for getting older this year, and it has been pretty cool.

I think the one book that has totally blown my mind and deserves more than a passing sentence is Blue Like Jazz.  I read the sample first few pages and felt like I could’ve written this book.   I think it was easy to read, but hard to read at the same time.  I think this dude I don’t even know pretty much called me out on some issues.  Maybe I’ll blog on it tomorrow….

I need to exercise more, but I’m making time on the elliptical in the afternoons watching my guilty pleasure, Glee.  I got so hooked thru netflix, and it isn’t a show I watch with the kids, but it is so much fun.  I love the music and I love the stupid fun of it.

I think sometimes you just need random, stupid fun to add to the lightness in a dark, hard world.

What has helped…

If you have been one of the few who’ve actually been around for a while here then you know that I’ve been constantly complaining of the woes of being unable to lose weight.  This has been going on for about 3-4 years now with me still not having found a solution.

A few months ago, as I started having nightly hot flashes and further weight gain with belly fat, I decided to look into bioidentical hormone replacements. 

My problem was that I was suspicious of adding further hormones into the mix.  Something just didn’t seem right about having excess hormones treated by adding more hormones.  I know that alot of people have relief from symptoms, but I don’t want relief, I want to be fixed.

This led to me reading on hormones.  Believe me, there are too many of them and they are way confusing.  But I was  sure that this had something to do with my issues.

Now, please don’t think that this is all vanity related to not losing weight.  That was a part of it.  I used to could slam off 10 pounds without even thinking about it.  I had muscle tone that showed, but it was more than this. 

I had months of facial acne that  wouldn’t heal around the mouth/chin area up into my laugh lines.  This had occurred for about 5 months with no healing, plus these weren’t little white heads but large red sores.  My husband would ask what the ‘sores’ were on my face every couple of days even.  I didn’t have pimples as a teen and was wondering where all of this came from.

I started having nightly hot flashes and would lay awake drenched all night.

Then for the last 3 months my periods would come every 24-25 days and last less than 24 hours.  I felt like menopause would start any month.

All of this with the sudden onset of belly fat and a waist measurement that was up 5-6 inches despite running and exercise daily and no increase in calories.  No diet worked to get rid of it.

This just all seemed too much for a 42 year old in really good health.

So again I start looking at different hormonal issues and decided*** that I had an increase in estrogen.  I think it all most likely started with adrenal problems from a few years back along with age and other circumstances.

***I do not encourage self diagnosis.  I’ve spent years studying these issues and choose to take control of my own health, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, please see someone who does.

So, then I started to figure out how to fix the issue.  Again, I felt that bioidentical was out.  I personally don’t like the philosophy behind it and don’t choose to repair a problem by adding to it.

I did find this site by Dr Lam. 

I have to admit that initially it all seemed very silly, and I chalked him up to being a quack.  I did a bit more research on him though, and really didn’t find alot negative.

His ideas are very simple AND he isn’t selling anything.  I believe he even offers to answer questions for free.  He really put alot of the science in simple, to the point words, and gives a plan to repair estrogen dominance.

So I decided 2 months ago to follow his plan. 

His first step was to use a progesterone cream.  I did not do this.  My reason is because I don’t know that my progesterone is low.  I do believe that I have additional estrogen and want to metabolize it.

So I cut carbs a bit… only 1 fruit a day, veggies and maybe a whole grain piece of bread.  I also quit drinking all alcohol… sorry, but I liked my merlot.  (actually  I didn’t do that great on the dietary changes, but I just wasn’t as hungry it seemed)

I cut caffiene, not completely, but 1 cup of coffee a day and no other sources.

I do regular cleanses,but I added some milk thistle for liver support.

I also continued exercise. 

Dr Lam has a long list of supplements that would be good to use, but I took my normal vitamin with green foods a few times a week, take NOW’s Super Omega 3-6-9 daily with a enzyme pill daily as well.  I wasn’t going to spend alot of money to do this.

The one new supplement I did start I was hoping to be my magic bullet. 

DIM

DIM is supposed to metabolize estrogen and regulate the levels.  This sounded too good to be true, and I was skeptical.  I actually searched medical journal studies and MDs are looking at this substance now for many cancers and the like.

DIM is actually made of cruciferous vegetables…. broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage usually.  A dose of 100 mg is said to be the equivalent of 3 pounds of the foods.  I also worried about the validity of using it along with the safety, but decided to get a bottle to try out.

After 7 weeks I saw alot of changes.  I was eating about the same, but just watching carbs a bit closer.  I lost weight without even trying.  My face cleared up, no more hot flashes either.  I’ve lost about 2 inches so far in my waist. 

My monthly period has also changed.  The past one freaked me out as it came at 28 days and then lasted for 4 days.

I don’t necessarly feel like I am fixed or all better, but I do feel like it is a process.  I will say that I am more focused on maintaining these changes and listening to what my body is telling me.  I am also not afraid of getting older and having changes, it just didn’t feel like the right time now.

I also know that I haven’t linked to alot of products.  I use DIM-Plus by Natures Way.  I tend to order from iHerb, VitaminShoppe, Lucky Vitamin or amazon, depending upon whose price  is best.

Also… I have summed up this whole experience to a large degree.  I have not included studies and other things I’ve found.  I also probably won’t add them as they were the answers I found for my specific questions.

Not much to say….

Despite there being things going on, I’m trying (hate that word) to get my act together to update what I’ve actually learned and accomplished the past few months.

Number 1 would be to not stress quite so much… Everything tends to be what it’s going to be no matter what you do.  While I hate being someone who simply reacts, I do find that it isn’t always necessary to try to be in control, either.

Secondly… Still running, just not so much.  I find that  the cold is getting to me and that getting old really stinks.  Also… taking time off from exercise is detrimental.

Next… It’s good to keep learning, and in the big scheme of things I really don’t know a whole lot.  I do kn0w that I don’t want to sell out or make myself anything other than who I am.  I want to be someone who puts something meaningful and good out in the world.

Last… things change and who you are changes.  You need to learn to adapt and decide who you are and who you need to be.

Diet Food

I’ve been living the low-carb lifestyle recently, and while I don’t have any pictures to share, these 2 dishes have become my mainstays.  They are simple, quick and healthy and pretty much the product of not having other items on hand.

Also… I’m taking a break from pictures right now, but I may get some up later…

Beef with peppers…

But to spice it up a bit, I’ve looked to Mediterranean spices and flavors.

Brown some ground beef.  Remove from pan.  Add sliced red onions and a variety of bell peppers for color.  Saute’ until softened, but not mush.  Return the meat to the pan with the onions and peppers.  Add some garlic and Italian seasoning.  I also add a smokey paprika blend just to add some extra heat and kick.  I then add a can of sliced black olives, or a bunch of whole olives that have been pitted and cut in half.  Top with some feta cheese and enjoy.

You can also add a salad and continue the feta theme. Or serve over pasta if you need carbs.

Chicken with Cauliflower…

I had some skinless, boneless chicken breast meat and a head of cauliflower.  I also always keep peppers and onions, so….

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and cook thru.  I added my Roasted Red Pepper seasoning from Bread Beckers (smokey paprika, etc) and salt. Remove from pan.

Add 1/2 and sliced onion and a whole red bell pepper.  Saute in some oil or chicken broth until transparent.  Add the cauliflower and stir to cook a bit.  I then add the chicken back to the pan and cover to steam the cauliflower a bit more and combine flavors.

I’ll just be eating this plain with a salad, but you could also eat this over a spiced Mexican style rice.