Gaining

My energy is still wonderful. Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up with myself. Occasionally, I am over-doing it.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday for some neck pain. I believe I injured it well working on the gazebo last weekend getting it winterized.
I posted previously about my pants being tight and I had hoped it was bloating. Nope. The doctor 's scale has confirmed I've gained 6 pounds. Not traumatic, but needs to be addressed. 

I am thinking that my improved digestive health has increased my absorption of nutrients and calories! I am going to eliminate Greek yogurt from my daily smoothie and try to cut down snacking. 

Unfortunately, just thinking about doing that has increased my snacking. Irony!

Also, I am reaching the end of my digestive kit supplies that I was taking to jumpstart my digestive health. Going to stop that and not reorder at this time. I may eliminate Kombucha from my morning ritual and apple cider vinegar from evenings once it's gone. I'm hoping the 1-1.5 cups a day of kefir will maintain my digestive health.

I realize I need to increase my activity, however, heading into a Michigan winter is not the time for me to get outside and do more. My husky dog would like nothing better. I may need to consider yoga again. Hopefully I can fit it into the budget.

Feeling awesome!

I sent the following update to my Nutrametrix representative today in response to her email inquiry.

I'm doing great and continue to improve. My pain is greatly reduced and my energy levels are so high I am amazed. Many activities that used to drain me, don't any longer. My mind feels clearer. My overall attitude has improved also. I feel this is especially important as I am unemployed and jobhunting still. :)  I also feel like I am sleeping better and rising earlier without being groggy. 

In addition to the Nutrametrix vitamins and Digestive kit, I have made only a few changes to my diet. These are in keeping with my first goal of improving my digestive health.

- Mornings- Kombucha 

- Lunch is a daily protein smoothie of approx 70 G protein. Also includes flaxseed, kale and recently added kefir that I am making myself and introducing slowly 

-Normal dinner

-  starting to eat more organic ingredients whenever possible. Also, slowly eliminating processed foods, snacks, and preservatives.

 

Side note: I feel like I've been doing less snacking and been more active. Therefore, I was puzzled when I feel like my pants are tighter! I don't own a scale, so I don't know if it is weight gain or bloating. I  have been adding digestive elements so it may be bloat. Kinda hope that's what it is.

Increased Energy, Decreased Pain

I am questioning almost everything these days. 

I feel wonderful and I am ecstatic about this. The entire reason I started this is because I was concerned about my cognitive thinking. I just was having trouble thinking in general and wanted to do something about it. My brain felt sluggish and foggy. I purchased a supplement that was supposed to help with this. 

Light Bulb

But then I realized; even if I'm taking all the right supplements, my digestive system may not be absorbing them effectively. I've had weight-loss surgery and that cuts down on the amount of absorption my body is capable of and I was concerned about my digestive health. I wanted to improve my nutritional absorption 

Energy

My energy is a pleasure to welcome back into my life. I am getting more done and not paying dearly for my efforts. Surprisingly, I am socializing more. I used to dread this to the point of avoiding people and avoiding making plans. Now I am seeking out company and chatting happily. I am questioning this. Am I really an introvert? Why am I suddenly not needing as much time to recharge? And I think this is because socializing no longer exhausts me! I've done more socializing in the last two weeks then I probably have in the last six months! 

I am exercising more often and for longer periods of time. By exercise, I mean I am walking and doing more. Nothing structured! I am hoping to begin yoga again this winter.

Why Do I Have More Energy?

My increase in energy is due to several factors. The isotonic vitamins I am taking now are more readily sorb by my body and I am feeling it.

I have also made changes to my diet to allow my body to absorb more nutrients than before. I am taking digestive enzymes and probiotics. I am drinking fermented (kombucha and apple cider vinegar) beverages. I am drinking lemon water which is something I never thought I would be able to do. Before, any amount of citric acid or citrus would cause me to get cold sores. 

I have begun daily protein smoothies and this has increased my protein overall. This has increased my protein intake by 70 g per day. My current recipe includes Greek yogurt and skim milk but I purchased kifer grains and plan to substitute it for those two ingredients in the future.

I continue to try and eat organic foods whenever possible. Especially when it comes to improving and feeding my digestive track. I enjoy kale, a prebiotic, in my daily smoothies. I also include flaxseeds, a powerful antioxidant. I think this is a major contributor to lifting the fog and the pain. Was my food and eating habits contributing to my pain? What was causing the pain? Is it inflammation?

Pain

With a few exceptions, my pain levels are decreasing to the point that I sometimes forget to take my medicine on time. I am questioning my reluctance to give up my pain medicine. I still take the same amount as I was prior to this. As I said, there are some exceptions. For example, yesterday I went for a one hour walk in hilly terrain and cleaned the back yard. I was sore in the evening and took some acetaminophen in addition to my regular 4x day medicine. To my thinking, in this case, my increase in energy has resulted in a natural increase in pain. The still doesn't answer my question about my reluctance to give up my pain medicine. Is part of me is afraid that backing down will result in the pain coming back to its previous level? Is it habit or a mental dependence?

I have also figured out that there are trigger foods. Foods that I eat that will cause pain with in an hour or so of me eating them. So far I have found pizza and potato chips to be to trigger foods. Yes, two of my favorite foods! Of course! But, as a result of discovering the triggers, I have not had pizza in weeks. Surprisingly, a bag of potato chips will now last 10 days rather than two. 

Why Do I Have Less Pain?

I am not sure the reason that these foods have triggered the increase in pain. My initial thought was the amount of preservatives but it also could be sodium. I am thinking further discoveries of trigger foods may help me narrow this down.

Brain

The fog and sluggishness have lifted from my brain. I am no longer as concerned about my cognitive thinking. Sometimes have trouble with decision-making but I think I will continue to improve and this will be taken care of. Some of this may be natural! :-)

Baby Steps 

I continue to believe in "baby steps". I have been introducing changes slowly so I can evaluate the effects to my body. For example, I'm having a great deal of difficulty with the Apple cider vinegar. I have to dilute it so much in order to drink it. Perhaps I can incorporate it into my smoothies but, would that dilute it's benefits? Wondering if that is something I should just set aside for the time being?

Long Term

I am wondering how much of this I will be able to continue once I start working again. My morning routine has become pretty elaborate! Between my coffee (I have decided that's not going to change!), the vitamins, the beverages and the timing and order I'm taking them, it is sometimes 10-11am before I will eat.  Sometimes I forget something and cannot go back to it because, for example, the kombucha has to be drank before you have any food. At least I'm not hungry. And this brings up another good point, I am not feeling deprived in any way.