She's Got a Ticket to Ride...

Dear Friends,

I'll start this message first and foremost with honesty...I am writing to politely ask for donations. If you don't continue reading, I'll understand. But if you do, it will be for a good reason.

Many of you who know me know that my body has been through a lot over the past few years. It's been quite a journey, and after having a Hysterectomy; I'm finally back on the mend and feeling like myself again.

Going forward, instead of focusing negatively on my body image and making everything about losing weight, my goal this year is to simply enjoy the life I have been given.

This summer I will take part in a 24 hour cycling event to benefit cancer research. I want to ride in honor of those who can no longer enjoy their lives. I am currently committed to raising $400, and my personal goal is to ride as many miles as I physically can, and to GO until my body tells me NO!

Please consider donating to help me reach my fundraising goal.

http://www.classy.org/ContraryAthlete

As a side goal, I also have a friendly competition going with my husband. Whoever raises more money gets to pick some sort of silly costume that the 'loser' has to wear for 3 laps. Please also consider donating if you'd like to see him in Fairy Wings and a Tutu! 

"Life ain't always Beautiful, but it's a Beautiful Ride..." Gary Allan

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I’m breaking up with my uterus…and that’s ok.

I recently shared this note on my personal page...and since I had such a positive response, I was encouraged to share it with the world. 

I’m breaking up with my uterus…and that’s ok.

There seems to be a type of social stigma facing women who can’t bear children. If it’s by choice, It’s not something that’s typically understood, and if it’s not by choice (let’s say because of some type of injury or medical issue) you’re most often faced with awkward questions.

If you decide not to answer the questions you’re mistaken as someone who doesn’t like kids, or if you decide to give an honest answer; you’re looked upon with pity, sorrow, or are given what folks in the south call the ‘bless your heart’ expression.

I think it’s time to change all of that. I can’t have children, and I don’t want pity or sorrow. I don’t want to be seen as a failure of a woman, or be made to feel like an outcast. I want to be able to rejoice in this decision. I won’t be suffering anymore, and that should be a good thing.

My period in and of itself has been an exercise in strength and patience. Throughout my life, my cycles would come on sporadically. They rarely came monthly, and it was typical for me to go 3-6 months without having one at all. Once it started though, it was hard to make it stop. It was painful, heavy, and horrible. I ended up in the hospital on several occasions because of potential hemorrhaging…and this has only gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. My most recent cycle lasted over 115 days!

Don’t get me wrong, there was a time in my life when I wanted children. I tried…boy did I try…I’ve seen my fair share of specialists over the years, but that part of my body is just plain stubborn, and I would end up getting depressed every time my period showed. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it just wasn’t working and no amount of exercise, weight loss, hormone shots, pills, supplements, implants, or otherwise has helped with any of this.

Deciding to have a hysterectomy is a difficult choice. But it’s high time that my uterus and I called it quits. That’s right…I’m breaking up with my Uterus, and that’s absolutely, positively, 100%... OK!

Uncovering the Yum at GFAF Charlotte 2015.

March 21st brought me to my 2nd GFAF Wellness Event in Charlotte.

For those of you who don't know, it's a fantastic event focused on Gluten and Allergen friendly foods and presentations. I had so much fun at last year's event, and I couldn't wait to see what was in store this year!

Part of what made Last Year's Event so memorable, was that I was so completely new to this gluten free world, and I was still unsure of what I could and couldn't eat. It can be a scary world when you're first diagnosed...but this event opened up a whole world of YUM, and I've not looked back since.

This year was no different...

I was surrounded by friendly faces, fabulous food, and left feeling FANTASTIC!

Here are my top FIVE favorite finds from this year:

1)  Artisan Tropic all natural snacks.

Website Here: http://www.artisantropic.com/

(Seriously though...How did I not know about Yuca before this?!) 

2) Red Clay Gourmet Pimento Cheeses

Website Here: http://www.redclaygourmet.com/

Their Flavors take this southern favorite to a whole other world. SO TASTY! 

3) Fields of Gold Farm Gelato

Website Here: http://fieldsofgoldfarm.com/

I can't begin to describe the smoothe creamy yumminess that is their product.

You'd have to taste it yourself to believe me! Total 10 on the awesome scale!

 

4) Five Points Baking Co. Cheese Straws

Website Here: http://fivepointsbakingco.com/

Perfect as is, or crumbled into your favorite recipe, you can't go wrong here. 

 

5) Rice Wraps Rice Sheets

Website Here: http://www.ricewrapfoods.com/

If you've ever wanted to make sushi at home, but thought it was too hard, look no further. 

They have made it so easy that even I was able to do it! 

(Yep...I made that!) 

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You can see a full list of products and presenters by visiting the event website below. 

http://charlottegfexpo.blogspot.com/

 There are still several EVENTS scheduled for 2015! 

I met so many amazing people, and tried so many new things.

If you see one coming to a city near you, be sure to check them out! 

Learn to love food...don't Fear it!

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Remember to Feed Your Soul...

"Food for the Body is not Enough. There must be Food for the Soul." 

~ Dorothy Day

How cool is that quote? It recently came up on one of those 'positive daily thought' type websites. I read it, and it was if it had been posted just for me. There have been things stuck in my head that have been so hard to get out...seeing this quote was just what I needed. I'm finally ready to let this out...

Well over a year ago when I was in the midst of all of my health issues, I started to feel like I was losing all of the things in my life that had always given me joy. When you've been diagnosed with a ton of food sensitivities, and a plethora of autoimmune problems, it's easy to lose focus of what's good in your life.

One of those 'good' things that has always been a part of me, is music. To the core of my soul, there are days when nothing touches me more than that perfect blend of lyrics and melody. I am a singer. Always have been, and I'd like to say that I always will be. It wasn't until last year when I was slapped in the face with these medical issues, that I was confronted with the fact that I might not always be able to say that.

I might not always be able to be a singer...unless I really started to take care of myself. My voice...my beautiful Soprano voice (and for those who know me...yes...I did just use beautiful and myself in the same sentence!) and my confidence were starting to be affected by my health.

I can handle anything... Any Diagnosis. Any Treatment. Any Strange Food Restriction. Anything. But when I started to realize that my singing voice was also being affected... my heart broke. When did I realize this? When, for the first time in my life; I didn't make it back into a singing group that I had come to love. When that news was delivered to me; I accepted the decision graciously. It has taken me until now to realize and express how totally and completely that decision has affected me.

My health was taking my voice. This was not acceptable.

I finally had to take a break from singing. 

I really was Broken.

I have worked SO hard in the past year. I struggle on a daily basis with food choices. I'm learning healthy exercise habits. I'm losing weight slowly but surely, and I'm learning how to make my body strong. A Year. A whole freaking year.

Well my friends...it's time. Time to feed my soul again. I've worked on correcting how to feed my body. It's time to bring back what feeds my soul. I will volunteer. I will audition. I will fail. I will dust off, and I will audition again. Because music is my food...

"If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On"

 ~ William Shakespeare

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Let's Get Juiced!

So...You've probably heard about it. I'm sure you've seen it.

If you're adventurous; you may have even tried it yourself.  

What am I talking about?  Well...JUICING of course! 

I'm not one to make dietary changes on a whim. My body has already been through a lot, so new things make me nervous...but after seeing the 'Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead' documentary; juicing was one of those things that had always been in the back of my mind. Well...I finally did my research, and consulted with my doctor. We decided together that it wouldn't hurt to try, and if anything; a cleanse could give my autoimmune and digestive systems an extra boost.


The best plan I found was the 'Reboot with Joe' program. He's actually the guy that made the documentary. The program was completely FREE, and layed things out in detail. They couldn't have made it any easier. Here's the link if you wanted to check it out:

http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/

Next step was finding a Juicer. This is the one thing that turned me off when I initially started looking into all of this. The 'good' ones can be upwards of $100 or more, and I knew that I didn't want to spend that much money on something I was worried I may not enjoy. After tons of online stalking, and reading through about a gazillions reviews, I settled on a bottom of the line, basic, starter juicer. Here's the one I bought. It was $30...I'm here to tell you, it got the job done.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-JE2200B-Vegetable-Extractor/dp/B003ZDNKSS

Here's what it looked like in action: 

From there; it was on to shopping! You really need to prepare for this. It requires time and dedication. A lot of people will tell you how expensive this is...but it doesn't have to be. I started by visiting my local Farmer's Market. Buy Local and Buy in Season! This will save you TONS of money! My cost for the week was around $100. Please keep in mind that cost covered enough fruits and veggies for 5-6 juices per day for a whole week, as well as tea and coconut water in between.

I brought everything home, cleaned, chopped, and prepped about as much as I could (not including apples, cucumbers or lemons...I left those whole. Didn't t want to spoil anything over the course of my week.) One of the best tips I read online was to place most of the ingredients for each juice in a gallon size Ziploc bag. This really made it easy to grab my days ingredients. Here's what our fridge looked like when I was done. My poor husband only had two shelves to himself this week...the rest was mine. LOL.

 

Now it was time to play. I quickly discovered that I LOVED the taste of carrot juice. 

It's sweet, and slightly earthy. It's also really pretty!

(This particular concoction was Carrot, Apple, Lemon)

 

The 'Green' Juices are an acquired taste.

You really have to play around with them to find what you like. 

My favorite was this version of Green Lemonade:

(Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Celery, Green Apple, and Lemon)

By the end of the week; I had a few ingredients leftover, so I threw them together and made what I jokingly called 'UGLY' Juice for breakfast on the eighth day. It was a random concoction of fruits and veggies, but actually tasted good!

Here are a few things I learned from all of this:

PROS: 

I definitely felt more energetic.

My hair started to feel thicker.

My skin started to shine and felt softer. 

I lost 12 lbs! 

CONS: 

You WILL have GAS.

You will pee. A LOT. 

Constipation can happen.

 

You will also have a day when you hit 'THE WALL.' This is the day when you feel exhausted, grumpy, and gross, and can happen anywhere from days two through four. JUST KEEP GOING! I read online that you should take an epsom salt bath, scrub down with a loofah, and use a good shampoo when this happens. This was good advice on behalf of the interwebs. I crashed that night and slept through til morning. The next day, I woke up feeling like a million bucks.

All in all, it was a great experience. 

I would definitely do it again. 

If you have any questions...let me know! 

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That's what friends are for!

Whether it's food allergies, a restrictive diet because of health conditions, or anything in between...it's no secret that having 'food issues' can have a negative impact on your social life. If someone you know fits into these categories; here's what you can do to continue being an awesome friend:

• Genuinely ask questions about their issue. You may have some pre-conceived ideas about what's going on, but talking about the situation may help you learn more.

• Having a night out? Don't 'not' include your friend with food issues because you think they won't be able to go. Tell them where you're going, and let them decide. If it's not a place they can eat, they may opt for eating ahead of time, but still coming out just to enjoy your company.

• Continue to Invite them over for dinner. You can always discuss what's on the menu ahead of time. If it's not something they can eat, invite them to bring something in addition to what you're making to share in the experience.

• Spend some time in their kitchen with them. See how they cook. You may be surprised and have the most delicious meal of your life. If it's a disaster, then you may end up with a hilarious memory.

• Most importantly, just keep in touch. Call. Text. Send an email. Be aware that your friend has had to completely change their lifestyle, and it can be overwhelming. If it's a new diagnosis; they may even feel scared, or suddenly feel alone. It's good for them to know that you're still around.

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Wanna know more about my Nutshell?

A Long Long Time ago...in a Galaxy Far Far Away...

No Wait. That's not me...

Way Way Back Many Centuries Ago…

Wait. That’s not me either.

People have been asking about 'My Story', so I thought I'd try to give a little insight…

For about as long as I can remember; I've had bizarre medical conditions. I spent a good deal of my childhood at the ER for random episodes of gushing nosebleeds. No one could ever figure them out, so they just cauterized my poor little nose and sent me on my way. This was my venture into the world of unknown origin...

Fast forward through the years, and my list of conditions just seemed to grow...

Menstrual Problems
Migraines
GI Issues
Forgetfulness
Weight Fluctuation
Mood Swings
Heart Palpitations
Swelling of the Hands and Feet
Achy Joints
Facial Hair
Dry Itchy Skin
Unexplainable Rashes
Thyroid Problems
Anemia

Vitamin Deficiencies

Severe Fatigue

Seriously...I could go on.

No one could ever really tell me why these things were happening. The only thing anyone ever seemed to tell me was to LOSE WEIGHT. Well duh…don’t you think I’ve tried that? I tried eating better, and went to see a nutritionist. I started attempting to run, and even did a few 5K’s. I eventually got up enough courage to join a local triathlon training club, and over the past couple years have done three of those and attempted a half marathon too.

The weight was coming off slowly and I was looking better, but to be honest; I was not FEELING better. I was still tired and moody ALL THE TIME. My training took a nose dive when these unexplained rashes happened, and we could not figure out a trigger.

I went to my Primary Care Physician, a Dermatologist, an Allergist, an Endocrinologist, and a Rheumatologist. No one could provide answers. I was at wits end, and really starting to think I was the crazy one…until someone suggested that I try just one last doctor.

Couldn’t hurt right?

He was a chiropractic physician who focuses his practice to the treatment of chronic neurological and metabolic conditions. He took one look at my medical history, smiled, and told me he was confident that he could help me. After a series of extensive tests, we met again and found that I had several food sensitivities, a virus, AND autoimmune disorders.  

Here’s a rundown of what we found:

I have something called Epstein-Barr (which is leftover from having Mono as a child, and not knowing…) I showed trace amounts of Lyme Disease (that has obviously been there a while) and I also have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. I have tested ANA positive with several positive Lupus Markers, but because I don’t show ‘ALL’ of the markers, most ‘traditional’ physicians would consider that negative.

As for the Food Issues, here are the sensitivities we found:

Dairy

(including milk Chocolate)

Egg

Gluten

 (Including: Rye, Barley, Spelt and Polish Wheat)
Hemp

Rice
Sesame
Tapioca
Teff
Yeast

We can pretty much just say that I’m a HOT MESS!

I have had to teach myself how to cook and eat again, and am definitely feeling better. My symptoms have begun to subside, the rash has definitely gone away, and my blood tests are showing improvement with each check-up.

It has been quite the journey, and one that I will continue to navigate the rest of my life. Others may see this as hard, or question if it is truly even worth the effort? I can’t blame them for feeling this way, but this is mine for the taking. I want to be well. I want to feel normal.

I will be Healthy.

I will be Fit.

I will find my Happy again…

That’s me in a NUT-shell. 

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