Information Overload

  Since my doctors visit I have been trying to research different styles of healthier lifestyles.  I don't want a fad diet.  I need to change my habits for life.  There is an abundance of information. Everyone thinks they have the answer to all your fitness and diet needs.  Somehow everyone is an expert.  Almost every site I went to had some amazing life changing plan.  Everyone wants you to sign up for free information.  Okay, okay, I did sign up for a few.  There are so many fad diets and fix it all healthy lifestyles that I feel overwhelmed.  I wanted to give up; I haven't even started.  I watched videos, took notes, pinned, downloaded, and printed a ton of information to compile what might work for me.  I AM EXHAUSTED!!! Yup, it was a workout just weeding through all the websites and fitness gurus.  Any topic that drastically changed from one "expert" to the other I removed from my list of possibilities. I think I may have narrowed it down.  I know this is going to start with trial and error and be a long journey before I get it just right, for me.  I'm sure there will be something I find along the way that I may like better, but for now, I think I'll have a good start.  I'm still researching two key lifestyle plans to decide which one will be better in the long run.  I have a feeling I will be meshing them together in some way.  Probably add something crazy to the mix along the way. 
  I'm sure you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about.  My choices have come down to the Paleo and Keto diets.  I tried Keto before but cried when I gave up all the lovely carbs.  Sadly, I think I have no choice at this point.  I'm a bloated butter ball right now and I'm blaming all the carbs I eat.  I feel Paleo gives me more options, but Keto may be a better option.  I will try both, one at a time, for 30 days each.  I considered going 90 days but I might as well just keep going with my first choice, right?  In order to prepare for this transition, I am resetting my gut and adding intermittent fasting.  Actually, I've already started intermittent fasting by only eating during an 8 hour period. 
  I know this sounds extreme and crazy.  It's probably unhealthy too, at least right now.  But, I have been eating unhealthy for so long I need to do something.  During the next week, as I am resetting my gut, I will be doing more research and making a plan.  Paleo will most likely be my first choice.  It's seems easier. Seems... We'll see.  The number one thing I must do is keep a food journal.  I'm not worried about tracking calories.  I will attempt to track carbs, fat, and salt.  I have a few fitness apps on my phone to help me keep track, but I want to also write it down.  Writing makes me think about what I am doing and feeling.  It will give me the opportunity to hold myself accountable. 
  I know there is a slight chance these don't work for my body, but I'm willing to try. The information on healthy living is just crazy.  I'll also keep researching and learning new ways to live a healthier lifestyle.  I promise.


What Fad diets have you tried?  Do you have suggestions for other healthy lifestyles I may want to learn about? 

Facing The Facts: Living With Depression

11.06.2017

Today I thought deeply about how I am feeling.  I thought about what brought me to this point.  There is no straight answer.  There never is.  I don't know what started my journey down this road; I do know that ignoring my thoughts and feelings is how I'm here now.  I was working more than I should and just coming home to sleep and eat.  My days off would be running errands and doing chores.  I quit going out to watch sports because I didn't want to drink anymore.  I stayed home and watched Netflix and Youtube with the kids.  Of course, I would snack the whole time I was watching shows.  I always had beef jerky, Cheetos, and soda.  We were ordering fast food or dining out while running errands because I was "too tired" to cook.  I take full responsibility for what I've allowed to happen.  I ignored my mental health, I treated my body horribly, and I pushed myself to the edge of exhaustion.  There were signs and I even blogged about it earlier this year.  Yet I just let this monster grow within me.  I made a choice and now I have to fight to get back to a better mindset.

I am in constant pain, physically and mentally.  My joints are hurting, I'm overweight (167.6 pounds), I have headaches throughout the day.  I'm starting to get brain fog and becoming clumsy.  My blood work from my last doctors visit looks like my health may be declining.  I feel disgusted, defeated, and just plain DONE!  I wish I could crawl into bed and sleep for days, but I can barely sleep more than 2 hours at a time.  I know I need to figure out how to get out of this rut.  I know this isn't long term.  I'm working on it, little by little.  Day by day.

That's all I can do for now.  Take it one day at a time.


"There are two ways to be Happy: Change the situation, or change your mindset towards it"
-Unknown

It's November, Where is the Fall Weather?

Is it me or do we have some wacky weather?  I was hoping for more windy days and autumn leaves falling.  I wonder if we will get a lot of thunder storms this winter. 

My mind is cloudy and tired.  Actually exhausted is the better description.  My body aches, limbs numb or tingly, and I'm exhausted but can't sleep. I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown and my doctor says the only way to get better is to quit my job.  Yep, that was the main topic of my doctors appointment today.  I should find a less stressful job so I can focus on my health.  My white blood count is much higher than last year, and sadly so is my weight.  I am 167 lbs... AAHHH  No wonder my clothes don't fit and I feel like crap.  Also 23 and Me sent me an email informing me that Celiac disease is a possibility.  Not happy about that, but it explains a few things.  Maybe even my weight gain? 

Working midshifts will be the death of me. I have zero motivation, I'm stress eating, and can't sleep.  Yay me!

Now only if my favorite weather would hurry up and get here. I'd be in a better mood.