IT'S WORKING!

I know not many people are reading these and that's ok, but I'm really enjoying putting my new journey down on digital paper because I'm in awe at what's going on. If it helps one person at some point in time, then great.

It truly is a testimony to BABY STEPS in a journey and how one step gets you to another. Looking back at where I started and how the changes to the habits I made in my life created this outcome is just mind blowing. I started by literally just TRACKING my food. No changes. Just awareness (I talk about this a lot in my book), to watching my calories, to making sure I was getting enough protein, then balancing carbs, then lowering fat. That's what got me HERE.

Of course as we get older our bodies are determined to destroy us.

Now, at the ripe age of almost 40, my body has decided that what I've been doing, will no longer suffice (see my previous posts for more in depth explanation, if you care to).

I'm officially 11 days into being Gluten, Dairy, Soy and Refined Sugar Free. I'm also staying away from inflammatory foods and adding tons of anti inflammatory foods to my diet. Making sure that my fats are good fats and keeping the saturated fats low and the trans fat at ZERO.

HOLY. CRAP.

I feel FANTASTIC. After 5 months are doing "everything right" (whatever that means) and being beyond frustrated with my symptoms and not missing a beat in the gym or with my eating habits and not losing a single pound, I've finally lost 5 pounds.

I honestly don't even care about the weight loss at this point, that's just an added bonus. My symptoms are 75% better, I have so much energy, I'm sleeping better, my gut health is improving and my joint inflammation is lessening. I have 2 spinal disorders so I know this won't SOLVE it, but it's HELPING and every little bit helps. If I would have known that this change would do what it has done.....I would have done it 5 months ago.

I think the best part for me (which may be more difficult for others) is that because of all the work I've done in previous years on changing my eating habits.....not a TON has changed. I'm definitely missing cheese. Sweetening with honey or no sweetener at all and not using any artificial sweeteners (they're inflammatory) has been difficult. The replacement of almond and coconut milk instead of fairlife skim or the switch to cassava flour tortillas instead of my carbsmart tortillas? None of that has really phased me. My go to meal for months now has been chicken bowls with a variation of fresh veggies/black beans and that is STILL my go to meal that I'm not tired of.

The things I'm paying attention to now when I look at my macros, kind of blows my mind. My sugars, cholesterol and sodium are all super low. My vitamins, fiber, iron are all super high. The body is pretty fascinating when you really think about it. That's all. Just wanted to share my excitement.

Also, for funsies, here's a tiktok I made about traveling with dietary restrictions (and yes, I did this even BEFORE I did the whole GDSRS Free shenanny's).

25 DAYS UNTIL SURGERY!