I’ve been reading your notes/comments on how much you like me sharing my food journal and it makes me feel sooo goood. I am glad that I am able to give you girls new ideas and a fresh perspective! However, I just want to take a sec and make sure that I explain about my eating and goals, because they are a bit unique right now, and I don’t want to steer you girls astray from reaching your goals.
Right now, my main focus is on eating the right foods and doing the right things so that I can get my hormones back on track. It has been far too long since my body has been functioning correctly, and it is time that I start paying attention. For me, that is a big part of my decision to do the 25 days of self-appreciation because, for a long time, it was more important to me to be lean, than it was to let go a little of the control of doing what I have learned will keep me there, and open up to doing what I needed to do to get healthy on the inside.
As you may know, over the past 5+ years, my focus has been on eating low-calorie foods, that would keep me healthy and would help me to achieve the body that I for so long dreamed of having. I am there now, and have maintained that body by continuing to do what I’ve learned – eating lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, working out, etc. However, I have reached a point in my life, where I realize that the things that got me to where I am today, may not ALL be the right things for me moving foward.
I may be overlooking a giant piece of the puzzle. Structurally, my body looks healthy, but what about what’s going on inside? It’s a lot easier to ignore the internal stuff that isn’t causing any major physically painful problems right now, than it is to ignore something acute like a broken arm. A couple months ago I talked about my visit to the constitutional acupuncturist, who I think was on the right track, but I just felt like I needed something more concrete. I still had questions in my mind, and although I have seen some improvements, by eliminating certain foods, I still feel like I haven’t hit the nail on the head yet… but I’m getting closer.
Then last week and today, I went to see another doctor to get a second opinion, who also did some muscle testing and food allergy tests on me. He gave me a lot more answers and a much clearer plan of how to get me back on track.
The biggest realization for me, well… one of them, is that a lot of the foods I was eating on a regular basis, are foods that I am finding out I may be allergic to. This has been super challenging for me to hear, because eating these foods is so ingrained in me as the *only* way to be healthy.
I am working through these feelings and am understanding now, like I talked about yesterday that what is healthy for one person, may not be healthy for another. It depends on so many things, from heredity and where our ancestors are from, to allergies that have developed due to circumstances in our lives, and on and on…
So again, I just want to reiterate, what I am eating is what is right for me… right now in my life… and with that said, I am still learning too. As I learn more about my own body, I am making more adjustments to my own diet. Fat loss isn’t my number one priority right now, getting my hormones functioning again is what is #1, for me. I am working on harmonizing a somewhat new or updated group of “healthy” foods, with goals that are still important (i.e. maintaining my physical strength, fitness, and lean look)…. so these are new waters for me too in many ways. I just want to make sure that I am open about that, so you can keep that in mind.
In my fat loss focused days, I had a salad pretty much every day. I had egg whites, pretty much every day. I had chicken or turkey every day. I cut out a lot of high-carb foods, especially later in the day. I worked out six days a week, and near the end, when I got close to my goal, I even went for a walk at night, so that I could keep my activity up. Right now, I am not quite that hardcore. 
I will try to give you ideas though, on how you can tweak what I am doing, to throw the fat loss flair into it. And please, if you do have any questions, feel free to ask. I know that I have quite a bit of knowledge about fat loss, and it’s kinda fun writing these food journals, because I remember things that I normally wouldn’t think to write about.
So here’s to healthy bodies, both inside AND out!
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Good luck to you on your health journey!
Thanks Liz!
I love this Sheila – it is so important for people to understand that what might be right for one person, may not be right for another – with both food and exercises. Thanks for sharing your personal journey – It has given me an understanding of how important self-discovery is to reach my personal health and fitness goals – hugs you!
Hugs back!
Fabulous post Sheila! And so true….each of us and our bodies are different so we must take information we gather and use it to how it may benefit us. You situation is unique, so is mine. But, as I’ve mentioned in previous comments, I like learning the variety of things that you and others eat….gives me some ideas to use as is or tweak to my unique constitution.
Cheers girl!
xx MB
I’m soooo glad that I’m helping to spice things up and give you new variations Mary Bess!
Really well written! We have to do what’s right for us as individuals- and what’s right NOW, which might change (and likely will) as our lives take new directions.
You are right Sagan. I believe our path in life is always evolving and giving us new opportunities to grow and learn. We just have to choose to see it that way.
Thanks so much ladies for your support!
I really am thankful for having to go through this “hormonally challenged” time in my life because:
1) It gives me a chance to realize how fortunate I am to have all the rest of my body working in such peak condition.
2) I know I am not the only woman to ever have to go through something like this, so my hope is that in being so open about it, I may be able to give someone else the insight they might not have ever had otherwise.
Hi Sheila! I just wanted to share my experience so you don’t feel so alone either. Having been a competitive gymnast, my hormones have been out of whack for quite some time. About six weeks ago I began seeing an accupunturist, and after just two sessions I got my period back…it had been five years. I think it’s great that you’re shifting your focus to address any issues that are going on internally.