It's Been A Long Road...a life update

 

I want to share a story with you today...a true one and a continuing one. I have often been in my life an oversharer and today is no exception to that. I want to share about a journey I recently decided to go on.

It began in December of 2020..I decided it was time to take my life back...to give some background...I had a second knee operation in October of 2016 and let's just say it did not go as well as the first one...it was always painful, rehab didn't go well, and it just plain hurt to walk. I also ran a business that had me sedentary and so I just settled into that way of life. I also was experiencing panic attacks and depression so I of course turned to my physician for some assistance. I was prescribed medication and things improved, but not my overall health. I was still sedentary and did not have a ton of energy. Well, in December of 2020 I closed the business and decided to truly retire...(I had retired in 2012 from teaching, only to open a business a year later). I also decided it was time to take back my healthy lifestyle I had prior to the knee surgery. 

I began by taking myself off all medications...now I also have hypothyroidism which caused my Doctor great alarm when I finally got around to going, oh in April of 2021. You see it took that many months to detox (if that is a good way to put it) from the constant stress of owning a business. So, when I went to see her in April I informed her I wanted to heal my hypothyroidism and get healthy again with exercise and diet. 

Reluctantly, she agreed and approved of me going to see a holistic physician (one who specialized in thyroid issues) and a nutritionist. So off I went...it took a while to get those appointments so I began the best I could on my own  changing my diet...and from April 13th-June 29th I lost 15.5lbs! 

First progress photo taken on May 24th

I saw the holistic physician on June 29th and the nutritionist on June 30th...together they agreed a Paleo Diet was what was best to begin the healing process. I can tell you it has not been a very easy road, thus the reason my crafting and YouTube channel suffered. Because I tell you this diet and adjusting to it took a toll on  my emotions and just was plain not easy. 

On June 28th hubby and I decided to join a gym and have been very diligent about going 5 days a week. I began with training sessions with a fitness instructor and I can say that  is one of the  best things I have ever done for health and well-being outside of deciding to take my life back. He pushed me to always do my best and when it got harder he said keep going, You can do it!  I am taking water aerobics classes and go to those 5 days a week in addition to treadmill and strength training I am getting stronger and more fit each day.

Adjustment to the change in diet has become much easier. I am sticking to it 6 days a week and have 1 day I can  eat outside of my diet but yet still within reason and continuing to eat healthy. I am so thankful for these persons that came into my life to help during such a difficult time adjusting. I am also very thankful to my support corner, my best friend Kimberly and my husband!

So as I continue on with this challenging new way of eating I will press on and continue to improve in both body, mind, and spirit! My YouTube channel is getting back to normal as of this month so I hope you can join me over there and gain some inspiration from my crafting!

Second progress photo: taken August 19

And as of Today September 7th I have lost a total of 31.6lbs since I began this journey in April 2021!