Motivation Monday: “To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” -La Rochefoucauld
I hope everyone started their week off right with a healthy breakfast! Last week was completely exhausting. I have stitches in my bottom of my foot, crutches, am waiting for my skin biopsy to hear if my mole was cancerous, and feel pretty crappy all around. To top it off, I went to a new doctor for my thyroid issues last Wednesday, and my recent lab work showed that my thyroid is getting worse and worse. Do you ever feel like when it rains, it pours? Like everything happens all at once? I was surprised to learn that my thyroid has gone out of whack in the completely opposite direction than before. My previous doctor told me that I had HYPERthyroid, but after retesting and seeing a new doctor, my results showed up as HYPOthyroid. With my current lab results and all of my symptoms, my doctor wanted to do a more in depth panel of blood work for my thyroid, and test me for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I dealt with painful ovarian cysts in high school, and have literally every symptom in the book for PCOS: weight gain, hair loss, acne, depression, severe mood swings, etc., so I am really curious to see my results. Right now, I’m at a point where I just want everything to get figured out. I feel terrible all the time and I just want to feel better!
I went back to my doctor the next day for a fasting glucose/insulin test and more thyroid panels. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink anything from 9pm Wednesday night until after my insulin/glucose test on Thursday. The test was not fun at all. Not that blood tests are a party… but they are usually quick. In, out, and done. After running thyroid panels (so many tubes!), I had to stay for 3 hours of glucose/insulin testing.
First draw: normal blood sample after fasting
Then I had to chug a bottle of “Orange” 100 Glucose for my test. Ohhh my gosh. Sick. Not in a good way. In a nasty, bad way. I had to drink the highest level possible, which was 100 grams of glucose! That’s more than anyone should have per day, omg! It was thick like syrup and tasted like a mix of orange Gatorade and Tang! A few minutes later I got a huge sugar rush and felt so sick. There’s no better feeling than being hungry, and then pumping your body full of sugar, right? ughhh.
Second draw: 30 minutes after consuming the drink. Then had a rash all over my arms from where the cotton ball and tape were, so we had to switch to kid’s non adhesive Band-Aids.
Third draw: 30 minutes later
Fourth draw: one hour later, couldn’t get any blood out of my vein and had to switch arms and be re-poked
Fifth draw: one hour later
End result: 7 pokes, 1 Scooby Doo Band-Aid, 1 Strawberry Shortcake Band-Aid, 2 bruised arms, 1 allergic reaction, and extreme hunger.
After I was finished with all of my tests I met my mom for the world’s biggest lunch. While hobbling up the 3 small stairs to the restaurants one of my crutches slipped on some water and I ate it, and stepped on my injured foot. Omg, it was a hot mess. Love that everyone watched it happen and no one came to help me… that was super duper! After I have my championship comeback moment and got myself back up on the crutches I was literally shaking because I was so hungry. I’ll just end the story there and say I ate, and got home safely!
The next couple of days were okay, I was just exhausted and my foot was in so much pain. I finally felt like things were looking up when I remembered that I was going to go see Joe Cross from “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” speak at a conference! I was so excited that I couldn’t even sleep on Friday night, so I watched “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” on Netflix while I put together some T-Shirt orders. I cannot remember how I found out about this conference, it was so random. I only remember seeing online that Joe Cross was speaking in Orange County, and then saw that it was at a conference called “A Day for M.E. (Mom Empowerment)” by an organization called Moms In Charge. I have to admit I felt a little awkward buying a ticket to a mom conference haha. Just a bit out of place… but I just had to hear Joe speak!
Saturday night, I managed to get myself to the conference and even better: a front parking spot, and a second row seat! I bought a half day ticket to the conference, so I arrived around 6:30pm and caught a cooking demonstration by Chef Jenny Ross, owner of the raw restaurant 118 Degrees.
Chef Jenny was adorable! She gave a great presentation with fun and easy ways to make kid friendly raw meals. She made a raw PowerFull Parfait, raw Deviled Tomatoes, and gave an excellent demo on how to cut open a young coconut. Extra points because she used a Vitamix! She finished her cooking demonstration with a quote that I absolutely loved:
“There are no diets, no calorie counting, and no measuring fats, carbs or protein grams. None of that matters if you choose real, whole, fresh, live foods. If you choose quality, the rest takes care of itself.” -Dr. Mark Hyman
In between speakers the founder of Moms In Charge, Dotty Hagmier went up on the stage to speak about the organization. Before arriving at the event, I had no idea what this organization was, nor did I really care, because of the word “mom.” I figured it was a conference for mom and baby types of products, but I was so wrong. The organization is a “resource for moms who are searching for ways to give their kids the best chance of living healthy, vibrant lives. It is also a movement for moms to become empowered with informations of what is in our food and products so we can make the most informed decisions and transition to a healthier, vibrant life with our kids to ultimately: change the shape of our future.” –Source
The conference showcased everything from healthy recipes and snacks, to safe chemical free cleaning products to use in your home. Although I’m not a mom, I felt like I really related to this group of women, because I too am part of a movement to help and inform others to make healthy choices. Now only am I excited that I bought a ticket to this conference to see my juicing idol Joe Cross, but I am so happy that my money went to such a fantastic organization which shares similar beliefs as I do. If I didn’t think this organization was this fantastic, I wouldn’t have mentioned it at all and would’ve just talked about hearing Joe Cross speak, but I think this group deserves a shout out. This is the type of group that I would love to be a part of if I have children one day. If you are a mommy who lives in the Orange County area and is interested in Moms in Charge, checkout their website for more information! I wish them success and hope that they open more chapters in other areas as well.
Next up was the main event: JOE THE JUICER CROSS
OH MY GOSH!!!!!
Joe started off with a general intro about his film and then went into some details about how he got started and where he’s at today. I couldn’t help but laugh because three minutes into his speech, he grabbed a pice of Kale that was on stage from Chef Jenny’s cooking demonstration and held it for the entire duration. The photograph above is the only one that I have without him holding a piece of Kale. I think its pretty symbolic and amazing that he’s holding kale in all of my photos though! Just the way that I had pictured him… Joe, with kale.
I honestly wish I had a timestamp on these photos because although it may look as if they were taken at the same time, these photographs were taken throughout his 1.5 hour speech! Serious kale love right there!
I enjoyed his speech because not only did he bring up important points about the benefits of juicing, but he also showed us that he is a normal person who struggled with weight and health issues before, and still deals with temptation today just like anyone else. He gave us a little story about his life before the documentary. Joe said that “as a child I used to turn to sugar as a pick me up. It’s always there, it never lets me down, and it never talks back. I find myself still doing that today, and I want you to know that.” He also mentioned that while on dates, he used to be very self conscious of what he was eating so he would order a salad because he wouldn’t want anyone to see how he really ate. He then laughed as he informed us that he would buy a pizza on the way home because he was so hungry!
We also got a little behind the scenes information on before the filming began. Up until midnight before the filming started, Joe had his “last dinner” which consisted of chinese food and beers, and then… another round. We were cracking up as he told us that he went for yet another round when he realized that although it was midnight in New York, it was still 9pm on the west coast! After a night of feasting, he said that it made the first few days of his juice fast even harder. His tip for anyone who is starting a juice fast: “don’t do what I did,” and start eating only plant based foods a few days prior. Excellent tip Joe haha. I can’t imagine going from such a large volume of food to just juice! Yikes! Midway through his speech, Joe spoke about consumerism and his love for Oreos. He said “I love Oreos. I love them. I would marry one if I could!” I think everyone felt relieved that even Joe the Juicer still gets tempted by foods like Oreos!
After Joe wrapped up his speech, it was time for some book signing! I was so excited to meet Joe and have him sign my “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” book! He was full of personality and super energetic. As he signed my book he was sipping on a green juice so I asked him what kind of juice it was. He replied “I have no idea, everywhere I go people give me juice. I eat too!” with a laugh. He then asked what happened to my foot and helped me stand sans crutches for a photo with him. He’s a great guy with an incredible story. If you haven’t seen his documentary, you have to watch it! It’s available for rent or purchase on both Amazon.com and iTunes, and is streaming on Netflix. If you are interested in doing a reboot visit Joe’s website: Reboot Your Life, become a fan of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Joe on Facebook, and follow Joe on Twitter!
My weekend ended yesterday with a broken iPhone, pinched nerve in my underarm form my crutches, and food poising. Fun times. Luckily my Monday was a very happy one indeed as I received a thank you note from my “23rd Birthday Giveaway” winner, Megan J.! Seriously made my day. Things like this are why I continue to blog and share my journey with you every day!
Hearing Joe speak and meeting him in person was such an amazing experience. He is so inspiring that I am thinking about doing a reboot soon! Is anyone interested in doing a juice reboot?
You can read about my previous 5 day juice cleanse here:
Juice Challenge Day 1
Juice Challenge Day 2
Juice Challenge Day 3
Juice Challenge Day 4
Juice Challenge Day 5
Juice Challenge Ended
Donita
August 27, 2012 at 8:18 pm (12 years ago)Sounds like some trying times , but what I love about reading your blog , is you dont let it defeat you . You will find the answers that you are looking for and you will deal with it ! You are inspiring! Keep up the good fight !
Catherine
August 27, 2012 at 8:27 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for your support, Donita! I’ll keep everyone updated on my results! xo
Jess Vartanian
August 27, 2012 at 8:20 pm (12 years ago)I jest read your post and it sounds exactly like me. When I was in high school (I’m now 25) doctors thought it was HYPOthyroid, which is commonly mistaken for the real problem which is PCOS. After a few tests I was right, it was PCOS. A difficult problem to treat, b/c there really isn’t a cure for the symptoms. I have all of the symptoms, plus some. I am interested to see what you find out an if it is PCOS, not to worry your not alone!
Love your blog!
Catherine
August 27, 2012 at 8:28 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for sharing with me, Jessica! It’s so nice to hear from reachers who have been there haha I’ll let you know when I get my blood test results back!
Niki
August 27, 2012 at 8:24 pm (12 years ago)Also ask your Dr. about Hoshimoto’s Thyroidits…I had your same symptoms and it took me two years to get diagnosed. It is a simple blood test. There are two antibodies that they look for so make sure that they are both included in the test. It would be good to eliminate it as a possibility.
Catherine
August 27, 2012 at 8:29 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for the tip Niki, it’s so helpful to hear from readers who have been through similar things! xo
Grace Anderson
August 27, 2012 at 8:42 pm (12 years ago)Seconnding, thirding, or fourthing on Hashimoto’s disorder. My mom went through the wringer when she was 24 trying to figure out what was wrong, and getting the complete runaround from bi-polar to manic depresssive, until it was finally correctly diagnosed as Hashimoto’s. At that point her thyroid was so bad off it had to removed. But there is hope! I also have Hashimoto’s, and have been maintaining treatment since I was 9, I am now my mom’s age of diagnosis, and my thyroid has basically just stayed the same over the years. If you keep up with maintenance and get a good doctor, it is a totally livable thing. It is utterly important to get a doctor that you trust and who listens to you, no matter what. If you have any trouble, I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest Martha Gonzalez in Ventura. She is near the top of her field and specializes in thyroid disorders. Also, she always wears really great hats, so that’s a bonus.
Good luck on your journey back to health, hang in there!
Lidia
August 28, 2012 at 10:20 am (12 years ago)My sister goes to that same endo- Martha Gonzalez in Ventura…she’s so much happier with her than with the other 2 she saw before and her thyroid is finally under control!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:34 pm (12 years ago)Omg small world, that’s amazing! I may need to make an appointment with her haha
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:18 pm (12 years ago)Hi Grace! Wow the process of finally getting a diagnosis for your mom sounds like a roller coaster! 🙁 I’m so sorry she had to go through that! I’m so happy that both you and your mom have solved your thyroid issues, that’s so good to hear! Also, thank you for the suggestion! xo
Niki
August 27, 2012 at 8:51 pm (12 years ago)Hey, I did the 3 day reboot and it was absolutely amazing. I felt so healthy and so much more energized. My husband and I both did it. He has now lost 30 lbs and I have lost 17. We juice for 3 days then followed with a week of rabbit food eating and now we juice at least one meal a day while following your pyramid. I swear I owe all my weight loss to you and Joe Cross. It’s all over my Instagram. @nikichennell . 🙂
I recommend only doing the mean green, we did the juice plan he lays out and it was so much work, now we juice the mean green in advance. Need any juicing tips email me nikichennell@gmail.com. I highly recommend you do it, we have inspired about 8 of our friends and 5 of our family members and they feel so much healthier. 🙂
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:20 pm (12 years ago)Hi Niki! Your support is so incredible and it means so much to me! I agree, if I do a reboot I will definitely stick to Mean Green. Last time I did a juice fast I went overboard trying to make different juices and it ended up getting expensive haha I love all of your Instagram updated 🙂 You are such a strong girl! Stay tuned for a possible reboot soon! xo
Jess
August 27, 2012 at 8:52 pm (12 years ago)I just wanted to say I love your blog! It’s been helpful with some of the things I’ve been dealing with and what I mainly need daily is motivation…and your blog gives me my needed dose! 🙂 This year I took off from everything and just focused on my health after finishing Grad school…good thing I did, found out I had hypothyroidism and PCOS (both were undiagnosed and misdiagnosed a couple of times…it’s been a journey, and it sounds like its been similar for you. Keep up your positivity and just focus on your health one step at a time. I found a great Endocrinologist and she’s seemed to figure everything out with me, put me on Metformin for the PCOS and I lost 4lbs the first week and my periods are coming back on their own. Metformin made/makes me nauseous, just got to my full dosage, so eating right has been a challenge, only thing that didnt make me sick was mac and cheese lol. You’ll find your right balance of things and treatment, hope it’s soon!!!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:22 pm (12 years ago)Hi Jess! Wow it sounds like we could possibly be hypothyroid and PCOS twins! I am waiting to get my labs back next Friday to hear if I tested for PCOS and to see how my thyroid is doing. The diagnosis process for both have been quite a journey. Just like you said, I have been misdiagnosed as well and it is really emotionally draining to go through that. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me, it’s so nice to hear I’m not the only one! xo
Niki
August 27, 2012 at 8:56 pm (12 years ago)Just to add to my previous comment. I will support you and do a 3 day juice fast again if you do it. 🙂
ArtistMum
August 28, 2012 at 1:54 am (12 years ago)Wow, I’m on crutches too, and I have hypothyroidism! I had a procedure done on my foot as well…..arthrodesis. I hate being on crutches but have to be for 8 weeks :(.
I also saw Joe Crosses movie…..so good. My hubbie and I have juicy Tuesdays and Thursdays to get us started. But me on crutches……it won’t work until I’m on my feet!
Hang in there. I’ll be thinking of you getting healthy and cured
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:25 pm (12 years ago)Oh my gosh crutches are seriously no fun! You are going to have some sexy strong shoulders and arms from those puppies! haha I love the idea of Juicy Tuesdays and Thursdays, so cute! xo
Turk
August 28, 2012 at 4:53 am (12 years ago)If your TPO antibodies are out of control more damage is done to thyroid ending up in hypothyroidsm and nodular goiter!
Elle
August 28, 2012 at 5:49 am (12 years ago)Wow, you’ve had a rough couple of weeks. I’m so sorry to hear all you’ve been going through – I have a good friend with PCOS and know she has found strength from talking with others with PCOS in the community and even utilizing online resources for support. Hang in there.
Becky
August 28, 2012 at 5:52 am (12 years ago)What an exciting day! I feel so bad that no one helped you when you fell but WOW at meeting Joe!!!!
Michelle
August 28, 2012 at 5:55 am (12 years ago)Yesss! please do a juicing reboot! I”:ve been interested in juicing but have no idea where to start. Is there a good website that teaches you what to do or anything like that?
Tiffany
August 28, 2012 at 6:29 am (12 years ago)It’s no vitamix, but for the girl who is using her Oster blender, I think this seems like a good buy!
I’d love more information on blending!!!
Carla
August 28, 2012 at 6:37 am (12 years ago)I’m sorry that it’s currently “pouring” down on you, but the good news is rain is usually followed by sunshine, and you definitely seem to look on the bright side of things!
I just finished a 7 day reboot and I was super proud of myself! Turns out I can live a practically vegetarian lifestyle, pretty easily! I plan to follow the rabbit food pyramid as closely as possible going forward! I should continue to juice though, don’t want the breville to get dusty!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:26 pm (12 years ago)Thanks for your support Carla! 7 day juice fast, GO GIRLLLL! I’m so proud of you! xo
Jess
August 28, 2012 at 6:43 am (12 years ago)One quick note on hyper vs hypothyroidism (I am hypo)…I read once that people who have been hyper for a while can actually become hypo. If you think of your thyroid gland like an engine, when it is hyper, it is running at max rpm, out of control, and in doing so can burn itself out, at which point it would become hypo. Anyway, that’s a small tidbit. I found out in my mid twenties that I have an under active thyroid, not from any symptoms, but because it runs in my family so I was tested. I also have the Hashimoto’s version of hypothyroidism. From what I know though, the general treatment is the same regardless of whether your hypo is hashimoto’s or standard. Maybe at this point the differences in treatment haven’t been addressed to me because the basic hypo treatment has been working fine for me.
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:27 pm (12 years ago)Hi Jess! Thank you so much for sharing your thyroid story! It’s so nice to hear from readers who have dealt with similar issues. I’m so happy yours is all under control now 🙂 xo
Lyndsay Toliver
August 28, 2012 at 7:17 am (12 years ago)I feel your pain with the glucose testing. You have to do the same test when your pregnant,and believe me being 8 months pregnant and hungry and sitting around for 3hrs you just want to die. I hope everything is ok. Love your blog as always.
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:29 pm (12 years ago)Oh man Lyndsay, I cannot even image!! Not fun!
Lidia
August 28, 2012 at 10:12 am (12 years ago)Oh you poor thing, you’re right that when it rains it pours. 🙁 I’m sorry you had crummy thing after crummy thing happen these last few days but I’m glad the conference was at least a light and happy moment in the midst of it all! Hang in there and know that we are all cheering for you to feel better and sending positive vibes your way for a speedy recovery. Thank you for being honest on your blog and not being fake with us (like other bloggers). It makes you that much more relatable (just like Joe and his pizza and oreo confessions). Hugs!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:32 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for your support Lidia! I’m right there with the rest of the world trying to be healthy and maintain my weight! Slowly learning it’s not too easy when life throws you lemons haha I’m determined to get through this! xo
Amar
August 28, 2012 at 10:16 am (12 years ago)Thank you for the post! It is always the case when it rains it pours. I am glad that you were able to see Joe. I am going to watch the movie/read the book he sounds inspirational. I have been making great green smoothies and one of the pictures you posed on Chef Jenny shows her using the supper food powder. I often use that to stay healthy. Keep up the blogging I really love following your adventures, trials, and tribulations!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:33 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for your support Amar! Chef Jenny said great things about the Super Food powder, I definitely need to give it a try! xo
Melani
August 28, 2012 at 10:41 am (12 years ago)I want to do a reboot too! I am waiting for my next paycheck to start…I would love to do one with you! I already went thru and printed up all the juices you did before! 🙂
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:35 pm (12 years ago)Hi Melani! A reboot may be in the near future! I am thinking about using only Joe’s “Mean Green” juice as it is much easier to buy the same ingredients in large quantities! Stay tuned! xo
Leanne
August 28, 2012 at 12:07 pm (12 years ago)Catherine,
You poor thing, you sure have been put through the ringer here lately. I totally can sympathize with you though as I had to do the glucose test when I was 8 months pregnant with my son, even though that was many years ago I still remember! I also feel your pain with the crutches as I had a bad wipe out skiing in Jan. I tore my ACL & MCL and couldn’t have surgery for 6 weeks because I had a bone bruise from the impact! So I was on those darn things pre & post op for about 2 1/2 months total with a giant leg brace. All I can say is it DOES get better! You will be okay very soon, just take it all one day at a time, and before you know it you will be back to your old self again. Trust me I’m gettin there, It’s been 5 1/2 months from surgery and I can now walk & do spin class & all of my PT exercises! XO
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:38 pm (12 years ago)Ohhh my gosh Leanne, that sounds so painful! ACL & MCL surgeries and rehab seem so painful 🙁 I’m so happy you are back to your normal routine post surgery, that’s fantastic! Thank you so much for your support! xo
Katerina Ortakova
August 28, 2012 at 1:21 pm (12 years ago)Shame! That’s doesn’t sound fun at all!
I can totally relate to your blood work. I had the same thing done a few months back and I had to travel afterwards and was worried they would single me out as a drug addict at the border, I had so many pricks in my arms.
On a lighter note, I know you don’t focus on or count calories but I couldn’t find anything on the Reboot website so I was wondering if you or anyone else could answer my question. Drinking 6 juices a day can add up a lot of calories and since not everyone is the same size, while one person may lose weight, it might be too much for someone smaller.
Should I be concerned about taking in more calories and sugar than necessary for my size (I’m only 5’1” and weigh 124lbs)? I’d like the benefits of juicing but would be very discouraged if I gained weight.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:42 pm (12 years ago)Hi Katerina! Yikes so sorry you had to go through the same blood work/pricking! Not fun! As for juicing, I have not seen a lot of information on calories, but in Joe’s speech he talked about how calories in vs. calories out are still important in order to lose weight. I think it would be a good idea to calcuate roughly how many calories your juices are to make sure you are on track. His book suggests 4 juices per day that are each 16oz.
Jessica Fletcher
August 28, 2012 at 2:19 pm (12 years ago)Hang in there, girl! You’re right. When it rains it pours! That just means you’re due for plenty of sun-shiney days soon. 🙂 I stumbled across Joe’s movie “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” on Hulu about six months ago. He’s the one who inspired me to buy a juicer! Thanks for sharing details from his speaking engagement. Love your blog! Get well soon!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:43 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much Jessica! xo
Janessa
August 29, 2012 at 9:52 am (12 years ago)First off: I love your blog! Thank you for all your inspirational posts. Having a blog myself it is inspiring to read your unique, original posts.
Secondly: aren’t thyroid issues the absolute pitts?!? I have struggled wih my thyroid for 11 years now and it still gets out of control. It is incredible how your thyroid can effect so many different parts of you body, weight issues, self esteem, depression to name a few. I just recently switched doctors because I was not satisfied with just “living” wih the issues of how much mine fluctuated. My new doctor diagnosed me with Hashimotos’s disease (not as scary as it sounds) and it completely explained what has been going on over the years. I switched thyroid medications and started including more iodine in my daily meals and am starting to feel like a new person.
Good luck with your thyroid journey and I hope they get it all under control! I fell your pain!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:44 pm (12 years ago)Thank you so much for your support Janessa! I really appreciate it 🙂 Wow it sounds like you have really been on a roller coaster with your thyroid diagnosis and treatment! I hope that everything is working out for you! xo
Mary
August 29, 2012 at 2:14 pm (12 years ago)Hi, just wanted to say that I’m glad you are posting about all the health issues you are having, frustrating as they are. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance, and I knew NOTHING about these syndromes when I was first diagnosed. The last year or so has been very frustrating for me; trying to learn about all of it. It’s refreshing to know that I’m not the only 20-something girl out there who is dealing with this! I go to take a 5 hour glucose tolerance test next week, I’m so glad you posted about yours b/c now i know what to expect! Thanks!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:46 pm (12 years ago)Hi Mary! Thank you so much for your support! I totally agree with you, I am so happy to know that there are other girls who are dealing with similar health issues. Good luck with your glucose tolerance test! bring your computer to keep you busy in-between draws! I’ll be sending good vibes your way 🙂
Jessica
August 29, 2012 at 4:47 pm (12 years ago)Catherine I just have to say I am huge fan of your blog and just you in general. You are beautiful and charming and really do help inspire so many others. Thank you for sharing your struggles, I want to reach out and give you a hug because you seem to be struggling with many different issues at once (when it rains it certainly pours). You are not alone in the struggles you face. I wish you only good health but it is also such a relief to know you deal with weight gain and stress or depression just like anyone else! Keep your head up! PS: So cool that you met Joe Cross, Fat, Sick, and Nearly dead is one of my favorite documentaries! I would be interested in attempting a Reboot!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:49 pm (12 years ago)Hi jessica! Thank you so much for your support! It can be really hard to post these types of things for the world to see and read, but it makes me so happy knowing that I am helping others who are dealing with similar issues. Although it looks like I have weight loss figured out to a T, life isn’t perfect and sometimes speed bumps get in the way. It’s not always fun but we can get through it! I’m just life everyone else trying to live a healthy happy life 🙂 xo
ruthsgleanings
August 29, 2012 at 5:21 pm (12 years ago)Catherine,
My good friend Hannah was just diagnosed with PCOS this summer, and she’s found some symptom relief following the advice of Katie Humphrey, who has a nutrition-based focus on treating PCOS symptoms. If you do wind up having PCOS, please check out her advice. I think you’ll find that, by following your Rabbit Food Pyramid (which her diet recommendations are very friendly to) and by adding a few of her PCOS-relieving food recommendations, you might feel a little better! Her site: http://www.freedomfrompcos.com/
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:51 pm (12 years ago)Hi Ruthsgleanings! Thank you so much for the information! I have heard that diet can be a big part of treatment for PCOS. I am very anxious to hear my results when my lab work is in. If there is a PCOS diagnosis, I am expecting some huge dietary changes, but for now all I can do is wait… and blog! xo
Liz
August 29, 2012 at 8:37 pm (12 years ago)Hi Catherine, I enjoy reading your blog and trying your recipes. I have just started following your page via Google Reader, so I apologize if I have missed whether this topic has come up before or not…but my husband and I “went paleo” a few months ago and are finding that a lot of our daily ailments (allergies, aches and pains, fatigue, bloating, etc) have all but disappeared. I was the one with horrible seasonal allergies (my reaction to mosquito bites has proven to be unaffected by anything at all, unfortunately), taking two or three doses of meds per day to control sneezing and itching etc. We, however, were relatively healthy individuals prior to changing to our Primal lifestyle. I have noticed on all of the blogs we follow, including Rob Wolf, Mark Sisson, The Paleo Mom, and Paleo Parenting, that they and their readers have countless anecdotes of how their cholesterol/autoimmune/overweight/thyroid/you-name-it health problems drastically improved by adopting a paleo/Primal diet. I understand you are pretty much a vegetarian except for some exceptions when you eat out, but am curious to know, have you ever tried cutting our grains and unfermented dairy to see how your various health conditions react? Legumes have tended to be a big culprit in a lot of what we’ve read as well, but some are able to re-introduce them later on…
I am in no way wanting to criticize or offend you or anyone who follows you – after all, I enjoy reading and trying your recipes (we just made kale chips tonight, and UM AMAZING!) – I just was interested to know whether you’ve ever tried gluten/dairy-free/paleo-type diet modifications to try to control some of your health issues. We really like MarksDailyApple.com because Mark Sisson is great about including links to really good scientific studies and resources to further read up on topics he covers. Furthermore, there are plenty of vegetarian paleo followers that I’ve heard about on Rob Wolf’s podcast, so it is do-able if you’re really against red meat and stuff. Then again, there are a lot of anecdotes and resources that were previously vegetarian and had a lot of health problems prior to trying paleo.
Anyway, keep up the good work here on RFFMBT and I am interested to find out if your doctors are able to come up with something that really helps!
Catherine
August 29, 2012 at 11:55 pm (12 years ago)Hi Liz! Thank you so much for your support, I am so happy that you found my blog! I have not tried an elimination diet, but depending on what is going on with my thyroid, or if there is a diagnosis of PCOS, I am expecting some huge dietary changes. I am not opposed to eating completely differently if it will make me feel better and healthier in the end. For now all I can do is wait for my lab results. I’ll keep everyone posted on everything! Health & Happiness xo
Kimi
August 30, 2012 at 1:22 pm (12 years ago)Ha weird timing with this post. I watched the documentary last year but was on his site looking for the green recipe, but it was just easier to go to yours to find a few of them and you had this post up! Perfect! 😀
Catherine
August 30, 2012 at 4:08 pm (12 years ago)Hahaha that really is perfect timing!
Katherine
September 4, 2012 at 6:51 pm (12 years ago)Hi Catherine!
Like many of your other readers, I too have gone through the sometimes debilitating and often annoying journey that is thyroid disease. I feel your pain! It can be so frustrating because the symptoms of both hyper and hypo can be quite similar, and you have a new disease that they are throwing in to the mix, yuck. Anyway, to the point of my note….about a year ago I had a similar experience with my hypo thyroidism. I was exhausted, suffering horrible mood swings and to top it all of I had put on about 35lbs, ouch. Come to find out, after a gazillion blood tests and such, my cortisol levels had been severely elevated because of stress. It was my senior year of University and between family issues and work issues I was feeling the pressure. I had to force myself to buckle down and focus on relaxing and not stressing about the things I couldn’t change (impossible task for most ladies, me being a prime example). Moral of the story is that you aren’t alone and you’ve obviously got loads of people supporting you! Find a great endocrinologist that you trust and be your own best advocate. Good Luck Chica you truly are a beautiful inspiration!!