Progress Report

I’ve “grown” to the point that I only get on the scale twice per month and sometimes less 😲 shocking, right?

I’ve been on a mission to improve health for awhile and, thankfully, finally found a way of life that works well for me. Starting with keto, switching over to paleo as dairy is a no-no for me and discovering food sensitivities and foods that cause pain have been the key. My nutritionist mentioned an app called “Oox” and it’s been key in avoiding foods high in oxylates. Long story short- with the joint pain that I manage, oxylates can make it SO much worse. Then she recommended that I avoid nightshade vegetables. I had suspected an issue with some peppers and I noticed a bit of pain with potatoes. The one that I shed a tear about was tomato; I 💛 salsa. But I had to decide whether I loved salsa enough to stay in pain. Bye bye salsa.

So here I am one year after really buckling down to get to the root of the problem. Do I know why there’s chronic low grade inflammation? Yes and no- PCOS is known for its inflammation. But how did the PCOS begin in the first place? 🤷🏽‍♀️that’s any one’s guess.

*drum roll*** 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

The pic that I’m sharing below is a comparison between my birthday in August last year and my birthday this year. The difference is 60 pounds!! I surpassed my year 2019 goal of getting below 200 pounds during the spring so I revised the goal to lose a total of 75 pounds. And I’m about 15 pounds from the new goal.

Is it all about the weight? No. But- excess weight holds excess estrogen which compounds problems with PCOS. Excess weight equals excess joint pressure. For every one pound of weight that I lost, I lost 4 POUNDS of pressure on the knees, which is amazing! My digestion is better and still healing. My skin looks better and my sleep has improved. My mood swings are less frequent and I don’t feel like I need a nap every afternoon. I’m back in the gym and using the elliptical machine which is huge for me. In the past, my knee would hurt so much that I couldn’t push the pedals forward. And I’ve started walking more without using the cane.

Little changes really do add up. I am still a work in progress but I no longer think that being healthier is impossible. One of the things that I’ve learned is to believe that change is possible and that it’s possible for me. And I’m believing that for you too, in any area that may need change. If you know someone who manages PCOS, arthritis, excess weight, please share my story with them. Or share your story and let’s chat! Until next time …🥂