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Celebration!

Posted on by nlchronicles

I finally reached goal! (Now on to how to keep it off but that’s a blog for another day) that’s a total of 71 pounds, beginning August 2018! I’ll post my update pic below from 70 pounds when I was pushing for that ONE pound.

One pound to go

Side note: at my highest weight ever in life, I never actually weighed myself but based on my clothing size, pictures and the weight I was when I finally weighed myself, I’ve released about 100 pounds total. My highest was about 12 years or so ago.

I’m in a couple of fitness groups on Facebook and the women (sorry, guys) in the group mentioned how they planned to celebrate reaching their goal. I had never considered it but decided that was a great idea. This is probably the most consistent I’ve been with anything ever and I wanted to mark the occasion with something that I would remember. So after contemplating many options, I decided to buy a piece of jewelry with a ruby gemstone. Among many things, a ruby signifies health, wealth and wisdom which all played a role in this journey. I NEVER buy jewelry so every time I see this, I’ll be reminded of the grace given to accomplish this goal.

Celebration jewelry

I have not set any new goals yet but I hope to focus more on mental and emotional health- baby steps. Share any celebrations that you’ve had recently! 🥂 until next time…

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Conferencing

Posted on by nlchronicles

As I mentioned previously, I work with a nutritionist to manage PCOS. And it’s worked wonders. I’ve even been asked to speak on a panel for an upcoming conference about pcos in January that’s being held in California. (I hope I can get off work then!) Hopefully, my statement can inspire you or someone you know who manages hormone related challenges; positive change IS possible. It takes real commitment and a different level of effort (lots of tweaking to find out what is best for me), but I’m so glad to know that it’s even possible.

See, for so long, I thought I was just doomed to be on birth control pills forever as prescribed by physicians; I even had a pcos “specialist” tell me that my best course of action was to just remain on the pill forever! WTH!!! I knew that I had to find a better solution that reduced the need for medication- that takes a toll on your body because we aren’t meant to ingest such things for a long time. Western medicine has perfected the art of acute care but this doesn’t translate over to managing long term health challenges or improving their condition. Keep searching, doing the research and challenging the system so that alternative solutions might be covered by insurance.

The excerpt below is my statement for the conference:

🥂 to your good health! Until next time …

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Plateau

Posted on by nlchronicles

So I haven’t written in a bit- my work travel schedule has been INSANE lately. And that kinda leads to today’s blog- the dreaded plateau!

Schools are back in session and field teams are having lots of meetings so my travel has skyrocketed since Labor Day. This poses a challenge to eating properly, getting enough rest, exercising – you know, all the stuff that I did to have these results! I don’t want all the hard work to be for nothing.

I’ve been hovering around the same weight, within 2 pounds, for about 5 weeks. Tempting foods are everywhere and because I lean so heavily to Paleo, it can be a challenge to eat at the meetings that I attend which tend to have sandwiches. I am thankful that I haven’t GAINED weight 👏🏽👏🏽. So I’m trying to devise better strategies for road health. Here are some that I’m trying:

– no flights before 11 am, when possible. This allows me to get enough sleep and stay on a more consistent schedule. And no flights that arrive after 9 pm for the same reason; this one is a little tricker but still a goal to shoot for

– book hotels near the meeting site to stay with a decent sleep schedule and minimize anxiety for rushing in the morning

– find a hotel that has a restaurant on site for breakfast or has room service. Don’t knock the convenience of room service. In past travel jobs, I would miss breakfast every morning until I started using room service to ensure that I made time for it

– stay near Whole Foods Market or similar healthy food options. 💜 Whole Foods hot bar and other food options. It’s rare that I don’t find something that I like when I grab a bite and if the hotel has a fridge and microwave/stove, then I get enough for two meals so I don’t have to guess again later. This is today’s Whole Foods that I Uber-ed to

– stay at a hotel with a gym or pool and MAKE time to do it. I actually did that today 🤩. It’s not the most extensive gym but I did both the elliptical machine and the treadmill just to stay on target for 3 workouts a week, improve digestion and increase movement for the day

What about you? What tips or techniques do you use when traveling to continue to work toward your goals? Even if the above mentioned don’t get me to my target weight (6 more pounds to go), I’m at positioning myself for overall improvements. 🥂 until next time …

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Throwback Thursday

Posted on by nlchronicles

The picture on the left was probably near or at my highest weight ever, in the vicinity of 270/275 pounds. That was at a family reunion in 2007. The picture on the right was July of this year, about 90 pounds lighter. So glad I found something that works for me and you can too!!

Good Thursday to you!

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Progress Report

Posted on by nlchronicles

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 …🥂

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Trying the chiropractor

Posted on by nlchronicles

My road to the chiropractor is not the same as my choice of acupuncture. I’ve been in three accidents since getting my license- the first, not long after I got my license when a woman ran the light; the second was about 8 years ago after a new light was installed on the block and the driver didn’t pay attention to the red light, rear ending and totaling my car; the third was about 4 years ago on the interstate when a driver rear ended my car. Thankfully none were my fault! But their impact has consequences.

I learned from my chiropractor that since today’s cars are not as heavy as say the American boxy cars of the 80s, then they don’t offer as much protection in accidents. Basically, our bodies absorb more of the shock now than when heavier cars ruled the roads. What does that mean for us drivers? Body pains and problems that can have a lasting impact. None of my accidents required medical attention at all- well until YEARS later and I decided to see what was wrong.

See I noticed that I started having limited range of motion in my neck sometime last year (2018). And at Christmas that year, it was really noticeable, kind of like sleeping in the wrong position and I couldn’t work out the kinks. After doing some research, I decided to try a chiropractor. She sent me out for xrays and we reviewed the results upon my next visit. I had not revealed that I had been in car accidents before but the doc looked at me and said- you were in a car accident 5 to 10 years ago and this is how I can tell. I was floored because the 2nd accident was by far the worst of the three. It was during this conversation that I also discovered that I had arthritis in the neck area and two discs with early signs of degeneration. I thought that this couldn’t be happening to me, I’m only 42!

But the proof was there and since I’m done waiting for things to magically happen, I decided to try the services of the chiropractor. I’ll be honest- the first adjustment was ROUGH. My back and neck were so tight that doing just a manual adjustment was out of the question at that time. The doc used an assisted device to perform the adjustments which I could handle a lot better. And I also hop on the roller bed for 10 minutes before or after the adjustment. The roller bed is the. Best. Ever! I also roll a hand towel under my neck twice a day to get the neck to realign and set properly.

And it’s still a challenge. If I eat the wrong thing or too much of a just ok food, then my neck can get really stiff again. I had a migraine a couple of weeks ago and that caused such inflammation in the neck area! So it’s more than just the physical adjustments; it’s important to get to the source of what is aggravating the area and causing stiffness and potential pain. Would I recommend trying the chiropractor to others? Yes I would with the caveat that it’s not an overnight process. It’s a whole body process to get you into alignment while addressing what caused the issues in the first place. And that works for me.

I included a comparison picture from Christmas 2018 to June 1 this year. The pictures on the right are from last year and the pic on the left is from 2019- can you tell the difference? I’m happy things are progressing well and I really hope continued chiropractic care works well.

Share you story about trying a chiropractor. Until next time…

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The present

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Where things stand now- so after all of the drama of just trying to get a diagnosis, it seemed like I got worse and worse, especially due to stress. Not only was I diagnosed with PCOS, I was later informed that I have osteoarthritis in BOTH knees so I did physical therapy for it twice. Herein lies the issue- I was successful with physical therapy both times but since PCOS is associated with low grade inflammation, the physical therapy is pointless until the initial inflammation is dealt with. So, I started looking for other solutions and came across the Insulite system. Now, I’m not here to sell anyone anything. But the results these women were getting was amazing so I signed up for the newsletter and joined one of the Facebook groups.

But, not having the money to try the supplements and not making the sacrifice to at least try them for 3 months, all I did was follow the newsletter and FB group. I could, however, afford the book 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS and pored over it. And I started trying smaller quantity supplements mentioned multiple times in the book. And I started having some results along with beginning keto in August of 2018. Keto is a bit too harsh for me as I respond well to veggies and most fruit so after getting sick from it, I started paleo in November and have done well since. I switched jobs and was then able to afford the Insulite supplements. I even started the one-on-one coaching with the nutritionist of the program so that I could get supplements that are best for me.

During that time, the weather turned really cold very quickly and that just threw my knees off so much that I started using a cane. I also started having super limited range of motion in my neck. Using the supplements and really honing on my eating habits to remove foods that cause pain really started helping. In all of this, I found that only I can take charge of my health. Waiting for a doctor to point me in the right direction was no longer an option. I started acupuncture to help with knee pain so that I could wean off NSAIDs. I then started seeing a chiropractor to work on the neck stiffness. My doc would like me to see a physical therapist about the neck but I’m moving really soon so I’ll wait until after the move. My goal is to work out 3 times per week, minimum- 1 day at the gym; 1 day doing yoga, especially for neck and shoulders; and 1 day walking, though I tend to walk more than the other two types. I have released about 54 pounds since August and hope to lose about another 15 to reach goal. Walking is better and while I carry the cane as I walk, I no longer have to use it every time I move. I even rode a bike outdoors while on vacation!

This experience has shown me how to push for self-care and to look past traditional remedies that are not working, keeping in mind that “alternative” therapies may be what work best for me. If you are in a similar situation in which you took charge of your health and found the best path for you, share your story. I’d love to hear from you! Until next time 🥂

*Note: left picture is from one of my “higher” weights in 2016; the right picture is from June 2019- a difference of 50 pounds

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Emotions

Posted on by nlchronicles

Writing about emotional health is probably the hardest for me to write. Emotional health has definitely been on the back burner for a while. It’s easy to be buried in busyness- work, family, friends, commitments- and so emotional health gets neglected. 🙋🏽‍♀️ does that describe you too?

So I buried myself in work, which was easy because the majority of my jobs have involved some level of travel. It’s harder to form relationships and build anything when you’re always gone. In one job, I would be away from home all month, come in for the last weekend and then repeat the next. Crazy, right? And for a time, that’s great- I went to many places that I would never have visited; I was even sent to Brazil for a week for my job. Who wouldn’t love that?! But in all this travel, connections suffer and are harder to maintain.

Instead, I just didn’t deal with emotional health. I put time and effort into other aspects of life but didn’t properly process issues, feelings or concerns that would come up for me. Ignoring it just doesn’t make something go away. What I learned what it grows bigger because it was never dealt with.

And that’s what I’ve been trying to do as my level of travel has decreased. It’s not always comfortable and takes time to not fall back into default thinking leading to an emotional misadventure- at some point, I wanted to get off out of that loop. So cheers 🥂 to emotional wellness. Until next time!

(The pic is from the trip to Brazil)

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Outdoors and MH

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I love being outdoors. Well let me clarify- I love being outdoors when the sun is shining and the weather is warm or hot. I find that MH (mental health) for me is better when I do. And when mental health is great, then physical and emotional health seem to flow from that. But it took a long time for me to figure that out. And even that was a challenge.

I currently live in a northern part of the United States where it can get cold with short sun light days and snow – not the greatest combo for this Leo! So I head to the gym but that’s not a favorite combo; fluorescent lights versus sunshine. That’s a no brainer. So I read that SAD lights can help by emitting light the emulates the sun and I started using that last fall. And it makes a HUGE difference. But I found that out by doing lots of reading, not because a doctor recommended it to me.

No, my doc recommended what I call “happy pills” to deal with anxiety and being super anxious rather than helping me find out the why- why am I dealing with anxiety? Where did it come from? How long have I been dealing with it? In all my searching, I found that being outdoors works for me, helping to reduce anxiety. I know now that anxiety is a byproduct of PCOS as is depression but so many don’t know they have a hormonal disorder and so many more don’t recognize they’re struggling mentally. And nature is healing. It’s the freest therapy that I can have, leading to my decision to move further south and take advantage of an environment that better suits me.

If there are things in your life inhibiting your mental health, please research, seek help, whatever it takes. And if something doesn’t seem right, keep searching.

Quick note: I started writing this blog post and had to take a break. Before beginning again, I saw a very similar commentary by a Canadian nutritionist that I follow on Instagram. I say that to say- the struggle is real but so are the solutions! If being outdoors is not your thing, then seek the thing that will contribute to mental wellness. Last, I have included pictures from some of my outdoor excursions that I’ve had over the last month. The change in scenery is always refreshing. Until next time!

bike riding in Celebration, Florida
at Clearwater Beach, Florida
Quarry Lake walking trail, Baltimore, MD
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Backtrack- what is PCOS?

Posted on by nlchronicles
from the group MyPCOSteam

Most don’t know or have never heard of PCOS. It stands for PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome. It is a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.  The 3 hallmarks of PCOS are irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgens and polycystic ovaries.* Technically, to be diagnosed, you need two of three. And i have all 3! (Well had but more about that later). The picture above includes some of the side effects of PCOS that women deal with. Docs don’t know the cause of it but believe there is a genetic link. All I know that it’s no picnic!
*source: webmd.com

And unfortunately, many women don’t know they have classic or a slight version of PCOS. There’s no test that just says hey- you have this. It’s more of a diagnosis thrown at you when all other ones have been discounted. And it’s not the only hormonal balance disorder- there’s Hashimoto’s that is really big for women, especially after they have kids. There are automimmune issues that women deal with like rheumatoid arthritis- a former co-worker dealt with this and wow it’s no joke; she was in pain all the time. So, let’s talk about moving toward optimal health in all areas.

Do you know someone who manages PCOS, another hormonal balance disorder or other health complication? I invite you to share your story and know you’re not alone. Until next time!