One week down and a lifetime to go.....

I think I've decided to stop "measuring" life.  It seems like every endeavor I attempt has to be a "challenge".  Why should I check off each day that I am "one day closer to finishing my antibiotics" or "anther day down with no drinking of wine", or "another day not eating meat"....I am starting to ask myself why?  Each day should be an adventure, not a challenge.  I am starting to tweak the way I think about and go about living each day.  Just being and making better choices each day.


My cleansing is going well.  I don't feel any great difference and no major bowel changes have taken place.  I joke each night with my family that it's time for me to drink my "sludge".  It's exactly what it looks like and tastes like.   Not very pleasant but it's an important step in my treatment.  At times I get a bit overwhelmed with all the pills, sprays and such I have to take each day.  I even made up an excel spreadsheet to keep myself organized and on track.  My great fear is that at the end of my 3 month antibiotic regime, I will still test positive for Lyme.  I will deal with that when the time comes......for now, positive thoughts and hopes that I can get a fitness routine going.

Oh Happy Day!

30 day cleanse here I come...

Yesterday started my 30 day colon cleanse as prescribed as my next step in treatment.  For the next month, I will be taking a digestive stimulant at dinnertime with a cleansing powder mixture that reminds me of green sludge just before bed.  I mix it with apple juice but it's still pretty nastey stuff.  This is supposed to help me rid all the stuff the antibiotics are killing off.  Plus it will help me repair my poor liver.  It's been on overdrive the last few years.

The next few weeks will be tough.  My plan is to not have any alcohol while I am cleansing.  Good luck to me.

When life gives you lemons.......

Life is an amazing journey.  The first step is to trust that where ever your road takes you, that is the place you were meant to be.  I was determined to re-start my journey several months ago but the road I am traveling on had different ideas.

Let me explain.....  this past year has been a rollercoaster ride.  Our daughter had major surgery, two actually, at the beginning of the summer.  The stress of that event has sent my body into a tailspin.  After many years of not feeling myself, exhausted, stressed, achy, gaining 20 pounds, feeling just really negative about everything, I decided to see a homepathic doctor.  After having my GP tell me that I have been feeling depressed, prescribing an antidepressant (which made me feel even worse) and recommending that I should go to Weight Watchers to lose 25 pounds, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I found a wonderful doc, I will call him my Angel, who listened to me, actually listened to my concerns, my feelings and my symptoms.  After blood, uring and saliva testing, I was finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease, on top of my adrenal system being pretty much shut down.

Now my focus isn't just to lose weight, which I haven't successfully done in a long time, but to battle Lyme Disease.  I have now been on a very high dose of antibiotics for just over 2 months (which made me sick each morning).  We are hoping that at the end of 3 months, I will be Lyme free.....we shall see.  I have been focused and determined with the help of my angel, to bring my body and spirit back to health and wellness.  Here's my game plan:

1.  Continue antibiotics til November 10 (3 months)

2.  Continue to take Cat's Claw (AM and PM) to help boost my immune system

3.  Continue to take a high dose probiotic (AM and PM)  This I believe has helped with me not getting Colitus.

4.  Continue with my adrenal/neurotransmitter medication.  I can't believe how much better I have been feeling emotionally with this course of treatment.  I am in phase 2 and am starting to feel like the old me again.

5.  Start my colon cleansing this weekend.  This will help my body rid itself of what the antibiotics are killing off. 

6.  Continue to reduce the amount of meat that I eat, substituing organic meats where I can.

7.  Continue to add fresh vegetables and fruits to my diet.

8.  Try to start an exercise routine, even if that just means a daily walk.

9.  Stretch each morning and start the day with a positive outlook.

10.  Be happy.

So there it is.....for now.

Week 2 and I'm on my way

As I'm sitting and drinking my coffee, attempting to write something, I am noticing that it is starting to become lighter earlier.  This is a sure sign that spring is almost here.  I am really looking forward to warmer days.

I am in week 2 of my new journey.  I have been eating very well, sticking to my Phase 1 plan of South Beach.  I feel quite good, fairly tired at night but have been trying to get to bed nice and early each day.  I am down 10 pounds from my heaviest weight with 20 pounds to go.  I am hoping by July I will be happy with how I look in a bathing suit.  My goal is to buy some kick ass jeans when I drop all the weight.

Off to face my day with an optomistic smile on my face.

Think Spring

It's almost March and we are shoveling out from a snow that fell overnight.  It's hard to think that spring is just around the corner.  With Spring brings warmth, hope and change.  The change of season will bring a change in my habits in both eating and moving my body.  I have always been fairly health conscious.  I have always maintained my weight, even through 2 pregnancies.  For some reason, after I hit my mid 40's, I have been gaining weight and becoming unmotivated to do anything about it.  It's been very difficult to stay with any eating or exercise program that I start.

With all that said, today is a new day.  With this blog, I will begin my journey with a positive attitude and re-newed enthusiasm.  Getting back to eating the "South Beach" way will be my focus.  Trying to become a runner will be my vehicle for toning up and losing inches.  We'll see how this goes.