The Fitness Diaries, Resumed

In June 2016, I was at my highest weight (when not pregnant) ever. I weighed 150 pounds. For reference, I'm 5'2" with shoes on, and this put my BMI at 27.4 (firmly overweight). I felt awful, had no energy, and didn't want to continue gaining weight. My IBS was rampant and I just felt helpless. That was how my life was. I felt like I had to try something. So I started counting calories and doing what had "worked" before. What I had done in 2013, and 2014, and then got pregnant and stopped doing.

In one year, I had lost 6 pounds. SIX. And I still had no energy, terrible IBS (like, as in I had no idea what foods would trigger sudden bouts of diarrhea, I was taking immodium several times a week). My skin was a mess and I was battling breakouts.

I started my Arbonne business in May 2017, and didn't really think about the nutrition side until about June. I started doing hormonally balanced protein shakes for breakfast (instead of cereal) and taking Digestion Plus. I did some research and cut out dairy, and suddenly not only was my skin clearer for the first time in YEARS, but I actually only needed immodium once every week or so. With those small changes, and some occasional exercise, I lost 3 pounds in just over 2 months. Not a lot, I know, but that's HALF of what I'd lost in the entire preceding year.

October 2017

In October of 2017, I bit the bullet and actually did the entire Arbonne 30 days to Healthy Living. I cut (in addition to the dairy that I'd already cut out) gluten, soy, corn, sugar, alcohol, and coffee. I stayed 100% committed. And that month, I lost two pounds. Slowly, but more rapidly than I'd been losing weight before. Most importantly, this actually helped me discover that gluten is a trigger for my IBS (and I did have blood tests done to rule out Celiac, given family history).

January 2018

I have continued to be gluten and dairy free in my diet, and have done the 30 days to Healthy Living several more times over the last year. I also added more regular exercise, specifically with Beach Body (I have a couple good friends who are coaches, and I love the variety of available workouts), and also working to close my diastasis recti (which will be its own post).

February 2018

As of today, October 25, 2018, I have lost 25 pounds since I began this journey. In the last year, I have lost 15 of those pounds. My stomach is no longer bloated, and I can actually feel good and not squished in my clothing. I feel healthy and amazing. (picture to come, I just need to actually take one, haha).

I'm mentally getting back to the point where I can start blogging again. I will probably discuss some of the reasons for my long hiatus at some point, but I don't know what the future holds.

Grief, in Retrospect: It Pours On, or RIP Beagle Butt

This post has been a long time coming, mostly because it's been too raw to sit down and write.

On October 11, 2015, we said goodbye to MacGyver. He was struggling again, as bad as before. It sucked a lot but C and I decided that we couldn't make him suffer any longer. We had really, really hoped we'd have him for more time, but it turned out that we only gained 10 days. I spoiled the crap out of him those 10 days, lots of snuggles and treats and love, but I was not ready to say goodbye.



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Looking at this, now... 2 1/2 years later.. still sad. Still deeply, achingly sad. But there's life beyond sadness. The dandelions are blooming again this spring, and we sigh and remember how MacGyver used to eat them like it was his job. He would get so annoyed that there were still so many to eat, so he'd take breaks and then go graze some more. He was a little asshole, but he was our little asshole and we loved him. The girls have stuffies that are beagles, and they are all named MacGyver. Even Little Cat C, who I don't think remembers him. Sadness is nostalgic now, but just part of life.