Fit Point: Supplements

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This week's Fit Point has had me pondering since Monday...

Supplements
With so many vitamins, proteins, fat burners and more on the market, there is often a lot of uncertainty over what the best combination is for your personal activity levels. What supplements do you use, and what are the benefits of each? Do you think supplements are necessary? If you have used various brands or types, what has worked best for you, and why? Where did you find the best supplement advice?

I've never been much of a supplement person. I don't like taking Tylenol when I have a headache or DayQuil when I have a cold -- I'm the kind of person who avoids pills of any kind like the plague.  When I'm sick, I try to let my body fight it off on its own, or turn to natural remedies (example: warm tea for a sore throat).  If my body needs a particular nutrient, I'd rather provide that by adjusting my diet.

My aversion has become especially pronounced since 2008.  I decided to try the Alli weight loss system, which essentially prevents your body from absorbing the fats that you consume.  Instead, the fat (literally) zips right through you.  I realize that a weight loss medication is different from a supplement, but I didn't do well with the Alli pills.  It was disgusting, to say the least, and probably unhealthy.  I decided then and there to prevent putting additives into my body at all costs.

A couple of months ago, I decided to try a Green Tea supplement, which I had heard boosts the metabolism and supports overall wellness.  However, I can't give much of an opinion on this.  I stopped taking the supplement after only a week or so, when I was diagnosed with celiac disease.  At this point, I've been focused on regaining my health rather than boosting my metabolism.

With that said, I am taking two other "supplements" of sorts that are meant to help my body heal from the damage that the gluten has caused my body.  First, I take Floragen-3, which is a probiotic.  As my doctor explained, all of the gastrointestinal problems I've been dealing with have essentially wiped the "good" bacteria out of my body.  The Floragen-3, taken once per day, is helping to restore and maintain what I lost.  Once my GI symptoms fully resolve, I shouldn't need the probiotic anymore -- although I might give Activia a try, just for the hell of it.

Finally, I have started choking down a gluten-free daily multi-vitamin (which was expensive like whoa).  My GI tract is damaged as a result of the celiac disease, which means that (until it heals) I'm not able to fully digest and absorb the nutrients from the food I eat.  The multi-vitamin helps by providing what my body is unable to get from my food; and actually, I've noticed a huge difference now that I'm not malnourished anymore!

Murphy's Law

Lose five pounds -- gain a stretch mark.

Sabotage

I have a confession to make.

This is so bad.

I have been eating gluten.

Not a lot -- not enough to make me feel sick immediately after eating -- but enough.  Even a trace of gluten is too much for a celiac.

I don't know what my major malfunction is on this one.  I know I shouldn't be nibbling on my daughter's french fries, I know I need to avoid the mini breadsticks from the pizza parlor, I know better than to grab a croissant from the gas station on my way to work.  I can definitely tell the difference in how I feel.  In other words, I've felt like crap the past couple of days, and I know it's because I've been giving myself permission to slowly poison myself.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

The problem is, I can't seem to stop.  One little french fry seems so harmless... even when it turns into two, three, or even ten.  But continue that gluten consumption over the next few days, and it becomes too much.  Way too much.

Part of my problem is, I haven't found the "good" gluten-free products yet.  Most of the gluten-free options I've sampled taste plain nasty, if they have any flavor at all.  And because gluten is the "glue" that holds many foods together, when it's removed from the recipe, the dish just turns out wrong.

Another barrier is that I don't have any celiac or gluten intolerant connections.  I don't have anyone to talk to who relates to and understands what it feels like to have celiac disease; to be told that you can never, ever eat gluten again.  (I'm a super big baby on this point, because food as always been like a comfort blanket to me.  A bad day could easily be remedied by a nice, comforting bowl of Noodles & Co. Wisconsin Mac and Cheese.  Now, I can't turn to my old comforts anymore -- and it's making my anxiety level skyrocket!)

The good (bad?) news is, I feel completely miserable now.  I feel like I did before I went gluten-free in the first place, which is pretty darn crappy.  I'm hoping that feeling miserable will be enough to remind me to eat healthily and to treat myself well.

Because I deserve it.

Celiac Lady

CELIAC LADY
By Aldo Kraas

I feel so sorry
For the celiac lady
That lives in the hotel
With her cat called
Frisky
I am sure that
The celiac lady loves her cat
And I know that the celiac lady
Can't eat everything
Because of her celiac disease

Healthy You Update #2

I've neglected my poor blog for a whole week! I have entries to write, comments to respond to, posts to read... and I haven't even finished my coffee yet.

So let me just start by admitting that no, I did not meet all of the goals that I set for myself last week. I re-discovered Diet Coke, which I accidentally-on-purpose kept filling up on, so the 70 ounces of water per day thing didn't really happen. The weight machine remains in pieces at the back of our closet, and while I'm not sure exactly how much aerobic exercise I squeezed in, I know it wasn't in the neighborhood of 90 minutes.

BUT (and as you will have noticed if you scoped out my "Weight Tracker" thingy), I DID meet my goal weight for the week! I was sitting at 191.1 lbs on Sunday, which is (a) the lowest weight I've seen in a good 6 months, and (b) means I'm almost to the 10 pounds lost mark!

I'm feeling pretty good as I move into this week. Goals:

• Drink at least 70 ounces of water each day
• Walk for (at least) 30 minutes every day **
• Get husband to help me set up the weight machine
• Weight goal for next weigh-in:  189.0 lbs

Yes, most of the goals are the same as last week's.  "If at first you don't succeed," etc. and so on.

** As of Saturday, I have a pretty strong motivator for getting in those 30 minutes of walking each day!  Meet the new addition to our family, Piper!  She's a 14-month-old Parson Russell Terrier mix.  She's a tiny little thing; 11 pounds and essentially full-grown.  She's got the spirit of a much bigger dog, though, and is full of endless energy!

Piper has brought a lot of joy into our home already.  She's the perfect blend of active and loving, curious and assertive, hilarious and adorable.  She's spoiled rotten (and she knows it, too!)

Looking forward to a good, brisk walk-and-romp tonight with my daughter and our pup!

Here's to another great week -- cheers!

Fit Point: Alternative Diet

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Today's Fit Point is extremely relevant in my life!

Alternative Diet Options
This week’s Fit Point explores Alternative diet options: Many health conscious individuals may be Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free dieters or employ other alternatives to the normal dieting habits even semi-regularly, and we want to hear about them! What are the health benefits of the way you eat, and why did you decide to eat this way? What is your favorite recipe?

I considered myself to be a vegetarian on-and-off throughout middle and high school, but my dedication was never great and the commitment never lasted long.

Now, however, I'm in an entirely different boat.  I have celiac disease, which means that I must stick to a strictly gluten-free diet.  (Gluten is a protein that is found in grains, such as wheat, barley, and rye.  It acts as a toxin in my body, causing lower-intestine inflammation and a host of other problems).  So long as I avoid all gluten-containing foods and products, I'll be fine (once all traces of the protein leave my body).

So yes, there are a LOT of things that I can't have.  Most breads, pastas, and cereals contain wheat or gluten, sauces frequently contain gluten as a thickening agent, the glue on envelopes has gluten in it -- even certain medications and cosmetics contain gluten products!
The health benefit is clear, though -- I am forced to avoid a lot of junk foods.  Most fast food, candies, cheap chocolates, and snack foods are off-limits.  Losing weight and being healthy is going to be much easier with the removal of most of my biggest temptations!

Since my diagnosis, I have been eating a lot of salads.  I'm kind of a minimalist -- my favorite salad is made with fresh baby spinach, corn, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, a sprinkle of cheese, and a drizzle of low-fat dressing.  Yum -- I think I know what's for dinner tonight!

Healthy You Update #1

I am now officially recognized by the Healthy You Challenge! I'm new to the community aspect of blogging, but so far am enjoying myself. It's truly inspiring to read about other people's experiences and successes -- weight loss is difficult but possible, and it's nice to know that people are backing me on this (and that I can make a difference by supporting others, too!)

That said, this past week has been emotionally and physically challenging. It's been just over a week since I ate my last trace of gluten (accidentally), and with each day that passes, I'm feeling (physically) better. The disappointing factor is that I won't feel 100% normal until every last ounce of gluten has left my system -- and gluten is stored in fat cells, so as I continue to lose weight, gluten will be slowly released. It acts as a toxin or poison, so I can look forward to some icky days until I'm truly "clean." I've been under a lot of emotional strain, and my doctor has suggested that I try seeing a health psychologist, who could help me process my diagnosis. I'm open to this idea, but I'd like to come to terms with having celiac disease on my own first.

I gained weight at my weigh-in on Sunday, but less than half a pound. The gain may also be due to girly-related bloating. Out of curiosity, I stepped on the scale this morning and weighed in at 193.2 -- so at least we're heading in the right direction.

My goals for the week:

• Drink at least 70 ounces of water each day
• Go for (at least) a 15-minute walk each work day
• Get husband to help me set up the weight machine
• Accomplish (at least) 90 minutes of aerobic exercise
• Weight goal for next weigh-in:  191.5 lbs

I want my goals to be challenging but reasonable.  Baby steps.  These goals push my present routine, but shouldn't be too difficult.  I need to see change so that I can kick my excitement and motivation into high gear!

Have a great and successful week, everyone!

Thinspiration

I was looking through some old pictures of me that are tagged on Facebook, and came across this.  I'm pretty much floored.  Look at how thin I was!  That tank top is hanging off of me.  No sign of bye-bye arms, no double chin, and my self-confidence was through the roof.  This was around the time when I started realizing that I had a good body and was appealing.  This was only five years ago!

I think being fat creeps up on you.  It's hard to notice a few pounds here and there, until suddenly you see an old picture of yourself and then you feel completely disgusting.  How could I let myself go like this?

This picture "thinspires" me to really get going.  I haven't been giving this my all.  Since I've been eating gluten-free, the weight is slowly coming off on its own, so it's been hard to motivate myself to be active.  (Why bother when I'm still losing weight without the "busting my ass" part?)  It's time to kick this into high gear.  I don't want to sit around waiting for the Gluten-Free Gods to dissolve the fat for me... I'm taking matters into my own hands.

Here comes the Irony Train!  Yes, when this picture was taken, I was at my slimmest (adult) size ever -- but I wasn't healthy at all.  I was thin because I lived mostly on Diet Coke and cigarettes.  Who needs to eat when you're young and invincible?

Well this time, I'm doing it the right way.  I want to achieve total wellness -- body, mind, and soul.  I want to look good, but more importantly, I want to be healthy.  I want to eat a balanced diet and be mindful of the things I put in my body.  I want to have my ducks in a row, I want to know myself, I want to live with as little stress as possible.  I want to feel good about my life and my place in the world.

I know my goals are lofty, but they're also completely possible.  My game plan?  Baby steps -- making one positive change at a time until I'm where I want to be in life.

So cheers -- and here's to the real beginning!  Things are about to get good fast.

Fit Point: Beat the Heat

Heat advisories are popping up all over the state, because apparently it's going to be a million degrees in the shade today.  I treated myself to an iced frappuccino (340 succulent calories) because I deserve it, and because hot caffeinated beverages are unacceptable when it's this freaking hot outside.

Which is a great transition to today's Fit Point!

Beat the Heat
Do you let the heat get to you? Does it push you to sweat for the beach body of your dreams? How do you keep cool in the middle of a sweltering summer workout?

The heat does get to me.  A lot.  It always has, even when I wasn't chunky like I am now.  The thing is, I don't notice the heat so much when I'm working out -- it actually bothers me more when I'm sitting around (I get heat sick very easily).  But when I'm working out, I don't notice it as much.  I keep myself well-hydrated during (and after) exercise, and I work up an amazing sweat that helps to keep me cool.

I find exercise to be addicting, and once I can get myself motivated to do it (I'll be honest, it takes some effort to work up the gumption!) I'm all about beating my personal bests and pushing myself to do more.  Counting calories is only one component to successful weight loss, and exercising in and of itself motivates me to "keep going!" because I know I'm burning fat and kicking ass.

My biggest motivation is feeling better and being healthy.  Especially given my recent health issues, my body feels weak and disoriented.  Eating gluten-free is helping more than I thought it would, but exercise brings everything full-circle as I begin to heal and strengthen my body.  My second biggest motivation is re-claiming my body and re-gaining my sexiness.  I want an envy-worthy body, and the best part is, I know I'll get there eventually so long as I don't give up!

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PMS Monster

The office smells like buttery pancakes and syrup, and how the hell is that fair to those of us (which, admittedly, is a minority here) who are watching what we eat?  It's hard enough to stick to your guns when people aren't forcing delightful scents up your nostrils!  Well, you pancake-bringers are enablers, and you're not taking me with you (today), so ha!  I say "ha!" at you and your delicious, breakfast goodness!

(Actually, this is kind of like torture.  It's smelled sooo good in here since 7:30 a.m., and I've been fighting off cravings all morning).

I weighed in on Sunday.  Still 193.0 lbs., although I did hit 192.6 at some point during the week.  At least it's not a gain, but I've had very little appetite all week, so it's very disappointing to see the scale stall after a whole week of eating like a saint.  My biggest sin was snacking on a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie -- only 160 calories!

At this point, I'm pretty sure that all of my troubles can be accounted for by the dreaded PMS Monster:

• Little/no energy for "silly things like exercise"
• Bloating (hopefully 1-2 pounds' worth)
• Salt cravings (hello, salsa and corn chips!)
• Taking my irritability out on pancake-eating co-workers via a passive-aggressive blog
• Tearfulness (when I think about all of the amazing foods I can't eat anymore)
• Feeling important enough to post a blog about the PMS Monster

So my plan is to defeat this mini-success-plateau before it turns into a six-week-long-plateau-of-no-weight-change-that-makes-you-cranky-enough-that-you-binge-then-fall-off-the-wagon kind of deal.

Despite the humidity, I'm going for a walk on my 15-minute break this afternoon.  I shall return a sweaty triumph, and then I'll drink a ton of water, and it'll be amazing.  Maybe I'll even walk up the 8 flights of stairs to my cubie!  Hmm... that's a big maybe.  Or maybe I'll walk up 4 flights instead, and take the elevator the other half of the way.  Baby steps!

On the gluten-free front (for those of you who are playing along at home), I continue to learn as I go.  I accidentally "got glutened" on Friday night and spent most of the weekend wallowing in gassy, crampy agony on the couch.  I saw my doctor again on Monday, and she agreed that I seem to be responding generally well to the elimination diet.  They drew blood to run the celiac panel, and they're running a slew of other tests "just to be on the safe side."

I'm SO DONE with being sick all of the time and frequent trips to the clinic.  I'm hoping for some conclusive answers so I can get on with my life.

Saggy Britches

My size 14 jeans are noticeably baggy this morning!

It's amazing how success can creep up on you.  Yesterday, I almost posted a whiny-boob blog about how much everything sucks, and boo-hoo for me... but then I was being too melodramatic to actually post it.

And now this!

I think today is going to be a good day.

From the Gut

The drive home from work is torture -- even if you don't have gluten intolerance!  In a matter of blocks, I pass McDonald's, Wendy's, Milio's, Popeye's, Noodles & Co., Culver's, Hardee's, and four gas stations full of delicious donuts and various junk foods.  Yesterday was especially rough.  My mouth watered with each restaurant I passed, especially at the McDonald's, where posters of ice cream and chilled drinks plastered the windows.  Nom nom nom gluten goodness!

Okay, but the point is, I was good.  I drove on past and went home to my grilled chicken breast and green beans.  Later, I even rewarded myself for my good behavior with a small chocolate bar... except it was so sweet that it hurt my teeth, and I only ate two of the five segments.  Go me!

Problem:  I got sick again last night.  Celiac Disease for Dummies states that "your indigestions, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea will likely start to ease within a few weeks."  Ouch.  I've been bouncing back faster and faster, but a bought if "illness" still knocks me down a few pegs and makes me feel like crap (no pun intended).

I'm determined to make the most of this, though, and today is a good day.  Despite the rain and all the fancy-pants work ladies who came prepared with umbrellas (but not me).  Despite the ick last night and this morning.  Despite being here at work, while I day dream of being holed up at home, tucked in and warm on the couch with the A/C going.  Today is what it is -- and that's just okay with me right now.

Every Wednesday, there's a small farmer's market right outside of my work.  I love seeing the sights on my breaks!  Today, I gifted myself a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.  They're on my desk, doing an excellent job of making me smile.

I also picked up a gluten-free brownie from Silly Yak Bakery, my new FAVORITE STORE EVER.  They have mastered the art of baking gluten-free, and I highly recommend their products to anyone and everyone -- gluten intolerance or not!

Best.  Brownie.  Ever.

My goal for today is to drink copious amounts of water.  The scale read 194 this morning, but (besides two little pieces of chocolate and my devious brownie this morning) I've been meticulous about eating strictly clean.  My body is just happier and more cooperative when it's fully-hydrated.

Oh, and if I ever stop with the stomach upset, I might be able to get a real work-out in.  I tried to last night, but didn't get much accomplished for reasons that should be rather obvious.  < Insert witty joke about self here >  Har, har, har!

Drama Mama Moment

I'm at work today for the first time in a week (it's tough to be at work when you have diarrhea like whoa, okay), and I'm actually feeling pretty down.  I thought getting back to my routine would help me feel better... but not so.

So maybe I'm PMSing or something.  I don't know.  I'm just moody and generally "meh" right now.

It's hard to vocalize how it feels to be in my shoes right now.  I feel singled out and picked on, even though my gluten intolerance isn't anyone's fault.  I feel very alone... and THEN I feel disgusted with myself for being so pathetic!  Gluten intolerance isn't the end of the world.  It's not like I'm going to starve to death, be burned at a stake, or ridiculed for my condition.  No one even has to know if I don't want them to.  Here I go, being a drama mama again.

I'm still trying to keep up with the optimism thing.  Granted, I know that I won't ever feel excited about this, but at least sticking to a healthy diet just got a lot easier for me!  In that sense, I do consider myself lucky, because my willpower is mediocre.  Like the wimpy kid in gym class.

Moving on!  I'm going to work out tonight, drink so much water that I float away, and eat angelically.  Time to pick myself up, dust myself off, and stop moping around.  So long, cottage cheese thighs!  Adiós, bye-bye arms!  Never again, chunky middle!  This fat isn't going to evict itself.

A Gluten-Free Me

Long story short, I learned on July 1, 2010, that I am gluten intolerant.  The doctor I saw on Thursday suggested trying an elimination diet to rule out any other food allergies, but my symptoms have completely resolved since eliminating wheat and gluten products from my diet.  I either have celiac disease (which my doctor stated is the most probable case) or a severe wheat/gluten allergy.

I'll be tested eventually to determine whether or not I have celiac disease (better to know, I guess), but right now my number one priority is learning how to live gluten-free, which is something I will probably have to do for the rest of my life.

I've been on an emotional roller-coaster.  The optimistic side of me is ecstatic, because now I'm forced to stick to a rigid diet.  Unless I want to make myself very sick, I can't go for the junky snacks that have always held me back in the past.

At the same time, I feel... angry.  Cheated.  Alone.  I've been trying to be patient with myself, because I've even been getting angry with myself for feeling the way I do.  I feel selfish, because I'm actually very lucky!  My support system is still there, helping me as I find my feet again.  My husband has done loads of research about what I can and can't eat, and is already better at de-coding food labels than I am.

I've been trying to focus on one very important fact -- I feel better now than I have in months!  It's amazing how quickly my symptoms resolved when I removed gluten from my diet, but apparently this is very normal.

Another "silver lining" -- the weight has been falling off.  The scale read 192.6 pounds this morning!

There's definitely a learning curve here; I made myself sick on Saturday after eating French salad dressing and barbecue sauce (both of which are thickened with gluten-products -- who knew?!).  Most lipsticks contain gluten, as do "lickable envelopes."  I'm overwhelmed with information, but I'm sorting it out as quickly as I can.  One step at a time.  Despite all of this, I'm still convinced that good things are happening!

Photo Credit:  "Celiacs Do It Gluten Free" image is from Healthline.com.