10 Pounds Gone!

Still Alive

Hello... hello... hello... (echo, echo).

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still alive.  The past week has been difficult; my health has not been good, and my emotional state has been strained.

I was back at the doctor's office last Thursday (August 12th), and was told (by a different doctor than I've been seeing) that I "actually probably don't have celiac disease."  What?!  I don't really understand the science behind the diagnosis; but it seems that I do have the gluten anti-bodies, but not as many as would be expected if I did have celiac disease.  The doctor on Thursday suggested that I have a gluten sensitivity, and since then, I have been slowly introducing (healthy) gluten back into my diet without much change.  (Incidentally, she also doesn't believe I have Sjögren's, either).

That still begs the question -- why have I been so miserable and sick?  They really have no idea.  They're running a butt load of tests, but who knows?

I'm starting to wonder if the stress I am under is making me physically sick, but that's another story.  I'm taking steps to promote total wellness in my life, but it's a long and tedious process.  Until I get things figured out, my posts here are likely to be less frequent.

I promise I'll be back -- probably with a new name (since apparently Jenna doesn't need to be totally gluten-free) and maybe a new look, too.

Until then, be well everyone!

The Celiac's Best Friend

Since my diagnosis, I've felt pretty left out.  Many social activities revolve around eating and drinking, and now that I have dietary restrictions to cope with, I haven't been invited to or involved with many gatherings.  Even at work, my co-workers don't ask if I want to "do" lunch anymore, and on ordering-in days, my cubicle is skipped over.

At home, we haven't been eating out nearly as much as we used to, except for a few times when we'd hit up Culver's and I'd order a salad.  This is good, because it's saving us a lot of money -- and fast food is a meal option that's healthy for us to miss out on, anyway.

It's just that I miss it.  A lot.  Eating out is a hard habit to break, made even more depressing by the fact that I don't have many (any?) good gluten-free fast food options.

Until now, that is!  My friend (and fellow celiac) suggested I try Jimmy Johns' "Unwiches."

These tasty morsels are just like their sub sandwiches, except they're wrapped up in crisp lettuce instead of warm bread.  They're a little bit messier to eat, but they taste amazing -- and the best part is, they're healthy and gluten-free!

It's nice to have an option that fits great with my nutrition plan (lean protein + complex carbs in one wrap!) that I can enjoy while out with family and friends.  Even if you're not on a gluten-free plan, I highly recommend trying an Unwich!

Disclaimer:  I'm not being paid by Jimmy John's to endorse their product(s), nor am I affiliated with the company in any way (besides being a loyal customer of theirs).  I'm just a somewhat crazed fan of gluten-free deliciousness!

A Plan, I Has One!

It's Tuesday again, which means it's check-in time for the Healthy You Challenge!  I hope everyone is having a successful August!

Me -- I've been flopping.  A lot.  I have good intentions, but haven't actually accomplished anything in a couple of weeks now.  In fact, I gained weight, and then managed to maintain the gain.  Whoo, go me!

I've been trying to think about why I haven't been seeing any results, and I think I have a solution.  Check out my flow chart:

No Plan ---> No Goals ---> No Results ---> No Motivation

So today, I'm excited to announce a plan.  I has one!

I will be following the Eat Clean Diet, which isn't actually a "diet" -- it's a nutrition plan.  There are no caloric restrictions, no foods to eliminate, no potions to drink.  You eat 6 to 7 small meals each day, drink copious amounts of water, and feed your body healthy foods.  The plan jump-starts your metabolism each morning and keeps it chugging all day long.  And best of all, it's highly compatible with gluten-free living!  I've eaten "clean" in the past and saw great results; I don't remember why I stopped, but this time, I'm going to make it last!

As my Eating Clean book states, a good body is created with 10% genetics, 10% exercise, and 80% nutrition.  By following the meal plan, I'm already addressing the 80% component.  To kick up my exercise, I'm going to start with walking during my lunch breaks 3 or 4 times a week.  I also want to start weight lifting, and although space is an issue in our tiny apartment, I'm going to find a place to set up our weight machine.  And then, I'm going to start using it.

As much as I love my morning Starbucks run, I'm going to eliminate that (most days -- a treat is okay once in awhile!) and replace it with wholesome green tea.  I'm also aiming for getting in at least 80 ounces of water each day (I realize this puts me well over my "8 glasses a day," but given the Sjögren's Syndrome, I really need to keep myself completely hydrated!)

So, we'll see how this goes.  Today is my first day in full-swing, and I spent a good half-hour last night packing a cooler for work today.  The cooler is full of nutritious foods -- low fat yogurt, carrots, green beans, an apple and a banana, Jell-O (for dessert!), lean turkey lunch meat (I had to improvise on my proteins), and tuna.  With practice, I'll get better at packing and planning!

My goal for the week is to really give this my all.  I know that if I can "tough it out" for one week, I'll be feeling really good -- and making healthy choices will come a lot easier, because I'll want to maintain my wellness.  As far as a weight goal, I just want to see that number edge down, baby!

D'oh

What is going on?  Is the Earth spinning backwards or something?

I don't know about anyone else, but I am feeling completely off and just -- wrong.

The scale didn't budge this week... not an ounce one way or another.  I know I'm lacking in the effort department right now, but seriously?  I haven't been binging on junk food or anything, either.

I have been really sick.  Celiac-related sick.  I was up for almost two hours last night, doubled over in gastrointestinal distress.  My Jason helped me run through everything I consumed all weekend -- no gluten that we could identify.  Possibly I have been into a hidden gluten source, or (probably?), my body is still trying to heal from all the damage that's been done to it.

My psoriasis has been especially bad these past few days -- which is probably linked to my celiac flare-up.  (Both disorders are autoimmune-related).

I'm showing many symptoms of Sjögren's Syndrome, which is another autoimmune condition strongly linked to celiac disease.

Allow me just this one moment of self-pity --

This sucks.  Really bad.  Sigh, woe is me, and whatnot.

I need to get into the fighting spirit.  I know I can shake this!  It's GO TIME.

Wellness

In thinking about getting myself back on track, my mind has been focused on one thing -- wellness.

I'm a big fan of wellness; it implies not only physical health, but mental, emotional, and spiritual balance as well. Our bodies can be toned and trim, but without good mental health (for lack of better term), we are missing out on a big piece of what it means to be truly well.

To that end, I am going to begin using this journal not only to track my weight and experiences with celiac disease, but also to explore various methods of attaining inner balance and peace. As I have mentioned before, I want to look and feel better. This is a whole new step in the journey!

I've decided to start by exploring the chakras (pronounced "CHAK-ruhs"). As a teenager, I was in therapy on-and-off for around five years, and my groovy counselor Janet J. was very into studying the chakras. It's been fun brushing up on this!

Chakras Diagram courtesy of Tree of Life.

Chakras are centers of energy. Located along the mid-line of our bodies, they govern our psychological properties and well-being. There are seven chakras:

1. Root ( ) The Root chakra represents feeling physically present and at home in any situation. If it is:

• Open, you feel stable, secure, and grounded.
• Under-Active, you feel nervous, anxious, and unwelcome.
• Over-Active, you may be greedy and/or materialistic.

2. Sacral ( ) The Sacral chakra represents emotions and sexuality. If it is:

• Open, you are able to express your feelings without becoming over-emotional, and you are comfortable with your sexual self.
• Under-Active, you close yourself off from others and are unemotional.
• Over-Active, you tend to be very emotional all the time, and you may be over sexual. 

3. Navel ( ) The Navel chakra indicates how you handle yourself in groups and social situations.  If it is:

• Open, you have good self-esteem and feel in control.
• Under-Active, you are generally passive and indecisive.
• Over-Active, you tend to be very aggressive in groups.

4. Heart ( ) The Heart chakra represents your love and kindness.  If it is:

• Open, you are friendly, compassionate, and have harmonious relationships with others.
• Under-Active, you tend to be cold and distance yourself from others.
• Over-Active, you may be suffocating others with your love.  Your affections may be for selfish reasons.

5. Throat ( ) The Throat chakra talks about self-representation.  If it is:

• Open, you are very good at expressing yourself.  You may be an artist.
• Under-Active, you tend to be introverted and overly shy.
• Over-Active, you tend to be a poor listener and often domineer conversations.

6. Third Eye ( ) The Third Eye chakra represents insight and visualization.  If it is:

• Open, you have great intuition.  You may tend to fantasize.
• Under-Active, you may be too rigid in your thinking.  You may rely on authority figures to make decisions for you.
• Over-Active, you may live in a fantasy world.  You may daydream too much, and hallucinations are even possible in extreme cases.

7. Crown ( ) The Crown chakra represents wisdom and oneness with the world.  If it is:

• Open, you are unprejudiced and possess great self-awareness.
• Under-Active, you tend to be a rigid thinker.  You are likely unaware of your own spirituality.
• Over-Active, you are probably intellectualizing too much.  You may become addicted to spirituality and may neglect your physical body's needs.

Eclectic Energies has an online quiz that you can take to see how open and/or closed your chakras are. Here are my results:



My Root chakra is under-active, while my Heart and Third Eye chakras are both over-active.  My Sacral, Navel, Throat, and Crown chakras are all open.  The results seem to fit my present status very well; I'm going to work on this, and come back in a few weeks to re-check my chakras.  It will be interesting to see how they change!



"Chakras Awakening & Balancing" courtesy of Mimosa.

Healthy You Update #3

Man, I hate it when I wake up in the morning and don't feel like P. Diddy!  I haven't been waking up feeling good at all.  Actually, it's generally been an "off" week.

Let's see.  I gained weight (and not just a fraction of a pound -- a whole pound!)  I sucked at drinking water, we didn't set up the weight machine, and I'm way off from my weigh-in goal.  I did take our new puppy, Piper, for lots of walks -- but she's so excited about smelling! peeing! pooping! sniffing! barking! chasing the bugs! peeing some more! that the walks weren't exactly great exercise.

I hate having celiac disease, and I hate that I allowed myself to binge on gluten so badly last week.  I am really, really sick again today (and was yesterday, too).  Why did I do this to myself?  Stomach cramping, aching muscles, headaches, psoriasis flare-ups, and dehydration don't particularly make me feel like working out -- or even being healthy for that matter.  Right now, I want to curl up under my desk and cry.

I'm not setting any particular goals for myself this week.  I just want to get this train back on the tracks and get myself feeling better.

Blah.

I hope everyone else had a good week!  I say, let's make this one good!

The Con

I hate when people use the elevator to go up one level.

It's even worse when they use it to go DOWN one level.

I work in an office building with many spoiled (and largely obese) state workers who evidently have something against using the stairs.  This obsession means that a short jaunt on the elevator can easily take up to five minutes to complete.

In the name of fairness, let me just say a whole lot, given the fact that I use the elevator, too.  I always ride from Floor 2B (way in the basement) to Floor 6 (with is a total of 8 floors and 16 flights of stairs up) when I arrive each morning.

HOWEVER -- if I'm going down, I always take the stairs.  (I might get a little dizzy from all the down-and-around, but it isn't too strenuous).  Going up, it depends on how far I have to go.  If we're talking up to three or four levels, I'll take the stairs.  Any more than that and I generally go 50/50 (example: take the elevator from 2B up to Floor 2 or 3, then take the stairs up to 6).  Each week, I try to climb more stairs than I did the week before.

Sure, I have lazy days and weeks, but at least I'm making an effort.  Constant disregard for health and wellbeing makes me a little cranky, especially when the person complains as they continue to indulge in their negative habit (example: taking the elevator up one level with your arms full of vending machine junk from the cafeteria while complaining that your back hurts).

Actually, I might just be grumpy because I gained weight this week -- a full 1.1 lbs.  Speaking of accountability for one's own wellbeing, who here has been binging on gluten-packed foods, then wondering why (a) she doesn't feel well, and (b) she gained weight.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Well, I'm tired of feeling crappy all the time -- especially because I have complete control over my health on this one.  It's really, seriously time to go strictly gluten-free.  Good-bye, wheat, barley, and rye products... I'll miss you forever.