I am excited to bring you the health post I mentioned in my previous January Hustle post, but also I am always a little reluctant to start talking about a subject I am SO not an expert on. I have friends that are so great about working out, I am not that person. I enjoy going for a walk (preferably with my dog, or even better– on a beach!) but in general, I have never been much of an athlete of any kind.
Sadly, the older I get the more I realize I just don’t have the choice but to exercise. Like many people, I enjoyed the holidays to the fullest–eating, drinking and relaxing and I definitely paid the price. Excess sugar and being sedentary can definitely catch up with you, am I right? As my husband says, if you are going to play, you have to pay!
My system was hard-hit with Lyme disease almost 6 years ago and because of that, I still have to be diligent about taking care of myself. When I relax and let things go a bit (which I need to every once a while, especially during the holidays) I tend to feel much worse in the end. So now here I am getting back into the swing and trying to take my health to the next level. Since I am probably not the only one with this goal at this time of year, I thought I’d share the things I am doing right now to take better care of myself. However, I am not a doctor so these are just the things I am finding are working for me, try at your own risk 🙂
WHAT I AM EATING TO GET HEALTHY
One thing I am not doing is embarking on a diet plan–but you can read about my experience with Whole 30/AIP Protocol in this post HERE. I am not really a fan of any one stringent way of eating, though I can attest that Amy Myer’s AIP Diet (read this book here) drastically reduced my inflammation levels, even my doctor was surprised (I highly recommend her books if you suffer from any type of autoimmune issues). For now, I simply stopped eating so much sugar (though I confess that I have gotten completely hooked on these snacks, at least they are semi-healthy!), and have added smoothies and juices back into my diet to really up my nutritional intake and also got moving (walking, elliptical, yoga, light weights) several days a week. I already feel so much better!
I am a little leary to share this next idea because it’s pretty wacky, so consider it at your discretion, but maybe it will help one of you. There has to be something to it because my energy levels have skyrocketed over the last few days since I started drinking celery juice. Have you heard of this craze? I found the @MedicalMedium via Instagram and was intrigued.
While my Lyme is in remission, my system is still (and may always be) recovering, so my current stage of treatment involves fixing all the things the Lyme knocked out like my thyroid, liver, adrenal system etc. So, I ordered his book (then saw it a few days later on Kindle sale for $1.99, so you may want to wait and see if that happens again), I ordered this juicer and started drinking celery juice in the mornings when I first get up. Yes, I know it’s crazy but I swear, I have more energy then I have had in years since I started doing it. Obviously, my liver was in need of some extra support which the salts in the celery juice provide. I’ll have to report back since I have just started, but it’s not hard to drink and I feel great. Apparently it is good for a whole bunch of ailments, you can learn more on his feed or blog.
I also wanted to throw something else in here because I feel like I keep having the same conversation with my friends my age (mid-40’s) who all say they have the same issues. If you are cold, losing hair, have dry skin, gaining weight (though not always), have brain fog, feel constantly stressed or revved up, can’t sleep well–pay attention to your thyroid. You should read this book. Your doctor might tell you that you are fine and your thyroid numbers are normal but you could still have an issue. I restarted a thyroid supplement this year and again, I experience a huge difference in my energy levels (though my thyroid numbers are “normal”) and my hair stopped falling out. If you have these concerns, read this book, you may find that you feel so much better!
OK so now that I have given out all sorts of medical advice that I am so not qualified to dispense (please take it with a grain of salt, friends) but the one thing I have learned from years of being misdiagnosed and dismissed by traditional doctors is that you have to do your own research and advocate for yourself. I also believe that food can be medicine, while it doesn’t fix things (especially emotionally but that’s another conversation!) it can definitely help your health and make you feel better.
EXERCISE
Exercise. This is where, I admit I struggle to motivate, especially in the winter. We have a gym in our neighborhood so it’s hard to make excuses not to go. I am also looking to add a regular yoga class into my life because that always helps me feel better. To motivate me further I decided it was time to upgrade my work out wear. Having new work out wear helps me make the time to work out, I guess because I don’t want the new clothes to go to waste!
workout pants | pullover | headband (similar)
Hands down my favorite line for workout wear is Zella at Nordstrom. I own quite a few pieces and they hold up great. I think the most worn item I own is the Zella Live-In Leggings, I have the full-length black ones, you have probably heard me rave about them before. They suck you in and yet they are comfortable! I ordered a pair of the cropped version HERE I like them so much. I also ordered this top while it was on sale.
I keep an eye on the selection at Nordstrom Rack for even better deals on Zella items. I like that they are designed so that you can throw one of their cuter tops on over workout clothes to hit the grocery store etc. need be. I just ordered this top below and can’t wait for it to arrive, it barely looks like an athletic top!
I am still working on finding new shoes, they can be a little hard to buy online. Since I am not a long-distance runner, I don’t worry too much about finding the right support, and I have always had good luck with these shoes here. They are a great price and cute enough to wear around to do errands. I am hoping they restock this color in my size soon!
If you are also on a fitness kick, or if you have tried any of these things–especially celery juice!– please let me know in the comments.
ALSO–jumping back into organization briefly… I am changing my Organizational Store vendor and have to use up some postage left in the account, so I am offering FREE SHIPPING on Calendar Pads (use code FREESHIP) right now. It’s the perfect tool to get you organized this new year! Learn more about The Calendar Pad HERE.
XO,
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Amanda says
Could you update the links to the thyroid book you mentioned? They’re both taking me to the juicer. I too have every one of those symptoms (turned 40 this year), but my bloodwork all comes back normal. The hair loss especially is really stressing me! Thank you!
Amy says
I am so sorry–amazon links are wonky. I should have them fixed now. If you message me I can send you more info, there is a simple blood test for your thyroid, it’s about $100 you can also take I just have to find out the name of it. Good luck, and definitely get the book! XO, Amy
Lauren@Simplylkj says
Amy, you are not crazy about the celery juice. We were in Mexico a couple years ago, and they served a green juice (had lots of celery in it) and I drank it every morning. I never felt better than when we were there. I found a similar recipe online when I got home. I need to start back as I too indulged a bit too much over the holidays.
And yes, I too spent years being told my Thyroid and adrenal levels were “normal”. I finally found a group of doctors who take a more holistic approach and ran the FULL panels. I now take prescription thyroid medicine and supplements for adrenal support.,
The key is to be your own advocate!
Amy says
Yes, you are so right, and I am glad I am not crazy 🙂 and looking at the whole health picture is so important. Hope you had a great new year! XO, Amy
TRISH says
ONE THING I’D ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO IS HAVE A YEARLY CHECKUP WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR. IF YOU HAVE PRIVATE INSURANCE IT’S PROBABLY COVERED AT 100%. GET A FULL BLOOD PANEL DONE ALSO. THIS CAN HELP CATCH ANY POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS EARLY. IF YOU ARE AN ATHLETE, FIND A PCP THAT IS ALSO AN ATHLETE OR SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH FIT PEOPLE.