For the past several weeks I went from barely being able to move, much less run, to finally feeling like myself again. I had no idea how badly I had damaged my small intestines until I finally got off the gluten and still felt pretty awful. I kept wondering what I was doing wrong, and almost surrendered to going to a doctor. About a week ago I had a total emotional break down and my hubby suggested we try as a last effort to research the hell out of this god-awful disease and recommended home treatments. After much research (yes, you guessed it, lots and lots of "googling") my hubby and I (mostly my hubby, he's the best, y'all) figured out that when your intestines have been damaged bad enough and for as long as mine had, getting off the gluten just isn't enough. A lot of people, once off gluten, will feel some sort of relief after about seven days. But for those, like me, who moved to a tropical island where it is famous for its amazing bakeries, breads and sandwiches and who just went bread crazy for about a year and a half, simply getting off the gluten most definitely isn't enough. The research we found talked about how abusing your digestive system as bad as I had can lead to other food sensitivities (damn it, there goes the dairy, too...) and problems with nutrient absorption (explains the extreme fatigue and killer migraines, not to mention horrible mood swings and moderate depression...ai yai yai...). ***So, for about the last week I have been on this:
And this:
So, now I can finally do this:
I can finally say that I am feeling myself again. I wake up feeling like I actually got some rest. The headaches are very few and mild (even after going off of coffee...yes, people, completely cold-turkey), my energy is back and I feel happy and whole. My hubby is super glad too. He says that I am our home's life force and when I feel crappy it throws off our peaceful and fun-loving family dynamic. (Cue in the sad faces...) But, alas... I am back. Its a good thing too because we are....
3 Days: 19 Hours: 42 Minutes and 56 Seconds from RACE DAY!!! OMG!!!
I can feel the nervousness, excitement and anxiousness starting to build up. Ahhhhh! Sooooooooo, excited! This is by far the most physically challenging thing I have ever done and it is finally hitting me how big of a deal this is. The training wasn't always easy and I had to fight through quite a bit of sickness. There was tears, bad attitude and plenty of cursing but there was also lots of laughter and amazing achievements too. And, of course, I can't forget to mention that a friendship was made stronger in the process.
This week I am taking it very easy, already did a 2 miler with Chica and going to do one more easy run on thursday, a 15-minute fast walk on Friday and then Saturday Chica and I will lounge around the hotel pool all day relaxing and soaking in some Vitamin D. My best friend, Sweet Missy, suggested that I take it easy the week before the race and that is exactly what I am going to do. Can I just tell y'all how thankful I feel for all the gentle and wondeful running advice Sweet Missy gave me??!!
My hubby and princess will be joining me this weekend and will surely be my biggest cheerleaders. The hubs has promised to take as many pictures as he can (as he juggles our toddler princess and a camera all at the same time...wish him luck, people, he is gonna need it) and I hope to have a great blog post update for you come next week (hopefully, full of awesome pics, too) telling you about my first half-marathon experience.
Well, sorry to make this short but I am going to go paint my nails and do some beautification stuff so I can look "pretty" for the race. What?! Just cuz I am a runner doesn't mean that I have to look like a bum... right?! (Come on runners everywhere, back me up!)
Love&Hugs,
Bella
***The stuff I talk about on this post and blog, the supplements and things that I have been doing to repair my "gut", are in no way advice to anyone who may be suffering from the same thing. This is simply what I am doing and in no way professional medical advice, so please, if you decide you want to try it too and it goes horrible wrong, don't say I didn't warn you.
No comments:
Post a Comment