August ready!

Here we go, come on August!

My goals this month are rather simple but important.

• I haven't seen my horses yet this summer.   Must get to Assateague.    It's my favorite place.
• Keep up with the challenge -- same goals as last month but a full month of intermittent fasting
• Make sure my classroom is stocked for success.   I have been teaching for 15 years and I eat lunch normally once or twice a month.    That MUST stop.    

Challenge - complete!

Well... I did it!    I actually completed the 30for30challenge.   

I lost a total of 6.3 pounds and have definitely seen the increase in weight loss come in weeks three and four which is where intermittent fasting came into play.   I am down a total of 15.3 pounds for the summer and I'm thinking of doing another challenge for August.

Knowing that I'm posting on social media, checking in with a buddy, and documenting in my planner is helping big time.   

The entire challenge was not perfect, but it is complete. 

Misses:
I missed 4 days of exercise, 6 days of AM face routine, 3 days of Ovasitol, 3 days of water, 7 days of pm routine and 5 days of reflection.

Goals:
My goals, in my opinion, were met.   I wanted to stay consistent with the challenge and while I may have missed an objective - each day was a success.    I didn't forget.   I didn't quit.    I am bummed that I didn't get to see the dentist (seriously, I love going to the dentist) but she's gonna try to get me in before going back to work.   It's kind of awesome that her office is so busy, that wasn't the case a few months ago and I was worried about losing her.   I have kept up with my blogging and my reading and I did score one date night with the hubs. 

Non-scale victories:
Several!

• Obviously, the challenge in and of itself is a victory.
• Not giving in to several temptations.    Some examples include snacks at a party, ordering from a drive thru, etc.     Seriously, I didn't have any wooder ice at all this month!
• Taking time to focus on ME.    I don't really do it.
• Spoke with a personal trainer about my needs, debating on taking the plunge ($$$$)
• Starting intermittent fasting
• Using the carb manager app (which by the way I compared to weight watchers... fascinating!)

Concerns:
I'm worried that once school starts up in a few weeks I won't be as focused on me or as disciplined.  I don't want to gain the weight back due to work stress and I don't want to lose momentum.   Because of this concern, I want to make sure I do at least one more #30for30challenge in August so that I keep it going.   

Feel free to join me!

PCOS myths

When it comes to PCOS there are so many myths.   Far too many assumptions, that's for certain.

I was going to sit here and try to count how many doctors I saw before meeting my RE but honestly, I can't.    From my childhood pediatrician, to doctors I saw when I was in college, to practices I tried prior to my marriage, etc.    I'd say it's at least a dozen. 

We live in a society that judges.

Admit it. 

You do it.   I do it.   The person you last spoke to does it. 

We don't like to admit it, but we do.

When a PCOS woman goes to a new doctor, it is not uncommon for that doctor to automatically assume that the woman in front of them is filled with foods like you see in the image on the left. 

Stepping on the scale and seeing a number higher than what's recommended on that stupid chart will raise eyebrows. 

Finding a doctor that listens to you and truly HEARS you, should not be so tough.    But for many women with cysters, it's a reality.

While the image on the left does have some truth to it... that's not the overall truth for women with PCOS who are plus sized.   There's so much going on and not going on in our bodies that make us the size we are. 

From elevated testosterone to high cortisol to insulin resistance.... just to name a few.   Nutrient deficiencies, thyroid problems, food sensitivities and inflammation to name a few more.

The journey to finding a good doctor isn't always easy.   Having a doctor throw some metformin and birth control at you and sending you on your merry way isn't the answer either.

Fight for yourself ladies.

Fight for your bodies.

It is worth it!   I promise!

Challenge Reflection

So here's the cliffs notes in an image and further information will be below.

I am down six pounds since July 1st and while it does not sound like much and at first was a bit upsetting... I am pleased.  I did some math and I'm losing about 0.26 pounds a day.    If I were to stay at this rate for a year, I'd be down one hundred pounds.   Looking at the bigger picture helps.

Around July 11th I started looking more seriously into this concept of intermittent fasting.

There's a wide variety of research out there and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try it.     I am using two apps to help me with this.   I did download the free trial of the premium version of MyFitnessPal, but it's far too involved and fancy for my liking.    Instead, I'm using the ZERO app to track my fasting and Carb Manager to track my food/carbs.   I would like to note that these are google images and not my own data. 

I do not feel hungry or that I am starving.   I feel like I am making good food choices and I also feel like my gut health is improving.   I have been having issues with stomach acid/reflux but I'm figuring out ways to keep that at bay. 

My next step is to read more and research more.   Next on the reading list is The Obesity Code. 

I'm hoping to be more active this final week.   I lost my big toe nail (OUCHHHH) and man that sucker hurt for a while.   Yesterday was my first day pain free.

Week One Reflection

If you're following me on Instagram, you know I am doing a #30for30challenge to help me get focused on my health and wellness.

I'm noticing that during the school year, I lose focus on me and my health.   Big time.   If I have extra time, it's almost always going towards my kids (biological and classroom).    This really is not good for me.

I am using an Erin Condren Life Planner for myself and have been having some fun with that.   I don't have an official format for it yet, but it is working for me. 

This week was "okay" -- I feel like I've done better than what I WAS doing - but I could still improve.   I did get my exercise in daily, but I didn't go to the gym.   The gym was closed for a few days due to the remodeling of the bathrooms, but I could have and should have gone the other days and just didn't.   My goal is to get there this week and figure out the best time for me.   I've been contemplating going late at night as well as really early (before the sun rises) in the morning. 

My goal for this week in particular, other than getting to the gym, is to set alarms on my phone to help me be more successful.    I also want to make sure I'm tracking my food intake every day. 

Slow and steady wins the race, right?   

Instagram!

I recently discovered Cory Levin on Instagram.    I really like the content that is posted there and thought I'd pass it along to all of ya'll!  Her website can also be found here.