Momto3's Journey of Healing and Health page

[Momto3]

It's time for a new journal. I'm coming up to my three year Primal anniversary and it has been an incredible adventure so far.
In June 2010 I had a newborn and I was around 168lbs. I'm in my mid-thirties, female and 5'3".

I had to do some rebuilding of my muscles, especially my core, after having my third child. I could barely do knee push-ups three years ago and through Simple Fit, Primal Fitness, CrossFit and Sprint 8 I can now do 2 pull-ups in a row and 20+ standard push ups! I've completed 3 5K mud runs and have my first 10k mud race this coming Sunday!

I went from a size 16 to a size 8.
I have been in a plateau for over a year which, I believe, is due to some needed healing. It all comes down to gut healing. I recently concluded treatment for H Pylori. My digestion is much, much better.
My health history looks like this:
Unknown gluten sensitivity-IBS-Endometriosis-PCOS-Infertility-Ectopic miscarriage-healthy baby-Hyperplasia-2 more healthy babies!
My current issues/conditions are:
Gut healing, extreme gluten sensitivity, high cortisol in the evenings, Endometriosis and PCOS.
I am on hormonal birth control pills to control my cycles-menstruating once every 3 months. This controls the pain from inflammation from the bleeding.
After the antibiotic treatment I am slowly building up my supplement use. So far I tolerate:
S.Boulardii
Jarrow's EPS probiotics
Glutamine, aloe and DGL powder
Acacia powder
Krill Oil
Fish Oil
Sunflower Lecithin
B-12 sublingual

Lately my calories come in at 1600-1800 60% Fat, 25% Protein, 15% Carb
Not strict, but average

My goals:gut healing, stress reduction, fat loss, continued fitness

Thanks for reading. I do enjoy feedback.

[Momto3]

Oh, my old journal is found here. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum...ad.php?t=10266

[Momto3]

Current stats:
Age: 37.5
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 143.6
Chest: 38"
Waist: 31.5"
Tummy: 35.5"
Hips: 40.75"
Bicep: 11.75"
Thigh: 21.5"

Size 8/10 ImageUploadedByMarks Daily Apple Forum1367463985.985846.jpg

Survivor Mud Run April 30, 2013

[Momto3]

I'm really liking this new app! Screen shots of my food today. Nice!
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[Momto3]

Some progress pics:
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June 2012 Climbing Fresno Dome ( 2 years primal)
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ImageUploadedByMarks Daily Apple Forum1367506713.221546.jpg swimsuit July 2012
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At my leanest Nov 2012 about 136Lbs
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[Momto3]

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Jan 2013
Started gaining weight. Too much sugar at holidays. Increased training. Had opposite effect due to high cortisol. Then when cut out all forms of sugar bloating increased due to H Pylori
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May 2013

Suit is tighter than last year, but fits.
I confess I want weight loss more than healing sometimes.

[Momto3]

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Reading and discussing good information about high cortisol and nutrition.
There seems to be two very different camps when it comes to food and lowering cortisol. I have a feeling it may be more a matter of sleep, stress, exercise, and supplements. I may lower fat some since I think I am over indulging in the butter and cream. I also want to do more reading on progesterone. I know from test results that my DHEA levels are "robust" as my NP put it, so that is not a concern. She said it was typical to see in someone with PCOS. It would be good to get to the root of problem. Is low progesterone causing high cortisol which causes PCOS and endometriosis? If so, what does that mean?
For now, it is clear I need to go to bed earlier and maybe shut electronics down sooner. That will be a tough habit to change.
I will also take the sunflower lecithin at 6 pm to help the cortisol drop better.
I am stilling hanging on to the hope that I can still workout Sprint 8 style 2x a week in the morning ( 8 cycles of 30 sec high, 1:30 low total 20 min) and then yoga and walking the other days. Maybe i can plan meditation or some other stress relieving activity that same day. My thoughts so far....

[Momto3]

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Weight: 144.4
Pants and shirt tighter today.
Digestion: good
Energy: very low
Hungry between meals
Exercise: 30 min Hatha Yoga

I wasn't thinking about the carbs when I drank the coconut water. Oops. I was trying a new brand for our 10K thus weekend.

I took sunflower lecithin at supper to help cortisol drop so I am more ready to sleep tonight.

[Momto3]

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I finished my first 10K mud run today! I wasn't sure how it would go since I went through 5 weeks of being sick and unable to train, plus finding out I have high cortisol so needed to cut back for that reason. I am thrilled with my performance! It was tough, but I finished and completed all the obstacles. It was a beautiful course it it was wonderful to run it with my love, my husband. I do confess I am typing this from my chair as I am icing my knee.

For food:
Breakfast: (pre race) 2 eggs scrambled in butter, banana and ginger tea

Post race: 2 beef sticks, banana, banana pancake, coconut water

Lunch: grass fed hot dog, almond crackers, artichoke dip, almond flour cupcake

Dinner: homemade pizza (2 slices), spinach, apple, carrot , balsamic salad, ice cream

[Momto3]

I'm feeling more and more recovered from the race. My knee is still pretty tired and slightly painful.

Thankfully I went to bed around 10:30 because my three year old decided to get up at 5:30am. I actually slept pretty good! The lecithin may be working. I also started the Rhodiola. By introducing things slowly I am able to tolerate them. Yay!

I am feeling great in my tummy. Digestion is working. Yay!

144 lbs
Waist 32"
Hips 40.25"

I've decided to follow Mark Sisson's calorie and macronutrient recommendations to see how I feel
This is how I calculated it. ( from his book)
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So, about 1513 calories
104g pro/80g carb/86g fat

It's about 100-300 cal less than I've been doing. I just finished my big salad, but I'm feeling hungry. We'll see how it goes. I don't want to create a cortisol response because of deprivation. I need to focus on getting that protein in.