knitxcore.: Resolution #1: Get Healthy!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Resolution #1: Get Healthy!

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This year was littered with discomfort and illness for me. I tried not to whine about it too much, but it sort of began to consume me.

In the summer, I went to the hospital, thinking that I was having a heart attack. (I'm not even 30 and I eat well, so that was probably a little irrational). However, from that I found out that I have both IBS and something called GERD. I didn't really want to share that, because it's sort of embarrassing. However, I've come to peace with my reality, and I think that other people need to know how debilitating something like that can be. It isn't just a stomach ache, or heartburn. Both of these diseases effect your entire body, making you uncomfortable all the time (which leads to extreme social and health anxiety).

I kept googling my symptoms, and it made things so much scarier. It's awful to self-diagnose. I kept finding different things that explained what was wrong me and they got a little worse each time.

I finally got those two problems under control, and I started having headaches and pain in my arms and back. I can't win this year!

I went to the doctor today, fearing the worst, and she pointed out a ton of knots in my back and arms. She explained that they were small deposits of toxins and that they would take a while to heal and that it wasn't anything to worry about. That goes against my nature. I always worry about everything.

So, I want to explore some things outside of western medicine to help things along. I'm not one to leave well-enough alone. I want everything to be PERFECT; including my health. I'm taking matters into my own hands.

In addition to being a New Year's Resolution, GET HEALTHY is going to become a regular feature in which I share the things I learn about living a healthy lifestyle.

For example, Dave and I have decided to do Whole Living Magazine's 28-day cleanse. Today we went to the produce store to pick up all the things we need for Week 1.

two pounds of kale

The cleanse is super simple! It's a one weeks worth of fruit and vegetables ONLY, and then you slowly integrate grains and small portions of meat (fish) into your diet. You read more about it on their website.

Tonight we made the Spiced Butternut Squash soup, and it was INCREDIBLE! Prep time took a little longer than it should have because I didn't warm up the squash before peeling and chopping it. Lesson learned.

I'm really excited to begin embracing a healthier lifestyle!

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What are your New Year's resolutions?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm sorry to hear you didn't have the best year! :\ I'm glad you're working things out and you're okay with sharing your issues with us. It's great you're getting healthy and it's something I definitely want to do in the new year! I can't wait to see more resolutions! :)

p.mcg said...

so glad to hear that you're doing a healthy cleanse. i believe i need to jump on that band wagon too. while i don't eat anything considered "unhealthy" - i also am quite void of all the nutrients i may need day to day.

good luck with your resolution!

Stela said...

Sorry your year was filled with illness! I love that you're going to make Get Healthy a feature!!
My husband had GERD; then we switched to a vegetarian diet and stopped eating fast food and he doesn't have it anymore. You'll definitely have a comfortable 2012!

Lisa said...

Chronic illness suck - I do hope you start feeling better soon! Being healthy is a great resolution; good luck! ^_^

Bianca Jagoe said...

Man, it really sounds like 2011 wasn't your year for health! IBS is so common and I suffer from reflux too (am wondering now after reading the symptoms of GERD if that might be what I have - but I won't self diagnose! :D). I often feel like I shouldn't talk about my health issues because they feel minor (in comparison to others'), but they are really debilitating and affect your quality of life. And it's so hard to just sit on your hands and be satisfied with what doctors say when you're really suffering. I hope things are looking up for you! I always wonder what it would feel like to feel 100%!
Looking forward to you documenting this cleanse! Take care of yourself! :)

Sian said...

oh, am also sorry you weren't well, but glad you are feeling a bit better now. am looking forward to reading about how you get on with the cleanse and super healthy eating! i'm a bit of a worrier too and worry and stress have definitely contributed to my being sick in the past. i have tried reflexology and acupuncture for stress and while i didn't notice any dramatic changes in my health (i think it's a slow process anyway) i did feel crazy relaxed and dreamy.x good luck! what ya doing with all that kale? one of my resolutions is to make sure i go to a yoga class every week.x

Rae - Say It Aint So said...

good luck with your resolution! i am trying something similar. I've been vegetarian for two years now, but mostly eat carbs, so i'm trying to do more fresh veggies and fruit this year too. i might try that cleanse!

Kira said...

I'm definitely interested in reading about your journey toward healthier living. I eat terribly, maybe I could get some ideas from you :)

Elisha said...

Getting fit is at the top of my list too! I would love to follow along with your new diet if you posted recipes and tips.

Happy New Year!

-Elisha

Veggie Mama said...

Please, if it's one thing you do, try yoga. It is amazing, makes you feel fabulous, and will stretch you and take care of the knots and toxins. Then you'll feel so good, you'll only want to eat gorgeous, healthy things. Seriously. Yoga is the bomb xx

Anonymous said...

I think you are too cute for words! I've been following you for several months now and very much look forward to reading your posts. You seriously crack me up! Thank you for sharing and here's to everyone's better health in 2012!! Peace to you and yours!!

Grateful4Crochet said...

I love that you're going to do a getting healthy spot- great idea!!!!
Clearly one of the reasons i like your blog so much is that we're both bandits for self diagnosing with googledoctor. I think my Dr is tired of me coming to see him, telling him my symptoms, and saying "I'm pretty sure I've got....."
Sorry to hear about your IBS and GERD, love the cleansing diet, every now and then I just take a couple of days and only eat fruit and veg, I always feel rejuvenated and full of energy after.
Really interesting about the knots being toxins, I have never heard that before- will be interested in how you go with the alternative medicine dealing with it, phew long comment, sorry about that!!

The Feisty Redhead said...

Since Martha owns Whole Living, one year a bunch of my co-workers and I decided to do the challenge together. For some reason, everyone was complaining about constantly going to the bathroom, and I couldn't go at all. I had about 8 cups of rice sitting in me for over a week. So my advice: eat those apples! They're supposed to make things err... flow more easily.

Anonymous said...

i am starting a cleanse tomorrow, i have no discipline in my diet and i need to fix that. not quite sure exactly what cleanse but i am making a stop at my health store in the a.m., anyway i hope its still going well for you. i'll let you know how i do!