Awesome Sauce

Good Afternoon Lovelies!

I had to write and give you a quick little update post my medical diagnosis.

I've been eating a low carb diet and have been taking a medication to help my body use the insulin it makes to begin breaking down what I eat, and what I've stored.  I've lost a little over 5 lbs since my last post.  Doesn't sound like much... but it feels really good.

More than that... I feel really good.  For the first time in my life I wake up with energy and I have energy all day.  The first day I really noticed was the day I put my Christmas decorations up.  I went shopping, spent all day putting decorations up, cleaned, ran around with my mom... and didn't get tired until I went to bed at 11pm that night.  IT WAS AMAZING. Having lived in a constant state of exhaustion... it was a really incredible feeling.

What a difference!

Today was the first day I did T25 since the diagnosis and medication too.  I'm amazed again.  I had energy before, during, and now after!  I feel like I'm on cloud 9.  I'm buzzed, and frankly, ready to workout AGAIN.  I'm thinking I might go Zumba for an hour or so.  I feel SO good!  I can honestly say I have NEVER felt like this after a workout.  I'm usually exhausted and can barely exert the effort to shower.

I am amazed.

OH!  By the way, my husband and I bought new Cross Trainers from New Balance to wear when we work out... and they are THE SH*T.

Here is the website for the women's version that I have.

http://www.newbalance.com/Minimus-20v3-Cross-Training/WX20-V3,default,pd.html?dwvar_WX20-V3_color=Black_with_Diva%20Pink_and_White&start=1&cgid=203000

I bought a wide pair since I have sasquatch feet.  They're uber comfortable, have good support, and are light as a feather!

I'll keep you all updated as I progress.

And one more thing...

It's the Christmas Season, and I feel an overwhelming amount of love and thankfulness for the support and love you all have given me since I started this journey.

May God bless you, your families, and your friends with health, safety, and joy this Holiday Season!

Much Love,

Mychal

Health Update

So, just as an update for everyone...

Last week I went to a specialist to have some blood work done. My mom and I wondered if my two miscarriages may have been influenced by my thyroid. Today I got the results back. 

I have a metabolic disorder! 

Now, I'm not excited about it... But I am relieved. 

I'm relieved that now I know. I'm relieved that I know how to "fix" it. 

As it would happen, my body is insulin resistant. I make insulin, plenty in fact; however my body doesn't use it like it should. This explains my constant life struggle with weight. Everything that I eat, struggles to be processed and broken down by the insulin, so instead my body just stores it. Boo! 

The high insulin levels also mess with my hormones. My testosterone is higher than it should be. That explains why I have to shave my legs every other day!  Hahahaha

So... my doctor prescribed me several things.

Number one, Vitamin D. I'm deficient in that too. 

Number two, a medication that helps my body use the insulin it produces. Yay! 

Number three, a hunger suppressant. Helpful! 

Number four, diet and exercise. 

These four things will help me have more energy, lose weight, be healthy, AND have a healthy pregnancy in the future! 

I feel so very blessed that I live in a time and place where medicine is advanced enough to help my health and well being in this instance. I'm also so grateful for the wonderful physicians that monitor my health and have genuine concern about my well being. 

Life is a wonderful gift and I am so grateful that God has blessed me with a husband and family that love and support me. 

I look forward to the next few months. I am eager to see where my health and wellness will go from here. I am excited to workout and to try a variety of new and healthy recipes. 

I am excited to again have the chance to change my life. 

What a blessing it is to have my life's goal evolve and grow with every phase of my life. 

What a blessing it is to have such loyal, loving, and supportive followers and friends. 

Thank you!  

I promise to keep you all updated through my progress. 

Mwah!  

Mych 

Boo

Okay, it's Monday.  If you know me, you know that Mondays mean fresh starts. 

Which I need badly.

It's been a rough few months. Between my husband being stressed about his job and occasionally ill, and my two miscarriages, we haven't lost any weight. If anything, I'm embarrassed to say I've gained a few more. Boo! Boo you weight gain. Boo you. 

Thankfully, my husband was blessed to find a wonderful job which he started today. And we've been making lots of progress in the healing process emotionally. All of these have contributed to me and my husband starting a fresh new health chapter. We're focusing more on our health and our fitness than on our appearance and pant size. Which I find refreshing and much less stressful emotionally and mentally. 

Calorie counting, watching car carb and fat consumption, lean meats, and lots of veggies, with occasionally cheats (because we are only human and  it's holiday time...), and plenty of exercise is our couples fitness plan.  A plan that we can adhere to since I'm able to work from home. Gives me plenty of time to research and food prep. I feel really good about it.  

Since we've decided to hold off on starting our family, it gives us time to get our health and fitness back in order and spend some quality time in our marriage before we add any little ones. It also gives us the chance to focus on our spirituality and our relationship with God. Since my husband has recently converted to the LDS church, one of our goals as a couple is to be able to go to the LDS temple and be sealed as a family for eternity.  

Life is such a wonderful and precious gift. And I am so very grateful for the innumerable blessings that God has blessed our family with. 

I love and appreciate all of you who support and encourage me and my husband as we continue our journey. 

Have a wonderful day and week!  Be happy. Smile. Laugh. Love. Change your life for the better, and that in turn will change other people. It's a glorious day. 

Much love!

Mych

OUCH!

Yikes!

I got on the scale today for the first time since I got married.

I fell off the wagon.

HARD.

And so did my husband.  Unfortunately we're both about 50lbs over where we want/should be.

Talk about a punch to the stomach.  I worked my way all the way down to the 180's and here I am a mere 30lbs away from the heaviest I have ever been.

I vowed I'd never let myself go back there, but it would appear the joy and happiness of newlywed-dom, and the binge eating after our miscarriage has had an adverse affect on our weight.

Thankfully I have a wonderfully loving husband who has joined me in a renewed effort to get my health back under control.

We're more motivated than ever to be healthy and to do it together in order to strengthen our marriage, and prepare a healthy lifestyle for our future family.

We started this morning, and there were plenty of obstacles to keep us from achieving our workout, but we didn't let it.  After an intense Focus T25 workout, we had a healthy breakfast - and even took our supplements!  Zach even drank his vinegar!  Hahahaha.

My fitbit is charged and ready for action again and I'm making sure to make a concerted effort to climb the stairs often and get in as many steps as possible daily.

We're making a lot of modifications to our daily routine and we have a long way to go... but it's a start.

And most importantly, it's together.

My family is even in on the action.  His parents are starting a new regimen, my mom is doing T25 on the same schedule as us, as is my brother and his beautiful new wife.

It's so much easier to be healthy when you have a community of support, so I thank them AND I thank you all for continually supporting me in this lifelong journey.

Changing your life is a continual process and one I'm excited to renew on a daily basis.

Talk soon lovelies!

Mwah!

Mych