Health & Fitness – Life is a Journey

Health & Wellness Update

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Libby Withnall

Sorry for being MIA again. It’s been a really rough start to 2014. For over 13 weeks, starting right after our holiday to Nelsons Bay I have been REALLY unwell with extreame fatigue, aches & pains, really bad headaches, chest pain, stomach upsets and excessive hair loss. You name it, I’ve probably experienced it. So there have been almost weekly trips to the doctors,

lots of tests (blood tests, walking stress test, heart check) ,

CT scans (lungs & head) and pelvic ultrasound,

and even an endoscopy & colonoscopy,

At the end of all this I have discovered I am insulin resistant, have oesophagitis, a hiatal hernia and had low iron stores (which was the cause of most of my problems). So I’ve been put on a miriad of medication and iron supplements and after 2 months of taking the supplement my iron stores are finally back to normal and my energy is returning. Unfortunately there are still some bad days but I’m able to get out walking the dogs again and things are definitely improving.

So all the testing I had done really didn’t help much BUT it did rule out a LOT of potential problems so at least I know that other than the above issues, everything else is working pretty well :-).

Of course, just I was getting better I went for a routine skin check and the dermatologist took 6 (!!!) biopsies.

All were fine except for one on my shoulder which is a basal cell carcinoma. I’m not really that surprised as it’s right near the other one that I had removed. Luckily it’s just going to be removed in his surgery in a months time.

The biggest issue, other than being in pain and spending most days on the couch, is that I have gained back ALL the weight (plus some) that I’d lost at the end of last year and over Christmas. With not being able to spend time in the kitchen making my healthy food, resorting to more takeaway and packaged meals, and then starting to feel sorry for myself and medicate with naughty snacks, on top of no exercise, I guess it’s not surprising. But it is rather disappointing and depressing. Especially as I even survived Christmas and vacation eating low sugar!!! Oh well, if I did it once, I can do it again. And because I now know I am insulin resistant, I know why it’s been so hard for me to lose weight and hopefully the medication I’m on will help rectify that once I get back to my “normal, healthy, low sugar diet”.

Morning walks

Posted on January 1, 2014January 5, 2014 by Libby Withnall

Just sharing some photos from my morning walks during the last week of the year. I never tire of it, and hope you don’t either.

New focus on Wellness

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Libby Withnall

As promised I’m here to update/inform you of my new focus – WELLNESS. After such a horrible month health wise in July I felt I was stuck in a neverending cycle. Pain lead to not the healthiest meals being prepared & too many snacks being consumed as I felt sorry for myself, which lead to weight gain, which lead to more pain, and so began the cycle again. In desperation I started looking at various programs and ideas in an effort to find the “perfect” one that would have me pain free and losing weight.

As July drew to an end I knew it had to stop, and that I needed to make WELLNESS a priority. Not weight loss, but wellness. Of course, I know a consequence of wellness will be weight loss but I took the focus away from it. I also started being KIND to myself. If I was in pain, I’d just take a slow walk and not expect too much from myself. When I felt better I’d take the time to make healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. I set a goal to walk the dogs 5 days a week and get in two strength training sessions. I didn’t have to do a BIG workout 6 days a week, which is what I had always thought I had to do.

You know the amazing thing? After just one day eating well (low sugar, additives & preservatives) and nourishing my body with green smoothies & salads, my pain levels went back down. A few days later they were back to normal levels (which unfortunately is not pain free but it’s quite managable). And I felt HAPPY and in control of life and food. It’s now been over 2 weeks with my focus on WELLNESS and I’m feeling great. Slowly, but surely, I’m getting my life & home more in order. I am better able to cope with things. And I’m sure I must be a much better person to be around. Oh, and I’ve lost 3kgs (6.6lbs) as a bonus !!!

So for those of you struggling with your weight or health or inner-self problems, I encourage to change your focus to WELLNESS & being KIND to youself. Afterall I think at the end of the day we all just want to be HAPPY, and it’s pretty hard to achieve without WELLNESS. I do hope you’ll join me on this journey.

I’ve been doing weekly Wellness Wednesday videos on YouTube which you might like to check out.

Foodie Friday & Almond Milk Tutorial

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Libby Withnall

Yay, getting this done on Friday – which is amazing really because I only have a small amount of free time today.

So how did the week go with my elimination diet? So far it’s been good. Still no improvement in pain levels (they are actually worse right now) but my appetite is greatly reduced and I have now lost 4kg (8.8lbs). I am going to add in some things like tamari and eggs, and stay away from sugar, gluten, processed soy & corn (as much as possible). I’m just taking things day by day. Mostly it’s easy but I am getting a bit bored of basically the same thing every day, and having to make seperate meals.

This weeks groceries involved LOTS of fruit and veg…

Most of the groceries were for the rest of family though I did get a few frozen Syndian products – I used to have these before and quite liked them.

So what did I eat this week? Pretty much the same as last week.

Breakfast was a green smoothie….sometimes made to go…

Lunch with a salad with hummus and either falafels (gluten free) or veggie bites…

Dinner was quinoa or brown rice with some type of bean or lentil topping.

This was quinoa with a lentil bolognase sauce….

and a healthy version on nachos….

Not quite the same as what everyone else had….

The definite stand-out meal this week was at the Nan Tien Temple.

Tonight I have a date with the Boss and I’ve packed a salad to take with me. Trying to hang in there as long as I can.

I’ve been making lots of almond milk (usually every second day) and had a request to film a video. If you like almond milk you really must make your own. It’s super easy, super fast and super yummy.