Celebrating My New Lifestyle

Today (well, at the time of posting this here it is actually my 94th day and MY BIRTHDAY!) is my 90th day of eating a ketogenic diet and I couldn't be more satisfied (literally)!
Before going keto, I was an avid eater of the carbs. Even though I cut out refined sugars and processed foods, I was still a carb queen. As a result I needed to eat every 2-3 hours (like most people). I hated it because I felt I wasn't in control & I have since learned I wasn't. I had a serious carb addiction.
I found out about the ketogenic diet last spring. It fascinated me, people were kicking carbs to the curb for the most part, eating only one to three times a day and no need/desire for snacks and they weren't hungry, hangry, tired or suffering from brain fog. So yeah, I was fascinated. I worked my carbs down and switched them out for dietary fats (butter, coconut oil, avacados, heavy cream, cheeses, sour cream, eggs, nut butters, bacon, etc). The second Sunday in August my switch was complete to a ketogenic diet (less than 50g carbs, moderate protein & fat to satiety).
My NSVs (non-scale victories): I can workout fasted w/vigor (heavy weights, HIIT cardio, stretching & teaching dance classes). I am fat adapted. I can easily skip breakfast, I don't snack anymore. I can easily fast for 20 hours at a time. I breeze through my daily intermittent fasts of 16 hours. My energy level is very high (no more naps needed). No more brain fog. My addiction to lip balm is disappearing along with my dry skin. My hair & nails are strong & grow like weeds. My inflammation is almost zero. My pants are nearly falling off. My muscles are toned & becoming more defined as I am leaning out. My taste buds have changed too. No more shakes (blood sugar too low). My skin is glowing, my keratosis pillaris is almost gone on my arms & my teeth are whiter too. I also have been getting quite the nutrition education. I am constantly in nutritional ketosis and burn fat/ketones for energy. The list is growing.
My scale victories: I have lost 5lbs and 3% body fat since October.
I am so grateful the ketogenic diet crossed my path in my research. What a blessing!
At 21 days the keto way of eating was a habit. Now at 90 days I am proud to say it is a lifestyle.
When I eat keto, I often feel like I am indulging. I don't see any u-turns from the keto path in the future. I am content.

Resources I use:
www.2ketodudes.com
www.ketozone.com
www.dietdoctor.com
www.fb.ketonation.com
www.ditchthecarbs.com
www.carbsmart.com
www.westonaprice.org
www.realmealrevolution.com
Doctors: Jason Fung, Stephen Finney, Jeff Volek, Austin Jeans, Zoe Harcombe, Russ Scala, Ivor Cummins, Gary Taubes, Tim Noakes, Caryn Zinn (google them)
Books: The Big Fat Surprise- Nina Teicholz
The Diet Delusion- G. Taubes
The Obesity Code- Jason Fung
The Obesity Epidemic- Zoe Harcombe
The Art & Science of Low-carb Living- T. Noakes
The Real Meal Revolution- T. Noakes
Grain Brain- David Perlmutter
New Atkins, New You- Dr. Westman
Challenging Beliefs- T. Noakes
Always Hungry- D. Ludwig
What The Fat?- Grant Schofield
Annnnd, you can always talk with me.

I'm back...I think...Definitley not the same.

Wow, hello...Yes, it has been forever and I really do miss you! I have undoubtedly been on a very long unexpected journey feeling for a good portion of it like I was stuck in middle earth and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape. I lost a lot of "friends" in this time, which I have come to painfully realize on this journey they were never my friends in the 1st place. This is truly agonizing to an overt extrovert who had suddenly found herself house & bed bound for a LOOOOOONG time (forever in my mind), trapped really and falling hard & fast leaving nail scrapings along anything I could grab for to stop falling into what seemed a never ending, darker by the moment abyss. Yes, a few people stopped to bring meals (6 meals)...Drop them at the door (or hand them to my kids) and off they went. No offers of taking my kids for any short periods of time to relieve them from having to watch their mother cry, not really be present, just watch their mom rapidly disappear into someone who wished she no longer lived, they lost some friends during this dark time too (this, now that I can look back on it...I deeply regret that so very much). Even though I gratefully appreciated those meals and I know the sacrifice they made to do so, I still felt forgotten. Six months or so out from the accident, I had some nourishment for my soul... I had a couple ladies bring me lunch once and eat with me, I relished those two occasions, I prayed they wouldn't end...But it did and I am thankful for the time they spent with me. I also had a couple ladies come twice to pray with me and pamper me, bring me a couple delicious meals and I adored them for the sacrifice I know they made for me. Those ladies helped me more than they know even though it was brief, they reminded me that I was not forgotten. At this time I had a very close friend, I considered her a sister we were so close. She was there for me quite a bit and helped me as much as she could. She would take my kiddos every once in awhile so they could remember what fun was during this time. She would come hang out in my room while I laid in bed and talk to me about what was going on in her life or just listen to me. She was a lifesaver for me and my family. She helped me through one of the toughest years of my life. Sixteen months or so out from the accident, more changes rolled my way... As I got better, she started to come around less and less. I eventually realized I had been replaced with someone else and their baby. Okay...(I am getting stronger and then BAM, another jagged wrench thrown in). You see, she wanted a baby so badly and as of yet still does not have her own. I know she has things going on in her life that affect this (I don't know in current detail), but she latched on to this other lady with a new little one and hasn't let go so far. I thought it was just a phase. Twenty-two months out from the accident, I had been hobbled... I had to learn to grasp something that I kind of denied when it came to this very close friend of mine. I was having an event for my studio at a park to help drum up business, I had sent a text to her a couple weeks prior along with a handful of other people to join us. It was a hooping jam (hula hoops & family fun), something free for the community. I needed a small group of friends & family to help out & create a buzz to attract other people (you know how that generally works). Anyway, I knew this would be something she would enjoy and she is my bestie, so I invited her. The day before I sent reminder texts out because I know how busy people are these days, and I received a less than friendly text back, at least not one you send to your bestie, a stranger yeah...But not your bestie. That was the day I realized I had been totally and completely replaced and we apparently are not even close friends anymore. A shocking, bitter pill for me to swallow, I had been cut to the quick...Hobbled. I have had to take a long time to heal from that blow and I still haven't completely, my heart still hurts. Yet, I cannot bring myself to talk to her about it, because it is so painful. So... I have kept very busy with my ever growing studio, re-connecting with my husband (who has been amazing through all of this) and my children (they have grown so much in the past 2 years), immersing myself in the presence of The Lord and His word and enjoying my ever faithful childhood friend who spent a good portion of this summer with me nourishing my soul. I have also been busy with my therapies that I still go to as a result of the car accident (I don't need as much medication with the therapies). I still spend a ton of time in bed and I still require a lot of sleep. I have enjoyed the sun as much as I could this summer and my family as I am getting stronger everyday. I practice Pilates 6 days a week and stretch 7 days a week, this is a must (I love the side effects too, I have totally re-shaped my body). I also have formed a therapeutic, results oriented Boot Camp for my studio as well, it is growing like rapid fire...My clients love their results too. I am also getting more immersed in the studio in general and I have stayed true to my free-lancing roots. I teach Ballet & Worship dance to homeschoolers once a week at their co-op. I love pouring into others' lives with my talents and it makes my heart happy the more I get too. I am making an even more conscious effort & plan to show compassion to those who need it. I just recently spent a few months helping my cousin & her husband (he recently just passed away from an aggressive rare cancer, I am glad I got to know him and really connect before he passed away & he definitely made me more thankful for my life), I will continue to check on my cousin and spend time with her. I have also settled with the girl's insurance company, finally. I have also had a healing medical miracle in my neck I will expand upon in the future. I am busy finding myself again because I am definitely not the same. I know this posting started out dark ( I had to get it off my chest before I could move on with this blog), but I am not in that dark place anymore as you can see. I hope my transparency will help someone...If not, at least I got it off my chest. Please accept my apologies for disappearing for such an extended time.

Response to a comment & update

I Miss (Desperately!)

Danae January 22, 2013 at 8:33 AM

Hello sweetie, I've just read your blog entry and it seems terrible to me that people like yourself can suffer so dreadfully from others' unconsidered actions. I see that you blogged last March so I am sincerely hoping that you have recovered such a lot from the accident. It's hard to ever know why these things happen, but you seem to be the kind of person who will forgive and move on. It is so true, isn't it, that we never know what we take for granted until it, too, has moved on. I am never going to complain again. You have changed me for the better. Thanks, and get well. x

Danae,
Thank-you for your kind words. Until your comment I really had not realized how long it has been since I have posted, just short of a year. :(
I have recovered some from the accident, I am not bed ridden anymore, all my micro tears have healed. I am now allowed to stretch, do Pilates, Barre work & Hooping to tolerance. I cannot dance full out yet, so I do not yet feel much satisfaction or relief when I am doing what I am allowed to because it does not let me express myself the way I always have through dance. So, I am working with a pain therapist to help me learn to cope with my new lifestyle, it is going okay...I keep trying to look at the bright side of it all but many days I do find it nearly impossible if I am going to be honest, I spend many days in bed. Having that said, I do have some good days and I take them for all I can! I definitely DO NOT take them for granted. I can cuddle with my family again, albeit for short periods. I have decided to take up guitar with my daughter and I am learning to enjoy that. I try not to complain on a daily basis, I try to make sure I smile as much as I can. I try to not let the pain get to me, but it does. Please know it is okay to complain once in awhile, we are human and crazy shizit happens. I am touched I have inspired you in some way and grateful. I was not going to make this post public originally I don't like negativity...But I felt SO alone and was in the darkest place I had ever been in my life. I want to say I have fully forgiven the girl, but just when I felt I have, something comes up and makes me feel I just haven't quite done it. I am working on it though because it is never good to hold a grudge, it only hurts me in the end...This I know. I keep VERY busy and that helps me to not dwell on what happened to my life too much and well, I sleep A LOT my body requires it. However, I still have yet to feel like "me" again since the accident. Maybe there are things that God wanted to change about me that I was not aware of, I guess I will have to wait for those answers. I also learned recently that my neck injury is worse than originally thought and I will be going for a new EMG on Monday morning (those are pure torture sessions and this will be my 3rd). Then we will know where to proceed with my treatments from there. Anyway, I felt I owed you an up date because you pointed out it was so long since I posted. Once again, thanks for your kind words, compassion and encouragement. I will keep you in my prayers! xo ~Joie

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What's going on?!?!?!!!

So what has been keeping me away from my blog lately (that I miss so much!)? Well, I have been very busy trying to open my dance & fitness studio I have always wanted. It is all happening in a very short time frame and at an extremely fast pace and it has been all consuming, not leaving me much time to hop on here. My open date is slated for July 6! I did want to give you an update and let you know I am alive and kicking and I miss you all! Read below all about my studio, if you please. :) Thanks!!!

Where dance and fitness become One

The Complete Dancer is aimed to bring dance and fitness together
as one, making it a way of life. We offer dance and fitness classes of various styles. We hope to provide a fun way and place to spend your time meeting new goals in dance and fitness for your "me" time, to fulfill your dream of performing, competing, or making new friends that share your interests. We hope to bring joy to your life in a cost effective and comprehensive way, no matter your age.
Ages 3 through the Golden Years are welcome!

We strive to provide a fun place and way for to spend your time meeting new goals in dance and fitness for your "me" time, to fulfill your dream of performing, competing, getting fit or making new friends that share your interests.
We hope to bring joy to your life in a cost effective and comprehensive way, no matter your age or level of fitness and talent.

We offer:
Dance Styles: Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip-hop, Ballroom & Latin, Line Dance

Alternative Fitness Styles: Zumba, Pilates,Stretch, Barre, Hooping, Belly Dance

Programs:
Pre-school (3s & 4s)
Kids (5 - 12)
Teen
Adult
Performance Troupe
Competition Troupe

Email us!
info@TheCompleteDancer.com

You can visit us on Facebook and you can Follow us on Twitter and our Blog too!

Hopefully, I will be on here more often. Wish me luck and spread the word if you will, I would be ever so grateful. Peace ♥ Dance