thiccmami's Journal

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09 May 2024

Update on my healthiness. It’s an awkward road.

Is there such a thing as too healthy? I’ve just discovered that I’ve been overdoing it on veggies and have been experiencing some crazy bloating and belly aches for the past few weeks. It was a big reminder to ease into things because going from ham sandwiches and leftover dino nuggets to lentil stews with cauli rice and quinoa salads is sure to shock the gut. And shock it I did! I ended up in urgent care yesterday morning with bloating that was so bad that it was restricting my breathing. I thought there was something medically wrong with me, but it turns out it was just gas. Lovely.

The visit scared me into seeing a GI specialist who ordered a bunch of tests (to rule anything weird out) and urged me to go on the low FODMAP diet instead of the diet designed by my health coach. While the coach was recommending the standard 9” plate of 1/2 non-starchy veg, 1/4 lean protein and 1/4 whole grains at every meal, I should have probably made that rule for my dinners only. It was too much freaking broccoli and quinoa. But the thought behind the low FODMAP diet is to see if maybe I've developed some sensitivities to certain foods. And I'm all for it because I literally don't know how to eat anymore?? What's healthy even?

With that said, I want to apologize for all the times I acted like I knew it all because clearly, nutrition is HARD. And losing weight is HARD. And it gets exceptionally harder as we age. And it gets even harder when we start getting sick. There is no direct route nor a magic pill. No single way to fix it all and stay with it forever. So I’m owning it! I’m struggling! Here we go again!

(22 comments)

21 April 2024

REAL TALK

A few weeks ago, I went for my annual physical and got some unfortunate results from my routine bloodwork. My cholesterol was high (good and bad), and my thyroid levels were abnormal for the first time in my life. I have also become borderline pre-diabetic and have gained 20lbs since 3 years ago. Yikes.

After some additional testing, the doctors found nodules on my thyroid that they want to keep checking every few months. It was a shocking diagnosis, but didn't come as a surprise because both of my parents battled thyroid cancer later on in life with my daddy having passed 3 years ago from it when it spread to other parts of his body.

As much as I was loving my new curvy body that looked great in and out of clothes, I wasn't totally healthy. I continued to lift weights and ate similarly as I have always done, but was struggling to keep up with my very demanding life schedule. I start the day at 4 or 5am every single day and go balls to the wall with no breaks until about 9pm when I would crash and sleep like a narcoleptic, oftentimes passing out in my makeup and outside clothes.

This year is a year of major growth and change. I have already accomplished so much in my personal life. I got a promotion at work and am now in charge of all digital content in our marketing department. I have gone from coordinator to managing a team of employees and freelancers in just a few short years. I also purchased my home and got my ex-husband off my lease so I am now the only owner of my beautiful NYC apartment. This apartment is the security my kids and I needed in a very uncertain world. I am on my grind taking care of my family and my bills all on my own. I have made so much progress as a strong woman and am no longer dependent on any person or thing to keep me going every day.

But my health and fitness are paying the price. I struggle with balance and haven't made a big enough effort to carve out time to take care of myself. My family and my work always came first and I always felt untouchable. Prioritizing CICO and protein have been the basic principles of my WOE. I didn't care about cardio nor worried about nutritionally dense foods. All calories are the same, I thought. Superfoods are nothing but a bunch of woo, I thought. The "food is medicine" narrative is BS and a calorie is a calorie despite of its source, RIGHT? But then I thought - if certain foods can cause our health to deteriorate, why shouldn't other foods cause it to improve?

When I asked my doctor what I should do, she recommended a Mediterranean diet and daily cardio. She said I have to eat less dietary fat and more whole grains. No more cheese and mayo. What. My goals are now shifting for the first time in years. I need to lose about 20 pounds and for the first time, I must cut certain foods out of my diet. I feel like I'm relearning and it's annoying. I'm almost 40 years old and I just don't really like fish. I like to eat what I like. I thought cheese was healthy because protein.

I have already made some changes. I no longer eat mayo. I stopped buying deli meats. I eat very little cheese. I have swapped my cheap bread for the wildly expensive whole grain type. I am no longer as concerned about counting calories, so I am enjoying high cal foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, and EVOOO in my meals. I am trying to work more seafood into my diet. And I am no longer forcing 120g of protein into myself every day.

I haven't been lifting heavy and have been doing more yoga and much more cardio. My booty is smaller, but so is everything else. My legs look skinnier. My jeans fit a little loose and my arms feel like shapeless noodles. I am struggling to find the balance, but I know I'll be ok once I turn these new efforts into habits.

I am weighing in again - DAILY. I now have a health coach to help me set and meet goals. Her name is Megs and she seems great. I'm excited to get ahead of this and I do trust that these changes will help my health. I will do a full blood panel after I lose about 10lbs and compare. I'm doing this for me and my kids and so that I can enjoy all the fruits of my labor. I work way too hard to be sick and not be able to enjoy life. Even if it means that I can no longer enjoy cheese.

(70 comments)

02 April 2024

I’m an effort to eat more seafood, I bravely ordered oysters at dinner and now I have one of the worst stomach bugs I’ve ever had! I hate you, slimy sea creatures.

(59 comments)

26 March 2024

Something super duper humbling just happened. I saw my doc and she told me that the results from my latest bloodwork weren't awesome. First time ever. My cholesterol was elevated and my thyroid levels were off. She told me to follow a Mediterranean diet, bring back more cardio, and gave me a script for a thyroid ultrasound. I blame cheese on this. Dang!

(26 comments)

23 March 2024

Ok, WOW. This was a winner. Spaghetti squash, ground turkey, jarred alfredo sauce, parm, and pine nuts. 326 cals and 24g protein. So tasty!!

(16 comments)

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