90 Days of Change Ahead

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Hi Lucias, thanks for the comments! The hypnosis recording I have is Dr. Laura DiGiorgio's "Control Your Drinking" Control Your Drinking with Deep Trance Hypnosis. Maybe it's not good form to recommend another's site when this one has hypnosis cd's for sale. So have a look at them (the ones here) if you haven't already.

12 days, no wine. Feel good. I'm not so tired any more and I'm starting to actually feel a bit energetic. It's nice.

Barium poop is fascinating. White. Rather disturbingly white, even though they say to expect it.

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

90 days is a long damn time.

[Ringing Cedars]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Hi Pindy. Just read your last big post. Magnesium deficiency is common among the general population but could very well be higher among heavy drinkers. I was around dragon boaters a few years back and noticed they were very negligent diet wise and didn't take supplements either to compensate. They did not look healthy at all. Rather sickly too me. Not saying this is you, but it's really important to get good nutrition and to supplement if your body is under added stress either mentally or physically. To alleviate your joint pain and stiffness you should take that calcium/magnesium three times a day with food. I hope it's a good quality one. It will help reduce inflammation in your body. Also look into a good glucosamine/chondroitin/msm combination product to reduce inflammation and give the body a chance to regenerate. Good luck )

[JustJoan]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Keep it up!

Hey Pindakaas! I'm enjoying your thread. Keep up the good work! I'm on Day 5 now and am willing to join your 90 days even though I am behind you.

:goodjob:

JJ

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Hi Joan. Join the fun! Health, change, growth --- good stuff. Congrats on 5 days!

13 days for me. My second wine-free weekend coming up.

RingingCedars -- it is amazing what the right supplements can do for us, no?

I am right sick of them at this point, though. Pill after pill after capsule after powder after yet another pill. Blargh. Really looking forward to the day when I am healthy enough that I don't need so many. Right now I do, though. I am quite the expert on a lot of supplements now, too. What to take and when and in what quantity. Side effects and benefits. Symptoms of various deficiencies. Quality brands versus cheap crap. The whole topic is fascinating. Still doesn't make having to take so many bloody pills every day any more pleasant.

[Ringing Cedars]

90 Days of Change Ahead

It is fascinating Pindy and my passion and living and way of life. About 10 years ago I was taking a gazillion (seemed like anyways) supplements several times per day - every day. I did this for about 6 years. This was not due to drinking but a compromised gut from eating wheat, refined foods and STRESS. Resulted in Candida and IBS which created huge nutritional deficiencies. It did feel burdensome some days but I persisted. I had to change my diet big time and STICK TO IT. I've learned to really listen to my body and take many sups as needed now. I also take more supplements in liquid form now--less pills and better absorption. It is so worth it though. Keep going and you will continue to feel better and refine your regime.

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

RC, I wish there was a reliable test for candida. I take some stuff to combat it, but I don't know if I have it sure. Seems plausible, but I'd like to know for sure.

So here I am. I woke up at 5am after a really good night's sleep. I feel great. I have lots to do this weekend and plenty of energy to get it all done. Some of it is creative, too (choosing colors for some remodeling that's being done), and that's always difficult with a hangover and low energy levels. But today -- hey, bring on the color samples.

I'm dusting off the running shoes and headed out for a good one. My legs and feet feel better than they have in a long time. In fact my dog is lying on a foot right now and it doesn't hurt. That's a very nice change.

The sun is coming up. It's supposed to clear and warm today. It's going to be a great weekend.

[Pride before Fall]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Okay, Pindy, you inspired me. I took a 2-day hiatus from running due to work and feting stepdaughter, who left for college this morning. Time to go kick some ass (or at least reduce some ass) on the trails.

[Ringing Cedars]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Evening Pindy. Here in Canada the medical profession doesn't like to acknowledge Candida, never mind test for it. Apparently the only conclusive test they say they have is an intestinal tissue biopsy.

I had the opportunity to have live blood analysis (both light and dark microscopy) every few months over a 3 years period. Now that's fascinating and motivating stuff. I saw the damage in my blood. Inflammation, parasites, bacteria, candida and sticky red cells and large honkin cholesterol crystals! Yikes and I was relatively healthy! So, I believe that most of us walk around with varying degrees of candida.

I'm glad your feeling better and ready to get back in the game. Listen to your body and it will tell you what it needs over time.

Hi there Pride! Enjoy your weekend gals!

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

I think most of us are walking around with candida, too. It would be fascinating to have a live blood analysis. I would love to have to that done.

Speaking of western medicine . . . I got the results back from tests I had done a few days ago. I have 4 small lesions on my liver and a mass of some sort outside of my small intestines that is separating the intestinal loops. But they don't know what either of those things are, so they want to do a CT scan.

Worst case, of course, is cancer. Cancer in two places like that would be very bad news. Far more likely is that the abdominal stuff is a benign growth and the liver lesions are alcholic fatty liver disease.

At least I know why my stomach is so distended and why my guts hurt every time I eat.

Is this caused by alcohol? Hmm. The fatty liver, if that's what it is, is of course from the alcohol. The other growth, who knows. Alcohol is a factor in so many ailments that I have to be suspicious. And will it reverse now that I'm not drinking? Don't know. All I know at this point is that I feel dramatically better without the alcohol. This may be another issue entirely, but that doesn't mean that drinking wasn't the cause of a whole lot of my troubles, too.

So that sort of put a downer on my perky morning. I did go for a run but it turned out to be more of a walk with a little bit of trotting thrown in here and there. Feet hurt, legs hurt. Not nearly as bad as they did two weeks ago but still enough to affect my running. I'm a big wimp when it comes to running, you see. If it hurts I don't do it. I do like walking. Maybe I'll just walk this half marathon.

Did you run, Pride? Do you normally run every day?

[JustJoan]

90 Days of Change Ahead

You runners are making me jealous! I'm really a wimp when it comes to exercise, although I definitely need to do that. I'm 7 days now and it really is time for me to start exercising and lose some weight. I'm already feeling better about myself and hearing of y'all's successes makes me smile. I'm just really lucky that so far the alcohol has not taken its toll on me physically. Emotionally and from a family standpoint, that's another story.

Isn't it just to refreshing to come here and hear that others are thinking, feeling and going through the same things you are? At least I know I'm not alone.

:thanks:

[paguy]

90 Days of Change Ahead

JJ - Yes, coming to this site has been very helpful for me. Being in touch with real life folks who have the same struggles and challenges is very empoweing for me. I am a firm believer that strength comes in numbers and I do get strength by coming here, reading and sharing.

Pind and RC - your information about Candida is fascinating. I have read about the overall impact of inflammation on our intestinal tracts but was not familiar with the prevalence of Candida. I need to get more familiar with this concept. I am a bit of a nutritional enthusiast and find this stuff very interesting.

I am a runnner, too. Usually run up to 5 days a week but I have been side-lined for 5 weeks with a foot injury and unufortunately, received disappointing news yesterday as I need additional surgery This is SO frustrating for me as my injury was totally unrelated to running - dropped a knife in my kitchen and severed a tendon. My first surgery to repair the tendon did not work so now I have to see a foot specialist next week for another surgery consult. It is going to be some time before I can run again. :upset:

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend!

[Pride before Fall]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Did you run, Pride? Do you normally run every day? >>

Hi Pindy,

I did run yesterday. I started again in April after a year-long string of health problems. I do 4-5X/week fairly consistently, but I'm with you on the pain part. I took a class on isometric stretching to see if that would help, and it did a little, but I'm 47, and the fact is my joints don't have the cushioning they once had. I run on trails rather than the road because it's easier on my knees. I used to love running in my 20s; now, I sometimes love it, sometimes don't, depending on the ache/pain factor.

I love walking too, particularly with a good audiobook on my ipod. It just takes more time for the benefit, which I don't have a lot of.

Hold on to that dramatically better feeling, running or walking. It's priceless.

[Pride before Fall]

90 Days of Change Ahead

Isn't it just to refreshing to come here and hear that others are thinking, feeling and going through the same things you are? >>

JJ--Yup!

{{{PA,}}} that SUCKS about needing additional surgery on your foot. How frustrating! :durn: Hopefully, it will be the last chapter in this injury story (and injury book!).

[Pindakaas]

90 Days of Change Ahead

You and Serena Williams, Paguy. That's really frustrating. There are a bunch of people at the pool who water-run. It's not nearly the same thing, I know, but it looks like fun. I hope you heal and get back on the trail soon.

I'm headed out for a 6 mile jaunt today. I'm behind on my training schedule (as usual) so I'm trying to do some catchup. I know I won't be running this half, but I'll make it to the finish line. I listen to podcasts while I walk/run. Really enjoy them. Speaking of which I need to reload before we head out this morning.

Today marks 2 weeks alcohol free. Seems like forever. This is actually a danger zone for me, because I start feeling like, 'hey, I've got this nailed, I can do this' and so I drink again and then I'm right back where I was, drinking too much every night and hating it.

That's why I committed to these 90 days. No saying that I've done it before I've actually done it. I feel much better, but there's a lot of learning to do still. New habits to form, new ways to look at life. A lot of physical healing, too.