F.A.S.T.I.N.G.

Given my recent test results that included some elevated liver enzymes (these enzymes have been high for 1 year now), I thought it was best to cleanse my body. I also have a vitamin B12 and D deficiency that is commonly found in those who are overweight and have celiac disease. So, I have decided to fast to attempt to shrink my liver and hopefully begin the process of getting those enzymes back in the normal range. I have also read that a liquid diet is good for cleansing the digestive system and giving it the rest it needs while it resets itself. My liver enzymes became elevated right after I had a pretty major foot/ankle surgery. However, I did gain a good bit of weight while I was recovering. So, the chances are is that this is fatty liver disease and hopefully not a liver disease that was caused by pain medication or some other type of reason. I do not drink regularly and when I do it is (1) drink with dinner maybe 6 times per year. I am currently on no medication at all other than my daily/weekly vitamin regimen.

So, this week I will take a multi-vitamin, my 1 x per week vitamin D (prescription), and I will go get a B12 injection.

I am currently tracking caloric intake (points) on the weight watchers program. I get 38 points per day on a normal day. My current weight is 242 and I am 5'7. My BMI is 37.9 and puts me in the obesity category. I probably will not meet my target points goal due to the fast at this time. But once I decide I have done the fasting process enough I will meet those points goal and follow the program as it should be followed.

Exercise regimen: The goal is to move 30 minutes per day at a minimum. I plan to walk and try this new exercise video I found: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/videos-detail.asp?video=28#_a5y_p=1516447

Other forms of activity I like that are easy on my joints are swimming and riding the bicycle.

Right now I am essentially pretending that I am going to have lap band surgery. I am at the point where I would qualify to do so, but I have to admit that idea scares me to death. Obesity has been a big problem within my family and still is. I would love to show myself and the world that this cycle could be broken without the use of a surgery or any kind of other assistance.

Each day, I will post about how the process is coming along and address the F.A.S.T.I.N.G. acronym. I also have homework to do in the "Made to Crave" book.

Later today, I will post pictures and stats of my measurements so that I can track my progress in more ways that just a number on the scale.

If you want to do the fast this is what I am allowing myself to have (Gluten Free):

water, unsweet black tea, green tea, sugar free jello, broth, sugar free popsicles (you can have protein powder-it's just that most of it contains wheat that I can't have. Organic 1% milk

I plan to try this fast for (3) days at a time and then make a decision from there as to how much longer to go on. The main issue is to get all of this garbage out of my system, shrink my stomach and liver, and just focus on my faith in God versus turning to food or other things for comfort.


If you stumble upon this site, I encourage you to join me and support me in this journey. Negativity and hateful messages will not be tolerated and will be deleted immediately.

Taking off my Mask...

A couple of things I saw, heard, and thought of recently has led me to embark on a new journey. It's no secret to myself that for a very long time I have relied on everything but God to try and get me to the point of happiness and health. My main trigger since my teenage years has been food. This "food high" stemmed from a long line of issues dealing with relationship problems, low self-esteem, and various other issues I won't get into now. I don't need to sit hours on the therapists sofa to tell me that I am trying to fill a hole that just keeps getting deeper as time goes on. I am a food addict with a real eating disorder. But, mostly I have had a faith disorder.  If you know anything about the story of the Israelites in bible where they are circling the mountain and finally God tells them to turn a different direction instead of continuing in the circle. Well, this is exactly what happened to me. I have been circling the mountain of taking care of some health issues for quite some time now and it is time to turn North. I have been circling the mountain in letting God take control of me and this silliness just has to stop. Over the past year, I have had multiple vitamin deficiencies, elevated liver enzymes (aka liver disease), and furthermore was diagnosed with Celiac disease. What have I done about it? A BIG FAT NOTHING! What am I doing to my body? Why in the world would I take something so precious for granted and just abuse it to the point where I might cause some irreversible damage to it?



During this journey, I am also relying on the book "Made to Crave" by Lisa TerKeurst. I want to share a passage from her book with you:

"Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it. Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north' (Deuteronomy 2:3 [NASB]). Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."

I may or may not get brave enough to share with you how my problems began, but I am brave enough to share with you my journey of the road back to health and how I plan to let God take control of me. I find comfort in today's message from my church when our Pastor shared the following verse from John 19:30:

Tomorrow I will be posting my plan of action, the reasoning behind that plan, and how it came about, and my stats with pictures.

Happy Easter everyone!


XOXO

Kimberly