Prior to getting honest about my diet, I was the ever so common athlete who treated myself to cake, pizza, or any other large, calorie-dense meal after a workout well done. Add to that the cooked and processed diet I already regularly consumed. After high school my weight always fluctuated. In college it wasn't so bad because I was strength training, gaining a lot of muscle mass and burning a lot of calories. However, after college because I didn't have the same exercise regimen and did not initially adjust my caloric intake, I was constantly borderline overweight according to the BMI. But if somebody had told me then to just eat tons of greens or fruit for energy, weight loss, health and pleasure, I would have rolled my eyes. Why? I exercise! I can just burn it off ...plus exercise makes me healthy! (Or at least overcompensates for my diet, right?)
However, throughout my 20s, I suffered severe arthritic pain in my back, arms and fingers. Whenever the weather changed and the barometric pressure dropped or rose dramatically, I was in a world of hurt with headaches, fatigue, and discomfort in my joints. I chalked it up to years of throwing discus, shot and hammer in high school and college, and figured this was just going to be my lot in life. My thought process at that time was "Just keep moving so you don't stiffen up." So I continued exercising, which helped some. Little did I know that all the cooked, processed food and high meat content I was eating was very likely causing the inflammatory response.
I used to crack my back, neck, and fingers daily. I actually had a "routine." Also, I employed my husband to snap crackle pop my back with a bear hug squeeze weekly, sometimes more, especially in the Fall and Spring. Since I could feel the pressure move from joint to joint, anyone who suffers from this knows how much the cracking temporarily alleviates it--but also, how it can make you feel worse as the inflammation gets worse. I was definitely headed in that direction.
Fortunately, since cleaning up the diet, my aches and pains are nearly nil now. In fact, as I write this, the weather outside is frightful (after an 80 degree day yesterday) but I literally feel pretty dern delightful. Yes, I crack once in a while, but I have not had a full blown debilitating day in over a year. I asked my husband when the last time he bear hugged my for my back and he had to think about it. "It's been a long time." (Over a year.)
Am I going crazy? Maybe. But if the definition of crazy stands as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result," then no. I was crazy when I thought I could just continue eating the way I did and inconsistently exercise without expecting constant weight fluctuations or feeling lousy.
You now know how that worked out. Changed the diet...changed several outcomes. Since I'm currently as light as I was in high school AND no longer in severe arthritic pain, I think that not only makes me pretty sane, but an incredible testament to the potential benefits that can come from taking our diets a little more seriously.
As always, friends, please avail yourselves to the research about the raw diet and check out our resources page. Don't take my word for it. ...until I get licensed, ha ha.
However, throughout my 20s, I suffered severe arthritic pain in my back, arms and fingers. Whenever the weather changed and the barometric pressure dropped or rose dramatically, I was in a world of hurt with headaches, fatigue, and discomfort in my joints. I chalked it up to years of throwing discus, shot and hammer in high school and college, and figured this was just going to be my lot in life. My thought process at that time was "Just keep moving so you don't stiffen up." So I continued exercising, which helped some. Little did I know that all the cooked, processed food and high meat content I was eating was very likely causing the inflammatory response. I used to crack my back, neck, and fingers daily. I actually had a "routine." Also, I employed my husband to snap crackle pop my back with a bear hug squeeze weekly, sometimes more, especially in the Fall and Spring. Since I could feel the pressure move from joint to joint, anyone who suffers from this knows how much the cracking temporarily alleviates it--but also, how it can make you feel worse as the inflammation gets worse. I was definitely headed in that direction.
Fortunately, since cleaning up the diet, my aches and pains are nearly nil now. In fact, as I write this, the weather outside is frightful (after an 80 degree day yesterday) but I literally feel pretty dern delightful. Yes, I crack once in a while, but I have not had a full blown debilitating day in over a year. I asked my husband when the last time he bear hugged my for my back and he had to think about it. "It's been a long time." (Over a year.)
Am I going crazy? Maybe. But if the definition of crazy stands as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result," then no. I was crazy when I thought I could just continue eating the way I did and inconsistently exercise without expecting constant weight fluctuations or feeling lousy.
You now know how that worked out. Changed the diet...changed several outcomes. Since I'm currently as light as I was in high school AND no longer in severe arthritic pain, I think that not only makes me pretty sane, but an incredible testament to the potential benefits that can come from taking our diets a little more seriously.
Additional, hopefully relevant note: My last eye exam was a pleasant surprise as well. One of my contact lens prescriptions changed in my favor. Meaning, my weaker eye is seemingly getting stronger (It went from -4.25 to -3.75...I'm very nearsighted.) and is now matching my other eye. I look forward to keeping readers posted next year, since I've read that continual carotenoid consumption (surely carrots, but also greens, spirulina, chlorella and astaxanthin) can have that effect and strengthen eyesight.
As always, friends, please avail yourselves to the research about the raw diet and check out our resources page. Don't take my word for it. ...until I get licensed, ha ha.
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