Healthy Start + Breakfast

Happy Sunday!

I am feeling very positive this morning.  I think starting this blog and an Instagram page (IG: healthyhypocp) has really gotten me motivated.  For whatever reason, posting my health stuff makes me accountable for what I'm eating.  Whatever works!..ammiright?

I started my morning off with a delicious, wholesome meal.

Egg, sautéed spinach, gluten free apple cinnamon oatmeal, green tea.

I also remembered to take my AM vitamins (Lifetime Fitness brand) and Omega 3 supplement.  It's my understanding that those with hypothyroidism are typically lacking certain vitamins due to the under-active thyroid not producing as much.  

OH!  And I DID go get my Levothyroxine medication yesterday and took it this morning!!!!!  YAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSS.  Even though it'll probably take another month for it to kick in, I'm so relieved to have it back.  

Man...why do I get so sleepy after meals?  I want to go take a dang nap...and I JUST woke up!  I need to do some research on anything I can do that will help me stay awake that isn't super caffeinated.  I'm trying to ween myself off of the large amounts of coffee I'd been consuming to stay awake throughout the day; turns out tons of caffeine throws off your thyroid even more.  Bleh.  May just take time for my body to adjust to everything.... 

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Later today...

Definitely passed out for awhile.  I felt better afterwards, so maybe my body needed it.  

For lunch I had my leftover tuna salad, crackers, and apple from yesterday.  I'm pretty hungry today, so I'm eating a small snack now - Belfonte non-fat yogurt (Boston Cream Pie flavor).  

I wanted to go for a walk, but it's raining outside.  :(

Grocery List #1 + Lunch

First Gluten Free Grocery Trip

So I took a trip to my local grocer and I was able to find a lot of great, gluten free options!  They have a special "healthy, gluten free aisle"...but DUDE - that shit is EX-PEN-SIVE!  
$5 for a small loaf of gluten free bread!  
$7 for some gluten free chicken nuggets!
$10 for some dang chia seeds!

As awesome as that aisle is...I only took away some crackers, granola bars, and oatmeal.  The rest I found throughout the store.

I suggest planning a couple meals in advance; that keeps me from buying extra foods that look tempting, but I don't really need.

Gluten free apple & cinnamon oatmeal, gluten free garlic & herb crackers, gluten free dark chocolate granola bars, gluten free brown rice, plain non-fat greek yogurt, tuna, spinach, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, yellow onion, celery, avocado, apples, brazil nuts, shredded cheese, chipotle peppers, cumin

I tried to purchase as many whole foods as possible to avoid the frozen, processed route.  That's going to be very hard for me to continue; I'm notorious for buying frozen crap to heat and eat.  

Easy Gluten-Free Lunch

For lunch I made tuna salad - a great source of omega 3!

Canned tuna in water, plain non-fat greek yogurt, chopped onion & celery, parsley, iodized salt, pepper.  Paired with gluten-free Breton crackers and half of a delicious red apple.

I wasn't sure how it would taste with yogurt, but it was actually really good!  Very easy and quick to make.

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Dinner Out

I'm going to add this just because I'm proud of myself.  I went out to dinner with my sister last night to Louie's Wine Dive.  Although I caved and chose pasta, I did have a gluten free dish!

Shrimp Diablo

Gluten free pasta, shrimp, spicy creamy tomato sauce, topped with green onion

My Story

Starting another health blog...

I had one of these blogs many moons ago; the difference being I was younger, motivated by different things, and not yet severely struggling with hypothyroidism.

Back then, I was obsessed with working out to look good.  As I grew older and other responsibilities made their way into my life, working out to solely "look good" was not sustainable.  Looks fell short to living expenses, budget, family, relationships, school, etc.  

There are definitely some pros and cons here...

1) Younger Clare was more selfish and took the time to do what I wanted for me.

2)  Younger Clare was naive and superficial when it came to health goals.  Although I looked fit, I was obsessed with getting as thin as possible.  It may have been physically appealing, but it was mentally draining.

3) Although I took on new responsibilities and grew in other areas of my life (got a Master's degree, had my first long-term romantic relationship, had a fun social life, lived on my own), my health definitely took a back seat.

About 2 years ago, as I was finishing up my Master's degree, I really started to struggle with lack of energy.  I would sleep for hours and hours; wake up to eat, then go right back to bed.  It didn't matter how many hours of sleep I got...I always wanted more.  

I thought I was just stressed and that it would go away after graduating.  It didn't.  

Getting up for work became more and more difficult.  My boyfriend was getting very frustrated that I continuously whined about gaining weight, but wouldn't DO anything about it.  He thought it was lack of will power...which made me feel worse about myself.

I am now 27-years-old and 2016 was BY FAR the worst year of my young life.
I became depressed.  My relationship ultimately ended.  I lost my job.  I struggled to pay for things - including my home.  I got in a car accident from exhaustion.  I was told during a health consultation that I am considered obese (from body fat percentage).  

Hypothyroidism is a big deal.  

Its effects are pervasive and it needs to be taken seriously.  

I am really trying hard to turn my life around so I can feel better.  Even as I'm sitting here writing this, I just want to go back to bed and sleep.  But, I will fight this.  Its a beautiful day and I have a lot to get done.

This blog is to help me think clearly, hold myself accountable, and stay motivated.  

If it helps others...even better.

THINGS THAT I NEED TO GET DONE TODAY:

- Pick-up new thyroid medication

- Clean living space (very behind on laundry, dishes, everything from being sleepy)

- Get rid of overly-processed/wheat products

- Go to grocery store for whole foods/gluten free foods (studies indicate gluten-free diet helps with restoring thyroid)

- Take a 30+ minute walk on trail 

I think those are some good, attainable goals for the day.

My long-term goals include:

- Lose 25-30 pounds

- Stop drinking alcohol/no longer crave it

- Stop eating fried foods/no longer crave it

- Feel happier & healthier (measured by energy levels)

- Find a job that I'm passionate about and love

OKAY!  Quick power nap because I'm sleepy and not medicated yet...then ready to accomplish stuff today!