It was another single-parenting week. Originally we were supposed to accompany the Caveman to Utah, but Thing 2 had music obligations so we stayed behind. C’est la vie. Here’s how my workouts went:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Unscheduled rest (work and dr appt = nada)
Wednesday: Run 3 miles
Thursday: Trail Run + Tabata
Friday: Trail Run + Tabata
Saturday: Trail Run
Sunday: Strength + Tabata
Our gorgeous fall weather (and colors) are winding down, and there’s snow in the forecast next week, so as per usual, I hit up the trails as often as possible. I’m all about stress reduction and doing what makes me happy. You’ll see why in a sec. First get a load of these colors.
Breathtaking, right?
Endocrinologist Appointment. I had the followup with my Endocrinologist to hopefully formulate a plan to address my very high anti-thyroid-antibodies. I’ve known for years that I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and I often wondered what the implications would be going forward. Until now, doctors have been satisfied with medicating me so that I have sufficient thyroid function but left those ATAs raging in the background. According to this dr, a rogue autoimmune system can attack the pancreas, leading to Type II diabetes, the brain, leading to dementia, and a host of other things.
(Google images)
She offered me two options:
- Medication that, according to her, works in 50% of patients. (I’m not a fan of more meds)
- A 6-week elimination diet, which I anticipated, although the extent of the foods to be eliminated threw me.
I expected to cut out refined sugar, gluten, dairy and soy. I did not anticipate the ban on eggs, corn, legumes, many nuts, seeds and oils as well. Maybe most important, I did not anticipate having to be 100% strict with the diet. Apparently just one little slip-up voids the entire test. Basically the diet allows grass-fed protein, a whole lotta organic, non-GMO veggies, two servings of organic fruit and some green tea and mineral water. In case you were wondering, this protocol is called Autoimmune Paleo or AIP.
As soon as I left the Dr’s office I fought the urge to go load up on some last-ditch junkfood or at least dip into our Halloween candy. What will I do without PIZZA?? and CHEEEESE! I won’t be able to go out to eat EVER and I’d better get used to reading labels like it’s my job. There are stress-reduction and environmental toxin components as well, although I am less intimidated by them. I’ll get my head around this (eventually) but so far I’ve been in pity party mode. I did get an AIP cookbook and found some support groups. What may be the most difficult thing is, other than the fatigue, sluggishness and weight gain I complain about, (I figured some of that was age) I don’t suffer from typical leaky gut (the root of a rogue autoimmune system) symptoms like IBS, diarrhea, cramps, indigestion, bloating, etc.
With the holidays literally right around the corner, I’ve decided to eliminate soy and gluten for now (this is no picnic) and adopt the strict AIP protocol (heaven help me) after the New Year. I’ll stop whining now.
Loving
Oiselle’s Elite Grannies. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely noticed that there’s very little attention paid to women “of a certain age”, especially in sports. I love that Oiselle is putting a spotlight on women 70+ who are still out there running and kicking ass. While I don’t love their chosen term of “grannies” (what if they don’t have kids or grandkids?) I runfess I kind of like that the minimum age =70. Makes me feel young. Haha! Learn more about Elite Grannies here.
El Camino. Since the weather was horrible last night, we finally stayed in and watched this. This is a movie sequel to Breaking Bad. It’s dark, quirky and suspenseful just like Breaking Bad was.
How was your week? Ever done an elimination diet? Heard of AIP? Congrats to our MCM runners!
I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!
I looked into the AIP protocol last spring when I was miserable AF. It was just too strict for me. Plus no wine? But I did change my diet and I eliminated milk–altho I do sneak in a little cheese. I didn’t cut wheat out completely but I have really reduced my intake. What a huge difference it has made for me. RA aside, now I know why I had such bad IBS. I have a lot more energy than I did prior to this. The other thing I’ve had good luck with is that D-Ribose powder. There is some research to back its use in people with autoimmune diseases (specifically RA) and I will look for the studies to share with you. We have to take charge of our health if we want to avoid meds. Sounds like we need a lunch date to talk more… Hang in there, friend! If anyone can master this, it will be you!
I have heard of AIP & have done slightly less rigorous elimination diets. Look at it this way, hopefully when you do it, it’s temporary & you’ll be able to add back in things. You are tougher than this!
I’d be sad to miss UT, I admit; we enjoyed it so much!
I have not heard of that elimination diet. It would probably be impossible for me! I guess the easiest way to start with what you can eat and try to build your meals from there. How long will you need to be on it to see if it helps? We also watched El Camino -thought it was entertaining but missed seeing some of the usual suspects
Lou, you can do anything for 6 weeks! 🙂 Though I’d probably take the meds – ha!
Thinking of you often. Did you get my text a couple weeks ago? I keep forgetting to ask you.
Definitely sounds like the diet will be a challenge. I like your thought to start some elimination now and go full board after the holidays. 6 weeks? You’ve got this!
I have no doubt you’ll figure out a way to make the AIP work. I think easing into it is smart because the holidays just make everything even more complicated.
Hope the changes have you feeling better
Gorgeous colors. Snow is a four letter word
I also read about the Oiselle Elite Grannies and I also don’t like “grannies” in it. I’ve never heard of AIP and I never done an elimination diet. I would also do the same as you – wait till after New Years.
Wow – that diet sounds super restrictive. I’m so sorry that you have to go through all of these changes. I hope that the payoff will be that you feel much better, especially after eliminating so many different food groups.
That sounds like one tough diet, but I know it will be worth it if it improves your health. I guess you and I have opposite antibodies? I do love that Oiselle is highlighting older women, but I agree the name could use improvement. It’s hard to come up with a better one. Silvers?
My friend Lynn did AIP (she has CIDP – the chronic form of Guillan Barre) – I found her some snacks and prepared foods she could eat. Wild Zora and Chomps have some AIP compliant options. I’ll look for the list and send it over!
Wow, that elimination diet is strict! Maybe that’s what (hopefully) makes it work (?). Good luck with everything, you’ve got this. I started watching El Camino but could not commit to watching the entire movie (it was a late night & I had an early morning happening the next day). I gotta cue that back up!
Love trails in the fall..best time to run them
No gluten or sugar – yikes. But it’s only temporary.
Being 66, I don’t like the connotation of “grannies” How about “Elite Older Runners”
Wish this old lady luck on Sunday.
That elimination diet sounds very similar to the one I did to balance my hormones. I made a list of the foods I could eat and then looked up recipes with that specific combination – example: chickpea-squash-kale-dinner. And for any ingredient in those recipes that I couldn’t have, I would swap out or leave out. And then double or triple the recipe so I’d have lunch or dinner options. It’s a pain, but I think the information you get will be well worth it!
Sorry you have to be on such a strict diet. Sounds pretty tough but you’re a marathon runner, you can do tough.
I haven’t watched El Camino yet. Maybe this week.
I love your Fall pics!
I’ve never heard of AIP but it sounds intense! So if you did it for 6 weeks are they checking to see if there are changes and then would you slowly start adding stuff back in?
The trail looks beautiful this time of year!
Oh no 🙁 this doesn’t sound fun at all. I have done the Paleo diet long, long, long ago (back before it was “the” diet, since a trainer I was working with suggested I try it for the weight loss as well). To be honest after I got used to it, it wasn’t that hard. I did bake a lot more back then since I was trying to find something to replace bread. There are so great recipes out there – one of my favorite Paleo people is Melissa Joulwan; maybe she has something on offer for you?
I am starting Whole30 as an elimination diet and if I continue to have problems then I will go AIP. The thing that I worry about the most is what to eat for breakfast especially on AIP. I am a cereal or yogurt kind of gal. I can do eggs but not a huge fan. But they are eliminated on AIP. I get too focused on one thing and then can’t move on ha! Good luck with that and smart to wait until after the New Year. Loving your fall pics here and on IG.