Who is Guyon and why do I care?!

I have been super MIA, I know.  So much has been going on!  My work is starting its busy season and we just completed the whole refi process!  Yay on saving money :)

Also, I haven't really mentioned it before... but I am now a few treatments in with a physical therapist.

When I was about 11 years old, I had a sports surgeon tell me that by the time I was 30, I would be lucky if I had any movement in my hands or wrists.  He told me specifically that if I did not quit gymnastics immediately, I would be lucky to do ANYTHING in the future with my hands!  As in write, hold things, play tennis... ANYTHING.   I was devastated.  Being 11 and already having 7 broken bones behind me, I thought that I was tougher than that.  I wasn't going to give up just because some doctor told me I should.  (4 broken bones later and 2 elbow surgeries, I finally learned my lesson)

Enter 28 years old and on to the good old 29....

I started noticing that my right hand was cramping pretty regularly.  I then started to lose the strength in it and was dropping stuff on accident all the time.  It got so bad that if I could make it through an entire day and only drop 2 things, I was thrilled! I started researching online and of course did what you are never supposed to do: self diagnosed through WebMD.  I mean, it is hard to look anything up on WebMD and not come out with some sort of fatal illness.  But... it kept coming up with the same thing .... a condition similar to carpal tunnel (just in a different area of the wrist and hand) known as Guyon's Canal and is related to the ulnar nerve.... All the research online stated the same thing... "Get it fixed or it will get worse!"  ... and believe me, the last thing I want is hand surgery!

 source

Aww geez... the 11 year old gymnast in me is pissed. 

So I made an evaluation appointment with a doctor that had been suggested to me by some reliable sources.  After some muscle testing, xrays, and stress tests... turns out it is indeed the same condition I self-diagnosed on WebMD.  The nerves have been damaged and is causing the issues with my right hand, wrist and arm.  Dang. 

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  He thinks the nerve issues are also related to my neck.  So he is working on getting my spine back in place and making the vertebrae back in their proper position instead of their current position... which believe me, is totally whack!  Truth. So I'm pumped!  Not pumped about the time and cost but VERY pumped about the changes I am already noticing!  I don't wake up in pain throughout the night!  I have only dropped ONE thing in the last week! (That's a record)... AND I'm getting everything fixed now to reduce long term damage!

Who knows?!  Maybe this 3 month hiatus from all things workout related will be over soon!

I am always so fascinated by how the body is connected.  And I am thrilled to have a doctor that is really going above and beyond to make sure it is fixed.... and fixed correctly!  I even had a treatment today.  Man oh man, am I sore!  


Have you ever been told not to do something and then hated when it slapped you across the face? ;)

Genius?

I think so ;)

Wakey, Wakey... Eggs and Bac-ey

It's been almost a year and a half since I have had any dairy or meat other than fish.  That is a LONG time.  It has truly been an adventure and I wouldn't go back unless it was absolutely necessary.  The changes I have felt in my own body are phenomenal!  No more throwing up.  No more constant pain in my stomach.  No more worrying about where the nearest bathroom is.  It's been a life changer.

That being said, I have been surprised by what cravings quickly diminished and which ones refuse to let go and are hanging on for dear life.  Going into my diet change, I was a cheese addict!  Like serious cheese lover.  As in, I could eat a WHOLE bag of cheese cubes in a single sitting.  Truth. 

I was positive that not having cheese would be the end of the world.  Little did I know that I wouldn't even miss it!  Not one bit.  The thought of cheese actually grosses me out the majority of the time.  Who would have thought?! 

BUT... there are 2 things that I seriously struggle with .... Eggs and Bacon.  Oh sweet breakfast food and all its glory! 

I have always been an egg lover!  Fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, poached, deviled.... all divine!  But of  all the dairy-ish items...turns out I am seriously allergic to eggs.  I had tried going eggless in the past but it never changed my gut issues... But now I am definitely seeing the intensity of this allergy.  As in, I can't eat breaded eggplant if they use egg in the breading.  Sad. 

The other source of Sunday brunch sadness is Bacon.  Oh, beloved bacon.  Surprisingly, the thing that keeps me from eating bacon is this terrible situation...

Yet, according to the Humane Society, this is the year of the pig!  Please go read more here.  Changing their situation is necessary and they have made huge strides over the past year.  

So more than anything for Mr. Pig, pay attention to where your food comes from!  Educate yourself!  And buy local as much as possible.  

And on a side note>  always try to go for Grass-Finished beef... not Grass-Fed. 

Grass-finished is much more strict and generally means the cow was fattened on grass for the 90 to 160 days before slaughter.  Grass-fed means just that... a cow was fed grass... however, the length of time it had grass and the rest of its meals could have been conventional.  (Pending more defined terms via legislation) ... Most grass-fed cows are finished on grain/corn during those 90-160 days. 

So to finish this random little post... I will leave you with one of my favorite facebook memes....

awww.... bacon. *sigh*

Fil-A Fiascos and General Absurdities

Alright friends... I am generally not political on public forums.  (Unless you follow me on twitter... for which I apologize, I can't help myself).  That being said, I have had it up to HERE with all the ridiculousness that surrounds presidential elections. 

I will not get all preachy on you because I have my opinions and you obviously have yours.  (Or at least you should).... Instead, I request that you make yourself informed and do your civic duty of voting in the election. 

Search out resources outside of the norm.  Don't only listen to one news source.  Even listen to the "other-side" to get an idea of what stances and beliefs they consider to be the most important. More than ever, it's our future and the future of our children that are determined with each election.   Be informed.  Make opinions.  And even donate to the candidate you support!  I know first hand from working on a campaign that money (unfortunately) can make it or break it. 

If you are unsure about each candidate's stance on the numerous issues, please visit: http://www.isidewith.com/

The site has an in-depth quiz asking your opinion on each issue and then pairs you with the candidates that share your beliefs.  Each question even has an option to "Choose another Stance" which opens several other answers or allows you to enter your own. 

I always knew I was an Obama girl ....

.... (much to my family's chagrin) even though I have disagreed with every agricultural decision he has made... specifically when it comes to GMOs.  I assumed I would score high with Ron Paul, score 50% with Obama and not with Romney at all .... the results of my quiz surprised me... 

So dear friends - take the quiz, stay informed and remember to VOTE! :)