Celebrating progress

So I had blood work done a few weeks ago and my results came back. Basically we are re testing to see how the supplements and lifestyle change affected my hormones. I'm sooo happy to say that almost everything is where it should be! My thyroid numbers are back down- no hypothyroid. My estrogen and testosterone are at level. My liver numbers also went significantly down (thanks to no soy, no alcohol and milk thistle/Curcumin). And my vitamin D is also at a good number. I feel elated. My PCOS is officially in remission. Now I just have to keep everything up that I've been doing.

This is the news I needed to hear. I needed this win. I feel like I'm constantly on this hamster wheel... running around and around and I never get a break. My brain always says, "Really?? As hard as I work and no progress??" Isn't that awful? My EGO in the way again...Because when I look at my life I have so many wins.. a beautiful home, a husband to love, a cute dog, supportive friends that just get me.. and yet, some days it's hard to look at those things. Some days it's hard to see the big picture when my mind is still so cloudy.. that's what I'm working on next. Perspective!!

Which leads me to this- what numbers didn't go down was my inflammation. It actually went up to 41 and it should be between 0-30 to be "healthy". My doctor described it this way..

We are all energetic beings; physical energy lives inside of us (bear with me here). My energy feels like it's always being attacked so my body has to defend it 24/7. Constantly being in fight mode. Never letting its guard down... My energy doesn't feel safe, and my body still puts up defenses. Hense- inflammation.

So naturally a body- shouldn't feel this way. I'm going to work on getting my stress level (adrenals) inside my body down. There are a lot of factors that could cause high inflammation levels. Eating inflammatory foods such as processed foods, meats, chips, soy, seed oils, gluten and dairy. I've significantly changed my eating to eat a anti-inflammatory diet, since October, avoiding the foods above too. Doing this heals my gut, decreasing the inflammation. Anxiety can be a stressor too that increases inflammation. To support that, I've set boundaries with my family and changed my thought pattern (overthinking) drastically through therapy. In general, I am not overly stressed but it does still flare up from time to time which is why I have to do some work. Arthritis runs in my family, and I've been diagnosed with tendinitis in the hands in the past so that could be the reason the inflammation is increased in the body. In the meantime, I have a few more supplements to take. Holy Basil for the adrenals and EPA fish oil for my arthritis/tendinitis.

Something I'm also working on is celebrating my progress. It's SO HARD for me. Yes, I'm going to take new supplements and still be on this healing journey and I should always celebrate the victory of what has been healed. I think this lesson applies to a lot of us though. Do you celebrate the journey? The struggle? The progress you've made even if it didn't lead to a win? Are we honoring our journey or just wishing for the finish line? How many of you are proud of yourself for what you did, just today? It's so hard to take a minute and reflect, especially if you are still in "it". "It" being whatever you are changing or looking to change..I have to be more aware of that.. I hope you can too.

Until next time,

Bee