Fighting Hashimoto's Disease Naturally

Now that I know I have Hashimoto's, I've been coming up with a "protocol" for Candida overgrowth which causes the autoimmune Hashimotos disease of the thyroid. Fix the candida and you can stop suffering from Hashimotos (weight gain, memory loss, brain fog, hair falling out, etc) all of which I'm definitely suffering from. And pure exhaustion too! That's no way I want to live.
I have a good friend who has it too and it's so nice to talk to someone who is like you and to reassure you that you are NOT crazy bc you can't remember a darn thing or even make simple sentences sometimes bc you forgot the word you were trying to say. I'm talking super simple stuff like me pointing to shoes on the floor and asking the kids to pick them up but can't say shoes bc I can't think of the word I'm trying to say. It's scary. 

I see a light at the end of my tunnel thanks to my friend who is in my shoes and seeing positive changes with her natural approach. 

It will be a long process to be healed, but I want to do this right. No just "fixing" the side effects but instead, fixing the root cause.
Now just to get started on my low hormones and I'll be a new woman here soon! 

I have had so many ladies message me saying they too suffer the same issues. Ladies, and even men....if you feel like something is "off" or you notice things are changing, PLEASE don't be like me and wait it out for a year to see if things change. Get some lab work done and get answers! Then do your research...with the internet, you could read tons of info and figure out the best method for you.
For me, I've decided to go about it naturally and to start a Paleo way of eating once I'm done with the Reset. I'll update y'all as I see progress. If I can help just one person by sharing my own journey, then it's worth it!

What is Hashimoto's?

Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities.

The resulting inflammation from Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

Symptoms?

You might not notice signs or symptoms of Hashimoto's disease at first, or you may notice a swelling at the front of your throat (goiter). Hashimoto's disease typically progresses slowly over years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue and sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• Unexplained weight gain 
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
• Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
• Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Depression

So here is how I am approaching this disease...naturally! I ordered in this highly recommended book, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook.

I ordered these supplements too, which aid in helping you reduce Candida overgrowth...

I'm happy to know I can still have my daily Shakeology, just has to be the vegan version! 

Now I'm just waiting for my book and Now supplements to arrive so I can get started! I also have read on multiple pages that the recommended exercises for these issues are HIIT or lifting weights. Thank goodness for all my Beachbody DVD's, I can do both of those right here at home without the stress of getting to a gym! 

I'll update ASAP on how everything is going. Thanks for following my journey!

{I am not a licensed medical professional nor do I pretend to be one on this site. Take what I write as a launching off point to do your own research. My advice, experience, and suggestions are not to be considered medical advice}

Why I Love Shakeology

Five years ago I started drinking a protein shake with some fruit and veggies added in cuz I KNEW I needed something. I kind of laugh now though looking back. I figured since I was getting in lots of protein and added spinach and a bunch of green stuff that I was doing good, right?? 

Well it was better than nothing. But I'm SO GRATEFUL to have found a DENSE superfood replacement instead. And for so inexpensive too! I mean, have you priced out super foods lately?? I'm no nutritionist, but after a quick run to the grocery store {and search online} I can see the prices for myself.....

Sacha Inchi - 5.3 oz $15.25

Flax seed - 14 oz $9.00 

Quinoa - 28 oz $11.29 

Moringa Leaf Powder - 8 oz $10.69 

Dried Spinach - 1 Quart $10.26

Ashwagandha - 8 oz $15.75

Yacon Root Powder - 8 oz $19.97

Chicory Root - 12 oz $17.80

Goji Berry - 4oz $12.99 

Grape Seed - 35 oz $13.96

Reishi - 5.5 oz $14.99

Pomegranate - 8oz $18.99 

Rose Hips - 12 oz $9.00

Chia Seed - 8 oz - $16.99 

Camu-Camu - 3 oz $19.99 

Acai - 4oz $18.99 

Acerola Cherry- 12 oz $31.99

Bilberry - 8 oz $22.99

Amaranth - 16 oz $4.99

Tulsi - 12 oz $14.99

Wheatgrass - 17 oz $32.39

Whey Protein - 1oz $18.99 

Maca powder - 8oz $29.99

Cacao powder 16 oz - $18.99 

Add that all up and you're at over 400 bucks. And you STILL don't even have all the super foods and nutrients that you get in Shakeology.

But guess what? ALL THAT IS IN SHAKEOLOGY >>>>> And more! <<<<<< It's the most DENSE superfood I've ever found. And I say it's dense because it has protein, essential amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, adaptogens, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and 23 vitamins and minerals. AND..... it's WAY below 400 dollars. 

After having a shake everyday for the past five years I can honestly tell you I STILL crave this and look forward to my daily dose of dense nutrition. AND I appreciate the savings too.

There is even a VEGAN version! How awesome is that?!

Shakeology Recipes

Tiramisu
Dessert in a glass!
Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup brewed coffee, chilled
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
1 Tbsp. mascarpone cheese (or part-skim ricotta cheese)
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. pure rum extract
½ cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place coffee, Shakeology, cheese, cocoa powder, extract, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

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Strawberry Sea Salt

A little bit salty, a little bit sweet, and totally delicious.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup nonfat milk
1 scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1 dash sea salt
1 cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place milk, Shakeology, salt, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

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Choco Cherry-Licious

Frozen black cherries are already pitted, so there’s no muss or fuss to add delicious cherry flavor in your shake! Look for unsweetened cherries to keep this smoothie healthy.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
½ cup frozen unsweetened black cherries, pitted
½ cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, Shakeology, cherries, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
½ cup frozen unsweetened black cherries, pitted
½ cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, Shakeology, cherries, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

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If you love blackberries and pecans, this smoothie will quickly become one of your favorites.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Strawberry Shakeology
½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries
2 Tbsp. chopped raw pecans
1 cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, Shakeology, blackberries, pecans, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

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Why Clean Eating is Important

Is your health your priority?  Well most people would automatically answer YES.  Most people would say that yes they do care about what they are eating, they do care about keeping unhealthy choices to a minimum.  But what I find is what people say and actually "DO" is two different stories.  I feel like I'm calling out the elephant in the room, but its the honest to goodness truth.  When it comes to your health most people are healthy when its convenient for them.  So, when you are getting ready for a wedding, a vacation or the New Year are the times when people place the highest value on health.  But the other 350 days of the year its optional.  I always hear people complain about the way they look, not having any energy, being overly tired, having bad cravings for sugar and sweets that they can't control, lack of will power, and body aches and sore muscles.  But very few people are willing to actually do something long enough for it to reverse the bad and bring in the good!"There is no such thing as a bad workout, but there is such a thing as a bad diet!"  So true, you can do Zumba, run on the treadmill, take the dog for a walk, do yoga and it's exercise!  But nutrition, you can do that all wrong.  80% of your results come from the foods that you eat.  You cannot out exercise a bad diet. I know this from my own experience. Working out 1-2 hours a day with little to no changes in my body. I thought because I worked out so much it didn't matter how I ate. Or I'd attempt to eat healthy but would still be eating processed "low fat" "no fat" crap foods!I embraced the idea of clean eating and slowly started to change my nutrition!  What happened was actually something very shocking.  I not only lost weight, but I was eating more food, more frequently but it was the RIGHT kind of foods vs the wrong ones.  I started to gain more energy and the weight naturally came off.  Not because I was dieting but because I was eating the way that God intended food to be.  Food as fuel vs comfort!!!  The more I embraced clean eating the more I was convinced that this is the best way to eat!!!  I am not dieting and I never did diet, I literally changed my lifestyle.  My food is a way of life, its healthy portion sizes, spaced every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, cutting out processed foods, and drinking lots of water.  I can eat this way no matter where I am at, of course its challenging because we live in a society that prides itself on convenience, food in a box, and low cost portion controlled diet food!  

I know so many people that do the diets where they eat pre packaged foods, count calories, and still lack energy, are not losing weight, are holding onto fat and do not feel fulfilled and satisfied.  I am and have been on a mission for the past 4 1/2 years to lead by example and to teach others that they can do it too!  So one of the biggest parts of my nutrition has been Shakeology.  And I've tried other shakes out there. You're starving 20 minutes later, you don't feel any better or full from it. 
Also, there are mornings where I am trying to get the laundry done, 3 kids dressed, myself dressed, and one kid off to school and the last person to eat is always me! That used to lead to the McDonalds drive thru- the kids pop tarts, a breakfast bar or donuts!  I would sabotage myself before the day every got started.  I would end up eating whatever was quick and easy because I was so hungry and then I would feel bloated, sick to my stomach, I would lack energy, I would feel GUILTY for not having will power to make a better choice, and I would then CRAVE more of the bad stuff!  AM I DESCRIBING YOU??  Are you on this vicious cycle of wanting to be healthy, not having enough time, and just lack of energy and will power?Well here are a few things that can help you to get on track!!!

1.  Start today, don't wait until Monday, or after Thanksgiving or after Christmas start now!  There is 2 months until Christmas which means that you can lose an average of 2 lbs per week with clean eating and even light exercise which means about 16-20 lbs by the New Year.  Can you imagine what that could do for you???  
2.  Start small- cut out the processed sugars, the refined white breads, the soda, and excess carbs.  Real your labels and stop buying foods with ingredients you cannot pronounce or understand.  1 thing each week, finish what you have, throw out candy, give away the cookies, send the Halloween Candy to work with your spouse and start fresh. 
 3.  Don't feel guilty for not buying sweets for your kids.  THEY do NOT DESERVE IT!  If it makes you feel weighed down, sluggish, and tired can you imagine what it is doing to their little minds?!?  Consider a bowl full of sugary cereal and then sending them off to school.  Can you say major brain fog and lack of attention! How can we expect our kids to eat like that and then have a good day at school.
4.  If you struggle with finding the time in your day to make healthy meals then replace 1 meal a day with shakeology. Why???  First of all shakeology is NOT A PROTEIN SHAKE which most people just throw it into that category or they compare it to all the other shakes on the market.  I want to stop you dead in your tracks and explain why it isn't.  Shakeology is a meal replacement and not a protein shake.  It has the right carb to protein ratio your body needs to stay full for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  It has the fast burning carbohydrates with the slower burning protein to keep you satisfied.  It has a ton of natural, not processed ingredients that are going to meet your daily requirements for vitamins and nutrients. So you notice that the energy you were lacking is decreased because you are now getting vitamins and nutrients that give you energy.  Your cravings for sweets are decreased which is originally caused by vitamin deficiency and you are no longer deficient.  You are not over eating because Shakeology is portion controlled, so your portions are in check.Shakeology is not for weight loss.  It's for nutrition, and of course when you have proper nutrition you naturally lose weight!  So shakeology is something I do everyday because its convenient, it's healthy, it does not add to my grocery budget but it replaces something I used to have that was less healthy!  Its $4 a day which is on the low end of an average meal which is $4-$7 for the average healthy meal.So when you look at clean eating and Shakeology as an investment in your health how can you deny it!  It's the one thing that keeps me on track when life gets busy!  HECK there are days when I am on the go from the minute my feet hit the ground and the old me would of just not eaten at all bc I didn't have time.  Now I grab a shake and go!  Your body is the ONLY body that you are going to get.  If you don't treat it with respect now it won't do you good later on!  
5.  Lastly, look at your food as fuel and not as comfort.  When you eat, always ask yourself is this giving me energy, is this giving me nutrients or is this purely comfort and to fill a void?  There will be instances where you eat for fun, you have some cake, you do a little party with fancy appetizers and you enjoy!  But that is not an everyday occurrence. So balance the good with the bad, be flexible, be realistic and know that you are not living a boring life eating clean.  It is going to give you more health, energy and life to do the things you love!
So what are my suggestions for you?#1 if you are serious about your health and nutrition you should commit to Shakeology once a day!  You should invest in your health because when you feel better you are more confident, healthier and happier!  Then #2 you should join my next clean eating support group because I don't want you to just have 1 meal a day that is healthy I want them all to be healthy and I truly want to teach you how to make this a lifestyle vs a crash diet.  I have so many recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, crock pot meals, travel tips, vacation tips, holiday survival guides that there is no way that you won't succeed unless you don't put in the effort to change!So if I am not your coach on Team Beachbody your next step is to create a free account and click the "contact your coach" button on the site to connect with me to start your consultation about how you can improve your health and balance the good with the bad!  Your body is the only one you have, treat it like you would treat your children!  You would bend over backwards to make sure your kids medicine for an illness so why would you diminish your own health?!  

FOOD for THOUGHT!!!!

How I Got Better Hair

After years of dealing with hypothyroidism, having 3 kids, & hormonal issues, my hair has suffered! It has recently gotten to a point where I have balding spots. I get so self conscious to just put up a pony tail because you can see my scalp easier. I have to work to mask it and use lots of hairspray.

Even my husband noticed the thinning & we all know men don't usually pay attention to hair lol 

I was tired of my shower drain staying clogged from my hair, I was tired of it falling out, I was tired of it feeling and looking like CRAP! So I decided to experiment. 

Now, I'm only a week in mind you, but I already see and feel a change! I'll update this as I keep going along with my routine. I will not cut or color it for at least 2 months so we can all see what naturally changed. 

Ready for my routine? Here goes....

Every morning I start out with my Shakeology. All natural and 70 super foods, well, it just does a body good!!

Then I take my first round of additional supplements. I take the Silica 3 times a day. I take 5 Biotin each morning. I ordered off Amazon for just a few bucks each!

I also added in a new shampoo. As you can see, I got a great deal on these at my TJ Maxx. I was already using the Argon Oil shampoo/conditioner but I read online that the Keratin shampoo should help. So since I wash my hair twice in the shower anyway, I use both lol I start with the Argon then do the Keratin and let that one sit a few minutes. I also let the conditioner sit for a few minutes. 

Results? Well here's where I am so far! I'm pretty excited about it, I can't believe it's only been a week! Can you see the subtle changes? Stay tuned! I'll update at the one month mark!

Here are my 1 month results! I see and feel the changes. Lots of new growth too I have these short hairs sprouting that I call my wings lol I will take it if it means no more bare patches on my head :) What do you think? I will continue my routine of a daily Shakeology, Silica, Biotin, shampoo and update again later! I'm super excited about my results so far. 

5 Shakeology Myths

#1 MISCONCEPTION: Shakeology is a protein shake.

Meaning just a shake that provides extra protein. I can’t blame the general public for thinking this since “protein shake” has become nearly an interchangeable term for ANY shake. But, all shakes are not created equal—especially ones that contain superfoods. Shakeology is a very nutrient-dense shake that can be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You’d have to eat a whole lot of fruits and vegetables to equal the nutrition in a single glass of Shakeology—and you probably couldn’t do it for less than 170 calories. Shakeology makes it very easy to cut your calories without substantially cutting down your daily volume of nutrients needed. Truth be told, the majority of people are WAY MORE nutrient deficient, than they are protein deficient. So why just stop at a protein shake?

 #2 MISCONCEPTION: Shakeology is about comparing carbs, proteins, and fats to other shakes.

This is not at all what you should be comparing when you look at other shakes versus Shakeology. Sure, other shakes have 0 grams of sugar. But how do you think those shakes achieve that? Hint, it’s not natural. Yes, that’s right, they are probably using ARTIFICIAL sweeteners to get to 0 grams of sugar. Even fruit has sugar in it. A shake with 0 grams of sugar is using ARTIFICIAL sweeteners. Shakeology has NO artificial sweeteners, NO artificial colors, NO soy, NO artificial stimulants, and NO artificial flavors. One of its main sweeteners is Stevia, which is plant-based.

#3 MISCONCEPTION: Shakeology is just a bunch of extracts, with no whole-food ingredients.

That’s not true. Whenever it’s possible and sustainable for the formula, the superfoods in Shakeology are preserved in their whole-food state to retain maximum nutrient value. It’s a very difficult process to use whole, plant-based ingredients so that the formula retains as much nutritional value as possible, but Shakeology has a whole team of scientists whose mission is to maximize the nutrition in every ingredient in Shakeology. Imagine trying to juice all those superfoods! Shakeology is way less expensive and a huge time-saver.

#4 MISCONCEPTION: Shakeology is expensive.

To anyone who feels this product is expensive I know that I have not done my diligence in breaking down its REAL VALUE. Most people will agree that they would spend an average of $3 to $7 on a HEALTHY nutritious meal. I know most store-bought salads cost even more than that, and don’t contain nearly the dense concentration of nutrients. But on average, I think we can all agree healthy meals run between $3 and $7. Shakeology, at $4.33 per shake, comes in on the LOW END of average. (You can make Shakeology into a breakfast or lunch that you’d be buying anyway.) Not only are you spending less than you normally would, you’re also getting vital nutrients your body needs, that you just can’t get from your run-of-the-mill salad, plus the normal range of vitamins and minerals. So you can replace your VITAMINS, too. Sure, you may need a specific vitamin, based on your conditions, geography, or age—but in general, Shakeology will provide you with a solid base of your whole-food nutrients.

When was the last time you went to your grocery store and bought THIRTY meals all at once? Typically, I’m guessing, you buy a few days’ worth each time. When you buy a bulk bag of Shakeology, you are buying 30 of your shakes up-front. That means you’ll spend less money at the grocery store. Because of the grocery savings, I actually deduct my monthly Shakeology from my grocery budget. For the price, I cannot duplicate its vast quality of ingredients and nutrients.

#5 MISCONCEPTION: Shakeology is only for weight loss.

Most shakes are marketed this way. But here’s the thing. Anything will induce weight loss if it’s low enough in calories. Just because you are drinking a shake, does not mean the fat will melt off. Actually, if you are not getting enough nutrients and calories you will actually inhibit your weight-loss efforts. Shakeology is about HEALTH. When you put the RIGHT nutrients in your body that it needs to develop, heal, recover, repair, and thrive, you may ultimately have MORE energy, LESS cravings, and FEEL better therefore you eat less and become more active. With Shakeology, weight loss becomes a BY-PRODUCT of dense nutrition.

To make my point, when was the last time you dieted and cut calories only to feel tired, grouchy, and had a ton of cravings? That is because you may have been nutrient deficient. What if you’re at your goal weight, or need to GAIN weight? Because Shakeology is about DENSE NUTRITION you can use it as your base and add clean calories to make it 300 calories or more. Not everyone needs to lose weight, but everyone needs to be healthier. Shakeology isn’t MAGIC. It’s just clean dense nutrition made SUPER easy for everyone at a very affordable price. It’s my family’s “fast food” on the counter. Yes, my family goes through 4–5 bags a MONTH because even though we all have different weight and caloric needs, we all share the same NUTRITIONAL needs. Shakeology isn’t a weight-loss shake—it’s a nutrition shake.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.