Trim Healthy Mama. Vitamin D. Thyroid issues. Essential oils. My journey to being healthy and feeling good.
I’ve mentioned here and on my fb and IG pages that I’m feeling better than I have in months – maybe years. And I’ve had some questions about what I’m doing and I’ve promised I would share in more detail. So here it is – my journey to a healthier life, more energy, and feeling great.
3 things have been huge factors in this journey – Essential Oils, Trim Healthy Mama, and Vitamin D.
If you have read here for long you know that I have taken depression meds since I was pregnant with my second child. She is now 11 so it’s been 12 years since I started those. Thankfully I’ve never had to up the dosage or switch to stronger brands. I’ve done very well with this but would like to not be dependent on prescription meds now that the government has trashed our health care system.
You also know that I don’t like winter. At all. I dread the cold the most and the snow makes me cranky in a hurry. It also makes it worse when other people try to ‘make it better’ with comments that don’t make it better but in fact make it worse, and laughing like it is something those of us who suffer from this can just ‘get over’.
Anyway – this past winter I started using Essential Oils and I fell in love with them. That is an entire post of its own so I’m not going into detail here but it was the beginning of getting myself to a point of feeling better instead of continuing the downward spiral I couldn’t seem to get out of.
Mid-July I was introduced to Trim Healthy Mama and the complete transformation began. ( A couple friends talked about it one night when several of us were out for dinner, and I followed up with one of them later on what exactly this THM was. Had I known at the time how many people I knew were doing this I probably would have wanted nothing at all to do with it. (yes I’m funny like that) and I’m so glad I didn’t know and that I ordered the book then and there.)
Trim Healthy Mama (THM) is not a diet plan but a lifestyle change. For the first time in my life I began to believe that I could attain an ideal weight and keep my weight there. This was not a diet like some I’d tried, where you do your best to stick to the rules till you reach your goal weight, and then the pounds just come back as you slowly end up going back to the way you ate before.
Trim Healthy Mama is a way of life, a healthy, wholesome way to approach food and is based in Biblical roots. I was hooked.
For the past 2 or 3 years I’ve tried different things to lose weight. Weight Watchers, exercise, portion control, healthy foods – nothing worked. I might lose a few pounds but they came right back and usually brought friends with them. And not the kind of friends you want hanging around 😀 In the past year I hadn’t been able to lose any weight at all no matter what I tried. I decided I needed to be resigned to being a size 18 and hoping I could at least not get bigger! But I wasn’t resigned and I wasn’t happy about it. I really wasn’t feeling good either.
I never really pulled out of the winter slump last Spring. I was functioning but not at full steam. I wasn’t really enjoying much of what I was doing either. I was existing, doing what had to be done. If I could put it off or get out of it I did. My husband took on more and more of the housework and errands as I just couldn’t seem to find the energy for all of it anymore.
But then my THM book arrived in the mail. I couldn’t read it fast enough. I’m sure my friend who introduced me to it got tired of me texting her with questions. I’m sure she wanted to say ‘READ THE BOOK ALREADY!” And I WAS reading the book but I couldn’t get it all in my head fast enough. This plan sounded so sensible, so do-able, and it just made SO. MUCH. SENSE. So I started in.
The plan in a nutshell is that you don’t eat your carbs and your fats in the same meals. It’s so amazingly easy for me and there are so many good things you can eat – recipes people share – and you can eat butter and cheese and cream and cream cheese and so many yummy things. You do cut sugar – no sugar allowed. No honey or Maple syrup either. Honey and Maple syrup send your blood sugar levels up faster than regular white sugar! Makes me laugh now when people thing they are being so much healthier to sweeten with honey and maple syrup. While they ARE healthier, especially honey, using the amounts you need to sweeten desserts is not doing your body any good.
I found that I wasn’t so much addicted to sugar as I was to refined flours. I’m not a huge dessert fan but I love breads, granola bars and all kinds of things that on the surface can even seem healthy, but a bit of research shows they are not. They are full of refined flours, added sugars and corn syrup. Even foods that say they have no trans fats unfortunately do have trans fats. They can say ‘no trans fats’ because the oils used don’t start out as trans fats. But when the oils are heated it turns them into trans fats. Coconut Oil is the only oil I have in my house now that we will use in baking – we use it for almost everything. I also have olive oil to use for dressings or for anything cold. Chilled, the coconut oil solidifies so it’s not ideal for things like salad dressings that you want cold but pour-able.
Last winter was hard on me. It was cold, very cold, with lots of snow. The cold didn’t want to go away. In fact we never really had much hot weather this summer. We haven’t had a very hot summer for a few years now. (so much for global warming) That makes the approach of yet another winter even harder to take. I kept dragging along all spring and into the summer, doing what had to be done, enjoying some of it, but wondering when I was going to crash and not be able to get back up. The first 2 to 4 weeks of THM were a bit brutal with detox symptoms from quitting sugar. ALL sugar. Anything we bought had to have the label inspected for added sugar. We had to switch up brands on some things. I quit drinking milk completely – milk is liquid carbs. I quit eating bread. My sandwiches are lettuce leaves stuffed with yummy meats, mayo, cheese, dill pickles, mustard, and a few tomatoes. Potatoes are too high on the carb chart for weight loss so until I reach my goal weight I will not be eating them either. There are substitutes to take the place of those in my meals and I’ve not missed them at all.
I love the food I can eat and I was so overjoyed when the scales started to move I was almost in tears. Seriously. (I still get a bit teary feeling when I get on the scales and it’s a bit lower) And slowly the scales has continued to move. And for the first time I can ever remember I feel a freedom in sharing what I am doing because I know I WILL attain the weight I want to weigh. In the past I was always afraid to talk about what I was doing because I was afraid I would fail – because I always did. I always got tired of dieting and the weight came back. This plan is not a diet. It’s a way of life that is healthy and do-able.
And something else happened. I not only was losing weight but I was feeling better than I had in years.
Those first few weeks on THM, I’d have days with detox symptoms and I would take a nap and drink a lot of water. Then I thought I was through the worst of it. Then it hit again – with a vengence! Years of putting junk in my body took awhile to erradicate. It was bad enough I made an appointment with my Dr. to get some blood work done – to rule out some things if nothing else. Diabetes is very high in my family and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t dealing with a bigger issue than detox – detox is bad enough! So I had some lab work done and found that I was vitamin D defficient, and my thyroid wasn’t quite working at full speed.
My Dr. recommended 5000 mg of vitamin d daily. After 6 weeks I will be tested again to see where my numbers are. And then I will start something for thyroid. Most likely not meds – I have some other things I plan to try first. (those six weeks are almost up so I need to get another Dr. appointment made.) (I’m trying to support my Dr. all by myself this fall 😀 )
The vitamin D has been huge in making me feel better, but I also realized that other than the detox from sugar I went through I hadn’t had a really down day since starting THM. I had almost gotten used to having days where my shoulders felt weighted, I was so sleepy I couldn’t stay awake while helping my girls with school, and I didn’t really care if anything got done.
I HAVE NOT HAD A DAY LIKE THAT SINCE I STARTED THM.
I take my vitamin D early in the morning – usually when the alarm goes off and then it’s at least an hour before I eat. My Dr. told me the best way to take it was on an empty stomach – 2 hours after and 1 hour before eating (at least) My Dr. has been doing vitamin D testing for 11 years. He recommends the NOW brand so that’s what I bought. It has been helping. I take 5,000mg per day because that is what my Dr. recommended. Have your doctor order a blood test for vitamin D and see where your levels are. Most people are low!
I take my vitamin D and most mornings I’m ready to get up a half hour to an hour later. My eyes come open and I actually WANT to get out of bed. I don’t remember the last time I wanted to get out of bed instead of getting up because it’s what had to be done. Most days I keep going all day long without wanting a nap. It’s amazing. I feel like I have myself back.
As I’ve said, in the past I’ve been very hesitant to share anything I’m trying because I was afraid of failure – and I always failed too.
It’s been tempting to not share anything about this till I am to my goal weight and can share my complete success. But then I started feeling so much better. And I just can’t keep silent about it. If there is a chance that I can help someone else begin their journey to feeling good and having optimal health I want to do it now not later.
So that’s what I’m doing. Trim Healthy Mama. With a side of vitamin D. And a few (really quite a lot) of essential oils. I’ll share about the oils sometime too. I’m losing weight – I started THM 3 months ago and I’m down 16.5 pounds. Even with my thyroid not functioning at 100% I’m losing weight. I’m losing a bit slower than a lot of people do but I’m losing. I’m good with that!
THM is amazing. The book is a must for every home in my opinion. Even if you don’t have weight issues and even if you don’t adopt the lifestyle it’s a must-read. There is so much information about health – superfoods, good oils, what’s not good for you, etc. There is a section on hormones – ladies we don’t have to feel yucky ‘just because we are getting older’! There is a section on exercise clear in the back – it’s not the key to weight loss – it’s just added in because it’s healthy and very good for you. There are a ton of recipes.
The women who wrote the book are sisters, and they have been through quite a few health and weight issues of their own. They have done a ton of research and tried almost every diet out there. They spent 5 years writing the book and it is self-published. It’s amazing. It’s worth the money. It can change your life.
That’s the beginning of my journey to health. I’ll keep you updated now and then and please – feel free to ask any questions!
Beautiful Jill!
Congratulations on your weight loss!
Thank you for sharing this!
I have battled weight gain since my early forties.
I have heard about THM, (Joy, of Savvy City Farmer), and have considered getting the book. My biggest problem is that I love to cook good food, and I have a hubby that is such a meat and potatoes guy!
I am so glad to hear that you are taking a Vitamin D supplement! That’s the first thing the hematology oncologist corrected when I was recovering from Breast Cancer. Most people in the Pacific Northwest are “D” deficient. (Not much sunshine here.) The “D” also may help your winter mood. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease 10 years ago, so I am pleased to hear that THM works with Thyroid deficiency.
I wish you continued success, Jill!
I am off to check out THM.
w/L.
Lynne, I struggled with the idea of not eating some of the foods I was used to – potatoes, milk, yummy baked goods. But I have not missed potatoes one bit – there are some absolutely delicious things you can make to replace it. i still struggle a bit with the whole idea of substituting sweeteners for sugar in baked goods. i am going to experiment a bit and try some coconut sugar. Coconut sugar isn’t on-plan with THM but it doesn’t send your blood sugar levels up as high or as quickly as ‘real’ sugar. And once at goal weight there is room for a few ‘cheats’ for special occasions. They allow that and even talk in the book about cheat meals and holidays!
Congrats on losing the weight and feeling better! That’s so good to hear. I had no idea that you were struggling with all of this. That book does sound like a good one! I think the biggest problem in my house is that my two sons are trying to gain weight, so we have a lot of things in the house to help them with that. I could afford to lose about 10 pounds myself. I try to eat to improve my cholesterol for the most part. I have Graves disease (which is an overactive thyroid). I take medicine for that since they had to kill part of it to slow it down. That is standard procedure for that type of problem. Yours is under active so yours is treated differently. No wonder you were feeling sluggish! Your thyroid regulates SO much of your energy, and mood. You’d be surprised. Thanks for sharing your personal story. We are all battling something, and you should never be ashamed of failing. We’re all human and noone is perfect. It’s good that you’re making progress with this new lifestyle change and I hope you continue to do well.
Kelly, this book also talks a bit to those who need to gain weight! It’s just so amazing all the way around!
Thanks for sharing this part of your journey back to health. It sounds like you have found an excellent doctor, if they are willing to test and acknowledge the importance of Vitamin D. Would you mind sending me an e-mail with his/her name and information? I have several friends struggling with some of the same problems you described.
Wishing you all the best as you continue to work on “you”. 🙂
Please post about the essential oils soon.
Kellie, I think I emailed you but just to make sure I’ll post it here too – my DR is Dr. John Studebaker and has a holistic practice in Greenville Ohio
Thanks Jill. I got your e-mail too.
Your doctor sounds like he is really working to find some solutions for you.
I have several friends who are struggling with the same symptoms. Your willingness to share might just help others find some answers and feel better. 🙂 Thank you.
I am so happy for you…I think the weight you have lost in the past few months is quite good! I’ve never heard of THM and it sounds really interesting. And taking vitamin D sounds like something I might need as well. I have those issues with feeling tired and unmotivated in the winter months here in Illinois.
Thank you so much, Jill, and I wish you continued success!
Jane xx
Yes, Illinois would probably be about the same as Ohio for lack of adequate sunshine! Though even sunny states can have lots of vitamin d – deficient people due to so many people working inside and wearing sunblock all the time when they are out.
I’m hoping to have a bit more energy this winter!
Jill, you have just described my life! Right down to the SAD! (Seasonal affective disorder. ). We have a mountain home and I can not be up there during winter. I had never experienced this until I wintered up there and it just about did me in. That won’t happen ever again!
But with everything I just read, you truly just described my life in detail. My husband, I am blessed by having this man in my life.
I’m going to order this book, simply because I have nothing to lose by trying this lifestyle. And ABSOLUTELY everything to gain. I pray for day/days/weeks that I am able to just keep going and NOT be exhausted by 1:00!
Thank you, thank you and THANK YOU!
Hope
I hope you love the book Hope – it is amazing and even though it can seem a bit overwhelming at first it makes so much sense and feeling good was worth the learning curve to me!
Yay for THM!!!!
🙂
wow what a blessing to so many of us this has been.Thank you. My location is so. calif. and my dr. said the vit d deficiency is very very prevalent here also. I was quite surprised when I was so low on blood tests. with thyroid issues it is really difficult to get moving for days on end. interestingly enough folks born in OHIO have really high incidences of thyroid challenges and is apparently genetically driven. ( was born and reared there and have family in several generations with thyroid challenges) I have been using essential oils but am always eager to learn of others experiences with them. Have you done anything regarding SAD and having the lights specifically for that challenge ? I am going to order the book when I finish this. Seems like another tool in my similar journey. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THIS IS A GOD GIVEN MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN.
Even in sunny climates most people just don’t get enough sunshine. wearing sunblock blocks the vitamin d and we stay in the shade and inside so much! I’m not advocating staying out in the sun for hours and hours unprotected but to get the amount of vitamin d you need to have arms and legs exposed for about an hour a day to get what you need! it’s no wonder we are all low!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I am struggling and I vascilate with the weight, too. I have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes and taking Metformin, which I don’t want to be on. All as a result of increased weight, and no exercise. I, too, fight the cycle of the weight gain/loss, but never in a lifestyle change way. I keep searching for the “fix” and with my work schedule of 10+ hour days trying to have a happy balance is challening. I am so thrilled for your weight loss and wish you much success in continued lifestyle changes. I am definitely going to get this book, and my take form your post is that it is just a book filled with ideas, recipes, etc. Kudos to you Jill!
I hope you love the book Mary – it has detailed instructions on how to implement their plan. To lose weight you have to follow it most of the time! but even if you decide it’s not for you the health information is just wonderful that they share!
Isn’t it amazing how much your story is going to help so many others? I’m so proud of you for sharing your story and your problems, good for you. So happy to hear about our weight loss and results of taking the Vit. D. 5000 mgs. a day wow that’s a lot but if doc says you should then he should know what he’s talking about. I should be tested for Vit. D also. I’m too erratic about takin it. somedays I do then others I forget.
I just read comment above about people born in Oh having thyroid issues. I’ve never heard of anybody else being born with a thyroid that didn’t work at all, I’d be interested to know if there is. There’s so much in magazines all the time about thyroid disorders, mostly under active. Glad you’ll be getting some help with that also. I don’t have any choice about taking meds since I don’t have any thyroid gland left. I have read there are ways to help your thyroid. Let me know what you learn about that.
It must be so wonderful for you to feel happy about being alive, wanting to get up to live your life every day. I’m so happy for you and what a difference this will make in your family. People so often just don’t understand, you have to force yourself to live your life. Congratulations Jill. Keep up good work. You are a very special person. Happy days
How wonderful you found something that can and has helped you and can help others with same issues. Reading what you said I know I should get the book. Our eating habits are terrible too often. Going to Burger King, eating baked goods almost daily. It’s a wonder I’m not huge at this point. Am going to share this info with our daughter whom struggles with her weight so much. She works out, etc. but doesn’t lose an ounce. I think she has depression problems also but when I even introduce the idea she gets very defensive.
I hope it can help people JaneEllen! I hope your daughter will read the book – I”m losing weight without exercising at all! i hope to add some at some point but for now I’ve not fit it in.
Jill, when I saw your picture I thought you look like you’d lost weight-you look great! This post is so interesting! I have super low energy and HATE winter with a passion, too. I’m going to try taking Vitamin D and hopefully it will help.
Thanks so much for sharing your story and this info!
Susan
Thanks Susan! And definitely try the vitamin D – NOW brand is great!
“I HAVE NOT HAD A DAY LIKE THAT SINCE I STARTED THM.” … my favorite line of your post… yeah for you and yeah for THM… it was sooo fun to read this post and wow.. yeah … just sooo happy for you!!!
I still think back to you telling me your husband asked you about how many THMers there were wehn you took me out for my birthday. And him saying that maybe I wouldn’t want to hear all of you talking about THM all evening 😉 I’m so very glad you did talk about it!