Progesterone shut-down cycle #1

Today is day 26 of my cycle. I used 96mg of progesterone cream (32 in AM and 64 in PM) each day from day 7 - today.  Tomorrow I will not use it and hopefully within a couple days will get a period (withdrawal bleed).  I have had quite a few side effects / symptoms this cycle, most notable being:

1)  Moodiness - tense and "on edge" much of the time.  Teary and weepy other times.
2)  BBT higher - fairly steady around 97.7, some fluctuations at a couple points during the cycle but no ovulation which is one goal.
3)  Acne - my skin has been the worst it's been in a LONG time, my face has had several places break out, not all over but the ones that were there were big and red and sore.  :-(
4)  Sleep disturbances - night sweats and restlessness, lots of dreams which is very rare for me.
5)  I had some abdominal cramping off and on, days 22-24 I was sore and tender like around ovulation but it didn't happen.
6)  Sore breasts on a few days but not all cycle.

I think that's it.  I'll update when my cycle starts over and let you know how that goes, any changes, etc...  It's been interesting.  I hope that next cycle is better, it did get better toward the end of this one and I am attributing much of this to the temporary rise in estrogen and activation of receptors that is expected at the beginning.  I plan to do 3 total cycles and I'll keep you posted!

End of Week 1 Update

I was very surprised this AM to step on the scale and calculate a total loss of 11 lbs this week - woo hoo! I didn't expect that. I know it won't all go off that quickly, but it certainly helps. I also lost an inch from my waist too.

I have done very well with my eating plan, following that easily. Confession time: I have not done well with getting the sweating baths in. I just am not making it the priority it should be! I took ONE this week - uggh. I can feel the negative effects of not doing it, itchy skin and tense, achey, heavy shoulders (I have come to recognize that as toxin build-up). [To qualify this, I am showering regularly - it is the 30 minute HOT bath for detox that I am doing poorly taking the time for.] I also have done very badly with my water drinking... I should be doing at least a gallon a day, and I am doing well to get a quart down lately. Also... as if that wasn't enough... I am not exercising. So, those are areas I am working to improve this week.

***I changed my ticker to reflect my total lost, including the last time I did the Plan. I lost 50 lbs in 2008, and regained 25 because I did not stick to any kind of plan for food choices and exercise. I have 15 more to go to get down to where I was at the end of that cycle and start working on the next 50. So, that is why the ticker changed. :-)***

Day 3

Hello! I am doing well with my eating still and have lost 6lbs in the last 3 days - woo hoo!!! I have not gotten back to my routine of exercise, brushing and sweating. I really need to though, had a detox headache last night and very itchy skin tonight - need to give my body a way to get rid of the yeasties safely.

Day 1 - Again

I started back today on the yeast detox plan. After vacation I have gained back what I lost plus some. :( I think it will come off quickly again - but kinda dissapointed in myself. Oh well, new day!

It's not worth it!

While I was traveling I started out pretty careful, we took our food and didn't stop to eat at all - but once we got to my sister's, I gradually let myself eat things I shouldn't. I gained 8lbs back all said - not too bad for 3-4 weeks of eating poorly, but now I have to work at that again.

I have been back on my strict diet for 5 days now and have lost 4lbs so far. I need to get into exercising again as the weight seems to have all settled in my rear end and my skirts aren't fitting the same. Exercise is much needed to smooth and tone.

I started my cycle right before we left on our trip - was quite heavy and a bit long, but not too bad. Right before I left, I started spotting again and that has continued for the last week and a half. It's driving me crazy!!!

So, with all that, I was feeling pretty bad the last couple weeks. I was not sleeping well, felt exhausted and moody, had major breakouts, itchy face, joint pain, got slapped with several migraines in a row, was constipated, etc... After starting back on the diet, I began detoxing. It was worse for several days, I had lots of pain at the base of my neck and shoulders. I did some salt bath soaks and that pain got better but it went into my thyroid which hurt for a couple days but is now feeling better also.

My spirits are lifted today and I am ready to tackle the housecleaning that got behind. Looks like we might get some much needed rain! A good day to be at home.

The moral of the story is: It's not worth it!!! The pain and trouble and moods and pounds - not worth a few cookies, cake, icecream and soda... really it's not!

Long overdue update

Okay, been so busy and haven't taken the time to post here. Nothing real exciting going on, I completed my yeast detox diet and have struggled since with my eating. I've gone from taking little cheats to full-blown s'more's Sat night. I had hoped to slide into low-carb and continue losing weight, but that didn't go so well... so then I decided to re-start the yeast detox diet, and that has gone even worse. I haven't gained any weight, am holding steady at 44lbs lost, but really need to get losing again to reach my goal by the end of the year.

I have not done well at all with exercise in the last month. I finished the T-Tapp challenge with over 19" lost, but could have done so much better had I been as consistent the 2nd 30-days as I was the first 30-days. I would like to do the 15-min Basic Workout each morning and get the Instructional #2 done a couple times in a week also... gotta just do it!

My cycle has not started again yet, so it's been 53 days now... grrr.... my acupuncture treatments are done now. I think I was getting the placebo after all is said and done. I have a few months of collecting urine samples at home and then go back for the final tests one last time. I am still glad I did it, was a good experience overall.

I have been waking early and having coffee with Tom, spending time in God's Word and prayer. That has been good. I've been kinda moody and down the last few days though. Will be better soon, pray for strength and self-control for me!

How the diet is going...

I started week 15 of my cleanse on Tuesday, so about a week and a half left! I will continue to take yeast killing supplements, probiotics, etc... but will switch to low-carb which means that I will be allowed dairy (cheese... mmmmm) but not rice or potatoes. That is really the only big difference between how I am eating now and what I will switch to. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I expect that since I am exercising and feeling better in general, I will continue to lose weight - hopefully even pick up the pace a little as it has slowed down a good bit. So... that's the plan!

I have been doing a lot better with my water drinking (1/2 gallon a day) and remembering my vitamins and supplements, that helps me feel better. I am also getting tired at night earlier and having an easier time waking up in the morning (I still don't like it any better - but it is easier to stay awake once I wake up and not just roll over and go back to sleep.)

Yeast Detox diet has begun

After another night with a headache and me avoiding the salt water for fear of more severe reactions, I have decided that the Master Cleanse is too harsh/fast for me right now. I hope to do it and other cleanses again soon - but for now am moving on to the Yeast Detox diet from Life Force. I stocked up on meat, fruits and veggies and am going to also watch my portions. This is a 16-week program and I look forward to seeing more pounds melt away!

Cleansing Update

Okay, I have been working on a colon cleanse this week and it has definitely been... cleansing. I have been a bit more tired, achey, and many other signs of detox so I haven't posted here. There have been a couple of nights this week where I have felt like I was detoxing too fast so have had a bit of dinner to slow down so I could keep up with life. I know it would be better for me in the long run to just let it run it's course and spend a day or two in bed, but come on - who has time for that? :-) So, in general doing well. Have lost 7lbs. Still cycling but I think finally reaching the end. Have not replaced my T-Tapp DVDs yet, but to be honest, haven't tried real hard either since I've been tired. I AM encouraged that I am doing as well as I am considering I have been fasting the majority of the last 17 days. I am feeling a bit of a need to refocus, feel like I've started concentrating a lot on the physical and don't want to lose sight of the spiritual needs too - so will work on that in days coming. That's about it for now!

Good News / Bad News - A needed update

Okay, like I mentioned I started my cycle and so this Friday when I got a great report from my friend that I've been praying for, I decided that due to feeling weak and to celebrate answered prayers, I would go ahead and take a break from fasting for the weekend again. Tom and I actually went out for dinner by ourselves on Saturday! It was lovely - and yummy! Back on track today. GOOD

I have been enjoying my Bible studies and prayer times. I am seeing growth there for sure and thank God for that. Would like to increase / concentrate my prayer times more still, so working on being able to do that. GOOD

I have been doing poorly with getting to bed on time and getting up early. I have done it a few times, but not consistently. BAD

I am not taking my Melatonin as needed - thinking about setting an alarm clock to go off each evening! BAD

Exercise - well, was doing okay and enjoying it the few times in a row I did it - but then my DVDs quit playing. I need to try them on my laptop, if that doesn't work I will start using my gazelle and just order the T-Tapp DVDs. BAD

I am feeling okay, still feeling heavy, yeasty, itchy, achey - not sleeping well and feeling pretty run down still. Hope to get some improvement soon. I am pretty glad that my womb is cleaning out well this time - last was so sporadic. I have to see hope in that! Oh, my face has been breaking out like crazy and my hair is more oily, ick! I have also noticed that my face has been itchy almost daily. Hoping this is detox/cleansing symptoms.

Guess that's about it for now... that's where I am right now!

Cleansing

Okay, so call me crazy... I prob'ly am!

I have done 3 days fasting, 2 days off, 5 days fasting, 2 days off, and started fasting again today. Tomorrow, I will continue fasting but will add in the Master's Cleanse to clean out my colon - I will do this for 10-21 days, we'll see how it goes. I started tonight with Smooth Move tea and will start drinking the lemon juice with maple syrup and cayenne tomorrow with lots more water and a salt flush first thing in the mornings. This means also that I will be giving up my coffee starting tomorrow! :(

The oil pulling is interesting, and pretty gross. I started tonight and will try to do it each evening. Basically, you swish a Tbsp of oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes. I will give it a few weeks and see what happens.

After I am done with the Master Cleanse, I will switch to the Yeast Detox which takes 16 weeks to complete and should seem super easy after the rest of these.

In the summer I plan to do a kidney cleanse also with lots of watermelon and water.