Two weeks ago, I decided that it was time that I committed and completed the program. Here's why:
2014 was an insanely difficult year for me and my family. I read somewhere that you can only really handle one big life event in a year. We had so many in 2014 that I lost count - from my dad having a mini-stroke and major eye surgery, to my daughter's mystery illness which turned into Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, to an unexpected pregnancy followed by a scaring miscarriage, to my step-dad being diagnosed with cancer and passing away 6 months later - it seems like everything that could go wrong did so last year.
For those of you who don't know me very well, you need to know one thing. I am an EMOTIONAL EATER. I stress eat and drown my feelings. Nothing makes a girl feel better than a big old bowl of ice cream or some candy. Wait - lots of mashed potatoes. That might top the ice cream - unless that ice cream is cookie dough. Nothing can top cookie dough.
See??? I am a junk food foodie at heart. So, needless to say, I was not too kind to myself this past year.
Back in 2012-2013 I lost 65 pounds with Shakeology, Clean Eating, and Beachbody programs. Last year, I put back on 30 of those pounds. Yes. 30.
I am ashamed. I am angry. I know better than this. I KNOW how to eat well. I KNOW what bad food does to my body. Yet, I still turned to my old, trusty friend.
It wasn't until April of this year (2015) that I realized something had to change. I started having some BIG health issues. My left shoulder was a MESS. I was in Physical Therapy for 6 weeks with no progress. I developed this HORRIBLE, ITCHY rash on my hands, arms, face, neck, chest, and upper back. At the time of writing this blog post, I've had this rash for over 2 months with no answers. I'm also super tired. All The Time.
If you know me, you know that I am a "crunchy" mom and person. I cloth diapered my kids. I breastfed for 2+ years with each child. I don't feed my kids food dyes. I didn't have drugs during my VBAC. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFC) is a big NO NO in our house. GMO's are the same. We avoid them like the plague. I don't like to take advil or tylenol for a headache. So for me to say that it took a cortisone shot in my shoulder to finally be able to move, workout, and conduct my bands, you know I was hurting bad.
The rash - well, we are still trying to figure that one out. I've had blood work upon blood work. Skin biopsies. Stopped medications. New eczema wash and lotion. Oatmeal baths. Organic Coconut Oil. Olive Oil.
You name it, I've tried it. Nothing is helping.
My dermatologist is now thinking that this rash is related to some type of auto-immune disease. With the history of AI in my family, I am starting to agree with her. My mom has hashimoto's and alopecia. My daughter has JIA, which falls under AI diseases. It makes sense that I have some AI disease. Now we are starting to do the testing to find out just what it is.
But I still can't help this little feeling I have in my gut. What if I have developed an allergy? Gluten and dairy are two HUGE offenders in the allergy world. Many people have allergies or intolerances and don't even know about it!
You see, ever since I lost our baby in May of 2014, I have been punishing my body. I have been treating it like a failure. It let me down. In a BIG way. I see all my friends having their babies. My niece was born on my DUE DATE. It's not that I don't want my friends and family to be happy. It's not that I'm not happy for them. I'm just sad for myself.
Enter the Beachbody Ultimate Reset.
21 days. Ultra clean eating to vegetarian to vegan. Challenging. Emotional. A chance to prove to myself that I CAN do this!
By making the decision to complete this program, I have made the CONSCIOUS CHOICE to TAKE CHARGE of my own health. I am going to make sure that this rash isn't caused by gluten or dairy. I am going to TRUST my own body again. I am going to treat it the way it DESERVES to be treated. My body hasn't failed me. I have TWO gorgeous children to prove it! My mind knows this and now it's time to PROVE to my heart that it's true.
It's only 21 days. I can do ANYTHING for 21 days. I am changing my habits. I am changing my patterns. I am changing my way of eating. I am healing myself from the inside out. When I am done with this program, I am 100% confident that the "old" Kelly will resurface. The girl who loves live. The girl who is happy. The girl who helps others reach their goals. The girl who smiles all the time.
So, for the next 21 days, I am asking you to follow me. I am asking you to keep me accountable. One gallon of distilled water a day. 3 meals. 1 snack. Lots and lots of body cleansing supplements.
I will be posting my journey on my Instagram account @kelly.levere and on my Facebook Like Page - find me and follow me. Encourage me. Heck - do it with me if you want to. It's going to be a wild 21 days and I can't wait to share it with you!
