As Thyroid Awareness Month comes to a close, I think about what Hypothyroidism means to me. It seems unreal that almost 7 years has passed since I got diagnosed. I have made a pact (not a resolution) with myself that this year will be different for me. I had a realization in October 2011 that I am just coming to terms with and will describe it for you here later. But I am taking 2012 by the horns. We have good things coming up this year and I can’t wait. It is time to start making plans!

I have plans to do a podcast coming up explaining all of this as well as a letter for Dear Thyroid.

Here is to a New Year! :-)

How many of us feel so overwhelmed that we just kinda give up? Not do anything because we have so much to do? I realized while talking to her that I have way to much on my plate. I had dreams that I was juggling but never doing anything about. I was WAY to busy at work, I was taking on too much thinking I could handle it all. I had actually mentally – checked out. We tend to do that with Hypothyroidism. But not to this extent. I, for a long time, thought that my Thyroid disorder was causing this problem.

Here’s the breakdown of all the stuff I was trying to juggle:

At Home:

I wanted my pond set up

I wanted my laundry to do itself

I wanted my house to clean itself

I wanted to replant the front garden

I wanted to place a rubber mulch on all my gardens

I wanted to get all my old plants to the dump

I wanted to get the garage completely clean of clutter

I wanted to blog for all of you

Record a Podcast for all of you

I wanted to blog for my adoption site

I wanted to adopt a child, like, right.now

At Work:

I was over the top busy. We added more directors to my daily work and after about 2 weeks I realized it was too late to get help ASAP. So we spent last week looking for another Temporary Administrative Professional to assist me. In terms of my daily working life this is HUGE. I can’t wait. She starts on Thursday. While I understand their will be a busy time up front – I will no longer have to worry about long term help. I have it now. I can breathe at work. While “in the moment” I never realized I can’t take on extra work. I move stuff around so I can do it. I make stuff fit – but the past few weeks have been tough. I have forgotten things, missed things and generally been crabby and stressed out. Not anymore – I am giddy with excitement.

Outside work and home:

I am part of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. I am Treasurer-elect of my Chapter. Next year I will assume the Treasurer position within the Chapter. I will be maintaining the finances of the chapter. This is a big deal for me a good learning opportunity. Yet another stress. It’s another thing I have to do.

I am part of a great Book Club – I consider this my night out. Most of my time is spent at work or working out. No way I was giving this up.

So, as you can see, I was a pretty stressed out chicky. Not only that from January to May I was studying to take my Administrative Professionals Exam. I had too much stuff to do so the easiest way was to shut down and do nothing. Like a “safe mode”.

My relief came Thursday AM when we hired someone to help at work. At least that was the start, I immediately felt calm. The rest came this weekend. My nutritionist reads my blog – so I hope she understands. :-)

I completely stepped outside myself this past weekend and got out of my own way! When doing that I was freed to complete some tasks around the house.

The bedroom: We always wanted to add more storage to our bedroom. Our closet was big – but not the best layout. So, we added the shelves along one wall. This gave me more room in the closet and made our bedroom feel more put together. YES I know this wasn’t on my list above – but I have been thinking about redoing the closet for a really long time. Due to the cost of redoing the closet – this is the next best thing. We had hung the hooks you see about 2 months ago. We used to have door hangers on our closet. But we used to fill them up and it would actually take up more room in the bedroom than I liked. This way it’s spread across one wall and actually looks like artwork!

The Garden: I actually hate to weed. My hubby loves it because he can relax and enjoy a audio book while hanging out in the yard. One of my downfalls is I love the look of dirt in a garden. So, you see my problem. This past week I noticed that some Rubber Mulch was on sale at the home improvement store for 5.00 a bag! I picked up 8 bags to put on my garden. Best thing is that its a dark color and looks like dirt! It’s made from recycled tires!

Finally the Pond:

I worked all weekend – but I feel much better. I got out of my own way and just got it done. There are smaller things I still need to do with each of them. But they are more manageable than trying to do the whole thing at once.

However, I had to drop recording my food and a few other things this weekend. This is where I ask my nutritionist for understanding!  I had to stop thinking and start doing. It paid off. Now I need to plan accordingly and not put to much on my plate.

Now, I can concentrate on all things health and gym!

On a side note, when you have a Thyroid disorder it is good to take time to yourself. It is best not to put to much on your plate. It doesn’t help at all. Do as I say and not as I do. ;-)

Whew! What a post!

Well. I have.just.about.had.it. I am sick of all this snow. It can melt any day now! I apologize for not posting in awhile. I have taken to hibernating because when you get this much snow you can’t help but not. I.want.out. I want out to enjoy the sun and lower my Vitamin D intake. I want fresh veggies and a light summer rain. I want the 2 trips I am going to take. I want farmers markets and trips to the Outlet Mall 45 minutes away. I don’t want to wear my coat, boots (like I wore them) or mittens (like I wore them) anymore. I also don’t have heat in my car. GASP! I shall repeat it for you – I don’t have heat in my car. I have done ok up until now. But I am so sick of cold and snow and cold and snow that I could just spit.

Another reason I haven’t been posting anywhere is that a large bug (of sick proportions) has taken up residence in my home. We (notice the we) have had a cold for over 1 week now and it has decided it likes my cooking and will stay. I have other plans for it – but so far it isn’t having that and wants another helping of some mash potatoes. I am doing ok and really trying to keep my vitamin goal going. Last week was rough and I didn’t take any because I was so tired I didn’t eat too much food. Too bad the weight didn’t go with it.

Well, that’s enough for now.

Planning a new podcast for next week. I hope to feel much better. Plus I am doing some research.

Oh and yes – that is a picture of my desk covered in snow. *sigh*

Yesterday after work I had an event I needed to get to. I was worried about being late, so I rushed out of work in order to make it. I got 3 blocks away and remembered that I had left my phone charging at work. So, I turned around and drove back to work parked ran up 1 flight of stairs and grabbed my phone. I decided to hop of the freeway instead of the back roads like I started to. Once on the freeway I realized I still had my purse at work! I couldn’t believe it and headed back to work again. I wish I had someone to ask me if I forgot anything before I left for home, work or the gym. That way I wouldn’t forget anything.

I have been feeling so tired lately. I am thinking it has to be the weather. It has been so cold and dark lately. I am looking forward to the weekend as it’s supposed to be around 40 degrees! I can’t wait – I am wearing shorts this weekend! NOT!

Above is another wedding photo I took on 1/1/11.

I want to give a shout out to my good friend. Unearthingem! You can find her blog here: Unearthingem Blog Spot. I couldn’t remember her blog name on my podcast and for that I haz sad. Sorry girlie!

My plan is to embarass myself by posting a picture. Which you will find below. I needed a starting point and a shocker to myself to give me motivation to continue. I got that and then some!  YUCK – here it is..

I had a fantastic day at the gym and in terms of my food. I burnt 500 calories in the AM doing weights and riding the bike. Then I went back at night with a friend and did a Kickboxing Jam class and burnt another 700. No way I could eat that many calories in a day so now I have a surplus of calories. I may need those over the weekend though and Wed. we are going out to dinner with friends.

I am doing this to make myself accountable so that I can focus on the task at hand weight loss. And really – to get over myself. I am so worried about my body and the weight gain I needed to put myself out there to try to bust through.

Heading to sleep – I have to get up in the AM.

Hypogirl

Ferritin – 27 ng/ML (Lab range is 10-291)

Even though this is quite low it is better than it’s ever been. So I am going to continue to try to get it to rise. I have added more beef into my diet and am thinking of getting an Iron Skillet to cook it on just to add more Iron to my diet.

Copper – 134 f ug/dL (lab range is 80-155)

I am ok on copper.

Zinc 80f ug/dL (lab range is 60-120)

I am on the low end of Zinc – but Doc gave me the ok. Still going to take the supplement to keep it rising.

Vitamin D 50f ng/mL (lab range is 30-80)

I am on the higher end of vitamin D. We are going to lower the dosage just a bit. But otherwise I am good with D.Last time my D was really low so I have improved at taking this supplement. Now I just need to up the rest. :-)

Pyrroles were in range at 7. Good there!

Now for the shocker!

TSH was 14.94 (Lab range .20-4.50)

This was a total surprise. I can’t remember what I was feeling in Jan. to have my TSH so high! I remember not taking my meds for a few days. That may be the problem – the nurse even made a comment that obviously I needed to support my thyroid! So true. In talking with my Dr. and true form to myself I often neglected to take my 2 dose of my meds throughout the day. Once I would remember it would be close to dinner and after dinner was way to late. I didn’t want to stay up all night. So we are now trying a time-release capsule instead of a twice a day pill. I hope this does the trick and keeps me on track. He also prescribed a liquid Magnesium for me in order so that I can workout. I had been feeling so pain during workouts that would make me want to quit. He felt that this would help. So – I have to take that twice a day. I have also be placed on an elimination diet. He feels I have a food allergy- and this is a good way to test it. So, this weekend was off -script for me in terms of food. I enjoyed myself a little bit in order to prepare for a long two weeks of eliminating foods from my diet. If anyone has any recipes for the elimination diet – throw em at me. I want to try them.

My Time-Release capsules came this weekend and Monday will be the first day of those. I will let you know what my experience is with them.

Thanks for being patient with me and posting this. I apologize it wasn’t sooner.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.