Mold...What Do You Know?

I know I have been quiet for several weeks.  I have been very ill with a Migraine for over three weeks.  That's the bad news, the good news is that I am feeling amazingly better.  I spoke with a Neurologist who stated my Migraine was triggered by sinus issues.  I have been having severe sinus issues including nose bleeds, congestion, wheezing, etc since January.  I attributed all of these symptoms to seasonal allergies...but I was wrong.

Do you know the symptoms of Mold exposure? I have listed them below. And, I have highlighted the ones I was experiencing.  We have been living next to a home that is severely infected with Mold.  We moved into a hotel on Friday and I am already seeing improvement (accompanied with a change in Migraine meds and a round of antibiotic).

And, the best news is that I can go back to work next week!

And, I can start getting back to my routine. I started back on Shakeology today and plan to start ChaLean Extreme AGAIN next Monday.  It will be a relief to get back into some type of routine even if we are living in a hotel! :)

I will keep you posted on the Mold saga.  We are having to hire an attorney to go after the adjacent property owner to have our belongings cleaned and to pay our living expenses.  But, I have to say OUR property owner has been amazing through this process.

Level - I Common Symptoms of Mold Exposure

The most commonly reported symptoms of short term Mold exposure:

• Sneezing
• Itching Skin
• Redness and skin irritation
• Watery Eyes
• Itching Eyes
• Headache

Level - II Advanced Symptoms of Mold ExposureThe following symptoms of Mold exposure have been reported generally as a result from persons being in a Mold contaminate environment on and off for an extended period of time. Symptoms are reported to have become more severe and longer lasting directly in proportion to the length of exposure time. Their reported symptoms are as follows:

• Constant Headaches
• Nose Bleeds
• Feelings of Constant Fatigue
• Breathing Disorders
• Coughing up Blood or Black looking Debris
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Loss of Appetite
• Weight Loss
• Hair loss
• Skin Rashes
• Open Sores on the Skin
• Memory Loss "Short Term"
• Neurological & Nervous Disorders
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Swollen Glands in the Neck Area and under the Armpit
• Sudden Asthma Attacks or Breathing Disorders
• Ear Infections and Pain
• Chronic Sinus Infections
• Chronic Bronchitis
• Pain in the Joints and Muscles

While it seems Mold can cause many symptoms one must remember that there are thousands of species of Mold. Different species of Mold can have a wide variety of reactions within different people.
Level - III Late Stage Symptoms of Mold ExposureThe following Mold exposure symptoms are the most severe and are attributed to high levels of exposure:

• Blindness
• Brain Damage
• Memory Loss "Long term"
• Bleeding Lungs
• Cancer
• Death

Turbo Fired UP!

This evening we went to Roswell Fit Club and had a great time.  I was really happy that L and J joined us.  It's fun to have your friends work out with you.  And, we met some great new people.

The workout was Chalene Johnson's Turbo Fire. We did a 30 minute workout from this series and a 10 minute stretch.  This workout is a LOT of fun.  It is a great cardio-aerobic workout.  And, will definitely appeal to those who enjoy more dance/aerobic based workout. I will need to watch the workout a few times to fully be able to follow all the moves, but it is definitely something that even those who are just starting a workout program can complete.  I especially loved the 10 minute stretch.  It would be a great way to start or end your day to just help increase flexibility and is a great addition to any workout.  I may just pop it in along with other workouts!

I will continue to workout using ChaLEAN Extreme as I prefer the muscle exhaustion workout. And, it is another workout for anyone who can get up and off the couch!  I will be formally starting the series on Monday.

This evening at Fit Club, Brian and I were introduced.  And, I acknowledged that I have had several challenges to my workout program.  First was the calf muscle tear, then I have had migraines off and on since Thursday.  I have fought the aura's and headache today as well.  In the past, this would have completely derailed me and I would have given up and found my solace in the bottom of a bag of M&Ms. Not this time.  I will continue to get up and get moving.  I will continue to do what I can do.  As I stated tonight, I am America. I am the average American who is obese and struggling to get control! And, no matter what, I will be fit and fabulous and fliry, not just for my 40th birthday, but for life.

So, in conclusion tonight, I ask that each of you find a physical activity that you can commit to.  It doesn't matter if it is walking around the block, if it is a workout program like P90X or ChaLEAN Extreme.  Just get moving and make sure you eat healthy too!

What to do...

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, life just catches up with you? Do you ever feel like the world is a giant conspiracy to get in your way? That's how this last week has been.

I suffer from migraines, and they are a little different than most.  About five years ago, I presented with symptoms that resembled a stroke.  It turns out they are auras from a migraine and the fun part is I don't always get the headache!  Thursday morning I woke up very lithargic and I was having difficulty focusing.  By noon I figured out I was rapidly going into a full migraine and would soon be unable to drive.  I get slurred speach, misplace words in my sentences, heavy eye lids and extreme pressure in my head.  This lasted three days and has finally let up today. 

The bad part of this is that there are very few medications that provide relief.  The normal triptan drugs just make me feel weird, but do not provide relief.  I have tried everything from seizure medications to botox injections.  (And, I have no understanding why anyone would do botox voluntarily...it hurts like a ****.) I did go to the clinic and get injections and I have taken Butabital both with and without narcotics over the last several days. 

When I am sick with this, I have to foce myself to eat, and nothing is appealing.  My usual is a grilled cheese sandwhich and soup.  When we are unwell, it is very easy to get off our plan.  This is okay!  The important thing is to get back on as soon as possible.  I did track my foods even though I was unwell, and if anything, I had a hard time eating enough food each day, although my food choices did not rate at the top up the good for me scale.

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new week.  I will begin my Chalean Extreme workouts again and I am back on plan.  I made a great soba stir fry for dinner tonight: soba noodles, green cabbage, boc choy, baby corn, water chestnuts, edamame and turkey meatballs. It is less than 300 calories per serving.

And, through all of this, I am still losing inches.  I have lost 4" in my waist and 2" in my hip. The interesting part is I am not losing too much on the scale.  But, I'd rather gain muscle and lose inches than just to lose weight.  Healthy and thin are not the same thing!

Tomorrow's menu:  Shakeology for breakfast, Recovery Shake for snack, Soba Stir Fry for lunch, snack bar and/or nuts for snacks, turkey burger and vege for dinner. 

Have a great start to the week!  Get out there and walk if you are not committed to an exercise program!