It’s been 30 days since I boarded a plane in Las Vegas for Indiana. I made the hard decision to push the Pause Button on my life to get my health on track. I couldn’t walk without severe pain in my knee and Achilles. I was having monstruous headaches, hives popping up on my face and legs every other day, and my stomach felt like it was on one continuous roller coaster. I was a hot mess. Not only that, but I was sad, depressed, and terrified that this would be my life.

I didn’t want to live that life. 

I wanted a life where my physical health was a priority as well as my mental health. Deciding to to a 30-Day Detox was not easy, but it was certainly needed. For 30 days, I made a commitment to be religious about being soy-free, even though I know it annoys those around me. I also gave up gluten and most grains, which included alcohol. That’s right, no delicious craft beer or boutique wine for 30 days. I can’t remember the last time I had gone just seven days without some sort of alcohol.

Here is the post where I had to take a hard look at my life.

The Obstacles

One of the things I came to do in Indiana was to help my uncle manage his craft beer bar, Vernon’s Ale House. For the first two weeks, I didn’t allow myself to go in there. The temptation was too much and I was struggling minute by minute with all the changes going on.

The post where I laid out my plan or what I thought would be my plan. 

My life became a necessary routine, which I realized I have missed just a bit while living this roaming lifestyle. My alarm went off at 4:20am, I sleepily would put on my workout clothes, heat up the coffee I made the night before and hit the road by 4:40am at the latest. A 30-45 minute drive to CrossFit Retaliation in Columbus, IN with Trevor where we talked philosophy, ethics, dreams, and listened even when we had differing opinions on things. Then came the brutal CrossFit workout with kickass Coaches, Jase Robinson and Audra McNear… 60 long minutes. In the beginning, I counted every one of those tortuous minutes. I would sink back into the safety of our car and turn on the heated seats to warm my tired, sore muscles. Once home, I would make a protein shake and vegetable juice from scratch. More coffee or a pot of tea would be my friend once Trevor left for work. This was the start of every day. I started each day with a solid foundation of exercise, meditation, and nutritious wholesome food. Every day. Well, except Thursdays as that was my rest day from CrossFit.

More about CrossFit Retaliation: They are located in Columbus, Indiana, right next to Cummins. They generously give 50% off for police, firefighters, EMTs, D0C, and military. CrossFit Retaliation is like a family, no matter your level of fitness, they will be there for you. 

On one of these drives to CrossFit, I was so overcome by emotion during one of our talks, as my cousin knows how to ask me questions that I don’t want to answer, that the tears just started streaming down my face. I had hit my limit. I was depressed, and tired, and just didn’t want to continue. I walked into CrossFit and just went through the motions. I stopped counting the clock, I just zoned out and went through the movements that were required.

That day I had to make a decision. I either could face my issues and figure them out or let them determine my path.

The first 72 hours were brutal.

Let me explain that a bit. You cannot go through a major life transition and change everything about your day-to-day life without it impacting your life in the grander scheme of things. The things I was doing every day changed the way I thought, changed the way I looked at my life and the life I wanted to life. I was in a highly stressed state for the first three weeks of being in Indiana.

I was pretty stoked about those numbers!

Additional Food Allergies

During the third week of the detox, it became clear that I had a dairy intolerance. At first it was just to sweet dairy like ice cream or coffee creamer. Then I reacted to cheese. I lost my shit. I love cheese. Don’t you dare touch my cheese!

Yep, I wanted to give up, but I didn’t.

It was suggested at this point to do a 72 Hour Fast. The body’s immune system can reset itself after a 72-hour fast. I hadn’t heard about that before. I was willing to try anything to stop reacting to food! For three days all I had was water, tea, and a 200-calorie green smoothie every day. That’s it. The first day, my stomach growled all day long. Day two was much easier and was my rest day from CrossFit. Towards the end of Day 3 I became dizzy, cranky, and had a massive headache. That night after I ate, the world was spinning and it felt like I was drunk.

The fast to end all fasts.

I woke up in the morning feeling great! I wasn’t hungry at all and was surprised by how alert I was and my spirits were a bit better.

I Had An Anaphylactic Response to Soy

Say what? In plain English, my throat closed up after two bites of a Paleo chocolate pudding. The cocoa container DID NOT say it had soy in it. The only time my throat closes up is with chocolate or mayo. I’m gripping my throat trying to breathe and Trevor was trying to keep me calm as he got the Epi pen ready. Our friend Elaine ran out to get Benadryl as I didn’t have my purse with me. I was panicking. My throat was 75% closed when I popped two pink Benadryl. I kept thinking – relax, you’ve been here before, if you pass out, Trevor and Elaine will save you. I did end up passing out, but from the drug coursing through my veins and not from lack of oxygen.

I was recently told again that no one has an allergy to soy and that it was all in my head. SIGH.

That happened on Day 26. I failed to get through 30 days without soy. I was devastated. I had to think though that this was the longest stretch of time that I had gone without coming in contact with it. I’ve been diligent, I have been careful, and this was a fluke. As expected, I gained a few pounds and inches. I now have lovely hives on my legs and nose again. SIGH.

Truth. I was over people. Was over everything at this point. I was totally done.

The Results

In 30 days I’ve had the total of one beer from sampling different beers to bring into the Alehouse. Not bad, considering I used to have one or two a day. I had one anaphylactic response to soy instead of reacting every other day. HUGE PROGRESS. I found a food intolerance that I never would have been able to pinpoint if I wasn’t eating a very clean, healthy diet. It was blatantly obvious and I am grateful to know now. It isn’t a food allergy like soy. Soy can kill me. Dairy just makes me not awesome to be around for a few hours.

30 Days: 11 pounds and 25.25″ 

Measurements

                    Week 1         Week 2         Week 3         Week 4         30 Days         Total Inches Lost

Chest:            -0.25               -0.50               -0.25               -0.25               -0.50                        -1.75
Waist:            -2.25               -1.00               +0.50              -0.50               -0.50                        -3.75
Belly:             -2.50               -1.50                 -1.00               0.00               -0.50                        -5.50
Hips:              -3.75               -0.50                 0.00              -1.00                0.00                        -5.25
Ass:                -0.50                0.00                -1.50              -0.50                0.00                        -2.50
Thighs:          -0.50                0.00                 0.00              -1.00                0.00                        -1.50
Calves:           -0.25               -0.25                -0.25              -0.25                0.00                        -1.00
Wrist:              0.00               -2.75                 0.00               0.00                0.00                        -2.75
Forearm:        0.00               -0.25                 0.00               0.00                0.00                        -0.25
Upper Arm:   0.00               -0.50                 0.00               0.50                0.00                        -1.00

Total:       10″ lost        7.25″ lost         2.5” lost       4” lost          1.5” lost                 25.25″ lost

Weight:   5 lbs                   1 lb                  3 lbs               0 lbs              2 lbs                         11 lbs

 

I’I’ve done this pose a time or two… the results of this 30 Day Detox are more evident to me when I look at this photo at CrossFit Retaliation.

I am no longer shaped like a square box, but have an hour glass again. Woot Woot!!

What’s Next

I will be staying in Indiana for a little bit longer. I don’t have an exit date just yet, working on it though. I will continue to do workout six days a week and see if I can continue this losing streak. As for the way I eat, I enjoy Paleo and it is working for me, so I am going to keep up with it. That means for me: No soy, no gluten, few grains, limited corn, and for now, gluten-free alcohol. I am not going back to having a drink everyday. I will taste the beers that I need to, but I don’t need to have one or two to relax me every day. I have found better coping mechanisms. I am having a glass of wine to celebrate tonight (gluten-free!).

I’m still in a funk mentally, and that is the next thing I am working on. My body is becoming physically stronger and it is helping me to remember who I am and who I want to be. For the first time in a year, I put on my Dragonfly Running shirt today and felt proud to wear it again. I am proud to be an athlete again. I’ve missed this part of me.

Thank you for every text, phone call, Facebook message and like, Instagram heart, and every other way you have let me know that I wasn’t alone. I can’t thank you enough for being in my corner. Some days, I held on to your faith in me to get through that day. The smallest gestures sometimes have the largest returns. THANK YOU.