And I was so good at it!

I don’t know if you recall, but a few months back (6 months ago) I declared to the world (well to my family and friends) that I was vegan.  So not only was I gluten free (not by choice; I have to be because I have celiac disease) I was also forgoing eating meat and any animal by-products.  It really wasn’t that much of a stretch for me transitioning to a vegan as the only meat I had been eating up to that point was wild meat , fish and the odd egg (as opposed to the normal egg? hahahaha).  I had long ago eliminated milk and by-products of milk, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods (although I think potato chips don’t count here…seriously they don’t…hahaha).  Non GMO, organic foods and vegetables were already on my table so I increased them.   I also made sure I didn’t have anything with soy as I didn’t trust it (and still don’t) as research suggests it alters your hormones and I don’t need any more altering than there is already!  Not that soy isn’t in line with being vegan or that all vegan food is Non GMO or organic, I just didn’t have it in my diet because of my personal beliefs.  Yep, I felt I was ready and so I went ahead with the change. 

I felt good and started to experience greater energy.  My diet was good and I wasn’t missing a thing in terms of vitamins, protein and nutrients.  I started training for an ultra-marathon (50kms) and actually completed the ultra-marathon in good time and form.  Okay, just so you know, good time and form for me is being able to arrive at the finish line standing and in one piece and well past the cut-off time; I did both. 

I was happy despite finding it challenging to find something to eat that was gluten free and vegan at the same time.  It was in a moment of searching for something to eat that I realized how hard it is to be both gluten free and vegan and I decided to write a gluten free and vegan cookbook.  Yep! I was always modifying old recipes to be gluten free and vegan and trying new ones so that I could eat something, so why not write a cook book? Besides, I was getting tired of food that made me feel bad eating them (you know who you are Mr. Potato chip!).  Yes, there are foods that make you feel bad; oh the shame of them all!  I could start a list but we all know what those foods are; yes we do!  And even in the gluten free vegan world there are bad foods; what are you going to do when they come for you (bad boys, bad boys….hahahahhaha).

a running selfie

Yes, everything was going great until one day I struggled to get out of bed.  That day I dragged my body down the hall to the kitchen to eat something figuring it might pick me up, but it didn’t.  I thought I might be sick and tried to explain it away as the flu even though I didn’t have any symptoms except extreme fatigue.  It went on for a week and a half; my feeling drained and incapable of mustering up any energy.  I started thinking I had cancer (I had breast cancer when I was 29).  I examined my breasts daily fearing I would find a lump but I felt nothing (when you have had cancer you automatically fear it will happen again even if there is no solid foundation for it to happen).  I was getting pale along with feeling fatigued which made me think that it might be my iron and b12 so I gathered what was left of my energy and headed to the pharmacy.   After a week of iron and b12 therapy I was starting to feel a bit better but was still lagging in energy; it was then that I broke down and went to the nurse practitioner to get lab work done. 

While waiting for the lab work to come back (it takes a week or so where I am from), I signed up at the local clinic to see a naturopathic doctor who happened to be visiting that week. In my mind I was thinking I would do anything to get my energy back so why not see him?  As I sat across from him discussing my symptoms I told him I was a gluten free, vegan runner who lost her groove and wanted it back.  I was way behind on my training and had only a month and a half to get ready for a November marathon so I needed a miracle.  Well, it didn’t turn out to be the kind of miracle I wanted.  Why can’t we control miracles? Ha!

The doctor strongly advised me to re-think following a vegan diet and to let my body rest (that meant no running a marathon).  He pointed out that my body was under extreme stress as it bonked after the ultra and couldn’t get back up. I almost slapped him!  Yes, I almost did.  I became very angry; how dare he tell me to that I needed to rest (hahahahaha that sounds absurd but it’s what I thought)!  And why not vegan? I told him I just finished writing a gluten free vegan cookbook; what was I supposed to do now? I was livid!  However, I couldn’t dispute that what he was discussing with me in regards to my health and what I needed in order to get back on track; he was right (I hate admitting someone is right but I do).   And I couldn’t even say it was because he was against vegans as he was vegan for 30 years (he isn’t now). 

Yet despite knowing this, I desperately wanted to stay a vegan and was afraid that I would be letting down my “vegan” following.  Yea, it sounds whacked; I have no idea why I would care that I let down the world of vegans by not staying one.   I have never cared what others thought of me, why would I now especially when my health was at risk. So although I didn’t get the miracle I wanted (run my marathon and stay vegan), I am getting better.  The lab results came back indicating that everything was where it was supposed to be except my thyroid; the numbers are low.  I have slowly introduced wild meat, fish and eggs back into my diet along with taking the prescribed natural medicine for my thyroid and adrenal glands.  I am still very much plant based but I have learned through it all that balance is the key, to take it easy on myself and rest.  Life will pick up where I left off; it always waits for me. 

In good thoughts.

Carrianne