Meeting #2 with the Nutritionalist...

Since the last time I met with my nutritionalist, I've found out that I have Hashimoto Disease. And because I am who I am, I began instantly researching the shit out of it. I kept reading about people going gluten free and eliminating eggs from their diets. So that's what I had planned on doing but of course wanted to hear the nutritionalists point before I went too hard core.

She was very helpful and gave me loads of info. Based on my symptoms and where my bloat is (top of the belly, not below) she doesn't believe its a gluten issue at all. She said "gluten free" is such a fad that EVERYONE is quick to jump on it but gluten isn't always the issue. She said really the only people who really should go gluten free are people with Celiac Disease.

We already know that lactose is a huge trigger for me, so I limit any dairy. I drink Almond Milk in my shakes instead of regular or lactose free because its less calories and just as good. I rarely eat cheese and I'm not a yogurt fan. I get my calcium by eating other whole foods, shakeology and a women's multi-vitamin.

Because she believes my stomach issues are IBS related she's having me increase my fiber by taking a fiber supplement for now. I'm also going to start adding a probiotics vitamin too because my system tends to just flush everything out that I eat.

She also gave me a FODMAP (see below an example)...

That she wants me to experiment around with and see if we can figure out what exactly my triggers are. The big triggers on it are: lactose, fructose, fructans, galactans, and polyols. I'm not suppose to cut all of them out but to start food journaling what I eat and how I feel afterwards and the next day. 

Its a process but I'm all about healing my gut and getting to the bottom issue. I love that my nutritionalist is all about teaching me and not just saying "don't eat this or that". She actually listens, which is what I need. She's also excited that I'm going to see an endocrinologist because they will run more tests and see if anything else pops up that my regular dr hasn't caught. 

2017 will be my year...I just know it!

Shakeology VS Plexus ... just because its pink doesn't make it better!

Yes PINK is the coolest color in the world in my opinion. And the whole thought of consuming a pink drink totally tickles me....PINK!

But is it really healthy for you?! How does it compare to Shakeology?! Well, since I've had a few messages from people asking me since I posted Isagenix VS Shakeology, let me break it down for ya.

Also before I continue, if you are going to argue that my comparison is "laughable" and "false" please back it up with facts. Because facts is all I'm stating. The cold honest sometimes harsh truth is what my blog is about. 

You go to any ambassador's site, and someone or their mother has lost 30, 40, or even 100 pounds with Plexus! The worst is Facebook! Half of FB is stuffed with Plexus rainbows! I support these women cause I know how it is to run your own business but lord knows I vomit a little when I see their posts about it.

I recently was messaged by a friend of mine who sells Plexus after posting about being finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease. Who claimed Plexus could "cure" my hastimoto's. She was telling me to drink the magic pink drink, along with the P96 Protein Shake along with other shit they offer. 

First off, if this person really knew much about Hashimoto disease, they would have known that soy is NOT okay for most Hashimoto people to consume ... P96 contains soy. It also contains dairy which I can't tolerate due to lactose intolerant. 

Plexus Slim is gluten-free and Vegan and Vegetarian friendly. Oh, well at least there’s that.

I'm not buying the snake oil.

Plexus has NO nutritional value so it can’t actually be compared to Shakeology because Shakeology is NOT a diet drink. Shakeology is hands-down the healthiest meal of the day - a daily dose of dense, superfood nutrition.

Plexus Label  VS Shakeology Label

This company relies on the uninformed consumer to make their money off of. The makers of this product do not do enough of their own research and will grab at whatever buzzword they can feed you to get your money. 

They removed the appetite suppressant Hoodia when it became controversial for it’s lack of scientific evidence to back up its claims. They also removed DMAA from their accelerator formula after comparisons to the side effects of ephedra eventually led to a government ban on the substance. 

Plexus Slim's main ingredient is Chromium. What is chromium? It is metal. Its that simple. Chromium exposure is safe for some adults up to about six months. Extended Chromium exposure is directly linked to dizziness, headaches, liver damage, kidney damage, and is NOT safe to be consumed when pregnant or breastfeeding! 

WAIT! WHAT?! So you want me to put something into my body that contains a metal and I should stop consuming it after 6 months because it can lead to other issues?! Um, no thank you.

Here's another weird thing about Plexus. Previously, you could buy Plexus Slim off Amazon.com, but after unbelievably bad reviews and the presence of the banned chemical dimethylamylamine, Amazon completely removed the product off their site! You cannot buy it on Amazon anymore. 

I brought this up to my "friend" and she twisted is by saying its just like any other MLM business and its illegal to sell those products on sites like Amazon. Funny, cause Beachbody isn't BANNED from Amazon...I checked the banned list, nope only Plexus. 

Check it out for yourself: Plexus Amazon Banned List

Now this was the weirdest thing.

When I went to the official plexus website looking for their company info/their story, like any normal person I expected the first thing to be about their company and products that make a difference in obese people.

Guess what?

The first line on their "our story" page completely gives away the primary focus of the company = money making scheme!

Here's an actual pic straight from their "our story" page…

Here's an actual pic straight from Beachbody's "out story" page...

Now, the cost...

Most people report needing 2 doses of Plexus Slim in a day. Even more people report they take the other Plexus supplements like “Accelerator” and it costs them around $150 a month by the time they get all the add-ons they recommend for “Optimal Results”.

WHY do people want to waste their money on a very expensive product that provides them NO nutritional value, suppresses their appetite which in turn can seriously affect their metabolism, provides possibly unsafe levels of ingredients, etc?! 

Eat real food. Eat the right amounts of real food in the correct portions. 

Here’s the thing: Shakeology is not an appetite suppressant. It’s also not necessarily a meal replacement shake (not on its own, anyway). 

If we’re speaking in terms of caloric needs, you have to mix other things in with the powder in order for the calorie levels to get high enough for it to serve as a meal replacement. It is not a diet drink. 

It’s meant to serve as a boost of protein, vitamins, and minerals because a lot of people don’t get what they need from the foods they eat. It will not target your fat cells over your muscle cells. What it will do is make you feel a million times better. You will have more energy. You will see reduced sugar cravings. You will become more regular because of the probiotics. Your hair and nails will become healthier (hooray biotin!). 

And, you can pair it with a workout and nutrition program that has already accounted for it to make a genuine lifestyle change.

All in all, Plexus Slim MIGHT work for a minor few. We don't know who these 'few' people are. It might be you, yes, it might work for you. But do you really want to spend $150/month for the next 6 months to find out?

I am sure if you're sane, the answer's A BIG NO!

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

I've been getting a lot of messages from people who relate to my symptoms and want to find out what steps they need to take to find answers. By sharing my journey, I hope to help you guys uncover what is ailing you and help heal your body. 

I MUST emphasize that you have to be willing to be your biggest advocate and willing to LEARN, read, research. Don't simply rely on the advice of one doctor...especially if they aren't listening to you or brushing you off. And when you do find a great doctor, I recommend educating yourself if you do have a Thyroid condition (I'm much more likely to follow through when I understand the "why" behind lifestyle changes like going Gluten, Soy & Dairy-Free).

For the past 9 years, I haven't been feeling quite like myself. Despite eating clean and working out daily, my results were not matching my efforts. For the last 2 years, I've poured my HEART and SOUL into eating healthy and dedicating myself 100% to my workouts. It's not only demoralizing and frustrating when you don't see results...it's kinda heartbreaking. 



You know it's bad when your husband says, "Wow, you really aren't seeing results- are you eating meals I don't know about?" He was just joking around. My husband is 100% supportive and would love me no matter. I was starting to feel like I was crazy or just being a big baby until he confirmed that this wasn't right. Something was going on with my body.

I know I am don't see me and think "man's she's overweight" and think "she's already lost 85 lbs, why is she bitching" - but I feel like shit, I haven't felt myself for so long and it's physically uncomfortable. I love my body and I think I have a beautiful figure- but it's frustrating when my body isn't responding to workouts and clean eating like it has in the past. 

Weight aside...I just don't feel like myself.  I'm normally a laid-back, optimistic, happy, friendly girl. For the last two years, all of that changed. When out with friends, I can channel the "happy Mandy" but it usually leaves me completely exhausted. And its only a matter of time before the anxiety hits me hard and I want to melt into the ground and cry. I am, by nature, a very introverted girl...but it started progressing to a whole other level with serious anxiety the last few years.

I started writing down my symptoms...even the symptoms that my primary doctor would brush off.  He tell me, "Come see me if it gets any worse."  Umm...it IS worse..that's why I'm here... LOL!

Symptoms:

• Extreme Fatigue

• Insomnia (Trouble both falling asleep and stay asleep)

• Tired even after 8+ hours of sleep

• Low Energy. Tired easily

• Weakness

• Stress or pressure exhausts me

• Stressed out easily (normally a laidback person)

• Depressed for no reason

• Loss of Ambition

• Feeling overwhelmed by Tasks

• Mood Swings

• Anxiety

• Cries easily/randomly

• Easily angry and irritable

• Restless

• Always thirsty! Even after drinking a gallon + of water daily

• Yawn often

• Sensitive to Sound and Bright Light

• Migraines (once a month or more)

• Mental Fog (really bad)

• Trouble Concentrating (really bad)

• Procrastination

• PMS x100

• Painful Cramps

• Poor Memory & Concentration (really bad)

• Stomach Pain Daily

• Acid Reflux

• Indigestion

• Bloating- I looked 6 months pregnant!

• Hair Loss

• Low Libido

• Intense Sugar and Carb Cravings

• Nausea after Meals

• Always Cold- Especially my Feet

• Weight Gain no matter what I do or eat

• I start to feel awake and have energy at 7pm

• Brittle Nails

• Don't feel like myself

Dang, I'm exhausted just typing that out and shocked that my husband has endured the "sick Mandy" for so long!



After my doctor brushed me off, I just dealt with it. I thought...ok I'm getting older...this is how things are supposed to be...I have to soldier through. Truth be told, I look back and had some of these symptoms for as long as I could remember...other symptoms I can pinpoint starting years ago!

For example: I've always had migraines, even as a child. I remember crying in bed because head hurt so bad. But my dad got migraines so I thought I just inherited them.

Insomnia: I thought maybe it was a side effect of having a children. No seriously I did. Courtney never really slept thru the night and now Rowan doesn't. I just thought it was another lovely mommy thing.

Fatigue: I'm a mom of 4...enough said about that. I'm a very ambitious person so I secretly loved being tired because I felt like it meant I was working hard.  

Finding a Dr: After finally threatening my Dr to go to patient advocacy because he wasn't listening to me, is when he finally decided to listen. I have been battling "hypothyroidism" for 9 years and I've never had a sonogram on my thyroid OR seen an endocrinologist OR even really knew what type of hypothyroidism I suffer from. I finally had the sonogram done and was told I have "Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis". Hashimotos is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid. And in my case has made mine shrink in size and not functioning. After seeing the sonogram results my Dr finally decided it was time to send me to an endocrinologist. 

Tomorrow I have to call my endocrinologist and set up my appointment. I'm nervous, scared and excited. I plan on going in with my list of symptoms, my thoughts and my questions. I'm going in prepared.

But in the meanwhile I've been doing lots and lots of research because like I said above "to be your biggest advocate and willing to learn." 

I will continue to update about this journey because I know so many suffer quietly and never get the answers they want or need. I'm hear for YOU if you ever want to talk. 

Thyroid Madness & New Dr!

So if you follow me on FB or IG you probably saw my picture of our two little boys and me talking about how I survived my first alone trip to Norwich. Don't judge me. Norwich is a big scary town. And when you are in a US spec mini van driving on the wrong side of the road with crazy UK drivers it gets very intense. 

Anyways, if you saw my pic and read the description you would have saw that I mentioned the reason we were up there was for a dr appointment. I finally had enough of my PCM (military dr) telling me there is nothing wrong with me and that my thyroid function has NOTHING to due with the fact I can't drop these last 35 lbs and I've been stuck on a plateau for a whole year now. I finally had enough and 3 months of researching this dr in Norwich I decided to call him up and chat with him. The clinic was super sweet and booked me in for an appointment and said they most defiantly could help me. 

I had a very successful visit with my new dr and I walked away feel confident and pleased. He's given me a plan and I'm to follow it to a T for the next two week. He specializes in weight management but has extensive knowledge in people with thyroid conditions. I will officially start my new plan tomorrow and will be sharing it on our vlog on youtube (and yes I'm a completely slacker when it comes to my vlog but I'm getting back into it tomorrow...promise).  

My goal is to share my journey of healing, losing weight & living with this condition. 

So make sure you subscribe to our vlog so you can follow me along this journey!!!