Shakeology-- What it is, Why I Drink it, and Why I Love it

If you are following me on Facebook, you are well aware that I am drinking Shakeology, doing the 21 Day Fix Extreme (more on that next week), losing weight that has been really difficult for me to shed (thank you PCOS), and loving it.

So many people have messaged me with questions about Shakeology, so I created this post for a Challenge Group I am running on Facebook (If you haven't participated in any yet, and are interested, just shoot me a message and I can give you all the information-- Challenge groups are FREE!), and I knew I had to share this in a blog post, because it is very important to know what you are putting into this temple of yours....

This is a long, in-depth post-- simply because there is so much greatness to talked about.

Why Shakeology?

I began drinking green vegan smoothie back in 2011 when I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), lacked energy, was gaining weight at a rapid pace, and for the first time in my life, in my mid 20s, I had acne. I completely overhauled my diet, and spent so much time and money on these shakes. Here is a quick rundown on what I would purchase: The Vegan Protein Powder ($50), Wheatgrass ($30), Maca Powder ($20), Green Tea Extract ($10), Spirulina ($20), Acai ($25)...and then I would purchase a multivitamin ($45), probiotic ($15), digestive enzymes ($20), vitamin c, d, b12, b6, magnesium, calcium... Ya get the point?

After years of drinking this shake and spending so much time every morning making it, I realized I was not getting the results I wanted. I was constantly bloated, gassy, still exhausted, and it really didn't taste all that great...

So In October I ran out of all of my products. My CPA hubby sat down and calculated how much it would cost for me to purchase all the products again...

He agreed that the best option for me would be to try Shakeology. It not only had ALL of the ingredients I was buying separately for my shakes, but it had everything else that I wanted to put in my shakes but could not afford--Rose Hip, Chlorella, Moringa, Ginko, among so many others! It also provided sufficient vitamins, probiotics, and digestive enzymes so that I did not have to replenish every single vitamin I was taking.

I started the shakes and the most wonderful thing happened, I had SO much energy! Within a few weeks my skin cleared up, and I lost a few pounds. Overall I felt amazing for the first time in a long time!

Now I drink my Shakeology every single day after my morning workout, which is currently the 21-Day Fix Extreme. My favorite recipe is the Vegan Chocolate with filtered water (I don't even miss or need my nut milk!), half a frozen banana, and a tablespoon of ground flaxseed.

I love drinking my Shakeology after a hard workout. It hydrates and replenishes me-- giving me energy to take on the rest of the day.

What IS Shakeology?

To be honest, for years I would see the Shakeology ads after my P90X workouts, and just assume it was crap. It wasn't until last winter that my Beachbody coach sent me a few samples, when I really sat down and did my research. Here is what I found and what really made me bite the bullet and purchase it:

In a nutshell, Shakeology is a nutrient dense meal replacement. It is not a protein shake. It is not a diet shake. Yes, it has 16 wonderful grams of protein, and yes, you may very well lose weight. But the reason you lose weight is because your body is finally getting ALL of the essential phytonutrients and minerals it needs—you are consuming "the rainbow" in just one meal. In order for us to consume all of these minerals and vitamins through diet we would have to consume 27,000 (yes, I said thousand!) calories a day! Therefore, your cravings nearly disappear. That dieting rut that we all tend to hit around the second and third week doesn't happen. So you can continue with your diet, and as a result continue losing weight!

Now, let’s break down what exactly is in Shakeology and what it does for you:

I was able to convince my hubby to start drinking Shakeology daily. He is a NO-Veggie, NO-fruit, NO-vitamin type of guy, and he loves the energy and regularity Shakeology gives him while I love knowing he is FINALLY getting a nutrient dense meal in his diet!

Protein and Amino Acids are supplied through Whey (only in regular Shakeology—replaced with rice and oat in the vegan varieties), Pea, Chia, Quinoa, Amaranth, Flax, Ahaca Inchi.  

What do these proteins and amino acids do for your body? They help you build lean muscles, improve your skin and hair, support optimal brain function, improve your mood, and reduce your cravings (hence, weight loss).

Then we have our powerful antioxidants and super-fruits, which help reduce oxidative damage from free radicals, promote heart health, supports joint health, and brain health. These ingredients include Cacao, Coconut Flower Necter, Acerola Cherry, Pomegranate, Camu Camu, Bilberry, Goji Berry, Blueberry, Acai, Green Tea, Rose Hips, Cinnamon, Luo Han Guo (Wow those are difficult to pronounce!) 

According to Dr. Furman M.D. in his book, Super Immunity, Super foods should be consumed in “significant amounts and simultaneously”.  When you consume these powerful antioxidants simultaneously, and shift to a diet with a range of immune system strengthening and cancer-fighting foods, you have “Super Immunity”. As the words Super Immunity say in it’s self, this is immunity that can help you, “age in confidence, not fear, and in excellent health.” He then concludes, “We have to learn that illness and disease are not the inevitable consequences of aging, and that it is in our control not to get sick.”

My little cousin, who battled a brain tumor at 19, and then cancer at 21, has struggled with eating healthy and losing weight. Check out this post!

These phytonutrients and super-greens (think about those colorful plant foods) help alkalize the body and promote detoxification of the liver, kidneys, and blood to restore health and vitality. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a diet that promotes acidity in our bodies. As a consequence, acidity leads to illnesses and disease-- to cancer.

An acidic/alkaline diet has to do with the pH (potential of hydrogen) in our bodies which is measured on a scale from1-14. If a food is alkaline it has a pH of 7.0 and higher, if it is acidic it has a pH of lower than 7.0. Our bodies are made to function with a very narrow pH range of 7.365 (slightly more alkaline).  As Kris Carr notes in her book, Crazy Sexy Diet, even a minor fluctuation in the bloods pH measure creates “distress signals”. Symptoms can be anything from,  “a runny nose to skin eruptions, heartburn, eczema, inflammation, arthritis, poor circulation, chronic fatigue, IBS, a weakened immune system, cancer.” In addition an acidic diet is a breading ground for bad bacteria, yeast, and fungi. So you can imagine that a blood pH below 7.0 (more acidic) is extremely detrimental to your health.  By eating more alkalizing foods (phytonutrients and super-greens) we are actually decreasing our chances of being ill. However, it is not just diet that affects your pH—but lack of exercise, anger, drugs, cigarettes, and stress can all add to acidity. Shakeology contains an array of these phytonutrients and superfoods: Moringa, Spirulina, Chlorella, Spinach, barley Grass, Kamut Grass, Oat Grass, and Wheat Grass. Consuming these powerful detoxifiers on a regular basis is one huge step towards health and vitality.

Next we have the Adaptogen Herbs, which protect our bodies from stress (in turn also protecting us from acidity), support the immune system, and balance the endocrine system. Dr. Bertrand Babinet, Ph. D., LAc. refers to Adaptogen Herbs as the “key to longevity and optimal health”. In aging, there are two mechanisms in our body, anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism is the positive—it is healing, healing, and balancing. Catabolism is the opposite: active, deteriorating, and stressful.  So obviously we need to increase anabolism in order to age gracefully. When we are stressed, the bodies natural balancing of homeostasis may cause anabolic and catabolic to function improperly. This is the reason why we feel tired, depressed, have insomnia, anxiety, weight imbalances, and a lack of libido while under stress. Adaptogen Herbs restore health and vitality naturally by hindering stress and aging, increasing stress resistance, balancing antioxidants, regulating the inflammatory response, and balancing both the endocrine and neuroendocrine systems. The Adaptogen ingredients found in Shakeology include Maca powder, Astragalus, Ashwagandha, Maitake Mushroom, Coryceps, Reishi Mushroom, Schisandra, Ginkgo, and Tulsi.

I am a busy teacher by day, and my Shakeology gives me energy, it is easy to  make, and accessible so I can drink it in the morning while I teach.

One of my favorite things about Shakeology is that it has both Prebiotics and Probiotics. Our systems rely heavily on our intestines. Sixty to seventy percept of our immune power is in our digestive tract. Unfortunately the friendly bacteria in our digestive tract can be damaged due to poor diet—too much sugar, too much animal protein, and too little fiber, along with alcohol use, drugs, and antibiotics (you read that right!). Pre and Probiotics promote regularity, they support a balanced micro flora environment in the intestinal tract (good bacteria), and as a result- improve digestion. In order to absorb and reap all the benefits of the healthy nutrients and vitamins we consume, we NEED these pre and probiotics to protect the good bacteria. An added bonus, with prebiotics and probiotics already in Shakeology- that is one less supplement you need to spend money on AND also a very important supplement to help you digest and reap the benefits of all the nutrients packed into this shake.

Lastly we have our digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes help the body break down foods and increase absorption of nutrients—so you can really benefit from all of those phytonutrients! Consuming digestive enzymes take some of the load off of your digestive system and in turn allows your body to divert that energy elsewhere. In addition, digestive enzymes help the body with elimination. Hence why you may go to the bathroom more often when you drink your Shakeology, and another reason why you may lose weight!

Chocolate Vegan Shakeology taste like brownie mix (in my opinion!), so I am not tempted to even take a nibble of these once loved chocolates that my students brought me for Valentine's Day.

Now imagine all of these phytonutrients as food, which you should consume on a day-to-day basis for optimal health.  In one regular (non-vegan) Shakeology you consume $41 worth of food: 3 cups of romaine lettuce, 4 cups of raw mushrooms, 1 shot of wheat grass, 1 bowl of exotic fruit, 3 raw onions, 7 raw carrots, 4 cups of nonfat yogurt, 4 cups of red radishes, 4 cups of raw broccoli, 1 cup of peas, 1 cups of raw cauliflower.

So there you have it- a TON of information on Shakeology (incase you didn't wanna ask ;) Please, please, please do not hesitate to ask me any questions! In addition, I would to LOVE to connect and help you reach your health and fitness goals so comment below, or contact me:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Liska-Certified-Health-Wellness-Counselor/147155218701641 
or friend request me on my personal FB account at https://www.facebook.com/amanda.migliaccio.7

Find me on BeachBody: http://www.teambeachbody.com/member/sn/AmandaLiskamandaLiska

Follow me on Twitter: @amandaliska

BeachBody Email: AmandaLiska11@beachbodycoach.com

Personal Email: amandalynne415@gmail.com

Healthy & Happiness,

A

It addition to Shakeology, I have been doing 21 Day Fix Extreme-- Shakeology has helped keep my cravings down, my energy up, and my digestive system regulated. In one week I lost 6lbs, 2inches in my waist, 1 inch in my thighs and hips. After the 21 Days I am now down 6lb. and 5 inches bin my waist, 4.5 inches in my hips, 1 inch in each of my thighs.

Ladies Only (Diva Cup- TMI but worth the read)

Last week I told you I stopped using deodorant... Well, I also stopped using tampons and pads.

(She's nuts!)

Tampons and pads are not only disgusting waste that rots in our landfills and clogs our toilets, but they are also loaded with chemicals, artificial scents, and can lead to infections, extreme dryness, cramps, and toxic shock.

Don't worry, I'm not just letting it all out... Gross... I'm using what I call my, "little silicone cup" which is really called the "Diva Cup".

When I first pulled the "cup" out of the packaging, I was scared. I studied the directions. What if it gets stuck up there!? I was having visions of me waking up my husband to help yank this thing out (comical, now that I think about it!).  However, once I got the hang of the Diva Cup I wondered how I didn't know about it sooner! The amount of money I would have saved, and mind you, this is coming from someone who went three years sans cycle... The grossness I could have avoided! Dryness... Stinkiness..

So what is the Diva Cup?

It is made from silicone, it is leak proof, odor proof, it's cheap ($25 on Amazon), you can wear it up to 12 hours without having to worry about toxic shock, it is reusable (not going to sit in a landfill) and it's easy. If you want more information about it, visit the website: here

But more from a real person who used it for the first time (last week):

At first, I was skeptical...

How in the world is this thing not going to overflow and leak? (I know, gross to think about!) Remember I have PCOS, and for all my PCOS ladies out there, you know how heavy our cycles can be.... But it really did not leak. Not once! I used to go though heavy duty tampons in an hour. This cup seriously held it all in for 10-12 hours (my heavier days I was a bit paranoid and emptied it out more frequently). As the package suggests, you have to turn the cup once inside of you a full turn to assure it is completely open.

So  onto that worry I mentioned earlier.. What if it gets stuck? There is this three centimeter (perhaps shorter) "thing" (for lack of better words) that hangs down-- but I quickly learned that you have to use your fingers to pinch out the cup. It is SO not as awful as it sounds. I swear! You don't even get dirty (period dirty). After a few times of perhaps being a little grossed out, I was surprisingly intrigued and able to really keep track of my flow.

The best part about the cup is that you can really go all day without changing it. It might take a bit getting used to taking it out and putting it in, but after a few shots you get the hang of it... No different then getting used to wearing tampons.

Not to mention, you don't deal with any of the dryness you get with tampons, or the stink you get with pads. (ekkk!)

I was so excited when I was wearing it I could hardly contain myself. If you know me personally, you know when I love something, it's impossible for me to shut up about it. I wanted to scream to the world: "throw away your tampons! I have discovered the most amazing "thing" ever..." But I will settle for a blog post about it.

I hope I have encouraged you to ditch your nasty, toxic, environment disaster tampons and pads for a Diva Cup... And trust me- don't be intimated, try it out, give it some time, it's worth it!

Please private message me, (or public if you are like me and have no shame), and let me know what you think of it or if you have any questions!

Love, light, and easy flow ;)
A

My Dirty Little Secret ;)

Want to know my dirty little secret??

I haven't worn deodorant in over a month.

Yep, you read that right...

and guess what?

I don't smell!

You can ask my students, third graders are brutally honest.
Seriously, I do not smell.

Before I tell you my solution, I must explain why I am SO excited about this....
A few years ago, in the beginning of my wellness journey my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Within my research I discovered that aluminum in antiperspirant has been linked to cancer. Having a long history of cancer in my family (who doesn't?), particularly breast cancer, I decided that my Dove antiperspirant deodorant was not worth the risk. Dove protected me through many, many years from stinky hormones in puberty, high school, and college. It wasn't an easy breakup, but I knew it was worth it....

It is natural for us to sweat, it is our body's natural cooling system. Think about that- why are we using chemicals to keep ourselves from sweating? It is just not worth the risk.

(Side-note: I may or may not have lost friends on this journey to find the right deodorant! ;) )

I have tried almost every single natural deodorant on the shelves. There are some that I like better than others, but none of them kept me stinky free as long as these common household items do. I have spent tons of money on deodorant, just to store them in my pantry, and eventually throw them away. When all along the most natural solutions were sitting in my kitchen and being used multiple times a day....

Coconut oil and baking soda.

It's super easy and cheap. All you need is a bottle of coconut oil (yes you can use coconut oil for everything-- $10) and baking soda ($2.50).

Then, create a paste by using approximately 1/2 tbs. of coconut oil with 1/2 tbs. of baking soda. Rub it together in your hands until the coconut oil is liquid and simply apply to your armpits. Rinse your hands off and get ready to take on your day in a healthy, not stinky way!

You may need to adjust the amount of baking soda you use-- the more you use, the more protection you will have.

Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments below! :)

Love, light, and a healthy (non stinky ;) ) body <3
A

Have you jumped on the Lemon Water bandwagon yet? Here are my thoughts...

As I sit here to write my first blog post in a long time (cut me some slack- it's been a busy year!),
I take a sip of a hot mug of lemon water, with a few dashes of cayenne pepper, and sweetened with stevia, and I think to myself: What should I write about?

Then I get a text from a client who is having digestive issues. She isn't the first one this week to ask me for advice on how to get her pumps, well, pumping...

We have all been there, especially this time of year where it is dark and cold. We may not be eating as well or as frequently as we should be. So our bodies stop pumping, and instead hold onto waste. Causing your waist to budge with terrible discomfort.

Now, I have quite a few tricks up my sleeves being a IBS recoverer (who knew there was such a thing?)... but my favorite trick of all, which we can ALL incorporate into our daily lives (even if your pumps are always flowing) is a hot cup of lemon water, with an added bump of the spicy cayenne pepper, and a little sweet touch of stevia.

Who doesn't want to sip on something warm when it is single digit temperatures outside and the wind is whipping so hard that it makes you wonder, "why the hell did I buy a house in New Jersey?" At least that's my thought.... Added bonus-- it keeps you warm! So warm that you may even start to believe you are living in the Virgin Islands.. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration- but sounds nice, doesn't it?

I am sure you have seen in the magazines, on Dr. Oz, Jennifer Anniston swears by it (and who doesn't want to look like her?),  everyone  is swearing off their cup of coffee for lemon water.
Guilty...
However, I was doing it before it was a trend-- and yes it did help me kick my horrendous pot-a-day coffee addiction.

So here are a few more reasons why I love, love, love this drink, and why I have suggested all my constipated and non constipated clients and friends drink it:

1.) It detoxifies-- this goes along with the constipation problem (see above). But seriously, lemon water will help flush out toxins and waste. Drink it first thing in the a.m., before that P90X workout. I mean, it sucksssss to workout when clogged up.

2.) It wakes you up and energizes you (all hours of the day). Six a.m. workout- you got this! Three p.m. slump-- get that water brewing, and start squeezing!

3.) Immunity-- Bring it, Flu Season! This drink is LOADED with vitamins-- particularly vitamin C.
In addition, it has calcium, potassium, magnesium, and pectin fiber along with antibacterial properties which will keep you healthy all winter long.

4.) It will help you kick that exhausting caffeine addiction and save money from not having to buy coffee and tea. (see #2 ;) )

5.) Suppresses hunger AND helps you lose weight. Enough said, this should have been #1...

6.) You will look younger-- that's a result of hydration, and vitamin C. It nourishes from within-- leaving you with a gorgeous glow. Less wrinkles, less pimples, beau-ti-ful! (if only real food had commercials....)

7.) Helps ease aches by dissolving uric acid which helps with inflammation, all while replenishing body salts to help with those sore muscles from that kick ass workout you completed this morning.

8.) With that advernturous dash of cayenne pepper, you intensify all of the benefits from the lemon: Detoxifying, energizing, antibacterial, anti-fungal, immunizes, digestion and weigh-loss booster. The list goes on and you get so much more bang for your buck.

Try it, and then let me know what you think in the comments below!

Love & Health (....and happy excretion ;) )
A

The Power of Coping

Here's the thing with pain and sorrow... we all deal with it differently. 

For some of us, we are built to be resilient. Those are the ones who hardly cry, at least not in front of us. The ones who everyone else turns to for strength. They are the rocks of the world. The ones who keep the world from crumbling to pieces. I am married to my rock.

Some of us have to work really hard to keep it under control. 
And then, some of us can't. 

I am not naturally a strong person. I am strong because I work really, really hard to make myself this way. It is not in my blood, but I see where I could end up if I don't take control.

It is an everyday effort. Anyone who has ever suffered from a loss knows that at any moment you can be flooded with emotions. These emotions are not easy to control, and nor should you all of the time. It is good to cry.

So I cry... and then I pray. As I begin to pray, I immediately give thanks. 

Yes, I give thanks. 

No matter what happened, I know deep in my heart that there was a reason for it. I am grateful that this has made me stronger. It has made kinder. It has made me want to be a mother more than ever. I am grateful for my little angel. For the short 15-weeks that she was growing inside of me, she changed my life.  I feel more alive than ever. 

Our 1-Year-Anniversary, Asbury Park, NJ

The most rewarding part is that I never knew I could love my husband anymore than I did before, but I do. Going through such a challenge together can either make or break your relationship. I am so grateful that it made my relationship so much stronger. I don't know what I would do without my rock, and for that I am forever grateful.

John and I celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary last Sunday. Just like I did on our wedding day, I felt like the luckiest girl alive. It amazes me how much we have been through in our first year of marriage. It amazes me how much I love him.

If you have read my posts before, you know I am a strong believer in homeopathy, as it has helped me with my health in so many ways. 

When we first received the blood work results that the baby had a high chance of having Trisomy-18, I was distraught. I could not even speak without completely breaking down. I felt like my entire body was collapsing. After going three days like this, and unable to hold a conversation with anyone, I went to see my Chiropractor/ Homeopath. When I began telling him what had happened, he pointed out my breathing. I was taking huge gulps of air in between every few words, fighting to hold it together and to communicate what I needed to say. He immediately recommended I take Bach Relax Serum, and Ignatia. Bach is that product that everyone should carry around in their purse. It is the flower essence for anxiety and stress. It is my happy serum, and it's all natural. Ignatia is used for this exact situation, stress. The two helped to calm me down just enough so I could think rationally, and begin putting my coping skills to use. After we loss the baby, he suggested I add adrenal drops and Sepia. The addition of the two helped balance my hormones and provide my body and mind the opportunity to heal.

Sometimes when we go through sorrow, we are in so much pain that we forget what we can do to help ourselves. All it takes is someone reminding us. I am so grateful that my doctor gave me the push I needed, and so I followed his suggestions, and then I was able to do what I know best: meditate, run, and write.

Wise Fortune Cookie- Wise Hubby :)

Every morning I start my day with giving thanks. It really helps put into perspective all that is important and good in my life.

 After I give thanks, I go downstairs and I meditate. Meditation has helped me deal with so much heartache. It has taught me how to breathe, clear my mind of worry, and live in the moment. It has transformed me from a high anxiety perfectionist, to a calm, easy going person.  I am currently doing Deepak Chopra's guided Abundance meditations. The mediations have been another catalyst in helping me to recognize all of the abundance in my life. As Deepak Chopra says in day 1, "Today I behold all of the abundance that surrounds me..." regardless of what we are going through, there is still so many wonderful things to be grateful for.

As I mentioned in  my last post, writing has always been an outlet for me. Writing that last blog post gave me so much strength and so much joy in a time of sorrow. It is because of you, my readers, who reached out to me through private messages, and Facebook posts, that really gave me a sense of pride and power. You gave me strength. That day was the first day I felt happy. Your stories and words of encouragement, really touched me. I know I am not alone. Thank you.

It is so wonderful to see how many people come through for you when you go through something like this. Now that is something to be grateful for.

Ella after our run in the woods, she is the BEST running partner!

Sometimes when we deal with pain, we feel like our bodies are going to explode if we don't punch something. The best thing to do is to release this energy.  No, I am not suggesting for you to punch your husband or the walls... but pushing your body to exercise everyday. I am pushing myself harder than ever, and running is my drug. I prefer not to do it alone, as being alone can often be hard when you are vulnerable. My husband is waking up early every morning with me to do an intense 30 minute P90X3 workout. Working out together and releasing that energy together, makes us both more calm, and it releases those feel good endorphins. We start our day feeling accomplished, and knowing that now we have more time after work for each other.  Since John works later than I do, I take that time to bring Ella, my fur-child, for a run in  the woods. I find that when I am alone and bored, is when I am flooded with those sad emotions. The combination of running and being immersed in nature, makes me feel so powerful and so grateful for that power. Running has saved me many times in the past, and it has yet to disappoint. Running with my best friend, couldn't bring me or her any more joy!

... and my walls, and husband, are all intact.

I know I will never forget my baby. It was a painful 15 weeks, but I wouldn't change a thing. I now have a little angel in heaven, and I can't wait to one day meet her and hold her in my arms. She has given me strength, and I am so grateful for that.

I hope this post finds others who trying to cope with loss. Just know that you are not alone. With time, and with a little self-love, you will get through this. You just have to take control and do what you need to do for yourself. 

With love, gratitude, and strength <3

How I got pregnant with PCOS, and how I am healing after the loss...

Writing has always been a positive outlet for me... and in time of loss, this is something I know I have to share with whoever is willing to read...

I do not intent to focus this post on the loss of our first child, but rather on HOW I got pregnant.

As some of you may know from my past blog posts, I was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and at the age of twenty-five, I was infertile.  By a miracle, or the miracle of nutrition and homeopathy, we naturally conceived.

So, I am taking a sad experience, and turning it into pure positivity. There is so much I am grateful for right now, and just getting pregnant takes the cake.  After such a terrible loss, it is hard for us to recover and come out of that dark hole, I am writing my way out of this hole in hopes to help at least one person. With the help of nutrition and homeopathy, I am healing both physically and emotionally.

 The story begins where I left off on my last post, a little less than year ago: my experimentation with calcium. Shortly after that post, I discovered (or my extremely research savvy sister, Lauren aka Ginger discovered) a supplement called Vitex. Vitex may in fact be THE natural cure for hormonal imbalances, like infertility. If you want to read more detail on what Vitex is, a great source can be found here.

Vitex comes from a beautiful purple plant from Greece and Italy. My personal favorite color, representing royalty! 

After doing much of my own research on Vitex, I thought, what do I have to lose? So I purchased Vitex as a extract from amazon.com (for a very reasonable price, mind you, as compared to in stores). 

On July 16th (yes I keep track of exact dates! It's what us infertile women do) I began taking one-full tincture of vitex directly under my tongue (quickest way to the bloom stream), one time a day. After about one month I added a second dose later in the day. 

Now as you may already know with natural and homeopathic remedies, the cure is not immediate, and you must be patient. Remember that these remedies are fixing imbalances in your body, this takes time! Where compared to modern medicine (which I do no oppose to, there is a time when modern medicine is absolutely necessary, and it is important to know when!) the cure is often right away, as the imbalance is not particularly fixed, but blanketed (reasons why once you begin many medications, you are on them for life... and if you stop the problem can very likely occur again). 

So like I was saying... I did not see immediate results.

However, I did begin to notice my mood changing for the better (with PCOS we can often be a little moody, thank you hormones!) and I began having less break outs on my face. 

Two months later, on September 13th, I got my period... and it was a  pretty normal period, or what I remember normal being like (remember that I did go almost 2 years without one!) Then, two months after that, in November, I got my period again! Finally, a little over a month later, at the end of December, it was back! By this point, I would consider my periods rather regular in just a few months after beginning Vitex.

Of course when the end of January came around, I was disappointed that I did not get my period, a sign that most women, or at least those with regular periods, would assume meant they were knocked up... but when you go years without a period, and then random months of getting one, you don't think much of a missed period. I of course just figured my PCOS was not done with me yet! 

About a week later I began getting symptoms which I thought at the time meant my period was indeed approaching (swollen boobs, fatigue, hunger, feeling dehydrated...) but after two weeks of that, and still no period, my husband insisted I take a pregnancy test. In my mind, regardless of all the things I have been doing to reverse my infertility, I did not think it was possible that I could be pregnant. So I did what my husband asked, and lo and behold, I was indeed pregnant! We could not have been any happier...

My pregnancy was very normal, I was sick as a dog (and hating everyone who told me that they never suffered from morning, or what I call ALL DAY sickness-- who was the jerk who decided to call it "Morning Sickness" anyway?), and the loss of our baby had absolutely nothing to do with my PCOS. But rather the very rare occurrence that can happen in fertilization, where either the egg or the sperm picked up an extra chromosome, in our case it was the chormosome 18. The results were that our baby had a fatal abnormality called Trisomy 18. We were unfortunately dealt a very challenging hand... but are grateful that we did the genetic testing, and were prepared for the loss of our baby. 

It has only been a few days since we lost our first child, and I can honestly say that time heals all things, and that I am not great... how could I be? But, given the situation, I am doing okay and getting stronger everyday, thanks to the support and love of my family, friends, and colleagues, and also with the assistance of my homeopath who helped me to begin healing before the baby even passed. I would like to save that post for another time, so please check in in about a week for a post about healing naturally after a loss.

Thank you for reading my blog, and for all of the love and support. Writing this post is one more step to my healing-- and I hope with all of my heart that this post reaches someone who has fertility issues, and like me, does not want to take fertility drugs... and that she too can find success.

With so much love <3 

Calcium and PCOS

Just six weeks ago I married the man of my dreams, on a rainy, yet magical day. Simply the best day of my life, so far! My husband and I have been together since we were kids, and he willingly entered this marriage knowing that we may never have kids of our own. This unfortunately is not a personal choice, but rather the hand I have been dealt with in my stack of genes I was given.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.7 million women are infertile or unable to carry to full term. My mom, back in the late 70's and 80's was one of these women, however back then they did not have a name for it. My mom had too many miscarriages including a stillborn, but she somehow managed to have three healthy children.  The question for me is, am I strong enough to go through what my mother went through to manage to have three children? Is the heartache and disappointment worth it? Sadly enough when I have mentioned this fear to other women, the response I get is, "Everyone has a miscarriage, it is no big deal these days." Wow... this where we really are today? In a world where our technological advances have surpassed what we could previously have imagined...

Thankfully, my husband and I are in no rush to have little ones running around (sorry Lauren ;), however we do know that eventually we do want kids. Since being diagnosed with PCOS, I have begun experimenting with many holistic treatments, supplements, and alterations in my diet. Most of all, I have had to become extremely in tune with what my body wants and needs. Today, I am putting the puzzle pieces together and constantly making changes... I will find out how to cure my PCOS by getting down to the root cause, and I will share all the information I have with as many people as possible, because I can't stop thinking about how sad it is that in 2013, miscarriages "happen to everyone".

When I became vegan, I read many books and articles that claimed that I do not need Calcium supplements, and rather the white beans and collard greens I eat, will provide sufficient amounts. So, I finished off my supplements, and stopped taking calcium. Around the same time, I greatly decreased my protein intake, and increased my carbohydrate (much being gluten) intake. A few months later I gained weight, and suddenly had acne, and no period... (Giving up gluten was a different story).

This past March, I was home from work on Spring Break, and catching up on an episode of The Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Oz briefly mentioned the importance of taking Calcium (with magnesium) to not only build strong bones, but enable hormone secretion and help you lose weight. As I researched this a little more, I did indeed find that there is a connection between calcium and PCOS... could perhaps my lack of calcium have caused my infertility?

Calcium Magnesium by Bluebonnet

Around the same time, I had a major sugar binge...it was my birthday and my bridal shower month- and as a good hubs-to-be, he bought me gluten free, vegan cupcakes from my favorite bakery, Papa Ganache. During this binge, and by binge I don't necessarily mean I housed a dozen cupcakes, but I ate enough to cause my brain to crave the sugar ever day and cause fluctuations in my mood. My homeopath suggested I begin taking Chromium supplements which aid in managing blood sugar and insulin resistance...

Pretty delicious looking....

Two days later, I got my period... first time in 4 months. Oh, and a major plus, I quickly lost that 5lbs I have been working very hard to loose. Could it be that the Chromium supplements and reintroducing Calcium have caused my symptoms of PCOS to dissipate?

So, here is where the experimentation occurs... I ran out of my Calcium supplements and forgot to purchase more (with the wedding and all!).  The following month, no period, and the weight returned.

I recently reordered my Calcium supplements, and am hoping for the best. Let me remind you that I do not eat dairy, and although I eat buckets of leafy green vegetables, I do not believe that MY body was getting enough calcium that it needed. Your body is your temple, and you must listen to what your body needs. We are all different, and one size does not necessarily fit all. If you are like me, a healthy-as-can-be, young girl, who has been diagnosed with a disease, whether it be PCOS or any other disease, you need to really listen to your body and figure out what is that YOUR body needs. I was having tingles in my limbs for years-- a sign of low calcium, and a sign that my doctors overlooked. Could it be that the tingling, lack of period, acne, and weight gain were not just signs that my ovaries were loaded with cysts, but the cause of all of this was low calcium?

With something to think about...

Stress less, love often, and listen to your body <3