Vegetarianism and Anemia

Well....I'm back again.   My computer issues weren't really solved at all so I had to wait another week before I was back up and running fully. 

During that time a lot has happened.    I had my yearly appointment with the duck, or at least that's what I call it.   I also found out that now that I'm old and my results have always been normal, I only need to see the duck once every 3 years.   That's amazing in its own.   One thing I made sure to do though is have blood drawn to check my levels since I live by a loose vegetarian diet.   By loose I mean that I do get a nibble of meat here and there and also do still eat fish.   Because of this, I really shouldn't even mention the word vegetarianism because those that truly are vegetarian apparently become overcome with rage when they hear this.   Lesson not learned.

ANYWAY.   I thought I was doing a fantastic job of eating healthy.   I juice nearly every morning with leafy greens, I eat lots of legumes, I eat whole grains.    Honestly I feel like I am doing about as good as I can do without feeling deprived.    Then I got this:

I thought....Ooohhh....not good.   Then I opened up the next results and found this:

If you've ever wondered what Ferritin is:

Serum ferritin levels are measured in medical laboratories as part of the iron studies workup for anemia and for restless legs syndrome. The ferritin levels measured usually have a direct correlation with the total amount of iron stored in the body. However, ferritin levels may be artificially high in cases of anemia of chronic disease where ferritin is elevated in its capacity as an acute phase protein and not as a marker for iron overload.

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So I sort of thought "Hmm...no wonder you're so cranky and tired all the time!"   Yet the results weren't done.    Here is the last:

Yeaaahh.   This sucks.   So after I saw all these results my doctors office called me and put me on slowFE twice a day (Hello Constipation!) and 5000 IU of D3 each day.   In 3 months they will recheck my levels to see if this is helping.    They also were nice enough to send me some information on vegetarianism and Iron and this included some foods that will help bring up Iron levels.   These included things like Black Strap Molasses, Bok Choy, Fortified Cereal, Instant Oatmeal...all things I don't ever eat and honestly probably never will.   I kid you not when those were the suggestions.   I read it to my mom laughing.  

So where am I now with all this?

I have eaten a little bit of meat since finding out this information.   Please understand that I didn't give up meat for the moral reason.   Only for the icky reason.   I never have loved meat.   Sure bacon, steak, and grilled chicken is pretty amazing but then I read some studies on cancer and meat and I sort of just said enough is enough and gave it up.   I still am not a huge fan.   Meat just simply grosses me out but if it will help me feel somewhat normal again, I am willing to give it a shot.   At least a little bit of a shot.  

After looking into anemia, I realized how much something like this can affect you.   I'm hoping that once I can get my levels back up, I will become the calmest more amazingly reasonable and alert person around.  

In other news, just because I want to brag, Mike had this on my car seat this morning.

 

 

If you just yawned and said "My husband got me 12 of those yesterday...big deal" then check this out.

Nothing says true love like a full gas tank when you left it below E just the day before.   xoxo Mike.   You know the way to my heart. 

All the things I've missed....

I've been missing.   I was still able to sort of stalk but my computer broke.   Actually Mike broke my computer.   He went to answer the phone for me and then proceeded to drop the computer on the ground and bust the tip off of the charger.   I saw it all happen and I pretty much just shrugged my shoulders because I've been responsible for the death of 3 computers over the past 6 years or so.  It's about time I have a little but of leverage when it comes to the computer talk. 

Valentines came.   Mike's so in love with me he got me this:

Best present ever.   Honestly though, I didn't want chocolates only because I ended up eating that box in 3 days flat.   Mike isn't stupid though.   My dad got all three of us girls a heart shaped box of chocolates every.single.year growing up.   I looked forward to them each Valentines morning.  Then along came the childish age of 18 and I get married.   Mike has to take over this tradition.  There was one year when we lived in Oklahoma and he didn't get me a heart shaped box of chocolates.  It just so happened that my sister and her boyfriend at the time were visiting us.   He didn't get her a heart shaped box of chocolates either.   I cried.   Like really.   To be fair, I was pregnant. 

The guys were soooo in the dog house so they ended up locking me and my sister in the bedroom for 3 fricken hours while we could hear them using tons of tape out in the living room.   They ended up making us heart shaped boxes of chocolates because Walmart was all sold out down there.  It might be the most memorable Valentines day ever.   The end.

In other news, running is going.   I'm making most of my training runs but it's cold here.   Really cold.  I'm so sick of it. 

It makes it really hard to get longer runs in because I am sort of stuck to the treadmill.  I did manage to get a 10 mile run in tonight because the temps were pretty great (37) but it's so icy and slushy that my feet were constantly getting fresh ice water on them.    My right knee also is having IT band issues again.   Last year it was my left knee and now this year is my right knee.   Maybe if I keep running other year, it'll end up being my ass hole hurting.

With the lack of a computer, I was able to watch more quality television.   Anyone else love this show?

Rosanne is so dang ghetto and old but I absolutely love this show.   It still makes me laugh.

What I Ate Wednesday

This week is pretty realistic.   I eat a lot.   Here's the proof.

Overnight Oats.   Oats, Almond Milk, PB2 and Chia Seeds

I juiced and brought it to work (Kale, Apple, Celery, Spinach, Blueberries, Ginger, Carrot and Lemon.   I also brought Kombucha and a Larabar.   Each morning I am taking Callagen, Iron and a Daily Vitamin.

Sun-Dried Tomato Veggie Burger on Wheat bun with Spouts, Ketchup, Mustard and Tomato after work.

A small bowl of Tomato Soup

Dinner was homemade Roasted Tomato and Corn soup.   

After the gym (6 mile speed work) I was hungry and had apples with PB2

Lets not forget these guys that I had after I picked the kids up from school but before dinner.....the list keeps going guys....

And just about 5 minutes ago I had some cauliflower and hummus.   I'm officially done for the night!

Dwelling on the Negative

Over the past year I have truly tried to transform my life.   I want to be happy and lead a positive life with positive energy.   I feel like I do a pretty good job of this most of the time but I still find myself living in a hole of self pity from time to time.  

Never is it about material things.   I don't find myself jealous of what others have that I don't.   We drive older cars that are paid for.   We live in a smaller older home that we can afford comfortably.   We own one cell phone!   Because of these sacrifices  (that don't really feel like sacrifices) we are able to save money, put our girls in extra curricular activities and have a little fun once and a while.   This makes me proud. 

What doesn't make me proud is that I am still able to to become unhappy with life sometimes.    Usually it is my own doing when I over analyze life and where life is going.   Am I happy?  Is this what I always wanted?   Should be try harder to find exactly what makes me happy in life?   They say those that don't put everything they have out there and take risks will never truly find happiness.   I think it's safe to say that I do play things safe.   I don't like to make a lot of noise.   The older I get, the more I want to keep the peace and really watch the words I use so I can get my point across more clearly. 

Relationships are hard.   I'm not just speaking of intimate relationships (lets be real, those are the hardest!) but friendly relationships as well.   I think if anything, relationships are what make me the most unhappy.   My mom has always said to me that she is jealous of how I handle relationships.   I am able to really figure someone out early on and I can easily decide if I want them part of my life or not.    I don't become easily attached.  I don't like everyone.   No one should.

Does this make me judgmental? 

I don't think so.  

I just know what I want out of my people.   I know what I expect of myself as a friend and I simply expect the same back.    If I can tell that person isn't similar in their beliefs, I usually don't stick around.   I think it's the Capricorn in me. 

I have morals too!  I believe strongly in treating people how you want to be treated.   I haven't been perfect with this.   Sometimes the little high school girl in me makes an appearance but it usually leaves me feeling unhappy and sick with myself and then I need to make things right.  The problem with this is that sometimes things are said that you can't take back.   I can only hope that through my actions, they can see that I am not that person that said those words and know that I realize I shouldn't always open my mouth.   We all make mistakes.  

I guess my question is this:

How do you find complete happiness in all relationships in your life when you have little control over the outcome of them?

I try my hardest to surround myself with people that have a heart.   I think that is the most important thing to me.   I don't want my friendships to be negative.   I want them to be supportive and loving.   Don't get me wrong either.   I do have several friends that are absolutely amazing.  One thing about having some shitty friends is that it makes you appreciate the amazing friends you do have.  

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Completely off topic but I think I have a problem.   I was cleaning the pantry today before I went grocery shopping (Which ended up costing me $300.00!! WTF!?) and I found all of these.  

 have got to stop buying different kinds of tea!