Six Weeks

I started Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy 6 weeks ago. The doctor told me it would take about 2 weeks for me to start "feeling" the hormones starting to work and 3 weeks until they were at full potency.

Traveling to Norway was just about when the doctor said I’d likely start to feel things. Traveling there, my flight left Chicago at 9:30pm Monday and landed in London around 11am Tuesday... after a layover, I arrived in Norway around 6:30p. I slept the whole time on the long flight and felt good when I got to Norway. Aside from the sun never going down, I went to bed at 10:30pm... I woke up at 6:15 without an alarm. I was just up... and I felt rested!

I cannot tell you how strange that was for me... for the next few days, I was totally on a perfect clock-- fell asleep before 11 and woke up around 6:30. Awake. Refreshed. Ready to get out of bed... did you read that? I wanted to get out of bed! I don’t know if I’ve ever woken up and felt good--not overwhelmed with dread or feeling like I didn’t sleep at all. I’ve tried many different apps to monitor my sleep cycles and they all told me I suck at sleeping 🤷🏻‍♀️ ...but now, I sleep! And not only that, but waking up and feeling "normal." I cannot tell y’all how jealous I am if this is how everyone typically feels when they wake up!!

In addition to sleeping better and waking up naturally, I started to feel better in general. Maybe it’s just because I’m actually getting restful sleep, but I’m certain the hormones are alleviating a significant amount of my depressive symptoms.

So this almost euphoric change lasted a few weeks, but then my not sleeping returned… My anxiety has been elevated and I even had a significant depressive episode less than a week ago. One that was so bad, in fact, that I found myself sitting at a train station watching the express trains go by…ready to take that step forward as each approached... I called or texted 10 people and nobody was answering. I really felt like I was completely alone in the world... Yeah I know that’s a pretty melodramatic, but there’s something about sending a text that says "HEY! I am not ok. Please call. I just need to talk to somebody." and having 10 people either not reply or tell you they’re busy that feels like salt in a fresh cut.

But I’m here. I returned home to Sugar. Grit.

 Monday I went in for blood test to see where all my levels were and I got those results back today. My cortisol levels are down which is great news… It is still elevated, but not insanely high like it was before which is why all of my hormones were so depleted. My testosterone level is now where it should be, but my progesterone is still low. We also noticed that my thyroid levels are down… Which made sense to me since my weight-loss has sort of paused. We looked at the results from my NutraEval and saw a significant lack of B vitamins... Which then explains the depleted thyroid. Low B3 & B6 also result in depression and irritability. So now we will be working to boost my vitamin levels and other micro nutrients through gut health… I will be supplementing as well as trying to up my intake of vitamin rich foods. In addition to this, I am taking a probiotic and digestive enzyme to improve cut health-- something often overlooked: low vitamin levels could be because bad bacteria inside of me aren’t letting my body absorb the nutrients I am feeding it. In another month, we will test my blood and saliva again...if the numbers still seem off, a fecal exam will give us a clearer picture of what exactly is happening inside my gut!

So, the journey toward finding balance and health continues... stay tuned!

Norway

Last weekend I had the privilege of competing in the IHGF Stones of Strength World Championship in Fefor, Norway. Wow... just wow 😻.
(If you have the chance to check out my Instagram, I did save all of my story posts in a highlight reel; unfortunately, I cannot export that nor link directly to it).

Before I talk about the comp, I want to share a little about why this trip was extra special for me. Not only was the opportunity to travel overseas a blessing in and of itself, but the timing could not have been better. Many people know about the emotional struggles I’ve faced for most of my life... and back in February, when I was first metaphorically handed this golden ticket, it was a lifeline from above. Having this trip to look forward to added a much needed light to my darkness... then the actual trip? Well, I couldn’t have made it better. Ok, maybe more sunshine? But nope, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I had SO much fun. I met some amazing people from all over the world... friendships blossomed that I know will last a lifetime. 💋💋 

The events were as follows:

1. 48kg stone clean & press 1 min AMRAP [6]
2. 60-70-80-90kg Natural stone load & carry medley [56.8 seconds]
3. 116kg Hussafel carry for distance [100ft?]
4. 10kg stone put [753cm]
5. 80-90-103-112-120kg Atlas Stones [27.5 seconds]

All day I chased the pro strongwomen. I focused on being precise and not making mistakes. I didn’t want to drop anything and I didn’t want to flare up my lifters elbow... so could I have been faster? Probably, but I’m proud of my performance! I won the throw and set a new field record (753cm) without actually using my throwing technique 💁🏻‍♀️ I started blacking out with the Hussy, but I was so stoked to get that thing off the ground without tacky...I needed to breathe. I finished in 4th place overall, missing the podium by only half a point!

My take aways:  I’m extremely proud of my performance, especially as I am still so new to Strongman and strength sports. Competing is way more fun when you make friends and laugh all day. I need to travel outside of the US way more... the world of strength sports is full of so many other beautiful weirdos 💜 I am really interested in trying Highland Games and dialing back in my throws... so, I’m going to look into what comps are in my area this year and maybe jump in one for fun to see how I do 🤗

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT VIDEOS

I need to say a bunch of thank yous:

Casey & Nyck. What an incredible thing... you two got me this incredible opportunity simply because you saw something in me. I’ve never had that happen before in my life. The fact that you picked me out of the masses, gave me the opportunity of a lifetime... and then coached me for free, there aren’t words for just how grateful I am! Casey, thank you for hearing my concerns about my health and encouraging me to get my blood tests. I don’t know how much longer I would have continued to just "deal with" the issues I was facing if you hadn’t been so adamant about me talking to your FM. Guys, thank you.

To Francis & Kikki & Fefor Hotel! THANK YOU! It was an absolute honor to be a part of this year’s event and I really do hope I can come out again. You all put so much work into making the week perfect, and it was: The best week I’ve had in a very very long time.

S10 Fitness. Thank you guys for giving me so much of your time and really helping me peel away the layers to figure out why I’ve been having elbow pain. You guys have trained your eyes to see everything--big picture and tiny details. Thank you dropping so much knowledge and reducing my pain... and for being super cool humans on top of it all.

Spencer from Victory Athletics. The stone sleeves are a game changer!! Thank you so much for the support.

Insertion

Today marks the first of what I hope will be a huge shift in my world. I went in to my doctor appointment to go over my full blood panel results. Just as we saw both in 2015 and a few weeks ago, I have no progesterone (0.13 & should be 3-20) and very low testosterone (15 & should be 40-70). The difference between this blood panel and one previous is that this shows the difference between my estradiol and estrone. My estradiol (88) is lower than it should be (100+),but not as low as the first test showed. My estrone is high (75 & should be < 60).

 After going over the six pages of test results, we discussed extensively my various symptoms that I’ve been dealing with because of this significant hormonal imbalance. Most of the medical issues have been more severe since the initial hospitalization in 2015, but many have been present since puberty. We decided the best course of action is to implant testosterone pellets and take progesterone, estrodim (to metabolize the excessive estrone), and magnesium orally.

Information about pellet HRT 

I have prided myself on being a "natural athlete" my entire life. Having people question me about being on drugs, usually because they are ignorant, has been something I have dealt with since high school. Even going through this HRT, I still consider myself natty. Bio identical hormone replacement therapy is to bring me to a "normal" hormone balance-- not to exceed normal levels as is the goal with most PED users. If I do get stronger because of this, neat. My only goal in making this investment is to feel better.

Here is a video clip of the pellet insertion procedure I had today. I didn’t feel anything. These pellets last 6 months. No lower body lifting until Sunday!

The doctor said I should start to feel the hormones doing their job in 10 to 14 days. I cannot express in words just how excited I am to start feeling better. To know that it hasn’t just been in my head… How for so many years even the simplest tasks feel like they take so much effort! To know that soon I will be able to wake up and feel "normal." The idea of living without so many of the symptoms that doctors have tried to Band-Aid with psychopharmaceuticals seems like a dream…I am trying very hard to not have too many expectations for this treatment, but I sure have a lot of hope!

This was an intake check list. Various symptoms are due to different hormone deficiencies. My main issue is no progesterone, so I’m taking that orally and they’ve put in the T pellets to help bring al my levels up to a normal range.

Testing 1,2...5

A major part of tackling heath issues is getting yourself tested. I mentioned the blood tests earlier, but I've come to learn is that it is important that your doctors order all of the specific lab tests to give the details you need in order to assess issues and then, in turn, start to tackle hormonal and nutrient deficiencies. The first blood panel I got (a 6 vile draw), and the conversation I had with the FM Nurse, led me to believe I knew exactly what the issues were... But last week I met with the Functional Medicine doctor I'll be working with here in Chicago, at Green Circle Wellness. When Dr Dina and I reviewed those lab results, she showed me a sample of the readout from the lab tests she runs. From a more detailed hormonal break down, to a full nutritional panel (I'll post about that one in a few weeks when I get it back)... we are gathering WAY more information... so, more tests!
Friday I filled a vile with saliva and mailed that out, Sunday I took saliva samples before Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Bed, Monday morning I collected a urine sample immediately upon waking up and then I went in for a 13 vile blood draw.


HERE is a list of all of the test profiles available. They are running just about everything for me to make sure nothing is missed. Because I am young compared to those from whom the doctor would expect to see similar hormone levels, we are taking extra time to make sure to run as many lab tests as possible--the more information we have about what's going on inside of me, the better!!
If all goes according to plan, I could start Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy as early as the 31st! Testosterone pellets and progesterone cream are the methods the doctor has hypothesized we will use...To read a bit more about what HRT is, you can read on GREEN CIRCLE

Here are 2 great videos about getting blood tests and HRT from Stan Efferding: BLOOD TESTS and HRT

Stones of Strength

A few months ago, I was awarded an incredible opportunity: an entry to compete in the IHGF Stones of Strength world championship this June, in Norway. What is this Stones thing? Think a combo of Strongman and Highland Games... all things Stones: lifting, loading, carrying, and throwing!

Current title holder, Casey Garrison, asked if I would trust him to coach me into this competition. He is pretty much responsible for getting my invitation, so after discussing with my coach, decided it was a good idea. 

Initially I was thrilled to get started training: atlas stones are definitely my favorite Strongman event, I was a thrower in high school and, well, I just really like the idea of picking up boulders HAHA Now I’ll be honest. I was not happy with the program Casey & Nyck gave me for the first 5 weeks. I was bored and missed Strongman (events/equipment). You see, I’ve never had any sort of desire to be a powerlifter, but the start of my programming with them was foundational static strength... and I was bored; nevertheless, I understood their WHY and followed the program (adding in occasional CrossFit WODs and my last minute decision to go compete in Connecticut). They say the things you like the least are often what you need to train the most...

Last weekend, I flew out to California to train with Casey and Nyck (as was planned from day 1). My three days of training at House of Power were pretty awesome. Anyone who trains Strongman and Highland Games knows that most athletes take every-other day off (these sports are extremely taxing on the central nervous system), but I didn’t want to waste any of my limited time with these guys--we set a plan for me to train different events/focus each day I was there [video highlights are hyperlinked]

THURSDAY: Banded axel push press, floor press, pin press sit ups, weighted negatives & chin ups, chest supported row, dumbbell pull overs, bicep curl, banded tricep press down 

FRIDAY: Dynamic warm up, slam ball overhead (mimic weight over bar), Atlas Stones over bar up to 300, AMRAP 240

SATURDAY: Natural stone clean & overhead press, stone put, stone carry medley

All of that event training got me SO hyped for Norway! For these next few weeks, I have co-written my program with the guys and, all my health issues aside, I’m feeling GOOD! I have 3 lifting weekdays, 1 prehab day, and 1 events day each week...

BIG THANKS to Casey & Nyck for putting up w my crazy, being great coaches and motivators, getting me connected w the nurse for blood tests, making me feel like my health and success are your priorities too...and did I say thanks for putting up with my crazy??? 💋💋

Make sure you’re following my training via IG & follow my blog to stay up to date with all things Ace 💪🏼