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Bipolar Disorder Nutrition Personal

My Current Nutrition Plan, & Why It Has Nothing To Do With Anyone But Myself

April 26, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 16 Comments

There are two main reasons for this post.

  1. To hold me accountable and to document my progress with my new nutrition plan
  2. To clear up any confusion as to WHY I am doing this nutrition plan

Let’s start with what the plan is. It’s called the GAPS diet. GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome and was developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Basically, my digestive system is in poor health. When I am stressed, I eat a lot of sugar and refined carbs. Read my previous post about my sugar addiction for a little bit of a background. In addition to this, I have bipolar disorder. I don’t want to take medication for the rest of my life, and I am very aware that good nutrition and regular fitness are very important for both physical and mental health. I decided to take a mental health coaching program from a holistic wellness coach who has bipolar disorder, and has successfully managed her bipolar without medication for one year.

I started the program with her almost two weeks ago, and officially started the GAPS diet this past Wednesday. My coach, Nellie, recommended this nutrition plan for me because I need to get my digestion under control. Every symptom I’ve been having is directly related to an unhealthy gut. I have candida, which is a fungus that overgrows when we consume too much sugar and refined carbs. I have almost every single symptom of it (and now it all makes sense!):

  • chronic fatigue
  • digestive issues
  • difficulty concentrating/foggy brain
  • irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety
  • seasonal allergies and itchy ears (I’ve never had itchy ears before- so weird)
  • strong sugar and refined carb cravings (oh my gosh, it’s awful)
  • skin rashes — I have had hives 3 times in the past 4 weeks. A couple nights ago, I woke up at 4:30 am with severe hives on both my arms. Here’s a picture (it was not pleasant and rather scary, actually):

Image

It’s not only physical, but also mental. The GAPS diet is used for people with various mental health conditions, like depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, and so on. Having bipolar disorder, the GAPS diet is perfect. I told Nellie that I would be completely open and be the client (I’m used to being the health coach), and try out what she recommended for me. It has worked for her (and countless others), and I am really excited to see how it helps my mental stability! And of course the healthy body and weight loss will be great. 🙂

It really is a different feeling when you’re eating for health as opposed to eating for weight loss. It’s so much easier. Don’t get me wrong though, it is by no means EASY. It’s been four days and I am struggling. Sugar addiction is no joke. I crave it and I get really moody when I don’t have it. But I am finding alternatives, and today has been a really great nutrition day! So I feel optimistic about it.

While on the GAPS diet (however long I decide to be on it- at least five weeks), I cannot have grains/gluten, dairy, sugar, anything processed, and soy.

This leads me to the second point of this post.

I have been a health coach with Herbalife for exactly one and a half years in May. Herbalife has completely changed my life, and I am forever grateful for the company, the products, and the people who have helped me lose weight and go after my dreams! However, Herbalife meal replacement shakes contain soy. It was never a problem for me (like I said, it helped me to lose weight and feel amazing!), but I told Nellie I would be completely open, so that means stopping Herbalife for the five weeks or so that I am her client. I was hesitant about it at first, but not only am I paying my coach for the mental health coaching, I am committed to finding ways to treat my bipolar disorder holistically. Why would I do this program, and spend the entire however many weeks/months not doing what my coach asked me to do? As a coach, I know how frustrating that is! Having clients who you spend time on and give your all to, but they just won’t do what you ask them to do. I would be a hypocrite. It’s like what Seth Godin (my favorite blogger) said,

“If you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, then you don’t have the time to do it over.”

Because I am doing a nutrition plan that does not allow soy (which therefore does not allow Herbalife meal replacement shakes, except allergen-free, which is totally fine), I do not feel authentic when talking about it at this time. I get that some people will not understand this. That since I have been with Herbalife (and I am successful with it), I should only promote Herbalife, no matter what. And okay, I do get that for some people. But it doesn’t feel right in my heart promoting something that I am not currently doing. It is not authentic. It denies me integrity.

I will eventually introduce certain foods back into my diet, like my Herbalife shakes (trust me, I miss them!). I still love the products, I can still share about my experiences with them, and I still love the company. My current nutrition has nothing to do with Herbalife as a company or even a product. My current nutrition/situation has nothing to do with anyone or anything BUT ME.

I am still coaching clients. I am still building a team in Ohio. I feel good about the decision I’ve made, and I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. I just figured I’d clear a few things up. 🙂

I will be posting updates about my mental health coaching and GAPS diet weekly!

Filed Under: Bipolar Disorder, Nutrition, Personal Tagged With: #definebrave, #imfitpossible, #katiekactive, #sweatpink, #teamdeltalabs, ADHD, Ambassador, anxiety, bipolar disorder, California, candida, carbs, coach, cravings, depression, diet, digestion, focus, foggy brain, GAPS diet, gut, gut health, health, health coach, Herbalife, hives, holistic, mental health, mental illness, nutrition, SoCal, stomach, sugar, wellness

Bipolar Disorder

I Blog for Mental Health 2014 Because…

March 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 9 Comments

I Blog for Mental Health 2014 Because...

I pledge my commitment to the Blog for Mental Health 2014 Project. I will blog about mental health topics not only for myself, but for others. By displaying this badge, I show my pride, dedication, and acceptance for mental health. I use this to promote mental health education in the struggle to erase stigma.

I blog about mental health because of the impact it has had on my life. At the age of 20, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. A few months later, I was diagnosed with ADHD. For the past 6 years, I have seen several psychiatrists, therapists, and holistic doctors to try and find the right treatment for me. I have been on almost every medication on the market for mental health conditions.

I have an extremely difficult time working a traditional 9-5 job, so I refuse to do so. I have been lucky enough to find a career in health and a couple odd jobs to pay the bills. Over the past 8 years, I have accumulated so much debt (shopping sprees when hypomanic and depressed) that I had to consolidate all of it (or it would have taken me 14-16 years to pay off). I am not able to keep a credit card (either my mom or my boyfriend has them).

My moods are extremely unpredictable, I rapid cycle, and I have a lot of mixed episodes (which are physically painful for me). I have a lot of acquaintances, but I’ve always had a very difficult time keeping close friends or being included. I’m socially awkward (even though my career is extremely social). When I am depressed (which is most of the time), I have no desire to participate in life. I’m actually a little surprised that I have made it to 26 years old.

Anyway, I blog for mental health to eradicate stigma. It’s difficult enough living with bipolar disorder, but the stigma behind it causes myself and others to feel shame. To be embarrassed, afraid, alone, quiet, judged, left out, and the list goes on. I am learning to love myself and accept myself, and take pride in who I am. But not all of us have the support to do that. I blog about mental health for those people.

Join the movement! Become a blogger for mental health 2014 by going to the original post here: http://acanvasoftheminds.com/2014/01/07/blog-for-mental-health-2014/

Filed Under: Bipolar Disorder Tagged With: ADHD, advocate, anxiety, bipolar, deficit, depression, disorder, fitness, loneliness, mental health, mental illness, movement, nutrition, shame, SoCal, team, unhappiness

Bipolar Disorder Fitness Lifestyle Nutrition Personal SoCal

Welcome!

December 10, 2013 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Lyndsay! I am SO excited to share my personal journey of physical and mental health with you! I have been through many struggles, and am continually in the process of overcoming them. My hope is that this blog will inspire YOU in some way to overcome any struggles or obstacles you are facing!
WELCOME to GetFitWithLynds (now The Balanced Brunette)!! 🙂

Filed Under: Bipolar Disorder, Fitness, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Personal, SoCal Tagged With: ADHD, anxiety, bipolar, blog, Clalifornia, depression, fitness, health, inspiration, inspire, LA, Los Angeles, mental, mental health, nutrition, physical, sad, struggle, The Balanced Brunette. SoCal

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