What a difference a month can make, this isn’t just about dieting anymore this has become about all my health issues and one by one I’m learning how to manage and improve them, it’s fabulous! The ketogenic/low carb way of eating is most definitely agreeing with my body, even my post meal IBS pains have gone and I don’t get any wacky PoTS attacks after eating either. I don’t think it’s just due to low carb, this way of eating means I am also now gluten free and I am cooking all my meals from scratch so there’s no nasty processed foods on my plate either. People ask if it’s hard or confusing, I don’t think so …. I had felt so much better the first time around, then had my Christmas blip where I gained a huge amount of weight and felt totally awful … I’d be an idiot not to get back on it! Sure, I’ll have naughty days or the odd cheeky food item here or there but I shall not return to be a slave to the carbs! So I’m four weeks back on track and down 1st 6lbs, the visual change is awesome and I’m feeling pumped for the following month ahead … I’ve started adding in some muscle strengthening exercises to try and get my legs to pump better, let’s see if Lipoedema will allow this to happen!

Skeletally things are getting so much better too 🙂 I have found an awesome new osteopath who is helping to iron out my numerous ‘kinks’ as and when they appear which is helping hugely! On top of that I have been approved NHS funding for a sacroiliac denervation in the hope we can manage my back pain a little better. I had the steroid injections last week so they can be sure they have found the main site of the pain and unbelievably I have had a week of almost NO back pain … as in literally none! I can put my socks on without wincing, I can ride Ashley my horse without feeling miserable and I even sat through a four hour theatre performance last night with only a mild grumble. I feel like a new women, if they can make this a longer term relief I will be unbelievably happy and once again will be so grateful to the medical knowledge and care we can receive in this country. I made a little diagram to help visualise where things are at with my back … numerous injections, major surgery and a few denervations later are we finally finding a way to manage the pain? I hope I will be able to avoid further surgery but I guess we shall see!

I am so looking forward to February, I have some awesome cakes coming up and I am so determined to keep cooking low carb dishes to continue this new journey. I get to meet with the orthopaedic consultant to plan the upcoming denervation and with any luck will receive the date for my laparoscopy procedure. It’s all go but weirdly it’s making me happy, my body can keep trying to stumble but I will continue to piece it back together and slowly but surely that is starting to happen 🙂 Oh and don’t forget its my birthday too! I’ll be 29 this year … the big 3 0 is looming aghhhh!!

I hope your 2018 journey is progressing the way you want it too ….. and if you have any ‘inconvenient’ conditions just remember, YOU have the illness, IT doesn’t have YOU xxxx