chronic illness

My Journey With Lyme & Fitness + New Weekly Workout Videos

July 14, 2018 by beyondthebite4life 2 Comments

Two or three workouts a day? Yep, I was that girl. I didn’t workout to burn calories or lose weight. Who cared about those things? All I was interested in was how different methods of training could improve my performance in tennis, lacrosse, and anywhere else for that matter. I loved the way it made me feel, and truly, I just loved being strong. Some of this is due to the fact that ever since I can remember (quite literally), my mom has always been one to workout. Whether it was getting up at 5AM to go attend a spin or Pilates class before my dad went to work, or doing the Nordic track and step aerobics in the living room, she was always on the move. Simply put, movement is in my blood.

That being said, I was not exactly the most athletic pre-teen. I was tall for my age, what some would consider “full,” but not necessarily “fat,” and just overall not entirely comfortable in my own skin. Though I had been skiing since I was five, had dabbled in gymnastics (no bueno for a tall chick), and rode horseback quite often, it wasn’t until I reunited with my love for tennis that things started to change. My coach, in a nutshell, was a beast. She was one of those women who has multiple children, works full time, is involved in pretty much everything you can think of, teaches tennis all day, oh yeah, and runs marathons “on the side.” I mean, who does that? Not many. While some may find it a bit crazy, I found it inspiring. From there, my love for fitness only grew. My goal of becoming the best at what I did was quickly turning into a reality, until one day it all came to a screeching halt.

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In 2011, after a week off at summer camp, I decided it was time to get back on track with my workouts. Taking it easy, I went for a mere two mile run. Yet as I neared the driveway to the beach house, I started seeing black spots in the corners of my eyes. By the time I made it to the shower those spots were closing in on me, and by the time I made it to my bed, my world had turned completely black. Along with the blackness came full fledged bodily pain, extreme exhaustion, brain fog, and the inability to see straight or talk clearly. Though I was certain it would all pass in the matter of days, it only got worse. Fast forward a few months and the verdict was clear, Lyme Disease had unknowingly taken over my body. One of the first major conditions that presented itself was autonomic neuropathy, causing me to have zero blood pressure. From there, I spent my days in bed, crawling to and from the bathroom, unable to see what was in front of me. If I wasn’t in bed, it was because one of my parents had carried me downstairs to the couch. I went from being the girl who did three workouts a day, to the girl who had to be assisted in attempting to walk across the hallway. With both arms gripped around my mom’s waist, it was a good day if I was still conscious by the time we got to the end of the hallway.

The months proceeding were extremely trying times, as I found a great deal of my identity in fitness. Yet after having no blood pressure and a compressed celiac artery that left me a mere 83 lbs at 5’8, it felt as though everything I had come to know and love had been stripped from me. Eventually, a long while later, after a variety of medications and treatments, I was able to re-unite with fitness. With daily stretching sessions, rebounding on a mini trampoline, short walks, and the use of two yoga DVD’s that my aunt gifted me, I was able to start my new “workouts.” This is where the learning process between exercise and my Lyme-struck body began, something I am still perfecting to this day.

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So here I am today, with a wealth of knowledge about exercise and my body that only could have been learned through dealing with the Lyme. All of that to say, I now believe that exercising with a chronic illness should be done in a fashion as to not be a burden to the body, rather to be a form of support and an avenue of healing. In fact, I believe exercise in and of itself is one of the most powerful tools that can be used to do so. You may ask why I was (and am) so persistent on doing some sort of physical activity everyday. The answer is simple: it is a form of therapy. Doing those yoga videos and walking on that treadmill were not simply to burn calories. No, they were a form of pain management. Finally, I had found something that, for just a small portion of my day, was able to distract my mind from the chronic pain. This was not only (and still is) mentally healing, but also emotionally. While not everyone may be a workout “freaks” like I used to be, it is for this reason I find physical activity to be essential for anyone to healing from a chronic illness.

Now in days, I am blessed to say I am able to make it to my husband’s functional fitness gym on a weekly basis. Some days I am one of the strongest females in the class, yet others I decide I am simply there for movement therapy and thus take easy and do not push my limits. Because it is my nature to want to be the best at what I do, I have to remind myself that it is OK to miss a day, not to be the strongest, fittest, or fastest. Cutting myself some slack is something that I am still mastering. Overall, balancing exercise and a chronic illness can be extremely tricky. However, it forces you to be more in tune with your body, and for that reason, is something that will benefit not only the present, but also the future.

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The fitness videos I will be posting will be quick, simple, and able to be modified for varying strength levels. I remember being so sick and so weak, that even the “beginner” workout videos I found online were simply too hard for my body. I have kept this in mind when planning the workouts, and aim to start with the easiest movement variations possible, while then including those that require more skill and strength. You will notice that many of the videos also focus on core strength. I believe this is an essential component to overall bodily strength and stature. When dealing with chronic pain day in and day out, it is very easy to let our shoulders slump, our posture diminish, and our spine be out of alignment. Focusing on our core in a variety of different exercises helps minimize these issues. In the end, I hope that sharing these videos will both help, encourage, and inspire everyone that they reach. While it may seem like a daunting thing at first to tackle, just remember to never be afraid to push your bodies limits here and there. It may take some time to figure it out, however, this is truly the only way we learn and grow as individuals.

Be sure to like and subscribe for future videos!

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Chronic Lyme Disease & Keto + a VIDEO

July 8, 2018 by beyondthebite4life Leave a Comment

I get a great deal of questions regarding my journey with the ketogenic diet, which is why I decided it was time to start doing some videos to catch everyone up on my life with Lyme. Though I have tried a variety of different diets and treatments for Lyme, the ketogenic diet is something that has stayed. Overall, it has truly been essential in my healing. In today’s video I cover three of the most frequently asked questions regarding keto, so be sure to tune in and check it out! While you are there, make sure to like and subscribe for future content, and if you have any other questions, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.

For more info, see my keto recipes & resources

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Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”

Bartonella, IC, & Alkaline Coffee

June 16, 2018 by beyondthebite4life Leave a Comment

You may be wondering what Bartonella, a lyme co-infection, Interstitial Cystitis, and amazing coldbrew coffee have to do with one another? The answer is, well, not entirely much, at least at surface level. However, if you deal with a chronic illness or health condition, and (or) LOVE coffee, this post is for you.

B is for Bartonella

First, let’s start with the cause: Bartonella. Similar to Lyme itself, co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Mycoplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasma, & Tularemia) can wreak havoc on any part of the body that they want. Bartonella, a gram-negative bacteria that has two cell walls (aka double the protection against anything aimed to kill it), is known to target individual’s bladder. In doing so, this bacteria causes extreme inflammation, typically leading to a condition known as Interstitial Cystitis. By Western Medicine terms, this is one of those “IBS” diagnosis. Aka they do not usually know a cause, and do not necessarily have something that will “cure” the issue. For many like myself, individuals with bladder inflammation are referred to a urologist, who then officially diagnoses them with IC. Typical “treatment” for this condition is an elimination diet of all aggravating food and beverages, a long with a lengthy list of medications one can try in hopes to ease the inflammation in the healing process. While I can not speak for all IC individuals, based off of my personal experiences, lengthy internet research on personal blogs, online threads, and medical articles, these, and other “treatment” options do not prove to be very useful. According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, 3-6% of women (a # not including men) in the U.S. struggle with IC. This may not seem like a lot, however, if you are one of these 3-8 million individuals, this is far too big of a percentage. In a nutshell, IC is otherwise known as “painful bladder syndrome,” a condition where one experiences constant bladder and pelvic pain, as well as pressure. It feels like a bladder or urinary tract infection, but sadly (yes sadly, those things are treatable), it is not. Overall, your bladder hurts, like all the time, a hurt you can never seem to get relief from.

My Experience

While not everyone with Interstitial Cystitis has an underlying Bartonella infection, in the world-of-Lyme, there certainly are a great percentage of folks that do. Personally, I struggled with symptoms for almost a year before my functional medicine doctor and I pinpointed Bartonella as the cause. For this reason, the elimiation diets, medications, and all the bladder supporting herbs and supplements in the world never helped the awfulness that is IC. It was not until I started a homeopathic treatment to target the co-infection that I started seeing a reduction in my symptoms. Fast forward to the present, I am still currently on this homeopathic treatment through my functional medicine doctor. I did two full rounds, and due to my body not handling it very well (more like, at all), my doctor has decided to put me back on round one, before moving up to the higher dosage. My hope and prayer is that the longer I am on this, the less my symptoms will be present. Some days I have no pain, some it is on and off, and some it is blatantly there, for no apparent reason.

So, there it is…Bartonella and Interstitial Cystitis. But wait, what does coffee have anything to do with this? Well, as many of you on healing diets know, coffee is a no-go. For some the reason may be the caffeine, for others it may be the acidity and how it affects their gut. As someone who had to take coffee out of their diet due to neurological damage from Lyme, it was extremely exciting to be able to re-introduce it after a lengthy trial with AIP (the autoimmune protocol). However, once the IC symptoms hit, coffee (along with anything acidic in nature) was like repeatedly sticking hot, stinging needles on my abdomen. Even typical coldbrew coffees that claimed to not be acidic, still caused my bladder to flare. It was a sad day, but I found myself swearing off my beloved coffee forever. For those of you who love coffee, you know how truly hard this can be, even after the caffeine withdrawls wear off. While I knew it was, in quite a few areas, best for my health, not having my daily cup of coffee was hard. I never thought I’d be able to truly enjoy it again (aka without pain), until one day on vacation when my husband stumbled across a gem at a quaint Italian deli in Newport, CA.

Created by a man who had dealt with health issues that kept him from enjoying coffee, this coldbrew is not just ANY coldbrew, it’s alkaline. Say what?! Yep, Alkaline Coffee Company coffee is completely non-acidic. When I first tasted the coffee I did so simply to compare it to all the other coldbrew I had. It did not have an ounce of bitterness, and it was smooth, oh so smooth, like I was not even drinking coffee. After looking at the label I realized that was because it had a PH of 8 (anything less than 7 is considered acidic). Sounds crazy doesn’t it? I was skeptical at first that it was truly alkaline. However, I knew if it wasn’t, my bladder would definitely tell me. Turns out, my highly sensitive body did not flare, one bit, and I am overjoyed to say I was able to enjoy, actually ENJOY my first cup of coffee in almost a year. Not only was the coffee non-acidic, it did not do a job on my nervous system. While I felt happy and alert, I did not get jittery or spacey like most coffees make me feel. Due to such a positive response from my overly-reactive body, I reached out to the company to see if they sold their coffee outside of So.Cal. Sadly, because the business is growing so quickly (not-so-sad), they are only able to sell in the close vicinity of their production center. Despite this, I am here to say, if you live in California, or for goodness sake, even near CA, you must make getting a hold of this coffee a priority in your life. If you are like my husband and do not have a chronic health condition, your body will still happily benefit from this amazing beverage.

Disclaimer: No, I am not getting paid to write this, it just really is that great.

Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

What Beating Lyme Looks Like

March 21, 2018 by beyondthebite4life 5 Comments

It has almost been 4 years since launching Beyond the Bite. I originally began my blog to keep family and friends updated with my current health situation and treatments. When I started Beyond the Bite I was what I now term “really sick.” While I am still technically “sick,” I am definitely not as “sick.” However, the variety of health complications that have occurred over the past 6 months have had me thinking… If I am still not completely healthy after years of intensive treatment, what does beating chronic Lyme Disease even mean? What does it really look like?

The “Curable” Incurable Disease

Chronic Lyme Disease – It is one of a few diseases considered both an autoimmune and neurological illness. Whether it is “curable” or not remains a debate. Individuals like myself, who aim to remain optimistic about their bodies, choose to believe, in a sense, it is curable. That being said, while my body is light years ahead of where it was even just two years ago, things are certainly not 100%. There are good days, and there are bad days. There are days where I say to myself “wow, I really am defying the odds, I really am beating this awful disease.” And then there are the not-so-fantastic days. The days where brain fog is so dense I can hardly see straight, and the pain that radiates from inside my bones makes me want to curl up in a fetal position, fall asleep, and never wake up.

Since I can remember, my treatments have changed every 3-6 months to treat something different in my body. It’s the same old story…Once I finally get one condition under control, another, entirely new issue pops up. Just in the past 6 months my once doormat bartonella co-infection has become very active and ugly again. On top of that, I developed new infections, and was also officially diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, yet another disease deemed “incurable” by conventional medicine. So does it currently feel like I’m beating Lyme? Not one bit.

Yet somehow I still manage to “do life.” I run my own business, workout, am in a serious relationship with my soon-to-be husband, enjoy outings with friends and family, take care of the kids, shop, clean, shower, and do practically everything that a “normal” person does. In perspective, there were many years where all of these things were not only impossible, but tiring to even think about. So, when I look at life in this light, the answer is clear. Am I beating Lyme? You betchya. Does this mean I don’t ever get weary, beat down, discouraged, hopeless, depressed, frustrated, and angry? Not at all.

Yet still, this illness, does not define me, and while everyone’s journey looks different, this is what beating Lyme looks like for me. It’s not pretty. It’s not fun. And sometimes, it sure doesn’t feel like I’m beating it. However, there is a difference between feeling defeating, and actually being defeated. To fully accept defeat is to give up, give in, and not go on to see another day. But to overcome! That is to take one more step, it is to breathe one more breath, and it is to get up one more morning, even one you do not wish to meet. While you may be in the trenches, the reality of the situation is you are here, and therefore you are choosing to overcome. When you choose to overcome, you become stronger, and in the end, will most certainly beat whatever obstacle it is that lies in front of you.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

A 2017 Update: My Life and My Future

May 15, 2017 by beyondthebite4life 2 Comments

Life has been ever changing since I moved to Nashville. I never thought I’d see the day I was so busy I’d hardly be able to post on here. However, after it being almost a month since my last recipe, I decided I owed all my faithful followers yet another personal update. Afterall, being able to serve and help ya’ll is one of the reasons why I went to culinary school in the first place, which is why this special story is one I think I should share. I first wrote those post many months back. However, with such a busy schedule and may new recipes to post, it got lost back in the drafts. Needless to say, it remains just as important as ever. That being said, If you are not one that is very interested in my personal life, then feel free to skip on over. Though I initially wrote it as part of my Chronic Lyme & Functional Fitness series, I decided it needed to stand on its own. So, without further ado, here is one of the main reasons why my life has gotten undoubtedly busier, better, and brighter than ever. Here is the story of how I met my fiancé.

Busier

I started culinary school the fall of 2015. Fast forward to May, 2017, and I am officially graduated and neck-deep in cooking for my new business, A Clean Slate. A great deal has changed in my life since the start of school, the beginning of last year’s spring semester being where much of that change began. April 5^th was the beginning of my spring semester, the first class being American Regional cuisine. The routine was the same as always. Get to school 20 minutes early, put my belongings in the locker room, put my neck tie and non-stick shoes on, high-tail it to the classroom, talk to the chef about getting a stool to sit on, get my apron and cap on, take my knives out, and line up for attendance. As always, about a quarter of the classmates were late, which is no surprise (me on the other hand, am way to type A to ever let that happen). As Chef went down the name list in alphabetical order, he got to letter “M” and paused…Robbie? or should I say Chef Mez? Where is he?” Two minutes later, the so-called “Chef Mez” came rushing in the door, all suited up in his uniform and ready to roll.

Better

Now, if there is one thing you should understand before I go any further, it is that going to an art institute means there are some, well, interesting people. Some of the classes I have been in have been a motley crew to say the least. So, when it’s the first day of class, the first thing we students do are, 1. look for familiar faces 2. naturally gravitate towards those that seem like they have their crap together (aka this means there is a lower likelihood you won’t be forced to clean their dishes while they sit in the corner and Snapchat), and 3. look around for any normal, attractive looking people. OK, maybe I’m just a bit conceited and number three isn’t true for everyone. But heck, I am at school, right? If there is an attractive person in my class that ends up being a bomb cook and is genuine inside and out, well, then it’s almost a done deal (just joking of course, or maybe not? I promise I’m not that shallow). So, with all that said, you can imagine where my mind went when the infamous “Chef Mez” walked into class. Of course, it truly was a rough day. I was emotionally drained, in pain, tired, my eyes were swollen, and I was just there to cook, all business, no time to mess around. It was game time folks. No nonsense. After lineup, the individuals at my table set up shop and we started cooking. I was focused as heck, with not much more thought about the mysterious “Chef Mez” over at the table to my far left. However, apparently the same could not be said on his end. The next day, my interest was peeked again. Not because Chef Mez was late (though he was, again, haha, but for legitimate reasons I must say), but because Chef kept mentioning how Robbie knew about the health benefits of certain foods we were using that week. “Robbie should know, this grain has good fiber and protein content.”Yeah, if you need to go the bathroom, this is where it’s at” Chef Mez joked. Of course, no female in the room really laughed at his potty joke. I on the other hand, couldn’t help but giggle because who are we kidding, bowel movements are a true gift from God when you battle a chronic illness (TMI? Oh well)

Brighter

As I said earlier, this man was very mysterious. He looked like he was always on a mission, was quick on his feet, and seemed like the type of person that, if something went wrong in the kitchen (or anywhere for that matter), could handle it. It was clear from the beginning he was a very capable person, not to mention an amazing chef. I could tell by his cooking style that he thought outside of the box, and as one who lives by this moto, it was very attractive. Add that to the dark complexion and muscles, and I was sold. Again, kidding, but you know what I’m saying. To be honest, I didn’t think of him as someone who would notice me, maybe because (despite my comments above), I wasn’t really in the mood. Finds out, this came across in my facial expressions greatly, a look later to be deemed my “blue steel” face.

My Life

Fast forward a week later, while I am browsing on my Beyond the Bite Instagram, I notice I have a few new followers, one being “chefmez.” I looked at his pictures and thought, man, this guy really looks familiar. Then it hit me, this has to be the guy from American Regional class. But is it? I honestly hadn’t thought too much about him since the ending of our class the past week. What did strike me though, was that somehow, he found my blog. If you know me personally, you know that two of the big keys to my heart are 1. lamb (of course, duh, it’s amazing) and 2. a guy actually takes the times to learn about my past and read my blog. Of course, he didn’t know this, but what truly caught my eye was the Bible verse in his IG profile. I also saw that he owned a gym and was big into fitness, which made all the previous comments by Chef tie together and finally make sense. I can’t deny I thought it was really neat that he, somehow, found my blog (not such a coincidence after all, I later found out). The next day, he messaged me, which began the very beginning of one of the most important, challenging, blessed, and amazing relationships of my life.

My Future

Since meeting Robbie over a year ago, we have jumped many hurtles together, in both my life and his. His love for me and genuine care for me has shown through even since the beginning of our friendship. Though he has undoubtedly been blessed with charm and good looks, it was his work ethic and drive that initially caught my attention. My father has always been my standard for the men I choose in my life, and when I compare Robbie and him, they are astonishingly similar. He is a rock to me when I feel unstoppable, and on days when I feel like my body and its condition is going to be the death of me. He points me to the One that is higher than I, is my biggest inspiration in life, and continually pushes me to be the very best version of myself I could ever be. We’re both very passionate people, and for that reason we’ve always challenged each other in our weaknesses, both external and internal. Yet it is through this that we have grown as individuals and as a couple. It is easy to say that my love for this man stretches and grows with every day that passes, and I could not be more proud to call him my future husband.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Daily Dose of Encouragement: Heartbroken

March 13, 2017 by beyondthebite4life 5 Comments

DailyDoseEncouragement

Heartbroken, it’s the word that came to me as I sat in the isle seat on an airplane back home. Was I heartbroken? In a way, but certainly not the way one would automatically think of. Heartbroken looks different for everyone. While this word is typically associated with a disastrous relationship or “breakup,” I believe it is a term that can easily be applied to many of the emotions we experience throughout life (not just those attaining to broken relationships). In reality, experiencing heartbreak is inevitable one way or another. Whether it be brought on by physical, emotional, mental, or relational means, heartbreak is something we are bound to come across. For myself, it is throughout the many years of battling chronic Lyme Disease that I have seen heartbreak portrayed in various ways. Whether it be the sorrow of my parents over my own heal issues, or the distant look in a friend’s eyes as they personally grieve trials in their life, the brokenness was there. That being said, though heartbreak can be expressed outwardly through an expression, it is undoubtedly a hard, hallowing, and unshakable feeling that settles as a pit in the depths of your stomach. It is an incredibly strong emotion that can easily take over your entire being, paralyzing us in a state of depression, loneliness, vulnerability, hopelessness, and overall a seemingly unquenchable, incurable brokenness that radiates from within. You are left feeling utterly and completely broken, which, in turn, is exactly why they call it being “heart-broken.”

BustedHeart

More than likely you have experienced this feeling, or just maybe, you are going through a heart break right now as we speak. You’ve tried to let time do its work and heal your, however, nothing seems to help and you are unsure how to survive and keep persevering. Yet when the things of this world leave us broken, and when the situations, storms, and trials we face never seem to end, there is only One thing that can bring wholeness to our hearts that cry out for comfort and healing, and that is Christ. He came to save us, the broken, the helpless, the beaten down, the sinners living in a sin-filled world unable to escape inevitable pain, suffering, and yes, heartbreak. God knew we would feel this way, and He knew we would experience moments, months, or even years of brokenness. Because of this, He sent His son to be beaten and crucified on a cross so that our hearts could be healed. In fact, it was through this brokenness that God’s sacrificial love was poured out onto all man kind to give eternal salvation for those who believe. Overall, He knows your feelings, your thoughts, actions, hopes, dreams, and yes, even your heartbrokenness. He has been through it all. Even when it seems no one on earth can feel the pain inside your chest that is eating away at your soul, He knows, and He is there to be your greatest and only source of true comfort, peace, and healing. He promises to hear your crying and lift up your head when it seems there is no strength from within your soul to do so (Psalm 4). He will fill you with peace (Psalm 5), and when you are weary with groaning and have drenched your couch in tears (Psalm 6), He will hear you, deliver you (Psalm 7), and continue to always be your refuge (Psalm 9). For He is the helper of the fatherless (Psalm 10), a God who deals bountifully with the righteous (Psalm 13) and does not allow those who seek Him to be moved (Psalm 16). No matter how deep and dark the brokenness in your heart becomes, and when the snares of death seem to be caving in on all sides (Psalm 18), He is there to steady your heart. Yes, He will deliver you, for He delights in you (Psalm 18). He is there to be the one and only rock that will not fail you, be shaken, or waver when you experience these trials, for He is there to save His anointed with the saving strength of his right hand (Psalm 20). When your heart is like wax and melted within you and all of your strength dries up like dust (Psalm 22), the Lord will hide you from trouble and help you rise above (Psalm 27). He will take care of you and strengthen your heart. If you trust in Him, He will help you through the brokenness (Psalm 28). Though you may stumble, fall, and grow faint in the process, He will uphold you (Psalm 37), for the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3)

Psalm 34:18-19 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Chronic Lyme & Culinary Arts: 2017 New Year’s Update

January 5, 2017 by beyondthebite4life 1 Comment

Hey ya’ll! It feels like centuries since I’ve been dable to give Beyond the Bite some love and attention. During the school semester, it is hard to keep up with writing new posts, sending out newsletters, and continually posting on all of the various social media channels. However, after two weeks away from home, and less than a week left for winter break, I decided it was time to give everyone a New Year’s update before all the craziness begins again.

2016 undoubtedly came with a lot of surprises, challenges, and blessings. As far as school goes, I successfully made it through all of my classes as an honor student, and just have 11 more weeks to go before I am an official graduate. This next and final quarter will consist of A La Carte, Capstone/Portfolio (a business class), and Art Culinaire. Outside of school, I have started to do quite a bit of catering with my boyfriend on the weekends, while I also am working on my own business concept for the near future. I also make personalized meal plans for individuals at my boyfriend’s gym, Fit Force, and hope to extend that service through my blog this year as well. Health wise I have seen slow, subtle, but undeniable progress in my body. I was able to connect with two Lyme doctors here in TN; Dr.Bernui and Dr.Kalb, both of which have been great resources amd support for me. I have continued doing the PK Protocol, though I am slowly putting the IV’s to an end, as I am persuing a new treatment for the two main issues that still arise on a daily basis; allergies and chronic infection. More specifically, Mast Cell Activation Disorder and a chronic yeast infection, both of which go hand and hand, and are ultimateley what we are striving to completely fix. While I have found both natural remedies and conventional medicine treatments to help keep symptoms somewhat at bay on a daily basis, healing the underlying cause is still a work in process. That being said, regular chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture significantly help me get through my weeks, especially when my immune system is being rebellious and decides it wants to flare. This past year I also did many series of BrainCore, a neurofeedback training therapy to regulate brain waves that have been altered throughout one’s lifetime. BrainCore therapy is used for a wide variety of symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, PTSD, chronic pain, ADHD, and migraines. We focused mainly on sleep, and I am happy to say almost 12 months later, insomnia is no longer an issue. When I first moved to Nashville, TN more than a year ago, getting through a day was still very difficult. My personal schedule was still pretty regimented, as there was quite a bit that had to get done during the day for my body, simply to make it through. This began to lessen month by month as various treatments continued and I got more adjusted to living on my own. Looking back to January 2016 and comparing it to today as I write this, I see significant difference in my daily life, especially in what my body is able to handle. While afternoon naps are sometimes necessary, I am able to workout on a regular basis, hardly have to use my stool during culinary classes, am able to drive to all of my various medical related appointments, cook my own meals, and keep up with my social life, all without going backwards. Overall, While I could probably go on forever about the ups and downs that are my health, now it’s time to focus on the more exciting things about my life.

As the strength and vitality of my body has increased, so has the degree of which I am able to thrive in my daily life. It’s hard to start from January 2016 and list all of my accomplishments and all of the things that have taken place to put me where I am today. However, easily one of the biggest events was meeting my now boyfriend, Robbie, whom I met in culinary school and will be posting about in the near future. Meeting him expanded my culinary endeavors and introduced me to many people that I am now blessed to call my friends. In short, he is very hard working and challenges me in the best way possible, all while loving, caring, guiding, and supporting for me on both the very best days and the very worst days. I could probably go on for awhile, but for the sake of everyone reading this, let’s just say I am one lucky lady. Over the past year I’ve also made a number of personal accomplishments, including being a worker at the Nashville Food and Wine Festival, where I got to work along side some pretty awesome chefs, including Sean Brock (hence the silly picture above). If you are unsure of who this man is, go watch Mind of a Chef, like now. Over fall break I was also able to take my first non-family related road trip to Florida with my great friend Cera. We spent a few nights in Destin and soaked in as much salt and sun as possible. More importantly I was able to do half of the driving and felt completely fine after doing so. In fact, I got out of the car antsy and wanting to run a few laps around my friend’s house. Accomplishment? I think so.

Overall, the past year has been a whirlwind of events. Somedays I feel like I never stop moving and for these reasons, I have not been able to post on Beyond the Bite as much as I wish. Due to being so busy, I typically use my days off as ones for rest and recovery, as I have to be very careful not to overburden my body. However, despite all of this, you can be sure that I haven’t forgotten about ya’ll, and if anything, you are the ones who push me to keep moving forward towards my dreams, both in and outside of the kitchen. In the end, I hope this post helped everyone get a little glimpse into what life is currently like behind the scenes at Beyond the Bite, and served as encouragement for the rest of those battling life with a chronic illness. From day one, God has, and continues to be my ultimate source of strength, and He is able to do more in your life than you could ever imagine. So, stay hopeful my friends, keep those chins up, and stick around for some of the things I have in store for the new year.

Psalm 31:24 “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”

Chronic Lyme & Functional Fitness (Part 1)

July 9, 2016 by beyondthebite4life 2 Comments

CLFF

Since moving last fall, my body has had its ups and downs. However, despite all the inevitable setbacks, it has continued to move forward. It’s hard to tell in moment, however, when I look back, the process is quite obvious. One of the more recent subjects that I have been encouraged to write about and share with you is my fitness journey. More specifically, how I came to love and benefit from “functional fitness.” But first, I must back up the train and share my past years of experience with exercising and how it has brought me to where I am today. This series will be done in a few posts…so stay tuned!

Where it All Began

My experience with fitness has varied throughout the years. Growing up, I was extremely athletic, always involved in sports and very active. My goal was to be the strongest, fastest, and best of my kind. I took training very seriously and worked out 5-6 days a week. However, once the effects of chronic Lyme started to kick butt in my body, preforming how I once did slowly became more and more difficult. No longer could I make it through a lacrosse game without my feet and ankles aching with pain. Going for a run became a battle against extreme hip and knee pain that left me lying in bed unable to move. Once I hit the “brick wall” in the summer of 2011, not only did the pain increase all throughout my body, but utter weakness and fatigue also took over. In the span of one day, I lost the ability to do what I loved most – preform. In the months to come, my body declined rapidly. I went from being “buff” and able to beat my brother in an arm wrestle, to not able to lift my head off a pillow. My body mass declined significantly, quickly losing weight due to a variety of complications that had built up over the years from the undiagnosed Lyme. I almost felt as if I had lost my identity. One day I could walk, talk, run, and play with my friends and family. The next, I could do nothing of the sort. It was a difficult reality to swallow. Looking in the mirror I did not recognize myself. I was frail, pale, with eyes that turned from a lively blue to dark and hallow.

Skinny

Keeping the Flame Alive

Despite how quickly my body was declining, my interest and love for the human body only grew. It was during these rough years of being bed ridden, in and out of doctors and various hospitals, that I spent my days researching the science behind the human body, food, and many other subjects a long those lines. From all of the past years of being so healthy, I knew what my body was capable of. I knew I would get back to working out, and continually dreamed of the day I’d be back on the tennis court or lifting weights. I never lost this scene in my head. I was adamant, and I believe that is why I am here to talk to you about where I am with my fitness today. Dreaming has been key to my healing, even when the dreams seemed near impossible. However, I continued to dream, believing that if I did it enough they would come true. While the strong fire that once was my health had diminished into a small flame, that flame still flickered, causing the eagerness to reach my full physical potential and optimal health only grow over time.

Starting Over

After the first year or so of trying to figure out what was wrong with my body, a couple of my doctors challenged me to try to walk around a little bit each day. I started with walking up and down the driveway with my mom, around the perimeter of our house, and eventually, the treadmill, which was a big feat in and of itself. For Christmas one year, my parents got me a yoga DVD and mat, which I was able to do a couple times a week. Stretching and walking a little bit each day became my “workout.” While it wasn’t a lot for a regular person, I was moving forward towards my goal of being the strong girl I used to be. Once I got bored of the yoga videos, I pushed myself to add some simple Pilates mat work back into my routine. My aunt is a fantastic Pilates instructor out in Colorado, and she helped me put together a few movements that I could start trying on the reformer.

Progress

Easy Does it

When doing any type of exercise with a body that is battling a chronic illness, one must be overly attentive to how they feel when preforming. Chronic fatigue and pain were too conditions I inevitably faced day in and day out, therefore causing my recovery time after doing anything as simple as a 1 mile walk, to be significantly longer than a healthy human being. It was, and still is, incredibly easy to over-do it. In order to avoid being back in bed, unable to recover, and moving backwards in my health, I must always take extreme precautions. No one in their right mind wants to move backwards, especially when the few steps made forward have been incredibly difficult to do. However, because movement helps my overall body pain significantly, I choose to move even when I don’t necessarily want too.

Three Steps Forward Two Steps Back

Despite being persistent in my daily movement therapy, there were still inevitable set backs in my health. At one point, despite being only 110 pounds, I could run 6 miles without ever feeling any detrimental physical effects. Yet after coming back from vacation one year, parasites and yeast completely took over my body, making my typical mat Pilates routine completely impossible to preform. One week I felt like I could conquer the world, the next I lied in bed discouraged and battling another new symptom due to yet another unknown condition I had developed. All this time I continued my studies in the realm of the human body, which included completing the Primal Blueprint Certification. This course gave me an in-depth, scientific explanation of how human beings were made to exercise and move, the detrimental effects of conventional exercise methods, and ultimately how to gain strength starting from nothing. It was during this time my family also became immersed in their local cross fit gym. Being the exercise lover that I am, I told myself that “one day, I will join them at the gym.”

Turning Tables

Four whole years after my bodies initial breakdown, I did what I told myself I would one day do. I went to CrossFit. The coach knew where I was coming from physically and was very attentive to my every need. With years of innumerable treatments behind me, I was finally feeling stronger. For about three months, I attended the CrossFit gym once a week, modifying the workouts as needed, and making sure to take ample time to rest and recover afterwards. It was fun, and I could not have been more excited. However, as most of my past experiences with changing my workouts, it did not last for long, but this time, for good reasons. October of 2015 I moved out of my parents house to Nashville, TN. The move was rough, especially for the first 5-6 months, as learning to live on my own was physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. The strength that I had once gained and put towards going to CrossFit had to be used in other areas of life, such as driving, keeping house, and going to school. At the time, I didn’t see how these things could drain me of all the stamina my body once had. However, I was reminded time and time again by family and friends that moving and getting acclimated in a new city is exhausting for anyone, even those that are completely healthy. I took my daily walks, did mat Pilates at home, and went to a reformer Pilates class once every Saturday morning. Much like the years before, I kept moving even when I didn’t want too.

A New Chapter

Since the beginning of 2016, my strength has slowly started to return back to where it was prior to moving. This is partially due to finally becoming used to my surroundings, while also receiving more treatment, and overall simply being blessed by the all mighty hands of God. Though I was doing good in my fitness, I started to get in a rut of my typical walking and Pilates routine. I had hit a plateau. Yet little did I know that walking into my first class of American Regional cuisine at school would change all of that and more.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Culinary Arts and Chronic Lyme: A Letter to All My Fighters (Part 2)

June 4, 2016 by beyondthebite4life 4 Comments

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Anyone with an autoimmune disease, especially those battling chronic Lyme, know the saying”oh but you look so good” all too well. If you are like myself, you’ve come to master that saying well. As some of you might know, last fall I moved out of my parents house, to a completely different state, which is where I also began going to culinary school (see part 1). I’ll admit the transition was pretty brutal the first four months, and while I am finally getting used to living on my own and taking care of myself 100%, there still are inevitable setbacks. When these moments arise, whether it be in the form of feeling of being run over by a MAC truck, battling an extra cold or flu, or simply not being able to function correctly, there are many negative thoughts that can all too easily dominate any chronically ill individual’s mind. Today I wanted to share a few thoughts of my own for other guys and gals facing similar circumstances (i.e. a letter to all my fighters).

Facing the Unknown

You’re away from home, with no one but yourself to take care of you. You’ve made new friends at school, but they typically only see you on a “good day.” Even if it isn’t a good day, you still put on a happy face and power through, because, well, that’s what we, those with chronic illnesses, do best – keeping on keeping on, even when keeping on is seemingly impossible. If you are lucky, these individuals can actually grasp that the word “chronic” means that you battle physical struggles day in and day out. Of course, most of your acquaintances have no idea of your condition, and that is fine, as you do not want anyone to think you are using it as an advantage in school or any other area of life. However, what happens when a tiny set back goes from one lousy day, into an entire lousy week, or even month? The very thought is almost debilitating, as the individuals that you thought were your support system may very well vanish like everyone else did in your past years of being sick. Most college students are able to live life to the fullest and many don’t always understand why you do the things you do. However, we must remind ourselves that we cannot hide behind who we wish to be (completely healthy and acting like all of the guys and gals around us), rather we must embrace everything that our hardships have molded us into (strong, courageous, and bold inside and out). You’re never asking too much by seeing if a friend will help you drive somewhere, cook a meal, or simply be with you. A true friend would be willing to do this and more. Always surround yourself with people that recognize your inner strength yet build you up in your weakness.

It Takes Fire To Make Good Steel

Another fact that I have constantly tried to remind myself in the past seven months of living on my own is that, setbacks are setbacks, but rarely do they last forever. I know, it sure as heck doesn’t feel like that at the moment. If anything, it feels as though the entire world is falling apart and you are meeting your final doom. Yet I’ve experienced my fair share of these bumps in the road during the past 5+ years of being sick, and if anything, I’ve come to accept that from every so called “set back,” there is an even greater breakthrough. Whether it be self-growth and strengthening or even for the growth and strength of those around you, setbacks have a purpose. They’re lonely and painful, but sometimes I find myself thinking that yes, they are almost necessary to keep us humble and grateful for the full health that we are slowly but surely making our way towards.

Breakdowns are Breakthroughs

Bottom line, college with a chronic illness can be, and is, really hard. Just remember, your support system is not gone, they are still there for your 100 percent, even though you are away from home. If you are like me, this includes your family and God, but it could also be a counselor or a good friend from back home. Remember, having a setback doesn’t make you any less of a person. Being so weak you cannot get up off the couch doesn’t mean you’re a failure and this whole college thing is a waste. And never forget to pass up opportunities and practice saying “no,” because yes, your body is top priority, and while doing this is certainly easier said than done, we must never forget it. If you need to breakdown, breakdown, and let it all out, but just remember these breakdowns are simply breakthroughs. Setbacks will come, but they too shall pass.

Closing Thoughts

Just because you are a college student, doesn’t make the struggle any less real. Everything; the pain, fatigue, weakness, food allergies, etc…they are all still there. Going to college doesn’t make these things mysteriously disappear, and if anything, can be magnified due to being surrounded by many who do not experience them on a daily basis. Yet we must not let this get us down. Hear me when I say to stay strong, take care of yourself, and when you’ve hit a brick wall and there is no strength left in your bones, don’t become afraid. Stay steady, be patient with yourself, rest ad nourish your body even more than normal. If you cannot physically do this, try and find someone who is willing too. Asking the question of whether or not they are willing to help may not be comfortable, as this is typically the last thing we want to do. However, you may just find a great companion in doing so. And as one last note to all you ladies living out in the world while battling a chronic illness, remember, keep your chin up day in and day out, never loose your self worth, never lower yourself because you are different or “complicated.” You are worth so much more than anything that your external self might do to make you believe otherwise. Remember that there ARE other individuals out there like yourself ~ acting OK, looking OK, but not truly being OK on the inside. Yet there is One who is higher and mightier than all you will face, and He knows your every step. You are not alone.

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Chronic Lyme & Culinary Arts (Part 1)

May 16, 2016 by beyondthebite4life 10 Comments

Hello everyone!

If you have been following my blog prior to 2016, you will probably notice that my blog posts are a bit, well, not as consistent, which is why I am sharing today’s post.

Last year I moved out of my parents house. That in and of itself was a huge step, especially since the effects of chronic Lyme Disease still rule day in and day out. However, I did it anyway, as sometimes you just have to take risks and be uncomfortable for awhile in order to move forward in life. That being said, not only did I move out, but I also transferred from doing online college to going to an actual institute – The Art Institute of Nashville.

As you may have noticed, it is a great passion of mine to reach others through food. Yet it is an even greater passion to be able to reach individuals who battle health issues like myself, through the healing power of food. This has caused a great desire to have my own business someday that combines both food and functional medicine to treat individuals. While I have gone back and forth about attending medical school, or something a long those lines, it still isn’t something I am sure my body could handle, so culinary school it was.

I get a lot of questions from readers and followers on my Instagram of how in the world I attend culinary school while eating according to the Autoimmune Protocol and (or) keto. Well, for starters, I don’t eat lot of the food I make. This may seem really odd to some of you, however, throughout the years I have learned how to create dishes without actually tasting them. Therefore, it’s not really something I worry about, and it hasn’t let me down yet. Of course, I can taste some of the things I make, depending on the nature of the course. In my fundamentals class, a lot of the dishes were based off of classic French dishes. Not much wheat flour was used, and I would cook with olive oil or butter any chance I could. Ultimately, I didn’t go into school expecting any of the classes to be making food I can eat (though sometimes I get lucky), and while they do have my disability papers on file, I typically just let the classmates I am cooking with know if I cannot take the risk of making a certain dish. More times than not, everyone is very kind and willing to accommodate me. If anything, being around foods that I cannot eat has helped me break the strong stigma or fear that can all too easily grow when you are allergic and (or) have inflammatory reactions to innumerable foods. Being at school and around individuals from all walks of life has also reminded me that everyone has their own story of past or present battles. It can be easy to feel like an outcast when dealing with a chronic illness, however, I have come to realize that the scars of many individuals I pass in the halls are just as invisible. Never let the pains of today stop you from getting up and following your dreams tomorrow. There is always hope on a new horizon.

Overall, the main reason I am posting this quick little update is so that you all know that I haven’t given up on blogging. Quite the contrary. You all have, and remain my biggest motivation. When I wake up in the morning and feel as though attending a four hour kitchen class is merely impossible, I think of you. While it is no lie that cooking is a passion of mine, it is serving all of you that gives my passion purpose. So, while I may not post as many articles or recipes during this busy point in my life, just know that at the end of the day, I am becoming a chef so that I can serve all of you in more ways than simply posting recipes. Thank you all for the continuing support, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for you all.

Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”