June is wrapping up and it’s time to join Marcia for June Runfessions! Runfessions are running truths or “where runners bare their souls and soles.” Grab a cup and cozy up to hear me dish the dirt. Doubling up and linking with Fairytales and Fitness for Friday Five too!
June Runfessions 2019
I runfess that I am dealing with residual eating disorder related health issues. Luckily, negative thoughts and feeling around food are few and far between. After an early June check-in with my therapist, I’ve been back on track and runs have been great. What’s causing problems is the internal damage that I did by under-fueling myself for so long.
After years of amenorrhea, I got a bone density scan to check bone health and a hormone panel to see what’s going on inside. The scan was normal (PHEW, relief!) but the hormonal results were terrible. Really low levels – which is probably why it’s been hard to put on muscle and my sleep has been poor. Low hormones also affects my ability to process carbohydrates (kiiiiind of key for runners), and my body temperature regulation (again, kiiiind of key for runners, especially in summer).
I runfess that I am feeling very frustrated with myself for getting to this point. And frustrated that it’s taking SUCH a long time to recover. And that I am still experiencing ramifications even though I’ve gained back the weight and gotten help with managing stress an control. Like, come on body, let’s get it together! This July will be a hunt for answers, stay tuned.
In lighter news, I runfess that I am look for any excuse to increase my daily nature exposure. This month, I read the book The Nature Fix
Along these technology-free walks, I runfess that I’ve started to play a new game. Counting the number of people walking down the who are not staring at a phone or wearing headphones. The number is disappointingly low. Noticing everyone hunching over a phone has made me hyper conscious of my own posture. Earlier last week in one of my “I’m turning into a cashew!” moments, I runfess that I bought a posture corrector
As the calendar turns to July, I runfess I have mixed emotions. July 9th will be my one year injur-versary. I’m nervous, especially because my adductor and hamstring have been feeling very tight lately. But on the other hand, July 13th is my favorite summer activity – my Chicago vegan ice cream crawl! It was a HIT in 2017 and 2018. Event planning is one of my favorite things, and the fact that this event involves biking around the city to sample different vegan ice cream makes it even better. I hope it doesn’t rain!
That’s all for my June runfessions! Now it’s your turn. What do you have to runfess from June? How are you feeling about upcoming July? Let’s stay in touch! Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more food/fitness related posts.
Happy running,
Becca
I’ve never had a ED, but definitely had problems with food for many years. Make that decades. In fact, it’s really only in recent years that I have a somewhat healthy relationship with food. Some of my friends would no doubt tell you I think too much about it, or care too much about it — but generally those people are naturally thin and easily able to maintain a healthy weight. They don’t get how easy it is for me to put on weight. Anyhoo, don’t beat yourself up. It does no good. You can’t change the past, and going… Read more »
Thanks Judy, I appreciate it!
Sorry to hear you’re struggling with the residual “fallout” from the ED. Hormones are no joke. A vegan ice cream crawl sounds AWESOME! Great way to celebrate summer! Thanks for linking!
As you know, my anniversary of my surgery is this weekend. It’s kind of morbid, but I feel like celebrating it in some capacity because it was such a learning experience for me…on so many levels. Truly, I came out of it a much better person and a stronger runner. UGH to all the hormone stress and stuff. Why oh why do they make life so challenging at times??? Glad your therapist is on task with you…stay strong!!
I will have to tell my son and his GF about your vegan ice cream crawl! How fun it is that?
Sorry to hear that you are struggling with ED issues. That stuff never completely leaves, does it? Lucky that you have a therapist you can check in with. I hope you get the hormone issues figured out. You’re too young to have to deal with that. Heck, I think I’m too young for it and really, I’m not! LOL.
Hang in there. <3
Thanks, Wendy 🙂 We’ll always be too young, or at least, young at heart 🙂
I don’t know if I ever mentioned that I used to work in an eating disorders clinic many years ago. There are unfortunately so many complications that can arise. I hope that since you are doing so much better now that you will be able to move past the symptoms soon.
It’s a drag to have health issues to cope with, but it’s good that you are taking care of things. Hopefully your hormone levels will get back to normal soon. Your vegan ice cream ride sounds like a blast! I hope you celebrate your injury-versary injury-free this year — maybe get a sports massage to work out those kinks?