After lots of tearful goodbyes and an 18-hour drive with my four kids, the cat and a goldfish that basically killed my will to live, we have made it to Colorado! We are officially Colorado… ites? Colorado-ans?? Whatever. We got in late last night and while I still feel like a zombie on a desert vacay, I’m excited to be here. The weather is gorgeous, the mountains are gorgeous, my sister and her family are gorgeous (love you Lou!) and our new house is also gorgeous. We’re in temporary housing until we close on the new digs so posting may be as intermittent as my sleep. Not a bid for sympathy but more of a heads-up that I’m not ignoring you – your comments helped make the car trip 30% less whiny! It’s just hard to respond on my phone.
But there have been lots of questions, particularly about certain posts, and so here is a quickie update: (Please forgive the lack of humor, intelligence or even coherence. Seriously my brain fell out of the car somewhere mid-Nebraska, along with a bunch of our stuff since we forgot to lock the car top carrier and proceeded to leave a Hansel & Gretel-esque trail for miles. It will tell you how fried we were that my husband and I, upon discovering our gaffe, shrugged and said, “Whatever it was, it’s not worth driving an hour back up the freeway to look for it. Merry Christmas Nebraskans! We got you toddler undies with built-in streaks!”
ANYHOW.
Rachel Cosgrove’s Rebuttal to the Criticisms About Her New Book
You may recall that I was less than pleased with Rachel Cosgrove’s latest book, Drop Two Sizes. Apparently I was not the only one as she wrote a blog post to address the haters. (Clarification: I am not a hater. I still love her. I’m just disappointed.) Basically she said what I had assumed: That because Women’s Health published the book they had final editorial say on the content (that ridiculous 1000 calorie diet) and the pictures (the conventional-looking non-fitness models holding baby weights). She talks in depth about the model selection process for the book, which I found super interesting. (TL;DR version: The models she wanted were deemed “too muscular” for the Women’s Health demographic of 18-24 year old women who are brand new to fitness. So instead they picked a model who would be “aspirational” for that group.) She also added what many of you said (and Gym Buddy Krista said) that this book is meant as a prequel to her first book The Female Body Breakthrough. Apparently lots of women felt intimidated by that book and so this book is a less-scary starting place – a point which I think is great. I just wish I’d known it before I got the book and invested my time in the workouts.
But the main thing I got from reading her post – and this made me really sad – is that I am no longer her target audience. This is particularly frustrating to me because I feel like that demographic – 18-24 year old women – is already super represented in the health and fitness industry. In fact, I’d say that they may be the most targeted group. There is NO shortage of diet and exercise advice for this group. I liked Rachel because she spoke to those of us who wanted something different than the conventional advice and to those of us who fell outside that much ballyhooed demographic. But hey, maybe she’ll come back to me in the future??
P.S. One commenter took exception to my use of ” ‘bells” in references to dumbbells in my post. She felt that I was infantalizing weight lifting for women by cutsey-ing up the iron. I’d honestly never thought of it that way but I can certainly see her point. I’d written ‘bells because Rachel calls for dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells in her workouts and so instead of writing all three out I took the lazy way out and abbreviated it. But I’ll try to remember for the future to use “iron” or something else in future posts! Any other suggestions are much appreciated! (Or I suppose I could just type it all out. I mean, I’m the girl who routinely writes 2500 word “short” posts so… yeah.)
My Mirena IUD – 1 Year Post Removal
My post on getting my Mirena IUD removed has stayed surprisingly active with lots of women adding more stories to the comments almost every week. A lot of people want to know how I’m feeling about it now since it’s been a whole year since the removal. Basically I’m doing really well. The brain fog went away almost immediately and my hair stopped falling out. I’ve also greatly reduced my number of panic attacks but as many of you know from previous posts, I attribute much of that to discovering I’m severely lactose intolerant and eliminating dairy from my diet.
Honestly, while I’m not sorry at all I got it removed, it hasn’t been the panacea I’d hoped. The main issue is that since I’ve already birthed me five babies and have lost my darn mind, I need a reliable form of birth control. We tried “natural family planning” (also known as the rhythm method) and ye olde condoms but it appears that I do need some kind of hormonal help to stay regular and help with absolutely monstrous PMS. (TMI? You asked about my uterus!) And I’ve tried a few different pills but haven’t found anything that I love yet. Still working on this solution and in the meantime am hoping for early menopause? (kidding. Mostly.) It also didn’t do anything for my below-the-belly-button “mommy pouch” (think bagel dough. You’re welcome.)
Why does being a girl have to be so hard!?
P.S. For those of you who wanted links to the Canadian package insert I mentioned in the post, I’ve since found it and put the links in the comments.
Dairy Free
Lots and lots of e-mails lately asking me if I’m still not eating dairy, if I’ve “healed my gut“, if I’ve gone gluten free etc. So: Yes, I still mostly avoid dairy. I’ve been doing some of the steps to “seal and heal my gut” and while I’ve eaten some small amounts of cheese and yogurt and tolerated them fine, I still mostly just avoid it. As for gluten-free, I did do it for one month at the beginning of my elimination experiment when I was trying to figure out what was causing my panic attacks but it seemed that wheat really doesn’t have any noticeable effect on me. So I eat it. It doesn’t make me feel sick. I’m cool with grains.
I mostly do coconut milk substitutes when I need a sub. I don’t miss most dairy except for ice cream but coconut milk ice cream tastes aMAYzing – now if only I could find it in more than 3 flavors and for less than $8 a pint.
Shape Mag Posts
A few things to consider if you’re thinking about getting a prophylactic mastectomy like Angelina Jolie.
30 things we love about running – women use it for so many great reasons!
12 tasty alternatives to running gels – you’ve got lots of options if you’re sick of gagging down sticky gus or gels
Freaked out about all the news about antibiotic resistant gonorrhea Everything you need to know about something you totally don’t want to know about. You’re welcome.
Did you know Kelly Clarkson does CrossFit?? Me neither. 15 Celebs who love Crossfit. Yep, it’s officially A Thing.
10 Hilarious Running Shirts. Totally a puff piece. Loved every second of my “research”:)
Welp, it’s a good thang I’m canceling my Tuesday appointment for Mirena. It’s been bugging me all weekend that I shouldn’t go through with it. I although I fear getting knocked up again, Mirena is not the way to go. Thanks for sharing about it.
Congrats on your move! I love you for the way you accept criticism (er. Even when it’s mine). I want to be you when I grow up.
” a goldfish that basically killed my will to live.” Wow, goldfish must be tougher to take care of than I thought!
I assume that pic is the house you’re buying and not just the house you’re renting? How does it compare size-wise to your old one? Did you go bigger?
I read Cosgrove’s blog post. I did TFBB and, although I hated the tone, I liked the program and thought it was a good introduction to weights. Now, however, like Rachel herself, I like playing with the big barbells/dumbbells and want to lift multiples of my bodyweight. How ironic–as my fitness philosophy/goals have gotten closer to hers, I’ve outgrown the message/program in her books. :-/
I grew up near Hell, MI but have yet to do the race. Glad you like the shirt :)!
I’m glad you made it safe. Take a deep breath and try to enjoy it all as you start settling in. Good luck with all the little peoples in transition…. You’ve got this 🙂
Glad y’all had a safe trip to Colorado – I hope the settling in phase goes smoothly for you!! I admire the grace you have in handling criticism – probably why I enjoy your site so much!!
And, I have to say it – I’m totally picturing the Griswolds driving down the highway with the car topper trailing stuff!!!
Two things that we have in common and they feel major enough to comment.
First – like you, I have birthed five babies (one of them didn’t make it like you) and I am left here on Earth with three boys and one girl who is the baby of the family. Have you ever ever considered getting your tubes tied? My hubs was NOT going the way of the snip snip so to avoid hellish experience of birth control – I just went and had my tubes tied. Very minor surgery – minor recovery pain(nothing pain pills can’t cover). I highly highly recommend!!!
Second, we are moving 2000 miles as well except you and I are switching places (kind of). We are just about to put our house on the market and move our family from Portland,OR to Green Bay, WI. Mychildren have never seen REAL snow or cold – wish us luck!!!
And good luck to you (and get your tubes tied! Just think – being 100%hormone free since getting married)
Commenting because I’m hoping to see suggestions for coping without hormone supplements. I’m 44, never managed to get pregnant (unexplained infertility), and like a friend once said, “I have no further use for this organ”. I have high blood pressure (like all of my adult relatives) and my doc said no more pills for me. I’m seeking out a gynecologist soon to talk about the various fun aspects of peri-menopause but maybe someone will chime in here with things that have worked for them.
Have you heard of “essure”? My doctor suggested it to me on my last visit. It’s less invasive than getting tubes tied (non-surgical, non hormonal), but definitely permanent birth control.
Just a point of interest (since you get TONS of people reading your blog): Natural Family Planning (or Fertility Awareness Method) isn’t the Rhythm Method. At all. I HIGHLY recommend everyone (at least the girls) read Taking Control of Your Fertility, whether or not you use FAM for birth control. It’s a super interesting read and our cycles can tell us so much.
But yeah, the Rachel thing sucks. I’m totally torn over it. I love having a totally realistic, age-appropriate fitness role model, but I’m not handling the “target demographic” thing all that well. Her blog post kind of made it sound like she was selling out to Women’s Health to sell more books. Pick whatever cover model you want because she’s badass and represents what you (as the author) thinks fitness is. Don’t do it because a publisher thinks you (as the author) are too muscular for your own book. I don’t know; maybe if the book had been marketed as a prequel to FBB from the start, I would have looked at it differently. I just expected something more.
Yay for Colorado! It’s such an active state, it seems like a great fit for you.
Glad you made it safe & sound & the “left the goodies” part – well. 🙂
As for Women’s health, I am not only disappointed in their target market but the whole too muscular thing.. guess I will not buy that anymore! 🙂
For exploring the reasons behind PMS and possible solutions to the crazy symptoms, I highly, highly recommend the book The Mood Cure by Julia Ross.
Welcome to CO!
I loved learning about some of the “behind the scenes” information about Rachel’s latest book. Call me crazy, but the whole set up and image use in fitness literature is fascinating to me. There’s just not enough honesty within our fitness culture and stuff like this is like pulling back the curtain.
Please continue to use the term ‘bells if the muse impels you to. Whoever gets hung up on that should focus on some other tragedy that afflicts the fitness industry. Like the overuse of the term “Shred.”
Welcome to your new home, lady!!!
I helped my friend Mary move out to Colorado Springs about three years ago–it’s a beautiful place to live, and Denver is an awesome city.
…
(Not a thing to panic over, or another thing to worry about, but keep an eye out for the high altitude causing changes to your cycle and general health–if something weird happens in your body, see if it can be attributed to that first.)
Glad you made it there safe and sound! Donating to the Nebraskans has, I’m sure, earned you some serious Western US karma. Because the Midwest karma isn’t accepted out there? I don’t know.
I’m actually not at all surprised by the Rachel response (though I haven’t read it yet, just going off your thoughts and those in the comments here). I get Womens Health and I am definintely not their target audience, so I can see that if they are publishing it, it just makes good business sense to market it to your audience. It sucks for us that we aren’t really anyone’s target audience (because there aren’t enough of us….there are just so many more early 20s, new to weights women than early *ahem* 30s been into weights for years and just need a little pick me up types….not to mention we’re less likely to even buy a book like that to begin with, I bet her 2nd book has already far surpassed the sales of her first.)
As for the ‘bells thing? Why would someone get offended by that? Silliness.
One last thing. My sister was conceived while my parents were practicing the rhythm method. So….yeah.
Congratulations on going dairy free. I’m still having a hard time avoiding cheese and ice cream. Sometimes I feel nothing else will due.
Wow, I don’t I was ever the right demographic when I read Women’s Fitness. Also, I’m still mourning the magazine I first read compared to what it is now.
Another one chiming in to say NFP is NOT the “rhythm method.” Happily conceiving and avoiding with this godsend (literally) for many years now. And adding another shameless plug for Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Weschler. When I read it, I cried when I realized how much about my anatomy and bodily functioning no one had ever bothered to teach me. And learn themselves, I’ll bet.
Welcome to Colorado!
I know in an earlier post that you said you were leaving a lot of wonderful people behind. I hope you’ll find Colorado to be inviting and inspirational. There’s so much to do and I’m sure you won’t be surprised by the number of people who put fitness and health as a priority. Good luck with the rest of the move!
Tell your husband I said man up and go see Dr. Stop and the birth control issue is solved.
It was a rough day, but sooooo worth it!
Congrats on the move! I also wanted to say I love your explanation of how you’re trying certain diets and seeing how they affect you. A diet isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people feel better not eating gluten, some don’t. Some people live healthier lives without dairy, some don’t. You’ve got to see what works for you. Although one thing I always encourage is to try to eat natural.
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Pingback:My Mirena IUD is Gone! [Why I did it and What's Happened Since]
I’ve read your initial post about Mirena a couple of times now. After three years of Hell and two failed removal attempts, I finally was put under and my IUD removed last week. I can’t tell you how happy I am about this, as I was having menopausal symptoms, INCLUDING facial hair and hot flashes at age 28. My question to you is, did you ever look into natural ways of regulating your hormones? Such as diet or supplements? I really, really don’t want to have any sythetic hormones in my body ever again, but I have a fear I’ll suffer as well without. And 2: how is dairy linked to your anxiety?? I’ve very interested. I’ve suspected for some time I have lactose intolerance, and I also suffer from anxiety and panic at completely random times. That’s part of the reason I had the IUD removed, they got so bad I could no longer control them, even though I learned how to years ago.
Hi there,
Thanks so much for sharing all this mirena story.
My wife had her mirena removed back in 2008. Since then it went from bad to worse. She took mirena because of her PMS, but after removal that kicked in again like hell. She suffered a first burnout in 2009 and the second in 2011. She has frequent anxiety attacks since 2009. We found that the anxiety attacks were paired with PMS onset, but as her periods are only 2-3 weeks in between (or uncontrollable) she has no time to recuperate. Since mirena she refused any type pf synthetic hormones – birth cntrl – to regulate her timings of periods. Last year she was diagnosed with Bartonella, and taking antibiotics since almost a year. Things have become worse with her PMS/periods; when the’y re in she’s bedbound for almost a week.
I don’t know what to do anymore. we got 2 kids and i’m basically running the household since almost a year – i feel the exhaustion around the corner.
forgot to say that she’s taking progesterone and a light birth cntrl pil since Q4 last year – but that doesn’t seem to work well. she still feels bad and has uncontrollable periods. doesn’t help.
I read your other post about when you had your Mirena removed. And this one also. I only had mine in for 3 months and it was the worst 3 months I’ve had in a long time. The endless cramping… spotting… not feeling myself…and yes, the dreaded panic attacks which I had never felt in my entire life until I got the Mirena. I’ve had it out since March 28. I removed it myself (yeah I know, bad idea BUT I was confident in what I was doing and I was convinced that that evil device was the source of all my troubles. Plus,I can reach my cervix and it came out effortlessly.) Like you, the brain fog disappeared almost immediately and I was relieved to have it out. Before I removed it I visited my Dr about the panic attacks, I had one that lasted 2 days and it was terrifying. So currently, I’m on meds until my hormones level out. I feel much more like myself now. I would never recommend it to anyone, EVER. Also, reading your story helped me feel like I wasn’t alone. I’m not crazy. And it will get better.
Hi there, I read your posts about your side effects while on Mirena and then your update after removal. I had the same symptoms and had it removed in Feb after having it in for almost 3 years. It’s been 5 months since I had it removed and I’ve had my period’s almost regularly since. The symptoms seem like they are mostly gone but I’m still concerned that I will not be back to my old self before the problems started. I don’t feel like I’m 100 percent yet still after so long. I requested to get my hormone levels checked just to see if I would get a normal result and I hope that it doesn’t come back saying I’m experiencing menopause. My question is …Is everything back to normal for you now? And have your hormone levels gotten back to normal?
Thank you
Hi there, love your blog! I noted that you said your hair has stopped falling out, would you say what has fallen out has grown back considerably? My main issue with the Mirena was the insane amount of hair loss (and anger). I had mine taken out last week after having it for a year and am hoping to see my hair get a little more full like it used to be.
Thanks!
Hello there…This is the perfect blog for anyone who wants to know about this topic. The article is nice and it’s pleasant to read. I have known very important things over here. Thank you so much for this post.
I have only had Skyla (Mirena’s little sister) in for 2 months. This past week I started having MAJOR anxiety attacks that are keeping me from being focused at work, excited about my normal activities, etc. I’m planning to get mine out ASAP and switch to a copper IUD. It’s weirdly encouraging to see that other women have experienced a major mood shift due to the hormones present in these devices. Hoping that I’ll bounce back fast since it’s only been a short while I’ve had it in.
Thanks for sharing everyone, I have also had my Mirena for 3 years almost to the day, going to the Doc today to get some advice or short term solutions, and possibly getting it out. I was prescribed sleeping pills and SSRI’s which I refuse to take….I’ve read too much now knowing its all M’s fault!
I have all the symptoms of Menopause (and I mean ALLLLL & then some). Insomnia, anxiety, terrible cramping, low back pain, heavy night sweats, depression, cold hands and feet, acne….. and I am 30 🙁
I read this article before stumbling upon these blog posts: http://www.curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=1909411
very interesting, Magnesium and Potassium supplements can help but I see the only REAL solution is saying good bye to Mirena. I’ve never felt so unstable in my life! I know I am not alone now!
Hi! Dropping by to stay thanks for sharing your mirena update. I just removed mine after 2 months of going crazy and having cystic acne. Regarding awful PMS stuff, have you looked into functional medicine? A functional medicine doc prescribed me progesterone pills to prevent really awful PMS and to help balance out the mirena crash.