Establishing my baseline - 6 Ways to Mentally Prepare for AIP
Monday, September 28, 2020
I found this cool article on how to mentally prepare for an AIP lifestyle journey and it recommended I establish my “baseline” so I can measure my progress along the way…
Here are the elements of the baseline:
I’m quite embarrassed to post this, but in the spirit of measuring progress NOT perfection… here we go!
Current weight - not sure, I haven’t weight myself in over a year, but I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been so I would guess between 157-162. I’ll weigh myself the next time I’m near a scale… We don’t have one in this house.
Sleep/exercise habits - I get 6-8 hours of sleep per night + 0.5-2 hour nap… Exercise is currently zero.
Overall health goals (I’d encourage you to state how you want to feel in the future.) - I want to feel light, energetic, limber, and strong.
Specific goals (Think of things like pain reduction or better energy, etc.) - Pain reduction in back, abdomen, and feet. No inflammation. No eczema. Toned and athletic like I used to be. Healthy belly.
Main health concern (For example, “My Crohn’s disease.” or “My arthritis pain.”) - small bowel obstruction and inflammation in GI
Most disruptive symptoms (List the symptoms that are pushing you to make a change, like daily headaches, feeling faint, heart palpitations, etc.) - pain in back, neck, and shoulders, and these damn belly issues - constant bloating, discomfort, pain, heaviness in belly
Bathroom habits (This can be an important indicator of health.) - my pee is pretty healthy (kinda proud of that not gonna lie), and my bowel movements are inconsistent, but for the most part not so bad (except for when I have episodes)… but what is consistent and healthy anyway? No idea… it’s just not something I really complain about so I guess that’s a good thing.
Average mood/outlook - Currently I’m feeling generally sad and down about the whole thing. I’m not very optimistic to be honest as I have no concept of what it would feel to be truly healthy since it’s been so long since I felt that way. I’m pretty frustrated and angry that I even have to deal with this. I feel a bit in victim mode like life’s not fair and why did God smite me (LOL - Bruce Almighty reference). But I currently feel so terrible and not myself that I have no choice but to try… I don’t want it to get worse, that’s for sure. But yesterday, I was at a family party and was pretty upbeat as per my usual self but only I could tell a significant difference. I felt so weighted down and unable to move. I hurt in places I don’t usually hurt and watching the children run around having fun made me feel jealous because honestly it wasn’t that long ago that I was able to do the things they do… I suppose that’s my true north. Will I ever be able to feel that way again? Not sure… but I really hope so? Maybe by the time I’m 40, I’ll be modeling in a dope ass monokini on the beach and laughing at this moment when I used to hate everything. Anyway, I digress LOL.
Examples of typical breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and beverages - Whatever’s in the house… bacon, corned beef, eggs, rice, sandwiches, filipino food, steak, salmon, chicken, rice, minimal veggies, all the bad snacks like m&s and oreos, chips, all the chips… as for beverages mostly water and tea, but sometimes coffee with a lot of sugar and sweet cream, juices loaded with sugar, and even soda which I quit years ago, but now I’m back because I hate myself and I hate life and I hate this situation….. wahhhh.
Well, that was depressing… I really hope it gets better lol
2nd, Say some Positive Affirmations about myself and the possibilities for the Future…
My plans for future wellness are smart and well-considered.
I pursue my healing no matter what.
There is an important reason this path is being presented to me.
I am capable of living a new, vibrant life.
I love my body, even as I help it toward greater wellness.
Y’all, I just wrote these affirmations down in my journal and literally started crying.
I think that means it worked! LOL. These affirmations are powerful. 10/10 would recommend.
3rd recommended step: Take a moment to be angry
Girl, NO PROBLEM. I am pissed! It’s not fair! Not everyone has to deal with this shit! I’m supposed to be a PITTA goddammit, which means I’m supposed to be able to eat ANYTHING!
Frankly, I’m super grateful for the permission. :)
4th, release perfection
I’m also grateful for the permission to do this. I can be such a perfectionist but honestly, the only thing my perfectionism gave me was STRESS… and STRESS is no bueno for a healthy, holistic lifestyle…
So, goodbye, perfectionism! :D (ask me again in an hour how I feel about this, lol)
5th, practice gratitude
Ahh, the basic gratitude practice… Equal parts corny / equal parts life changing….
I’m grateful I’m currently living in a house I own where I don’t have to pay rent…. I’m grateful I have the internet and Facebook to even find these resources. I’m grateful I have the money to pay for all these things and without worry even consider having a meal prep service literally mail food to my doorstep.
That is super dee duper privileged and I shouldn’t just skate over that.
I’m also super grateful for my friends and family - they provide such great emotional support for this journey…. I am literally surrounded by love and I know not everyone can say that.
I’m grateful for my therapist, my healers, and my mother.
I’m grateful my mother left me money and a house to provide for the basic survival needs so I don’t have to worry about they money it will require for me to invest in this journey.
I’m grateful for my dad who provides emotional support as well as financial support.
Not everyone has this. It would really serve me to remember these things.
Last recommendation from this incredible article (linked at the top) is to SUIT UP and access my Inner Warrior!
I can do this.
I have achieved and accomplished great things… and maybe the thing that has been the glass ceiling to all this has been my health. It always comes back to health, doesn’t it?
I am determined and will fight for this with fierce love, kindness, and gentleness… because that’s just the kind of warrior I am. :)
Here we go!
Wish me luck.
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