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Glimpses of progress
I'm now 7 weeks in on a almost zero-VA diet. The first two weeks were the best so far and for week 2-7 I feel like I'm more or less constantly in detox mode with fatigue, bloating, joint pain and brain fog that is in some ways still getting more intense. But I do have moments that last anything from a few hours up to a day where I notice clear signs of progress amidst all the smoke, like increased energy especially when I challenge myself in various ways like exercise, or like last week noticing I can now do deeper and more satisfying yawning. I think this relates to the diaphragm somehow being less obstructed by inflamed organs.
So this morning I decided to do some house cleaning. Normally I have such little energy for cleaning that I cant do it for more than 1-2hrs at a time and rarely get past the easiest stuff like throwing out trash and vacuuming. Today I was at it for 5hrs straight and took care of a bunch of stuff I haven't mustered the energy to do in years like scrubbing, dusting, cleaning out all the cabinets, doing the hard-to-reach places, removing wall stains, etc. My flat hasn't looked this clean since I moved in lol. I simply did not get tired anywhere near as fast as usual even though I was constantly kneeling, squatting, intensely scrubbing, lugging stuff around etc.
Has anyone else noticed this that signs of progress tend to be buried under all the detox symptoms and are only occasionally noticeable?
Hi Collden we must have started the same week! That's great that you had an energy surge! You gotta be careful! If you make a clean spot it makes the rest look bad--and then you're stuck cleaning the whole thing. 🙂 I really haven't had an energy surge yet, although I do try to accomplish something each day. Were you tired after ransacking your flat? I ripped out some vegetation yesterday and I had to go to bed early haha.
I've been taking lots of selfies (for science). On bad rosacea days my face is SWELLED. This isn't something that ever happened before. I was literally covering mirrors with towels. My feet are also tender.
Husband has had "flu" symptoms for a few weeks which is odd in summer. Coughing, phlegm. I'm not sure he has ANY progress to show yet haha. He is coming off of low carb. I think if his weight continues to drop despite adding carbs it might be the kind of progress he can believe in.
I have said in another thread that my good parts love the diet and my bad parts hate the diet. hahaha. Arms and legs and waist are strong, smooth and tan! Lost 4 pounds, gained muscle.
It is frustrating and I agree that there are signs of progress but the weirdness is what your brain thinks of first.
I can totally see how someone would take the weird symptoms as a sign they "need vitamin A" !
Quote from lil chick on July 13, 2019, 7:00 amYou gotta be careful! If you make a clean spot it makes the rest look bad--and then you're stuck cleaning the whole thing.
I really haven't had an energy surge yet, although I do try to accomplish something each day. Were you tired after ransacking your flat? I ripped out some vegetation yesterday and I had to go to bed early haha.
Actually woke up feeling like complete crap, it wasn't until after I started cleaning that the energy came, think I only notice progress on occasions when something stimulates me. I try to do something either mentally or physically challenging from time to time to test it.
Quote from collden on July 13, 2019, 5:59 amHas anyone else noticed this that signs of progress tend to be buried under all the detox symptoms and are only occasionally noticeable?
It is a slow process, like one step forward two steps back. Time under low VA is the variable. I looked at it as good days, then good weeks, and realize now it is a month to month comparison for improvements. I am doing well at 8 months, but looking to 12 months and see where I stand.
Hi Collden
I'm now 7 weeks in on a almost zero-VA diet. The first two weeks were the best so far and for week 2-7 I feel like I'm more or less constantly in detox mode with fatigue, bloating, joint pain and brain fog that is in some ways still getting more intense.
I have also noticed that the detox cycles seemed to be blurred and not distinct early on. Still noticing the glimpses of what is improving like you said. For me, up till about 6 months I had detox signs of hayfever, cold like symptoms and bad sleep (probably more stuff but these stand out). These have all gone or reduced considerably around the 7th month. I have wondered if my strict low VA in the first 3 months may have intensified my detox symptoms. What seems to have helped me is taking Zeolite from 5th month. I still notice some detox signs now, although much milder.
Quote from collden on July 13, 2019, 5:59 amI'm now 7 weeks in on a almost zero-VA diet.... last week noticing I can now do deeper and more satisfying yawning. I think this relates to the diaphragm somehow being less obstructed by inflamed organs....
Collden! haha! I felt this last night! I get it!
Here is my theory, about this. I have struggled with head pressure (as many do here). One of the things I came up with, over time, (to live with the head pressure) was what I called "face yoga".
I would sit in my cubicle, hoping no one saw, or back to my family at the sink.... And pretend to scream out the vowels, over-reaching the facial movements and giving the whole face and skull and neck a little workout.
AAAA EEEEE IIII OOOO UUU and sometimes YYYY!!!!!
Basically, I think I was re-inventing the yawn. hahah
I would guess that yawning has become more satisfying because all of these tissues are becoming wonderfully MORE STRETCHY
Quote from lil chick on July 15, 2019, 8:35 amQuote from collden on July 13, 2019, 5:59 amI'm now 7 weeks in on a almost zero-VA diet.... last week noticing I can now do deeper and more satisfying yawning. I think this relates to the diaphragm somehow being less obstructed by inflamed organs....
Collden! haha! I felt this last night! I get it!
Here is my theory, about this. I have struggled with head pressure (as many do here). One of the things I came up with, over time, (to live with the head pressure) was what I called "face yoga".
I would sit in my cubicle, hoping no one saw, or back to my family at the sink.... And pretend to scream out the vowels, over-reaching the facial movements and giving the whole face and skull and neck a little workout.
AAAA EEEEE IIII OOOO UUU and sometimes YYYY!!!!!
Basically, I think I was re-inventing the yawn. hahah
I would guess that yawning has become more satisfying because all of these tissues are becoming wonderfully MORE STRETCHY
Great isn't it? We take the ability to yawn for granted but I've felt unable to do it "properly" for years and it is very frustrating to constantly have the urge to yawn and never being able to do it fully.
So I've suffered from hypertension for at least the past 4 years, it has consistently been around 160/90 even when I'm relaxed at home, at the doctor it sometimes shoots up to 200/100. I'm only 33 years old so this has been very concerning to me and it hadn't really responded much to my attempts to eat healthier, exercise or lose weight. The day before I started the low-VA diet I measured while trying to donate blood and it was so high they wouldn't even let me donate.
Today, after just shy of 8 weeks of low-VA, I checked my blood pressure numerous times during the day, sometimes right after drinking coffee, and the average has been 135/75. Seems I'm no longer hypertensive!
Wow that is excellent to hear Collden.
Hey Collden,
I am working on this theory that part of "Detox" may be some type of sulfur/B1 deficiency. Do you have any thiamine around that you would be willing to try for a few days to see how you felt on it? That, or chondroitin sulfate or broccomax from Jarrow?
It is interesting that you are feeling this at only two months in.