Still in recovery I'm afraid and making some progress this past week. There are multiple reasons that I think this setback not only occurred but lingered, and I'm afraid it was because of my new diet. I have been experimenting of late after reading
Gary Taubes, Good Calories Bad Calories. I still highly recommend the book. I do not highly recommend screwing it up like I think I did. I followed his concept of eliminating all processed carbohydrates which I think is absolutely valid. However, while I upped my protein intake tremendously (beef, chicken, pork, cheeses, nuts, etc), I did not keep an even balance with vegetables and fruits. As a result one of my acupuncturist's checked and found that I was on the end of the scale for acidic ph balance in my body. If you read up on acidity in the body, it contributes to a whole host of ailments, from depression to inflammation, to cancer etc.
This past week I have been eating my veggies, taking supplements (alkaline balancing drops in my water, fish oil pills, vit d supplements, and a multi vitamin), and doing a lot of moxa (deep heat treatments for my back). I am seeing slow improvements, but significant ones. My depression has decreased quite a bit from the previous weeks, my teeth are no longer sensitive, and my back no longer hurts during the day, though it is still uncomfortable in the mornings.
My depression is worth explaining a tiny bit more. I am used to disappointment from not being able to run. I have dealt with it pretty well over the last 2 years. The depression that hit me this time around was nothing I could wrap my head around. It was deep and it actually didn't make sense to me. I am nearly positive it had everything to do with my ph and not just back pain which, really, I am so bored with in a sense that disappointment hardly registers anymore.
So I guess the lesson learned is balance which I will be doing in earnest this time around. I am looking forward to seeing if next week is better and the week after better still. I think I may have delayed my return to ultras yet again, but it's still on the schedule for 2009.
And thanks to
Victoria again for tuning me into yogatoday.com. It has been helping me a lot in my down time.