Do You Supplement?

I’ve been struggling to get back into my workout and diet routine.  The aftermath of the holiday free for all wreaked havoc on my routines.  Then I went back to work and immediately got sick.  Two months and one antibiotic later, I’m finally getting back to the gym.  Everything is heavier and I’m so much more fatigued during my workouts.  It seems like my muscles are taking longer to get back to normal and I’m just plain tired.  Additionally, I’ve felt pretty weighed down from my consistent diet of chips and salsa and margaritas.  So I went online to look for some stuff.  It’s overwhelming how many pills and adaptogen complex powders there are out there in supplement land.  I’ve used DoTerra products before and I’m assuming they’re pretty natural so this is what I chose:

That's a lot of pills, yo.

This is a ridiculous amount of pills and I’m taking them all day long.  And, well, they tend to get things moving, if you know what I mean.  And by get things moving, I mean bowel moving.  They’re definitely are cleaning me out.  But I don’t have any more energy and they’re so darn expensive.  There is a huge market for people like me who don’t really like things that are hard like eating vegetables and exercise.  I worry about the nutrients my body isn’t getting from my diet.  I try to keep it balanced, but let’s get real.  I have a job, grad school, kids…I don’t always have time for good choices.  And there is no way I can eat half my weight in protein every day.  Are supplements a legitimate way to get what I need?  Web MD had this interesting article.  And then there was this:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/new-york-attorney-general-targets-supplements-at-major-retailers/

This is scary stuff, man.  I tend to live on the natural side of life.  But I have purchased every type of vitamin, drop, serum, powder, etc…there is trying to balance my desire for health with my desire for things like sleep and macaroni and cheese.

I have friends who swear by their supplements. They have this perfectly orchestrated concoction.  I just haven’t had that moment, I guess, where me and my supplements truly understand each other and become one with the universe.  What are your thoughts, scootadooters?  Are you and your supplements in a committed relationship?  Or is it all bologna?

Do you doTERRA?

My gym has recently started holding information sessions for doTERRA Essential Oils and I’m always interested in new and magical products.  I’m a sucker for a great sales pitch, a marketers dream, really.  According to their website, Essential Oils are natural compounds found in seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other various plant parts and have therapeutic benefits for all kinds of ailments and bodily issues.  And man, do I have bodily issues.  They can be applied in various ways.  Aromatically, they stimulate hormones and metabolic processes…aromatherapy.  Topically, they absorb easily into the skin and immediately go to work on the applied area.  Internally, they can be used as a dietary supplement, although not all essential oils should be ingested (Read beginners guide to essential oils).

Needless to say, I was instantly hooked.  I’m constantly looking for a more natural way to medicate.  My daughter has severe asthma and takes a daily steroid to control it.  I’m pretty sure my son is ADHD, as it’s hereditary and he’s a “behavior concern” at school.  I take about billion pills a day, for depression, Adult ADD, birth control, intestinal issues, inflammation, insomnia, etc.  I’d love to be able to control all these bodily malfunctions with nature.  You know, so I won’t be a mess during the zombie apocalypse.  Although, something tells me my out-of-the-box thinking via ADD will come in handy with that one.

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Who comes up with these names?

I started with a metabolic stimulating blend a week ago.  Because obviously, I have priorities.  The oil is very, very herbal.  The directions say to dilute 4 drops in water and drink but I’ve found that takes too long.  So I’ve been putting the drops under my tongue and then chugging water.  The blend I’m using is called Slim and Sassy and includes grapefruit peel, lemon peel, ginger root, cinnamon bark, and peppermint plant.  And last week I lost 2 lbs.  I know what you’re thinking, it’s a fluke.  Or it’s a placebo.  And it totally could be!  One week is not long enough to warrant any significant data.  I know, I took statistics in college.  When people see me dropping oil in my water, I’m met with a roll of the eyes or a this-poor-kid head shake.  I’m not a sucker!  It works, dammit!

Right?

No, seriously, does it work?

Have you tried herbal/natural remedies or dietary supplements?  What do you think, do they work?  Do you have any unbiased information for me???

In related news, these are my stats from my final assessment in Body Back.  I was pleasantly surprised and pretty damn proud of that 11 minute mile!  My weight conveniently got cut out of the picture.  Weird.

Like a Boss

Like a Boss