I've got the power...

     I finally got the results back from my comprehensive lab panel I had done electively. It only took them a month. The results are all pretty and color coded and have really shed light on some questions I've had for a while. At the doctors office, they might do a test and say "Looks good. Your results are normal.", but what they don't tell you is that "normal" doesn't necessarily mean "good". You can be at the very bottom end of normal and they will still say everything is fine. In reality, there is a very big difference between "normal" and "optimal". The place I had my labs done gives you both the "normal" and "optimal" ranges and shows you on a scale where each of your results fall. So while my doctors office my say this or that is just fine, this lab will say it's low because it is beneath optimal range.
     I'm going to call on Monday and try to get an appointment at the clinic to review the results with a doctor (the mega panel comes with a credit toward a one hour appointment to review your results and figure out a plan). Basically my results say that I'm low in B vitamins, D vitamins, Omegas, and a bunch of other things. All the surgeries have depleted my stores which is why I've been so bloody tired all the time.
     Also, at my husband's suggestion, we're going to try the Mediterranean Diet. It's less of a diet and more of a set of guidelines based around a cultural way of eating that is generally much healthier than the standard American diet. It is comprised of boat loads of vegetables, whole/ancient grains, fish/seafood, healthy fats like olive oil, and the occasional low fat dairy. It limits the consumption of red meat, full fat dairy, and sweets to the rare treat. Plus, it allows for a glass of red wine per day (much to my chagrin it is only a 5 oz glass).
     So with a new dietary plan and my lab results in tow, I'm continuing to tackle my exercise with determination. I set a goal of finishing my Unicorn race in 48 days, and if I stick with my current pace, I'll finish in 44 (I'm 40% done with 121 miles). Wish me luck!