This is a replay of my battle with adrenal fatigue earlier this year. The symptoms are back…so I’m taking some time off. I felt that this series was important to share again!

It hit me, like a train I never saw coming.

I hurt. I ached. EVERYWHERE.  My bed had a hold on me. It told me to stay, rest, recover. I lie there thinking over yesterday. Was it my workout that knocked me on my ass? Too much sugar? Excess caffeine? There is that cold going around…or maybe I’ve got the flu. I pull the comforter up over my head.  Just 5 more minutes.

I roll over and shut my eyes.

The next time I wake up its noon. NOON!  Oh my God! I panic. The kids! I can hear them playing. My class! I didn’t have to teach today. I’ve let the whole morning go by! Just means I’ll have to make up for it later. It takes every ounce of energy I have, but I manage to drag my sorry self out of bed. I take a hard look at myself in the mirror.

What is WRONG with you?

It has been an emotional couple of months. All my responsibilities are pulling me in opposite directions. My workouts have been lacking as the recovery has been much longer. To top it off, my sugar cravings have been out of control, and I have a new layer around my middle that I have only experienced when I’m pregnant. PREGNANT?

No, it can’t be that !

Maybe it’s just the stress…and the holidays. UGH.  I loathe the holidays around here…nothing but drama.

Giving myself a few more minutes to find the solutions to my malaise, it dawns on me that  I have been completely exhausted by the end of the day and my diet has been a steady stream of chocolate and caffeine.  I really haven’t seen “5:30 am” on my clock in weeks.  All very unusual for me. But THIS?! Sleeping til NOON!?  Unacceptable.

I stare harder at that sad face in the mirror –

UGH, I look OLD.

I put myself together, let the family know that I’m alive and head downstairs for…COFFEE…and something sweet.  Damn sugar cravings.  Luckily I have no clients today, but my inbox calls to me.  And then I see it:

Revitalize: A Winter Cleanse
Have you got the winter blues? Pamper yourself with this cleanse to support your kidney and adrenal function.

Toot Toot! WHAM! That train hit me again.

MY ADRENALS!!! Crap.

I had been warned about adrenal fatigue 2 years ago by a holistic health coach like myself. I obviously didn’t listen. Yeah, okay, I’m tired and moody, but I don’t have time to take care of me!  I have a 1 and 2.5 year old!!  So I went on my way, doing what I do best: EVERYTHING.

I am a very driven person, and push myself to be great. It is unacceptable for me to aim for anything less than the stars. It is possible, that I may be a tad bit impatient.  I like to call it efficient. Perhaps a little bit of a control freak.  I call it discipline.  And definitely stubborn. I find the word tenacious a better fit. I also have this great knack of moving forward despite emotional underpinnings that nag at me.  Why worry about the past…look ahead to the future! Pure optimism!

In October of 2010 I started my first blog, 1MomsMission.com.  In February of 2011, I began taking on clients as a Holistic Nutrition Counselor.  I was aiming for instant success (see note on impatience).  My quest for fame tends to rule my life.  In that same year, I completed 3 triathlons, 2 running races, and The Mother of All Relays: Hood to Coast, despite nagging injuries.  All the while being a mom, trying to be a good wife, and handling some family drama.  In November of 2011, it all started to fall apart.  And on this January morning, my body said:

STOP

My adrenals were tired.  The signs had been there.  And I didn’t listen.  Ironic.  I pride myself on helping people LISTEN to their bodies and hear what it is trying to tell them, while I ignored mine.

Any of this sound familiar?

I would bet to guess a good chunk of you can relate to some or all of my story.

This is how my RADiance  went awry.  My journey from burnout and back.  An internal problem that is hidden from us until the day it become external, and stops you cold.

Over the next 2 weeks, I will be posting various women’s stories of their battle with adrenal dysfunction.  I will teach you about this vital gland, give you signs and symptoms to watch for, and tell you how to go about treating the problem.

In this series you will hear from 2 fellow bloggers and 2 nutrition counselors like myself.  Their stories are similar yet different, but very relatable.

Do you feel run down, lethargic, and achy? Do you wonder why it is persistent? Is it all in your head? That’s what I thought for a long time. Let me tell you, You are NOT crazy!  Follow along with the stories over the next 2 weeks. Learn how to take steps to just.feel.better.  Remember, you are here to ROCK the RADiant life.

This is YOUR RADiant Revolution.

Let’s get started!

photo credit

This is an important topic to discuss. Please share this with anyone you feel may be needing answers to their energy crisis questions. Let’s spread the RADiance.