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Month: January 2014

Mantra

January 27, 2014 by gracefulfitness 6 Comments

I am healthy. I am whole. I am grateful.

I grew up in a super crunchy, new agey household.  In other words, no stranger to positive affirmations and mantras.  I have rarely used them in my personal life but this morning, while running on a beach in Puerto Rico and contemplating my latest doctors visit, this one came to me.

I am healthy.  I am whole. I am grateful.

Hell yeah I am grateful.  I was running on a beach in Puerto Rico!

The thing is, just moments before my mantra came to me I was feeling sick and sorry for myself.

On Thursday I went in for a follow up appointment after receiving “abnormal” results on my pap smear in early December.   My plan was to get another pap, hoping that something besides the return of cervical dysplasia had influenced last months results.  My Certified Nurse Midwife had a different plan.

As it turns out I was quite misinformed about pap smears and the level of detection they are able to perform these days.

Since I have a feeling I’m not the only misguided lady out there one I am sharing what I learned.

When a pap smear comes back abnormal the lab is able to further investigate what the cause of the result is from the sample they already have.  A variety of factors can cause abnormal results. The three possible issues that my CNM mentioned were herpes, trichomoniasis, and hpv.  In my case the first two were not present but just like before, the cervical dysplasia was due to an hpv infection (I plan on writing more about this very soon).  I also learned that it is highly unlikely for abnormal results to be incorrect altogether and that paps are no longer sensitive to the presence of blood or semen in the sample because it is taken as a liquid (it used to be dry by the time the lab got it) and those excess substances can be “washed out”.

So. In the eyes of the medical profession the next step is for me to have another colposcopy and likely another biopsy.

I am not against that idea but first I am going to give myself 3-5 months of time focusing on healing my cervical cells through alternative routes.  This includes nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, stress reduction, and yes, positive affirmations. Along these lines I welcome any insight, knowledge, or personal experience you have to offer.

I am healthy. I am whole. I am grateful.

 

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Posted in: Cervical Dysplasia Tagged: abnormal pap, cervical dysplasia, pap smear

Yep, I’m Boasting!

January 22, 2014 by gracefulfitness 2 Comments

It’s a fun week for Gracefulfitness.

A few weeks ago I was interviewed via skype by Adam Bate for his podcast Lifestyle Accountability Show.  We spoke for about 40 minutes about health, fitness, exercise, and food.  I wasn’t sure how I would do being put on the spot to answer questions like that but overall I think I articulated my approach and attitude about cultivating a gracefully fit lifestyle just fine.   The show went live yesterday and you can listen here! I start off a little rambly and rough so if you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing do me a favor and skip to about minute 10.

The other excitement is my first post on Elephant Journal.  One of my few New Year’s goals was to write more and to share my content in other avenues besides just this blog.  The first week of the year I submitted a post to Elephant Journal, an online “publication” and it was immediately accepted (full disclosure, I’ve since submitted two more that were turned down.  Disappointing but also nice to know they don’t accept everything!).   My article on saying no to the detox diet mentality can be read here.

I would love your feedback on both the podcast and the article and if you feel so inclined please share them!

In the spirit of One Word Wednesday post, here are a few wintery images I found in my Picasa files today.

 

 

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Posted in: goals, Writing Tagged: Elephant Journal, Lifestyle Accountability Show, one word wednesday, podcast
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I am Faith Levine, a movement instructor, home gardener, mountain biker, hiker, pickle maker, closet poet, and best of friend to some of the most amazing women in the world.

I’d love to hear from you,
gracefulfitness@live.com

Header photo: Meredith Coe

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Hi, I'm Faith! New? Check out I Am for my story, I Cook for recipes, and I Move for some motivation to get moving! I'd love to hear from you, e-mail me gracefulfitness@live.com
Header photo: Meredith Coe

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