I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue a few months ago…and it’s been an interesting ride! I FINALLY feel better, after over a year of getting super sick every month, having ZERO energy, and gaining weight. It SUCKED. But I’m almost 100% on the other side, and I want to share with you what I’m doing to heal myself!

A lot of people don’t know that Adrenal Fatigue is SUPER common….a lot of moms, especially new moms get adrenal fatigue, and they don’t know it. They’re super tired, gaining weight, under a great amount of stress, and don’t feel like themselves. They go to their doctor to get blood tests done, and most of the time it comes out just fine.

NO, you’re not crazy, it’s just that the mainstream medical community doesn’t recognize Adrenal Fatigue as a real disease. You need to go to a functional medical doctor to get diagnosed and treated.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Repole at Jacksonville Health and Wellness Center and he’s been awesome! I do drive an hour and 15 minutes each way to see him, since he’s our closest functional doctor-but it’s worth it! 

Some functional doctors can do Skype sessions to work with you, so if you don’t have one near you, don’t fret =)

And YES, functional doctors are normally not covered by insurance, and they aren’t cheap! BUT it’s an investment in YOU and your health—and if you want to start feeling better, you’ve gotta do something about it!

Here are the main symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue: 

• Morning fatigue
• Depression
• Poor focus
• Muscle weakness
• Decreased libido
• Bone loss
• Inflammation
• Irritability
• Increased allergies
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue
• Cravings for sugar
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Muscle tension

You might not have ALL of these symptoms. I personally was gaining weight, had crazy sugar cravings, was irritable, had muscle weakness, like I would do a workout and couldn’t walk for a WEEK afterwards, inflammation, FATIGUE like WOAH, and slight depression. I just thought I was in a FUNK and needed to get out of it–until I started researching how I was feeling. Nope, not in a funk. Adrenal Fatigue. And I could heal myself–woot! 

Here are my suggestions on healing adrenal fatigue naturally:

Functional doctors may vary on their treatment for adrenal fatigue, but the majority will agree that diet is KEY.

I’ve been following a vegan, gluten-free, caffeine-free, alcohol-free, sugar-free diet. Yes, that means no wine, no coffee, no cheese, and no regular chocolate Shakeology. I’m liking the vegan chocolate though =) And my hubby is drinking wine in my honor haha =)

Focus on what you CAN eat—not what you can’t.

Some foods to add to your diet include:

– Coconut
– Avocado
– Nuts
– Himalayan salt
– Cruciferous veggies
– Leafy green veggies (more the better!)

Most functional doctors will also suggest using supplements to heal adrenal fatigue naturally.

These are the top supplements suggested:

– Omega 3 fatty acids (I use this one, it’s vegan without carrageenan)
– Magnesium
– Ashwagandha
– Holy basil
– Vitamin B5
– Vitamin B12
– Vitamin C
– Vitamin D3
– Zinc

And STRESS REDUCTION is a HUGE part of healing from adrenal fatigue.

Follow the following stress reduction tips:

– NO running or long cardio sessions. HIIT workouts and tabata are ok—but keep them under 12 minutes. Walking is great, as is yoga and strength training =) I’ve been doing this workout a lot and I love it =)
– Rest as much as you can
– Sleep 8-10 hours a night
– Get in bed before 10pm
– Eat on a regular food cycle (eat breakfast!)
– Do something FUN every day!
– Exercise MODERATELY
– Take time for yourself and do something relaxing!
– Avoid negative people
– Minimize work/home stress

If you’re asking yourself: Do I have adrenal fatigue? GO GET TESTED! Don’t guess, test!

How long does it take to recover from adrenal fatigue? That is different for each person. After two months, I feel WAY better. This isn’t an overnight thing. You can’t just take antibiotics and POOF you’re all better. It’s going to take some serious lifestyle changes—that you’re gonna have to stick with for a long time. But it WILL be worth it!!!

I hope this helps! And if you need anything or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I’m here to serve you =)

Did this help you? If so, I would really appreciate it if you comment below and share on Facebook!

Rachel Ngom’s Blog
Email: Clientcare@fitwithrachel.com

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” Tony Robbins

PS. If you’re not at your goal weight & need support to get there, this group is what you need.

Disclosure: I do use affiliate links in this post, if you purchase something from that link I will get a slight commission. I would never recommend anything I don’t use and love myself! 

Source: Draxe.com