Where to start?

There are so many sources of information out there, and so much advice. Where do you start?

These last few days I have been mulling it over, whilst making changes to my diet, as, I reason that is as good a place as any to begin, it's also easier than diving into an extreme regime using supplements and so on,

So what are my symptoms?

1. Rosacea. A reddening of the face.

2. Acne. This is linked to the rosacea, the skin gets inflamed and I get a lot of white spots. My face gets hot in reaction to some foods and also tingles.

3. Depression/anxiety:  It's also become apparent to me (and I am reminded of this every month) that I may be suffering from some form of PMS. Hormonal changes certainly have an effect on my skin, I have noticed this for a long time. The feelings of unhappiness that go with it are much worse now than they have been for a long time. I lose my memory and focus, and I feel very unhappy and negative. I get snappy, and often tearful for no apparent reason. What makes it worse, is my impatience and anger with myself for having the symptoms. I need to give myself a break. When it goes on for more than 2 weeks in a month, then really, it makes no sense to sit about and do nothing about it. I have to help myself. 

So what are my starting points?

DIET

I'm cutting out the usual nasties: sugar, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, especially carbohydrate. And dairy.

Now, I've tried a lot of different diets in the past: food combining, macrobiotic, vegetarian, Gillian Mckeith, the GI diet. All of them have been shelved in there pure form because they require so much special effort. Most because, my partner does not want to eat adzuki bean casserole, so I cook 2 meals, and now I have a toddler, so that's 3 meals. Much as I am a willing and able cook, it's not my idea of fun to be chained to the kitchen. 'Make him cook his own food' I hear you cry. Well, frankly, I'm the stay at home one, and he's doing the job, so why shouldn't I do the majority of the cooking? He works hard and pays the bills.

So, the diet is based now around vegetables, and fish, with as little red meat as possible. This article here introduced me to the idea of eating alkaline foods. I've been reading a bit about the 'Alkaline diet' but frankly there is a lot of confusion over some foods and whether they are alkaline or acid, plus, there are alkaline/acid forming foods, but nobody seams to explain what the fundamental point of separating the two definitions is. Lemons and citrus fruits are apparently alkaline, but they make my rosacea react badly, as I'm sure a lot of other sufferers will have experienced, so I'm taking the guidance very loosely.  And keeping a food diary to really pinpoint trigger foods.

Relaxation

This is something I always put off. I never find time for a bath, or just to lay down and do some simple meditation for a few minutes each day. Anyone who has a toddler will tell you how hard it is to find the time, but I must. I am doing yoga 2 times a week now, but finding it hard, as I am so tense and stressed, it's just making me unhappy, which is not the desired effect. 

I actually have pain in my shoulders from the tension at the moment, and am having a weekly massage to help iron it out, but that's no use if I don't try to relax for the rest of the week. This is a must.

In short: 

I want to combat my skin conditions.

I want to feel happier and less stress or depressed.

I am going to overhaul my diet in a manageable way.

I am going to take some time each day to relax.

I am going to excersise 2 times a week, and not over do it (another bad habit)

I am not going to let anything stop me from following this plan. There are no excuses.

Gosh.. does this sound harsh? I have a tendency to overdo it with myself, and am a self confessed perfectionist  I think I will add in:

Get some perspective in life and don't sweat the small stuff!
this is what really matters