Bad Blogger I Am, I Am!!!
I'm sorry I haven't kept this up. My life has been completely and totally crazy!!! I come home and pass out on the couch while attempting to spend some time with my husband. Sad I know! This is honestly the first chance I've had to get here.
So, lets recap and see where things are.
- Drink those Super Smoothies every other day - DONE!!!
These things are actually really good. I make them with frozen blueberries and fresh pineapple and we both like that so that's what we are sticking with. - Take monsterous amounts of supplements twice a day - Almost always remember! ; )
Some days they get missed with running out the door early or with my passing out at night on the couch but I'm doing pretty good on them. There's just so darn many. I feel like I rattle when I walk. - Exercise 30 minutes a day - Well....... Sometimes that works!
I've been running like a wild banshee surely some of what I do counts towards *exercise*! - Start Yoga - Doing it.
I go once a week for Yoga class. While this is the the one the Dr recommended for me due to the arthritis & fibromyalgia I'm sad to say it h-u-r-t-s! Oh well, hopefully it will only get better! - Acupuncture - Doing and loving it!!!
This has been so amazing. I should have tried this years ago. And NO it doesn't hurt! I've had 4 sessions so far (twice a week). By the 2nd session I knew this was working! WOW!!! I'm starting to feel human again. I've even had some days when I woke up PAIN FREE! That hasn't happened in close to 15 years. Several people have commented that they can tell I'm feeling better. The other day I figured out that he was also adding in some for weight control although he didn't say it. For the first time in.... forever, I threw out 2/3 of a perfectly good package of french fries. LOL They were from my fav place for them (BK) and they were done to perfection but they did not even appeal to me. How bizarre! ; ) I'm going twice a week but he hopes we can knock it down to once a week soon. Gradually I'll need it further inbetween. - Reading - Not! I haven't even ordered them yet! : (
- 2 Hours a day to me - Hahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha!
My youngest son moved back in and when that happened there was 9 people in my house. He's since moved back to FL (he's more at home there with teh Palm Trees... I get that!) but there are still 8 people that I care for. Juggling what I need to do around their schedules, cooking for (unless I'm too busy that is), playing chaueffer for, etc., etc.
Today, I go back to see the initial dr who prescribed all of this for a check up and see where things are. I'll try to get back here to post that update before I head out of town to help MIL out for the week. Wait... that DOES make 9 people I care for. ; )
Not a bad day.
I decided to just do the smoothie every other day so yesterday was day 2. Mixed blueberries with pineapples this time. YUM!!! You do have to drink these things fairly quickly but when everything is chilled it is even better. : )
Spent all afternoon out in the pool yesterday. 5.5 hours Can I call that my exercise for the week then?
My body aches now. It really was overkill for me but a lot of fun too. Who'd think swimming could make you hurt. Afterwards Ken & I went out and had a nice dinner all by our grown up selves! What a concept. Today I head down for my weekly trek to MIL's to do things for her. Does vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms & grocery shopping count as exercise?
So how was the 1st day?
It was fine. Honestly, I was a tad worried about drinking that Super Smoothie. It sounded good except for the ProGreens (that sounded yucky) & Flax seed meal; but it was actually rather good. I used frozen blueberries and fresh bananas. I didn't abstain from all sugar but didn't do 1/2 bad either. All in all it was a good day. The amount of pills I now take 3 times a day is, however, a bit rough. Can anyone hear me rattling yet? I bet you will soon! ; )
The Road To Healthy Must Be Paved With Gold!!!
As of today I am on the road to Healthy and I swear it must be paved with gold. It must be because it is costing a fortune to get there! ; )
As many of you know, I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. HeeHaa! To put it in simple terms.... I ache from head to toe. Joints, muscles, you name it. Everything hurts. It's a royal pain and I MUST find an end to it!
For several years now I've been under the care of a rheumatologist but the treatment plans of late have started to scare me, mild chemo being the scariest. When he said if the current plan did not start working for me (it wasn't) he wanted to put me on something stronger (Humira) Ken & I decided it was time to look into alternative methods. So yesterday I saw a new Dr who goes for a more natural approach. I'm not saying it's going to be easy for me but not totally unreasonable either. He's not sure whether or not the weight gained from that #$%^ Depo shot (70 pounds) will go away but he is optimistic so I will be too!
I've decided to use this blog as my virtual diary of my road to a healthier me if anyone cares to follow along! Personally I don't know anyone who would but this is my way of answering to myself 'cause Lord knows I won't answer to anyone else! ; )
So here's the plan:
EXERCISE: Work up to 30 minutes a day walking or swimming. (Ok - Even I can do this one!)
DIET: 1) Read Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by Walter Willet 2) avoid ALL sugars & all white or enriched flours (toughie!), 3) Eat whole grains, vegetables, legumes & whole fruits (ok the fruits are easy ) and 4) Drink a Super Smoothie* 3-5 times a week.
STRESS MANAGEMENT: 1) Yoga (a very mild, gentle yoga), 2) walking, 3) Quality ADULT time (yea,right!), 4) 2 hours a day of *me* time (Maybe this guy is NUTS!) and 5) Read:
a) Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
b) Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
c) Healing of The Mind by Bill Moyers
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS: (Must be brand specific which = $$$)
- Nordic Naturals Pro Fish Oil
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Source Naturals Magnesium Malate
- Nutrient 950 w/NAC
- Pure Encapsulations Custom Probiotics SP-1
- Pure Encapsulations Ashwaganda
- BCQ
Finally, if I can possibly manage it, he'd like me to add in Acupuncture or at very least massage therapy. Plus a couple of other classes. More $$$ All of this he estimates at taking 4 years min. to get me back in shape; unless of course I spend the extra money on the acupuncture and/or massage therapy which should kick start the process and take *some time* off of that total. How did he come up with this time frame you ask? He said approx. 3-6 months for every year I've been symptomatic which has been 15 years. 3 x 15 = 45 months. OUCH! But, I am hopeful I will succeed!
Here's the recipe for the *Super Smoothie (Doc said it's good for anyone so I'm sharing)
- Brew one quart of strong green tea (either caffeinated or decaffeinated). Let the tea steep for 10-15 minutes. Store in the refrigerator. Will keep for 7-10 days.
- Use 4- 6oz of the above for your base liquid for your smoothie. Place it in a blender.
- Add 2-4 oz. of chilled pomegranate juice or Welch's Purple Unsweetened grape juice.
- Add 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.
- Add one to two tablespoons of ground flax seed (Bob's Red Mill Ground Flax Meal). Store remainder in fridge. It will keep for 3-4 weeks.
- Add any sweet Whole Fruit of your choice. (For example: pineapple, one sweet orange, peach, in season melon, ripe pear or one chopped small ripe (sweet) mango. Avoid canned or jarred fruit and any fruit containing "high fructose corn syrup".
- Choose one or both:
Protein Drink: Add 2 tablespoons of whey powder or soy powder or one 1/2 cup soy or low fat yogurt or kefir.
One scoop or tablespoon Pro-Green's
- Add 1/4 cup of crushed ice if you like your smoothie cold.
- Blend until it is of the right consistency for you.
Now for the hardest part. The Weigh In - Please don't berate me for this I do it to myself multiple times a day. While a huge chunk of this is due to that #$%^ Depro-Provera shot a Dr gave me 10 years ago I know it is not all of it. It just sent me into a downward spiral of depression that added more.
Sept 1, 2007:
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 228
Measurements: 51" x 48" x 52" YUCK! Did I actually post this?
God help Me!
