Spring Break time, family time, VOLLEYBALL and me.......

So here I thought it's been a few weeks since I've posted and when I looked I realize it's been a month already - sheesh.  Things are "Status quo" with nothing really "new" to report.  Well, one thing is new, my sister had her 2nd baby!  So we have a new family member, Ms Audrey Rose Gordon.  She is precious of course!

As most of you know I'm always on the look out for new and great things that will help with CFS/ME, Lupus and FMS symptoms.  Well I have recently found a product and I want to tell you about it because I'm excited about it's potential. It's called "Aloha" - basically it's a dried green juice powder!  SHUT UP!  I literally was just thinking about how I wish there was a product that would give the benefits of juicing in a much easier form such as a powder or pre-made but good drink that was affordable....I know, I know, in my dreams!  Or at least I thought! Then I see an ad on Facebook pop up one day that caught my eye - it was EXACTLY what I had been thinking about - weird I know!

They appear to be a relatively new company and the product is exactly what I've been looking for.  I was able to get a sample of it and so far have found it to be just as good as it seems.  I mix the powder into my daily protein smoothie because on it's own it's quite harsh tasting!  I made the mistake of mixing it with just water when I first got it - ACK - I drank it but man, I won't make that mistake again!  If you have ever had spirulina straight, that is exactly what it reminds me of - but I find mixing it with my smoothie drowns out the strong taste and it's palatable.  I'm always looking for ways to easily incorporate lots of vegetables and goodness into my daily diet and this seems like a great way to do just that without the time/money/mess it takes to juice all the same things (and then some). Don't get me wrong, I love juicing and all the amazing health benefits but it is just too time consuming for me to do it on a regular basis anymore.  For the same cost, if not less, I can get the same benefits out of a package of dried juice - easy, fast and most of all convenient.  Check it out here Aloha - The Daily Good.  As anyone who is dealing with the affliction of a chronic illness knows, the more good stuff we can put into our bodies, the better off we are all around.  I really encourage you to check it out if you are like me and want to put the good things in but just don't have the time and energy to juice 3x or more a day.  With this, you take it once a day and you are good to go. There are 14 organic ingredients that promise to help detoxify, energize, hydrate and best of all BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM function!  The process they use to dry the ingredients doesn't take away the nutrients or fiber which a lot of the time juicing does - so there is another bonus!  I've been using it just for a few days now so I can't honestly report anything over the top with it but I do plan on continuing to use it for the internal benefits I believe it will deliver.  A strong immune system is a huge plus for me.  I can also say I have noticed a temporary increase in my energy when I take it so that is always of course a huge plus!

In other news, it's spring break for myself and my kids - very much needed I might add!  I was thoroughly exhausted by the time it came along.  Last Friday was the first day and honestly I haven't done a whole lot since.  We did have an all day volleyball tournament on Sunday, but aside from that I've pretty much been a lazy lounger......of course I'm still keeping my normal schedule of going to be around 8 or 9pm but I'm able to sleep in past 5:30 am which has been nice.  I'm finding myself getting up around 8am, still tired but unable to sleep any longer.  I also have been noticing I wake up a lot at night, which isn't uncommon and surely part of why I'm always so tired, I'm not getting restful sleep.

So I wonder how many of you feel like I do - lazy.  I often feel like my illness has made me very "lazy" for lack of a better term - I feel lazy because I just don't want to do ANYTHING most of the time.  It makes me feel bad because I know I "should" be outside enjoying the nice weather, exercising, taking the kids out to do things etc.......so I start to get on myself and negative thinking hits.  I can sit here all day in my PJ's - easy.  So I wonder, is it just me being LAZY or is it truly because it's not often that I get to do it and when the opportunity shows itself I'm all over it?  Am I lazy?  Some would say YES.  I on the other hand am not sure at this point.  While I know I'm chronically sick, it's hard to convince even myself at times.

Volleyball is coming to an end soon - this has kept us very busy and on the go most of the time.  With 3-4 practices a week and an all day "power" each Sunday we find very little time to do much else.  Early mornings and late nights tend to be our M.O. during the club season.  As of May there will be a little break in the action before the summer camps start up with the school.  My daughter loves the sport and we are so blessed to be able to give her the opportunity to play for a club and in school as well as the countless other things she gets invited to do.  My husband and I love watching her too.  Our son on the other hand, not so much.  He isn't a big fan of noises so volleyball is really something that stresses him out.  With his sensory issues it's not the most accommodating sport for him.

Now I have a question for those of you with CFS/ME and/or FMS.  What strategies have you found work for you to keep you in a good place with your illness and struggles that come with it?  I feel like I do all the "right" things most of the time but still find myself very tired - some days more than others.  Some days it's very hard to get myself through and I can't wait to get home and collapse in my rocking chair/recliner.  I'm just curious what methods or things you do that keep you on top of your illness and what things you find make you crash and burn??  Thanks in advance for sharing as I know it can be a very personal thing.

Personally, I find that every day is so different from the last, especially dependent on what I did or didn't do for myself.  Things we put into our bodies will effect how we feel in the near and sometimes not so near future.  I find it hard to stay away from sugary things though, which for me is a downfall as I'm sure that lends to a lot of my symptoms of being extra tired. I also have a very hard time managing my weight NO MATTER WHAT I DO....Since being on the Body By Vi challenge I have found it easier to maintain my weight and I enjoy the fact that I'm getting great nutrients from the protein shakes but I wish I could LOSE weight as effortlessly as it seems others do.

At any rate, I hope this finds you well and enjoying spring!  Please send me comments if you have anything to share or say about anything I've put in my blog.  Let me know you are out there!  I am beginning to feel like I'm writing to a black hole!  I'm off to get some laundry done (the never ending pile seems to get bigger by the day) and then spend the evening in the volleyball gym - it is our life for now!

To your health!

Gerri

I'm still here!! So much going on, so much happening and the best part of it all..........

I'm feeling GREAT!!

I have a new position at the school I work at that has me very busy - I'm in the literacy department and just love it!

Outside of that, I'm still maintaining my weekly chiropractic appointments to maintain myself and to keep my body in optimal health.  I firmly believe that with the weekly adjustments my body has put my FMS down and has helped me stay feeling good.  I still get minor aches and pains in the same areas (hips and shoulders) but nothing even close to what I use to experience.  When I feel overly tired, I go to bed.  I've learned through all of this that listening to my body is the most important thing I can do.  And when I feel tired, I make sure to handle it instead of ignoring it.

Over the past 3 months I did a weight loss challenge with 3 of my friends using a program called Body By Vi (Vi is short for Visalus).  It's a 90 day challenge and it's simply, amazing.  Since getting sick back in 2010 I have gained 55+lbs - I finally got sick of the weight, sick of putting on my clothes that were too tight and finally just had it when I had to purchase a size that I swore I would never be in again (after losing weight in the past)  Depression was setting in again and I knew I had to take a stand before things got worse.

The 90 day challenge consists of replacing 2 meals a day with a healthy protein shake meal replacement.  It's packed with vitamins, has less than a gram sugar and tastes like cake mix - NO JOKE!  A lot of people say "once you start eating again you are going to gain the weight back" to which I have to laugh.  Don't think I'm not eating - in fact, I'm eating quite well.  I have a shake for breakfast, and every two hours another small meal consisting of a protein and vegetable - I eat all day to the point that I'm stuffed when it's time to eat again!  It's not a "fad diet" - it's a way of life - re-training yourself to keep your body fueled so it burns fat while maintaining lean muscle mass.  It takes a little getting use to but now, it's just the way I do things - I eat small meals every 2 hours.  Think portions too - portion control is where it's at.   Once you get use to measuring out your portions you get pretty good at knowing how much you can have at any given time.  I think a huge part of America's problem with Obesity is the fact that our portions are double and triple what they should be all the time - that means we are taking in double and triple the calories we should be on a daily basis - which in turn is going to be weight gain.  It's pretty simple really.

Exercise is suggested but not something you have to do too strenuously or even at all if you don't want to.  As we all know, exercise is another thing that those of us with FMS need to do so it should be incorporated anyway.

So after 3 months I am down 26 lbs and over 27 inches!!  I feel great, am wearing my clothes much better and am actually going to be entering to win the team challenge on a national level!!  Between myself and my team mates we have lost over 200lbs combined!  It's inspiring really.

Currently I'm doing another challenge to drop the rest of the weight I gained.  It's really just a way of life, eating clean and making smart choices.  Through all the struggles over the past few years, my weight shouldn't be a reason I'm feeling sick. I've slowly come around full circle and can honestly say that I'm feeling like myself again - feeling healthy, happy and full of life again!  I never thought I would be able to say that!  I really thought my life would be full of pain and suffering and never again be the same.  It's been 3 yrs and while the road has been a tough one, it's taught me so much about myself and others.

I hope my journey so far has made an impact on others and I hope my continued journey will as well - I am living proof that you can go from literally wanting to die to enjoying life again!  Please, if you have anyone in your life who is like me, share my blog with them, encourage them to follow me,  encourage them to NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE IN and do what it takes to find the right mixture that will help them get back into the game of life!  Remember back when I first started this journey to find my health?  I was a research freak - researching and researching until I was blue in the face - but it was all worth it - I have found what works for me, what makes me feel good and what keeps me going - you too can find it if you haven't yet - just keep on looking!  I promise it's out there!

To your health and until next time!

Grapefruit, apples and Carrots - YUM

2 fuji apples
2 large carrots
1 pink grapefruit
1/2 cup purified water

Juice all and then add water

This is an isotonic juice and is great before, during and after exercise. Pink Grapefruit is a great source of folic acid which is essential to athletes as deficiency could impair aerobic performance. They also contain Lycopene, an antioxidant which protects the body against some cancers and lowers the risk of heart disease.

This juice is also a great source of vitamins A, C, B1, B6, folic acid, potassium and provides useful amounts of calcium which is essential for healthy bones.

Yields 3 cups - serves 2

Per serving:
210 calories
1g fat
50g carbohydrates
1mg iron
95 mg calcium

Noted from the book "Power Juices"