This is a quick post to share this article with everyone - more and more people are going "gluten free" - this article share some interesting information about gluten sensitivities including several autoimmune diseases:
Gluten connected to 55 diseases
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
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!
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!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Abundant Nutrition = Abundant Healthy life!
I wanted to share my new find with you all in hopes that you too will find it, get it and use it!
You may have heard of this "Nutribullet" - it's an offshoot of the MagicBullet. This machine is a godsend! It's like a juicer, blender, chopper, dicer all in one compact little machine! You can make soup with it, you can dice veggies with it, you can purify with it - I'm not sure what it can't do! It basically extracts the nutrients from what you put into it so you get more of them in a digestible form. You can also add nuts and seeds to get even more powerful nutrients into your body.
If you've been reading my blog, then you know I love to make fresh juice - over the course of time I have gotten away from juicing due to the sheer hassle of it when you are really busy. From the prep to the clean up I found it was a lot of work and slowly got away from doing it. Unfortunately this means that I was no longer feeding my body with the amazing nutrients that are found in drinking freshly made juices. This also means I am not getting the powerhouse of nutrients that are essential in maintaining my health and keeping my FMS and CFS under control. Through all the research I've done regarding these two conditions, I am beginning to really see the link between nutrition and a healthy body overall. I think with proper nutrition, meaning nutrients in your cells, you can overcome a lot of problems. This isn't to say that all illness is caused by lack of nutrition but I would say that a good majority of problems, especially those that Dr's seem to be unable to pin point a reason for, are due to lack of the right things in your body over a long period of time as well as other factors person to person.
With the Nutribullet there is no major food prep other than the normal cutting, no major clean up as it doesn't leave behind ANY PULP and it takes a max of 10 minutes from start to finish to make a super nutritious smoothie or juice. I'm really excited about this as it allows me to get back on the juices without the time as well as no waste so I feel that I'm getting even more of the goodness that those fruits and veggies provide. I struggled for a long time with all the waste I was throwing away after making juice. I tried to figure out how I could use it but never did - all that vegetable and fruit material just down the trash.
I think juicing is great, please don't get me wrong - and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in it. The NutriBullet I believe is the new generation of juicers. It allows you to make a tasty nutrient rich drink in minutes. It also allows you to consume a lot more vegetables and fruits than you would normally consume in a day. This alone will increase your health with the added benefits. One thing I have found with juicing is that it does make your blood sugar spike from the natural sugars in the items you juice - with this nutribullet you are also getting all the fruit and vegetable materials that will help even out your blood sugar, fill you up and keep you level.
I can't say enough about this compact yet powerful kitchen machine. It's $100 at Bed Bath and Beyond, use the 20% coupon you probably get in the mail and it is even cheaper! It's worth every penny!
I have read some reviews on it that say the machine stops working after about 3 months - so be sure to keep your packaging and receipt handy just in case this happens, then you can return it as faulty and get yourself a new one!
It's been one week now since I've been using this machine, my husband makes himself drinks as do my kids! It is so worth it just to know they are getting good things into their bodies without the hassle of "eat your vegetables" or "make sure you get your fruits in" and whatever else us moms tend to say to our kids to keep them healthy. With the Nutri-Bullet they WANT a smoothie! Maybe not a GREEN one but anything is better than nothing!
For instance, my son LOVES bananas so I make him a smoothie that consists of 1 banana, 8oz milk or soy milk, 1 TBSP banana cream flavor pudding mix and 1 container of banana yogurt - all blended into a rich thick smoothie. You could also use banana flavor extract.
My daughter on the other hand loves Strawberries - so hers is Strawberries, milk and a container of strawberry yogurt and a vitamin rich protein powder if I can get it in there. The yogurt provides the protein and the strawberries are a great source of antioxidants and are actually considered a superfood. They also act as an anti-inflamatory, help fight the onset of Cancer, prevents age related eye problems, full of vitamin C, 1 cup provides 21% Manganese which also helps with bone support.
I'm telling you, if you want to feel great and get your daily dose of vegetables and fruit in your diet, get this machine and give it a shot. You won't be sorry!
If you do get it, please let me know!! I would love to hear from you about it! OR anything else for that matter!
Until next time, stay healthy and happy!
Gerri
You may have heard of this "Nutribullet" - it's an offshoot of the MagicBullet. This machine is a godsend! It's like a juicer, blender, chopper, dicer all in one compact little machine! You can make soup with it, you can dice veggies with it, you can purify with it - I'm not sure what it can't do! It basically extracts the nutrients from what you put into it so you get more of them in a digestible form. You can also add nuts and seeds to get even more powerful nutrients into your body.
If you've been reading my blog, then you know I love to make fresh juice - over the course of time I have gotten away from juicing due to the sheer hassle of it when you are really busy. From the prep to the clean up I found it was a lot of work and slowly got away from doing it. Unfortunately this means that I was no longer feeding my body with the amazing nutrients that are found in drinking freshly made juices. This also means I am not getting the powerhouse of nutrients that are essential in maintaining my health and keeping my FMS and CFS under control. Through all the research I've done regarding these two conditions, I am beginning to really see the link between nutrition and a healthy body overall. I think with proper nutrition, meaning nutrients in your cells, you can overcome a lot of problems. This isn't to say that all illness is caused by lack of nutrition but I would say that a good majority of problems, especially those that Dr's seem to be unable to pin point a reason for, are due to lack of the right things in your body over a long period of time as well as other factors person to person.
With the Nutribullet there is no major food prep other than the normal cutting, no major clean up as it doesn't leave behind ANY PULP and it takes a max of 10 minutes from start to finish to make a super nutritious smoothie or juice. I'm really excited about this as it allows me to get back on the juices without the time as well as no waste so I feel that I'm getting even more of the goodness that those fruits and veggies provide. I struggled for a long time with all the waste I was throwing away after making juice. I tried to figure out how I could use it but never did - all that vegetable and fruit material just down the trash.
I think juicing is great, please don't get me wrong - and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in it. The NutriBullet I believe is the new generation of juicers. It allows you to make a tasty nutrient rich drink in minutes. It also allows you to consume a lot more vegetables and fruits than you would normally consume in a day. This alone will increase your health with the added benefits. One thing I have found with juicing is that it does make your blood sugar spike from the natural sugars in the items you juice - with this nutribullet you are also getting all the fruit and vegetable materials that will help even out your blood sugar, fill you up and keep you level.
I can't say enough about this compact yet powerful kitchen machine. It's $100 at Bed Bath and Beyond, use the 20% coupon you probably get in the mail and it is even cheaper! It's worth every penny!
I have read some reviews on it that say the machine stops working after about 3 months - so be sure to keep your packaging and receipt handy just in case this happens, then you can return it as faulty and get yourself a new one!
It's been one week now since I've been using this machine, my husband makes himself drinks as do my kids! It is so worth it just to know they are getting good things into their bodies without the hassle of "eat your vegetables" or "make sure you get your fruits in" and whatever else us moms tend to say to our kids to keep them healthy. With the Nutri-Bullet they WANT a smoothie! Maybe not a GREEN one but anything is better than nothing!
For instance, my son LOVES bananas so I make him a smoothie that consists of 1 banana, 8oz milk or soy milk, 1 TBSP banana cream flavor pudding mix and 1 container of banana yogurt - all blended into a rich thick smoothie. You could also use banana flavor extract.
My daughter on the other hand loves Strawberries - so hers is Strawberries, milk and a container of strawberry yogurt and a vitamin rich protein powder if I can get it in there. The yogurt provides the protein and the strawberries are a great source of antioxidants and are actually considered a superfood. They also act as an anti-inflamatory, help fight the onset of Cancer, prevents age related eye problems, full of vitamin C, 1 cup provides 21% Manganese which also helps with bone support.
I'm telling you, if you want to feel great and get your daily dose of vegetables and fruit in your diet, get this machine and give it a shot. You won't be sorry!
If you do get it, please let me know!! I would love to hear from you about it! OR anything else for that matter!
Until next time, stay healthy and happy!
Gerri
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
It's been 5 months - so much has happened
I know I have kind of just neglected my updates and I do apologize. Life has been a bit on the crazy side to say the least.
Since my last update we moved to a new place in the same town we were in before. Between that and working now I've just not found the time to get an update posted.
I'm sick with some kind of nasty cold virus right now so I figured it would be a good time to spend a few minutes updating. On the bright side, my CFS and FMS have continued to be relatively mild all around. I have my days just like the rest of you but by keeping up on my regimine of weekly chiropractic visits, supplements and plenty of rest I seem to be keeping my body in a state of calm and pain free. If that's what it takes then my chiropractor will have a weekly visit from me for life!
During the holidays I did go for about 5 wks without going to see my chiropractor and I paid for it dearly. I could tell after the 3rd week that I needed to go in but between running my kids around and shopping and preparing for Christmas it just didn't happen. Nothing too bad came of it other than my hip pain, lower back pain and a general feeling of not well. As soon as I got back in to see him I felt better!
In September I got a job at a local middle school in the Special Education department. I work with 6th and 8th grade students who have anything from mild ADHD to severe mental health issues. Many years ago I use to work in Autism so this line of work is like an old hat. I have been enjoying it for the most part although it's been rough going back to the work world after 11yrs of not working for anyone but myself. The new routine of 5:30 am wake up and out the door at 7am really isn't my idea of great, but since I have been finding it difficult to do the parties for my business I will have to endure. It's really not that bad, but I've never been a morning person so I hate it no matter how I slice it. I have to get up with my kids anyway so either way I can't avoid getting up in the early mornings. My husband has to be out of the house by 6:15 am to get to work so I can't even have him get the kids going. No matter how I look at it, I have to deal with the early mornings.
My daughter is now playing competitive volleyball which is keeping us very busy through May. She has practice 2x a week, 1 night of conditioning and weekly tournaments or games on Saturdays. To say we are busy with that is an understatement. Volleyball is her love so we don't mind at all! She has goals to play for college so this level of play now is very important for her future.
Last week we went to the high school orientation - HIGH SCHOOL! I can't believe my baby girl is about to go into high school 2013/2014 - where has time gone. I still see her as my baby girl, and I know I always will. I remember when my parents use to say I would always be their baby - and only now do I "get it".
All in all things are good here. I hope this update finds you all well and finding the things that make you feel good. I know for each of us remedies will be different but I really think nutrient levels have a lot to do with how your FMS treats you. Remember, it took me a good 6 months before I noticed the nutrients I was taking actually doing anything. Keeping those levels in the normal range is really important!
Hopefully I'll find more time to keep this updated at least on a monthly basis - I would like to update more often but I know that might not happen. So until next time!
Since my last update we moved to a new place in the same town we were in before. Between that and working now I've just not found the time to get an update posted.
I'm sick with some kind of nasty cold virus right now so I figured it would be a good time to spend a few minutes updating. On the bright side, my CFS and FMS have continued to be relatively mild all around. I have my days just like the rest of you but by keeping up on my regimine of weekly chiropractic visits, supplements and plenty of rest I seem to be keeping my body in a state of calm and pain free. If that's what it takes then my chiropractor will have a weekly visit from me for life!
During the holidays I did go for about 5 wks without going to see my chiropractor and I paid for it dearly. I could tell after the 3rd week that I needed to go in but between running my kids around and shopping and preparing for Christmas it just didn't happen. Nothing too bad came of it other than my hip pain, lower back pain and a general feeling of not well. As soon as I got back in to see him I felt better!
In September I got a job at a local middle school in the Special Education department. I work with 6th and 8th grade students who have anything from mild ADHD to severe mental health issues. Many years ago I use to work in Autism so this line of work is like an old hat. I have been enjoying it for the most part although it's been rough going back to the work world after 11yrs of not working for anyone but myself. The new routine of 5:30 am wake up and out the door at 7am really isn't my idea of great, but since I have been finding it difficult to do the parties for my business I will have to endure. It's really not that bad, but I've never been a morning person so I hate it no matter how I slice it. I have to get up with my kids anyway so either way I can't avoid getting up in the early mornings. My husband has to be out of the house by 6:15 am to get to work so I can't even have him get the kids going. No matter how I look at it, I have to deal with the early mornings.
My daughter is now playing competitive volleyball which is keeping us very busy through May. She has practice 2x a week, 1 night of conditioning and weekly tournaments or games on Saturdays. To say we are busy with that is an understatement. Volleyball is her love so we don't mind at all! She has goals to play for college so this level of play now is very important for her future.
Last week we went to the high school orientation - HIGH SCHOOL! I can't believe my baby girl is about to go into high school 2013/2014 - where has time gone. I still see her as my baby girl, and I know I always will. I remember when my parents use to say I would always be their baby - and only now do I "get it".
All in all things are good here. I hope this update finds you all well and finding the things that make you feel good. I know for each of us remedies will be different but I really think nutrient levels have a lot to do with how your FMS treats you. Remember, it took me a good 6 months before I noticed the nutrients I was taking actually doing anything. Keeping those levels in the normal range is really important!
Hopefully I'll find more time to keep this updated at least on a monthly basis - I would like to update more often but I know that might not happen. So until next time!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
"NORMAL" again - seriously?
I wanted to update about my Dr visit with the new endo and the test results - apparently they are so normal that she doesn't feel any kind of thyroid hormone is necessary. I guess that is "good" news? But really with all my symptoms that scream "HYPOTHYROIDISM" I'm a bit disappointed in the results.
I know that probably sounds crazy and weird to the average person reading this but if you can, just for a moment, try to understand how it would feel if you knew in your heart that something just isn't right, and to always have "normal" test results yet you have every symptom of certain conditions - you would be frustrated too. I guess it just means I go back to researching possible reasons why and that means back to the drawing board! I don't know if there is even anything out there left to uncover, but if there is, I will certainly uncover it.
I'm still determined to find the answers, more answers..... but am wondering if I ever will? Am I just stuck in this body of aches, pains, fatigue and exhaustion with temporary relief that will never be permanent? It's depressing at the least to think that life will forever be like this but I have to forge forward and know that there are always new discoveries and that I will stumble on something that gives me the answers I seek. It's a very long journey to finding my health and I'm realizing more and more everyday that it's not a quick fix, it's not something that will just happen and that it is something that I have to work on everyday, every minute and every second that I can.
I often wish I was, just for a day, the "normal" person that my blood shows I am...the "normal" person who doesn't have to take extra precaution in what they eat, what they do and how they do it, the "normal" person that can sleep for 8 hours and feel great, the "normal" person who can be active all day and feel great for it, the "normal" person who never gets a migraine or a headache for no reason, the "normal" person who doesn't have to plan everything they do in order to make sure they don't aggravate their body into an episode of pain that will last for who knows how long, the "normal" person that just feels good, all the time...........enough for wishing, I'm not that person anymore and have to accept that most likely I never will be again.
Instead I will accept that the path I'm on (as best as I can, at times it's really hard) is the path I'm suppose to be on, the path that God has given me. Maybe I'm suppose to teach others how to cope with the illness they have, maybe I'm suppose to help those who come into contact with me on how to make themselves feel better, maybe, just maybe I've been given the cards I've been given to help me learn how to be more empathetic and sympathetic to those even less fortunate. I don't know the "why's" but I do know that I need to continue to search for anything and everything I can find to try to find the "why's" if they are out there.
Until next time, may you have pain free days and nights and peace in your heart
Gerri
I know that probably sounds crazy and weird to the average person reading this but if you can, just for a moment, try to understand how it would feel if you knew in your heart that something just isn't right, and to always have "normal" test results yet you have every symptom of certain conditions - you would be frustrated too. I guess it just means I go back to researching possible reasons why and that means back to the drawing board! I don't know if there is even anything out there left to uncover, but if there is, I will certainly uncover it.
I'm still determined to find the answers, more answers..... but am wondering if I ever will? Am I just stuck in this body of aches, pains, fatigue and exhaustion with temporary relief that will never be permanent? It's depressing at the least to think that life will forever be like this but I have to forge forward and know that there are always new discoveries and that I will stumble on something that gives me the answers I seek. It's a very long journey to finding my health and I'm realizing more and more everyday that it's not a quick fix, it's not something that will just happen and that it is something that I have to work on everyday, every minute and every second that I can.
I often wish I was, just for a day, the "normal" person that my blood shows I am...the "normal" person who doesn't have to take extra precaution in what they eat, what they do and how they do it, the "normal" person that can sleep for 8 hours and feel great, the "normal" person who can be active all day and feel great for it, the "normal" person who never gets a migraine or a headache for no reason, the "normal" person who doesn't have to plan everything they do in order to make sure they don't aggravate their body into an episode of pain that will last for who knows how long, the "normal" person that just feels good, all the time...........enough for wishing, I'm not that person anymore and have to accept that most likely I never will be again.
Instead I will accept that the path I'm on (as best as I can, at times it's really hard) is the path I'm suppose to be on, the path that God has given me. Maybe I'm suppose to teach others how to cope with the illness they have, maybe I'm suppose to help those who come into contact with me on how to make themselves feel better, maybe, just maybe I've been given the cards I've been given to help me learn how to be more empathetic and sympathetic to those even less fortunate. I don't know the "why's" but I do know that I need to continue to search for anything and everything I can find to try to find the "why's" if they are out there.
Until next time, may you have pain free days and nights and peace in your heart
Gerri
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Getting things back to normal
Hello friends!! I know it's been several weeks since I last updated but I'm still here! It's starting to cool down here in Colorado, our fall weather is starting to come into play with cool mornings. While it's still heating up in the afternoons, we are loving the cooler mornings and evenings. It won't be long now before the snow starts to creep in. We usually get snow by Oct 31st, which seems far away however it will be here before we know it!
School has started back up for the kids in our area. Last week was the first week. Now that the kids are out of the house for the day I can actually get some things done and not have to be interrupted every 10 minutes to break up a fight or help one of them with something urgent. Everything is always URGENT to an 11y/o and 13 y/o don't you know!
I'm still feeling good. Keeping my routine relatively the same helps. As usual, with the cooler weather comes a few aches and pains but overall nothing new to report. I'm exercising and really working on losing some of this extra weight I've accumulated over the past couple years.
I recently read an article that talked about FMS being a nutrient disorder - I found it very interesting because I know for me, once I got all my nutrients back to the correct levels they should be at I felt so much better. It took a good year but along the way small changes were very clear. If you recall in my last entry I listed the differences over a year and all my nutrient deficiencies are cleared up and a lot of my symptoms are minimal now too - I like to say they are in "remission" as I know I'm not cured, I'm just healing my body with the things I'm doing and healing is coming from the cell level.
I saw a new endocrinologist last week. My thryoid still has some nice size nodules on it however nothing to worry about as far as we can tell. She had some blood drawn to check my Vitamin D levels again as well as my thyroid function. Even though my #'s have historically come back "normal" she thinks my easy weight gain and lack of ability to lose it has a lot to do with my thyroid - UM HELLO I think I've been saying this for the past 5 yrs to my other Dr, hence why I have a new one! Once those blood tests come back she'll decide if I need a thyroid hormone to help combat what we believe to be HYOPTHYROIDISM. She said I have almost every single symtom that would point to it regardless of what the blood work states - she said sometimes you can still have normal #'s and have the condition. I'm thrilled to finally have a Dr that is willing to listen to me vs just write off my concerns. So those results are still pending.
I'm very proud of a recent accomplishment - On August 3rd I climbed my very first mountain which was 13, 400 ft! I made it to the peak which I didn't think was going to happen! It was a climb alright but I did it!! I was struggling along the way but no way was I giving up! It was a GREAT feeling to sit on the top and know that I DID IT! I was with my husband and daughter and another family that we went with. We started out at 7am and by the time we were totally done I think it was close to 2pm. It was a great feeling and I can't wait to climb another one. I was hurting later in the evening and the next day but it was good pain, muscle pain from all the hiking and walking. Believe me when I say if I can do this ANYONE can!! Just takes some determination!
I hope you are all doing well - You'll notice to the right side of my page I have added a new button - it's to a fibro bloggers directory. I just found it and think it's a great resource to find more people who blog about their condition - if someone out there is able to help, then more power to everyone! I know that's why I started mine and hope that I've been able to give some insight to others about what has worked to help me feel better. With Fibro, CFS and Lupus it always seems to be one thing or another that I'm dealing with but I'm so glad that I'm continuing to feeling good and finding that I'm able to do more and more in my life again.
Until next time!
School has started back up for the kids in our area. Last week was the first week. Now that the kids are out of the house for the day I can actually get some things done and not have to be interrupted every 10 minutes to break up a fight or help one of them with something urgent. Everything is always URGENT to an 11y/o and 13 y/o don't you know!
I'm still feeling good. Keeping my routine relatively the same helps. As usual, with the cooler weather comes a few aches and pains but overall nothing new to report. I'm exercising and really working on losing some of this extra weight I've accumulated over the past couple years.
I recently read an article that talked about FMS being a nutrient disorder - I found it very interesting because I know for me, once I got all my nutrients back to the correct levels they should be at I felt so much better. It took a good year but along the way small changes were very clear. If you recall in my last entry I listed the differences over a year and all my nutrient deficiencies are cleared up and a lot of my symptoms are minimal now too - I like to say they are in "remission" as I know I'm not cured, I'm just healing my body with the things I'm doing and healing is coming from the cell level.
I saw a new endocrinologist last week. My thryoid still has some nice size nodules on it however nothing to worry about as far as we can tell. She had some blood drawn to check my Vitamin D levels again as well as my thyroid function. Even though my #'s have historically come back "normal" she thinks my easy weight gain and lack of ability to lose it has a lot to do with my thyroid - UM HELLO I think I've been saying this for the past 5 yrs to my other Dr, hence why I have a new one! Once those blood tests come back she'll decide if I need a thyroid hormone to help combat what we believe to be HYOPTHYROIDISM. She said I have almost every single symtom that would point to it regardless of what the blood work states - she said sometimes you can still have normal #'s and have the condition. I'm thrilled to finally have a Dr that is willing to listen to me vs just write off my concerns. So those results are still pending.
I'm very proud of a recent accomplishment - On August 3rd I climbed my very first mountain which was 13, 400 ft! I made it to the peak which I didn't think was going to happen! It was a climb alright but I did it!! I was struggling along the way but no way was I giving up! It was a GREAT feeling to sit on the top and know that I DID IT! I was with my husband and daughter and another family that we went with. We started out at 7am and by the time we were totally done I think it was close to 2pm. It was a great feeling and I can't wait to climb another one. I was hurting later in the evening and the next day but it was good pain, muscle pain from all the hiking and walking. Believe me when I say if I can do this ANYONE can!! Just takes some determination!
I hope you are all doing well - You'll notice to the right side of my page I have added a new button - it's to a fibro bloggers directory. I just found it and think it's a great resource to find more people who blog about their condition - if someone out there is able to help, then more power to everyone! I know that's why I started mine and hope that I've been able to give some insight to others about what has worked to help me feel better. With Fibro, CFS and Lupus it always seems to be one thing or another that I'm dealing with but I'm so glad that I'm continuing to feeling good and finding that I'm able to do more and more in my life again.
Until next time!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
I'm so happy to report........and share......
A year ago I had my first nutrient blood test that came back showing some pretty severe deficiencies in my nutrient levels. I just had the test done a second time and the changes are amazing! I am so happy to report that I'm only slightly deficient in 1 antioxidant this time around and all my other levels have risen significantly. Below you'll see the difference a year has made in my health just by taking some specific supplements to aid in my healing from the inside.
Date of Collection - 6/29/11
Deficiencies detected against reference ranges:
Nutrient % control % ref. Range
Glutamine 34 <37%
Fructose Sensitive 34 <34%
Glutathione 35 >42%
CO Q10 84 <86%
Selenium 71 >74%
Vit E (A-tocopherol) 82 >84%
Alpha Lipoic Acid 76 >81%
Total Antioxidant Fucntion 37 >65%
Date of Collection - 6/13/12
Deficiencies detected against reference ranges
Nutrient % Control % ref. Range
Selenium 72 >74
Total Antioxidant Function NOW 65 >40%
Difference a year has made:
Nutrient % control then vs now
Glutamine 34 to 56
Fructose Sensitivity 34 to 52
Glutathione 34 to 44
CO Q 10 84 to 89
Selenium 71 to 72 (Still low)
Vit E (A-tocopherol) 82 to 89
Alpha Lipoic Acid 76 to 87
As you can see by all the numbers above, my levels have all risen where they needed to - not only that, my levels have also gotten better in the following areas:
Vitamin B1 - was 87 now 99
Vitamin B2 - was 63 now 80
Vitamin B3 - was 84 now 99
Vitamin B12 - was 87 now 99
All in all it's clear to me that the proper nutrients within your body will create the proper atmosphere for your health to correct itself. Over the past year I have only continually felt better than I have in the past. While I still have my days that I don't feel 100% I am slowly but surely getting my life back from Fibromyalgia and CFS. While I know I will always have it as an underlying condition that can, at anytime flare up..I am pretty confident with my vigilant research and attention to how I feel I will have many more BETTER days than not!
My wish to everyone who has any kind of long term chronic condition is that you too will seek the answers that are out there for you. I personally have spent countless hours reading literature and testing different theories while also seeking the proper medical care (both traditional and non traditional) to find what works best. It's been proven that chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage combined are the best treatments one with fibromyalgia can get. Avoiding the prescriptions and taking a more natural route will only benefit you in the long run.
I heard today that our local in patient drug rehabs are turning people away as they are full and have no place to put people who need help - those people who have been given prescriptions to narcotics for pain and conditions that more than likely could be helped with chiropractic care. Now we have created a situation of getting people addicted to drugs and not having anyplace to help them. It's very sad.
Friends, my final thought for you today is to take care of your body both on the inside and out. Be careful how you approach your health concerns and take time to find out what works for you. When you get ill, there is more than one way to get better. So many times we head straight to the MD who will in turn prescribe you a medication that may or may not make you better. I dread to think where I could be today had I not taken my healthcare into my own hands and fought for my life. Had I not looked into alternative healthcare I can almost guarantee I would still be in bed barely able to function and more than likely addicted to pain killers. Because of my persistence I am almost back to the healthy woman I was once before. I think it's important for everyone to know they have choices in their healthcare and what they put into their bodies.
I'm here to help anyone I can - please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions for me! I'm a shining example of what one person can accomplish when they are determined to find answers.......
Date of Collection - 6/29/11
Deficiencies detected against reference ranges:
Nutrient % control % ref. Range
Glutamine 34 <37%
Fructose Sensitive 34 <34%
Glutathione 35 >42%
CO Q10 84 <86%
Selenium 71 >74%
Vit E (A-tocopherol) 82 >84%
Alpha Lipoic Acid 76 >81%
Total Antioxidant Fucntion 37 >65%
Date of Collection - 6/13/12
Deficiencies detected against reference ranges
Nutrient % Control % ref. Range
Selenium 72 >74
Total Antioxidant Function NOW 65 >40%
Difference a year has made:
Nutrient % control then vs now
Glutamine 34 to 56
Fructose Sensitivity 34 to 52
Glutathione 34 to 44
CO Q 10 84 to 89
Selenium 71 to 72 (Still low)
Vit E (A-tocopherol) 82 to 89
Alpha Lipoic Acid 76 to 87
As you can see by all the numbers above, my levels have all risen where they needed to - not only that, my levels have also gotten better in the following areas:
Vitamin B1 - was 87 now 99
Vitamin B2 - was 63 now 80
Vitamin B3 - was 84 now 99
Vitamin B12 - was 87 now 99
All in all it's clear to me that the proper nutrients within your body will create the proper atmosphere for your health to correct itself. Over the past year I have only continually felt better than I have in the past. While I still have my days that I don't feel 100% I am slowly but surely getting my life back from Fibromyalgia and CFS. While I know I will always have it as an underlying condition that can, at anytime flare up..I am pretty confident with my vigilant research and attention to how I feel I will have many more BETTER days than not!
My wish to everyone who has any kind of long term chronic condition is that you too will seek the answers that are out there for you. I personally have spent countless hours reading literature and testing different theories while also seeking the proper medical care (both traditional and non traditional) to find what works best. It's been proven that chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage combined are the best treatments one with fibromyalgia can get. Avoiding the prescriptions and taking a more natural route will only benefit you in the long run.
I heard today that our local in patient drug rehabs are turning people away as they are full and have no place to put people who need help - those people who have been given prescriptions to narcotics for pain and conditions that more than likely could be helped with chiropractic care. Now we have created a situation of getting people addicted to drugs and not having anyplace to help them. It's very sad.
Friends, my final thought for you today is to take care of your body both on the inside and out. Be careful how you approach your health concerns and take time to find out what works for you. When you get ill, there is more than one way to get better. So many times we head straight to the MD who will in turn prescribe you a medication that may or may not make you better. I dread to think where I could be today had I not taken my healthcare into my own hands and fought for my life. Had I not looked into alternative healthcare I can almost guarantee I would still be in bed barely able to function and more than likely addicted to pain killers. Because of my persistence I am almost back to the healthy woman I was once before. I think it's important for everyone to know they have choices in their healthcare and what they put into their bodies.
I'm here to help anyone I can - please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions for me! I'm a shining example of what one person can accomplish when they are determined to find answers.......
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