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Hey there. I am a 39 year old mother of 3 kiddos. My oldest daughter is turning 16 in July. My son just turned 13 in January, and my youngest daughter just turned 9 in April. I have been a care giver, auto body specialist, auto refinisher, Mechanic, LNA, Bus Driver, and am currently a licensed Stylist. I have done everything EXCEPT focus on myself, and my health for my whole life. Suffering migraines since I was 16, back issues since I was 18, diagnosed with chronic fatigue in my early 20's, DDD, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis in my spine, and permanent nerve damage in my 30's.....you can see I have had my fair share of illness. Up until this past January when I blew out my already compromised back while doing a transfer on my father who suffered a stroke in December of 2010....I never viewed my own well being as being too important. After ending up in the hospital from this back injury, and being bedridden for a little over 2 weeks, I started to reevaluate my whole life. I reflected back on all my years of being a mother, not being able to do the things that all normal kids love to do, because I suffered global body pain with everything I did....it started to become clear to me, how boring I was to them. I looked at my new husband, who I married in 2007 after dating for 2 years, and saw how much we were robbed of, due to my ailments. I always remember being extremely active, and on the go as a young kid. I played soccer for 10 years, pitched softball for 8.....how in the hell had my life gone from one extreme, to the next??? Because it happened so gradually over 20+ years......the immediate effects were not visible........to me. It was hard enough for me some days just to get out of bed.
January 27th was a turning point for me. In excruciating pain, unstoppable tears......I made a decision. I decided that I was going to take control of every aspect of my health that I could possible control. I take anti inflammatory prescriptions for my arthritis, another prescription for my migraines, yet another for the nerve damage and fibromyalgia, pain medications 3x a day to cover all the above....it is crazy! Then, because I take all that crap, I have to take a stool softener,(2-3 times a day) because everything I take, slows my insides down..... I DECIDED TO ELIMINATE ALL synthetics from my system. I knew I would have to do this slowly...and there would also be a few that I would not be able to eliminate completely....but I could knock down the dosing frequencies.
In February, after consulting with many doctors, and spine specialists, I opted to have injections into my spine, over any type of surgical procedures. If the injections did not work, in conjunction with Physical Therapy.... I would then explore other options, but, I was going to give this my all........one last time. I ended up having 2 sets of double injections into my spine in a matter of a month, and paired up with my incredible physical therapist......I WAS GETTING STRONGER! I remember coming out of the procedure room and into recovery after my first injection......To LEARN what it was like to wake up pain-free for the first time in 20+ YEARS, was almost a joke to me. I couldn't believe it. I bawled my eyes out! The nurses thought I was hurting.
I continued faithfully with my PT, until he cut me loose mid April. It was bittersweet for me. However....that opened up my time for the gym! I go now, almost every day, for at least 45 minutes. I normally start by tanning for 10 minutes, to get the warmth into my spine....it loosens me up a bit, and gets my body warmed up for my workout. Then, I jump on the treadmill, and have successfully increased my time, and intensity with each week. Sometimes even trumping myself and my goals. I leave every day feeling accomplished and so proud of myself for not giving up, and for finally putting myself on the very top of my priority list! I have my off days, days when the weather aggravates my arthritis so badly that I don't want to move.......but I do. Even if it is to walk for 20 minutes, or do my home strengthening exercises with my fitness ball, at home. It is so easy to keep your word to other people.....but keeping your promises to yourself.....can sometimes seem unattainable. Keep your promises to yourself. First and foremost. Everyone else can wait. You have only one life, one body.....love yourself enough to honor that, and your self worth.
Thank you so very much for reading through my rambling. I appreciate it, and look forward to chatting with you, or even buddying up. One promise I can keep to anyone and everyone out there...... I will always be a positive aspect to those around me. I will be your biggest cheering squad, encouraging you to keep going. I KNOW how discouraging this whole process of getting healthy is, and can be. I WISH I had someone there for me, pushing me, encouraging me......keeping positive, in my toughest of times. One thing I have learned. You cannot resent anyone for *not being there*, or not understanding. They honestly, do not *get it*. How could they, unless they themselves, were in our shoes? ;)
Many Blessings!!!!!!!!!
Diet Calendar Entries for 01 May 2012:
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1532 kcal
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Fat: 45.68g | Prot: 106.15g | Carb: 181.73g.
Breakfast: pancakes, water, coffee. Lunch: bottled water, half and half, coffee, special k protein bar, Dry Roasted Sunflower Seeds (with Salt Added), tomatoes, carrots raw, Sugar Snap Peas, Romaine, cottage cheese with chive. Dinner: baked chicken, Garden Vegetable Ready Rice. Snacks/Other: milk 1%, scrambled egg, Oikos Greek Nonfat Honey Yogurt, red grapefruit, Nonfat Raspberry Greek Yogurt. more...
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4138 kcal
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Activities & Exercise:
Housework - 20 minutes, Calisthenics (light, e.g. home exercise) - 20 minutes, Sitting - 4 hours, Exercise machine (moderate) - 1 hour, Resting - 9 hours and 20 minutes, Sleeping - 9 hours. more...
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