Tis the Season for High Stress

The holiday season has officially kicked into overdrive now.  For most, this time of year includes an insane amount of stress which can be very devastating for people with chronic health issues.  So the question comes to how to deal with this season in a healthy manner.  Lately, I have been working on getting out on the trails more often (still a work in progress, but I’m getting there).  Due to my work and mommy schedule, I have managed to juggle stuff to the point that I might be able to return to yoga.  My body is nowhere near the point of being able to do traditional yoga and I can’t afford to risk attending hot yoga (I love it but I seem to be a pro at overdoing it).  Luckily, there is a local yoga instructor who I have been blessed to know for years who teaches a lot of rehabilitative yoga classes.  I am hoping with a combination of other activities this will keep any holiday flare up at bay. 

On a sort of side note, the past few months have been very politically charged, as it should be.  I have seen friendships dissolve because of political view points and the nastiness coming from both sides.  I am not saying we should all sit in a big circle and sing kumbaya, but I will say we need to start acting more humane towards each other. It is not only ok, it is human, to have differences in opinion.  Please, when possible, to have the courage and strength to agree to disagree.   

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle

Dreams

Ever look at your life and wonder why you didn’t follow a dream or even what motivated you to actually do and even more how supportive were those around you? I am currently in one of those positions that I am pretty sure I should plea insanity but it appears that some friends and family might be in the rooms next to me because they are encouraging me.

As with every family, mine doesn’t always see eye to eye.  I have always been precocious and I have always had someone who, may think I am out of my ever loving mind, will stand behind me and cheer me on and if I fall they will catch me.  I am in the process of a new insane endeavor that I am absolutely excited about and my sister and boys are behind me.  And I know they will be cheering me the entire time and holding me up with I think I need to give up and when I succeed they will be at there at the end cheering louder than anyone else. 

On Thursday’s I go to Zumba and April, the incredibly amazing instructor, always holds encouragement signs up at the end and one of my favorites is "What would you try if you knew you would not fail?"  So the questions are… what would you try? And why aren’t you trying?

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle

Nutrition and Lupus

It has been more than six years now since the doctors started putting one and one together and realized I probably have lupus (it took another six months get to in with a rheumatologist to confirm the diagnosis.  As someone who REALLY hates to take meds I figured I would take a nutritional approach to managing my disease.  I started off cutting the meat out and that lasted a while, technically I was a pescetarian.  There are certain aspects that respond well, mainly the no red meat.  Over time I went back to meat, not huge on red meat but I do enjoy it occasionally.  I continued my research and found that gluten and dairy are two triggers. I am not huge on dairy, but enough so I try not to cut it out of my diet unless I absolutely have to.  I started down the scary road of being gluten free.  Almost immediately I noticed an improvement.  Again, I stuck with it for a while and then decided I was fine and gluten didn’t affect me any more…  One of my constant reminders of my disease is costochondritis (inflammation of the rib cartilage), I have been to the ER a few times to ensure my heart was fine and I get the normal “It’s just your lupus.”  After a REALLY bad bout of the pain I figured I would go back to gluten free and within two days I could breathe easily without using any “as needed” medications.  I accidentally consumed something that had gluten (I didn’t check before I ate it, STUPID!), the next day I thought I was going to die! I am not to the point of being anal retentive about what I am willing to consume.  I have also found out my kidneys are not a huge fan of cola!  Once my kiddos are back in school and things calm down a smidge (trust me, life will never truly calm down!) I would like to give the autoimmune paleo diet a try.  I think it would be interesting to find out what all my body handles, what it barely tolerates and what annoys it.  I look at my son and he eats almost anything that doesn’t move fast enough and those days are long over for me.  This is the body I have until it’s my time and if I don’t take care of me, who will?

I guess it will truly be trial and error!

I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR A NUTRITIONIST, NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME SO YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle

Where did I go?

It is funny how we identify ourselves by certain aspects.  A mother, a daughter, a runner, a triathlete, a student.  What happens when a good percentage of how we identify ourselves disappear?  I have been finding myself in this situation lately.  I am still a mother, a daughter, a sister but a runner?  Still working on returning after my surgery. Triathlete?  A horrific accident happened to my swim gear (ok, fine, to me it was horrific, but to most people it would be no big deal) so I haven’t been in the pool lately.  My bike and I are not on speaking terms, and see the running issue I already mentioned.  Student? I done graduated!  So now what?

Well, back in March something drove me back to church, I still do not fully understand it but I’ll go with it!  I try to spend as much time as possible with my human and fur babies outside enjoying what my body will let me.  Unfortunately, one thing that I have successfully lost is the stupid autoimmune disease!  I think I could suffer with losing that identy!!! But it is here to stay and I am going to fight like mad to keep it at bay.  The outings the boys and I take stay in the shade as much as possible and there are always awesome big floppy hats!  But I still feel like a blank(ish) canvas.  I get to choose which identities I get to take on next!  Maybe I could become a Zumba instructor in my free time, ok, maybe not.  I really do not have rhythm and I sure don’t have coordination! Next idea…

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle