Backpacks Are Affecting Children's Posture

Look at what we are doing to our children:

*More than 40 million students carry school backpacks

*More than half of children in a study regularly carried more than the recommended 15% of their body weight in their school backpacks.

*58% of orthopedists polled in 1999 in Chicago and Wilmington, Delaware, reported treating children with back or shoulder pain attributable to carrying backpacks.

*The most common symptom reported from backpack use is “rucksack palsy.” This condition results when pressure put on the nerve in the shoulder causes numbness in the hands, muscle wasting, and in extreme cases, nerve damage.

*More than 3,300 children, aged 5-14 years, were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to backpacks in 1998; these numbers do not include students who went to family physicians or doctors of chiropractic.

If we don’t help our children now, when they are 10 years old they will have the posture of a 80 year old. Read the right and wrong ways to wear a backpack.

Now that we have the children wearing the backpack correctly. Here are six exercises to help correct they posture.

1. Static Back ~ 5 Minutes
* Lie on your back with your legs up over a block or chair
* Place your arms out to the sides at 45 degrees from your body with palms up
* Relax your upper back and notice if your low back flattens to the floor evenly from left to right

2. Static Back Reverse Presses ~ 3 Sets of 10
* Lie on your back with your legs up over a block or chair
* Relax your legs, back and stomach
* Place your arms in a bent position directly out from your shoulders
* Bend 90 degrees at the elbows, hands are in a fist pointed up toward the ceiling
* Now squeeze your shoulder blades down and together and then release
* Try to relax your stomach muscles and do NOT try just to push your elbows into the floor – focus on the squeezing and releasing of your shoulder blade muscles

3. Hooklying Gluteal Contractions ~ 3 Sets of 20
* Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor pointed straight ahead
* Place your arms out to sides at a 45 degree angle with palms up
* Squeeze and release your buttocks muscles without contracting your abdominal muscles

4. Hooklying Knee Pillow Squeezes ~ 3 Sets of 20
* Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor pointed straight ahead
* Place a towel under your lower back if instructed to do so on your menu
* Put a pillow between your knees
* Place arms out to sides at a 45 degree angle with palms up
* Squeeze your knees inward into the pillow then release

5. Airbench ~ 2 Minutes
* Stand with your back against a wall with feet and knees hip width apart and feet pointed straight
* Walk your feet away from the wall while sliding your body down at the same time
* You will be “seated” in an invisible chair, with your knees bent to 90 degrees
* Your hips are just slightly higher than your knees; your ankles are slightly ahead of your knees
* Your lower back should be completely flat against the wall
* Your arms can hang down to your sides, or rest your hands gently on your lap
* Hold
* Keep the weight in your heels, do not press forward on your toes

6. Supine Foot Circles and Point/Flex ~ 40 Reps Each Direction Each Foot
* Lie on your back with one leg extended and the other leg bent and pulled up toward your chest
* Clasp your hands behind the bent knee
* Keep the foot on the floor pointed straight up toward the ceiling and your thigh muscles tight
* Circle the lifted foot one way for the indicated number or repetitions, then reverse direction for the same number of reps
* Make sure the knee stays absolutely still with movement coming from the ankle and not the knee
* For the point/flexes, bring the toes back toward the shin to flex, then reverse the direction to point the foot forward for the indicated number of reps
* Switch legs and repeat

Let us know if you have any tips for parents to help with this backpack issue.

Novartis chip to help ensure bitter pills are swallowed

Novartis chip to help ensure bitter pills are swallowed

By Andrew Jack in London

Published: September 21 2009 23:06 | Last updated: September 21 2009 23:06

Patients who fail to pop pills on time could soon benefit from having a chip on their shoulder, under a ground-breaking electronic system being developed by Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceuticals group.

The company is testing technology that inserts a tiny microchip into each pill swallowed and sends a reminder to patients by text message if they fail to follow their doctors’ prescriptions.

OK as someone chronically ill I felt I really needed to say something about this Microchip pill. I understand the benefits for some patients who don’t take their medication and still go to the doctor expecting to get better, or have some type of neurological condition that keeps them from remembering to take their medication but for many patients it seems like one more invasion of privacy. In so many instances when you are in chronic pain there are blanket policy’s to not only test the levels of your medications in your system to see if you’re taking your meds but to see if you’re drinking or using marijuana for pain control which if you go to any pain clinic is not allowed understandably. They often do these tests instead of getting to actually know their patient knowing whether or not that person is reliable.  I foresee some doctors just adding another now microchip pill to their patients list of pills instead of actually forming a trusting doctor patient relationship to help the patient get better. The trust between a doctor and a patient is absolutely pivotal.

Budapest: As Seen from the Local Cafes

I have been in Budapest 24 hours, and already I have sipped coffee at three cafes. Budapest culture is all about the cafe and music scene. My introduction to the city included a lazy evening at a cafe and an evening of boisterous opera. After checking into my hostel, I headed out into the bustling city down the main drag called Andrassy ut, looking for a place to eat. Instead, I stumbled upon a crowd of people in front of the opera house. There was a huge screen set up in front of the opera house, the street was blocked off, and chairs set up. Women dressed in 19th century gowns were passing out programs. I had happened upon a rather huge event – the 125th anniversary gala for the Hungarian Opera House. The theatre was sold out inside, but the opera was showing the event live on the large screen outside for free. While the crowd gathered, a small brass ensemble performed a repertoire of 19th century music from a balcony. I came back after my dinner to be a part of the city’s celebration, and it was a fantastic cultural experience. Along with locals and tourists, I listened to the first opera performed in the Opera House 125 years ago. Chills still run down my spine when I think of it!

The cafe scene here is a mix of the grand imperial old, and the modern, hip new. Today I tried two cafes from the days of the 19th century Hapsburg Empire. This morning was the Gerloczy Cafe, tucked away on a quiet street (at least quiet for Budapest!). The inside is a picture of 19th century grandeur, with elaborate wallpaper and gilded mirrors. I sat outside and sipped my cappuccino while the world marched by. One thing I already love about Budapest – fantastic people-watching! In the afternoon, I took a seat inside the famous Muvesz Kavehaz, across from the Opera House. Another imperial 19th century beauty. I imagined the women in their gowns and the men in tails and white tie conversing beneath the crystal chandeliers after a night of opera. The service at cafes is super efficient and orderly, but not overly friendly. This is not a bad thing. They do their jobs well and are very helpful when you need a menu translation. They just don’t make small talk like American waiters. You can sit the whole day away in a cafe, all for the price of one coffee – the waiters never hurry you. The check is brought only when you ask for it. A clueless American tourist could find themselves growing frustrated, wondering why the waiters never bring the check! Again, it is not bad service; it’s a waiter making sure their patron is never rushed. In that perspective, our waiters are rather rude for pushing us out the door!

I got a couple of the typical tourist sites out of the way today, what some might call the tourist traps. A stroll along Vaci ut is almost a prerequisite here, but don’t get stuck shopping here. There is so much more to this city! I took about half an hour, admiring the menagerie of architecture. During Communism, this street was considered a visit to the West for people all over Eastern Europe. They would come to Budapest to shop this street and eat at the first McDonald’s behind the Iron Curtain. There are a number of upscale shops here, but most sell what you can easily find in the States. My eyes stayed up on the building facades. Intricate and beautiful! A range of styles, from Viennese imperialism to modernism to secessionism.

At the end of Vaci ut – and a Budapest must! – is the Great Market Hall. A giant market, vibrating with energy. The first floor is a mix of produce, spices, meats, breads – I tasted some spicy paprika, which is essential to Hungarian cooking. Upstairs are the crafts, souvenirs, trinkets, and even old Communist bric-a-brac, like hammer and sickle flasks, military hats, and old pins. I am fascinated with all the intricate embroidery, much of it done by hand. You could easily lose the whole day here shopping!

I am staying at a unique hostel, called Homemade Hostel. It is tucked behind a nondescript door on a busy street. Behind the door is a quiet, almost secret courtyard, filled with apartments and a grand, elegant staircase. It is a faded beauty, wise and serene and a little tired. The hostel itself is a quirky place. It is based on an ethic of environmentalism, so all the furniture inside is secondhand and has been repurposed, sometimes in surprising ways. For instance, an open suitcase attached to the wall becomes a shelf. The kitchen is huge, there are three bathrooms, and a total of 18 beds between the various rooms. Everyone I have met here is a little quirky themselves and friendly. The Hungarian staff love to chat with their guests. A laidback vibe.

A note on my health: I have hit my “wall”. Tomorrow I am tossing all plans out the window and heading to the local baths, maybe spend time in a cafe. No other plans. Fatigue is in every muscle and bone, and my brain is foggy. Time for rest.

Whole Upper Body is Shifting

Wow! I just can’t help but show how my front view has changed this week. My whole upper body is finally stacking over my hips. It has been a little over a month and I can honestly say I have only missed 4 days of doing my menu.

The first shot is last weeks photo: The vertical line should run right through the belly button. As you can see I like to shift my whole upper-body away from this line.

The second shot is this weeks photo: Can you see what a change? I am stacking so much better.

I am not perfect yet, but I am well on my way. Is anyone else tracking their Egoscue progress.

Fibromyalgia: Time for the rheumatologists to hand over?

The American College of Rheumatologists developed diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia in 1990, the culmination of many years of debate and disparagement of the existence of this pain problem.  At the time, it was thought that it was a rheumatic complaint due to the presence of body pain and soft tissue tenderness, so the diagnosis and management of it was firmly in the rheumatologists camp.  Research over the last few years shows that it is in fact a pain syndrome centered in the nervous system. Two rheumatologists now suggest that fibromyalgia should no longer be managed by rheumatologists and it should be handed over to…primary care physicians.

The information above is drawn from an editorial by Shir and Fitzcharles, in The Journal of Rheumatology 2009; 36:4.  What does this startling suggestion mean really?

There are several points that this editorial makes:

1. Fibromyalgia is no longer a diagnosis of exclusion, and diagnostic accuracy by GP’s has improved significantly (at least in the US)
2. Exclusion of serious rheumatological or other disorders seems to be carried out quite effectively by GP’s
3. Few investigations are needed to increase diagnostic accuracy
4. ‘Successful management necessitates approaching the patient as a whole biopsychosocial being, with treatment strategies directed towards physical and psychological complaints within the context of family and society.’

I’m not going to argue with these points at all,  but I am going to suggest that leaving the management of fibromyalgia simply to the family physician might not be the best thing for the person with FM.  I don’t doubt the clinical skill of GP’s, and I think they are the best group to diagnose FM – but managing FM isn’t a single-clinician job.

While GP’s certainly know how to diagnose, and can prescribe the majority of medications used to manage fibromyalgia, my worry is that the rest of the management is not a medical task.  In fact it’s a biopsychosocial problem, as the 4th point above makes.  IMHO GP’s don’t have time or access to services in the community to help people with fibromyalgia to live well, it takes a team to do this.

If I had a wand, or the ear of a health funder, I’d be suggesting the formation of community-based teams of health providers consisting of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses and social workers.  I’d be asking them to work alongside GP’s, (perhaps even in the same buildings!) so that people being seen by the GP could then be included in a team approach to help them develop active coping strategies to live well, despite their health problems.

Now, as it happens, I don’t have the wand or ear, but I can hope.  As Shir and Fitzcharles state:

…the pathogenesis of FM is now firmly centered in the nervous system, and FM
is not a musculoskeletal complaint. Optimal patient management
requires attention to the many symptom components
of FM in addition to pain management. Patients with
FMwill also require prolonged care with continued tailoring
of treatments, as symptoms are likely to change over time.

Maybe one day soon my dream of community-based interdisciplinary teams to help people be well despite pain (or other chronic health problems) will be realised.  The sooner a biopsychosocial approach to managing these problems is adopted the better.

Information on fibromyalgia can be found here for a New Zealand site, here for a US site, here for another US site, and here for an Australian site.

If you’re a person with fibromyalgia, some caveats about anything on the internet:

FM has been a wonderful thing for people who sell so-called ‘cures’.  It’s such a diffuse problem, has been questioned for years by the medical community, is often not clearly diagnosed, and changes its presentation often – so people who are either unscrupulous, or are credulous can go about selling all sorts of potions, pills and gadgets for the ‘cure’ of the disorder.

FM doesn’t respond to very much, it’s a chronic central nervous system problem, and living with it means learning how to LIVE with it, not fight it, defeat it, or beat it.  It won’t just disappear of its own accord, and it won’t disappear because of some herbal, crystal, magnetic Thing.

Be sceptical, ask for evidence and don’t accept anecdote or endorsements as evidence for the power of any treatment.  Self management is really the only way to live well with FM, although some medications can help.  Here’s a good site for learning about self management for FM, and here’s a brief overview of a study about how self management can improve the outcomes of exercise in FM.

SHIR, Y., & FITZCHARLES, M. (2009). Should Rheumatologists Retain Ownership of Fibromyalgia? The Journal of Rheumatology, 36 (4), 667-670 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.081073

5HTP update - The Dream of the Crazy Penguin

I have been taking 5HTP for my fibromyalgia now for several weeks, and my overall verdict is that IT WORKS! My sleep pattern has improved enormously … although Spain did cause a temporary blip! I now get to sleep far more quickly and easily than ever before, and generally if (when) I wake up in the night, I find it easier to get back to sleep than I used to.

I must also be getting better quality sleep because my dreams are SO much less interesting on the whole! I think this is because I’m having less dreams and more deep sleep.

Just to give you an idea of the difference in dreams, here’s a pre-5HTP typical dream:

Pollyanna Penguin is driving along a 5-lane motorway and suddenly realises she’s lost. Cars are whizzing past on both sides. PP panics, starts to swerve … but it’s OK, suddenly the car is flying. Weee … PP still doesn’t know where she’s going but sails happily over the rest of the cars to a beautiful tropical island. Suddenly hubby is in the car too. They land and … do what penguins and their hubbies like best for a while, before realising the cats are missing. Then a huge panicked chase and attempt at cat herding ensues with much yelling and running around. (At this point … if not before, I’m usually tossing and turning in the bed, throwing the covers around and shouting my head off.)

Post 5HTP dream:

Pollyanna Penguin is driving along a 5-lane motorway and suddenly realises she’s lost. Cars are whizzing past on both sides. PP pulls over and wakes hubby up and gets him to look at a map. They work out where they’re going, hubby takes over the driving and PP admires the view. The end.

It’s a bit boring but so much more restful – my fatigue problems are definitely reduced these days. I can cope with a few boring dreams if I feel this much better for it!

I've been using Isagenix and it Really Works.

I don’t normally recommend products on my blogs, but as a person suffering with chronic illness I know how important it is to share information that could benefit others.  I started using these products about a year ago, in the hope of boosting my immune system, and increasing my energy.  I believe it has done both of these things and more, I just feel so much better on the days that I use this product than on the days I don’t.

This product has the potential of benefiting your health in so many ways…And for anyone looking to generate an income, the company also offers a very simple way to do that too.

These products have really increased my quality of life.

It’s by a company called Isagenix.  They have many products but I’ve been using three.

The first one is a nutritional shake. They come in Vanilla and Chocolate (and they actually taste good). Even though it is “technically” a meal replacement, I often use it as a supplement between healthy meals.

The shake contains 23 grams of the highest quality New Zealand whey and casein protein from grass-fed cows with no added hormones or antibiotics, as well as filling fiber, calcium and vitamins to support the body’s vital functions.

This perfectly balanced shake also contains Ionic Alfalfa™, our proprietary blend of 70 super-charged minerals, trace minerals and alfalfa juice. Active enzymes in each serving helps maximize the absorption of key nutrients.

Here is the nutrition information for the IsaLean Shakes…

The second product I use is called Isafruits.  You can use it separately, but what I usually do is add it to my shakes (the vanilla ones).

I like the IsaFruits because I know I am not getting nearly the amount of fruits in my diet as I should, and this makes it so easy.  If you are someone who doesn’t get enough vegetables in your diet (I personally don’t have a problem with that), they also have a product called IsaGreens you could try.

IsaFruits makes it easy for you to get your 2–4 servings of fruits every day. It tastes great and has only 1 gram of sugar and 15 calories per scoop. Benefits from drinking IsaFruits regularly can range from improved mental clarity and skin to supporting your immune system. You may also experience:

• Greater energy
• Fewer signs of premature aging
• Protection against illness*
• Greater overall health

Here is the nutritional information for the IsaFruits…

And the third product I’ve been using is called Ionix Supreme.

This is what I take a shot of first thing in the morning, it’s like a little kick-start for my day…And it’s good for you too.

Ionix® Supreme will provide the nutritional fuel you need to help you be at your best all day, every day.

Our scientifically balanced formula is filled with adaptogens that help neutralize the effects of stress and power performance.

The antioxidants in Ionix® Supreme fight damaging free radicals and help preserve health.

In addition, the whole food concentrates and our proprietary blend of trace minerals provide the foundation for outstanding health.

Here is the nutritional information for the Ionix Supreme…

So…These are the three products I try to use every day, and when I don’t I definitely notice a difference.  I’m not trying to push them on anyone, but after a year of using them I really believe in them.

When it comes to the price…It’s hard to compare because there really isn’t anything on the market that compares (I’ve even recently gone into a retail store that sells all kids of supplements…and they say they have nothing that compares to Isagenix).  But I did notice that all of their shake products were more expensive than Isagenix…And my son has actually tried some of the retail shakes for body building and he says they taste awful.

This is the cost…

The Isagenix shakes are $49.00 if you buy off the website, but $37.00 if you become a distributor (my mother became a distributor so I could get the products for less money).  The canisters are equal to 14 meal replacements, but like I said…I use them as supplements and one canister lasts me about a month.

The IsaFruits are $43.00 if you buy off the website, but $32.00 if you are a distributor.  This is about a three month supply for me.

The Ionix Supreme is also $43.00 off the website, and $32.00 if you are a distributor.  This is about a two month supply for me.

So I’m spending about $64.00 a month.

At first this seemed like a lot of money to pay, but when I started using it I realized it was worth every penny to feel as good as I feel when I’m using them.

And even though my mother only became a “distributor” so I could get the products at the lower cost…I’m seeing how this could also be a good business opportunity for someone who is unable to work outside the home or just wants to make some extra money.

It’s so simple…When you sign up they actually give you a working website for your customers to go to, with all the product information, videos, and an online shopping tools (so you never have to worry about collecting money, shipping, or anything).  For example – This is my mother’s Isagenix website…

http://francesellen.isagenix.com/us/en/products.dhtml

Anyway, Isagenix has many other products too…

A Weight Loss Plan

An Athletes Sport Health Plan

A Healthy Lifestyle Plan

I’m just telling you about the ones I use on a regular basis (and that I love).  If you would like to order any of the Isagenix products, you can just click on my mother’s link (above).  If you’re interested in getting more detailed information on the products or how you can become a distributor…I can get you into contact with the woman who has all of that information.  She is a cancer survivor who swears by this product.  Just let me know in comments and I’ll get you hooked up with her…once I get your comment I’ll delete it.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Quick and Natural Relievers For the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Quick and Natural Relievers For the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
By http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jessie_Mcknight]Jessie Mcknight

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome. Doctors do not consider it a disease because they cannot find a single, underlying cause of this condition that they need to cure. But the symptoms of fibromyalgia are numerous and sometimes, seemingly unrelated to one another. Fortunately, there are easier and inexpensive ways of relieving these symptoms than there are symptoms themselves. Here are some of them of these natural relievers:

1. Improve your diet. No scientific evidence exists that a healthy diet is directly related to reduce symptom flares, but many patients have found that a better diet can help relieve pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Foods rich in Vitamin B-12 and Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, are a big help in minimizing nerve problems such as tingling, numbing, and sensitivity. Fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in Vitamin C, are also recommended because they help boost the immune system to reduce pain.

2. Exercise. It can be difficult at first because of the pain felt by fibromyalgia sufferers. But it is beneficial in the long run because it helps ease muscle stiffness and increase energy. Also, lack of exercise only worsens the problem because the muscles are weakened due to inactivity. You are expected to start out slow, with only 5-10 minutes of a low-impact exercise such as walking or swimming. By the time you get used to it, you should be able to perform up to 30 minutes of light aerobic exercise at least three times a week.

3. Observe healthy sleep habits. There is no doubt about it – you need to have better sleep. One of the best things to do is to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. This helps establish a natural rhythm that allows your body to recognize the time for sleep and waking up. Do your best to avoid napping during the day, even when you feel really tired, and consuming food and beverages that have stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol, and chocolate.

4. Turn up the heat. Heat therapy is a popular form of treatment for relieving pain, soreness, and stiff muscles. Heat is effective because it dilates blood vessels, allowing blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to rush in. Heat therapy doesn’t need to be expensive. In fact, it can be done right at home. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to do this is by using hot packs you can buy from a drugstore or you made on your own. Simply place the hot pack over the tender point for eight to 10 minutes then stretch out the muscle afterward. Whirlpool baths are also helpful and luxurious as they offer deep heat penetration and a free massage to work out the tense muscles.

5. Practice meditation. Meditation helps people relax and reach a state of calmness where they can concentrate on things other than those that are painful to think about. Research has proven that patients who meditated regularly exhibited better control over the symptoms of fibromyalgia. This is because meditation helps relieve stress, decrease mood swings, reduce pain, and improve overall sleep patterns.

Jessie Mcknight is an expert in fibromyalgia treatment. Learn how to eliminate the symptoms of fibromyalgia from your life today by visiting Banish Fibromyalgia

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Quick-and-Natural-Relievers-For-the-Symptoms-of-Fibromyalgia&id=2826199

My Journey - Part I

Fibromyalgia is one of those dreaded “incurables”, the one’s the doctors will tell you they cannot get rid of but will happily manage your symptoms for the rest of your life with pills… to make you more comfortable.

Unfortunately, I have never met anyone who was truly made “more comfortable” with this method of treatment. Nor have I met anyone who could stop with one drug. Most drugs, in short order, will require further drugs to help with the symptoms brought on, or “made noticeable” by the first drug.

Drugs are changed out regularly for new pharmaceuticals that are always reported to be “doing wonders!” There were the Guafenison years, the Amitryptaline years… there is always something that is “so promising!” Until it manifests it’s own problems and is quickly forgotten by all except those doctors who have little experience with FM. They are promoted, then discredited, then years later become the rage again. Not because they truly do anything, but because the thought of enduring a life of pain and disability with no big promising hope on the horizon is too huge a burden to carry.

Many of us suffer a growing list of symptoms for years, questions unanswered, having no idea what is wrong with us. When we “finally receive an answer” we are happy know. This is something that we can work with… if we know what we’re dealing with.

The trouble is, the doctors *don’t know what they’re dealing with. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, these are names given to a recognizable set of otherwise inexplicable symptoms… a label for a grab-bag of misery now afflicting an estimated 10,000,000 Americans and growing.

16 years ago, when I was first diagnosed with FM, it was not something that anyone had heard of. I struggled with it silently, unable to explain or convince anyone of it’s real existence… of the reality of the pain and exhaustion in such a young body. Now, there are promising advertisements, billboards, talk-shows, books and drugs especially created for what seems to be a growing epidemic.

But why? Where did it come from? Why is it growing and why are there no answers in the medical field?

In the summer of 2007, with a new baby girl and young son to care for, I finally reached the point where I was unable to walk unassisted, care for myself, or really bare the waking moments at all. After 16 years of trying everything my doctors suggested I feared that I might start screaming and not be able to stop.

I saw my doctor a last time. Unable to take any further prescriptions with a new nursing baby, he told me point blank, “I don’t have anything further to offer you.” Maybe you should try acupuncture.

That was it. I went home and cried. I cried for the pain, for my kids, for the utter inability to imagine a future.

I cried until there were no more tears and no more beliefs. I cried until there were no more fears and no more hopes. I cried until there was nothing but silence left inside of me.

Then I sat. Quietly. Each day my husband carried me from the bed to the large arm chair in the picture window and I watched the world with silence inside of me. That summer it rained every day. Poured, hour after hour, and the streets flooded like rivers. It rained for months and it seemed to be for me. It rained and I began to live again.

My first step was acupuncture. It was the only thing that I understood in the mysterious Eastern medicine front. I was already eating an entirely organic diet, so I believed, food could not be the cause here.

I nearly cried again when I had spoken to several acupuncturists and found that sessions were around $75 each, and though I could go as often as I could afford, if I wanted healing at a noticeable rate I needed to go at least twice a week.

HOW we could afford $150 a week in addition to the food costs was a question that I didn’t even want to grapple with, but my husband put it to me this way: If someone said to you, “give up your life as you know it and you’ll be rewarded with a new body.”

Would you?

I didn’t really know. I couldn’t really conceive of what a life with a healthy body would be like. Giving up the life I had built around it seemed terrifying. Yet, spending the rest of it, unchanged seemed an impossibility.

I realized then that if I could have a chance at a real life… a life of physical freedom, a life where I could do anything for my kids, where I woke up refreshed and able to do what I liked, a life where anything was possible to me the way it seemed to be to everyone else… I was willing to do anything. I realized that I would rather dump every cent that we had into healing and live in a box on the corner than to continue life this way.

Then I realized something else. I realized that I believed in the possibility of being healed… of being cured…. of not having to endure a life of “treating” and “managing”. Some part of me knew that I was not damaged beyond repair, some part of me knew that everything could be different. I believed that that part of me was right and I gave her full reign. Our lives became about healing. We were driven by nothing but a belief in a better life, for us all.

And so the research began. I chased down every single lead and suggestion. I believed in each of them equally and embraced them fully. I tried everything from acupuncture and herbs to faith healing, and I waited to see what happened. Each lead opened up to more until I could see a whole world of options. As I tested and tasted I began to get a better understanding that some things were simply better suited to me than others. Though chinese herbs may be the key to some, energy work may be the key for others.

The more I tried, the more I learned. The more I learned the more I began to see a larger picture, a deeper truth. As I began to hit what felt like dead ends with therapies that were working in leaps and bounds, I began to understand that there seemed to be more than one body to heal. This was something that I could work with. Shortly after I had a dream that I would be healed within the year. I saw and felt my new life and it seemed so real. Had I known in that moment the reality of that dream, I think I may have burst.

It's My Ovaries Stupid!

The book, Its My Ovaries Stupid!, by Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet is chock full of information for women!  It really opened my eyes to all the different things that can happen with regard to our ovaries.  I wish that I had come across this book years ago, instead of just last year at my local used bookstore.  Even more, I wish that this book was mandatory reading for ALL gynecologists and endocrinologists.  There would be much fewer women out there suffering for so long with such serious problems!

Here’s what Her Place says of the book:

Sometimes it seems as though the only women’s health issues that get any sort of attention are breast cancer, pregnancy, and menopause. But in her groundbreaking book, It’s My Ovaries, Stupid!, Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet describes many of the rarely acknowledged, pervasive health threats to young women:

• Premature Ovarian Decline (POD)
• Premature Ovarian Failure (menopause in the young)
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Early puberty
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease and heart palpitations
• Osteoporosis
• Insomnia, fibromyalgia, and fatigue
• Mood disorders
• Weight gain

All the above problems are on the rise, robbing younger and younger women of life, fertility, and vitality.

Why is this happening? What can you do to protect yourself? How can you get tested? And what treatments are available?

Many common products and environmental toxins are endocrine disruptors that can profoundly disrupt hormone function, even in childhood. These products include:

• Pesticides
• Plastic food wrappers
• Aspartame
• Soy supplements
• Food additives

Adding to the problems posed by endocrine disruptors are lifestyle factors, such as stress and dietary fat.

Your life, fertility, and long-term health may depend on on the information contained in It’s My Ovaries, Stupid!. Dr. Vliet draws on the latest international scientific research and her more than twenty years of clinical experience to show the negative effects of endocrine disruptors and poor lifestyle choices on the body. She answers crucial questions for young women who want to take control of their health: For instance, whose job is it to care for the ovaries — beyond their function in reproduction? And why do women have trouble getting help for “hormone problems” that appear to be linked to their monthly cycles?

It’s My Ovaries, Stupid! will help you understand your symptoms, get reliable tests, obtain treatment, and improve your health. The book also examines the controversies surrounding hormone replacement therapy and discusses some of the latest and best options for the treatment of thyroid problems.

Remember, it’s not stress, and it’s not all in your head. It’s your ovaries!

Table of Contents

1. When Ovaries Go Awry: Women’s Lives, Women’s Stories
2. Your Ovaries: an Owner’s Manual
3. Your Ovaries and Their Life Cycle
4. Ovaries at Risk: Surprising Toxins in Your Diet
5. Ovaries at Risk: “Gender Benders” and Endocrine Disruptors Around You
6. Ovaries at Risk: Toxic Effects of Cigarettes, Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drugs
7. Ovary Shutdown: The Toxic Role Of Stress Overload and Sleep Deprivation
8. Lifestyle Habits and Cultural Issues—Unexpected Stress for Our Ovaries
9. Ovaries at Risk: Unusual Effects Of Viruses and Medical Illnesses
10. Ovaries at Risk: Unrecognized Problems from Surgery, Medications, and Herbs
11. Ovaries Out of Balance: Patterns in Women’s Lives
12. Ovarian Hormones and The Brain: It’s Not Just Stress or Your Imagination!
13. The Perils of Pcos, Obesity, Syndrome X, and Diabetes
14. The Many Faces of Infertility: Overlooked Factors
15. The Ovaries and Your Other Body Systems
16. Balancing Ovarian Hormones for Optimal Health
17. Test-and-Treat Strategies for Optimal Thyroid, Adrenal, and Glucose-Insulin Balance
18. Starting Your “Clean-Up Campaign”: Get Rid of Ovarian Disruptors You Can Control
19. Create Your Own Path To Optimal Energy and Health

Publisher: Evans and Company, New York

Number of pages: 503

© 2003

And a review of the book by Publisher’s Weekly (via Amazon) says:

Despite the flippant title, this book offers a serious and comprehensive look at hormone dysfunction in women of all ages. Vliet, founder and medical director of HER Place Women’s Center, believes that many women suffer needlessly because they are not being treated properly. According to the author, a variety of illnesses-depression, panic attacks, heart disease, diabetes, fertility problems-are related to hormonal dysfunction. Drawing on medical research as well as work in her own practice, Vliet (Screaming to Be Heard) provides a complete guide to ovaries, explaining how they work and what happens when they don’t work properly, along with surgical and other treatment. Included are questionnaires so readers can self-diagnose and prepare themselves before visiting a doctor. Also particularly helpful are sidebar definitions and schematic diagrams showing the connection between hormone and illness, such as “How Stress Sabotages Your Health” and “Chemical Disruption of Thyroid Pathways.” This is a detailed and sophisticated book, complete with a glossary of medical terms. Readers wanting spoon-fed simplified explanations of their “aches and pains” will find this book daunting, but women who want to become more knowledgeable and assertive patients will find it indispensable.

Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Things I've done

Make anything that you have done BOLD.

Started your own blog

Slept under the stars–just the one time

Played in a band–Jr High, HS and some college!

Visited Hawaii

Watched a meteor shower

Given more than you can afford to charity

Been to Disneyland/world

Climbed a mountain

Held a praying mantis

Sang a solo

Bungee jumped

Visited Paris

Watched a lightning storm at sea

Taught yourself an art from scratch

Adopted a child

Had food poisoning

Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

Seen the Mona Lisa in France

Slept on an overnight train

Had a pillow fight

Hitchhiked

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Built a snow fort

Held a lamb

Gone skinny dipping

Been to a Broadway show in NY

Ran a Marathon

Been in three states at once

Ridden in a gondola in Venice

Seen a total eclipse

Watched a sunrise or sunset

Hit a home run

Been on a Cruise

Seen Niagra Falls in Person

Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors

Seen an Amish community

Taught yourself a new language

Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Gone rock climbing

Seen Michelangelo’s David

Sung karaoke

Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

Visited Africa

Walked on a beach by moonlight

Been transported in an ambulance

Had your portrait painted

Gone deep sea fishing

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Kissed in the rain

Played in the mud

Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco

Gone to a drive-in theater

Been in a movie

Visited the Great Wall of China

Started a business

Taken a martial arts class

Swam in the Mediterranean Sea

Visited Russia

Served at a soup kitchen

Sold Girl Scout cookies

Gone whale watching

Gotten flowers for no reason

Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Gone sky diving

Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

Bounced a check

Saved a favorite childhood toy

Visited the Lincoln Memorial

Eaten Caviar

Pieced a quilt

Stood in Times Square

Toured the Everglades

Been fired from a job

Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Broken a bone

Been on a speeding motorcycle

Seen the Grand Canyon in person

Published a book

Visited the Vatican

Bought a brand new car

Walked in Jerusalem

Had your picture in the newspaper

Read the entire Bible

Visited the White House

Killed and prepared my own meat

Had chickenpox

Saved someone’s life

Sat on a jury

Met someone famous

Joined a book club

Lost a loved one

Had a baby

Seen the Alamo in person

Swam in the Great Salt Lake

Been involved in a law suit

Owned a cell phone

Been stung by a bee

Looks like I’ve still got a lot to do!!!

I Am Not My Illness Even If You Can't See It

 

I just read a beautiful post by a woman getting ready to celebrate one year since she started sharing with everyone her struggles and triumphs in the world of illness. As part of that club, I am so fortunate to have people like Dannette (FibroHaven) in my life even if only on my computer screen.

I didn’t even realize that it’s National Invisible Chronic Illness Awarness Week. You may be wondering what exactly that means and how someone could be ill and you don’t know. I have lived this way for many years and have learned to live with it and hide the symptoms. There are people all around you that are suffering with “accepted” diseases like cancer and you may not know it. Imagine living every day in so much pain that each movement is a struggle. Fatigue so strong that you can barely stand at all.

 

“But you don’t look sick.” 

 Can someone please tell our bodies that? I would like to personally thank the makeup companies although even that doesn’t always work. I used to keep it to myself because I didn’t want to burden anyone else. I still do not let on to a lot of it because I don’t need the pity. If anyone asks though, I am more than willing to indulge their questions so that they can understand and be more understanding. Sometimes, this still leads to being treated differently but most of the time it leads to helping someone else even if not right away.  

Just remember this:

  I am not just my illness.

Multimodal Treatment

How can multimodal therapy help the chronic pain patient? There are many new medications offered to patients but with managed care the prior situation this can make newer medications increasingly difficult to obtain. It is true that patients will benefit from multimodal treatment to balance the way they are living with pain. As doctors will be faced with the multifaceted patient so to will the patient be encouraged to multilayer their treatment. The treatment plan will address; medication, interventional approaches such as injections, psychological support, lifestyle changes, physical / medical rehabilitation, and alternative medicine. Frequently the patient must revisit the goals with the doctor and be sure that they have come to the same end of; pain relief and to minimize the risk of abuse, addiction and diversion. Open communication between the patient, doctor and treatment team are key in  pain relief for the chronic pain patient.

BECOMING MORE AUTHENTIC THROUGH MY ILLNESS

DAY 17:    I want to ensure that through this illness, my life becomes “more authentic, real and intensely meaningful.”

To live is the rarest thing in the world.  Most people exist, that is all.”  Oscar Wilde

Over the years people have often  commented, “God must be wanting you to learn something from this.”    I have never had an apt reply since inwardly I would recoil feeling like a poor student who had to keep on repeating the same class since she couldn’t pass.   I would sometimes feel like there was an inference that all I needed to do is look deep enough into my soul and I would learn the appropriate lesson so that I could move on.  I really don’t believe  I have this illness in order for me to learn some special lessons.  I believe I am sick  for the obvious reason – suffering exists and therefore, why not me?  However, that is not to say that God hasn’t  been using these difficult years to help me sort the necessary from the unnecessary, the important from the unimportant, to clarify what it means to really live rather than just exist.  I am currently reading a book called Beethoven Factor and the writer is a psychologist who has had his own share of serious suffering and from his own practice and research, he has concluded that “It seems that our lives may be torn apart so that we will learn not only how to weave them back together again but to cherish more every moment of our gift of life.”  My concern is that just as I used to excel at writing tests at school and then promptly forget the material, I could  forget what I have been learning when I become well. As I dare to imagine what life could be like when I become well,  I want to live a life  described by this same author as “more authentic, real and intensely meaningful.”  I want to be that rare person who does far more than merely exist.

I love my 2nd job

Just to refresh the memories of ya’ll, I moved to part-time at my job and got a second job working at a doggie daycare.

I LOVE IT!

This feels like one of the best things to ever happen to me.  I think I’ve picked up poop 50+ times this week and I don’t even care.  Also I smell like bleach right now, & I don’t care.  Yup, the girl who quit swimming at the gym and bought a shower head water filter to avoid chlorine will happily bleach everything if it means she gets to work with dogs.

Sorry for writing in the 3rd person.

I am going to knock on about five hundred pieces of wood after typing this, but here goes.

I think my fibromyalgia is going into remission. I’m not 100% there yet, but this feels like partial remission, and it feels great, and I think a lot of it has to do with my job.

Do you know how much exercise is built into my day now that I have a job that involves never sitting down?  Also I get to be outside in the sun while working (at least for now while the weather’s warm).  And I get to be around dogs, which has some stressful moments, but for the most part is very awesome and relaxing my jangled nerves to no end.

I wake up early now, naturally.  And it might have taken 28 years, but waking up early isn’t terribly hard any more.

My doctor told me exercise would help with fibromyalgia, and I was trying, but yoga and walks around the block just weren’t cutting it.  I feel confident saying that I don’t think humans are meant to spent 8 hours a day sitting down, and I don’t think 30 or 60 minutes of movement a day is enough.

Different strokes for different folks, I know, but I’d rather spend the 8 hours up and at ‘em and let the time in front of a screen be my down time.  Sitting on my butt in front of a screen cannot be both work and free time.  Moving for an hour per day is not enough for this body I’ve been given.

I could repeat that three hundred times and still feel like I’m not getting the point across.

My sleep is better.  I haven’t weighed myself, but feel confident I’m losing weight.  My mood is better.  Everything is better.  Still on the spirituality tip and think this is a result of that, but it’s just this beautiful mixture of that leading to this job leading to who knows what and having good results all over the place.  Finally, an upward spiral!

Let’s just say that I’m pretty happy with where things are right now, and also excited to see what is coming next.  My work is being AWESOME about dog training, which means I’ll get to go through a beginning obedience class with Cockroach, FOR FREE.  I figure that’ll give me a chance to see if I’d like to make a career out of it.

By the way, I even enjoy mopping the floor at the daycare and feel like it’s a joyful meditation.  HAVE I LOST MY MIND?

[Via http://elginjessica.wordpress.com]

Day trip to Cape Palliser

We took a day trip to Cape Palliser yesterday and it was great

Can you believe that I hadn’t been out of the City for 14 months?????? Well, I couldn’t either but according to my diary it’s true

Anyways,  we set off at around 10.00am yesterday morning and didn’t get back until 6.00pm. The weather was great and in the Wairarapa region it got up to well over 20 degrees celsius. Heavenly temperatures for a person with fibromyalgia!

The Cape Palliser lighthouse can only be reached by climbing a steep set of wooden steps (250 in total) and my hubby was mildly surprised that I was up for it but I am so used to climbing steps (with the groceries, the trash and the dogs) that I didn’t find it difficult at all.

Had I brought a book I could have sat on that platform all day… Sometimes there are even fur seals on the cliffs below but at this time of year they are in their breeding grounds in the South Island. We did see little spring lambs everywhere though.

I’m feeling a bit tired today but apart from that I’m fine – a far cry from the weekend when I could hardly stand up from leg pain.  I’m still amazed at how quickly things can change. One day I’m fine and the next I can hardly get out of bed without help. It makes me want to enjoy and appreciate the ‘good’ days even more. Hopefully there’ll be plenty more in the Summer ahead.

[Via http://myfibromyalgiajournal.wordpress.com]

Love, Guilt, Grief & Genetics

Last night my mother left a comment on the post “Lost in the pain…” which you can find below this post. I felt like I should share what she said & what my response was to offer a little more understanding as to why this blog exists. I will do a complete blog post soon regarding the grieving process and acceptance necessary to live with Fibromyalgia but for now I have this to offer:

From my Mother: Submitted on 2009/09/09 at 12:39am

Hey,

If you aren’t in chronic pain there is no way for you to understand what it is. That is why I watch House. It must be written by people who know people in chronic pain because no one understands what House is going through, just so they don’t understand what we are going through.

I am sorry you got this from me and am sorry it manifested so hard at so young. The only thing I can say is I love you and your father loves you and your sister loves you – as you are now, as you were and as you will be.

Love,

My Response: Submitted on 2009/09/09 at 9:55am

Oh Mom, I do not blame you for this & you can not take responsibility for me having it. It is what it is and it will be what it will be. It manifested in me at such a young age simply because I was in so many accidents while I was in my teens & 20s or even because I had those two episodes of strep throat with 105 degree fevers when I was 22 that put me in the hospital. It is the one thing science has been able to prove about Fibromyalgia that and accident or severe illness will cause it to manifest if you are predisposed to it. I am just having a hard time accepting that it is not something I can overcome or beat into submission. I a going through the Grief Cycle/Stages of Grief (http://www.greaterswiss.com/mourning.htm). I have reached the Anger Stage (Stage 2). I know this cycle is usually used to refer to someone who is grieving over the loss/death of a loved one. In a very real sense that is what having Fibro is – it is a death of who you were. I believe it is the same for someone with MS or Lupus though I have not heard it said about any of these diseases/illnesses/conditions – I know it to be true. I have to accept the death of the person I once was and am no longer and once I do I hope it will be easier to live with. I am going to do a specific blog about it so others who are newly diagnosed or feeling lost after years of fighting it will know they are not alone and that what they are going through is very real and normal under the circumstances.

I loved the TV show House from the very first episode for exactly the same reason as you do now. I do not necessarily expect others to truly understand what myself or anyone else with Fibro is going through – I just have three things I hope to come from this blog: 1) That the people who live with and/or love someone with Fibromyalgia can have a clear picture of the pain and struggle and reality of this disease (it is alternately referred to by the medical establishment as either a disease or a “condition” far as I am concerned it is a disease). 2) To let others going through the same daily struggles know they are not alone and 3) To help myself through the process of acceptance and record my good day when they come and my bad days as they are so when those bad days seem like more than anyone should have to bear I can be reminded of the good days and know another good day will eventually dawn again.

If I can do nothing else with this gift I have been given of being able to express myself & my emotions then at least I offer comfort and care to those who need it.

I am indeed loved by many people and that too is a gift that others may or may not have or may not be able to see that they are through the haze the pain causes. I hope to remind them or be the person who offers it to them.

I love you. Heather

[Via http://livingahouseofcards.wordpress.com]

Why did my back hurt?

I just got back from vacation on a sailing cruise and while I was relaxing I also coiled rope, raised sails and tied knots resulting in back pain.  Why?  The lower back has a lot more motion than the thoracic spine and also carries all the weight of the torso, making it the most frequently injured area of the spine.

One cause of low back pain has to do with the ability of the spine to move.  The motion in the lumbar spine is divided between five motion segments, although a disproportionate amount of the motion is in the lower segments (L3-L4 and L4-L5). Consequently, these two segments are the most likely to breakdown from wear and tear (e.g. osteoarthritis). The two lowest discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1) take the most strain and are the most likely to herniate. This can cause lower back pain and possibly numbness that radiates through the leg and down to the foot (sciatica).

The vast majority of episodes of lower back pain are caused by muscle strain. Even though a muscle strain doesn’t sound like a serious injury, trauma to the muscles and other soft tissues (ligaments, tendons) in the lower back can cause severe and debilitating back pain. The good news is that soft tissues have a good blood supply, which brings nutrients to the injured area, facilitates the healing process and often provides effective relief of the back pain.

Below the lumbar spine is a bone called the sacrum, which makes up the back part of the pelvis. This bone is shaped like a triangle that fits between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body.

The sacrum is connected to part of the pelvis (the iliac bones) by the sacroiliac joints. Pain in the sacrum is often called sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and is more common in women than men. The coccyx—or the tailbone—is in the sacral region at the very bottom of the spine. Tailbone pain is called coccydynia, which is more common in women than men.

Many of the causes of back pain are treatable with conservative methods including Chiropractic. care.  If you would like to know more about how I treat back pain go to our website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

[Via http://drcarolgrant.wordpress.com]

When I was a kid, a really little kid, my mom married a guy that liked to fly. He was a postal carrier, but his true joy was flying. My mom made that happen and I ended up growing up around airplanes. Small ones, Cessna 150s, 172s, Pipers, Grummans and all those little pip-squeak planes. The guy had quit his job and he and my mother had started a flying club, where people could lease planes or take flying lessons.

I logged quite a few hours in the air. Flew out to Wichita, Kansas and picked up a new airplane and flew back with him. Whoa, that rattled every tooth in my head! Constant little joy rides up and down the California coast. Every family vacation was done by airplane. Mendocino, Cloverdale (yeah, if you’ve been to Cloverdale you should be rolling your eyes right now!) Disneyland and just about every weekend we flew to The Nut Tree in Vacaville, California to have lunch.

And when I was a teenager, I made an amazing amount of money washing those airplanes. Ever tried to peel bug guts off your car? Try an airplane! I earned every cent.

So it’s understandable that Amelia Earhart was a very familiar name to me. That guy my mom married was pretty impressed with her. So when I heard a movie about her was coming out I was pretty nostalgic.

[Via http://fibrochondriac.wordpress.com]

Paleolithic Diet: Days 32 & 33

Day 32 Menu:

Breakfast: Smoothie:

- 3 Valencia Oranges

- Cucumber

- Swiss Chard

Snack: ” “

Lunch: 1 Apple

Snack: 1 LARABAR – Cherry Pie

Dinner: 3 Course Meal:

- 1 Fig

- 2 Bananas

—————

- 1 cup Mixed Greens w/Blueberries and Goat’s Milk Feta

—————

- 2 Country Sausages w/ Home Made Kefir-Tzatziki

- 1tbsp Coconut Butter

Snack: Baba Ghanouj w/ 1 Rice Bun

——————————————

Nutritional Analysis:

——————————————

Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Normal defecation has persisted.

2. Acne is leaving.

——————————————

Physical Activity:

Morning: Biked to work (15 minutes).

Afternoon: Biked home from work, uphill (20 minutes) to the gym.

Evening: Ran 1.5 miles HIIT on Treadmill (15 minutes)… used free-weight and leg press. Then biked home (5 minutes).

_____________________

Day 33 Menu:

Breakfast: N/A

Snack: N/A

Lunch: 1 Apple

Snack: N/A

Dinner: 3 Course Meal

- 4 figs

- 1 cup Cherries

- 1 pint Blueberries

- 1 Cup lettuce

- juice of one orange

- 1tbsp Goat’s milk feta

—————

- 2 Country Sausages w/ Home Made Kefir-Tzatziki

—————

- Baba ganoush with 2 Rice Buns

- 1tbsp Coconut Butter

Snack: 1 Date

——————————————

Nutritional Analysis:

*Not Available

——————————————

Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Normal defecation.

2. I overate at dinner. Felt horrible. Learning and testing my limits.

——————————————

Physical Activity:

Afternoon: Walked to and from store.

[Via http://sassifer.wordpress.com]

To clean or not to clean? That is the question

Usually Mondays I go through and do a lot of cleaning, all the big stuff. sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, bedding, dusting, scrubbing bathrooms and so on. This past Monday I just couldn’t do it. My energizer battery wasn’t even close to being charged, So today feeling a bit better with just a tad more energy I decided to do the big clean. Mistake! When scrubbing the tub my arms felt like lead, so I decided maybe I should split my big cleaning day into two days.

I find myself getting very resentful of the other two female adults living in the house (both over 30) who do nothing, and when I say nothing I am not exaggerating. I find it disrespectful towards their father who has let them live here, helped them in any way he can. I find it harder and harder to keep quiet about this, even though I have spoken to their father more than once. Live in maid I am not, or am I? Why should I have to do it all plus take care of my daughter (age 7) and try to keep up in school full time? I am worn out.. So tired I can hardly stand it, staying awake is a chore. I have no help except from a man who works ten hour days and shouldn’t have to come home and clean, when there are three capable adults to do it.

I wonder what Dear Abby would advise me to do?

[Via http://tallison65.wordpress.com]

Paleolithic Diet: Day 29

Since yesterday or so.. I’ve been “backed up” in the fecal-machine. Yep. I’m constipated. Now, I’m not so constipated that I can’t eat… nor does my tummy hurt. But things aren’t “flowing” the way they should be.

I have very little in terms of theories to attempt to answer this riddle… all I know is I hope it rights itself.

I will keep you updated!

Today’s Menu:

Breakfast: 1 extra-small Local Cantaloupe

Snack: 4 Nectarines, small

Lunch: 3 LaraBars – 2 Cherry Pie, 1 Coconut Cream Pie

- Dates

- Cherries

- Almonds

——————

- Dates

- Cashews

- Coconut Oil

- Dried Coconut

Snack: 4 Figs

Dinner: Cedar-Wood Smoked Salmon w/ Avocado Mayo

- 1 Fillet of Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon

- fresh Basil

- fresh Chives

——————

- 2 Tbsp Avocado Mayo

——————

- 1/2 cup Mixed Veggies

Snack: 1 Apple

——————————————

Nutritional Analysis:

——————————————

Physical and Emotional Changes:

1. Nothing new to note, besides the fact that I’m still semi-backed up.

——————————————

Physical Activity:

Morning: Biked to work (15 minutes).

Afternoon: Biked home from work, uphill (20 minutes) to the gym.

Evening: Ran 2 miles HIIT on Treadmill (20 minutes)… then biked home (5 minutes).

[Via http://sassifer.wordpress.com]