Sweating Is NOT My Favorite Activity!

Sweating should be forbidden when a person exercises! I do NOT like the feeling of salty sweat dripping into my eyeballs! 

It Stings folks!

And I get all sticky feeling, and I stink . . . and it's just not right! EW!

It might be because it takes too much time and energy to bathe everyday... and when you sweat, you SHOULD bathe. I'm not judging here... just making an observation...

I think the REAL reason I don't like to sweat is because with chronic illnesses, we have learned to equate sweat with some negative things in our lives...

Like:

• if we sweat, we probably have a fever. Even though our temperature might read 98.6, for us that is could signal a fever - which means feeling feverish, then chills, then fever. then...

• if we sweat, it means that we have over done it AGAIN because we were feeling good for awhile and got everything on our list (and then some) "accomplished" while we could.

• If we sweat, our bodies are rebelling against us and we are headed for a flare up of whatever disease we are battling.

• If we sweat, we have to use extra energy or "spoons" to bathe, and heaven forbid wash our hair which takes even more energy! . . . and then a nap to regain that energy if we are lucky . . .Who has time for that everyday?

• If we sweat, and we bathe, we probably find out that we need to shave our legs because the hair on them is braid-able because we haven't had the energy to shave for awhile.

• If we sweat, we are going to need the rest of the day to sit down, and therefore miss out on all the other plans we have made (and will have to cancel . . . AGAIN) and just watch TV instead of live. . . we live vicariously through TV reality shows often enough anyway. 

• If we sweat, we have to admit to ourselves how "really" out of shape we are, because we have ignored our bodies "need" for exercise. But we have to ignore it because it is so far out of reach of our energy stores. Can I get a "I feel guilty" here?

• Basically, if we sweat, we have to think, acknowledge, and either fret because we "just can't do it" or we do it and then "fret" over the consequences.

Does that sound familiar?

I'm sorry that you have to go through this in your lives.

I'm sorry that I understand what you are going through.

Chronic Illness Sucks Balls. 

Yes, I said that.

(but you and I both know that's true.)

You're welcome.

As I was thinking about sweating today (while sweat was stinging my eyeballs) and all the negative connotations it implies for someone with a chronic illness, I also started thinking about all the good things sweat does for us. Things that I had forgotten about for so long! So here's a new list to consider:

• If we sweat, we can control the amount of sweat by following (in my case) the moderator of the activity we are doing. For instance, today I started a new exercise program through BeachBody on Demand called "The Shift Shop". (think playground games meets football training). It was really fun, and pretty intense, but they have someone doing a moderation of the exercises and you can follow that person. . . I couldn't even keep up with the moderator! But I did my best. I think I was sweating more than the hardest level person on the session was! So I controlled my amount of "sweat" or energy that way.

• If we sweat, it means that our body is building muscle, which means that we are GETTING STRONGER. If we aren't getting stronger, we are getting weaker. That's all we need with a chronic illness . . . something else to make us feel like crap!

• If we sweat, we REMOVE TOXINS from our bodies! Those toxins make us feel like YUK! Toxins build up in our bodies from all the meds we take, and processes that aren't working right in our bodies. Sweat is one way our bodies rid itself of some of those toxins. That's freakin' awesome right there!

• If we sweat, we are doing something POSITIVE for ourselves, and something that no one can take away from us for today! AND we did it ourselves!

• If we sweat, we SHOULD bathe, and that makes our loved ones love us even more! At least they will appreciate that we don't stink anymore, and that is always a good thing! 

• If we sweat, we create endorphins, which are hormones that make us feel good. Endorphines are great for depression and help lift our spirits! Chronic Illness Warriors suffer from depression a lot! I know it's hard to start the process of sweating from exercise when you are depressed...it's the last thing we WANT to do... get out of bed and move.... but it WILL help! It will help even MORE if you get your pretty little face in the sunshine! Which will also make you sweat! 

• If we sweat, we are taking back CONTROL of our lives. We are choosing to work to control the amount of pain we feel (instead of IT controlling US), the movement of our limbs, the strength of our muscles, and the attitude of our minds.

After thinking about this for awhile, while I still don't LIKE the way I feel when I sweat, I DON'T have to hate it. 

To be Politically Correct, I was bigoted about sweat. :) 

(If you know me, PC is something I am totally NOT! I don't think you can be truly sarcastic and be PC. . . and I enjoy sarcasm so much! It makes me happy on hard days! It's like punching hard days in the face!)

Although I'm addressing you, the reader, I am also documenting my journey with Beach Body and Shakeology and the effects that it is having on my body, my fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, j-pouch, blah, blah, blah...my health. With that said, I want to say something.

As I have been exercising, I have found that there is something else happening in my body. I haven't been quite able to pinpoint it until last night.

As I have been drinking Shakeology along with doing the Beach Body exercises, and following the food plan (basically learning portion control . . . AGAIN . . . ok, and that chocolate and diet coke are NOT a meal , it's my stress diet. . .) 

MY BODY IS HAPPIER!

Drinking Shakeology is giving me the nutrients that my body needs. I don't think my body has been able to absorb the nutrients that it needs because of all my gut issues and food sensitivities. Whenever I eat anything "clean" my body processes it pretty fast, and then dumps it. Because of that, I don't think that I was getting the nutrition that I needed, and my body went into "starvation mode".

(if your body doesn't dump [a polite way to say diarrhea] but holds on to the waste, Shakeology will help with regularity)

Starvation Mode is when your body holds on to every calorie that it gets, converts it to fat to be "stored" for a possible famine in your body due to lack of nutrition. It's very hard to lose weight this way, because your body just won't let those calories go! It saves that energy because it might need it later.

As I understand it, that causes stress on the body, which causes cortisol, another hormone, to increase. . . making MORE fat. It's a vicious cycle, and makes us feel worse.

I am starting to believe that Shakeology is allowing my body to absorb the nutrients! It's something that my body is accepting, and that is letting my body interpret nutrition! I think that alone is allowing my body to release that stored fat, and that is why I am starting to see a difference on the scale! And I'm doing it without the cravings! CRAZY!

Because of the ability to absorb that nutrition, I am also seeing my body get stronger, and having more energy. At least that is my Theory! All I know, is "SOMETHING" is starting to happen in my body.

And those are my thoughts today. Apparently I AM capable of more than this:

If you would like more information on Shakeology or Beach Body Fitness, either click on the link, or comment ME in the comments section. I hope that you have an awesome day, and do something POSITIVE for yourself today! 

YOU ARE WORTH THE FIGHT!

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Shakeology Recipe for the Day!

In a shaker bottle:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology (I use dairy/gluten free, Vegan)

1/2 tsp Cinnamon (anti-inflammatory)

1/2 tsp Ginger (anti-nausea)

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

1/4 tsp Allspice

-OR-

3/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Shake Vigorously

(then I add ice, as I like mine REALLY cold!)

1 red container

Drink to your health!

I hope all my chronic illness friends have a great, pain free day! . . . and a few less pain meds! :)

-Erlyn

Stop Being Sad, Start Being AWESOME!

Hey All!

Today is my Sabbath again, and I just wanted to share a little somethin' somethin' with you!

We all have a power within us called Agency, Free-Will or the power to Do What We Want.

This is a precious gift, and it's given to every single person on this earth.

With much power comes much responsibility. Our ability to control our own Happiness or our own Destiny is AMAZING!

No other creature on this earth has this ability! Do you realize that!

And yet here we are, imperfect souls floating in space on a beautiful world with everything that we need, surrounded by people who care for us, and the ability to choose to be Happy, or to be Sad.

While life isn't always perfect, we CAN choose the better part! We CAN choose to look on the bright side of things and be thankful that we don't have a harder trial than what we are dealt! We can choose to not be offended, or to not have certain people or situations in our lives.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!

or we can choose to not be happy.

When we choose happiness, we become empowered. 

We learn to stand for the things that will make us stronger. We are good to fight the good fight!

That's truth right there! We DO have the power within us!

Sometimes we are scared to whip that sucker out because it intimidates others, and sometimes it intimidates us!

But do you know what that power does?

It dispels fear!

It allows us to go a few more steps,

or hold a pose a few more breaths,

or eat one more bite of vegetables!

It encourages us to drink one more glass of water before that diet soda!

It encourages us to be the first to say Hello!

Or to help someone in need when our needs are just as great!

It helps us look up in gratitude, instead of down in defeat.

It gives us confidence and self esteem!

It allows others who aren't happy to light their own happy and be a beacon for others.

It breeds HOPE.

And... it lets us know that we are of GREAT WORTH!

My daughter made this for me when my father passed away five years ago. I have it hanging on my wall in my sewing room so I can see it all the time.

So here's to a NEW start to a NEW week with a NEW attitude!

GO OUT AND BE AWESOME!

-Erlyn

Well THAT Was Weird!!!

I never dreamed I would throw a perfectly good dinner away. . . but I did. 

Yesterday was the wedding of my Dad-in-Law and his new Wife. They had a sweet short ceremony with family and friends, followed by a catered dinner buffet. It was lovely.

I had worried all day about eating healthy, but turns out I really didn't need to worry. I had forgotten to drink my Shakeology before we left to get all the food, so I had my daughter bring it to the wedding. . . 

And I was struck with an extremely odd dilemma...

I had all this healthy food in front of me. . . 

I had planned for the healthy food . . .

I didn't want the healthy food. . . 

I WANTED the Shakeology! 

Who gives up a roast beef dinner for a protein drink? Really?

Turns out yes, really. 

I ended up throwing away most of my dinner, and I drank the Shakeology instead. And I was perfectly satisfied. 

I. Did. Not. Expect. That. !.

I wish I could explain what happened, but this is all new to me also. I CAN share what Shakeology is though. And maybe that will explain what is going on. 

• BeachBody refuses to use artificial sweeteners (Which is great as I am refusing to eat them anymore. I only eat natural sweeteners ie; honey, agave, etc)

• It's identified as a "Superfood" that is Nutrient Dense.

• It's loaded with Premium Protein and Amino Acids that help build lean muscle and reduce cravings. (I have NOT craved Diet Coke for a week since I started Shakeology. . . if that says anything)

• It's got Antioxidants and Super-fruits that help fight free radicals and support your Immune System. Free radicals are one element that encourages cancer in bodies. (The immune system protection was why I was willing to finally give it a chance!)

• Phytonutrients and Super-Greens are also in it. They support health and vitality. 

• Adaptogen Herbs that help body adapt and respond to the effects of Stress in your life.

• Shakeology has Probiotics, Prebiotics and Fiber that support the gut, help with regularity and healthy digestion. (I do NOT have a large intestine, so "regularity" is not a problem for me. But what I've found is that I am not as "loose" as I used to be! It's helping MY gut too! Yay!)

• It has digestive  Enzymes that help with nutrient absorption (which is HUGE for me and others with IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns, are Underweight, have had Gastric Bypass surgery, etc. This is another reason why I am giving Shakeology a chance. Nutrient absorption is huge with me. I am somewhat malnourished because of my J-pouch. Seems like the only "nutrient" that doesn't have a problem getting through is fat. )

• And Shakeology has Vitamins and Minerals that support Key body functions. 

As I type this list I think I can see WHY my body craved the Shakeology over the salad and meat. . . It's because I can DIGEST and ABSORB it! Interesting....

So this is a report to myself, and an accounting to you my readers, and also information for those seeking a healthier lifestyle. 

I survived the wedding. I ate healthy. And I found out a little bit more about myself. 


As I contemplated if I should write this on my Sabbath, I decided that this WAS appropriate. I believe that God has given us our bodies to take care of. We only get one of them and we don't get to trade them. We get them with all their glory, and all their problems. 
Our bodies teach us a lot if you really think about it. And no one is going to take care of  them for us! WE have to make that CHOICE whether or not we are going to treat them as the temples we are told they are. Even if.

I have a picture hanging in my home that I love. It says:

Sometimes we get to have the healthy bodies from the start, and we get to keep them through out our lives.

And Sometimes we have bodies that aren't so healthy, or that have become unhealthy, either by our own choice or by accident, and we have to live in them. 

For me, the storm is raging. And for me, I choose to let God calm me and protect me. I have done everything I could for my sick body. I have tried to keep healthy, but found that I was starting to drown in the sea. 

Beach body and Shakeology are my lifevest, put in my life at a time, I believe by God - through friends - that is giving me a chance to save the health that I have left. 

I can say that I am glad I started this journey. I feel stronger than I did a week ago. I am 3 pounds lighter than I was a week ago. I feel more energized than I was a week ago. I can say that something is happening here. It will be interesting to see if it lasts long term. I hope that it does.

If you would like more information you can comment below. I hope that you all have a wonderful day, and know that someone cares enough to write this blog so that you can maybe find your way to a healthier YOU!  I am not doing this to sell product. I am doing this because I know how much people can hurt. How much they can feel helpless and alone and not know where to turn for help when they have tried everything they can to feel better. I am hoping that you can follow my journey and perhaps better yours as well.

I'd like to hear from you if you'd care to comment on your own journey! 

YOU ARE AMAZING! ... remember that!

Sometimes as I go on my pathway through life, I can forget who I am. Life gets so busy that I just take the smoothest pathway and go with the flow of life. When I do that, I go into "mom mode" and take care of everyone around me. It's just what I do. I'm a mom.

And moms are not told enough how freakin' awesome y'all are! Neither are dads! And I'm going to put teens in there as well. We all go on our way thinking we are ordinary folk with troubles that no one can see except us! At one time or another, we can all feel alone on our journey in this life. 

So I just want to tell you:

YOU ARE AMAZING! YOU ARE A LIVING MIRACLE! REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE! 

I was on a phone call last night with a friend, and she commented how her kids were just about ready to be done in her "nest", and after all these years she could finally take some time for herself. She could finally get healthy again, and focus on her needs. As an observer I was emotional listening to her, and my heart hurt for her that she had to wait so long to be able to take care of herself.

 This morning, I am reflecting on that call, and I looked inward at my own life, and I am living the same life! Why do we do that? Why in our quest to not be selfish and to please and take care of others, not to mention avoiding conflict, do we allow ourselves to be used as doormats to do others bidding? Even our own children... our GROWN children? 

I am living the life that I was emotional about in someone else. That's a problem!

I find that on my journey to get healthy, it's easier to succumb to other peoples wants. It's a mind game to be able to stand up for yourself without being over-bearing and un-agreeable. I still haven't found that happy place where I can be taken care of and my family can be happy. I fight it every day. Thankfully some days are easier than others. 

I don't have a solution yet, except this:

I am worth fighting for.

I am the warrior that has to do the fighting.

I have to be strong mentally as well as physically.

It's also a spiritual journey. Thankfully God is always there when we need Him and reach out for help.

It's ok to cry and rest - but don't give up.

I am worth fighting for.

And so I will.

I fought this morning. Once for me doing my daily Yoga Retreat, and once again with my daughter who is visiting. She kicked my butt! 

It was interesting doing that second round of the 3 week yoga retreat. I did it on my first day, and now 6 days later I did it again. I found that I am more flexible than I was that first day. My balance isn't perfect but it's better. And I can do a full plank! Not for long, but I can do it. I never thought that I would be strong enough to do that! 

BUT I DID IT!

That surprised me! 

Life gets tough, but keep going! It's worth the work, the tears and the TIME! If I can do it, then you can too. And don't think you can't! 

YOU CAN. . . BECAUSE YOU ARE AMAZING!

And now, I'm going to go have my Beach Body Shakeology! I think it's starting to make a difference!

If you would like to join me on my journey, or would like more information about the program I'm following, comment me below. 

Shakology Recipe of the Day:

Mint Chocolate Shakeology

In a blender, or shaker bottle add:

8-12 oz water

1/2 teaspoon Mint extract

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology

Ice to blend, or ice in shaker bottle to cool.

Shake or blend and then ENJOY YOUR DAY FRIENDS!