A Quick Post...

Just a quick post! - no pretty pictures today!

I have been doing an experiment on my health using BeachBody/Shakeology products. I lost 10 pounds in a month, (but nothing since - although the inches are less) and the Shakeology gave me added energy, although it didn't take away the pain or flares of my Fibromyalgia. 

For the last three weeks I have been in a pretty ornery flare, with a lot of nausea, sweats and chills, pain, back spasms and fatigue. While I did drink the shakeology during this time, it didn't take any of the symptoms away, or improve them that I could tell. It did however give me good nutrition during the times that I couldn't cook or feel like getting "real food" besides a nutritional supplement. 

I was so hoping that this would be a magic bullet and that all my wildest dreams of being healthy again would come true. Sadly, that wasn't my experience. At least not totally. And not enough to continue to spend $130 month on a nutritional supplement. 

I am continuing my subscription to the Beach Body on Demand though, as I like their yoga programs. I will re-visit the program question when my year subscription is up next July. Until then I'll enjoy the yoga programs. I find that they are gentle like I need, and I like how I can change up my workouts. I do feel stronger when I exercise. . . when I have enough energy to do it! Not so much the last three weeks. 

While I am sad that I didn't find something that would work long term through Beach Body / shakeology, I am not through fighting. I have learned that I feel better when I am active, but that I need to do gentle exercises for my body. I have learned that I need to eat well and clean, and that water, water, water is a key to detoxing my body and keeping weight off. I have learned that there are awesome people in the world that I didn't know before, and I love celebrating their weightloss milestones with them, and seeing them regain their health. I just can't keep up with them. And I was stressing myself out trying to!

I have learned better how to pace myself. . . a never ending lesson! I have learned that I need to put my health on a front burner instead of the back burner, and that's it's ok to make time for myself to be healthy. I have also learned that there are a lot of Fibro-Warriors out there that are looking for the very thing that I am looking for. 

And like you, I am not done fighting. I am not done looking for something to give me back my life. I am also not done writing this blog! Let's just say that I am just getting started!

While the blog may go through a metamorphosis, it will still follow my health and things that I am trying. Since this blog is ad-free, I don't feel a "need" to write when I don't feel well. So there may be times that this blog will go into a lull, but I'm not going away. I have found that the voices out there that speak to Fibro-Health are few at best. The news is old, and pinterest has all the same old articles with new pictures on them. But I am willing to share what I find, when I find it.

With that said, I hope that everyone has a wonderful day. I hope that you stay positive, and know that someone is praying for all of us that struggle with Chronic Illnesses. (it's me). 

-Erlyn

Cardio is Fun?

A week ago I finished my 3 Week Yoga Retreat. I loved those exercises, even though they were hard.  I could feel my body getting stronger. I lost over 10 pounds and 9 inches with that 3 week retreat (don't let the name fool you. I have Fibromyalgia, and that 3 weeks was more like 4 1/2 weeks...) but I finished it. I reported it on Team BeachBody, and then I decided to try a new exercise session. . . and I wanted the t-shirt and the bragging rights that went with it! So I decided to go with "21-Day Fix". 21 days. Another 3-weeker. (4 1/2 weeker wink wink). The promise of a free t-shirt reward. I found my next exercise.

I started with Day 1- Total Body Cardio. Not bad. A little sore, but not bad! 

Day 2 - Still Sore. Oh Good. Upper Body. I can handle this.

Day 3 -  Someone who shall remain nameless forgot to take their meds and now can't walk. No Exercises today!

Day 4 -  Can't walk. No exercises for me today!

Day 5 -  Still can't walk well, but am tired from just sitting around. My BRAIN isn't sick. just my BODY hates me. Oh Good. Pilates.

And then Today...

Day 6 - Cardio Fix. . . NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

And So It Begins...

C - Cats. Because cats are way better than cardio. They smell better and they are all cuddly. No one wants to cuddle after you do cardio! Because you stink! Cats don't mind if you stink though. . . in fact, I think they like it...maybe it's just the salty after-taste.

A- Arms. Have you ever noticed that cardio can't be done without waving your arms all over kingdom come?? It's like your heart won't beat if you don't flag down the passing train! My heart beats hard enough just getting out of bed in the morning! 

R- Rosy Cheeks are a must when one does cardio. I think it comes from holding your breath while trying to keep up with the modifier! 

D- Death Wish. Does this one really need explaining?

I- I want this session to end please . . . and then you hear "Push Yourself!". Uhh.... nope!

O- Oh My Gosh, I'm going to die! I really meant it when I said, "I want this session to end please!" It is also the shape my lips make while trying to breathe!

I- I am wondering if I made the right choice of exercises, because I am dying here! I have to modify the modifier, and I'm still having a hard time. Man this Fibro has totally turned my life upside down! . . . I really want that Free t-shirt! If nothing else gets me through these sessions, this awesome t-shirt promise will!

S- Sucker! Autumn Calabrese and her *BONUS* exercises. Today she was saying how we know she likes to throw a bonus exercise in there! "It's not optional. It's a bonus. Get off your booty and get to work!" I showed her though. I sat on my booty and waved down the passing train!

F- Fetal Position. It's the position I want to take when instructed to take "child's pose" for that 3 second rest I've earned! I don't though. I take a 5-second rest instead. Pretending that I have to "watch" the modifier to see the whole move. 

U- Underwear. Either pick them out or don't wear them. I'll let you decide. 

N- Not your Richard Simmons Cardio! Beach Body Cardio on the 21 day Fix is not Richard Simmons sweatin'-to-the-oldies. It's New Age kick your butt cardio with a swim-suit competitor as the drill sergeant! Richard Simmons was kind to old ladies. Autumn Calabrese doesn't care what your age is. She put a modifier in there for a reason. Get off your booty and MOVE!

And so I finished the whole 30 minutes with not one swear! It's probably because I couldn't breathe. but I finished it! I found that it wasn't as bad as the first Total Body Cardio - who has two thumbs and remembered to take their medicine! 

I even did the dishes when I was done! That's all the energy I had for the day, but I did them. 

I am finding that even though I am in a flare right now, the shakeology is helping with a little added energy. It's also helping me feel a little bit better than I normally do. 

And...

It's getting me one step closer to that sweet free t-shirt! If that isn't a reason to kick my butt .... I mean move my booty every morning, I don't know what is!

Just Kidding!

. . . But I really do want that t-shirt. 

INSOMNIA!!!!!

It has been a TOUGH week!

This week hasn't been so pleasant health wise. I've had my share of migraines and fibro-pain, but the thing that threw my week into a whirlwind is the stupid

Man! When that hits me, it just throws me into a loop!

I wake up ANGRY that I didn't get any sleep! At least it feels that way to me!

I'm pissed off the whole night because I toss and turn, and WANT to sleep, but I just CAN'T! Have you ever woken up angry? It just seems to last the whole day!

And I sleep next to my cuddly hubster and he falls asleep within MINUTES of his head hitting the pillow! 

Do you know what it's like to not be able to sleep, while you are laying there by someone who is stealing your zzzz's?

Yeah. It's not so fun!

I woke up so ticked off that my first thing to do was to look up

"ugly people" on google images to be able to post a picture of what I felt like. . . Not a great idea. I felt worse than that and it wasn't fair to those people to post their pictures on a post where I am ranting!

So I looked up insomnia cartoons on pinterest. That was better. I wasn't labeling people and some of the cartoons made me laugh, which was just what I needed!

Although I woke up feeling crappy, I was disciplined enough to do my yoga. I actually had missed a few days due to just feeling wiped out from the Fibromyalgia and Migraines that I started the 3rd week over. I'm so glad that I did. 

After stretching out and warming up, I already felt better, and it helped with the migraine that I had from lack of sleep. Yoga and a medical cocktail that is. (Thank you Dr. G!)

By the time the yoga was done 30 minutes later, I felt better than I did when I got up and was able to go about my day. I thought I'd sleep better but....

.... I stayed up til after midnight again because my brain was too awake from lack of sleep! I know that sounds so backwards, but that is INSOMNIA! It's a wicked little brain trick. . . my brain won't shut off. . . 

When I have insomnia, I lay there, and do this!

At that point I do one of a few things. 

• Turn on the TV

• Pin Pinterest on Insomnia, Migraine or Fibromyalgia, because I KNOW what is coming in the morning...

• Go eat something. Sometimes I don't realize I'm hungry. It takes energy to sleep. These are the times that I think of the little ones that have to go to bed without food. It makes me sad. If I can't sleep because of this, and they are in the same situation, how do they function and learn and grow. . . which makes my insomnia worse. Prayer helps.

• Turn around on my bed so my head is facing the bottom, and turn on my heating pad to keep my feet warm.

• Cuddle with the hubster. I like this one.

While I was doing my insomnia research, I found this graphic above. That's a scary thing for most of us. I think Insomnia is pretty wide spread, and I don't think people realize how serious it can be.

There is help out there. My neurologist has given me some help. I am not a medical expert, neither do I fancy being sued or held accountable for other peoples medical problems, so if you need medical help with this, go see your doctor.

But I can pass on the advice my doc gave me:

• go to bed at a set time every night

• turn the lights down low 1 hour before bedtime

• don't watch t.v. in bed, or read, or anything electronic

• stop all electronic devices when you turn the lights down low

• sleep in a cool room

• don't consume caffeine . . . AT ALL

So, it's been three nights without a good nights sleep. My fibro and migraines are having a party in my body. 

BUT

I have kept up on my exercises for those three days

and I have drunk my shakeology.

I grog around my house until about 8pm, and then I wake up.

But guess what?

And that is my plan!

Although I am on a health and fitness journey, I have to allow my body to rest when it needs it,

eat nutritious food and learn to say "NO". 

(I have a really difficult time with that last one!)

But when this flare is over.... I'm coming back as the FIRE!

Have a great day everyone!

Shakeology Recipe of the day:

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter

In a blender add:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop chocolate vegan shakeology

2 tsp natural peanut butter or other nut butter

1 green container spinach

1/2 tablespoon natural cocoa

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (anti-inflamatory)

ice

Blend! Drink to your health!

No Harvest if You Don't Plant the Seeds!

I have spent the last week travelling through North Dakota and the rolling hills and beautiful farms. It has been so pleasant and lovely! I love it up here!

I have the opportunity to come up here every once in awhile because the hubster works with the oil fields. While he works, I get to read, paint, sleep, rest, this time - workout, and enjoy the bounty of nature and history while we transverse this beautiful country. 

As I was eating breakfast this morning preparing to fly home, I was reading my scriptures and found these verses that talk about planting seeds, and what you can expect from the harvest from the seeds you plant.

If they are good seeds, then you can expect good things. If they are bad seeds, they won't grow and therefore you won't get anything for all your work. These scriptures also talked about US and how we have to plant our seeds with faith.

When you plant seeds, you have to wait to see if they will sprout. That waiting and patience takes faith. Because right now all you have is a dirt field or plot. . . and a lot of sweat! (And you know how I feel about sweat!)

After the seeds sprout, is the work done? NO! Now the real work starts! Weeding.

If you don't weed that garden and nourish and water those baby plants, they get overcome and they die. Again, if you don't take care of them, no harvest!

Does it end there? Nope!

More water, more weeding, and now you get the little critters that will be so happy that you planted a buffet for them! At least that's how it is at my house on the mountain! I tried a garden the first season we were there. The deer were thrilled. I was pretty pissed off. Now I grow weeds, and I'm very good at it! . . . who are we kidding. I used to tell my boys to go "mow the garden" when they were younger. A green thumb was not in my package of gifts I received at birth!

But I digress...

With enough faith to plant those seeds, care when the seedlings are tender, water and feeding of the plants and fruit of the vine, we finally get to the HARVEST!

Now that we have grown our garden the vegetables and fruits are so happy that you have given them life that they will pluck themselves right from the mother plant and march into your kitchen and preserve themselves! Right????

What? No? What the....

Dang! After all that work you have harvested MORE WORK?

That seems so unfair!

...until winter comes...

Then all that work seems legit. It's worth the sweat and care and time and sacrifice. It is the gift that sustains you, and gives you a better and healthier life. Right?

It gives you options when others might not have as many.

And it brings peace of mind.

Of course, it will bring more work as you use that harvest to make future meals. You might even use it to bless others. But the work is worth it.

Those were my thoughts this morning as I read that story, and reflected on my travels through the farms, and the beautiful fields of sunflowers. 

But what does it have to do with my journey to get healthy?

Well . . . pretty much everything if you think about it.

Don't we all start with a hope (seed) that we can do something to better our health and our lives? We do.

And then we act in faith when we decide to follow on that hope! We WANT something to happen, and we have taken action to make it happen. We have planted the garden, or started the journey, to better our health and our life!

So lets stop. We have taken the actions and we can just hang back now and watch, right? Heck NO! Just like in the garden, our work has just started! I do NOT have a green thumb like my dad did. I know it has to do with weeding! I really don't like weeding. If I could do it once, it wouldn't bother me, but man! Those suckers come up every. single. day. If you don't stay on them, they just ruin the whole garden!

Like weeds, workouts need to be every. single. day. 

I mean....

YAY! WE'RE GOING TO EXERCISE!

Weeds can be anything that derails you from your goals. Failure to plan, fear of success (like me), negative thoughts, feeling like you aren't worth the bother, don't want to commit that much time or patience to see results... These are all weeds. Pull them. Stop making excuses and start making results. Be positive and get rid of the weeds! 

Workouts, when one starts, can also be viewed as a weed! 

Weeds with deep roots and are hard to pull out! Exercising our bodies when we first start - especially after being dormant - is HARD WORK! But guess what happens when you pull out those hard weeds? You get stronger. And stronger. And you get stronger than that weed. Your body gets stronger and you can endure the exercises. You might have to take a rest and wipe the sweat off, but you finish that weeding and that workout. And for some reason, just like in the garden, we feel accomplished! There is a FEELING that comes with working out. And with practice that weeding ceases to be a chore, and it becomes a motivation for a great harvest!

So you've started your journey, planted, planned for critters that might derail you and steal your harvest, weeded out negative thoughts, started your workout, and now it's time to feed and water!

FEED YOURSELF HEALTHY, CLEAN, FOOD! 

Without the right kind of fuel, plants won't grow. Without the right kind of fuel, your body won't be healthy. Period.

• Stop with the sodas! They are chemicals.

• Stop with the unnatural sugars! They are addicting, and also chemicals!

• If you can put it under hot water, and then eat it after, it should be ok to eat! So cake? um... no.

• Gluten Free Ginger Cookies Erlyn? um.... no. (but they are so good! dang it!)

• I try to only eat natural sugars. ie; pure maple syrup, raw sugar, raw honey, agave, etc. I know I feel better and not as sluggish when I do this, and my body likes it too. Am I perfect? no. Do I try every day / hour / minute? yes.

• Eat things in as natural a state as you can get them and afford them. The last time I checked, McDonald's wasn't on that list. Just sayin'

• I drink Shakeology every day. It is dense nutrition, and is proving to be something that my body can absorb nutrition from! I am seeing it in the energy I have and the ability to do activities for a longer period than I was just a month ago. It is proving to be a great fuel!

AND

Remember to water the garden.

YOUR BODY NEEDS WATER!

Right now I drink 96 ounces of water a day.

• I don't include the water I drink during the night because the amount varies depending on if I can sleep. or if I celebrate insomnia once again. (who can get up to pee 100 times per night if you don't drink after every bathroom visit?)

• Nor do I include the water I add to my dense nutrition shake, the wonderful Shakeology that is making a huge difference in my health! Who knew! Oh wait. My patient coach did. lol. Thanks Cindee!

• I don't include any other liquid. I only count my water! That is a lot of water! But I do it. And I do it because it's one of my goals. BOOM!

• Water flushes toxins, makes your skin glow, makes you poop easier, 

• and I read somewhere that you can be 20 years younger if you drink more water. I plomise! ;o)

• Drink half your body weight in ounces of water! (yes, you should be drinking that much water EVERY. DAY.

Here's how to find out how much water to drink:

Body Weight divided by 2 = how many ounces you should drink.

150 pounds / 2 = 75 ounces of water or 4 1/2 water bottles

(Oh if I only weighed 150!....)

I can only do plain water so much. I do love to put in natural flavors, and these are some ideas to get you started! My personal favorite is orange, lemon and strawberries. I just put them in a PLASTIC or GLASS container, preferably one that has an infuser included. DO NOT add citrus to metal water bottles. The weak acid will dissolve some of the metal into the water. It tastes nasty and your water bottle will retain that flavor for awhile. . . Don't ask me how I know this information so thoroughly! Just trust me on this one!

So! We now have:

Got the Plan (seeds). Check!

Got the Workouts (Faith = action!). Check!

Weeded negative thoughts. Check!

Got the Food. Check!

Got the Water. Check!

Keeping the critters out???

Here's where getting healthy gets hard. The critters up by me are sneaky little things. You plant something that is supposed to be critter proof . . . which it is . . . but they have to "taste" it. Just to make sure that they don't like it.

Which would be fine if they were the only ones that would take a nibble. But they aren't. EVERYONE has to take a nibble. and they nibble it right down to the roots! The fact that the poor plant has been pecked to the ground caused it to fail and die. Sadly, we are the same way if our personal critters get the best of us!

What are some of the critters in your life that stop you from harvesting and reaching your goals?

 I know some of mine are PEOPLE who want me to spend my time doing things for them or with them when I should be working out or taking the time to eat healthy, or get my rest. Or they don't support my goals, or heaven forbid try to SABOTAGE my efforts. Sometimes that's me, and sometimes that's other people!

Another critter of mine is TIME. I don't take the time to plan ahead. Fibromyalgia has been a curse in this area and has taught me some bad habits! Seems like when I make plans my body laughs and laughs and then I wind up in bed without the energy to make healthy food or exercise. I just lay there and watch my personal critters favorite movies. If I took the time to plan ahead I would be able to eat healthy because the meal prep would be done. That is on the goal-to-do list! I just need to find out what all this "meal-prep-Monday" is about!

So be wary of the critters trying to harm the harvest, or your goals. Sometimes we have to "exterminate" them! Be they thoughts or others - put a little space between harmful behaviors and your goals.

And Finally, the Harvest!

As we traveled, the farmers had mowed the alfalfa and were harvesting it. Beautiful stripes of ocher and burnt sienna flowed over the harvested landscape. Sunflower heads hung heavy with seeds that are almost ready. It was beautiful!

 .... Like the sunflowers, I'm still in my growing season. I'm figuring out what I need to do to achieve my harvest. I am working for the day when I can take my measurements, and weigh myself and look in the mirror at a healthier me. That will be my harvest. After a very long, frustrating, and sometimes lonely growing season! (the last 5 years!)

A few verses that struck me the most on my journey today, are these:

"If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, 

which are true."

and...

"Now, as I said concerning faith - that it was not a perfect knowledge - even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, anymore than faith is a perfect knowledge.

"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than DESIRE TO BELIEVE, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

and finally - 

"... ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."

And that, my friends is the harvest. Seeing yourself come off victorious! Seeing the results of your labors! And enjoying the accomplishments of the time, workouts, and sacrifices you have made. 

Enjoy the fruits of your labors in your successes!

Plan for maintaining that success by planning for the future and continuing to do the things that brought you that success in the first place! 

Farming isn't a one season thing. It's a lifestyle.

So is living a healthy life!

And just so you know... You ARE worth it!

Have a great day everyone! I hope you enjoyed the Solar Eclipse today! I watched it from the airport while I drank my shakeology and waited for a delayed plane! lol

Shakeology Recipe of the Day:

In a blender bottle:

go to the cafe in the airport and get 8-12 oz cold water and some ice! :)

1 pre-measured scoop chocolate Shakeology with

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Put the lid on and shake, shake, shake while you smile at people walking by because you have delicious Shakeology and they do not! ;)

Smile at the hubster because you have delicious shakeology and he spent $7. on a dry sandwich. Yeah baby!

Drink to your health!

-Erlyn

If you would like more information about Shakeology

or Beach Body, please leave a comment or visit my websites.

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