but... my recent MRI brings great news! no new lesions and no active lesions. so the plan is to stop the monthly chemo treatments i've been enduring for 10 months and move forward with tecfidera. it's the newest drug for ms on the market. it can't possibly be the roller coaster ride that chemo was, but i've got to be ready.
i plan to take control of my MS in 2014. it's possible! making smart food choices and getting my body strong can help with side effects from drugs and keep the body/mind strong enough if relapses do occur. my resolutions this year reflect as such.
resolution #1 - diet
while i've been following a vegan diet for over 2 years, i will admit to you that on certain occasions i have let certain items slide. a baked item, a sprinkle of cheese, cream in my coffee when there was no alternative. i've not slipped on meat but i have on some dairy. but some of the resources i've been reading lately discuss a possible link between dairy and ms as well as some other autoimmune diseases. so truly, is it worth it to me? no! so i am done with dairy forever. if i want a baked item i will need to make it myself. if there is nothing vegan on the menu, i will leave. no non-dairy creamer...my coffee will remain black.
something else i've been reading in this book called Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis is the part of saturated fats. there is evidence that a diet high in saturated fats can lead to more relapses and more disability over time. well there is just no room for that in my book. so it's time to limit saturated fats to almost none. i've never been one to count calories, but i'm going to have to start counting saturated fats. no chips and fried foods. they are not worth it.
another bit of information from that book regarding diet has to do with omega-3 fatty acids. they play a role in the production and flexibility of myelin. that's good stuff. many people see fish as the best way to get omega 3s. a fish oil supplement is taken by many. as a vegan i seek omega-3s in flax seeds and chia seeds. i've been taking this Udo's Oil 3-6-9 blend daily which i think fantastic! i just blend it in my smoothie or drizzle on salad or toast.
resolution #2 - meditation & faith
i do meditate now but not regularly and not nearly enough. and i'm not even good at it yet. i still require a guided meditation on youtube or on one of my apps. though i do feel it helps, i don't feel like i'm getting the mind/body connection i should. i've not leaned to quiet my mind. in fact when i try to quiet my mind i feel it gets louder.
i need to follow through with a meditation regimen. i know it will lead me to be strong in mind, be light when stressed, and be faithful in my journey. this is me. i am happy with me, content with the journey.
resolution #3 - strong body
i know everyone says exercise as a resolution. so cliche! but i must be here. i've been going through a new phase mentally regarding my ms. i've been thinking about how tired i am fighting ms and how i will have to fight it for the rest of my life. it's overwhelming to think about, and i can see how that thought can send an ms fighter down a depressed road. in particular i've been thinking of all the things i used to do like kayak, run, hike, snorkel and how someday i may not be physically capable of those things anymore. there may be a time when i can no longer walk. so depressing i know!
however, none of this has happened to me yet. so what the blue blazes am i upset about and what am i waiting for? my body is still capable! my body is still strong! i need to feel joy everyday i wake up to that fact. and i need to move. exercise for strength and exercise until it hurts. then i'll know that when my body really does hurt i will be strong enough to still move and i will be resilient enough to be able to endure it.
resolution #4 - gratitude
i've chosen to start a gratitude journal. start documenting both the big and little thankfuls. remind myself everyday why i am grateful. these things need to be in the now. what am i grateful for now? what adds to my happiness now? i know this daily check in with myself will help keep my outlook positive, never negative! i can't allow myself to think that the future looks dim. how can it when the present is so amazing?!
my gratitudes so far this year include my daughter's fearlessness when faced with a tooth being pulled, my kid's great attitude towards meatless mondays, and my new connections with ms-ers through instagram.
2014 is going to be amazing. i have confidence that my resolutions will get me through the year relapse-free and i know they will help me become just a little bit better of a person.
stay strong - j
resolution #1 - diet
while i've been following a vegan diet for over 2 years, i will admit to you that on certain occasions i have let certain items slide. a baked item, a sprinkle of cheese, cream in my coffee when there was no alternative. i've not slipped on meat but i have on some dairy. but some of the resources i've been reading lately discuss a possible link between dairy and ms as well as some other autoimmune diseases. so truly, is it worth it to me? no! so i am done with dairy forever. if i want a baked item i will need to make it myself. if there is nothing vegan on the menu, i will leave. no non-dairy creamer...my coffee will remain black.
something else i've been reading in this book called Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis is the part of saturated fats. there is evidence that a diet high in saturated fats can lead to more relapses and more disability over time. well there is just no room for that in my book. so it's time to limit saturated fats to almost none. i've never been one to count calories, but i'm going to have to start counting saturated fats. no chips and fried foods. they are not worth it.
another bit of information from that book regarding diet has to do with omega-3 fatty acids. they play a role in the production and flexibility of myelin. that's good stuff. many people see fish as the best way to get omega 3s. a fish oil supplement is taken by many. as a vegan i seek omega-3s in flax seeds and chia seeds. i've been taking this Udo's Oil 3-6-9 blend daily which i think fantastic! i just blend it in my smoothie or drizzle on salad or toast.
resolution #2 - meditation & faith
i do meditate now but not regularly and not nearly enough. and i'm not even good at it yet. i still require a guided meditation on youtube or on one of my apps. though i do feel it helps, i don't feel like i'm getting the mind/body connection i should. i've not leaned to quiet my mind. in fact when i try to quiet my mind i feel it gets louder.
i need to follow through with a meditation regimen. i know it will lead me to be strong in mind, be light when stressed, and be faithful in my journey. this is me. i am happy with me, content with the journey.
resolution #3 - strong body
i know everyone says exercise as a resolution. so cliche! but i must be here. i've been going through a new phase mentally regarding my ms. i've been thinking about how tired i am fighting ms and how i will have to fight it for the rest of my life. it's overwhelming to think about, and i can see how that thought can send an ms fighter down a depressed road. in particular i've been thinking of all the things i used to do like kayak, run, hike, snorkel and how someday i may not be physically capable of those things anymore. there may be a time when i can no longer walk. so depressing i know!
however, none of this has happened to me yet. so what the blue blazes am i upset about and what am i waiting for? my body is still capable! my body is still strong! i need to feel joy everyday i wake up to that fact. and i need to move. exercise for strength and exercise until it hurts. then i'll know that when my body really does hurt i will be strong enough to still move and i will be resilient enough to be able to endure it.
resolution #4 - gratitude
i've chosen to start a gratitude journal. start documenting both the big and little thankfuls. remind myself everyday why i am grateful. these things need to be in the now. what am i grateful for now? what adds to my happiness now? i know this daily check in with myself will help keep my outlook positive, never negative! i can't allow myself to think that the future looks dim. how can it when the present is so amazing?!
my gratitudes so far this year include my daughter's fearlessness when faced with a tooth being pulled, my kid's great attitude towards meatless mondays, and my new connections with ms-ers through instagram.
2014 is going to be amazing. i have confidence that my resolutions will get me through the year relapse-free and i know they will help me become just a little bit better of a person.
stay strong - j
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