Lets talk about that oh so difficult topic for many people...exercise! Finding the motivation to work out on your own can be like pulling teeth sometimes, even with a workout buddy to hold you accountable! I used to have excuse after excuse why I couldn't make it to the gym like, I don't have the money for a membership, my sugar always messes up when I workout, I don't want to go by myself, etc...I'm sure many of you can relate with at least one of those!
Once I was diagnosed I knew my life would be changing forever, in some ways to keep me alive, some ways to make me feel more comfortable while completing what used to be easy tasks, and some for my own selfish reasons. Exercise, of course has many great benefits. The biggest reasons to exercise for me are for stress relief, natural anti-depressant, and self-satisfaction in the way I see my body changing from week to week. Once I got a better idea of things I should eat and making grocery lists, I decided working out should be my next healthy habit to add to my new life. I began following many motivating blogs and looking on Pinterest to give me ideas of new workouts to try. My husband set up an appointment with a personal trainer at our gym for me and I was on my way to my new and improved body and outlook. After I worked with the trainer for one day I was so sore I could barely move for the next four but didn't stop going to the gym. [Always remember, if you don't workout the soreness it will get worse and then you will have to deal with it all over again next time you work out.] I continued the workout the trainer showed me until it was no longer challenging to me, at this point I had to change my routine. I have learned if I continue to change up my workout routine and "shock" my body and muscles, I will continue to grow and see improvements and changes in my muscles. We are creatures of habit by nature so change is hard sometimes, especially when we aren't sure of what to do...luckily the Internet is full of assistance for many different things, including workouts. Personally, I like to do circuits, and rotations of workouts. I usually stay on a three day rotation but change up the type of workouts I do to focus on the different areas. For example: I always start with a cardio warm up- treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, etc...
Day 1: chest and triceps, lower body, and tabata timer for abs
Day 2: extra cardio, back and biceps, tabata timer and weighted obliques for abs
Day 3 shoulders, lower body, and tabata time for abs
For once in my life, I can focus on getting and feeling better than I ever could in my life. I am currently not working due to summer break and not going to school, which I used so much as an excuse in the past. I have a wonderful support system that helps keep me focused on my goal and tons of motivation. Nothing will stop me from reaching my goal. Some day I feel weak from lupus but I have learned to wait a little while and try again later in the day or do a less strenuous workout. Never give up on a dream and set your focus on your goal. After all, you are the only one you will let down! Makes yourself proud of what you did!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
That Healthy New Hobby
As you read in my last post, my healthy eating habits led to me starting a new hobby. This, as you also know, eating healthy gets extremely costly at times and can make it somewhat discouraging when you see the grocery bill every two weeks continue to grow. I was eating zucchini and squash on a daily basis, my visits to the store became more frequent and my wallet continually got "lighter" and "lighter". At this, my husband thought of planting our own garden with the things we use the most to cut back on having to spend so much. I somewhat chuckled at the thought because, well lets just say I have worse than a brown thumb, at least with flowers! He understood my concerns with possibly spending all this money to start a garden and watching it shrivel up and die in a matter of weeks but gave me confidence that he would make sure to attend it daily until it was healthy enough for me to care for it. Thank goodness I let him talk me into this! My new garden became my baby that I enjoyed just walking around and looking at every few hours. I enjoyed my quiet time outside in the sun while listening to God's creatures and enjoying what God had allowed to grow in my very own backyard. What started out as very weak tiny plants that I had little confidence in became very productive large plants that had to be replanted twice due to the massive plants they became. I began getting so much from my zucchini and squash plants that I was able to freeze three gallon size freezer bags full and still have some coming in. My tomato plants were, and still are, so successful that we could make homemade healthy tomato sauce and even give some to a friend that needed some fresh veggies.
Of course all good things must come to an end...but not yet! I though I had seen my last zucchini and squash for the year due to nasty squash bugs sucking the water and nutrients out of my healthy garden but I wasn't giving up that easily. A quick visit to Lowes to get the miracle Sevin Dust and lots of watering brought my garden back to producing again! I'm so thankful for what God has allowed in my life and my little backyard. I can't wait to see what the future holds nor can I wait to plant a "real" garden at my forever home in Georgia that I can share my produce with my friends and family!
Healthy Habits -Part 2 coming soon! ;)
Of course all good things must come to an end...but not yet! I though I had seen my last zucchini and squash for the year due to nasty squash bugs sucking the water and nutrients out of my healthy garden but I wasn't giving up that easily. A quick visit to Lowes to get the miracle Sevin Dust and lots of watering brought my garden back to producing again! I'm so thankful for what God has allowed in my life and my little backyard. I can't wait to see what the future holds nor can I wait to plant a "real" garden at my forever home in Georgia that I can share my produce with my friends and family!
Healthy Habits -Part 2 coming soon! ;)
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Healthy Habits...Part 1 :)
During the process of finding out my diagnosis I was told I had entirely too much protein, potassium, and needed less sodium in my body. As most people know, almost everything consist of at least one of these three ingredients. This meant big time changes in my diet. At first I was totally confused as to what I could and couldn't eat, not to mention I didn't have much of any kind of appetite. This is where I started researching and putting all the "what not to eat" list from the doctors together to come up with a diet that I could live with as far as cravings as well as work with my newest health issues. I've always loved mostly any kind of fruit and vegetable so you would think it would be easy...not so much. Almost every fruit that I completely love has high levels of potassium in them as well as many of the veggies I enjoy. Every tropical fruit was out of the question, of course bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and the list continues. Even coffee has potassium in it so, while I could continue to have my one cup of black coffee every morning, that's the only cup I could have the whole day, so it had to count! I come from a large Italian family, which, of course means lots of pasta and heavy carbohydrates and lots of salt and seasonings. This took a toll on my grocery list being that a quick pot of spaghetti was one of the easiest things I could fix up along with stuffed shells, and of course pizza. No more of any of that, at least the way I was used to. I was told my blood pressure would get out of control again and I needed to avoid the sodium as much as possible. Now on to protein. Of course when I thought of protein, I would think meat, steak, chicken, fish, etc. Obviously these types of food have protein but what many people don't realize is what else contains protein. Many veggies also contain protein, beans, and nuts are also examples. I thought, goodness, what CAN I eat??
While my doctors were helpful in telling me what to stay away from, they were not going to make me a diet plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner...this was my turn to learn about food, my body, and my disease. I learned that organic options along with gluten free foods are great for lupus patients, many different types of fish, especially salmon, is wonderful for lupus (just have to be careful on the size of the fillet due to high amounts of potassium in the salmon), dairy free profits were better options, and, thank goodness, fruit! I began my pantry and refrigerator makeover. The chocolate candy and cookies were replaced with all natural dark chocolate chips, dried fruit, and lots of fresh fruit. The bags upon bags of chips and crackers were replaced to gluten free bagel chips, gluten free pretzels, and gluten free rice cakes. My fridge and freeze went from steaks, pizza, and ice cream to be transformed into salmon, tilapia, chicken, and lots of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and the list goes on.
I do not claim to have a perfect diet nor do I claim to have everything figured out of what to eat and not to eat. Every day is a learning experience and its a wonderful journey. I've learned gluten free options make me feel better than foods that contain gluten. I've also learned cheating only hurts myself and in turn makes me feel worse.
As many of you know, this diet doesn't come cheap or easy! This was the start of a new project and newest hobby that I can forever enjoy!
While my doctors were helpful in telling me what to stay away from, they were not going to make me a diet plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner...this was my turn to learn about food, my body, and my disease. I learned that organic options along with gluten free foods are great for lupus patients, many different types of fish, especially salmon, is wonderful for lupus (just have to be careful on the size of the fillet due to high amounts of potassium in the salmon), dairy free profits were better options, and, thank goodness, fruit! I began my pantry and refrigerator makeover. The chocolate candy and cookies were replaced with all natural dark chocolate chips, dried fruit, and lots of fresh fruit. The bags upon bags of chips and crackers were replaced to gluten free bagel chips, gluten free pretzels, and gluten free rice cakes. My fridge and freeze went from steaks, pizza, and ice cream to be transformed into salmon, tilapia, chicken, and lots of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and the list goes on.
I do not claim to have a perfect diet nor do I claim to have everything figured out of what to eat and not to eat. Every day is a learning experience and its a wonderful journey. I've learned gluten free options make me feel better than foods that contain gluten. I've also learned cheating only hurts myself and in turn makes me feel worse.
As many of you know, this diet doesn't come cheap or easy! This was the start of a new project and newest hobby that I can forever enjoy!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
"The L Word"
So what now? What does Lupus Nephritis mean and how is my life going to be effected?
Stage 4 lupus nephritis is basically lupus with stage 4 of 6 kidney disease. My kidneys weren't bad enough for dialysis, thank goodness, but I wasn't sure just how bad they were or what treatment I was going to face. I was referred to a nephrologist to monitor my kidney function and to hopefully help with some of the lupus symptoms, although she was unable to help with the severe pain caused from this disease attacking all of my organs. I was put on about 25 different pills a day consisting of kidney function assistance, blood pressure medicine, etc, but the worst of them all...steroids. The doctor warned me of the awful side effects of the steroids and what to be aware of. I began wondering if lupus or the side effects of the medicine was going to be worse. She said it would make me crazy, gain weight, have stretch marks, make my body insulin resistant (which is terrible for diabetics obviously) and the list goes on. Being the petite person that I am I freaked out about the weight gain and stretch marks. As if my life and diet hadn't had to change enough already, I made sure my meals were very small and extremely healthy even more so. I invested more time in focusing on myself and daily soaked myself in organic coconut oil to prevent the dreaded stretch marks she mentioned. About a week after being put on the medicine I began swelling so much that I gained 20+ pounds in water weight. My entire body was so swollen that when I would even bend my legs I could feel the skin stretching to the point it felt like it was ripping. My two pound dog would stand on my leg and leave a foot print for about 10 minutes just from the water my body was holding. I was swollen in places I never knew could swell. Along with not feeling well, this swelling made me feel completely down about myself and unattractive more than ever. Thankfully, my kidneys showed improvement and I was able to begin taking lasix- water pills- to help with the swelling.
I was then referred to a rheumatologist to help with the pain caused by lupus and other symptoms, such as hair loss and exhaustion. The medicine she gave me began working about a week after starting it and has been a life savor. My joints weren't popping as bad and sleep wasn't as painful, although still difficult most nights.
I began to lose the water weight and once it all was gone I actually weighed less than before I got sick, thanks to the healthy food I was now eating and how much attention I was paying to my eating habits. The nephrologist slowly began to lower medicine doses, including the steroids, but not taking me completely off any of them, not yet at least.
Thankful for my faith and a praying family, I am in partial remission only four months into my treatment. My doctors were all surprised about my progress and how fast I was reacting to the medications. All I can say is its all because of faith, prayer, and a lot of fight in me with the support of great family and friends.
Stage 4 lupus nephritis is basically lupus with stage 4 of 6 kidney disease. My kidneys weren't bad enough for dialysis, thank goodness, but I wasn't sure just how bad they were or what treatment I was going to face. I was referred to a nephrologist to monitor my kidney function and to hopefully help with some of the lupus symptoms, although she was unable to help with the severe pain caused from this disease attacking all of my organs. I was put on about 25 different pills a day consisting of kidney function assistance, blood pressure medicine, etc, but the worst of them all...steroids. The doctor warned me of the awful side effects of the steroids and what to be aware of. I began wondering if lupus or the side effects of the medicine was going to be worse. She said it would make me crazy, gain weight, have stretch marks, make my body insulin resistant (which is terrible for diabetics obviously) and the list goes on. Being the petite person that I am I freaked out about the weight gain and stretch marks. As if my life and diet hadn't had to change enough already, I made sure my meals were very small and extremely healthy even more so. I invested more time in focusing on myself and daily soaked myself in organic coconut oil to prevent the dreaded stretch marks she mentioned. About a week after being put on the medicine I began swelling so much that I gained 20+ pounds in water weight. My entire body was so swollen that when I would even bend my legs I could feel the skin stretching to the point it felt like it was ripping. My two pound dog would stand on my leg and leave a foot print for about 10 minutes just from the water my body was holding. I was swollen in places I never knew could swell. Along with not feeling well, this swelling made me feel completely down about myself and unattractive more than ever. Thankfully, my kidneys showed improvement and I was able to begin taking lasix- water pills- to help with the swelling.
I was then referred to a rheumatologist to help with the pain caused by lupus and other symptoms, such as hair loss and exhaustion. The medicine she gave me began working about a week after starting it and has been a life savor. My joints weren't popping as bad and sleep wasn't as painful, although still difficult most nights.
I began to lose the water weight and once it all was gone I actually weighed less than before I got sick, thanks to the healthy food I was now eating and how much attention I was paying to my eating habits. The nephrologist slowly began to lower medicine doses, including the steroids, but not taking me completely off any of them, not yet at least.
Thankful for my faith and a praying family, I am in partial remission only four months into my treatment. My doctors were all surprised about my progress and how fast I was reacting to the medications. All I can say is its all because of faith, prayer, and a lot of fight in me with the support of great family and friends.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
My History
Happy, go lucky, cheerleader for years began losing weight at age 11, which I didn't have to lose. In June, 1999 I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (type 1 diabetes) and told I would forever have to depend on some form of insulin, either by shot or insulin pump- which is inserted with a needle every three days. For those of you that don't know me, having to take a shot or be given a shot was about as bad as having my arm shot off- at least that's the way I acted then. I spent a week in the Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta learning how to eat, when to eat, how to administer my own shots, and where to go from there. For a year, doctors closely monitored every bite of food I put in my mouth and all my blood sugar readings. I proved to be responsible enough that I was approved to get an insulin pump. What a blessing it was and still is! (An insulin pump is basically an external pancreas that, along with my doctors help, I am able to control the amount of insulin my body receives). Although I had blood sugar drops and spikes still, I did not let this stop me from being happy and keeping my head high. I continued to cheer on two different squads at one point and kept going strong.
Like any auto-immune disease, sickness gets you down longer and faster. I suffered from serious migraines frequently, stomach viruses often, fluctuating weight gain and loss, and many days I felt completely exhausted. After discussing these issues with my doctor and various blood test I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism around age 18- a second auto-immune disease. Luckily, this can be controlled with routinely taking a pill, getting blood work done, and close monitoring from the doctors. Unfortunately, I wasn't the best at keeping up with my medicine so my hair would fall out by handfuls, headaches continued, exhaustion kept creeping up when I needed energy most, and overall feeling well was hit or miss.
I completed college and graduated with my bachelor's degree in early childhood education in May 2011 and married my best friend in July 2011- which deployed to Afghanistan five days later for his forth deployment. Once my marine returned to the states, I moved all our things from Georgia to North Carolina to begin our lives together. While missing my family and friends daily was a struggle, I enjoyed establishing our marriage, working together, and learning who I was even more...including taking the time to take better care of myself and my husband that also suffers from many war related issues.
Thankful for the move, I finally found a great group of doctors that worked well with me to get my diabetes and thyroid disorder under control and I began feeling better than ever, with the exception of the occasional high blood pressure, which was a new an unexplained issue.
Toward the end of 2012 I began suffering from those wonderful migraines again but way worse than before and exhaustion to the point of not being able to get out of bed for an entire day. In March 2013 I was enjoying a chilly day on the beach with my love and noticed my left foot swelling. For people with diabetes, this can be dangerous. After about a week of the swelling not going down my husband took me to the naval hospital to have it looked at. There, my blood pressure reaches 198/145 and I was spilling so much protein in my urine that it wouldn't even read on the medical charts. I was released from the hospital after they regulated the BP and was given an inhaler and steroid pack for pneumonia. A few days later I continually woke up every few minutes gasping for air and feeling purely awful with no explanation other than having pneumonia. This completely freaked my husband out to the point he immediately called my doctor and took me to the hospital out in town. I spent a week in the hospital having tons of blood drawn and a kidney biopsy before being release, still with no explanation of what was wrong with me. In April I got a call from my doctor with the news that I had stage 4 lupus nephritis, the third auto-immune disease. To me this meant a slow painful death from what I had recently heard. I was so upset I could only hand the phone to my husband and walk away. This was the start of our lives changing forever, and I wasn't sure I was ready for this kind of change...or ever would be ready for that matter!
Like any auto-immune disease, sickness gets you down longer and faster. I suffered from serious migraines frequently, stomach viruses often, fluctuating weight gain and loss, and many days I felt completely exhausted. After discussing these issues with my doctor and various blood test I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism around age 18- a second auto-immune disease. Luckily, this can be controlled with routinely taking a pill, getting blood work done, and close monitoring from the doctors. Unfortunately, I wasn't the best at keeping up with my medicine so my hair would fall out by handfuls, headaches continued, exhaustion kept creeping up when I needed energy most, and overall feeling well was hit or miss.
I completed college and graduated with my bachelor's degree in early childhood education in May 2011 and married my best friend in July 2011- which deployed to Afghanistan five days later for his forth deployment. Once my marine returned to the states, I moved all our things from Georgia to North Carolina to begin our lives together. While missing my family and friends daily was a struggle, I enjoyed establishing our marriage, working together, and learning who I was even more...including taking the time to take better care of myself and my husband that also suffers from many war related issues.
Thankful for the move, I finally found a great group of doctors that worked well with me to get my diabetes and thyroid disorder under control and I began feeling better than ever, with the exception of the occasional high blood pressure, which was a new an unexplained issue.
Toward the end of 2012 I began suffering from those wonderful migraines again but way worse than before and exhaustion to the point of not being able to get out of bed for an entire day. In March 2013 I was enjoying a chilly day on the beach with my love and noticed my left foot swelling. For people with diabetes, this can be dangerous. After about a week of the swelling not going down my husband took me to the naval hospital to have it looked at. There, my blood pressure reaches 198/145 and I was spilling so much protein in my urine that it wouldn't even read on the medical charts. I was released from the hospital after they regulated the BP and was given an inhaler and steroid pack for pneumonia. A few days later I continually woke up every few minutes gasping for air and feeling purely awful with no explanation other than having pneumonia. This completely freaked my husband out to the point he immediately called my doctor and took me to the hospital out in town. I spent a week in the hospital having tons of blood drawn and a kidney biopsy before being release, still with no explanation of what was wrong with me. In April I got a call from my doctor with the news that I had stage 4 lupus nephritis, the third auto-immune disease. To me this meant a slow painful death from what I had recently heard. I was so upset I could only hand the phone to my husband and walk away. This was the start of our lives changing forever, and I wasn't sure I was ready for this kind of change...or ever would be ready for that matter!