Have you ever thought about quitting sugar?

Added sweeteners pose dangers to health that justify controlling them like alcohol, argue Robert H. Lustig, Laura A. Schmidt and Claire D. Brindis, 3 scientists from the University of California. They suggest that sugar should be come with health warnings.
In their findings published in the science journal Nature they say sugar is responsible for 35 million annual deaths worldwide due to changes in metabolism, blood pressure, hormones and the liver.
Have you, like me been thinking of reducing your sugar intake or quitting it altogether? I have found a program I really like:
The 21 Day Sugar Detox gives a step-by-step program, recipes, guidance including daily emails and an online community.

If you experience any of the following you may benefit by removing sugar:

• sugar cravings or carb cravings
• energy spikes and dips throughout the day
• fatigue, lethargy, depression or anxiety
• brain fog, cloudy thinking, trouble concentrating
• hunger that goes from mild to intense very quickly

See what else you get when you join this program all for just $21.00! Click Here!
Why not join me in getting healthier and feeling better?  Let me know in the comments so we can all discuss it as we go.

Hosting the Disability Carnival

This is a first for me - hosting the carnival of bloggers. Oh I have joined in once or twice, but never played host.

This carnival is all about first.

I wanted to make this easy to join in. We are such a diverse group. What we all have in common is blogging so I would love everyone to connect in this Disability Carnival with their first blog post. (ordinal number 1: coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st: the first post on your site)

If you don't find this appealing then please pick a first to write about from the definitions below:

• 'first things first'
  important matters should be dealt with before other things: I suggest we get our priorities right—first things first
• 'from the (very) first'
  from the beginning: she realized it from the first
• 'at first - at the beginning'
  in the initial stage or stages: at first Hugo tried to be calm
• 'first and last' everything considered; above all else; altogether: First and last, it is important to know oneself
• Synonyms of first: earliest, foremost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin

So if this is your inaugural attempt to join in the Disability Carnival what do you do?

Just post here, in comments, the link to your first post ever or the post you have written about first. In your post please link back to here. Let everyone know you are joining in. Thanks. The closing date will be March 10.

Wipe the slate clean

YEAH! It's a NEW YEAR!

What would you do if you had no pain or health concerns, no money constrictions?
Think for a moment...
What do you really want to do?

Lately

Learning more about Sjogren's

Doing this

Reading this
and

Good News

"Changes, changes everywhere..

but if you just sit and stare...
you stay the same!" Children's song often sung on PLAYSCHOOL

Well I know I don't want to sit and stare and change is a constant. I have embraced the changes with only a few stamping and 'angry' days. I think I have done well but there is no one to praise me. So well done me!
I actually enjoy my new limited life and am constantly busy (mostly on the internet) and usually feel there are never enough hours in the day and still lots of things I would love to acheive. I am thinking of an ebook, some ezine articles, a children's book including the illustrations, some online education with "proper qualifications", modifying yoga for chronic pain sufferers, finishing a guest blog, painting a picture, etc etc.
I got momentarily sad this week when the specialist told me there was something wrong with my heart, because there is so much more I want to do. Okay it use to be dance and party and walk and travel - all things with my kinesthetic loving body (do you know about types?) - and yes I use to be a dancer but now I love my changed life. After all who wants to stay the same. So embrace the changes and by the way CONGRATULATIONS and WELL DONE to all you have done regarding not being defined by your disease. Please leave me a comment cause I would love to hear from you.

The nicest complement

You may not know that I also write for GNN Good News Network which is a positive news site about uplifting topics. Someone said the other day that whenever they wanted to feel good they went there - I know this is what we hope to achieve with the site but it was just so lovely to randomly hear it from someone.

Pass on a genuine complement to someone because it does have a good effect.

You see, you cannot see.

This is not my disease - it does not belong to me - I'm not my disease

You cannot see what is going on inside my head.
You cannot see what is going on inside my body.
I see this as a plus - all good.
This way at least if you meet me in the street you will not know.
I can pretend, keep up appearances.
You see I am not my disease.

Oil on canvas by Portrait of a Blind woman by Diego Velázquez

Forgot my ABC's

I went to the immunologist after about 2 years and when he asked me what medicines I was taking I could remember the names but not the amounts! I felt like I had let myself and him down. I use to carry this information in my bag at all times, then I suppose the tablets changed and I have just not updated this information.

So remember your A, B,C's ...

Are you taking any tablets and medicines?

Bring them with you to the hospital and all appointments - even follow ups.

Carry a current list in your wallet.

The reason I started carrying the list at all times was after I was suddenly admitted to hospital and the same thing happened - I could remember what I took but not some of the names or amounts. This delays treatment and makes it harder for the patient to get the proper treatment. Also I was kept in overnight and the hospital kindly made up a script for my essential medications - very professional treatment, don't you think?

PHOTO THANKS TO jgibson3825

Dear Doctor,

Re: my diagnosis

I am writing to let you know I have finally been diagnosed and I was hoping you could give me back a few years.

I have had symptoms for over 10 years and I have finally been diagnosed with polymyositis. This is an inflammatory myopathy that causes muscle weakness and muscle pain in the muscles closest to the body. It is an auto immune condition.

I was diagnosed from a muscle biopsy. I have been to so many specialists and I hope that maybe you would remember me so that if someone else comes into your office saying they have muscle pain in their arms and legs, and a feeling that their muscles won't relax and difficulty with fine motor skills and an elevated CPK, that you take the time to listen and try and work with that patient to find out what it is. For 8 years no one offered me a muscle biopsy.

Merry Christmas,
yours sincerely,
G. N.

P.S. I am not my disease (but knowing what it is has helped me greatly)


TO: the endocrinologist, the pain specialist (who said it was fibromyalgia), the psychologist (that said I had cognitive defects and referred me to the immunologist), the neurologist (who gave up after finding out it was not MS) and the rheumatologist (who diagnosed and treated me for 2 years as having Sjogren's syndrome).

PHOTO BY bwavobunny

You see, you cannot see.

"You cannot see what is going on inside my head. You cannot see what is going on inside my body. I see this as a plus - all good.

If you could see what was going on inside my head - the verbal diarrhea - oh it would be very, very bad.

If you could see what was going on inside my body:

1. it would appear grotesque, a major battle ground, cell against cell, body attacking it's own body - a very frustrating, confused battle where no one wins (or something like that)

2. you would feel sorry for me and I don't want your pity.

This way at least if you meet me in the street you will not know, I can pretend, keep up appearances. You see I am not my disease.

If you know me you may be one of those who sometimes say "Hi, your looking good".

I'm not my disease. "

This was my very 1st post back in 2007

What I've learnt lately

Listen to my body and don't let others convince me otherwise. This is some thing I have learnt lately.
It was a simple beginning - the physio said "Do not let your pain go higher than a 5 out of 10". Seems simple, it is simple but it has had far reaching affects for me.

Firstly I realized I always push through the pain. How does this help me? It doesn't.
Secondly I allow other high acheivers around me convince me I should keep going. This also does not help me.
So listening to my body has had a profound effect - I feel in control. Yeah! I am not my disease. It is not controlling me. I am only taking pain killers as I need them instead of like clockwork. I am doing positive things to help myself :

• resting or changing activities when the pain gets to a 5


• walking - even for just 10 minutes a day


• going regularly to physiotherapy


• going to sleep at a regular time 'cause it does matter


• not pushing through the pain


• asking for help (to bring in the groceries or cook or whatever) when I need it.


• reading others inspiring blogs ... Living-with-MS ... help autoimmune ... fibro files ... Girl, Interrupted by Polymyositis

I am NOT my disease and neither are you.