Wow! This is supposed to be slow paced?

That was my question as I left my first workout class on Monday. I decided it was time for me to pump up my workout at the YMCA. I decided I was going to start going to classes. Ummm - Not a very good idea at all. I decided on a class called "Body Sculpt." I got to class about 15 minutes early so that I could speak to the trainer and see if in fact that class would be okay for me. Well, someone else had the same idea about getting their early for questions as I did and she was actually earlier than me. Well, I spoke with the assistant trainer. I could tell that he didn't even know what MS was, but looked at my physical body and said sure you can handle it. He said it was a beginner class and I would do just fine. Thirty minutes into the class I decided to walk out. It was just too much for me and I am actually still paying for it today. Lesson learned - Grab a seat, sit down and watch the class before I decide to join in. Total catastrophe Monday. It even dampened my spirits a little not to be able to get through a beginner's class, but oh well! I'm checking the calendar and see that they have a yoga class. Perhaps that will be more my speed!!!

This darn MS!!!

I thought I was doing well for a spell. I felt good, I was doing things that made me happy. I was just living my life to the fullest. BAM!!! That was MS. I suffered a relapse and was knocked back down. I actually was a little depressed by this last one because it seemed to come from no where.

I started the steroid treatment. I took time off from work. My plan this year was to not use any time until June. I wanted to have all my vacation and sick days so that I could use them when needed. That went out of the window. I felt bad!  I usually work right on through a relapse, but this time realized that my body needed rest and if I wanted to get better, I'd better listen to it. I did! I took a total of 3.5 days off and really rested. Although I am not back at 100%, I am back. I needed that time. I haven't been to the YMCA now for two weeks and although I miss it, I just don't feel like adding insult to injury right now. I'll get back there. I don't eat properly sometimes so the physical fitness has to be there. I have some MS yoga dvds that I have been waiting to try out. I keep telling myself now is a good time.

This relapse brought about the partial seizures and exhaustion. The seizures are better and the exhaustion is about 60% better. I pray that in time, I'll be back to normal. This relapse has taught me something. MS is not predictable. I just need to know that. I think all before now even with my mom and brother having it, I was of the mindset that as long as you take it easy, you'll be ok. I was taking it easy. Even though I'd started a new fitness regimen it was not like it was bootcamp type workouts. I was doing simple stuff. Some of my friends were like I needed to stop going to the YMCA, but I couldn't get them to understand that my workout was very simple. I think the relapse would have come on with or without the workout. My doctor seemed to think so also, but who knows.

I am still going to continue to do things - just in moderation. I plan to attend a women's conference at my church at the end of the month. Thursday night of this week I am going out to dinner with a group of women. This is a first for me because I normally fly solo. We'll see how that goes. Well until next time have a good week and be blessed. I plan too myself!

Accomplished!!!

I did it people!!! I joined the YMCA!!! I am so enthusiastic about what this means for me. Everyone who knows me knows that I am an all or nothing type person. I don't like to do anything a little or less than. I think since I have joined and made the first appearance (this morning), I am going to take an all or nothing approach here for a while until I can make a habit out of it. It was terribly hard getting out of bed this morning, but I did it. I liked it. When I first got there I went to the wide open area where the pros were. Not a good idea at all. I felt like a failure amongst them so I went to this little small isolated area with only about seven or eight pieces of equipment in it. I was the only one there. I was a little unsteady on my feet as I am always am thanks to our good friend MS. However, I didn't allow that to be a stumbling block for me today. I held on tighter and kept on moving. I finished all seven pieces of equipment in that area and even went to the weights area for a little while. What was so good for me was the fact that I saw people of all shapes and sizes coming through the door. There were several business people who came there dressed to work out and left dressed in their business attire. I loved it. I didn't plan on showering there and leaving as I wasn't planning on working up a sweat, but boy did I ever. It was my first day there, but everyone made it feel as if it was my 101st. I truly enjoyed it and can't wait to get back. I am even thinking of going back after work. I only worked out for about 25 minutes this morning. If I go back, I think I could do another 25 minutes or even make it a total of an hour for the entire day. We all know how MS works when we are moving, so perhaps going twice a day for 30 minutes each time will be a way to trick it! Wish me luck!!!

This Cold!!!

I have a head cold. It started late Sunday evening. I went to bed totally fine except for a few sniffles and woke up as if a Mack truck had hit me. I still made it to work and worked my full eight hours. The same thing this morning. It's as if I stood in front of that same Mack truck in the wee hours of the morning and waved it to come on and hit me. It's amazing to me how I used to be able to do almost anything through a simple head cold. I mean what was a little congestion! Now I realize the cog fog worsens whenever I am being attacked by a cold and also that my entire body seems weaker. I try to stay away from colds and any kind of sickness really, but it never fails. It could be worse I guess. I could be coughing and feeling achy too while enduring a relapse so I am not complaining - just making an observation of how a simple cold turns things around for me now. Is it just me or do you feel the same way?

Sleep

I remember a time when I could go to bed at 2 a.m. and be awake by 5 a.m. I would go through the entire day full of energy and could and would oftentimes do the very same thing the next night. That is not the case anymore. I love sleep. If I go to sleep by 10 p.m., I find myself still struggling to get up at 6 a.m. I try to take a nap whenever I can also. There is something about the experience of shutting down or turning myself completely off, even if only for a few minutes. It always seems as if  I wake up rejuvenated and ready to tackle whatever may be ahead. I remember being in kindergarten and after lunch each day we were made to take a nap. I think that should still apply even in the workforce. I remember an old employer who would take a nap each day for about 30 minutes. He said it increased his productivity. Of course I thought, well why don't you allow your employees to do the same thing. Of course again I didn't say anything. A lot of the medication I have taken in the past and some that I take now have drowsiness as a side effect. I hear many people complain about it, but I take whatever I am supposed to and deal with the side effects. It took a minute to get here I must say.  There could be side effects that are much worse than drowsiness in my book. I remember being a little girl and my mom crying one night because her Tizanidine made her sleepy and she didn't want to go to sleep as she had done many times previously. She tried to fight it, but found herself nodding off. This is what caused her the tears. She wanted to spend time with the rest of us, but just couldn't stay up. Of  course, she eventually had her doctor put her on something else. For me, my family knows already that when it's time to take certain medication, it won't be long before I make the trip down the hall. I love sleep and be it medically or naturally induced, bring it on. I went out and some time ago and made purchases to make my bedroom and place of enjoyment for me. I got new pillows, a couple of really nice comforter sets (with the nice sheets) some aromatherapy and nice curtains. When I enter my bedroom now no matter how hard I try sleep is unavoidable, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I wish I could take a nap right now!!!

What's My Motivation

 Good morning! I have added a daily calendar reminder to blog for a few minutes each morning. I also have added a reminder to go walking for 30 minutes and to spend time praying each morning. I have long ago started the reminders and every single day I find myself dismissing them to never be accomplished. It is so hard to find time to do those type things, but it is so not hard to get caught up in "The King of Queens" or "The Voice" on television. I always seem to feel a bit better after I blog and after I walk. You would think I would do more of both. Where are my priorities, right? I am making it a priority starting tomorrow morning to get up a little earlier to do those things. It is not cold for January here so you would think I would be really enjoying the outdoors. I need your some so please hold me accountable! Ask me how it's going! I also have been meaning to join my local YMCA. It is only minutes away from my job. I could easily work and then get off and go workout for at least 30 minutes. Right? Right? Ok so I am going to get up early enough tomorrow morning to write, walk and spend time with God and then make it to the YMCA to joing. That's the plan. I'll let you know how it goes!!!

I'm Back

Good morning! I am back. I have been away for some while now. It was not intentional at all. It seems that I have been busy, but ask me what it has been that kept me so busy and I wouldn't be able to offer you an answer. I am doing pretty well healthwise. I am taking the daily injection of Copaxone and functioning pretty well. I do some days forget to take it. You would think with something being such a huge part of my life, I could never forget it. Some days are just jammed packed for me. I stopped school yet another time to just regain some focus in a couple of areas - mainly career. Thankfully I have regained it and will be signing up for classes again soon. I feel good and am in a good place in the areas of spirituality, home and career. I am working on me - being a better version of me. In doing so I have decided that health and well-being is important. God is so good to me. He has been for my entire life! I need to be more and do more. I can be more and do more. It's funny how it doesn't even take much to make a difference in someone else's life yet for so long the only lives that I made a difference in was mines and those close to me intentionally.  Finances and savings are also important to me now more than ever. I have a lot on my mind as you can read. I am back!