Fibromyalgia and obtaining a Healthy Lifestyle

MsWallwoman

Hello Everyone.

I am wondering if any of you suffers from Fibromyalgia and if so, how it effects your weightless journey and healthy lifestyle? Are there any tips and or tricks, things to focus on, suggestions or information you can pass on regarding how to manage symptoms? I know very little about it and would really like to know more.

Thank you for your time :flowerforyou: and ... Happy Friday Eve! :bigsmile:

TheGymGypsy

I'm not sure about fibromyalgia, but my sister also suffers from an auto immune disease that causes chronic pain. One thing that has really helped her is kinesiotape. She puts it on her shoulders and knees and it does wonders for the pain. Also her physical therapist has her do contrast baths which have definitely helped her manage her symptoms.

MsWallwoman

Cool Ideas Beautiful. Thanks.

parodeis

I also have fibro, and the whole cocktail of stuff that goes with it (chronic fatigue, depression, sleep disorders etc) and I am an emotional eater. I have been trying to eat simple, clean and slow foods, and it is really hard to be on a diet! So many diet programs want you to eat diet food, and it is all the stuff I am trying to get away from. MFP is actually better for me that way because it is easier for me to just track calories than calculate points or whatever.

You are not alone. I hope that helps!

NoExcusesFitnessCoach

I have fibro - diagnosed 8 years ago. I've had tremendous success in overcoming my symptoms since starting my journey just under a year ago. I started by identifying trigger foods and completely cleaning up my diet. For me the result was going vegan and avoiding gluten. I also cut out coffee (which I NEVER thought I would do). Basically I knew I had to do whatever it took to get rid of this. Once I dealt with nutrition, I started exercising. First a low impact cardio kickboxing program, then went up in intensity. It's HARD, but you can change things considerably with real commitment.

Here's what happened for me (obviously everyone is different): could barely walk up a flight of stairs when I started. Finished my first 8 week program and could go on short hikes. Started a 20-week INTENSE cardio conditioning program and was able to hike to the summit of 2 13,000 foot mountains about midway through. After that 20 weeks, I did a strength training program and am now doing P90X3 (which would have been IMPOSSIBLE before). I have literally had NO SYMPTOMS since March when I cleaned up my diet and started exercising. I'm on no medications at all - not even OTC stuff. I know others with similar results.

So, what I would say is this: fibromyalgia is TOUGH, but you can be TOUGHER. It's hard to get up and push play on the workout DVD every day, but once you start moving, you really do feel better. There are days when you want to give up, but your mindset is everything. As soon as I saw fibro as an OBSTACLE and stopped calling it by name, things changed a lot. Believe you can and you're halfway there.

Best of luck to my fellow FIBRO WARRIORS

MsWallwoman

:flowerforyou:

MsWallwoman

I have fibro - diagnosed 8 years ago. I've had tremendous success in overcoming my symptoms since starting my journey just under a year ago. I started by identifying trigger foods and completely cleaning up my diet. For me the result was going vegan and avoiding gluten. I also cut out coffee (which I NEVER thought I would do). Basically I knew I had to do whatever it took to get rid of this. Once I dealt with nutrition, I started exercising. First a low impact cardio kickboxing program, then went up in intensity. It's HARD, but you can change things considerably with real commitment.

Here's what happened for me (obviously everyone is different): could barely walk up a flight of stairs when I started. Finished my first 8 week program and could go on short hikes. Started a 20-week INTENSE cardio conditioning program and was able to hike to the summit of 2 13,000 foot mountains about midway through. After that 20 weeks, I did a strength training program and am now doing P90X3 (which would have been IMPOSSIBLE before). I have literally had NO SYMPTOMS since March when I cleaned up my diet and started exercising. I'm on no medications at all - not even OTC stuff. I know others with similar results.

So, what I would say is this: fibromyalgia is TOUGH, but you can be TOUGHER. It's hard to get up and push play on the workout DVD every day, but once you start moving, you really do feel better. There are days when you want to give up, but your mindset is everything. As soon as I saw fibro as an OBSTACLE and stopped calling it by name, things changed a lot. Believe you can and you're halfway there.

Best of luck to my fellow FIBRO WARRIORS

YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Thanks! My diagnosis is very new and I am so lost as to what and how to move on from here. I refuse to take drugs for anything which has my doctors washing heir hands of me. Great. lol I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to share your story and the information with me and also for giving me hope. I like the mindset you have about this and will adopt it as well. THANK YOU!

SrJoben

Hello Everyone.

I am wondering if any of you suffers from Fibromyalgia and if so, how it effects your weightless journey and healthy lifestyle? Are there any tips and or tricks, things to focus on, suggestions or information you can pass on regarding how to manage symptoms? I know very little about it and would really like to know more.

Thank you for your time :flowerforyou: and ... Happy Friday Eve! :bigsmile:

*bump* I guess. I left this topic open on a tab to reply to later and then forgot about it.

I'm 31 now and started having the problems that eventually led to the diagnosis in my early teens.

In my experience most of the medications that were tried for it either didn't work or barely helped. Some of them worked enough to get me moving and able to start the thing that actually does help: Exercise. Do not stop. Ever.

Do not stop getting regular exercise for any reason. Every time I've let my activity level sink in the decades since my diagnosis I've regretted it.

Sometimes it gets me and I have to take a day off I didn't intend. But note the singular, one day. FIbro fools it. It tells you that you can't do stuff and that if you try you will make the pain worse. IT IS A DIRTY LIAR. What actually makes it worse is inactivity. You can't rest your way out of the pain and fatigue of fibro.

If i'm training to work harder and longer than average it counteracts the extra fatigue from the condition. If I'm getting strong and flexible is keeps my muscles loose instead of having them lock up into painful spasms. Being physically tired helps with the sleep disruption, and exercise is helpful for depression, which often also effects people with fibro.

Every single major symptom I have is improved by serious pursuit of physical fitness.


I do urge caution though if your are currently out of shape. We do not seem to recovery very well from overexertion, and doing too much too fast can cause pain to flare.

My worst spot has always been between my shoulders and neck around my traps. I remember when I first started I couldn't do shrugs or overhead exercises of any kind without putting myself in bed the next day with blinding pain. I just worked around that and did other stuff that strengthened my shoulders without those specific motions. A year later I do barbell overhead presses as a regular part of my routine, without discomfort. Keep finding ways to move forward physically. If something puts you on the couch for three days, then don't do that for now. Do different stuff. Try it again in a few months. Keep moving.

Most of my fibro pain is gone now. I just have the brain fog left as a major problem.

potluck965

We have a support group here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/17616-chronic-pain-fibromyalgia

amberwaves74

Your "dirty liar" analogy helped me so much. Thank you!

MsWallwoman

Hello Everyone.

I am wondering if any of you suffers from Fibromyalgia and if so, how it effects your weightless journey and healthy lifestyle? Are there any tips and or tricks, things to focus on, suggestions or information you can pass on regarding how to manage symptoms? I know very little about it and would really like to know more.

Thank you for your time :flowerforyou: and ... Happy Friday Eve! :bigsmile:

*bump* I guess. I left this topic open on a tab to reply to later and then forgot about it.

I'm 31 now and started having the problems that eventually led to the diagnosis in my early teens.

In my experience most of the medications that were tried for it either didn't work or barely helped. Some of them worked enough to get me moving and able to start the thing that actually does help: Exercise. Do not stop. Ever.

Do not stop getting regular exercise for any reason. Every time I've let my activity level sink in the decades since my diagnosis I've regretted it.

Sometimes it gets me and I have to take a day off I didn't intend. But note the singular, one day. FIbro fools it. It tells you that you can't do stuff and that if you try you will make the pain worse. IT IS A DIRTY LIAR. What actually makes it worse is inactivity. You can't rest your way out of the pain and fatigue of fibro.

If i'm training to work harder and longer than average it counteracts the extra fatigue from the condition. If I'm getting strong and flexible is keeps my muscles loose instead of having them lock up into painful spasms. Being physically tired helps with the sleep disruption, and exercise is helpful for depression, which often also effects people with fibro.

Every single major symptom I have is improved by serious pursuit of physical fitness.


I do urge caution though if your are currently out of shape. We do not seem to recovery very well from overexertion, and doing too much too fast can cause pain to flare.

My worst spot has always been between my shoulders and neck around my traps. I remember when I first started I couldn't do shrugs or overhead exercises of any kind without putting myself in bed the next day with blinding pain. I just worked around that and did other stuff that strengthened my shoulders without those specific motions. A year later I do barbell overhead presses as a regular part of my routine, without discomfort. Keep finding ways to move forward physically. If something puts you on the couch for three days, then don't do that for now. Do different stuff. Try it again in a few months. Keep moving.

Most of my fibro pain is gone now. I just have the brain fog left as a major problem.

Thank you so much for your input. I appreciate you sharing and taking the time to do so. I will really focus on your "dirty liar" analogy and remember to not give in to it. What you said makes sense... activity helping with the sleep and depression and the over all health and flexibility of the muscles. I will follow your lead and get stubborn and focused with my consistent activity... NO Excuses. :glasses:

THANK YOU.

If you find anything that helps with the brain fog, PLEASE let me know. The brain fog thing is what is the most disturbing thing for me and I think the most scary for me. Especially now that I now that the pains are something I believe I can manage with consistent daily activity.

Again, thank you for sharing. Reading your post was both helpful and encouraging. I wish you all the best with your journey. :flowerforyou:

MsWallwoman

If anyone is interested, this is a link to some good information to help understand Fibromyalgia a little better...

http://www.cfpcnvideos.ca/fibro/