Being sick!

Hey Agitch:
First things first - you might try retyping the second sentence (over and over) of your post by saying "I HAVE motivation and I HAVE desire to lose weight". The positive spin will kick in if you start talking yourself into it. Stop with the negativity. Look at what you have done so far - 6pounds in one week! Nothing short of amazing and worthy of great celebration there!

Secondly, I go to a chronic pain clinic myself and have for 10 more than years. I won't bother you with details but hips, neck and TMJ issues kind-of round it out. So, I understand that pain issues fairly well although not fibromyalgia. I would seek help from a wholistic MD and make sure you are getting care that considers all of you - emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally. It is all connected.

Third - here is some info I had given previously and I know that these books have really helped some of my dear friends. Check it out.

Fresh from the grave:
Here's a book that may be a good reference for you: "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace Pert. This book is awesome and explains a lot about how our physical and chemical makeup can influence or perturb emotions, especially depression. The book is about a lot more topics than that, but it might be helpful.

The other book I am readlng rigt now is called "The Balance Within: the science of connecting health and emotions" by Esther Sternberg. The first part of this book is really technical (and I have a pretty heavy science background). But now I'm in the good part now where I am learning about stress and depression - how the chemistry of your body make those emotions trigger and how we can get the support and change we need to work through it. I have never experienced depression myself, but unfortunately have several people I really love and care for that do have depression. This has helped me a lot.

In everything, be gentle with yourself.

Lastly (for now), thank you for finding us and letting us give you some much needed reinforcement right now. You are on the right path - stay positive! Hugs, Julie

Oh yeah, and acupunture has been amazing for me. I tried it last fall for the first time when I was restricted to soft foods due to ripping most of the joints/ligaments in my jaw. Believe it or not, my mom says I have been grinding my teeth in my sleep since I was a baby and had a pair of teeth that matched top and bottom. It has pretty much ruined my jaw.

Anyway, I work with a great set of doctors/physical therapists/ nutritionists/therapists/etc for my pain management and they recommended acupunture ( in addition to my physical therapy, which is really a helpful tip from Banks1850). I was very nervous, but the pain dropped by about 85% within 24 hours of my first visit. I went several times in a couple of weeks during that "episode" and it really helped. Now go back whenever things seem unmanagable for me, which now is about every 5-6 months. In fact I have my first visit since April in about 2 hours!

Thanks Katie! Being positive comes naturally for me. Nearly every day I feel like the most fortunate person in the world. I love my life (despite my pains). Granted I do have a bad day here and there, but I'm always so thankful and happy that at least I don't live somewhere that I have to drive down the road and worry about getting blown up. And although I can afford to lose a few pounds, I'm 42, coming close to being a size 6, and my wonderful husband still thinks I'm hot (he's so sweet!)!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGITCH

Three years ago I was diagnosed with:
chronic myofascial pain syndrome
fibromyalgia
osteoarthritis.

I have lost eighty (+) pounds, made some drastic changes in my diet and lifestyle, and now am a person who used to have:
chronic myofascial pain syndrome
fibromyalgia
osteoarthritis.

When I first started going to the gym, I would go right when they opened because I was so embarrassed. I could only log five minutes on a treadmill, and then went home and took a nap. The motivation comes from the results. To this day, three years after starting my workouts, I still have to force myself to go to the gym some days. I believe that it is a whole-person problem to suffer (and yes, I know you are suffering) from these problems. So, I strongly second Julie's advice to seek a doctor who isn't afraid of so-called "alternative" therapies. Also, I did water therapy for arthritis classes along the way. Look for a Y with a "therapeutically heated" (80 degrees F?) pool.

Know that there are others like you, who understand where you are, and are willing to walk this path with you. You have the power to change your life, and only you can...but you don't have to do it alone.

Birthday blessings in your direction!

How are you today, agitch?

:flowerforyou:

I have fibro also. The weight does not help. It makes moving around that much more painful, but then again so does exercise. Unlike others we don't stop hurting after we get used to the exercise, its going to always hurt.

I've tried to just learn to live with the pain. Pain killers of any kind are only going to work until my body gets immuned to them. I wake up in the morning and every joint in my body crunches when I stand up. I walk across the floor hobbling like a 70 year old woman until the stiffness goes away. Its something I've learned that I just have to live with. i have no choice and keep trying to remember that a person can built up a resistance to pain just like they can the pain killers. I exercise and I deal with it.

Yes it hurts now but try to remember if you loose the weight its going to hurt less. There's nothing like less pain to motivate you to do something. Take it slow. don't join a gym yet. Try walking around the block. take tiny steps and don't push yourself to hard. Make sure your wearing the right kind of shoes too.

Happy almost Bday Agitch! You have the right mind set. One day at a time. We are all here for you!

Stay positive and just keep trying. Isn't there the saying that slow and steady wins the race? You can do it!

Agitch,
My mom has had FMS for 15 years. I actually did my Master's Thesis on FMS & exercise: go to OhioLink and look up my research if you'ld like to read it. Through my experiences & observations with my mom, I can make the following suggestions.
1. Keep it up, We're all proud of you!
2. The more slowly you start, the easier it will be on your body. The other posts are correct that you won't be pain free, but just imagine what it will be like to be in Less pain!
3. Aim for total body cardio at low intensity, drop some significant weight before adding strenght training (mom walks up to 2 miles a couple days a week, and I just started her on theraband exercises for strengthening)
4. Get in the therapeutic pool everyone else mentions: it has to be at least 80degrees, or you'll regret it. Realize that you will not be able to maintain the workload the average swimmer does as a result of the FMS. BUT, the bouyancy and heat help to make your movement less painful. You are able to use muscles throughout a range of motion you previously only dreamed of! (mom spent 2 months in the florida keys, just walking in the water, at a progressively deeper level, and came back over 20lbs lighter)
5. If you're looking for motivation, track the amount of time you spend doing your activities. You would be surprised how much you do in a day. This doesn't count for the average individual, but I know for my mom, reaching above shoulder height to get a cup out of the cabinet is an accomplishment these days!
6., Great job 7. You're an amazing woman 8. Make someone else feel good today 9. Tell yourself you are proud & 10. Smile!

looks like you have had a whole bunch of helpful advice from people who know a lot more than i do...that is good.

I wanted to share something i have noticed about the Curves place that i go to. I am one of the youngest women there. A lot of the women are older and come to help "loosen" the hold that things like arthritis have on them. They have commented on how the machines at Curves are gentle on them, they don't have to work real hard to get themselves to limber up. One lady was commenting on how much better her body felt, another on how she didn't feel as depressed now, because she had a positive place to come, and she looks forward to it. Do you have a Curves in your area?, you could check it out.