5 Reasons to Not Overdo Exercise with CFS/Fibro

I have been hurting.  My back, especially.  Also joints and muscles.  Could it be that I have been overdoing my exercise?  Well, I have been swimming a lot in the past month.  On the days it was too hot or the timing wasn't right for a walk, I did dancing to The Groove on XM radio.  I haven't taken many days off to rest. Feeling poochy in the stomach, so I have that "got to burn some more calories" mentality on.   And now I am paying for it.

I have been to the chiropractor and massage therapist more than usual, because I hurt.  Costing me $$.  I need to rest and heal.  So here are my top 5 reasons not to overdo exercise with CFS/Fibro (or any other chronic health condition):

1.   Over-exercising doesn't pay.  You are only hurting yourself.

2.   Over-exercising costs time and money in various treatment visits.

3.  It sucks to hurt all the time.

4.  It decreases enjoyment of time spent with family and friends.

5.  You know better.  Listen to your body.

The Flat Belly Diet

As a life and wellness coach, I get all sorts of requests from people who want to lose weight about which diet works the best.  My answer is always, "The best diet is the one that works for you."  Different diets suit different personality types and different ways of learning. 

In her book, The Four Day Win, Martha Beck says that people have different needs for determining a diet/fitness program to follow, namely structure and information.  In Chapter 11 entitled "Eat Whatever the Hell You Want," she has a little quiz to find out which type you are (Apprentice, VIP, Scholar, or Explorer) and then gives some examples of diets that fit your type.  I happen to be an Explorer, low need for information or structure.  I recommend checking this out and finding out what type you most closely fit.

Anyway, I am reading Martha's book, but right now I feel I need a little extra boost to lose a few pounds, especially around my middle.  So I have turned to The Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass and endorsed by Prevention magazine.  I have read about this diet many times in Prevention and it always appealed to me, because it allows natural peanut butter and other MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids-the-good for-you-fats, such as nuts, seeds, oils, avocados, olives and dark chocolate.)  But I never tried it.  But now seemed like a good time - it basically is a 1600 calorie Mediterranean diet, not hard to follow and since I started a few days ago, I haven't been hungry.  You can read about it here http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/flat-belly-diet.  I bought the book and the handy pocket guide.

5 Remedies for the Summer Doldrums

I don't know about you, but I am tired of the heat and humidity already and we aren't even half-way through the summer.  So I am thinking of ways to cheer myself up and get me over the hump of July.  Here are my top 5 cures for the summer doldrums:

1.  A big glass of iced herbal tea.

2.  Swimming (anywhere)

3.  Starting a new book I've been wanting to read

4.  Shopping the summer sales

5.  Eating a dark chocolate-covered cashew (or two) I bought on my trip to the NC mountains. ahhhhh.....

Plus a week with my granddaughter.  Awesome!

The Four Day Win - End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace

I am going to the beach with family at the end of the month and plan to wear my bathing suit a lot.  I love to swim and relax at the beach.  However, right now I could stand to lose a few lbs. and need some inspiration, not another diet, before I bare my bod on the gulf coast beaches.  I already have a pretty restrictive diet due to food sensitivities, so I don't need someone else giving me food rules. 

My problem is mostly in the evenings.  I generally want something sweet.  If we have it in the house, I like to eat a bit of So Delicious Coconut Milk dessert.  Sometimes I want a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie (made with applesauce instead of egg).  Most of the time I have some dried apricots, but they aren't exactly low in calories!  And it never really satisfies....

What Being In Nature Can Do For You

This past week I went up to NC to visit a friend who has built a house on the side of a mountain near Burnsville.  I have never been in this area of the NC mountains and it was truly spectacular.  Green, green hills and valleys, lots of wildlife (deer outside the back door, wild turkeys on the road, bunnies, hummingbirds and even a weasel), and plenty of fresh air.  Even the rain was refreshing and beautiful.  The cloud formations were constantly changing.  I watched everything from a fantastic deck overlooking the valley.  My whole self was able to relax and forget about any worries.

We hiked on the Appalachian Trail for a about an hour and I was proud of myself for being able to do it.  I felt tired, but so relaxed afterward.  I stopped and took breaks when I needed to - it wasn't a race.  Many people with chronic health conditions don't even try to push themselves for fear of not being able to do things outside their normal routine.  It is amazing what the body can do with a little encouragement (from a friend) and lots of positive ions (the good air near the mountains and sea.)  Being in nature is good for your body, mind and spirit.  Why not step outside your comfort zone and walk a new route, hike a trail for a bit, swim in the ocean or pool or just be still and take in God's creation?  It will do wonders for you!  This is what I saw as I sat with my tea in the early morning:

Just beautiful!

A Great Sun Hat

While wandering in a clothing store in Burnsville, NC, I found a bunch of good summer sun/beach hats.  Tried on lots, but most were one-size-fits-all and they were all too big.  The salesperson pointed out that some had adjustable inside bands, so my friend pointed out a really cute one made by Wallaroo and I tried it on.  Made the inside adjustment and it fit perfectly!  It will come in handy when we are at the beach for a week later this month.  Has an SPF of 50+.  Their website is:http://www.wallaroohats.com/products.aspx  Check it out: