Friday's Feel Good Challenge!

Mereley Me, Im so so happy for you that the MRI scan showed up the MS hasnt moved, progressed and would seem to be in remission? isnt this wonderful news. I believe if youre eating right, keeping as stress free as you can, and not being too Depressed, [which cause the  bodys inflammatory response to worsen] then you can keep things at bay.. Wonderful News So happy 4u !!!

I  had an up and Downy week.

Up coz was  off the Efexor  and down coz Im still getting weird zaps etc from the withdrawals.

I pushed myself to go out and buy  healthy affordable food, like brown rice and brown organic pasta and lotsa Red onion [good for Ms and Rheum.Arth and all auto immune] and lots Garlic. Eating really well. Got out and walked... met people.  The Bad part was maybe abit 'Flaky and not too serious' but i always but my own hair coz cant afford it at 150 per cut and blow dry. So Icut a bob. Well, whatever way the Efexor had me, I look like a runaway from the Magdalene Laundry !! its awful, had to put it behind my ears. put my make up on and funny thing is, my friend Joan never noticed. !! 

I made  a decision to be happy this week and to try and make the remaining years of my life [as I reach 60] as happy as I can [with Gods help] the abuse is no longer, and I want to reach for happiness so badly.

So in a round about way thats my week.Efexor Free Rose !!

So happy to hear of your Blessing as respects your health and I am so sure that you deserve it.  But I know how you feel; I am always worrying about those who have less and I don't have all that much.  Still I feel blessed just to be alive, clean and sober and as of March 7th not smoking anymore.  I have been also up and down this week.  I am going in for Hernia repair surgery on Monday and I am nervous about it.  Well I guess that is to be expected.  But even more worrisome is the condition of my family in South Carolina.  They are doing very bad financially and my sister-in-law is extremely depressed.  They don't do Internet so I can't even refer her here.  There is not much I can do from here in New York except worry and that is fruitless.  I pray and try to turn it over to God but I feel like like I should be doing more.

As respects the weight; I want to lose at least 40 pounds but am not expecting it to happen quickly.  I am trying to focus on eating healthy and taking Tai Chi and exercising daily.  I am way out of line at 204 lbs and 5'5".  But I was unable to walk for a long time (misdiagnosed) until I got a hip replacement and I really packed on the pounds.  I was already slightly chubby but not being able to move and in pain really did not help.  Anyway, I am looking forward to any encouragement as respects this issue.

Hi M/M,

SOOO glad to hear that you're doing better with your MS...keep those stress levels down!

This week has been "up & down" for me as well; I would say about a 7+. Starting to dread the whole "holiday thing" though, esp when I'm out & hear Christmas songs. Just not 'ready' yet (hey, it's not "the 11th hour"!)

The best thing for me this week was one of my very closest friends brought one of her closest friends to a "get acquainted" meeting to meet with a motivational speaker & a psychiatrist I've become close to. She had to 'bail' last time.

The worst thing would be my sleep patterns. Last night was particularly rough; lots of toss & turn along with hallucinations (didn't take any Rx aside from some Melatonin).

I've been kind to myself by making it a point to get out more & get in even closer touch with my friends. Also walking my dog is always a help!

As for weight gain, I always start off with small portions. If I want more, then I need to 'break away', get up & get more; usually I just don't bother! It works for me!

It's great to hear MS has made no more inroads with you, Merely Me. I hope to high heaven, another year finds the same, or if wishes can come true, you will have no more uninvited association with Multiple Sclerosis ever again. Congratulations!

As for your challenge, you already seemed to have acheived your outward goals by the looks of things. As have I, though it hasn't helped sleep as it wished it would or escorted depression to the door and threw the bum out. No matter, I feel better in other ways, I know.

I could drop about five, doesn't seem worthy of your Friday throwdown though. But, thanks for asking!

              1) I am so glad that your test results came back good. Im hoping you will have a good 2010.

               I would rate my week to be about a 2, I was real sick. I am now starting to fell better.  as for myself I just dont have much time so I try to meditate when ever I can.

   yes i would like to take your chalenge, I would like to lose 50# I weigh 205# I would like to lose weight, build muscle, build a strong core, sleep better, burn stress

Hey Merely ! Such great news about your MRI. I'm very happy for you. It's always good when you can get a good Dr"s report. I've never participated in this ques. before so here goes....  On a scale of 1-10 I'd have to say maybe a 6. The best thing was weds. my husband was off work and it was a pretty day here so we loaded up the dog and went hiking in the conservation area not far from home, and we ended the day eating supper at alittle country bar and restuarant. It was refreshing just to get out in nature. The worst thing is the anticipation of the Holidays coming up, I just dread them.To improve my mental health I guess getting out hiking  it. Was I kind to myself?  Well today I went and bought a new pair off pants and a matching shirt to wear to my brothers house on Thanksgiving. As for the holiday dieting thing I don't have a weight problem, in fact usually I don't eat enough, so I guess some people would think I' fortunate in that respect. Everybody have a great weekend!! Sioux.  

I'm very glad to hear your good news, MM!  I do know a few people with MS who have managed fairly well for a lot of years, but I know it's different for everybody.

I guess I'd rate my week a 5, overall, as I'm going through a depressive "episode" but I'm trying not to let it take over.  The best thing about my week was, again, seeing my grandson for a while on Sunday and the worst thing was finding the motivation to do things I needed to do and being mad at myself for being depressed.  I could also say that the best and worst things about my week were the same - I stopped feeling numb after getting off the Zoloft.  That's always a double-edged sword!  I guess I took care of myself by letting a few things slide and going to a therapy appointment.

Hope everything has a great week-end!

Hi Merely Me, I'm delighted that your MS results came back so good. I think you should give yourself credit - I think the way you look after yourself probably helps with your MS, but I do understand that 'survivors guilt' type thing (its kind of like that don't you think?). I hope you are able to get enough past that guilt to enjoy your results.

Personally my week should have been a lot higher than it was, in my own opinion. Still right now I'd say I'm about a good solid 6 despite the fact that I just had my interview/audition for the acting course I want to do next year and I feel like I let myself down... I'm so sure I didn't get in... I'm trying to tell myself it's just my imagination and that I should wait for the results (in about 2 weeks) but I just feel like I've lucked out with this one and so the depression is trying to creep back in there. I'm fighting though - I figure it unfairly made my trip to America a lot less great than it could have been so it's had it's time to play for now, I want it to just let me be...!!!

I'm pretty okay with my weight... well I could probably put on a kilogram or two, I am slightly under weight... still nothing to really complain about. My sleep could be better but then I'm so tired after my trip that I have been catching up on a bit of sleep too so maybe, fingers crossed, I can fix my sleeping pattern during this time.

Hi Merely Me

Thats really good news for you! I'm so happy for you. I bet that was such a relief. I remember going for my three monthly checkups for the tumour that I had and feeling exhausted and relieved after when I had the all clear from my tests.

I've had a good week this week. Me and my hubby stayed at my daughters in England over the weekend, so that was a nice break. I cooked some onion bhajis with her and we cooked sunday lunch together and went for long walks. It was nice to have a change of scenery. We also went clothes shopping for her for her new Job. I think this week was an eight for me.  The worst thing was my youngest daughter had an upset stomach at the beginning of the week and she was feeling really down, so she had a few days off school.

To be kind to myself I bought myself a new Yankee Candle, which I've always fancied it smells of christmas biscuits. It's gorgeous.

About the diet. I've lost another two pounds, so I'm 9st 12 1bs now.  I still want to lose another half a stone though, mainly so that I'm in a healthy weight range and also to feel better and look better. I'm looking forward to joining in with everyone else. Icant wait.

     Congratulations on your test results!  Yeah!  I bet you were really happy to hear those results!  About my week, I'd have to say about a 5.  I had a so so week.  Nothing special.  I am trying to work on my depression issues.  I've ordered a couple more books on depression.  I think the more I know, the better I can handle my depression and help myself instead of making my depression worse.  I've also purchased a beginners yoga dvd to try.  I haven't tried it yet. 

     I am thrilled to do your challenge on losing weight and getting healthy!  I'm ready to make some positive steps in getting healthy and losing weight.  I currently weigh (eee gads) 215lbs.  I am 5'6" tall.  I eat when I am depressed, when I want to reward myself for making it thru another week of work, etc., or when I'm board.  I really want to focus on not using food to make me feel better or as a reward.  I would love to lose 65lbs.  I want to get healthy and get active.  Count Me In!  Thanks for doing this for all of us!  YOU are an inspiration to me!!!