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It all started a few weeks ago, trying to just get more out of my Y membership. Over February break, I decided to try a few new classes.  I also decided to take my master key out for a spin, that allows me to try different branches!

I decided that as much as I like to swim, I needed to break out of my comfort zone a bit, after Dr. Jack encouraged me to do some things to relive some stress.  I  tried a few strength and stretch classes, some yoga, and tai chi.   I admit I stared longingly at some of the more challenging classes, like using weights and cardio kickboxing but was too nervous to try. I thought of Dr. Jack and his class that he takes, and I wish I could get to that level of fitness.   I really do… athletic people must find it hard to understand us challenged people… I really would like to reach that place of physical fitness… hey, life is nothing without dreams!

When I tried the tai chi at one branch, there was a substitute teacher and although I started out okay, it went downhill realllllyyyyy fast.  Admittedly, I felt badly that I could not do what everyone else seemed so comfortable doing.  And in a state of panic,  I quickly escaped out the door.   But I decided to try it again at the Independent Health branch.    I walked in feeling like a fish so far from the water, mumbling to myself that if this was a no go, I am out of here!   The truth is I always walk in that way, well, I used to!

Read moreMy new YMCA adventure with Brian…

One thing writing a blog does? It opens you up to lots of email from folks seeking help.   And that’s a good thing!  I know when I searched for Dr. Jack, I was looking to find someone who could help me.   Last week I got a an email from a man with Hashimoto’s.  He talked to me about his life, his inability to lose weight, his fatigue, how he lost his job because the brain fog was so bad he forgot essential things at work.

I wrote him back, I respond to everyone.  And he told me those words… “I can’t…”  He feels powerless to change his life, lack of funds, lack of motivation, lack….   and I can relate because all too often I have found myself knocked to the ground, and what I believed was  powerless…. felt like I couldn’t get up and try again that there was no “try” left in me.     It would be easy to lay there and give up.

I have only one piece of advice for that, no matter what the story is….   Don’t!

You can lay there a little while and look at your wounds.   But don’t stay there… get up.  And try something.  You don’t have to change everything!   But we all have enough steam to change something!  It doesn’t need to be big, just change something, one little thing.

Give up coffee for a few days.  You can get it back later, but it is one of the biggest enemies I Had.  I do drink some organic coffee now, but not tons and not more than once a day.  That constant coffee to help isn’t helping at all.

Take up walking, even if it is to the end of your driveway.   Park farther from the door.  Buy an inexpensive music player.  Borrow some music from the library.  Listen to the radio, and walk a bit.

Give up sugar for a few days, and take up some new vegetables you never tried.  At the end of a few days, you will see you can live without it!

Sleep more and watch tv less.  Give up an hour of internet surfing for free meditations on YouTube.   I watch Dr. Jack’s videos on supplements allllll the time.  Just to help keep health goals in my head,

Read something every single day to feed your soul!  Even if it is just one paragraph!

Pray…..  most people have no idea how many conversations I have with God.  And how God as heard and answered me.

Laugh…. smile!   Let only one or two see what is really going on inside but for the rest of the world be the smile that they need.  I try to do that every day.  I am free to totally be myself, all my ugly with very select people.   The rest of the world?  They think I am always happy!  And that’s good!  Maybe you are the only happy they see today.

Download some song that just perks up your mood!  I just found my “theme” song!   One that I just thought Wow! That is ME!

Dare…… dare to do something no one would believe you could not even you!

Sit in nature for a little while,and enjoy….  the melting snow, the birds, the sunshine….

Take up some new crafty thing, pour your self into some kind of art even if no one like someone it but you.

Write… putting words on paper sometimes helps to relieve stress.

Research holistic methods to help you with your health goals. Research costs nothing.  Books from the library cost nothing.  I am an information junkie!

Make one big step or one tiny step…..  just don’t settle that where you are is enough for you,  because so muchhhhhhhhh is waiting for you to find it!

Josh?  Hashimoto’s is not the end!  It’s just the beginning!  Start your journey with one baby step!  You aren’t stuck with it, I believed that for sooooo long.  Don’t you believe it and when you are ready?  Dr. Jack isnt going anywhere, he is ready.   He has helped so many people and I know he can help you!

Hugs!

Chris

This week was winter break, a much needed time away from Mrs. O….   a chance for Chris to recharge her batteries.   So what did I do?

I spent some time at the YMCA and rather than swim, my go to, absolutely love activity, I decided to branch out some.   I decided that no matter my level of discomfort I was going to try some new things!  Way too much in a rut and needed some fresh!

My level of discomfort has a lot to do with always looking around.  I see people who walk in there, know exactly what they are doing, and where they are heading.  Me? Not so much.  I often feel like I have no plan, no idea of how to use what, etc.   I always feel awkward.    That just adds to my discomfort, so this week I was determined to try some new things and just get comfy again.   Once the weather improves and I can be outside breathing some fresh air, it will be better, but in the meantime, I was itching for new.

I tried Tai Chi and one day, decided it would be a good idea to take my master key for a stretch and go to the Independent Health branch.   I really enjoyed it.   It was very controlled, not jumping around, just relaxed and calming.    It was totally stress relieving,  and I loved it.   The instructor was wonderful, explaining how to balance yourself and it made it so much easier to do.

After three days of trying the tai chi, I wanted to look into taking it as a class somewhere, but still haven’t found anything that works with my schedule.   I will keep looking.  I knew it was a huge stress reliever because one day after the class, I was moved to tears because it felt like a ton of stress just fell off of me.  I slept so much better that day.

I tried a class on strength and stretch that involved using weights.  I loved that too!  It was fun and again very controlled, notice the theme, lol…   I enjoyed that very much.  The instructor was wonderful, and again , very instructive.   I wish I could have memorized the routine.  I also tried Dao Yoga, again, very controlled movements.   I enjoyed that too and each day I was able to stretch farther.  By Friday I felt like my stretch was good.

I spent some time walking the track. And just getting myself back into some great habits and still keeping my comfort level.   Who knows where all this  might take me, right?  Every day doing something is better than a day doing nothing.

I also got to sub for my good friend, Rob Ciminelli at his BNI group.  They are the largest group of positive thinking people ever who are all about their clients and supporting each other in so many great ways. They are such sweet people, and although I don’t quite fit there, a teacher in a group of business people, they always make me feel welcome.

I also worked on plans for Sara’s baby shower!  Getting excited!      It was a good week!

There were lots of things I wanted to do this week I didn’t get to, like read a good book or go to a movie, but that’s okay.   Maybe I can work on a better balance in my life.  This week helped that a lot!

Small changes add up!  So keep at it! And I will too!

Chris

People always tell me how great it must be to be a teacher, and have vacations and breaks. I chuckle to myself…..   I find that most people do not realize that teachers often spend those times off doing work related to their jobs.   Most teachers I know carry work everywhere.

Teaching is not an hourly wage job and I would be horrified myself if I clocked the amount of hours I put in outside the school day.  It really is a very time consuming job.  Lesson plans, correcting, making, creating, learning, research and communication occupy so much of our “free” time.   I spent most of summer planning out two new courses for my schoo, as well as revamping materials and making new.   During the school year, I rarely read a book or watch tv.  Joey laughs that as he watches tv, I am solving math problems.     I can’t recall the last movie I saw, nor a lunch date with friends.

But today is different, as today marks the first day of winter break and although my school bag is filled to the brim with projects I could and should spend time on, it is also a week to give Mrs. O a much needed break, and to let Chris off the shelf to live a little.

Read moreMrs. O needs a break, Chris needs to live a little, and we both need balance!

Sometimes you just have to…..

I had not done any kind of detox in awhile.  We can blame that on schedules, grief, lifestyle, family obligations, work, well, all kinds of things,   Just could not get geared up mentally to do it.  I know I needed to.   I have learned that through my work with Dr. Jack, that sometimes your tummy needs a break and sometimes you need to get rid of all the toxic junk you have collected.

Last weekend it really hit me just how toxic I felt.  I was not eating badly but I don’t have to, to start filling up my little toxic bucket.   You just do pick up toxins, well, I do, from everywhere.   What you touch, what you breathe in, and even healthy food, sometimes might have stuff, and it all adds up.  Those little toxic substances seem attracted to me like a magnet.  And they bring havoc.   Quietly they build, and suddenly you are feeling sluggish, symptomatic.

And after the time, I have had with all the stress,  I had gone too long without dumping the little bucket. Things were starting to feel not quite right.   It was all little things, but I just kept thinking, I need to get off this place.  I am trying to do things correctly and just move along.   After all, I want to be the healthiest I can absolutely be!  I have Rachael, my granddaughter coming along.   And I want to be a fun, active, silly,  playful, supportive grandma.

Read moreEmptying you toxic bucket….

So many wonderful people have written to ask how we are, updates on Sara, how Joey is….. thank you so much for your prayers and kindness!

Sara is wonderful!   Twenty five weeks and looking pregnant pretty.   You know what I mean.   Some women look so ill, but not Sara.  Sara is beautiful right now.   She absolutely glows!    She is feeling the baby who is soooo active, rolling and kicking and tickling her inside.  Dr. Jack is very much a part of this process as Sara keeps him updated about herself and the baby.   We are all so grateful to him because this would not be happening without him!   She tells her PCOS group about him all the time, explaining that there is hope!  She changed her diet and had four pregnancies!

In November, she had a procedure to keep the baby inside which will be reversed closer to her date.   She did great with it and is really a picture of health.   She has to inject herself with blood thinners each day but a mom does what a mom has to do.  A minor inconvenience for what will be.

She feels really great but has restricted activities.  Very restricted.   She is allowed to work her office job, but got a parking space near the door.   She can’t lift, no vacuuming, no pushing anything.   We have worked out a system.  Every Saturday I go to her house.  I do all their laundry for the week and all those scrubbing jobs.   I clean, dust, vacuum, do their floors and scrub her bathroom and kitchen.   I try each week to do a few extra things, so she is not sitting there thinking she needs to clean something.  I think I make her a little crazy but she lets me do what I want.

I ask her to make a list of extra jobs and I try to tackle one each week, but sometimes, I can’t as we all get busy.   Either Russ, or Joey or I take her to the grocery store.   We carry and lift and push her cart.    She does a few organizing jobs while I am there so she doesn’t feel as though she isn’t doing anything.   Like any of us, it’s hard to sit, and watch someone else clean your house.   Russ teased her that since I have been coming the house is a lot cleaner.   Yes, he is still alive! Lol…. it was just teasing and sweet of him to think I do so much better.

Plans for a shower are underway and we are all breathing easier as each week goes on.

The baby is a girl, Rachael Christine, and is due to arrive May 12.  I know, I am truly honored and beyond touched.   It was my son in law who made that decision, and there are reasons for it.   She is named Rachael as way to name the baby after him.   And for me…. well he honored me with that and I am moved beyond words.

We will see what day Sweet Rachael has planned for her birthdate.   I told Sara to hold her breath for a week or so as my birthday is the 18th and I was born on my dad’s birthday so how cute would that be?   But I don’t care when she comes.  I just pray each day for her safe delivery and the health of her and Sara.

Joey is doing okay.  He has had some horrible days.  Like anyone, his grief comes in a wave.  There often is no rhyme or reason to it.   Something happens, he touches something or hears something and the wave of grief comes.

But, on the other hand, he is living.   He gets up every day and shows up for his life.   He goes to work, talks with friends, and is often at Sara’s having dinner or hanging out.   He has tried to make his way.   He love so to invite Shannon’s mom for dinner and cook for her.   He enjoys talking to her grandpa and tries to call him regularly.

This hasn’t been easy for him and the effects do show up, often when he least expects them to.   But he tries….. after all, it has only been six months.   No more can be expected of him.   Like anyone in grief, he is working hard to make a life for himself again.   He talked about some goals he has and I support in as much as I can.

One of the hardest tasks is grocery shopping.   I know that might sound silly, but Joey and Shannon always showed with me.   We would wander around Wegmans and they picked out food they enjoy and I picked out food for myself.   We would get food for the animals, and it was always fun.   It’s not as fun anymore.

So often in the middle of it, I look at him and I can see the grief building. At those moments we fly threw the rest of the store and go home.   He has done a great job of cooking for himself each night.   I usually have tutoring so he has to cook for himself.   He is making his way…. slowly. He is looking forward to being an uncle, and has plans to spoil the baby.  That keeps him moving.

My ex husband had a partial leg amputation in the last few months, so the kids run there quite a bit which added in some stress.  But things are better now and everyone is on the mend.

I do appreciate all of you who keep asking how we are.   I thank you for your prayers and kindness and I keep you in mine.

Hugs,

Chris

”I have been on Synthroid forever, and I really never get better.. My doctor told me Synthroid is the cure.”   The recent lament of an acquaintance who found out that I am a Hashimoto/Hypothyroid person.   Yeah, it’s a funny thing about that.   You really don’t get better. Would I call it the cure? Ummm… no.   You are the cure!  But you won’t understand that until you find the doctor who can explain to you where that disease comes from, what’s aggravating it and how you can fix it yourself.   That’s where Dr. Jack came in…..

I often now think that by far, the biggest lie I was ever told was the day they diagnosed me.   The doctor looked at my results and said, “Yes, you have thyroid disease but it is the easiest thing to cure.  I write you this prescription and you take it every day for the rest of your life and you are fine.”   I bought that….  after all, what did I know?   I was excited to wait six weeks and suddenly my life was going to back to normal.   Nice fairy tale…. but I only started feeling normal about five weeks into Dr. Jack’s plan and normal got better every week.

 

The truth was the Synthroid couldn’t help anyway, since it wasn’t really getting to where it could have done any good! Heck, none of my body’s natural hormones were getting where they needed to go.   Food wasn’t getting where it needed to go.   Every single cell was inflamed and clogged.   But no one explained any of that to me.  They just sent me to see nutritionists who gave me new diets that I failed at as my symptoms increased.   I was on a cycle of increasing Synthroid and ever worsening symptoms and weight.

I tried to help myself by  doing so many “healthy”  things that actually was completely aggravating my condition.   I was eating so many “healthy”options, following every diet I could lay my hands on in an attempt to halt my rising weight and awful symptoms.  But nothing stopped it.  And every year it just got worse. Until I found Dr. Jack.

“So you changed what you ate and that helped. I already follow —— diet?”  Yeah, I tried that one too, but then I changed everything!   I got the education of a lifetime.   What is really healthy? Apparently it wasn’t what I thought it was!    Those vast amounts of steel cut oats I was eating?  Ughhhhhh…… the whole grain bread?  Those little bars I carried in my purse?  Ughhhhhhhhhhhh……   The hidden sugar?

“I just can’t give up those things.  It is just too hard to live that way.  I will just stick with the Synthroid and follow ———— diet because everyone loses on that.”     sighhhhhh……

Yes, you will lose…. far more than you know.   You will lose your money trying to figure out a better way.  You will lose your stamina and your energy. Your body will fight back from those diets and you will lose….  I did…

I lost everything.   I watched my hair come out. My skin was so dry it was painful to touch.  I lost everything and I got really desperate to just feel a little better, not 100% but a little better.   And one day, I just decided to give up.   That was it, I was done trying.  I wasn’t going to do any more.  Hashimoto’s was my fate and I was stuck with it.

And then I found Dr. Jack’s webinar and now with some small adjustments here I live, the symptom free life.  Synthroid isn’t the cure!  Dr. Jack gave me the cure and the rest, you have to commit to.   You can cure yourself, you just have to be desperate enough to want it.  I do …. every single day!

 

 

My good friend, Sue, is in New York City, and she tagged me in a post telling me that if I was ever in New York, I need to try out a  salad place where she said she had the most delicious salad ever.  I am hoping she posts here what was in it, because … yummmmmmmm…… Whenever I go for lunch with friends I order either vegetable omelets or salad.   The kids in my room were laughing one day because I was getting frustrated and they said if I ended up in jail they would visit me and bring me salad.  Ha ha!

And I don’t eat those dainty bowls of it, when I eat salad, I eat at least three cups of lettuce! There is nothing but good in it!

I love to go to Greens soooo much, and Home Grown Bistro in Orchard Park because they have such yummy salads. Chicken Souvlaki salad, no cheese?  Yummmyyyyyy……I have a friend who was teasing me that the only thing I eat is salad, and although that is not true, the fact is salad is absolutely one of my favorite things to eat and I do eat lots of it. It’s great for people on a health journey because it is loaded with great healthy stuff.   I am often complimented in my lunch room about my great, fresh looking salads. I loveeeeeeeee salad. Love… love…. lovveeeeeee

Read moreSalad? YES!!!!!!

New Year’s Eve is fast approaching.   The time when everyone reviews the year they had and talks about goals for the future.  And as I scroll through my Facebook, I see all kinds of things.   Some people bless the year they had and look forward to new things.   Others curse the year, and hope next year is different.  Some people seem to never be happy no matter if good comes their way or not.

I could allow myself to fall into the trap that 2017 was the worst year of my life, which in many ways it was, but I won’t do it….. Nope. …  no way…..

I decided to look at it differently!   I have a lot of excuses to look back at the year and think how awful it was…. I really do.   But the truth is, 2017 proved to me just how tough I really am.   And I mean tough.   Like wow!  How did I make it through?   Easy!  I had Dr. Jack, and Rob.  I had my family and my dear friends.   And I had the sheer will to get up every day.

Read more2017…the year that proved to me what I am made of…

I know the drill……we all do!    It’s the day after Christmas,  and our attention shifts to the New Year! Ever year at this time, we all sit down and start resolving to do something…lose weight…. exercise.. get healthy…. and invariably, January 2nd, our faculty room is full of treats no one wants to eat because everyone is on a diet.    Everyone signs up at a gym, everyone is totally focused on reinventing themselves.   After the year I have had, I am in that place too, although I am not much about resolutions. I am more about goals.

And like every year, I get a bunch of well meaning people giving me helpful well intentioned advice about how to get myself on track, moving in a better direction.   What most don’t realize is that I am faithful to what I do, have remained faithful, but stress took its toll. And that’s okay.  I totally get it.   However, I am beating it, it’s just taking a little time.

People are always inviting me to go on some new diet.  Ughhhhh…….There certainly are enough of them out there.  And so like every year at this time I get a lot of email or texts that begin with, “Can you tell me more about the plan you are on?” Or “Would you like to try something new with me?”   Ummm….sure I can tell you about it and …… no, not trying anything else…. been there done that….I am on the last thing I will ever be on.    I really should make a pamphlet because I give the same speech all the time.

I am actually not on a plan anymore.    I was…. for about six months and then I decided to pick this whole thing up as my way of Life.  Granted, this summer?  Yeah who knows what I was doing.  But for most of my days, this “plan”is how I live.  I do the best I can, some days are harder than others.   And I forgive myself for not being perfect.  I don’t need anything new, because I feel best when I eat the way Dr. Jack told me to.  And I feel like garbage when I don’t.  Simple.

Read moreNew Year’s Goals?