happyfibrofamily

Weather Changes = Body Changes

The weather has become more humid in the last few days and my body is really feeling it.  This week I was pretty sore even before I went to Pilates.  So, today I am hoping to take a nap, since sleep always seems to improve my fibromyalgia symptoms.  Research proves that restorative sleep is one if the keys to managing fibromyalgia.  Will a small nap really help or do I need a full 8 hours?  I guess I’ll have to test it out myself.  Back to the weather, though.  I’m not the only person who has more symptoms with weather changes.  Check out this link for more information.  It lists some changes you can make to help fight symptoms as the weather cools, you can dress in layers, stay away from cold temperatures, and open window coverings to allow more light to come inside.  I think I’ll go snuggle in my bed for awhile in an effort to get warmer. 

Fast Track To Organization

Today I did something I’ve never done before.  I called my trash/recycling company and ordered a small dumpster bin.  It stays in front of my house for two days and I can fill it with up to 1,000 pounds of trash.  With the kids in school, this allows me to sort through games, papers, media, books, etc. and empty my home of clutter.  Who knew that $55 could buy that kind of freedom! Anyway, with my husband and I both working all day and into the night to empty our home and garage of unwanted, unneeded, and generally uninspiring stuff, we were barely able to finish establishing the first layer.  There’s a lot of space in those things! 

Unfortunately, I don’t think that filling it is going too difficult of a task.  We still have plenty to sort through and several construction projects to finish by Saturday afternoon.  On a positive note, we’ve collected about 12 large trash bags filled with usable items for donations to local shelters.  My husband took great satisfaction in flagging down one of these trucks as it coursed through our neighborhood today.  He made sure they got plenty of outgrown and disgarded clothing and shoes.  It was a long day, but very rewarding.  I’m going to sleep well tonight!

Organization is Key to Health

Achieving a healthy lifestyle requires a minimal amount of organization.  To eat healthy, meals, grocery shopping, and scheduled mealtimes must be established. 

Rotating through a schedule of meals or a meal plan allows for ingredients to easily be kept on hand.  It also takes much of the stress out of food preparation, especially if you have a large family, like me.  Knowing ahead of time (for me this is weekly, for others monthly works best) what I’ll be serving for dinner and how I will make use of left-over meal items also makes grocery shopping much easier.  I can more easily shop sales if I plan my menus ahead of time, making adjustments as necessary.  I can also save money by knowing that Sunday is salsa chicken day.  That way if I find a yummy salsa on sale, I can pick up several jars, knowing that my supply will be exhausted in a month.  In this way meal planning also helps financially.

When you eat standing up (my mom calls this eating like a college student), and rushing around, you inhibit your ability to relax while eating.  This interrupts the digestion process.  Mealtime should be a time of healing, a time of reflection, and a time to share.  That’s why the traditional family meal is so important in our home.  My children love to eat out or in the car as special treats, but since I’m their mom, they’ve learned to eat “at a table as a family” on a regular basis.  This is one of our family traditions and remains despite changes in eating habits and lifestyles. 

I know that I eat healthier when I actively use these basic principles in my life.  Hopefully they will be of help to you, as well.

School Is Back In Session

Now that the kids are back in school, I have a little more time.  That’s probably the understatement of the year!  This year our children attend 8 different schools - luckily I am not responsible for getting all of them there on time.  My morning/afternoon routine only involves 4 schools.  Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., my mommy duties only include our almost 4 and 1.5 year old boys, so the house seems much quieter.  With most of our children back in school, I look forward to keeping my blog updated.  If you have any topics you’d like to know more about, leave a comment, and I’ll research it. 

Also, if you’re looking to earn some extra money, my blog editors just informed me that they need more writers.  Here is the link to check it out.  You can choose your topic and they pay directly into your paypal account, so it’s easy to track how much you’ve made. 

Summer time has been in full swing around here leaving me little time for blogging.  Tonight as I was helping my daughter clean up the mess of putting dishwashing soap, rather than dishwasher liquid in our dishwasher, I realized it has been quite awhile since I’ve blogged.  So, sorry for not keeping you posted on fibro news and reviews.  I’ll try to be better as soon as school starts back up.  Have a great day!  By the way, 1/2 cup of oil poured directly into the dishwasher works great for clearing away the suds!