USANA Essentials

Supplement Sunday!

Time and again I have been asked what I have done to create my Happy and Healthy lifestyle including the supplements I take. The USANA nutritional supplements have been profoundly instrumental in my ability to maintain not only an ACTIVE lifestyle but also ELIMINATED my dependence on medications for pain management related to my Fibromyalgia.

The USANA Essentials are a Total Body Health product that provide a comprehensive range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for daily nutritional support (usana.com). The combination of the Chelated Minerals and the Mega Antioxidant work together to provide our bodies the nutrients and minerals our food lacks that because of the changes in the way foods are grown and processed in our fast paced, instant gratification, and preservative based society.  

I never dreamed that my fibro pain could be made worse by be nutrient deficiencies and while it took three months for me to really notice a difference, once I realized that my body was less sensitive, I had less issues with chronic fatigue, and I was able to enjoy doing things with my child again, I became a believer.

Now my USANA Essentials are truly essential part of my daily routine. Sure, there are days were I WAY overdo it and crash out, days I can run and some where walking is a chore, the difference is that my body has the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs to heal itself and function efficiently and my quality of life is definitely Happier and Healthier.

For more on the USANA Essentials and more of the diverse, high quality supplements made by USANA, visit this link to the USANA Essentials

Fibro and Family (new recipe!)

Ok, I have a HUGE family (5 brothers and 2 sisters, plus 2 sister-in-laws, and 2 adorable nephews) and while I really enjoy having them come and visit, let's face it, Fibro and Family do not always go hand in hand. Cleaning the house for them to come over is a must for me and that is tiring. Then there is cooking - and when you have that many family members, that requires planning too. While ordering in or going out to eat is easier, it isn't always financially possible and finding places that serve foods that meet the new Healthy standards of many of my family members is tough too. Don't get me wrong, I love that my brothers and sisters are looking to be more healthy too, but it does make eating out nearly impossible. Then there is the long hours of playing with the nephews and my child running around and then the after guest clean up. WOW, I am getting tired just reliving it to write this post and earlier this week I flat out crashed because I over exerted myself and it took THREE DAYS for me to feel normal again.

Thankfully though all my personal research into finding healthy meals that are Fibro friendly, made the meal planning of this particular visit sooooooo easy!! I work full time and right now I have an hour drive from my job to get home, so I was determined to find meals that are healthy and EASY. Mexican food is my absolute favorite so I get really excited when I find recipes that meet all my requirements - Healthy, Easy, and Delicious.

If you are looking for healthy and easy food recipes, check out www.healthyrecipes247.com - it is an AWESOME blog that has more recipes and ideas for snacks than I could ever make and the blog master is always adding new and fun food ideas.

For my family visit, I made a super easy, amazingly delicious, Baked Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Taquitos served with homemade guacamole and low fat sour cream. I was able to cook my chicken while I vacuumed the carpets and prep time was so minimal that I got to spend lots of time with my family and not in the kitchen. The 15 min bake time also ensured that everyone got to eat at a reasonable hour and the clean up was minimal. How much more could you want? So check this out!!

Baked Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Taquitos

Yields 12 Taquitos

• 3 chicken breasts (cooked & shredded)
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tbsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 6 green onions (chopped)
• 1 roasted red pepper (peeled & diced)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
• 12 flour taco tortillas

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Heat a large skillet to medium heat add the chicken and season with the cumin, cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt.
2. Once the chicken is evenly coated in seasonings, add the chicken broth and green onions. Cook until the chicken broth is fully cooked off (about 5 minutes) then mix in the roasted red peppers.
3. Heat the tortillas in a paper towel in the microwave until soft (about 15 seconds).
4. Fill each tortilla with 2 tbsp cheese and about 1/4 cup of chicken mixture, roll up and place fold-side down on a greased baking sheet.
5. Bake the taquitos at 425F until golden (about 15 minutes), flipping after 10 minutes.
6. Serve with guacamole and salsa.

I know that having Fibromyalgia is really tough and not everyone has the supportive family that I do, however, regardless of how supportive they are or aren't, I strongly suggest that you put forth the effort to maintain a strong family element. They are not going to always understand 100% what you are going through, how you feel, or even care, but consider that that road goes the other way too. They will experience things in life that you don't understand or agree with but I speak from experience that its not always about them understanding, sometimes its just about the relationship and being there when they need you to the best of your ability. It is heartbreaking to me when I see families that cannot support each other - mostly because my siblings and I are very close despite our very different life paths and decisions.

We may not be able to do everything that they can, or participate as long a they do, but making an effort to do what we can will go a very long way. It is hard to look past our own difficulties and the pain we are constantly in, but its better to do what you can than to sit back and later in life regret what you didn't do.

Making the changes I have in my life, the exercise, the USANA supplements, a healthy diet, even consistent psychotherapy has made a HUGE difference in both my ability to DO things with my child and my family but it has also changed my OUTLOOK on life.Yes I am able to more but I also no longer beat myself up when there are days I can't. I am not cured, I still have days of intense pain, I still struggle with fatigue, and the brain fog periodically gets more than a little frustrating, but I am loving my new HAPPY and HEALTHY lifestyle.

Please contact me if you need someone to be your Fibro support or if you want to understand how making healthy changes have changed how I live an active life with Fibromyalgia. Freedom is possible.

Have a Happy and Healthy weekend!

Rachel

Will USANA Cure my Fibromyalgia?

Hey friend! I am trying very hard to be more active on my blog and have been brainstorming things that would be helpful for fibro fighters, parents, professionals, or anyone looking to be Happy and Healthy alike. So look for changes in the near future! I am excited!

However, I am not just a blogger. I do actually looks at the stats for my blog to see where on this beautiful planet the people who view my blog live, what platforms they are reading from so I can use appropriate fonts and picture sizes, and what key word searches bring people to my blog. I have seen key searches like "USANA Fibromyalgia", "USANA Weightloss", "Traveling and Fibromyalgia" just to name a few that I can remember right off. Earlier this week I noticed that a viewer who came to my page had searched "Will USANA cure my fibromyalgia" and because I wanted to have a response that was both accurate and in compliance with the regulations of the FTC and FDA, I took some extra time mulling over how I would present my thoughts on this search.

First, no, USANA products and supplements will not CURE our fibromyalgia. Until they find the end all, be all CAUSE of fibro there is very little chance that they will find an actual cure. In trauma medicine we say, you cant stop the bleeding till you find the wound. However, what USANA's natural supplements and digestive boosters have done for me is closer to a cure than the multitude of medications I took ever got me.

I still have rough days, I still get foggy brains, and I even still have fatigue issues. So what's the point you say? Well the DIFFERENCE is in the fact that these common fibro symptoms have been significantly diminished and no longer keep me from doing what I want to do and enjoying life! I can go grocery shopping without the excruciating pain causing me to pass out from exhaustion when I get home. I get to enjoy playing in the park with my little girl and soak up all her little daily accomplishments. I am in so much less pain that sometimes I can almost forget I even have fibro. Personally, THAT is SUCCESS!

So I have had people ask how I know its the supplements and not the other changes I have made in my life that caused the improvements. Well fact of the matter is, I didn't start making those other changes until I realized how GREAT I felt after taking the supplements for about a month. I had energy, I wasn't all swollen and achy, and I began to feel like I was somebody again! Oh and I almost forgot to mention that I dont take any of those medications any more - you know those ones that didnt really feel like they were effective in ANY WAY?

It was a huge leap for me to start giving a natural supplement an honest chance and allowing it the time to start helping my body but I am so glad that I finally took that jump. USANA's supplements are not just thrown together and mass marketed to the public. The scientists at USANA work side by side with one of the world's leading microbiologists, Dr. Myron Wentz,  to formulate a product that will boost our body's natural ability to heal itself! The Essentials is a perfectly balanced combination vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in their Chelated Minerals and Mega Antioxidants that provides a full body health experience.

I wont promise that it will work for you but what I can promise is a 100% money back guarantee if you arn't happy with the way you feel. What do you have to loose? We take the advice of doctors who dont even understand our disease themselves, why not take a leap of faith and try something a little out of the norm? Something....Natural!

Do your research, love yourself, and Be Happy and Healthy!
Rachel

Antibiotics or Probiotics

I love this little meme but in all honesty it represents an argument that I have heard come up many many times with avid supporters of both sides. Since this blog represents my personal humble opinion, which is based on personal medical knowledge and experience, research, thoughts, and opinions - I am going to weigh in on this topic myself.

Very short back story here: My little girl, who is only six, just went through lathroscopic surgery on her intestines because after a CAT Scan with contrast showed that she was not only experiencing bowel blockage but that there was a large mass in her small intestines. Now that we are home recovering (poor thing is also having to do an at-home colon cleanse - which I will leave for a later post) I have been hearing an awful lot of the Probiotics vs Antibiotics and which one she needs to be taking.

So here is my opinion - BOTH!! Our bodies need BOTH! 

Now here's the logic behind my reasoning. Bear with me a few minutes.

First: Bacteria is all around us and even inside us.

Second: There are as many GOOD bacteria as there are BAD bacteria

Third: We need a decent balance of BOTH bacteria in order to maintain proper health (a yen and yang so to speak - the good balancing the bad)

Our body's immune system, as surprising as this may seem, is largely dependent on the overall heath of our gut. This is because it is our stomach, colon and intestines, liver and kidneys, that are responsible for extracting the nutrients our bodies need from the foods we eat and then eliminate the toxins and waste from our systems in the most obvious methods possible. When any one of these organs fails to function efficiently, then our bodies will be deprived of the nutrients we need an will be unable to maintain itself effectively.

So where does the bacteria come in? Right! Because our gut if FULL of bacteria - the kind that help to break down and absorb nutrients and then eliminate the waste!

By introducing PRObiotics to our systems, we are improving the GOOD bacteria in our guts and they keep us running....smoothly. However, sometimes ANTIbiotics are necessary because infections, whether they are sinus, respiratory, dermal, or even lymphatic, have ensued from the sudden growth of BAD bacteria.

The Conundrum: Antibiotics will not only destroy the BAD bacteria but additionally they will kill off the GOOD bacteria too.

The Answer: Taking regular doses of PRObiotics will maximize our body's natural defenses against foreign or harmful bacteria but when the body is weakened by a BACTERIAL infection (the common cold -the rinovirus or the flu - the influenza virus are NOT bacterial and antiBIOTICS will not help them) then it would be beneficial to the body to take the 7-10 day dose of antibiotics to clear out the bad bacteria while AT THE SAME TIME continuing the probiotics to get the good bacteria levels back up and the immune system functioning at the highest level again (this could also minimize the possibility of yeast infections that often occur with antibiotics because the bacteria that eliminate yeast has been killed off....are we seeing the pattern here?)

So in short, I am a huge proponent of both probiots and antibotics - when they are used in the way they are intended and that the user understand the purpose and limitations of both. Since I have started using USANA's 100% natural probiotics and fiber supplements regularly, I have noticed that the IBS, which is associated with my fibromyalgia, has stabilized and I have managed to create a regular routine if you get my drift...talk about a relief! I have seen a significant decrease in other annoying issues too - like my seasonal allergies, acid reflux, even ACNE! Who would have thought....not me.

Again, all medical conditions, questions, and the use of supplements should be directed to your medical care provider before any major changes take place. I am not a doctor and do not have all the answers. I can only offer incite based on my knowledge of pharmacy and personal experiences with Fibromyalgia and the joys of living with it.

As always, may you be Happy and Healthy!!

Rachel

Working with Fibromyalgia

Greetings my wonderful friends!!

It is so wonderful to come back here and see that so many people are continuing to follow my page and my journey to being Happy and Healthy.

I have to admit that it has been a very long several weeks and I am struggling more than usual with my Fibromyalgia. As I look over the past several posts I made, I can see that I have been struggling for longer than I originally thought. In light of my increasing frequency and severity of migraines in addition to constant Fibro flairs, I had a conference with several of my most trusted friends and family members about my job and how I felt that it was integral to my steady decline in health.

A common theme among Fibro Fighters is how they find that it is very hard to function in the work world largely due to the pain and constant fatigue caused by the disease. Now I am huge proponent of having a job for two reasons - first, it gives a sense of purpose and that can be hugely bolstering when you feel that you have little or no control in your life and second, it builds a consistency for you and that consistency can help significantly in learning to pace yourself while dealing with the pain. The key to being happy with your job is to have a job doing something you love; something that makes you truly happy.

I love accounting and I am good at it which for some time now has been the only reason that I have continued at my job despite being less and less civil with the owner of the company. Accounting makes me happy but I realized that I truly dreaded going to work and that once I got there I would almost instantly feel aggressive, agitated, and aloof - none of which is conducive to a productive work environment.

In light of all of this, I made the determination that my toxic work environment is hurting me more than it is helping the bank account and I gave my boss notice that I would be leaving. I gave him enough time to hire someone to replace me and additional time for me to train them. Even though I know there is an end in site, I don't find much comfort in that knowledge.

I know that many of us need to have a job to make ends meet, take care of our families, and pay for our medical bills, but it is my strong council that if you are completely miserable with your job then there is no amount of medication, meditation, or massage that is going to bring your pain levels down or your emotional state up. I encourage you, if you are struggling with working with Fibromyalgia, to sit down with you managers and see if there are things that you can work out that might minimize your pain or stress levels. If they cannot accommodate your disabilities and you are thinking of looking for a new job, sit down, be honest with yourself, and outline what it is about your job that makes your Fibro flair. Do you have a rotating schedule? This often creates physical strain on the body. Are you a manager? This level of responsibility increases stress levels which can burden the immune system. Do you spend all day on your feet or sitting in front of a computer? Knowing if the ergonomic environment could be increasing your discomfort levels could help you to decide what suggestions you could make to management or in looking for a new job.

Find something that you love and you will never work a day in your life.

Building a healthy lifestyle is not just about what we eat, its about how we think and how we spend our time. Its a hard decision to leave my job because it does create a certain level of uncertainty but I will take a little time to allow my body to heal and in that time look for a position that allows me to do what I love but preferably without the massive amount of responsibility that being a manager requires.

When you feel overwhelmed, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and picture a place where you could feel relaxed. Trick your mind and body into letting go of some of that negative energy and bring in healing light. And above all - Be Happy, Be Healthy!

Lots of Love!
Rachel