My Success (so far)

In February 2012, I started on the Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss Program. I am so happy with the results! Not only have I lost 63 pounds, and MANY inches, but I now have a lean mass/fat ratio of 74.5 to 25.5. On Sept 28, 2012, I started Phase 2 of the program.

There are many things which I like about the Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss Program. I like that I was monitored each week to make sure I was losing fat, not the lean mass/muscle. It is EASY! It works! And that I am learning about nutrition and what my body NEEDS for nourishment and fuel to function at its best. 

I'm looking forward to continuing to maintain a healthy weight and lean mass/fat ratio so that I can, as Moore Health says, "Celebrate Health & Wellness".

If you live in the South Elgin, IL area, I'd recommend the Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss Program. To learn more, visit their website: www.MooreHealth.net. 

Hug from God

One thing about living with chronic pain is that you never know the type of day you will have. Oh I can plan, but there are things, of which I have no control, that can increase my pain level. Weather, good and bad, can increase pain. A simple movement, like emptying the dishwasher or brushing my teeth can send the pain through the roof. And of course, my attitude can effect my pain. If I am more positive it doesn't really lower the pain, it just better equips me to handle the pain.
Today I had one of those higher than normal pain days. I thought it would be a good day....the day after my chiropractic adjustment usually is. However, when I tried to get out of bed....I quickly realized it was going to be a high pain day. I quickly took my pain meds and did a few other things to lower my pain. Yet, today, I just couldn't get the pain to lower.....at all. In fact as the day progressed, the pain seemed to increase. The clock moved very slowly as I waited for the time for my next pain pill.

At one point, as I was ready to have a "poor me" moment, Max flew to my shoulder and started talking. He had a lot to say. When he was done talking, he simply fell asleep on my shoulder. When I moved....I thought he'd fly to one of his many perches and go back to sleep. But, no he was content to stay on my shoulder as I got up and walked around the apartment. He just wanted to be with me. In fact, he stayed with me pretty much all day.
At one point, he was in his cage eating, and I got up and went into the kitchen. IMMEDIATELY, I heard...'achoo, achoo, achoo'. (That's what Max says when he wants me.) I yelled back, "I'm in the kitchen." Max flew into the kitchen, landed on my shoulder and promptly started yelling at me for leaving him!
As I look back over today.....my pain was high for what seemed like no reason. Yet, the day was not a bad day. Having Max so close to me all day was like God giving me a hug. And any day you get a hug from God is a good day!

The days which you seem to have no control can still be positive if you remember that God loves you. His love is unconditional. The fact that God, the Creator of all, loves you should not only encourage you....but make you feel amazing! Think about it. God.....loves you. A very simple statement with an astounding meaning. Knowing God loves you should make any day a positive one!

Am I REALLY thankful?

Two weeks out from my surgery. Had some bumps along the way...but things seem to have evened out a bit. Still know that healing isn't complete. The pain level is still higher than my "normal" pain; but bearable. Sometimes, I think God brings things into my life to increase my pain....so I'll be THANKFUL for my "normal" pain level. LOL 

I think that's true with many things in our lives. We aren't thankful for our daily living....until it changes. When our routines or traditions are interrupted, we than take notice. The old adage: "you don't know what you have until it's taken away", has a ring a truth to it. 

This has me thinking again.....what everyday routines would I miss is I couldn't do them? What has God given me that I take for granted? As Thanksgiving approaches, we often focus on "being thankful". But am I really thankful? Am I thankful for the daily gifts God gives me? Or do I assume that I 'deserve' these things? 

What routine things am I thankful for??? Wow...having milk in my refrigerator. Taking my meds is much easier with milk. Lately, I've been frustrated with my coffee maker...instead of complaining about it, I need to be thankful that I can make a cup of coffee or tea whenever I want one. So it's not the newest or the best...it works and I need to be thankful for that! Especially, when my Mom still boils water in a pan to make her instant.....Yet, she's very thankful for that!! 

I'm thankful for my sofa...so it's 15 years old and the green color is out of style now...but it's where I spend my day. I have a sofa where I can recline all day. It's has plenty of room for me to recline with my pillows. God knew when I bought it 15 years ago, that I'd be spending most of my day on it... So glad He knew which sofa would serve me the best. 

I'm thankful that I can read and for some good books to read. I have my favorites which I read everyday: the Bible, Pain Perplexity and Promotion, Psalms Now. And another book a friend gave me which I'm reading right now: Calm my Anxious Heart (Linda Dillow). 

I'm thankful for my stereo system (a gift from a friend). I can listen to the radio or CDs, and I can change it all without getting up off the sofa....it has a remote! That's important on those "can't move pain days". Guess, I have to add the remote to my thankful list too!! 

I'm thankful for Max, my parakeet. God continually teaches me using Max as an "object lesson". The main lesson God has taught me .....using Max is that God cares about the details! The smallest, tiniest, seemingly unimportant details.....yet, God is concerned and is not only aware, but takes care of those "unimportant" details. 

I think I'll continue this list....last year I kept track of my daily blessings....this year, I think I'll have 365 days of Thankfulness! Each day I'm going to write down something for which I'm thankful! Wow...what a great year it will be.....filled with thankfulness! 2010 will have 8,760 hours; that's 525,600 minutes; that's 31,536,000 seconds! How many of those hours, or minutes, or seconds will I spend thanking God?

Creating a positive day is all about your attitude. Your attitude determines your mindset. "if you think you will be", is true. That's way God says .....'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.' (Philippians 4:8). God knows that what we think about we'll act upon. What are you thinking about today? What attitude will create your day today?

Spinal Stim Programing Day!

Today, I'll get my spinal stim programed. Programming is an ongoing thing.

Many have asked how my spinal stimulator works. Our brains have "pain gates". Pain sensations travel slower than other sensations. For example, if you stub your toe, it hurts. But when you rub your toe, it feels better. Rubbing your toe didn't "heal" it, rather the rubbing messages travel faster than the pain messages. The rubbing messages fill up the "gates" allowing fewer pain messages to get through...so your brain thinks your toe is better.

The same concept works with my spinal stim. The stimulator sends signals along the nerves to the brain. those tingling signals fill up the gates allowing fewer pain messages to get through. My brain is tricked to thinking I'm in less pain. However, if I use the same signals too long.....the brain starts to ignore the tingling signals and giving more attention to the pain. Therefore, having several programs allows me to switch back and forth or use different signals for different activities.

That is a very basic explanation of how the spinal stimulator works.

God created our bodies to do amazing things! When I think of how my body works, I can't help but praise God. Even how God created the brain, so that I can "trick it" into being in less pain!

Now, you ask, why doesn't God just remove your pain? That's an easy one! God believes that I'll have more opportunities to share His love with others, if I'm in pain. I meet people, whom I've never would have contact with, if it weren't for my pain.

Now, don't get me wrong....I'd LOVE to be free from my pain. However, since God hasn't chosen that for me at this time, I need to do what I can to glorify God and continue to share His love. God has many reasons for what He does. And I don't always understand those reasons. But, since God loves me, He will continue to care for me and give me what I need to live with chronic pain.

Creating a positive day isn't always about me or what I'm enduring. Often it's about sharing God's love with others or encouraging someone else. God's love is unconditional. Many people today don't understand that concept. Sharing God's love is the best way to create a positive day! Each time I share God's love with someone else, I get a hug from God! Can't beat that for a positive day!

Thank You for Your Prayers

Wanted to thank you all for your prayers as I recover from surgery. On Sunday, 11.15, I turned on my spinal stimulator (a pacemaker for pain). It worked! On Tuesday, 11.17, I'll receive additional programs, to use with various activities. To make this battery last as long as possible, I'll need to get use to differences in the new programs compared to the old. But the longer this battery lasts, the longer between surgeries.

I do appreciate all the prayers on my behalf. It's very comforting to know that people are talking to God on my behalf. That is a very cool thought! The Creator of All is listening to people talk about me! WOW!!

Although we each need to create our own positive day, others can help us! When people are praying, and let you know they are praying, it sure makes the day more positive. Have you prayed for someone today? Did you let them know? God might use you to encourage someone and help make their day a positive one!

Health care bill...what's in it?

I don't post many political items on my blog. But the video link below is vital for everyone to hear! It's only ONE of the things buried DEEP inside the House's Health-care bill. It may sound good, but the Democrats have filled it with unreasonable, and very costly items. Plus, it's just one more way for the government to have more control over our private lives....don't think so? Read the bill. (The entire 1,018 page bill can be downloaded here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/15/house-health-care-bill-fu_n_234372.html).

But first watch this video.

Speaker Pelosi's Idea of Law & Order: Government Mandate or Jail

A short YouTube video.

How can there be anything positive in this? First, God is still in control. Second, we as individuals and Christians, need to begin to pray for our Country, the leaders, and begin to pay attention at voting times....and then VOTE. We have a responsibility, to work to elect leaders who will lead this country in the right way. Creating a positive day....and country takes work. God does expect us to do our part (ei. vote, and write our representatives).