Re: Hello All!

November 9, 2003

PJ,

This is horrible! I am so sorry to hear that you are having all these

problems with your health. I know the cholesterol problems real well myself

along with the back, I also have a disc out in the back and two in my neck.

It covers your entire body that way, wouldn't want to leave any part out

right? LOL I am not making light of this at all, I know exactly how this is

and the fact that you will have to be so careful and watch everything like

this is so annoying isn't it? It is almost like changing your entire life

around. Learning how to eat differently, exercising then being careful

about not doing too much and so on and so on.

My heart goes out to you, I gave up on the doctors when they started telling

me all this stuff. You know what I did? Now, don't take my advice over the

doctors but this worked for me and I am so stubborn when it comes to doctors

that if they don't agree then I will just use my better judgement and do it

all myself. But it works too. LOL

First, I started on a good vitamin regimen (you knew i would say that didn't

you) LOL and then added Garlic to my diet, in pill form and then more into

my diet also. I also started on Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar system. www

bragg.com in addition drinking lots of water. I not only lost weight, but

my cholesterol lowered tremendously. Yes, it did work. Then, I started

adding more soy to my diet and yes I have a site for that also LOL I will

send it to you later though, I forget it right now. They have soy coffee,

soy nuts that I would put on my salads and so on. Anyway, I stayed with it

for sometime and lost weight normally, of course I went onto eating six

small meals a day then and that worked wonders. I got that idea from www

bodyforlife.com Oh ya, I am full of info LOL Of course, now i did not try

all of these things at once though. One thing at a time. I started with

the vitamins for a week adding more water to my diet then the Apple Vinegar

arrived, then I started in on that....well then I started to see the weight

dropping off and that was encouragement enough. Two months later i went

into my docs and my cholesterol had lower quite a bit.

I was slower at the dieting part but once I seen the changes it was making

then I enlisted the six small meals a day. Summer and I both lost around

twenty pounds in two weeks just doing the six meals a day. Then I started

the Body For Life regimen which I absolutely loved. I felt so good while

doing this. But you would have to be very careful working with weights and

I wouldn't advise that with your back like it is. I did it with my neck

problems but was extremely careful not to go into that area too much. I did

other things that the therapist showed me for those areas only.

Don't be discouraged, it will be the better move in the long run. Key

thing? One step at a time. Take your time, develop your plan, take one

thing at a time and you will not even know you are doing it after awhile.

It becomes your second nature, so to speak. Chin up PJ, you will be okay my

prayers are with you and I am always full of suggestions girl LOL LOL Even

if you don't like them all LOL My heart is fully with you on this, you get

better okay? One step today, then another one tomorrow!!! Many many hugs..

...Nola

-- Hello All!

Hello to All my affirmations friends!!

You guys are so special to me, and I feel like you are a part of my extended

family. I apologize for being scarce the last several days, but had several

doctors appts. last week, and am having some health problems. I'm sure

everything will work out just great for me, but it kinda took an adjustment

for some of this to sink in, and for me to be able to deal with the changes

I will have to make. For many of you, this whole thing will sound extremely

silly, but for me -- it isn't.

First off, I found out that I now weigh 210 pounds on my 5 ft. 3 inch frame,

that my cholesterol is not just bad, but that it is skyhigh. My good stuff

(cholesterol wise) is very low, and the bad stuff is extremely high! Doctor

is starting me on Lipitor (medication) on Monday for help in lowering the

cholesterol. Then, he told me to cut out all of the fats, sweets,

coca-colas (my 2nd love in life), and to begin exercising immediately. I

need to get up to 10 miles of walking a week, according to my doctor. I am

supposed to lose a ton of weight, get lean, and lower my cholesterol and

SOON (as I was told).

Secondly, I went to another doctor on Friday, for my right knee, right hip,

and right foot that are hurting so badly. Well, what I find out is that I

have a herniated disc in my back (my back rarely hurts). Also, that a lot

of my horrible aches and pains are because of the herniated disc, the lumbar

radiculitis, and that I have sciatica down my right leg causing a lot of the

problems -- but all stemming from my back.

Okay, I knew I had fibromyalgia, and plantar fasciitis of my feet before the

appointment. But, now all of this on top of the other -- kinda wears me out.

Plus, my orthopedic surgeon insisted that I get an MRI at the beginning of

next week on my back, and that we will go from there. I am supposed to

start physical therapy treatments immediately, and the nearest facility that

is on my insurance for that is 1 hour and a half drive from my house one

way!! The problem with the MRI is also finding a facility that my insurance

will pay for " in network " . And, get this!! -- My orthopedic surgeon said

that I was to do absolutely NO exercise of any kind for quite a while! Then

I will be allowed to do swimming -- only. Or water aerobics in a pool.

Well, we live in a tiny town and the pool is closed most of the year.

Guess I'm feeling a little discouraged and sorry for myself. I still haven

t gotten the results of my mammogram, and other tests from last week yet.

Guess I'm getting old, feeling and looking incredibly fat, and fatigued.

The fibromyalgia already made me fatigued, and where I have insomnia many

nights a week, and now I've got all of this on top of it.

One doctor telling me to walk a minimum of 10 miles each week starting

immediately, and the other doctor saying " absolutely no exercise, etc. " I

also have to add that I love sweets, fats, and coca-colas (the regular kind

with the caffeine and the sugar). Oh, and I was told to cut out caffeine

for another health problem. Geez, it just seems too much at once! I know,

I'm being whiny, complaining, and being a baby at how I'm looking at this.

But, I'm feeling overwhelmed and exhausted even before I went to these

doctor appointments. I am currently not working as I am trying to get

through a medical transcription course as quickly as I can and still do an

excellent job, so we will start having money coming in soon. We are still

paying medical bills from my husband's emergency hospital stay back in March

and now have tons of new medical bills. Plus, house taxes, income taxes,

and Christmas ahead. And this year we have lost two of our dependents!

Guess I'm just having a pity

party, " I'll cry if I want to " !!

I know tomorrow I'll feel better and things will work out. The sun will

come up tomorrow. But, my family and myself have been through so much in our

lifetimes, that any more almost seems too much! Lately, I've been craving

snacks and treats more than usual, and here I need to cut them out! Pretty

scary for me. Okay, Now I'm embarrassed and you guys know what an awful

leader (owner) of this group you guys have. I'm great at helping others and

I enjoy doing that. But, I don't like having to be the wounded traveler and

having to ask for help. Would you guys mind saying a prayer for myself and

my family at this time? And if anyone has any wonderful diets, suggestions,

or comments on dealing with these health problems, please write me off group

at: mollyann365@... . I'll bounce back, as I always

do. But, am just feeling very teary eyed lately. Maybe hormones?! Thank

you guys so much! PJ

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AffirmationstoDe-Stress

A new positive thinking, positive affirmations support group, discussing

ways to cope with the stresses of daily life. Come aboard! nola & pj

(moderators), summer, michele, & teresa (co-moderators)

November 9, 2003

Good Morning PJ,

So sorry you're going through all this. Seems like its true that

when it rains it pours!

Looks like you have to make some changes - some really tough ones

(like eating habits/diet, that is always so tough for me) but in the

long run you'll be so much healthier and feel LOTS better!

You know we care about you! But you're wrong about one thing you

said in your email. You are NOT an awful leader (owner)! You have

made this a great group FULL of caring people. PJ - this group

changed my life!! I'm not kidding! I had heard of affirmations and

positive thinking but had never really put it into practice until I

joined this group. The things that come through this group are just

great. I don't know how I would have made it through the months

since June had it not been for this this group!!!

Hey, we all need " down " time - just to regroup and take care of

ourselves. I've not been around much the past few days either - just

very very overwhelmed with life. But, like you, I'll bounce back.

My house is a mess, my finances even worse, our only vehicle is

falling apart with no money to fix it and with Christmas coming

up...well I just felt like to could take NO MORE. So yesterday I

just gave in to these feelings and had my own little pity party. And

things don't look any better this morning...lol...but I'm holding my

head high and smiling anyway. Trying to focus today on my blessings,

of which I have so many.

Hang in there dear friend. And like Nola says take it a step at a

time! That's excellent advice!!

Hugs,

> Hello to All my affirmations friends!!

>

> You guys are so special to me, and I feel like you are a part of my

extended family. I apologize for being scarce the last several days,

but had several doctors appts. last week, and am having some health

problems. I'm sure everything will work out just great for me, but

it kinda took an adjustment for some of this to sink in, and for me

to be able to deal with the changes I will have to make. For many of

you, this whole thing will sound extremely silly, but for me -- it

isn't.

>

> First off, I found out that I now weigh 210 pounds on my 5 ft. 3

inch frame, that my cholesterol is not just bad, but that it is

skyhigh. My good stuff (cholesterol wise) is very low, and the bad

stuff is extremely high! Doctor is starting me on Lipitor

(medication) on Monday for help in lowering the cholesterol. Then,

he told me to cut out all of the fats, sweets, coca-colas (my 2nd

love in life), and to begin exercising immediately. I need to get up

to 10 miles of walking a week, according to my doctor. I am supposed

to lose a ton of weight, get lean, and lower my cholesterol and SOON

(as I was told).

>

> Secondly, I went to another doctor on Friday, for my right knee,

right hip, and right foot that are hurting so badly. Well, what I

find out is that I have a herniated disc in my back (my back rarely

hurts). Also, that a lot of my horrible aches and pains are because

of the herniated disc, the lumbar radiculitis, and that I have

sciatica down my right leg causing a lot of the problems -- but all

stemming from my back.

>

> Okay, I knew I had fibromyalgia, and plantar fasciitis of my feet

before the appointment. But, now all of this on top of the other --

kinda wears me out. Plus, my orthopedic surgeon insisted that I get

an MRI at the beginning of next week on my back, and that we will go

from there. I am supposed to start physical therapy treatments

immediately, and the nearest facility that is on my insurance for

that is 1 hour and a half drive from my house one way!! The problem

with the MRI is also finding a facility that my insurance will pay

for " in network " . And, get this!! -- My orthopedic surgeon said that

I was to do absolutely NO exercise of any kind for quite a while!

Then, I will be allowed to do swimming -- only. Or water aerobics in

a pool. Well, we live in a tiny town and the pool is closed most of

the year.

>

> Guess I'm feeling a little discouraged and sorry for myself. I

still haven't gotten the results of my mammogram, and other tests

from last week yet. Guess I'm getting old, feeling and looking

incredibly fat, and fatigued. The fibromyalgia already made me

fatigued, and where I have insomnia many nights a week, and now I've

got all of this on top of it.

>

> One doctor telling me to walk a minimum of 10 miles each week

starting immediately, and the other doctor saying " absolutely no

exercise, etc. " I also have to add that I love sweets, fats, and

coca-colas (the regular kind with the caffeine and the sugar). Oh,

and I was told to cut out caffeine for another health problem. Geez,

it just seems too much at once! I know, I'm being whiny,

complaining, and being a baby at how I'm looking at this. But, I'm

feeling overwhelmed and exhausted even before I went to these doctor

appointments. I am currently not working as I am trying to get

through a medical transcription course as quickly as I can and still

do an excellent job, so we will start having money coming in soon.

We are still paying medical bills from my husband's emergency

hospital stay back in March, and now have tons of new medical bills.

Plus, house taxes, income taxes, and Christmas ahead. And this year

we have lost two of our dependents! Guess I'm just having a pity

> party, " I'll cry if I want to " !!

>

> I know tomorrow I'll feel better and things will work out. The sun

will come up tomorrow. But, my family and myself have been through so

much in our lifetimes, that any more almost seems too much! Lately,

I've been craving snacks and treats more than usual, and here I need

to cut them out! Pretty scary for me. Okay, Now I'm embarrassed and

you guys know what an awful leader (owner) of this group you guys

have. I'm great at helping others and I enjoy doing that. But, I

don't like having to be the wounded traveler and having to ask for

help. Would you guys mind saying a prayer for myself and my family

at this time? And if anyone has any wonderful diets, suggestions, or

comments on dealing with these health problems, please write me off

group at: mollyann365@y... . I'll bounce back, as I

always do. But, am just feeling very teary eyed lately. Maybe

hormones?! Thank you guys so much! PJ

>

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AffirmationstoDe-Stress

>

> A new positive thinking, positive affirmations support group,

discussing ways to cope with the stresses of daily life. Come

aboard! nola & pj (moderators), summer, michele, & teresa (co-

moderators)

>

November 9, 2003