Journey to Good Health

~Background~

I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis at 17 years old. It is a rare form of arthritis comparable to RA, and classified as an autoimmune disease because my immune system isn't functioning properly, attacking my body tissue causing deterioration, inflammation, and pain. PA can impact any joint, tendon, or tissue and, as with all diseases that cause chronic pain, it can cause chronic fatigue. Being home schooled in high school allowed some flexibility with my sleep/schooling schedule, so on bad days, I was usually able to get the extra sleep I needed. Pain management was my biggest struggle. After going through a trial and error process with many different medications, I found something helpful around 2008. It cleared up much of the inflammation and pain as long as I didn't put too much stress/pressure on my feet/joints.

~More Recently~

From 2008 till about December of 2013, I would have told you I managed my pain/health "good enough". I had my first baby in August of 2013 so I had gained a lot of weight, but that was normal, I told myself. I didn't really believe in "diets". I just wanted a healthy lifestyle that would lead slowly, but surely, to a better figure and overall health. I was eating, what I considered at the time, semi-healthy on a regular basis with some "well deserved" splurges every now and then and I was working out 2-3 times a week with a personal trainer. It seems like sound logic, right? A decent theory? Well there were a few flaws in my thinking, and even though I was seeing some improvement in my strength and figure, I was losing steam... and fast.

Flaw 1 - Motherhood takes a brutal toll.

Those of you who are mothers know how exhausting the first months are, and the rest of you, well, you can imagine. Even with my baby being a "good sleeper", I was getting 5 hours max at a time, nursing constantly, and not getting the restful naps I used to get.

Flaw 2 - High impact workouts with extra weight.

I was at my heaviest weight (excluding pregnancy) and yet I was pushing myself hard in the gym. I was adding strain and stress to my joints.

Flaw 3- I was off my medication.

On top of all of this, I had to be off my medication since I was nursing. I researched other medications and natural methods of managing my arthritis, but the only thing that I found that can actually prevent further joint damage is to take something that suppresses your immune system, which is, obviously, not something you want your baby to be exposed to.

I had flashbacks...

to the summer before junior year in high school. This was before I was diagnosed with PA but had begun to feel the symptoms. I knew had bad pain but didn't realize how serious until I pushed myself beyond what my body was capable of. It wasn't until I was in the middle of NYC on a youth group mission trip that I realized this wasn't something I could just "push through". My pain was so excruciating I couldn't walk. I had to leave before the morning meeting was over - my chaperon could see that I wasn't ok. She took me back to the room and I slept for a few hours. When I woke up, the whole group came into my room, led by my youth minister who was wheeling in a wheel chair. For me. Seeing that wheel chair as a 16 year old that hadn't experienced any sort of disability in the past, was very scary. When I got home we started the search for my diagnosis and help and I was able to get back on my feet, literally.

Fast forward...

to earlier this year, and I was back to this point. By January, I was canceling my work out appointments because I couldn't tolerate the pain, and by February, I couldn't even get out of bed. It was affecting more than just my feet this time - my hips, my knees and my back were all causing excruciating pain. Danny works from home. Without him and his work flexibility, I don't know how I would have made it. He would bring Stella to me and I would nurse in bed. I was depressed. I wasn't the mother I wanted to be. I didn't have the energy to be cheerful and play with her as much as I wanted to and I definitely wasn't the wife I wanted to be. He begged me to start back on my medication, but I didn't want to stop nursing. One day, after lying in bed thinking about it all, it hit me. The main reason for choosing to breastfeed is because I wanted what was best for Stella. I wanted to be the best mom I could be for her. That day I decided I would start working towards the weaning process. I realized that, although she was getting the best nutrition, she wasn't getting the best care emotionally. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to be able to be active with her, interact emotionally and spiritually with her and I wasn't.

Flaw 4 - I wasn't giving my body the nutrition it needed.

It hasn't been until the past 30 days that I have realized just how important nutrition is. In fact, after the change I have seen in just one month, I would venture to say that this fourth flaw in my healthy lifestyle was the most critical of them all. Even above medication. I started back on my medication in March. My pain and inflammation immediately decreased and I was feeling about as normal as I had during my '08-'12 years. I was excited and jumped into some running clothes. Even on my medication, I still experience swelling and pain the day after a workout. I had just accepted that as normal.

Early April...

an old friend I hadn't talked to in years contacted me. She told me about this amazing opportunity to bring in an income all while staying at home with Stella. I really wasn't looking for part time work. We do "alright", in my book, financially. Then she told me this opportunity was also a vehicle to get to feeling better, lose weight and get healthy too - that was intriguing. I had come to a point where I realized that my "semi-healthy eating habits" weren't getting me any results and it was hard on my joints to work out while being so overweight. She told me about a 30 Day Nutritional Cleansing System that rids the body of all the toxins we are exposed to daily. In addition to cleansing the bad, she told me about 300+ all-natural, organic nutrients that it puts into your body.

I was very interested. Here I was, desperate to lose weight and gain energy, but hated the idea of a diet. I liked the idea of a cleanse. I felt like 30 days was doable and there was a money-back-guarantee. I knew I needed it, so went for it.

Little did I know...

just how much 30 days could change my life. I am down 16 lbs and 14 inches of my body and I haven't had this much energy since before I ever experienced my first symptom from arthritis. I am the mom that I always wanted to be and my marriage is better. I didn't even realize the toll my relationship with Danny had taken, until now. Where I used to be depressed, I am now energetic and excited about life. Where I used to be insecure about my body, I am now more confident and motivated to keep working. Where I used to want to stay inside to hide, I now want to go out and enjoy new experiences again. Where I used to be unable to do a lot of the active things Danny (and his whole family) enjoy doing, I can now participate. Little did I know, that when I teamed up with my friend for weight-loss support that it would turn into so much more than that. Little did I know that starting this 30 day cleansing system would turn into a vehicle of opportunity - the opportunity for freedom. Freedom from the chain and ball of extra weight and freedom to gain financially while helping others.

~Still on the journey~

Although I feel 100% better - I mean, like a different person - I still have more weight to lose and more to learn about truly living healthy. This is more than a journey, it is a movement! It is a movement to change lives and set others free from the things that weigh them down. I already have found a really awesome group of girls as my support, but I am looking to bring more along to join this awesome movement. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more. :)

As far as my blog goes, I hope to start adding healthy recipes every now-and-then, as I try to branch out and find delicious ways to eat clean. Feel free to share your favorite healthy recipes with me, and we can grow and help each other!