Learning to live with arthritis

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I’m not even sure where to start with this post. It’s not a happy one. Not an easy one to write as I’m still having a lot of difficulties accepting that I have arthritis. But it’s time. And it is the reason for the lack of posts the last few weeks.

I don’t talk a lot about arthritis on my blog, until about a year I didn’t even know what had been causing the pain in my hands and feet for the last 7 years. I still don’t know what type of arthritis I have (though I suspect it’s psoriatic-arthritis). But it seems to be rapidly escalating and effecting every day life more and more. There is no cure, and no treatment until it’s determined which arthritis it is. I am currently take pain killers morning and night and fish oil supplements(yes, even though I’m a vegetarian – pain makes you try everything 🙂 ).

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At this stage the only things I can do is educate myself, try not to feel sorry for myself (so many are much worse off than I am), alter my expectations, lose weight (less weight on my feet can only help) and try an anti-inflammatory diet (basically a whole foods diet).

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In the last few weeks I’ve noticed my joints getting sore and stiff when gripping items – not good :-(. And this morning I had to remove my wedding rings as the swelling in my fingers was becoming unbearable. I’m really not in a great place emotionally at the moment. I miss walking my dogs, I miss being able to clean and organise the house whenever I want, I miss being free of pain and most of all I miss my expected future life. Thankfully I’m not normally a negative person or one to dwell on things beyond my control, so I know I will get past this feeling sorry for myself phase that I’m in right now.

Sorry to be such a downer. Just wanted to let you know what I’m up to and where I’m at. Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with a much happier day in my life post :-).

Whole Food Kitchen

registration opens tomorrow!

I’ve been a long time admirer of Heather and her blog Beauty That Moves. I took her 30 day vegan class last year and it was fabulous. Can’t wait for the new one Whole Food Kitchen. It starts 6th February so you’ve still got time to sign up. If you want to learn more about eating whole foods definitely go check it out. This class is not vegan, or even vegetarian.

Let me know if you’re going to be my classmate – I already know Jackie is.

As a bit of head start we’re having a no/low processed food week in our house. 4 days in and we’re coping surprisingly well.

Weight Watchers Update

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I’ve now been going to Weight Watchers for 6 weeks. Are you surprised? I’m guessing a lot of you thought it hadn’t worked out since I haven’t mentioned it in my “The week that was” posts – the reason being I get weighed on Tuesday and usually forget about it by the next Monday.

But I’m still doing really well. I’ve now lost 5.8kg (13lbs)  in 6 weeks and today I reached my 5% goal. Best of all I’m the lowest weight I’ve been all year, I feel great, have more energy and am having lots of yummy, healthy foods. I think my biggest change is mental – my whole approach to food and eating seems to have totally changed. If I got through last week without turning to chocolate I’m sure I can handle anything thrown my way :-).

Crunch time

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I’ve been seeing some pretty scary numbers on the scales of late – probably from a combination of lack of exercise and too many treats/snacks. So today I bit the bullet and rejoined Weight Watchers. It really is crunch time. If I can’t get my act together, it’s back to the weight loss surgeon I go.