Living Well Etc.

  Diet and Exercise is my Fountain of Youth Menopause is a major life change for women.   Some welcome it, as it means the end of the dreaded monthly visitor.   Nevertheless, some mourn , viewing it as the end of their youth.   No doubt, menopausal women are not as youthful as we once were, but this can be the best time of our lives.   So true, except for that one enormous elephant in the room.   That elephant can be us due to the typical weight gain associated with menopause.   My experience is slightly different than most because I am also saddled with a chronic disease that limits my activities .   Combine the natural weight gain many menopausal women face with the neurological damage of multiple sclerosis and I could become that elephant quite easily.   Yet, I am not.   Why?   Follow me and I will share all my secrets.   Move that body! Even though my form of MS is a chronic progressive type, which chips away at my...

  Surprisingly, those with multiple sclerosis and women over the age of 50 share a similar problem.   It's common knowledge that metabolism slows significantly for women over 50, leaving us feeling tired.   Similarly, those with MS suffer from severe fatigue.     As an MS sufferer and having passed the half-century mark, I know fatigue with a slowing metabolism firsthand.   Fried after five, I know well.   Since fatigue and loss of energy are common for both groups, it seems logical that foods recommended for those with MS would also benefit women over 50.   Through trial and error during my many years with MS, constant research, and with advice from my doctors, I have come up with a diet that works well for me.   I believe it can help others as well.      What foods speed up metabolism and relieve fatigue? Eating the typical three full meals each day slows our metabolism to a crawl.   During the time it takes ...

  Changing Season Affect Those With Multiple Sclerosis Ah, the lazy days of summer often involve outdoor activities, except for those living with MS.  The heat can exacerbate our symptoms.  Truly, each season brings challenges we must face.  However, for every challenge, I have found solutions or at least methods for making the most of a bad situation.    Stay Warm and Limber During the Winter with These Tips The winter chill can be difficult for many people, not just those with MS.  Older people tend to have arthritis and may often feel stiff and sore.   Since I'm older and have MS, that handily describes me: stiff and sore.  Fold in weakness in my arms and legs and the description is complete.  Therefore, in winter, I keep the house a constant 75 degrees to keep warm.  Warmer temperatures or heavy clothing can cause my symptoms to flare up.  Additionally, after a hal...

  Dining Gluten-Free I am planning a special tea for my favorite gal pal.  I thought creating desserts for the tea might be difficult since she is gluten intolerant.  Surprisingly, I have found that some of my favorite recipes are perfect choices—delicious too.     My Favorite, Decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake Through the years, I have streamlined the steps of this amazingly simple, yet elegant recipe.  I cheat a bit by using a microwave and bittersweet chocolate chips.   Begin by setting the oven to 350 degrees, spray a 9-inch springform pan with oil and dust it with cocoa powder.   Cut 1-cup unsalted butter into pieces and add it, ¼-cup heavy cream, and 8-ounces of chocolate chips to a glass bowl.  In the microwave, heat at full power for one minute and stir.  Continue cooking at 30-second intervals until melted.    Lightly whisk 5 eggs with 1-cup sugar and ¼-cup ...

I'm the one in front with the braids! Losing Weight and Exercising Released Me from My Wheelchair Living with any type of chronic disease can be frightening and life-altering.   However, with multiple sclerosis, it is also confusing.    One day the afflicted can appear quite healthy and the next whirling around in a wheelchair.   In my two decades of living with a progressive form of MS, the biggest lesson I have learned is to keep the pounds off.   This entails watching my diet and exercising every day.     Does this chair make my derrière' look big? MS hit me hard and fast.   Within my first year, I was in a wheelchair.   My legs were stiff, I hurt all over, and I was too dizzy to walk more than a few feet without falling.   These were not my best days.   Sitting all day and allowing depression to set in, I gained over 30 pounds within a year.   This was the first time in my life that I could not balance my calori...

  Fresh, Clean & Healthy Dieting has always played a part of my sixty+ years, as weight gain is frequently an issue.   There were numerous short-term diet experiments, like the grapefruit and cabbage diets.   Both worked well but caused intestinal distress.   And, eating cabbage or grapefruit every day gets old quickly.   What doesn’t get old and works well long-term for me is the Mediterranean diet.    In fact, by strictly following the diet, I recently lost ten pounds in three weeks.   What is the Mediterranean diet? Incorporating healthy foods typically found in Mediterranean countries , like whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, olive oil, lean meat, fruit, and vegetables make up the bulk of the Mediterranean diet.   However, it isn’t just about the type of food, it is also about how the food is grown, raised, and prepared.   Food should be fresh, unprocessed, and organic if possible.   The addition of r ed wine is op...

Pills May Not be the Answer for Some MS Sufferers Multiple   Sclerosis hit me like a teen hitting the fridge after school: fast and furious.  I was sore, dizzy, tingly, and very stiff from day one.  Diagnosed with a progressive form of  MS , my options were limited to treating my symptoms.  Still, due to possible side effects, I am very leery of drug therapy.  After all, growing a second head would not be helpful.  My doctors assuaged my worries and convinced me to treat my stiff muscles—better known as muscle spasticity.  Better to be stiff than toothless. Muscle relaxants are one of the best methods for treating spasticity.  I have taken them before for a neck injury, so I felt relatively safe trying them again.  Following all directions on the container, I began my treatment fully expecting that it may take some time for my body to adjust to any short-term side effects.  I was expe...

How to Look & Feel Younger in Our 60's It’s everywhere I look, especially during the warm months.  Beautiful, young, flawless women adorn billboards, magazine covers, and every single webpage I peruse.  I never felt intimidated before, as I’m a life-long fitness and health nut.  However, now that I’m 60+, I’m feeling a tad insecure about my appearance.  Those years are beginning to show up in my mirror.  Besides going under the knife, I’ve found a few less-risky options for all of us who are over a certain age.  Follow along as I share my favorites. Duck and Cover! As a California girl, I coveted the sun in my earlier years.  Laying out with oils slathered on my pale skin was as normal as sunscreen is today.  Luckily, I began seeing a reputable dermatologist in my early 30s.  Through the years, I’ve learned how to take better care of my skin.  One of the best pieces of advice I was gi...