Meditation benefits with or without Multiple Sclerosis

Meditation has been practised for thousands of years.  Which is why I thought I would at lest give it a try.  It is intend to alter our state of consciousness without using drugs.  It helps get the core to open the heart and develop a more stable balance and calmer mind.

It encourages and heightens state of awareness and focused attention. People use meditation in; religion, for spiritual  and therapeutic reasons. There are many types of meditation that can be practised with many health benefits.

Living today in our modern world with our hectic lifestyles our body is often in a chronic state of stress, giving our body the “fight or flight" response state within our nervous system.  over time, this dampens levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, our “feel good” neurotransmitters. Low levels of these neurotransmitters are commonly associated with the loss of; pleasure, gastrointestinal issues, weakened immune systems, tension, anxiety and depression.

There are many types of meditation that is practised and are for different reasons.  Guided meditation is for the beginner and I find the easies to follow.  It is guided by voice talking to you you to where your thoughts and mind should focus on, as our minds have a tendency to wonder.  

The three most common guided meditation are: mindfulness, stress reduction and relaxation. Which you can find a short meditation is used at the end of most Yoga sessions, as Meditation and Yoga are often practised together. 

Stated from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society;  "The relaxing benefits of yoga may also help manage the unique challenges of MS, such as lying in an MRI machine for extended periods of time, receiving injections or infusions, staying calm during an exacerbation and focusing when meeting with your health care professionals."

It is also proven that yoga decreased fatigue and other medical conditions.  Reports say that they find improvements in anxiety, depression, fatigue, bladder function, pain, spasticity, weakness and walking. There personal reports and saying that yoga can help sexual function. For general health of people with or without Multiple Sclerosis, yoga may improve arthritis pain, reduce blood pressure, and promote weight loss. 

You can also find free meditation through a search on internet or any of these apps like; Facebook, Mindfulness, Headspace, YouTube and many more.

Have you tried Meditation?  How did it help you? I would love to hear your opinion below. 

MS'ers Weight Loss Journey with Weight Watchers Week 6

Yes, I joined Weight Watchers online six weeks ago now. I joined online to assist in my weight loss journey. I find it is much more difficult to loose weight while I fight the MS Monster within. Looking back on my past, in my younger years in school at track meets and such. It is easy to recall how I struggled physically with exercise or activity. I thought I was just out of shape or over weight at the time. Now I realize that the struggle and silent fight to stop my activity inside my body was everything but normal. As it seems the MS Monster, doesn't like my body being stronger than him. Suprising he knows the fight is on to get him in that box and lock him in there! 

Online is great now with the connect support you can get from others. It isn't the same as attending meetings in person. So I decided to attend the local meetings 3 weeks ago. Wednesday is our weigh in day and there is no meeting this week, being tonight. So weighed in on my scale which gives the same results. I am down 5.1 lbs. in a week. Thinking it's more due to having strep throat but I'll take it anyway. Total weight lost is 8.9 lbs. Yay me! ⭐️

The return to the Journey to better Health with MS, Part 1

Today's MS therapy  

Today I decided to get off the treadmill and get out side. I pushed myself to walk past my usual stopping point of two miles. The weather and temperature was just right.  I reached the dreaded hill. I kept telling myself that I could make it to the top as I concentrated the the view of the top of the huge hill was approaching. As I reached the top without stopping I jumped in the air and said; "Yes!" Not caring if the workers could see me at the bottom working on the lines on the telephone poles. All I knew is, that I didn't stop until I got there. I had pushed myself like I had use too. This was a type of struggle that I look at as, MS muscle conditioning.  A very proud moment at this stage.

As I reached home, I could feel the burning in my thighs.  This type of pain was something I had not felt in a long time. Making me question myself,  if I did the right thing by going so far? As well as asking myself why I pushed so far in such loose snow?

I was thinking in the back of my mind, by pushing myself like this, it was how I gained strength in the past. Knowing that there would be pain that came with this kind of therapy, I knew gaining strength and endurance of walking was something that would out weigh the pain I was feeling, by far.

As I am now trying to get warm and get rid of this chill of the damp air drinking my recovery drink to help re-nourish my muscles, remembering back a short time ago, how much easier it was a few years back when it was a daily routine I had. I will not give up on this journey of regaining my strength in my legs. This walk use to take me an hour, today it took me a hour and a half. Most important thing is I did it and I made it home. 

In conclusion of today's MS therapy of walking, I am left with mixed feelings. I am happy I managed to reach my goal of the top of the hill, completing a three mile walk. My Fitbit saying almost four miles? 

I am thinking due to the light loose snow in my steps, that possibly, I took more steps, (shorter steps), which made it register to be further with more distance? I also know I have done this in less time in the past but, I am proud that I just managed to get it done and make it home safe! 

This is a massive gain in my therapy for endurance for my leg muscles.  As I want to stop having to set every where we go, while others are standing. Yes my legs hurt but I still thrive to be as normal as I once was.  This decease, creates new normals for people.  I refuse to give up on this.  My goal is to be able to walk at lest 3 miles each day. I will not give in.

Wishing you all the best in good health and happiness. 

MS and Living Life