Friends,   

Weā€™re all learning together arenā€™t we?  This week, Iā€™d like to share something Iā€™m experiencing the past 3-4 weeks.  Many of us joined Alison with her presentation about nutrition a few weeks ago.  She spoke and educated us on the benefits of fasting with MS.  She told us how studies are showing that our own stem cells get stimulated when we fast and our bodies heal themselves from the inside.  If this would work for you, would you try it?  Itā€™s free and itā€™s a choice.

First of all, I need to confess that Iā€™m a counter and cupboard surfer for a snack before I go to bed.  Iā€™m not looking for the healthy stuff, Iā€™m looking for the comfort food.  I think there are probably others that can relate.  Another thing I need to tell you is that my wife Bonnie has been trying to get me to stop that for a long time.  Sheā€™s been telling me I shouldnā€™t be eating or drinking anything three hours before I go to bed.  I heard her and I believed her but I wasnā€™t disciplined enough to do that.

Alison reassured me that Bonnie is right (again).  Alison referred to Dr Valter Longoā€™s work in her presentation.  I went to youtube and found an interview he did with Dr Rhonda Patrick about Fasting-Mimicking Diet and Multiple Sclerosis.  You can watch the interview by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PyyatqJSE&t=3s

Then I did some more research on Dr Valter Longā€™s research.  You can do the same, just search his name.

Well, after I heard it from Bonnie, Alison and Dr Valter Long, I decided Iā€™ll try to stop eating or drinking three hours before I go to bed as a starter.  Each night when I finish eating dinner, I tell Bonnie that Iā€™m going to start my fast now.  I think telling her helps me be more accountable.  This is a little game I play with my mind šŸ˜Š.  It was really hard the first 5 or 6 nights.  When I got to the point Iā€™m ready to start my counter and cupboard surfing, I would tell Bonnie that Iā€™m either going to start eating or Iā€™m going to go to bed.  Again, another conscious accountability conversation.  I chose to go to bedā€¦good choice.  We can make choices, canā€™t we?

The other thing that Bonnie has been telling and then I heard it again from Alison the other day is that we should drink 8 ā€“ 16 ounces of plain water when we first get up in the morning before we eat anything else.  That was easy to incorporate into my daily habit once I consciously chose (thereā€™s a variable of that ā€œchoiceā€ word again) to drink plain water before anything else in the morning.

So, Iā€™ve been doing this pretty deliberately and consistently now for 3-4 weeks.  Itā€™s amazing the difference itā€™s making in my sleep quality, energy level, brain clarity, MS symptoms and even my belly size already.  Even my bladder is behaving better when I sleep.  Do you know what Iā€™m going to do now?  Keep doing it.  Iā€™m not craving the comfort food nearly as much so itā€™s getting a lot easier now than it was at first.  If this helps with my MS, itā€™s well worth the sacrifice and discipline.  Thank you Bonnie and Alison!

I just thought I would share this with you as itā€™s been a very positive experience for me.  As you know, MS is different for each of us but when I find something that works for me, I love to share it.

It sounds like the dance sessions started out slow but are picking up traction.  Thatā€™s good to hear!  Itā€™s really nice of so many people to make this possible for people with MS.  I hope youā€™ll engage in the last dance session Wednesday evening and the main dance event Sunday evening.  See the attachment for more details.  Keep in mind this is for people in wheel chairs, walkers, canes as well as for people that can walk just fine.  No prior dance experience and your spouse or friends are welcome although a partner is not necessary.  All are welcome and encouraged to join us.  Letā€™s get out and have some fun together!

Rick will be doing his final Medicare 101 program Wednesday at 11:30.  Iā€™ve heard very positive feedback from this program.  Rick will be available for questions any time after these programs as well.  Thank you, Rick!  Hereā€™s a message from Rick:  Rick Talbert will be holding the final Medicare 101 meeting this Wednesday, October 16, at 11:30.  He will be reviewing the Medicare.gov website, a great resource to examine the Medicare plans available on the market.  If you already have a plan in place, you may want to attend to see what other plans may be available. 

Did you know that Rick also shared his experience of joining us and riding the MS bike ride for the first time?  He wrote up a very nice message.  You can read it on our website by clicking this link  http://msjustkeepmoving.org/2019/10/02/rick-talbert/  Thanks for sharing your experience Rick!  Youā€™re an inspiration to me and so many more.  Keep up the hard work!

Linda will be doing another ink art class this Friday.  Thanks Linda!  Hereā€™s a message from Linda  “Another alcohol ink group this Friday! Come to the breakroom around 11:45. Newcomers welcome! “

Our prayer group has also been very powerful.  Last week was a theme discussing the ā€œPower of Prayerā€ and sharing stories of Godā€™s presence in our lives todayā€¦powerful!  Since Rick is doing his last Medicare 101 program this Wednesday, we wonā€™t have the prayer group this week.  Weā€™ll resume the prayer group next Wednesday.  Itā€™s amazing to me that weā€™ve only been doing this for two weeks and weā€™ve already had about 23 different people join us.  Amazingā€¦thanks to all who are making this possible and joining us.  Who knows what God has in store for us?  Amazing things happen when we open our minds and our hearts and allow God to work with us and through us.

Rhonda continues to run every day.  I think sheā€™s close to 300 consecutive days of running 3-4 miles while living with MS.  Great job Rhonda!  Rhonda is running for all of us and brought some generous donations in last week.  Thank you Rhonda!  Please pass the thanks along to the donors as well.  We will put the money to good use helping to keep us moving in some way.

Speaking of donations, Waukesha State Bank sure is doing a nice thing this year.  Theyā€™re celebrating their 75thAnniversary.  To celebrate it, they gave each of their employees $75.00 to give to a non-profit organization of their choice.  We were fortunate that three of their employees chose our MS-Just Keep Moving organization.  We all know Mike Kurth, who volunteers here.  Heā€™s been spreading the word of what weā€™re doing and was one of the employees that donated.  Thank you, Mike, the other two employees and everyone at Waukesha State Bank that made this possible!

It looks like we might have good enough weather to ride bikes again Friday morning at 7:00am.  If itā€™s not raining, Letā€™s ride!  We meet at Nettesheim Park on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street in Pewaukee.  Let me know if you want to ride a recumbent trike ahead of time and Iā€™ll bring the bikes.

We all need to ā€œJust Keep Movingā€!  It doesnā€™t matter where we start.  We can start with laughing which is great exercise in itself.  Other than that, we start with the body parts that will move and keep moving them as much as we can.  Let them rest and then move them again.

I know there are still many of us going through other life challenges in addition to our challenges with MS.  Letā€™s stick together, keep our chins up and keep sharing our journey.  Better days are ahead.  For those of you who havenā€™t been able to make it by us on Wednesdays and Fridays lately, please know you are missed and in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope youā€™re able to make it back soon!

I hope youā€™ll join us both Wednesday and Friday again this week.   Rememberā€¦consistency is key.  With MS, it takes a lot of consistent effort every day to make small improvements.  Yes, itā€™s frustrating so be patient and consistent and youā€™ll be amazed how your quality of life will continue to improve.  Itā€™s been about 17 years of exercising just about every day for me and Iā€™m still making improvements (encouragement, love, support, nutritionand proper rest help immensely too).  It takes time so please be patient.  It sure is better than MS getting worse.  I really donā€™t know what my life would be like if I didnā€™t do this (nor do I want to find out).  Iā€™m so thankful you are all joining me on this journey of making progress with our MS and quality of lifeā€¦THANK YOU!  Weā€™ll continue to learn togetherā€¦thereā€™s so much power in the love and support we all share with each other.

In the past, Iā€™ve been telling you to bring a friend.  Unfortunately, weā€™re going to need to start a waiting list for new people.  Please feel free to continue to share your experience and what weā€™re doing together.  Let me know of anyone who would like to join us.  Iā€™ll communicate with these people through e-mail or phone and help them any way I can.  When we have room for them to join us, Iā€™ll encourage them to do that.  If youā€™ve joined us in the past, please continue to join us.

We are here to help you and anyone with MSā€¦no strings attached (well maybe an occasional story about the progress youā€™re making, smile, high five or a hug).  I remember how challenging life used to be when my MS was bad.  I get great joy sharing what Iā€™ve learned and feel blessed with the progress Iā€™ve made.  I hope you make progress in some way too!

Place:  W228N791 Westmound Dr.
Waukesha, WI

When:  Wednesday morning from 9:30am ā€“ 12:30pm (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)
Friday morning from 9:30 ā€“ 12:30pm  (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)

Dan Erschen

Dance MS 2019.pdf