Weāre all learning together arenāt we? This week, Iād like to share something Iām 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? Itās free and itās a choice.
First of all, I need to confess that Iām a counter and cupboard surfer for a snack before I go to bed. Iām not looking for the healthy stuff, Iām 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. Sheās been telling me I shouldnāt be eating or drinking anything three hours before I go to bed. I heard her and I believed her but I wasnāt disciplined enough to do that.
Alison reassured me that Bonnie is right (again). Alison referred to Dr Valter Longoās 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 Longās research. You can do the same, just search his name.
Well, after I heard it from Bonnie, Alison and Dr Valter Long, I decided Iāll 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 Iām 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 š. It was really hard the first 5 or 6 nights. When I got to the point Iām ready to start my counter and cupboard surfing, I would tell Bonnie that Iām either going to start eating or Iām going to go to bed. Again, another conscious accountability conversation. I chose to go to bedā¦good choice. We can make choices, canāt 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 (thereās a variable of that āchoiceā word again) to drink plain water before anything else in the morning.
So, Iāve been doing this pretty deliberately and consistently now for 3-4 weeks. Itās amazing the difference itās 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 Iām going to do now? Keep doing it. Iām not craving the comfort food nearly as much so itās getting a lot easier now than it was at first. If this helps with my MS, itās well worth the sacrifice and discipline. Thank you Bonnie and Alison!
I just thought I would share this with you as itās 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. Thatās good to hear! Itās really nice of so many people to make this possible for people with MS. I hope youāll 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. Letās get out and have some fun together!
Rick will be doing his final Medicare 101 program Wednesday at 11:30. Iāve heard very positive feedback from this program. Rick will be available for questions any time after these programs as well. Thank you, Rick! Hereās 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! Youāre 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! Hereās 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 āPower of Prayerā and sharing stories of Godās presence in our lives todayā¦powerful! Since Rick is doing his last Medicare 101 program this Wednesday, we wonāt have the prayer group this week. Weāll resume the prayer group next Wednesday. Itās amazing to me that weāve only been doing this for two weeks and weāve 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 sheās 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. Theyāre 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. Heās been spreading the word of what weāre 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 itās not raining, Letās 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 Iāll bring the bikes.
We all need to āJust Keep Movingā! It doesnāt 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. Letās stick together, keep our chins up and keep sharing our journey. Better days are ahead. For those of you who havenāt 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 youāre able to make it back soon!
I hope youāll 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, itās frustrating so be patient and consistent and youāll be amazed how your quality of life will continue to improve. Itās been about 17 years of exercising just about every day for me and Iām 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 donāt know what my life would be like if I didnāt do this (nor do I want to find out). Iām so thankful you are all joining me on this journey of making progress with our MS and quality of lifeā¦THANK YOU! Weāll continue to learn togetherā¦thereās so much power in the love and support we all share with each other.
In the past, Iāve been telling you to bring a friend. Unfortunately, weāre going to need to start a waiting list for new people. Please feel free to continue to share your experience and what weāre doing together. Let me know of anyone who would like to join us. Iāll 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, Iāll encourage them to do that. If youāve 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 youāre 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 Iāve learned and feel blessed with the progress Iāve 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