I’ve learned the hard way that weight loss isn’t easy especially when you’re limited in your ability to exercise due to chronic illnesses. Although I’ve cut down on my calorie intake and walked, not being able to exercise on a constant basis makes it even more difficult to lose those extra pounds and inches.

A weight loss plan includes burning more calories than you consume and and some type of  physical activity in your daily routine. A good friend of mine who has Fibromyalgia, has been successful in losing weight. First, she saw her doctor to talk about her goals and got a check up. Next she included her rheumatologist in her effort. He was able to provide information on the kind of exercise that would be beneficial to her, especially physical activity that wouldn’t cause more pain.

Image by o5com via Flickr

Her exercise routine began with yoga and stretching. She learned to listen to her body. If she felt pain, she slowed down, massaged the area or stopped if need be. Next came walking. Being outdoors helped her to feel more positive. She saw people and said hello to them. Soon they became walking buddies.

Shortly after her walking increased, she joined a gym that her rheumatologist recommended. The trainers were familiar with Fibromayalgia and exercises that helped lessen pain and help with weight loss. Soon, she was doing more cardiovascular exercises. She alternated days with water aerobics.

She chose to follow common sense with her diet. She read about calories, fat, sodium and decided to eat more fruits and vegetables along with more fish and poultry. She included protein supplements to improve her metabolism and help regulate her appetite. As she changed her diet, she found it more appealing, finding different fruits she had never eaten before. Instead of potato chips, she ate carrot sticks with a small amount of low fat salad dressing. It seemed as if her taste buds were changing!

Within one month, my friend lost 10 pounds. She does not look at this as a diet or exercise program, but as a lifestyle change. She’s an inspiration to many!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

June is almost over, but there’s still enough time to write my yearly post about Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month. I’ve been living with MG for 7 years now. In the beginning it was so difficult that I really thought I would die. I can remember waking up at night being short of breath and thinking this would be my last moment on earth. In terror, I would hyperventilate making it worse.

That stopped thankfully and then I began to feel like my throat was closing up. At first my throat would feel numb. I don’t know how else to describe it. Then I’d feel like the opening in my throat was getting smaller. I’d be awake for hours afraid to close my eyes because I thought wouldn’t wake up.

This isn’t how the Myasthenia Gravis started. At first I felt like I couldn’t keep my right eye opened. No one could see it, but I felt it. It was annoying. Then I felt like I couldn’t move my body, like it was a dead weight. I was so tired. I remember standing in line to pick up my daughter from preschool when I was sure I would just fall right down there and sleep. I took all my might, my control to stay upright, to be able to move and talk. And then drive home.

I’d lie on the floor next to my daughter at home because I knew I’d fall asleep. At least I was close by her and would hear if something happened…I’d hope and pray.

Finally I went to the neurologist and he saw my eye drooping. It was the beginning of learning to live with this neuro-muscular disease, this chronic illness, that I take heavy duty prescription medications for, that I’ve had surgery that cracked open my breastbone, that allowed me to realize how blessed I am, how so many other people are worse off than I am and that made me the person I am today.

To learn about the symptoms of, the treatments for and the ways to cope with Myasthenia Gravis, visit the Myasthenia Gravis Association.

I can’t belive the hot flashes that I’ve been having lately. They hit me at all times of the day. The worst time is at night.

I’ve been sleeping with a washcloth on my head and face to try to cool down but it does very little. To make matters worse is that heat makes Myasthenia Gravis worse. I am going to have to bite the bullet and go to my doctor to talk about this as it is causing other illnesses including Fibromyalgia to worsen.

I feel weak and shaky during them and for about an hour or so after. Add this to the heat of Florida! I’ve taken to keeping a small battery fan with me.  I feel like a tourist in my own home state! I’m thinking of all kind of hot flash jokes too. Do you have any to share with me to make this time in my life go by a bit easier?

It’s good to laugh, especially when it’s laughing at something that is pretty ridiculous but is probably making someone a lot of money. What would you think if you saw someone wearing a bandana mask like this from FluFashion? They are real respirator masks but “decorated” to look hip and gangsta. Did I just write that?

I’m sure we’ll be seeing them on planes and trains since VP Joe Biden made his famous statement a few weeks ago. Or maybe not.

After being in a bad flare since the beginning of January, I have to admit that I am feeling depressed. As time is flying by, I still feel stuck. I try to stay upbeat, pray, do all I can to keep my mind busy, but I still feel down. I am feeling a lot better, but not back to how I felt before.

When I saw my Psychiatrist, he recommended that I start counseling again. My meds can’t be changed or increased and he believes that this depression is reactive to my health issues. When I talk to him, it’s nice to not have to explain any of my medical conditions to him. He is a neurologist as well as a Psychiatrist so he understands what Myasthenia Gravis is, what symptoms I have and how it affects my life. He keeps up to date on medical issues and knows the medications that I take and what they are for.

Although I speak to him for a good twenty minutes, it is only every 3 months. So now I’ll be adding counseling visits to my plethora of doctor visits. I do think that this is a good thing for me though.

Remember the Bionic Woman and the Six Million Dollar Man? I often think about being able to replace my non-working body parts as easily as they did. And it sure would be great to be able to replace them with better performance parts.

I’d get new joints for most of my body, new muscles for the ones that hurt from Fibromyalgia, and new tear ducts and salivary glands that actually work. I’d even see if I could get a re-made neuromuscular junction so that I’d no longer have Myasthenia Gravis.

I’m sure there would be a lot of upkeep with these new parts, but it wouldn’t hurt to fix them. Plus there’d be spare ones if there was a big problem. Ah, the joys of imagination.