There are two different ways to approach multiple sclerosis. We can passively resign ourselves to having a chronic illness. Or we can focus in thriving, not just surviving, by taking charge of our lives which include having a chronic illness. The difference is being proactive instead of reactive. The first step is setting goals that involve taking control instead of just drifting from situation to situation.
The New Year is a common time for setting goals and envisioning how life could be, by setting New Year’s resolutions. How can we set resolutions that will help us to thrive instead of just surviving?
- Look at the big picture. What are the current problem areas? Are there particular symptoms that cause more trouble than others? Take fatigue, for example. Have you figured out a way to address and minimize the impact of fatigue in your life, or are you simply letting fatigue sideline you whenever it pops up?
- Develop healthy habits. Some of the basic areas that people deal with (not just people with MS) are eating well and exercising. Looking at your personal habits and figuring out room for improvement is a good start for addressing the big picture.
My two biggest areas of focus in the upcoming year will be developing healthier eating habits and consistently exercising. To succeed, I’ll need a few basic tools:
- Eating habits – There are numerous theories on the optimal diet for people with MS. This isn’t surprising, since there are numerous theories on the optimal diet for people without MS. I’ve had multiple sources suggesting clean eating as a reasonable approach. The basic philosophy of focusing on natural foods vs. processed foods makes sense to me, so my plan includes learning more about clean eating and incorporating the concept into my eating habits.
- Exercise – The consensus is that exercise can improve quality of life for those with MS. But what kind of exercise to do? The National MS Society has several guides that discuss exercise and offer suggestions. For a more personalized program, the best approach is to consult an expert. I’ve worked with physical therapists to create an individualized program and learn how to properly complete the exercises. With that expert information, all I need to do is follow the instructions and schedule regular exercise time.
Resources
Clean Eating
Clean Cuisine – Ivy Larson has MS. Her husband Andy is a doctor who has worked with her to research anti-inflammatory eating habits that can help those of us dealing with chronic illnesses.
Eat Clean Diet – Say clean eating, and the most common name to come up is Tosca Reno. She has written a number of books and cookbooks about Clean Eating and provides comprehensive information on the subject. When I was regularly attending physical therapy, one of the therapists introduced me to Tosca Reno and her books. The information can be quite overwhelming if you let it. I’ve been learning more by focusing on two of her books. Just the Rules provides short and sweet descriptions of the basic concepts of Clean Eating. For more detail, move on to Eat Clean Diet Recharged.
Gracious Pantry – There are some good basic tools and information on this site, but my favorite part is the recipes. As a newbie to Clean Eating, I’ve found some recipes intimidating, but the recipes on The Gracious Pantry are more tempting than scary. There’s not complicated, but they’re mouthwatering.
Exercises
National MS Society – An excellent source of general tips and downloadable brochures providing more specific information, including illustrated instructions of some exercises.
Can Do MS – Can Do MS is an excellent resource for webinars on a variety of topics, including exercise. The next webinar, scheduled for January 8 at 8pm Eastern Time, is entitled New Year’s Resolutions: Motivation To Exercise. There’s also a webinar archive to access other webinars that have taken place.
