When I was teaching 5th grade many years ago, several teachers were passing around a book on how to teach "following directions". It seems like following directions should be easy, but we found that a large number of students weren't that good at it. I wasn't that excited with the book because honestly, I am not a big worksheet supporter. I use them on occasion, but find them dull and lacking in many areas. What I wanted for my students was the very thing I saw Sophia doing the last two days.
Out of the blue she developed an interest in magic. For two days she has spent almost all of her free time reading the directions to magic card tricks, learning them, and then performing them. And, she is pretty good. This is so different than what I was able to accomplish in a classroom. For one thing, she has plenty of time to read and reread the directions before time is up to either move to a new project or demonstrate she has learned something. Second, she can read the directions and try them out in the privacy of her own room until she gets them right or totally abandon the project if she doesn't find it meets her needs any longer. Third, she has a genuine interest in performing her magic tricks. This is really the test of whether she is capable of following directions, isn't it? Not sitting down and completing a test written by me.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Unschooling and Math
In Alexander's math book he has been doing a lot with decimals and rounding. Since I am at the end of a quad and need to prepare grades for my students, I had him sit down with me and figure out student averages. He LOVED it! When he was finished he wanted to do more. He was very careful, double checking his work and asking questions along the way. One thing I have noticed about him as he is working in a math book for the first time is that he needs to know that what he is learning is something he will really use in life and if it isn't, there are too many other wonderful things in life to learn about. We often find ourselves agreeing to skip review problems that were mastered quickly or really won't be used often enough to spend additional time on. But averaging grades with me was a way to see how math is used in the world. He can see the purpose in learning how to average and immediately started thinking through all the other things that could be averaged. I love it!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Unschooling
Believe nothing
no matter where you read it
or who has said it,
not even if I have said it,
unless it agrees with your own
reason and and your own common sense.
~Budda
My children have grown up as "unschoolers". Rather than wake early to rush off to school, they follow their individual time clocks of when to awaken each day. Rather than stopping a good book because "reading time" is over, they have the choice of reading, drawing, playing or problem solving all day. They have a relaxed life. They have time to figure out who they are now and what they want to become in the near future. They guide their education while I play the part of the facilitator helping them find what they need or where they want to go.
The older my kids get the more often I find myself patting myself on the back for following what felt right to me when Alexander was only five years old. I believed that children are naturally curious human beings and when we don't force them to learn they will pursue those curiosities. Both kids remind me daily that what I believed then is still what I believe today.
At the end of the summer Alexander shared with me that he wanted to improve his reading and writing skills as well as follow a math book. I listened and he now makes sure I stick to a daily schedule of "school work". Before this time all learning came from play, TV/video games, discussions, museums, friends, family, Internet, etc. Along with following a math book, which is kind of dry in my opinion, he is now in charge of keeping track of our grocery spending and making sure I stay within budget. He actually has great ideas on how to reduce our spending. He created his own chart and will be figuring out how much I am spending on my diet, how much we spend on non-food items and how much is spent on what we call "non-essential items". He is learning through real life experiences.
To improve his reading we chose reading materials that interest him - WWII. He is fascinated with Hitler's strategies in occupying different countries as well as WWII aircraft and weapons. While he likes more of the strategic parts of history, I enjoy the personal stories. What I have found with unschooling is that you have to balance the line of what your child is interested in learning and what you feel is important or interesting. Right now what is working for us is that we read the non-fiction books about WWII together and then I share tidbits from the books I have been reading about Holocaust survivors as they apply to our reading. He sees my sincere interest in learning about these people and learns about them through me while I find interest in the information he finds outside our reading about WWII weapons. We learn together and from each other. Never in my life did I think WWII weapons and aircraft would be so interesting.
As unschoolers our schedule is pretty relaxed. This means different things for different unschoolers. For us it still means we like to wake up and follow a planned schedule for the day. All three of us need to know what lies ahead for us each day rather than spontaneously living hour to hour. If we find that we need more time to complete something we are flexible, but overall we like to have control over our day.
Both Alexander and Sophia are good managers of their time. Their personalities vary a bit here where Sophia likes to live in the moment and Alexander is always thinking ahead. Each day we discuss jobs we have such as walking the dog, dog sitting, homeschool group, grocery shopping, friends, "school work", etc. Once each of us knows what we want to accomplish for the day, we complete them in a fashion that works for us. Alexander likes to get all his "jobs" over early so he can relax and not having anything to worry about. Sophia on the other hand likes to relax first and do jobs at the end of the day. It is almost like she gets a rush out of waiting until the last minute. Either way, they both always complete their jobs.
Here is a typical Tuesday morning for them when I am out of the house:
Wake up
Make/eat breakfast
Walk Izzy
Complete dog sitting jobs in the neighborhood
Make lunches for all three of us to take to homeschool group
Be ready to go at 11:30 when a friend picks them up.
I have always believed that family responsibilities are important. I think we all like to feel loved, but we also like to know we are needed. When I go to the grocery store without my kids, clerks inquire why they are missing. They have just always been a part of this living experience. Last month when I picked up our monthly order of meat both kids had an outing at a friend's house, but both checked to make sure I would be alright alone. Sophia ended up going with me even though I told her I would be fine. She cares for me and she knows as a family member she is needed.
Here the kids shovel the driveway for me before walking Izzy on a 2 mile walk!
no matter where you read it
or who has said it,
not even if I have said it,
unless it agrees with your own
reason and and your own common sense.
~Budda
My children have grown up as "unschoolers". Rather than wake early to rush off to school, they follow their individual time clocks of when to awaken each day. Rather than stopping a good book because "reading time" is over, they have the choice of reading, drawing, playing or problem solving all day. They have a relaxed life. They have time to figure out who they are now and what they want to become in the near future. They guide their education while I play the part of the facilitator helping them find what they need or where they want to go.
The older my kids get the more often I find myself patting myself on the back for following what felt right to me when Alexander was only five years old. I believed that children are naturally curious human beings and when we don't force them to learn they will pursue those curiosities. Both kids remind me daily that what I believed then is still what I believe today.
At the end of the summer Alexander shared with me that he wanted to improve his reading and writing skills as well as follow a math book. I listened and he now makes sure I stick to a daily schedule of "school work". Before this time all learning came from play, TV/video games, discussions, museums, friends, family, Internet, etc. Along with following a math book, which is kind of dry in my opinion, he is now in charge of keeping track of our grocery spending and making sure I stay within budget. He actually has great ideas on how to reduce our spending. He created his own chart and will be figuring out how much I am spending on my diet, how much we spend on non-food items and how much is spent on what we call "non-essential items". He is learning through real life experiences.
To improve his reading we chose reading materials that interest him - WWII. He is fascinated with Hitler's strategies in occupying different countries as well as WWII aircraft and weapons. While he likes more of the strategic parts of history, I enjoy the personal stories. What I have found with unschooling is that you have to balance the line of what your child is interested in learning and what you feel is important or interesting. Right now what is working for us is that we read the non-fiction books about WWII together and then I share tidbits from the books I have been reading about Holocaust survivors as they apply to our reading. He sees my sincere interest in learning about these people and learns about them through me while I find interest in the information he finds outside our reading about WWII weapons. We learn together and from each other. Never in my life did I think WWII weapons and aircraft would be so interesting.
As unschoolers our schedule is pretty relaxed. This means different things for different unschoolers. For us it still means we like to wake up and follow a planned schedule for the day. All three of us need to know what lies ahead for us each day rather than spontaneously living hour to hour. If we find that we need more time to complete something we are flexible, but overall we like to have control over our day.
Both Alexander and Sophia are good managers of their time. Their personalities vary a bit here where Sophia likes to live in the moment and Alexander is always thinking ahead. Each day we discuss jobs we have such as walking the dog, dog sitting, homeschool group, grocery shopping, friends, "school work", etc. Once each of us knows what we want to accomplish for the day, we complete them in a fashion that works for us. Alexander likes to get all his "jobs" over early so he can relax and not having anything to worry about. Sophia on the other hand likes to relax first and do jobs at the end of the day. It is almost like she gets a rush out of waiting until the last minute. Either way, they both always complete their jobs.
Here is a typical Tuesday morning for them when I am out of the house:
Wake up
Make/eat breakfast
Walk Izzy
Complete dog sitting jobs in the neighborhood
Make lunches for all three of us to take to homeschool group
Be ready to go at 11:30 when a friend picks them up.
I have always believed that family responsibilities are important. I think we all like to feel loved, but we also like to know we are needed. When I go to the grocery store without my kids, clerks inquire why they are missing. They have just always been a part of this living experience. Last month when I picked up our monthly order of meat both kids had an outing at a friend's house, but both checked to make sure I would be alright alone. Sophia ended up going with me even though I told her I would be fine. She cares for me and she knows as a family member she is needed.
Here the kids shovel the driveway for me before walking Izzy on a 2 mile walk!
As we move along on our unschooling journey, we find many wonderful things. We find that sometimes we are bored. I believe boredom is a good thing. Sometimes our minds need time to relax without a lot going on to figure out the next project we want to learn about. I do the same thing. I read and read and read about health until I can't take another piece of information. I then read fictional books that have absolutley nothing to do with health or watch hours upon hours of TV and then my mind is back to being curious about the next important thing. As adults we accept this about ourselves, but panic when our children go through similiar periods of boredom.
My children set the guidelines for what, when and how they learn. Many times I have looked at their "schooled" peers and realized that in many areas they don't know the same information, but then I only have to look at what they know that their peers don't and I have no worries. We each have our own interests and our own curiosities. Having the freedom to pursue those that are important to us is so fun and rewarding. I have to laugh because at 11 years old Sophia constantly has books reserved at the library for her. Many of the books she has learned about from online friends and many others from researching a subject. She loves writing. She spends a lot of time online and has become the family expert on the "ins" and "outs" of Facebook. She likes to manipulate the photos she takes and is quite creative. She has found the areas that interest her which consequently tend to blend with subjects she never thought she would be interested in.
Unschooling is a way of life for us. We don't think of education in terms of an 8-4 school day, but rather as part of living life. We are always learning. We are always moving forward. When we allow children that freedom, amazing things happen. I am so proud of the unschooling journey we have made together as a family.
Feeling a Distance
I keep sitting down to write on my blog, but feel like a distance has developed between my blog and me. This makes me feel sad. I have always felt better while sharing here. What I think is happening is that this flare has lasted a long time and has taken a lot out of me. The energy to share all that I am experiencing right now is just too much. I need to keep it inside for now. However, I did want to share a cool article I read this morning on experiencing a healing crisis. Check it out here. Hopefully this is what is going on right now.
Initially I started this blog as a way to share all aspects of The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo. As my blog reflects, rheumatoid arthritis has taken over a lot of my life and adventures. So, I need to change that. I need to focus on other aspects of my life that make me feel complete. Rheumatoid arthritis is here and it will always challenge me to learn more about myself. I accept that challenge, but for right now I need to remind myself that it isn't my entire life. So, for the time being, I am going to share some other exciting things in my life. I hope you enjoy them!
Initially I started this blog as a way to share all aspects of The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo. As my blog reflects, rheumatoid arthritis has taken over a lot of my life and adventures. So, I need to change that. I need to focus on other aspects of my life that make me feel complete. Rheumatoid arthritis is here and it will always challenge me to learn more about myself. I accept that challenge, but for right now I need to remind myself that it isn't my entire life. So, for the time being, I am going to share some other exciting things in my life. I hope you enjoy them!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Hanging On to My Vision
In 2004 when I agreed to go on medications for rheumatoid arthritis it felt wrong to me, but also felt like where I needed to be at that time. In the back of my mind I told myself this would not be a lifelong pattern for me. I knew someday I would be off medications and working towards healing in a way that fits who I am. In February of 2008 I took the leap and went off medications. As I battled the temper tantrum my body gave to not having the meds, I held a vision of healing in my mind day after day knowing that when the time was right, my body would have what it needs to be strong and healthy again.
My vision of natural healing has been challenged many times over the two years that I have been medication free, but I have never once seriously considered going back on meds. I just knew my body needed more than what I was giving it and with time it would come. This last flare though really challenged my vision. It didn't take it away, but it strongly challenged it. During this flare my mind continued to remember my body will heal (thanks to everyone that kept reminding me), but the strength to fight just wasn't there.
I decided that I needed help. My plan was this: First I would call my rheumatologist and ask for a round of prednsione to get me through this flare. (This was a really hard decision for me to make.) Second, I would visit my naturopath and get a new plan of action going to speed up the healing process. Well, both plans failed. I have not used our insurance in a long time and had complications with that which prevented me from seeing the rheumatologist and then I wasn't able to get in to see my naturopath. Do you ever feel like the universe is working to lead you in the direction that your heart knows is best?
As this month long temper tantrum my body has been throwing is starting to calm down, I am glad there were complications with insurance and I wasn't able to get the prednsione and I am glad my naturopath couldn't see me and I was forced to look for alternatives. My husband keeps reminding me that we haven't exhausted all of our options and we will keep looking until we find what works. The complications in my plans helped push me to look at other options.
What I decided to do was visit the National University of Health Sciences clinic near my house. There I have access to naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapy, acupuncture, lab work, Chinese Medicine, and much more at a reduced rate! My first two visits were a little frustrating, but in the end I was glad I stayed and shared my frustrations and needs with them rather than just leaving because today I sat down with my new naturopath and discussed my new plan of action. I like the plan and feel very optimistic about it. In fact, after my appointment I feel optimistic about everything!!!
Rheumatoid arthritis has really asked a lot of me in the last six years. It has asked me to dig deep to figure out who I really am as an individual , it has challenged me on how much physical pain I can handle, and it has repeatedly tested to see if I will stay true to my vision of natural healing. I feel almost giddy with excitement today knowing that I am successfully making it through each of the requests RA has placed on me. I am looking forward to following a plan that is working towards my goals of natural healing. I am glad to see that the direction I originally felt I needed to go when I started the Body Ecology Diet is the direction that my health professionals also find important. I am glad that I am following a plan that just feels right to me and honors who I am. I am glad that I have a vision of my body healing because that is exactly what it is going to do!
My vision of natural healing has been challenged many times over the two years that I have been medication free, but I have never once seriously considered going back on meds. I just knew my body needed more than what I was giving it and with time it would come. This last flare though really challenged my vision. It didn't take it away, but it strongly challenged it. During this flare my mind continued to remember my body will heal (thanks to everyone that kept reminding me), but the strength to fight just wasn't there.
I decided that I needed help. My plan was this: First I would call my rheumatologist and ask for a round of prednsione to get me through this flare. (This was a really hard decision for me to make.) Second, I would visit my naturopath and get a new plan of action going to speed up the healing process. Well, both plans failed. I have not used our insurance in a long time and had complications with that which prevented me from seeing the rheumatologist and then I wasn't able to get in to see my naturopath. Do you ever feel like the universe is working to lead you in the direction that your heart knows is best?
As this month long temper tantrum my body has been throwing is starting to calm down, I am glad there were complications with insurance and I wasn't able to get the prednsione and I am glad my naturopath couldn't see me and I was forced to look for alternatives. My husband keeps reminding me that we haven't exhausted all of our options and we will keep looking until we find what works. The complications in my plans helped push me to look at other options.
What I decided to do was visit the National University of Health Sciences clinic near my house. There I have access to naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapy, acupuncture, lab work, Chinese Medicine, and much more at a reduced rate! My first two visits were a little frustrating, but in the end I was glad I stayed and shared my frustrations and needs with them rather than just leaving because today I sat down with my new naturopath and discussed my new plan of action. I like the plan and feel very optimistic about it. In fact, after my appointment I feel optimistic about everything!!!
Rheumatoid arthritis has really asked a lot of me in the last six years. It has asked me to dig deep to figure out who I really am as an individual , it has challenged me on how much physical pain I can handle, and it has repeatedly tested to see if I will stay true to my vision of natural healing. I feel almost giddy with excitement today knowing that I am successfully making it through each of the requests RA has placed on me. I am looking forward to following a plan that is working towards my goals of natural healing. I am glad to see that the direction I originally felt I needed to go when I started the Body Ecology Diet is the direction that my health professionals also find important. I am glad that I am following a plan that just feels right to me and honors who I am. I am glad that I have a vision of my body healing because that is exactly what it is going to do!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
On Hold
Life as I like to live it has been put on hold for the last month. Although rheumatoid arthritis has been a part of my life for the last six years, this time around it has shown its mighty strength in a new way. I have attempted to throw my own strength back, but this time around RA has been stronger than me and has left me feeling physically and emotionally depleted. I have had to rethink everything I am doing and I hope to share that with you in the next day or so. Fortunately, the last few days have been better for me, but I just need a little more time for my feelings to be worked out before I can share.
Thanks so much to everyone that has checked in on me or sent a healing thought my way. It is nice to know I am missed and cared for by so many.
Thanks so much to everyone that has checked in on me or sent a healing thought my way. It is nice to know I am missed and cared for by so many.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Choices
"You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices." -- Deepak Chopra
I hit a low this weekend emotionally. My shoulders were stiff and weak, my knuckles were swollen, my feet and knee hurt and I felt emotionally and physically defeated. I asked myself, "How is it that I have put so much time and effort into healing, only to feel like I had been run over by a truck?" I cried a lot. I wanted to throw in the towel and accept that I had lost. Fortunately for me, I have friends and family that kept sending encouraging words and even more importantly for me, I have a daughter that reads me and knows just when I need my spirits lifted. Sophia somehow knew that I was ready to give up, that I had made the choice to call it quits. She knows me so well and at eleven years old, she understands a lot.
Sophia came to me Saturday night and asked me if I had given up. I tried to lie to her, but she knew. She reminded me of the good day I had last week. She reminded me of other days that were good. She reminded me how last week I got up easily from my bed. She remembers those little successes. She reminded me of the good feelings she is experiencing with diet changes. She held me and let me cry.
We all have choices. We can choose to let life and the disappointments it has in store for us take control over our mind and soul as I did that evening when I told myself that I had experienced enough and was beaten, or we can choose to take that control back and keep fighting. When you have a little girl that is backing you 100% on your journey towards health, it is pretty difficult to not make the choice to fight.
On Sunday Sophia watched me closer, I could see it. She wanted to make sure I was coming back from the dark side. She spent extra time with me, she made me laugh, she hugged me a lot and hopefully she saw my spirits returning. Hopefully she saw me making the choice to keep going, to keep working towards a body that is healthy in every way, because that is the choice I am making.
I hit a low this weekend emotionally. My shoulders were stiff and weak, my knuckles were swollen, my feet and knee hurt and I felt emotionally and physically defeated. I asked myself, "How is it that I have put so much time and effort into healing, only to feel like I had been run over by a truck?" I cried a lot. I wanted to throw in the towel and accept that I had lost. Fortunately for me, I have friends and family that kept sending encouraging words and even more importantly for me, I have a daughter that reads me and knows just when I need my spirits lifted. Sophia somehow knew that I was ready to give up, that I had made the choice to call it quits. She knows me so well and at eleven years old, she understands a lot.
Sophia came to me Saturday night and asked me if I had given up. I tried to lie to her, but she knew. She reminded me of the good day I had last week. She reminded me of other days that were good. She reminded me how last week I got up easily from my bed. She remembers those little successes. She reminded me of the good feelings she is experiencing with diet changes. She held me and let me cry.
We all have choices. We can choose to let life and the disappointments it has in store for us take control over our mind and soul as I did that evening when I told myself that I had experienced enough and was beaten, or we can choose to take that control back and keep fighting. When you have a little girl that is backing you 100% on your journey towards health, it is pretty difficult to not make the choice to fight.
On Sunday Sophia watched me closer, I could see it. She wanted to make sure I was coming back from the dark side. She spent extra time with me, she made me laugh, she hugged me a lot and hopefully she saw my spirits returning. Hopefully she saw me making the choice to keep going, to keep working towards a body that is healthy in every way, because that is the choice I am making.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Surrounded by Love
Wednesday morning I woke up at 4am to a body that was inflamed from top to bottom and a mind that was instantly at odds with itself. Since I couldn't sleep and was uncomfortable in bed anyhow, I got out of bed and began writing. Writing helps release the tears, something I desperately needed to do. I wrote on my blog and then I wrote several emails to close friends and family asking for their healing thoughts and prayers. I felt a little silly asking for this, but as I published my blog post and sent my emails, I felt this instant weight being lifted from me. Within the hour I started receiving comments on my blog and emails in my inbox reminding me of the tremendous support that surrounds me. I felt wrapped in love, something that I needed that day. I received emails throughout the day with kind words of support, a quote, a picture, and a cartoon. These emails strengthened my mind and expanded my heart.
By simply asking for others to think of me, I removed the responsibility of taking on this pain and uncertainty alone. I felt comforted throughout the day knowing that one person was thinking about me each time she looked at the date on her chalkboard, that another friend added me to the well board at her church, that one of my sisters considered me her "hero" while another sister was thinking of my "beautiful smile", that my friends and family were sending me cyber hugs along with healing thoughts and prayers, and that my RA friends were encouraging me and understanding that with physical pain also comes a lot of emotional upset. Who knew asking for help could be so empowering? It doesn't mean I am weak. It means some days are difficult. It also means my friends and family want to be there to support me, but they can't do that if I don't share that I need the help. Since this was my first real attempt at asking a large number of people to send healing thoughts and prayers, I was surprised that many people even shared their appreciation in me asking for help. Pretty cool, huh?
Thank you so much for all your support the last few days. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling physically worse and again my mind started its debate. The difference yesterday was that I could remind myself of all the love that surrounds me. I could imagine all those cyber hugs wrapping around me and keeping me safe. Plus, I had suggestions from my med free RA/chronic fatigue friends to guide my mind yesterday on changes I need to make on this healing journey. I managed to make it to work and as the day went on I felt some relief. I listened to the advice that Robin left in her comment, "Go work on other areas of your life...career, spirituality, creativity, finance, etc. And let the energy you create pull you out of this flare! " While at work I poured myself into my students and honestly had one of the most productive, enjoyable days of teaching.
I know that although my mind may feel lost in what steps to take next, I am never alone. Like my sister Sherry said, "We found you, we love you and we all want to help you through this!" I will remember next time my body is flaring to go back and reread those emails and comments and let the healing feelings soak deep into my joints.
By simply asking for others to think of me, I removed the responsibility of taking on this pain and uncertainty alone. I felt comforted throughout the day knowing that one person was thinking about me each time she looked at the date on her chalkboard, that another friend added me to the well board at her church, that one of my sisters considered me her "hero" while another sister was thinking of my "beautiful smile", that my friends and family were sending me cyber hugs along with healing thoughts and prayers, and that my RA friends were encouraging me and understanding that with physical pain also comes a lot of emotional upset. Who knew asking for help could be so empowering? It doesn't mean I am weak. It means some days are difficult. It also means my friends and family want to be there to support me, but they can't do that if I don't share that I need the help. Since this was my first real attempt at asking a large number of people to send healing thoughts and prayers, I was surprised that many people even shared their appreciation in me asking for help. Pretty cool, huh?
Thank you so much for all your support the last few days. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling physically worse and again my mind started its debate. The difference yesterday was that I could remind myself of all the love that surrounds me. I could imagine all those cyber hugs wrapping around me and keeping me safe. Plus, I had suggestions from my med free RA/chronic fatigue friends to guide my mind yesterday on changes I need to make on this healing journey. I managed to make it to work and as the day went on I felt some relief. I listened to the advice that Robin left in her comment, "Go work on other areas of your life...career, spirituality, creativity, finance, etc. And let the energy you create pull you out of this flare! " While at work I poured myself into my students and honestly had one of the most productive, enjoyable days of teaching.
I know that although my mind may feel lost in what steps to take next, I am never alone. Like my sister Sherry said, "We found you, we love you and we all want to help you through this!" I will remember next time my body is flaring to go back and reread those emails and comments and let the healing feelings soak deep into my joints.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Feeling Lost
Last Tuesday I felt wonderful and I was glad I could share it here. I had almost a whole day of feeling free! Unfortunately by that evening things had turned for the worse and have only improved slightly. When I have a day that every joint in my body hurts and my family can barely touch me because it hurts so much, I can handle it. But when that day turns to a week, I find my mind battling itself on what path to take next. I feel lost during these times.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Is Your Gut Making You Sick?
This morning on Facebook, Donna Gates from Body Ecology Diet posted an article titled Is Your Gut Making You Sick? 5 Simple Steps To Gain Energy and Lose Weight. Again this reminded me of how important it is to heal my body as a whole before I can expect the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis to disappear. Here are a few interesting tidbits from the Body Ecology Diet (BED) article:
*Your gut is connected to everything that happens in your body!
*Digestive problems can lead to allergies, autoimmune diseases, mood disorders and cancers.
*Your body and entire immune system are protected from all the nasty chemicals and toxins we ingest by a super-thin lining in your gut. If that barrier is damaged, your immune system can flare up and cause inflammation.
*The bad bacteria in your gut thrive off of sugar. So take away its food source by removing sugars from you diet.
*Undetected gluten intolerance puts you at risk.
One of my strengths in fighting rheumatoid arthritis has always been my ability to listen to my body. When I am experiencing a flare up, I look at what is happening with my diet, stress levels, schedule, and other life happenings to see if there is a pattern. Since reading about BED and following their philosophy for eating, I have become even better at listening to my body. I have found that on days I feel pretty good that my digestion, mood and complexion are also good. On the days my joints don't feel well, my digestion, mood, and complexion are also off. Isn't that an interesting connection? I am looking forward to finding more connections and understanding how those connections relate to my RA.
Following a diet outside of mainstream America is not easy. There is gluten in a high percentage of the foods prepared for us and when you are trying to repair your gut, even a small amount can reverse the healing your gut has made which makes many people who have tried gluten free diets think they don't work. It takes sticking to it strictly for a lengthy amount of time. Removing sugar is near to impossible if you don't make your own food. Once you start looking at labels you realize sugar has been added to almost everything which is scary when you consider the havoc it plays on our bodies.
When I follow a diet that I believe we were really meant to follow, my brain feels clear, my energy improves, my digestion improves, my skin looks awesome and I have more days that my joints feel good. In fact, I was talking to Steve the other night about a few bad days I had last week and over the weekend and he shared how he sees the situation. He said he feels like on an everyday basis I am improving. (My family always says I am happier when I feel better so that is a good sign.) He also said that even though the bad days are awful, how extreme they get has changed for the better. Except for one evening last week that was truly awful and scared the pants off me, I have to agree with him. It was good to hear his perspective. I need to be reminded sometimes of the improvement that I am making. Oh, another good thing - even when my knee was at its worse last week, the swelling has never returned to where it was before starting the diet. Yippee!!!
For now, I know that I still have lots of work ahead of me. But, with each day of the diet, it feels more like me which means it will be easier to maintain long term. I like feeling like I am working to control what happens to my body. When rheumatoid arthritis already has so much control over me, this is a good feeling.
*Your gut is connected to everything that happens in your body!
*Digestive problems can lead to allergies, autoimmune diseases, mood disorders and cancers.
*Your body and entire immune system are protected from all the nasty chemicals and toxins we ingest by a super-thin lining in your gut. If that barrier is damaged, your immune system can flare up and cause inflammation.
*The bad bacteria in your gut thrive off of sugar. So take away its food source by removing sugars from you diet.
*Undetected gluten intolerance puts you at risk.
One of my strengths in fighting rheumatoid arthritis has always been my ability to listen to my body. When I am experiencing a flare up, I look at what is happening with my diet, stress levels, schedule, and other life happenings to see if there is a pattern. Since reading about BED and following their philosophy for eating, I have become even better at listening to my body. I have found that on days I feel pretty good that my digestion, mood and complexion are also good. On the days my joints don't feel well, my digestion, mood, and complexion are also off. Isn't that an interesting connection? I am looking forward to finding more connections and understanding how those connections relate to my RA.
Following a diet outside of mainstream America is not easy. There is gluten in a high percentage of the foods prepared for us and when you are trying to repair your gut, even a small amount can reverse the healing your gut has made which makes many people who have tried gluten free diets think they don't work. It takes sticking to it strictly for a lengthy amount of time. Removing sugar is near to impossible if you don't make your own food. Once you start looking at labels you realize sugar has been added to almost everything which is scary when you consider the havoc it plays on our bodies.
When I follow a diet that I believe we were really meant to follow, my brain feels clear, my energy improves, my digestion improves, my skin looks awesome and I have more days that my joints feel good. In fact, I was talking to Steve the other night about a few bad days I had last week and over the weekend and he shared how he sees the situation. He said he feels like on an everyday basis I am improving. (My family always says I am happier when I feel better so that is a good sign.) He also said that even though the bad days are awful, how extreme they get has changed for the better. Except for one evening last week that was truly awful and scared the pants off me, I have to agree with him. It was good to hear his perspective. I need to be reminded sometimes of the improvement that I am making. Oh, another good thing - even when my knee was at its worse last week, the swelling has never returned to where it was before starting the diet. Yippee!!!
For now, I know that I still have lots of work ahead of me. But, with each day of the diet, it feels more like me which means it will be easier to maintain long term. I like feeling like I am working to control what happens to my body. When rheumatoid arthritis already has so much control over me, this is a good feeling.
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