I’ve been thinking about keeping a photographic food diary. What do you think? Do you track what you eat?

The Patient’s Manifesto

• I believe that patients are not getting an adequate return on the billions of government, non-profit and industry dollars being spent on the research and development of new patient treatments.
• I believe that academic scientists, government funding and regulatory agencies, non-profit disease research foundations, commercial biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and entrepreneurs should aggressively seek new ways to accelerate the pace of medical research and the development of new patient treatments for the billions living with diseases who can’t afford to wait.

Sign this manifesto now!

I like to drink green juice. I like the taste but I especially like how it makes me feel. I haven’t juiced in a while because I always crave it more in Spring and Summer. Juice is usually cold and in the Winter, I don’t want anymore cold. Today was an exception. Yesterday, I had my 33rd Tysabri infusion with my usual IV Benedryl to pre-treat. That usually wipes me out the day of my infusion and it often creeps into the next day, leaving me less than energetic for at least the morning.

Usually, I just suffer through it but today I wanted to fight it and see if I couldn’t turn things around earlier than most of my “day afters”. The juice worked! I feel better! I think it is because I thought it would work….and it did. That kind of positive thinking doesn’t work for me every time, but more often that not.

Thank you Green Goodness!

In October 2009, I flew to Boston and took part in a Yoga program with Baron Baptiste. The program was developed and a DVD was produced by Biogen Idec. There are three levels of Yoga on the DVD and it is FREE! I would recommend the DVD to MS patients and anyone who is interested in developing a practice of their own.

Go to www.MyMSYoga.com

• Register to receive a free DVD
• View video clips from the DVD and learn more about modifying yoga poses
• Vote to bring Baron Baptiste to local cities to teach MyMS Yoga classes – visit the “local events” section

If you order the video, look for me in the Transformations and Restorations programs. I’m the one in the back row to the left as you are watching.

I believe in breathing to combat stress. I believe that taking a walk can calm a person down. I believe tomorrow will be better than today. Even knowing all those things, there are some days that I just need to SCREAM.

Thanks. I feel better now.

Let’s face it, there are so many things we can do for better health, like eat well, workout, take vitamins, sleep 8+ hours a night but one thing we rarely connect to better health is having fun. It should be on the top of the list. Fun = less stress = lower cholesterol = better sleep = weight loss = better health.

Fun thing #2 for 2K10: Relax on the beach.

Fun thing #1.

My sister and her family spent Christmas with us and we had FUN. Really, it was such a great time. I forget how much I LOVE spending time with my sister and brother-in-law (and my niece and nephew) until I do. Our time together made me re-think my goals for 2K10. Of course, I will continue to work hard on The Ride Project,  and strive to become healthier, clutter free and debt free,  but mostly, I just want to have fun and spend time with people I love, people that lift me up and make me laugh.

In honor of my new direction, over the next few days, I want to share some of the things I am looking forward to in 2K10….

Fun thing #1:

It really is the little things that count. I am behind on shopping, shipping, baking, card sending, visiting, decorating and any other holiday activity you can think of. While I am not completely wrecked, it would be a lie to say that I am not a little stressed about getting everything done. Yesterday, I stopped at Starbucks for my very favorite Grande Dry Soy Cappuccino and as I pulled up to the drive through and handed over my debit card, the cashier said, “The driver in front of you paid for your drink”. I couldn’t help but grin and offered to pay for the car behind me.

That small gesture changed my day.

My Sister in Law bought me the following book and a fellow MS’er reminded me about it today. Check it out:

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life

I’ve only read the first few chapters but plan to get back to it this weekend. Giving = Joy!