Learn everything from Noah’s Ark…

Everything we need to know about life, we can learn from Noah’s Ark…

One: Don’t miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you
to do something really big.

Five: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to
be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on
board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you’re stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by
professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Twelve: Not everybody is always welcome. In Noah’s case, the woodpecker might have to go!

…..Author Unknown

LUPUS and EXCERISE

Why Exercise is Essential

Exercise is an important component of treating Lupus. Many people with diseases that affect the joints, like Lupus, sometimes operate under the assumption that they should not exercise because they may increase inflammation. However, that assumption is purely false. Exercise is an essential part of treating the disease.

Exercise is helpful in counteracting many of the effects Lupus has on the body. Exercise improves mood and reduces stress. It can help patients maintain a healthy weight preventing added stress on bodily functioning and diseases like diabetes. It keeps the heart healthy and prevents the development of muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and osteoporosis. Exercise also increases pain tolerance and prevents arthritic symptoms.

While not all types of exercise are appropriate for every person, there are so many ways a person can exercise, that every person should be able to find a healthy exercise routine. Whether you are young or old coping with Lupus can be made easier with some appropriate exercise every day.

Creating an Exercise Plan

The hardest part of developing an exercise plan is actually getting started. Many people have the intention of exercising, but never really do it. However, every patient is different, so before you start exercising you should discuss your options with your physician. A physician will be able to evaluate your overall condition and fitness level so you can choose the appropriate level of activity and type of exercise for you.

In order to remain motivated in your exercise plan, you should find someone to be an exercise buddy. It can be more fun and hold you accountable. Also it is helpful to have some variety in your exercise program so you do not get bored with exercising. For instance you can walk one day and do water aerobics the next. You may also want to decide on higher impact activities for days you are feeling well and lower impact activities for days you are not feeling well.

When you decide on your activities you should have realistic goals. If you have never exercised before, you should not plan on running a marathon next week. Have both long and short-term goals so that you do not get discouraged. It is also helpful to keep a log chart of your exercise activity to remain motivated. Also plan ahead for obstacles that can keep you from exercising and start off slow, building up a routine over time.

One aspect of exercise that many people forget is the stretch and warm-up. For Lupus patients that often experience muscle and joint pain, the warm up is very important. Warming up and stretching prevents damage from occurring to the joints and muscles. You should also cool the joints down after exercise by doing some stretching. It will prevent stiffness later. Some people often use cold packs after exercising and heating packs before and after to heat sore joints.

The types of exercise you choose are highly personal. Every patient has different capabilities and interests. The most commonly chosen forms of exercise by Lupus patients are aerobic exercise, hydrotherapy, and weight training. Many patients utilize a combination of all three to target different areas and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise stimulates the cardiorespiratory system. This type of exercise uses the large muscles in the body in a repetitive manner to improve the functioning of the heart, lungs, and muscles. It is exercise that improves weight, mood, sleep patterns, and overall health.

Most people associate aerobic exercise with activities like walking, aerobics, bicycling, stairclimbing, running, and more. When people are asked to picture aerobic exercise it is often portrayed as a group activity in the gym, on a stair machine, or running on the side of the road. Many of those types of aerobic activity are known as high impact aerobics, and may cause some joint irritation.

However, there are other types of aerobic exercise that are not quite as intense known as low-impact aerobics. They involved walking and cycling, and they are known to decrease fatigue. Even some daily activities are low-impact like mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or walking the dog.

Doctors currently recommend that people get about 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activity 3 to 5 days per week. For many people with Lupus this may seem an incredible hurdle, but the time can be spread out during the day or week into ten-minute intervals. Spreading the aerobic exercise out throughout the day offers the same health benefits. It also allows for more scheduling flexibility and the ability to work within pain and fatigue tolerances.

When doing aerobic exercise, a patient should keep it at a moderate level. This means that the person should be able to talk normally. By keeping the aerobic activity at a moderate level the exerciser does not get out of breath or overheated, meaning the activity can be sustained for a longer period of time. If you feel pain during your workout, you might want to decrease the intensity.

Any aerobic activity should be taken on gradually. No one should attempt to run a marathon if they have barely gotten off the couch for ten years. Start off slow with walking or riding a bike for a few minutes to build up endurance. Also, be patient with your progress. Before any aerobic session you should prep the muscles with a warm up of stretches, and after you are done you should cool down with more stretches. The warm-up and cool down will prevent cramping and joint stiffness.
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Thank you Freedom From Lupus for this article.
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Hello Baby Boomers…

I choose swimming as it has less stress on my bones which are very brittle.

I also take my dog walking…instead of just letting her out the back door. As well, she loves this! Her new work id walk…she heads for the door. Actually she walks me…LOL!

Mona Vie has helped me get moving again. I NO LONGER WALK WITH A WALKER OR A CANE! It has leviated stress, joint pain, my diabetic and blood pressure medicine, swelling, my migraines, my sleeping pattern have improved, my lower digestive track is better, my skin is softer and I feel younger…if there ever was a fountain of youth…it is Mona Vie.

This is just my testimony…but all of those words are pretty powerful!

http://www.MyMonaVie.com/SharonSutley

…sorry loyal readers…

Hello Baby Boomers

I have been having computer problems…someone sent me a NASTY VIRUS…thru Yahoo IM…so be careful out there…I will be up and running soon…

Stay tunned!

Smiles and world peace,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Dancing Otter..you tube

Dancing Otter…Otter gets his grove thing going…

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=LClXK59VP0Q]

The Yule Ball…Potter Puppet Pals…you tube

Potter Puppetrs Pal…The Yule Ball

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp_197sBvHc]

LUPUS and Nutrition…

Lupus And Nutrition

With or without Lupus, nutrition is important to living a long life. However, patients with Lupus have an even greater stake in maintaining a good diet. Good nutrition is necessary to allowing the body to function at its best, and it can also help the body maintain proper balance.

Often when a patient is diagnosed with Lupus they report weight loss or poor appetite in the year prior to being diagnosed. Sometimes the loss of appetite is due to medications or mouth sores. On the other hand, weight gain is often a problem for patients taking corticosteroids. Both situations require that patients keep a close watch on what they eat.

Diet also impacts the way medications are processed by the body, and certain foods can exacerbate certain symptoms like stomach irritation. Foods can also help in preventing certain side effects like osteoporosis, and decrease others like steroid induced diabetes.

Two of the major disease categories that affect Lupus patients can use dietary prevention. Kidney disease is prevalent in lupus patients, so a physician may determine that a low-salt, low-potassium, or low-protein diet is warranted. With cardiovascular disease, a low-sodium, low-fat, or low-cholesterol diet can promote heart health.

Beneficial Foods

Food can have a beneficial impact on Lupus patients. Some foods may help in decreasing inflammation, while others also promote heart and circulatory health. Most diets high in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium are beneficial for Lupus patients, because these nutrients help to decrease inflammation.

Common foods that are high in essential fatty acids help to reduce inflammation, so they should be made a regular part of the diet for any lupus patient. These fatty acids can be found in cold water fish, walnuts, flax, and pumpkin seeds. While some people take Omega-3 or fish oil pills, they have to take a lot of pills to make up for one meal of fish. Also, some oils used in cooking can be beneficial anti-inflammatory substances. They include olive oil, which also promotes cardiovascular health, along with canola oil, grapeseed oil, and walnut oil.

Foods high in certain vitamins and minerals are also recommended to reduce inflammation and maintain good heart health. Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A, and it is what creates the yellow-orange color found in carrots and winter squash. It is also found in dark green leafy vegetables and broccoli. Foods high in vitamin E can also help in people who are photosensitive. They include mustard greens, chard, sunflower seeds, dry roasted almonds, papaya, and boiled spinach. Plus, foods high in selenium can reduce inflammation, and includes button and shiitake mushrooms, shrimp, snapper, tuna, and halibut.

Protein is important to building healthy tissue, but certain proteins are more beneficial. Lean poultry, fish, nuts, legumes, and seeds can promote your health, while red meat can actually increase inflammation. Better choices are soybeans, tofu, and soy milk, which all reduce pain and inflammation.

Carbohydrates and fiber are both important parts of a healthy diet. Leafy greens and brightly colored vegetables are beneficial, as are fresh fruit. Blueberries and strawberries contain anti-oxidants and chemicals that decrease inflammation. Also, apples and red onions contain a chemical known as quercetin that also decreases inflammation. Green vegetables, whole fruits, oatmeal, and oats are also beneficial fiber.

Overall, though, most physicians recommend that Lupus patients follow the diets recommended by the American Cancer Society or the American heart Association. They are low in fat, sodium and refined sugar while being high in fiber. They include a proper balance of all the food groups, though some patients may find that certain foods may cause a flare up of symptoms or allergies, so those foods should be avoided.
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Thank you Freedom From Lupus, for this report!
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Hello fellow Baby Boomers and Lupus patients…

I just want to remind you that the NUMBER ONE SUPER FOOD in the WORLD is the ACAI BERRY. That Nutrition is what keeps us going and YOUNGER!

Mona Vie is a God send to me…with out it I would not be doing as well as I am. If you want to know more about it, feel free to contact me and I will share my stories with you.

I am just an every day person like you but I do have the advantage of being a Lupus survivor! In 1995 they gave me the prognosis of 7 years life expectancy…I have fooled them! And I no longer walk with a cane. It is truly a miracle what has happened with me. My only wish is to help in any way that I am able…

Sincerely,
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Words for the Wise

Word to the Wise: Supernal

“Supernal” (soo-PUR-nul) - from the Latin for “situated above” - means “celestial/heavenly.”

Example (as I used it today): “It’s hard to explain this to a writer who’s new to the business world. He feels, understandably, that since he’s smart and clever and works so hard, his writing is - or has to be - supernal.”

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