It's All Mind Over Matter...

Yes, it is "Mind Over Matter"....

I try to keep a positive attitude...sometimes it's hard when you have health issues...

*Check Out My PINTEREST Board "Mind Over Matter" to see all my causes...

 BUT...

Every time I have a flare...I muster up the Begin-Again-Finnegan attitude!

As I told my Friend, who called to check on ME....

"I'm back in My Queenly State of Mind. I've taken my place on the Throne, MY Crown is a little Lopsided but, I'm getting there!"
Having a Positive attitude is the Key ingredient!

So exercise has begun again! Yeah....AND best of all the weight loss is still happening. 2 more pounds!

New total of 12.5 pounds...

Lucille Ball

This was a Classy Lady...LOVED her Style

She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis as a teenager! She was one of the original celebrity's to serve the National Arthritis Foundation.

 Rosalind Russell a wonderful Actress
She also had RA and served on a National Commission of Investigation Committee for RA. She was honored for her efforts by Congress. The Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center at the University of California in San Francisco was founded in her honor.

"There are over 100 types of Arthritis" that includes

 "Thirteen types of RA"

There are several things to remember when You or someone you love suffers from Arthritis...
The PAIN...
YOU own it! You live daily with it! YOU need to CONTROL it with inner STRENGTH, If YOU don't... it will DESTROY you!

You need to have a conquering attitude...
 Exercise & Eat right!
What I like to call the... "Begin-Again-Finnegan" approach!
Start-Stop-Start...pick yourself up and start over...again!
It's a 1 step forward, 2 steps back feeling ONLY I turn that thought around when coming out of a flare:
 "One step back, NOW 2 steps Forward!"
 
LOVE this!
A sense of Hope & Humor is truly needed! 
It truly helps fight the pain! Humor, Hope & appreciation for Life means you've accepted your fate and YOU have control!
It Doesn't mean You wont have PAIN!
But Hope & Humor helps you to Grin & Bear it!

Wear BLUE for You, Your Family & Friends in May with Style...

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My Workout is Just Not Working Out...

Years ago, when I worked in the School system...I had a little boy, Johnny, who was always LATE to School. SOoo, I asked him one morning WHY he was LATE AGAIN! :S 

He replied; "WELL...My SHORTCUT just didn't WORK OUT this MORNING!"

Trying not to laugh...I wrote him a pass and sent him off to class!

WELL...That's how I've felt this past week!...

"My workout was just NOT working out!

OKAY....So I'm going "Jamie Lee Curtis" on you..... 

I am bearing my NO-Makeup-Face on the blog to the world!

WHY?

I had another RA flare...my 4th one in just under a year! As I've said before... I have 2 Rheumatoid disorders, one is Sjogrens the other is Rheumatoid Arthritis . I will be celebrating 5 years in remission later this month for the RA...but I will ALWAYS have flares!

What does that mean? Medications when I need them...

That being said...I posted this photo for more than one reason. 

But the main reason: MOST people don't know RA can affect your organs...AND... have never seen the eyes affected with a flare! 

You can tell in the photo... it is painful! 

This photo was taken 3 days after the flare started.

You would NOT have wanted to see it before then. 

Lots of things factor in; light, fluorescent lighting, the migraine that comes with it, weather...the wind, ya-dah, ya-dah. I wont give you ALL the details... Other than it is extremely painful.

 And NO it is NOT contagious!

So, I had just gotten into the routine of working out AGAIN...WHEN the flare happened. 

In the photo above we are at the Cattleman's Field Day, last Saturday, (You may have seen the post on my face book page..Check it out...)

It was a beautiful day, chilly but nice...and WINDY! 

Our family sponsors a buckle & purse prize annually for one of the events in Dad D.'s memory...

Anyway...the WIND was not my friend! Rheumatoid Sjogren's is a drying disease, SO my eyes got to DRY! Doesn't matter what you do, drops, ointment, etc...The WIND is NOT my friend!

That evening was the start of the flare....NEEDLESS to say, it was also the end of my workouts for a while,... AGAIN!

The GOOD NEWS is...I am NOT going to let this stop me! I need to lose some weight for my health and blood sugar levels! I have a MIND SET!

I am sticking to my healthy diet even though I can't workout just yet! Maybe by tomorrow I can 'BEGIN AGAIN" !
This is a photo of my Mexicali Steak Salad I will post next week!
It was DELISH! Stay tuned...

AND...I had to throw this commercial in...

I posted on My Face Book page about how I LOVED this commercial! 

I LAUGH every time I see it because it's too cute and too true! 

If we can't laugh at ourselves then....

ANYHOO....

This week I dropped another 4 pounds! I was so excited....

That brings me to 16 1/12 pounds since the end of January!

(((YEAH)))

So despite everything; health issues, cuts on the hand, falling down the stairs, RA flares....I Am Winning the Race...

I have a ways to go...but I think my Dr. will be happy at my next appointment along with my blood sugar and joints!

Slow & Steady Wins the Race with Style...

Have you joined me yet in the 

Work Out with Style Challenge?

Love your comments...

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I'm All Wet...

I'm all wet from...Water Aerobics! 
Yeah...the air is clearing, making it healthier to be outside!

My Hubby took this amazing photo from the freeway! Do you see the SUN in the clouds?
With the air in the CLEAR, so to speak, outdoor workouts are about to begin again!

Just a few pieces of pool exercise equipment can give you excellent workout results. 

I am SO ready to do my pool workout! I love working out in the water! I was never a fan of SWIMMING, but I love working out in the pool!
Its great for the joints if you have arthritis like ME!

Leg work outs,

Arms, 

 Running or Jogging.

Stomach & Waist exercises 

There are so many ways to exercise in the pool.  

There are tons of examples out there on the Internet, in books and magazines.

All photos are from Pinterest unless otherwise stated.

I had physical (aqua) therapy  ordered for my back a few years ago. I dreaded it because I am not a water person. BUT, the benefits of this work out made me a fan! My arthritis felt SO much BETTER!
I felt so good, I have kept it up! 
AND...
I found out ..."If you do YOUR workout right...YOU can work up a SWEAT in the Water!"
ALSO...

 Join Me at the Pool this week with Style...

The above message is for a good friend (& his wife) who is having surgery today...we love you and hold you in our prayers!!! xxx & ooo's}...

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I Don't Need to be a Beauty Queen, But...

I don't need to be a Beauty Queen, but I DO need to GET in Better Shape and WEIGH-WAY-LESS!

SOooo, I am challenging myself!

We do have several beauty queens in our family. One of them is Carol-Jean , a cousin of Dad's, she was "Miss Chico State",  and competed in the "Miss California Contest" the summer of 1951.  She is on the top right. She was a very accomplished woman whom made her mark in this world. 
One of the contestants was Barbara Eden, the actress from "I Dream of Jeannie" fame. She (above photo) is Miss San Francisco, and won "Miss Congeniality" in the beauty pageant.  

I need to Re-design, Re-fresh and Re-new.... Me, Myself & I.

If I don't do it now, then WHEN?

At my age, ("Being OVER the Speed Limit of a Road Sign"), I gotta get started BEFORE it's All OVER! 

Until ARTHRITIS became a ROAD BLOCK in my life...I didn't have to worry about weight or exercise. Maybe that was my "Pothole" so to speak!

Because, I became a "Big FLAT TIRE"...(off a SEMI-Truck)!!!

"LOL"

My "Road of Life" took a wrong turn and I literally "HIT the BRAKES"! 

That debilitating Accident (Arthritis) took me out of the Drivers Seat.

Three types of Arthritis caused my WEIGHT Accident! Waaa...

After 13 years, and a few spare tires later, I am taking a new road!

A slow, yet steady drive, on the "LAST CHANCE HIGHWAY".  

I don't need to be a Beauty Queen, But I do need to Buckle up and put myself in the Driver's Seat.

I am going to become the main driver of my car (body), NOT the arthritis!

I am doing this for Me!

I just want to feel and look healthy...become stronger in my body & soul.

That's the best way to "Hit the Highway" and take control of the road.

I started eating better and working out for three reason's:

#1. My FAMILY! Mostly for "My 9 Grandchildren",
 I would LOVE to be around for their CHILDREN! 

#2. For my Dad, who was recently diagnosed with Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma and he had to go on a strict diet! 
So I want to be supportive of Him.

 Everyone loves support!

#3. For ME, Myself & I... Most importantly!

Let's get started!

Would you like to join me?

I would love to hear your comments and accomplishments.

Support is awesome!

The Rules are Simply Stylish...

1. Celebrate the Loss of inches & pounds in a healthy way.

Only acceptance...No PITY Parties!

2. Exercise in a way that suits Me, Myself & I no less than three days a week at my own pace.

Set my own CHALLENGES!

3. Eat healthier (and portion control) 6 days a week, allow myself to splurge only ONE day a week

 Do-Overs are a MUST...if I slip up...I just Begin-Again!

"We are only Human!"
4. I WILL do one thing a week for ME, just ME.
WE ALL need Me-Me time!

5. I WILL do (all of) this for ME!
I will CELEBRATE the AGE that I am... while staying YOUNG at HEART!

Join Me in the Challenge, Show Your Style...

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