My new routine

So here is what has helped me LOSE 30 POUNDS (and counting), kick the constant issues with my mobility, and get a hold on the crippling daily fatigue and pain:

• Daily EXERCISE !!! 
• A Gluten FREE DIET !!

I know it is hard if not near impossible to exercise everyday when you are in such pain and have no energy for daily functions let alone exercise, but it works! It took about 2-3 weeks to get through the added stiffness and pain AND to push myself to exercise even though I HAD NO ENERGY.  Now granted, exercise for anyone with auto-immune issues is REALLY RESTRICTED because we cannot jog; walk on hard surfaces; use an elliptical machine, stair climber or treadmill; do any aerobics; no weight training; no jarring motions; and nothing too intense to cause damage to the muscles that causes an immune response.  SO, what does that leave you with....breathing, walking to the bathroom, and oh yeah a stationary recumbent bike. 

So, I do 20 minutes A DAY of exercise 4-6 times a week.   I wake up early before everyone else and do my exercise. Sometimes I can only do 10 minutes and if I get really sick none, but that has been limited really.  It makes me feel better, less stressed, more energized, and helping me to lose the prednisone weight!

Exercise videos for FREE or minimal cost:

• Comcast "On-Demand", Sports and Fitness, Exercise TV, 10-20 minutes work outs. (WITH SERVICE)
• www.exercisetv.tv (FREE !!!!-with 3-5 min workouts, 10 min, 20 min, more)
• Netflix, "Watch Instantly", Fitness and Sports, type in "10 minute solutions" and  pick one (WITH SUBSCRIPTION)

Here are some specific suggestions and my favorites:

• Netflix or for purchase:
• 10 Minute Solution:  Target Toning (MY FAVORITE)
• Split into five 10 minute segments--Thighs, Buns, Abs, Arms, Power Stretch 
• 10 Minute Solution:  Pilates
• Split into five 10 minute segments--Abs, Buns and Thighs, Sculpting, Burn, Flexibility
• 10 Minute Solution:  Yoga
• Split into five 10 minute segments--Basic, Buns and Thighs, Abs, Burn, Flexibility
• 10 Minute Solutions: Carb and Calorie Burner (work up to this one)
• Split into five 10 minute segments--Slow and Steady Burn, Carb Killer, Power Blast, Interval Burn, Metabolism Booster
• For Purchase:
• Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie 
• Split into three 20 minute workouts (that include cardio)--Abs, Upper Body, Lower Body (work up to this one too--I do this on a good day)
• Windsor Pilates: 20 minutes
• Exercisetv (my favorite trainers and videos):
• Stephanie Vitorino:  
• Bootylicious Buns 1 (10 Minutes)--works really well to get your butt back after prednisone and to firm it up period!)
• Natural Lift Workout: for arms/chest (10 minutes)
• Nicole Stewart:
• Pilate Abs (10 minutes)
• Leg Slimmer Toner (10 Minutes)
• Total Body Pilates (20 minutes)
• Holly Perkins:
• 20 Minutes Sweat Workout (work up to this one)
• Strength Training (10 minutes)
• Jennifer Galardi
• Standing Abs (10 minutes, no CRUNCHES)
• Lizbeth Garcia
• Less is More Pilates (20 minutes)
• Tandy Guiterrez

Also most of the videos on exercisetv can be found on COMCAST too.

And lastly, the GLUTEN FREE DIET, so essential! My crazy nurse friend,whom I love, told me that she had read articles about studies showing significant improvement for people with autoimmune diseases (including Lupus) and it was worth a try for me.  What did I have to lose?  Well, I explained to her that I was  a carb addict and didn't think I could live without bread, sweets, etc.  I knew and saw the amazing results her autistic son had with the diet --so I tried.

It wasn't cold turkey at first, I admit, I had to slowly take stuff out of my diet...took about 2 months. She sent me some cook books (made for cooking for kids) and gave me some advice and websites and I was off. But HOLY CRUD what a difference!   The crippling fatigue and pain was GREATLY DIMINISHED!!!! But, my abdominal bloating and pain was completely gone!!!! And guess what, it helped me lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks! That was over a year ago and I can't imagine any other way.  If I eat anything with gluten I know within 5-10 minutes--first the stomach upset and then the pain and fatigue.  It is amazing how quickly it happens.  They think that people with autoimmune diseases have a leaky gut thing going on and when they eat gluten it leaks into their system and causes an immediate immune response.

So I eat rice, potatoes, meats, veggies, rice crackers, rice chips, etc.......and I bake my own sweets.  Takes alot of fast food out of the picture--but how is that bad! 

So there, it worked for me.