The last two months have been tough for me (You can read more about that here). Since the end of August just getting through the work day has been a struggle, and by the time I got home I hardly had the energy to cook, let alone work out. My muscles were disappearing. My strength was failing. I was weak.
I knew that regaining strength would be an important part of my recovery, but it’s hard.
Recognizing I couldn’t do it on my own, I sent a message to my friend Sarah in Florida. Sarah and I connected earlier this year, through her sister-in-law, after she was diagnosed with MS. Our common diagnosis and passion for ministry made for an instant friendship. As we’ve talked about life with MS, we have both found common ground in our struggle to stay healthy and active. It’s not easy for either of us to find the energy to work out, but we know we need to. We both feel weak. We both feel out of shape. But we’re both ready to get stronger and healthier!
I can’t wait for you to meet Sarah!
SARAH DURON – I AM STRONG
Sarah is a mother of two, a graphic designer, and a student at Southeastern University. You can read her blog at sarahduron.com and follow her on instagram @sarahduron. (Also, how gorgeous is she?)
A couple months ago, I decided to go off of MS treatment. I originally discontinued the medication I was on with the intent of switching to a new option, but in the interim I noticed that I was starting to feel better. Finally feeling more like myself for the first time in a long time, I decided to take on the gamble of going without treatment completely. With this decision has come the awareness that I must up my game on my own personal health and fitness. If I am not going to utilize the treatments that are out there, then the only responsible alternative is to equip my body to function at optimum performance. This means I need to be consuming tons of nutrients, avoiding harmful ingredients, and I also need to be working out- like, a lot.
It all seems so simple! Yet, lately it is just so hard. With the holidays coming up, which is always the time of year that I throw standards and caution to the wind when it comes to proper diet, and due to the fact that I feel so much better physically, I have been slacking off BIG TIME. Also, I have been really struggling lately with pushing myself to exercise. You know how it feels when you haven’t worked out in awhile, and since you are so out of shape it takes so much self-discipline to get started? Well, I feel like that times a thousand. My muscles are super weak and I am just incredibly unfit. In my situation, with the odds that I am facing, being a slacker is NOT an option! If you have ever surfed the web to study how one can thrive and experience a high quality of life despite MS, you would know that this cannot possibly be accomplished without a high commitment to health and fitness.
One of my dearest new friends and fellow MS fighter, Kimberlee Moran, is one of my hugest inspirations. Diagnosed with MS a year ago, she has continued with such determination to thrive as an incredible preacher, theology professor, pastor and wife! Not to mention, she has an amazing blog, mad design skills, and this doesn’t even begin to cover the remarkable person that she is. We are both determined to experience a long, energetic life bringing the message, hope and love of Jesus Christ to the world. This is why we’ve decided to come together and join arms to encourage one another toward our health and fitness goals.
I am sharing this with you because we want to invite you to join in this challenge with us! Even if you don’t have MS, I imagine you probably have your own personal health and fitness goals that you would like to see become a reality! On our own, and without the accountability of others, we all can easily slack off. This is why we want to invite you to be IAMStrong! Together, we can do this! We are making a commitment to devote at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week, to exercise. We are also making the commitment to eating everything we eat on PURPOSE. We want to plan ahead for meals, share recipes, and encourage each other to enjoy all the healthy, nutritious, yet yummy foods that God has provided to us. I think this will be fun! I’m feeling the motivation already! So, there is our invite! Who’s with me? Who’s with me?!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the power of coming together. Sarah and I are challenging all of you to join with us in our pledge to get healthier and finish 2015 strong! I refuse to wait until 2016 to make a New Year’s resolution to get my strength back! We’re starting now, post-Hallowe’en/pre-Holiday season, which may be the most challenging time of the year to stay on track! But we can do it together right?
We’re asking you to join us. Our goal is to start 2016 strong and healthy, but we can’t do it on our own. If you want to join us in our journey let us know in the comments below or connect with us on instagram @sarahduron & @kimberleemoran. If we’re all in this together, I know it will be easier! Let’s do this!
Grab this FREE TECH DOWNLOAD to remind yourself, “I AM STRONG,” regardless of the obstacles you face!
Buy the matching I AM STRONG t-shirt HERE to help support others fighting MS.
I’m in too! A new (to add to the ever growing list) autoimmune diagnosis has me in need of a complete lifestyle overhaul. Time to take charge 🙂
Count me in as well. This is perfect as I really need to crack down on making better habits and I definitely want to start now (not 2016!).
I’m in too!! I’ve been put on a strict diet from my dr. due to health stuff. And lately it’s been hard for me to stay on track with eating. I’m a fitness trainer so I have to go teach even when I don’t want to but when you’re kids have candy in the house it’s REALLY hard to say no.
Your art is so beautiful. I found you via Pinterest and I’m glad I did! You are an inspiration to be strong in the face of struggle. Thank you for speaking about your vulnerability so others can feel less alone. We need more hope warriors like you in the world!
Thanks so much Amy!
Let’s do this.
Please count me in. I just saw your “I Am Strong” downloadable artwork in BuzzFeed and read your inspirational stories. I came close to dying 7/1/13 and Thank God and my many and I do mean many wonderful doctors, nurses and support staff at the hospital where I spent 24 days. I want to continue to my slow but steady climb to regaining my health and be strong and live a long life.
I just found your blog and I am downloading all of the desktop wallpapers I can find – thank you! I have an autoimmune disease too, and it is great to see someone speaking out that I can relate to. I hope you have a good weekend with plenty of spoons.