It’s been 16 days since I finished my final round of Lemtrada infusions to treat my Multiple Sclerosis (you can read more about my MS journey here) and I think my body is finally ready to start really getting healthy again. I can definitely see the toll this treatment has taken on my body. It’s affected my energy, my strength, my skin, my digestive system and who knows what else is going on with my internal organs! I know that if I don’t make being healthy a priority I will never see the full benefits of this treatment in my life.
So, I am dedicating the next 12 weeks to my own personal physical health and I wouldn’t mind some company along this ride! Anyone want to do this with me? Starting this Monday I’m choosing to be really intentional about regaining my physical health by focusing on three areas: Rest, Nutrition & Fitness. I’m convinced that if I can be really intentional in these three areas, I can be the strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been!
My goal (have grace with me if I miss a week or two!) is to share my plant-based meal plan each week (Sundays), as well as weekly training updates (Mondays – I’m calling this Marathon Monday!). My hope is that it will not only provide me with the accountability I need, but maybe it will help someone else on their journey too!
I have a feeling I’m not going to be perfect. There may be weeks I struggle more than others, but I know that if I want to move forward and really regain my health, I need to have a plan! So here’s what I’m thinking, I’m putting my own plan in place, but I would love to have a few people to do this alongside! We can share our challenges and triumphs together and really have success in this!
1. Rest
My personal commitment is to try to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I find that my MS symptoms are significantly better when my body is well rested, so I know this needs to be a priority for me! That means my goal is lights out at 10:00pm and rising in the morning by 6:00am. I know a 6am-10pm sleep may not be realistic for everyone, so you need to figure out what’s the best time to rest for you!
I tend to try to fill every day as full as I can so my goal is also to take time every week to read and do at least one thing that focuses on resting, like taking a bath.
2. Nutrition
I am going to be very intentional about eating a plant-based diet, complete with protein, carbs and healthy fats. The majority of my daily food intake will come from fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds and sprouted grains. I am going to be intentionally try to avoid processed foods including refined sugars and flours. My diet already mostly aligns with this, but there are definitely days when I get lazy and eat cereal for dinner instead of vegetables! Since I’m also a sucker for vegan pastries and ice cream, for the next 12 weeks I’m going to try to add those things in as a bonus to my healthy diet, not as a staple. I’m also going to try to juice every day, even though I loathe cleaning the machine.
Now, I know my diet may seem extreme to some, but it works for me and for my own health goals and needs. You need to do what works for you! I do promise though, if you meal plan you will eat healthier and waste less! Check out this post if you’re not sure where to start!
3. Fitness
This is the area I’m most excited/nervous about! On Saturday, June 4th 2016 Clark & I will be running in the Whistler Half-Marathon in beautiful Whistler, BC! I actually set a goal last year to run a half-marathon, but a decline in my health sadly made it unattainable for me in 2015. I realize it’s going to be a huge undertaking, but I’ve set up a 12 week training schedule to help regain my strength and get back running again!
You obviously don’t have to run a half-marathon (although you might be surprised that you actually could!) but it’s important to set some kind of goal for yourself. Maybe you want to try to run 5 or 10km. Maybe you want to try to work out 3 days a week. Whatever your fitness goals looks like, let’s do them together!
So, here’s what I’ve learned: Health goals are so much easier to achieve when you’re not doing in on your own! Let’s take this journey together. We can motivate one another, keep each other accountable and even provide tips and recipes to keep moving forward. Maybe it’s just me, but I could really use the help!
If you’d like to join me on this 12 week journey take a few minutes to think about some realistic goals and comment below on the 3 areas I mentioned: Rest, Nutrition & Fitness. What are you going to strive for? Maybe you made some resolutions in the new year that need to be kickstarted or maybe you just want to continue your progress.
Every week I’ll post about my progress and you can fill me in on yours! I can’t wait to get started! Let me know what your goals are!
I’m in with you, girl!!! You are inspiring me! I signed up for the sea wheeze half marathon…I haven’t done a half since having kids. After sailor was born I realized how much I take my mobility for granted so I signed up for a half cause really, what was my excuse?? I have working legs I need to get my butt in gear, so she is my inspiration for the half… Rest.. I love your 10pm rule and I will adopt that too… I waste so much evening time on Netflix or Facebook. Nutrition/ I have tried to have 1 vegan meal a week.. I’m obsessed with the “oh she glows” cookbook. But I deff want to to stick strictly to white meats if I need meat but way more plant based meals.
Yay! Ashley I’m so excited you’re in, and that you’re working toward a half too!! Okay, let’s do this!! Great, and totally attainable, goals!!
I am SO with you, Kim! I think you are amazing – and I am so motivated by you. I won’t be eating a strictly plant-based diet, but I will definitely be eating healthy, and working out consistently. My plan looks a little different, but the idea is the same!! 🙂
Awesome Samara!! And thanks! 🙂 Your plan sounds awesome! What does eating healthy and working out consistently look like for you? I find if you have more specific goals it’s easier to keep on track and stay accountable! So pumped!
My goals are very similar to yours.
For rest I am already good at making sleep a priority, but I want to start using my ‘down time’ more wisely by doing things that fill me up as a person. Such as reading, gardening, listening to music, sketching etc. Instead of simply filling my downtime with Netflix.
Nutrition : My goals are very similar to yours. Due to allergies, my diet should be restricted, but I often tell myself that my symptoms aren’t THAT bad, so I’ll eat things I should avoid putting extra stress on my body. So my goal is to eat a mostly plant based diet that falls within my nutritional boundaries and to not feel guilty on the days I choose to make an exception, but rather to own my choices.
Fitness: I am planning on doing a 5k with my best friend this year. So I have put in place a training plan, so I want to be consistent with that so I am ready when the time comes. 🙂
Kim – Thank you for encouraging me to put my goals into words. I’m excited to follow along with your journey for the next 12 weeks, and hope that inspires me to undertake my own journey.
Roxanne! I’m so glad you’re in!! Also, how does Netflix eat up so much time? lol. What did we do before Netflix?
I love that you’re planning on running a 5k!! Having a training plan in a HUGE help!
Excited to be on this journey with you!
I have been following you on Instagram since I too have MS and are up for my 2nd Lemtrada treatment soon.
I am inspired by you and would like to join the challenge 🙂
My goals are to get fit (again) since I got MS I have lost a lot of my former strength and cardio.
Yesterday I went to te gym for the first time this year! yey
lets do this!
Well done!! I cleaned up my eating big time in January and am feeling so much better! Would you mind sharing your 12 week running plan? I am running 3x a week but want to push myself! I would love to see if I could follow along 🙂 best of luck!
Absolutely! I’ll get it post ASASP!
I’m so proud of you. You are an inspiration. A friend got me interested in your site. I’m recovering from double mastectomy worth reconstructive surgery. I was diagnosed with DCIS, which is a Stage 0 type cancer. Post surgery, the path folks told us I actually did the right thing as I they discovered an invasive breast cancer tumor.
Therefore I am trying to be strong,. I too have to change how I think/feel about me: and everything that goes towards my overall well being such as my unhealthy relationships with food and exercise. I’m actively taking control of my care, albeit in different directions than yourself: dietician, physical therapy and back to my psychologist.
The one thing we agree upon, is this is alot easier with support. I made sure I surrounded myself with strong, reliable friends prior to the start of this journey, and surprise, surprise, they are ALL still there. It makes it so much easier, especially on your bad days/weeks.
Good luck to you on sticking to your plan and achieving your goals.