How To Overcome Challenges To a Healthier Way Of Life!

I keep hearing the same thing over and over again. "I can't afford to be healthy".  My question always is "Can you afford to be sick? , because it costs more to be sick and unhealthy". 

I watched my mother and father become ill and the nursing home care along with the medical expenses caused extreme financial distress. We had to take my mom out of an assisted living facility because she was unable to afford to live there.  I  decided to care for her in her home so she could keep her house. Life gets more complicating when we get sick. 

If you are suffering from an illness or disease , this is not the end. You have choices to change your way of life. You can seek alternative options for a healthier lifestyle and some of these options are free! Yes I said free, keep reading...

Some of these alternative options come from learning how to stay well naturally while learning how to reduce stress.

• Eat Wisely. Minimize your intake of sugar, fat, salt and caffeine. Choose whole grain products over refined/white, and eat 3-5 servings of fruits daily. If you have a food allergy, such and wheat or gluten, eliminate these foods completely.
• Think Positive. When you think optimistically, you will naturally have a healthier immune system. Death rates in people who are hostile, cynical or suspicious are seven times higher than in positive people of the same age.
• Take Charge. Control what is in your responsibility and ask others to do the same. Likewise, do not overburden yourself with trying to take responsibility for all people , places and things.
• Express Yourself. When you suppress your thoughts and feelings you will suppress your immunity.
• Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking three times a week or 20 minutes five times a week will be sufficient. Find a friend and make it fun.
• If You Are Depressed, Get Help. Feeling helpless, hopeless, lethargic or guilty will depress your immunity. 
• Go Outside. Twenty minutes of sunlight each day will help along with getting at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. 
•  Breathe Deeply. Oxygenate your blood and increase immunity while decreasing stress levels.
• Network. Find people who share your interests. Create respectful, caring and warm relationships. Ask for help when you need it.
• Dental Care. The health of your teeth will have a lot to do with the health of your body. A chronic infection or inflammation  in any part of the body will weaken the immune response within the entire body.  Visit your dentist for your regular cleanings and your body will thank you for it.
• Pray for yourself and others. Prayer is proven to enhance T-cell activity and it benefits both you and the person being prayed for.
• Go Get A Massage. Just the simple act of caring touch will stimulate the body's healing and defense mechanisms. This will support your immune system and positively influence your neurological function, lymph drainage, muscle tension, and blood flow.

 Ok so not everything in life is free. However, taking charge, becoming more positive, exercise, friendships, being outdoors, praying and breathing have always been free! When you start to become more mindful of the simplicities of life, you will naturally start seeing things differently, leaving you with more options and an open mind to try  new things, such as eating healthier foods and getting regular massage therapy. 

 
  I encourage you to get in touch with me so we can talk about some of the things that have worked for me and some of the things that have worked for others that I know. Wishing you success!
 

Your Wellness Advocate,

Deana Hodell, LMT

+1.401.523.4275

I Remember When... In Honor Of My Dad!

I remember when I was a little girl , I would wait for you to come home from work and jump into your arms. You would let me climb your legs and you held onto my arms and I would flip myself upside down like an acrobat.

I remember the days we had together camping. Just you and me! Things were simple, and you made them so.

I remember when you helped Mom decorate the house for the Holidays and the Christmas Joy and Laughter throughout the house.

I remember the dinners you enjoyed when Mom was well enough to cook them. The smile on your face, is one that no one could ever forget.

I remember all the hard work you did to support us. The tales of Military Life in the Army and your travels afar. I felt proud of your accomplishments. I am still proud of you!

I remember when you took care of Mom when she had cancer and I saw how much this took a toll on your well being,  I did not understand what was really happening, but you showed me how to be strong, those were your words. "You need to be strong".

I remember all the trips to the hospital, when Mom was sick and eating breakfast with you in the cafeteria; this was the first time I tried scrambled eggs with salt. I loved them! Again, you kept it simple!

I remember our shopping trips to the grocery store. I loved shopping with you, It was my favorite thing to do. The shopping cart would always be full to the top and you made sure that we would never go without food.

I remember our first attempt at fishing. You showed me how to use a fishing pole and we caught a sun fish. This was one of my favorite days.

I remember when you helped me with my homework and you told me to always do your best. "Do The Best That You Can Do". You never pushed me to do anything, these were your gentle ways.

I remember your voice early in the morning , waking me to get ready for school. I am grateful , you were always there to get me up, then off to work you went.

I remember the hard times, when you tried your best to help Mom, things were complicating once she became dependent on pain medicine. The anger, sadness, and frustration started to take place in our home, but you still held on tight.

I remember the summer when you painted our big old house with a single paintbrush. I was amazed!

I remember when you drove me to places I wanted to go. Even if it was a rock concert or punk rock show, you would sit and wait for me in the parking lot, while I watched the bands play. You were always there.

I remember the day I found out you had diabetes and never really knew how serious this disease was until I was in college and studied pathophysiology. This is when I became worried.

I remember your face when you saw my tattoo on my forearm. This did not make you happy. Sorry Dad, oh yeah you were right, I am stuck with it for life now. 

I remember taking you to the doctors and filling your meds. Things were tough, I got angry about having two sick parents to care for.  I was worried, but you told me "Do not worry so much".

I remember the day you had your first heart attack. You drove yourself to the hospital and told me not to worry. I did not know diabetes could cause so many complications. You ended up with a bad leg and vascular problems. You still kept on going.. work and all and still caring for Mom.

I remember the good days and the bad days. You tried to quit smoking, but the stress was too much and this was your outlet. I understood! It broke my heart to watch you light up those cigs. I still loved you.

I remember the day you walked me down the trail at Beavertail Park. It was my Wedding Day, you were proud. I still can see your smile.

I remember the day I told you , I wanted to be a Massage Therapist, and you said, "If that is what you want to do, then go ahead". You were always there to support my decisions. 

I remember taking your blood sugars,and taking mine too at the same time, because I had gestational diabetes. I taught you what I learned about my own self care.

I remember the day you were able to hold your granddaughter. You were able to enjoy her for about six months. She knows a lot about you. And she says , that she misses you and wishes you were still here. 

I remember the day you had your open heart surgery at Beth Deaconess Israel hospital. This was the hardest time of my life. I knew I was losing you. I watched you go through so much and this was torture. My heart was breaking, but I had to stay strong, I was a mother now, caring for an infant and still needed to care for Mom.

I remember when they sent you to a rehabilitation nursing facility. I went to visit you there and brought your granddaughter to cheer you up. You tried to look your best, but I could tell how depressed you were. I wished there was something I could do to make everything go back to the way things were when I was young. I accepted what was happening to you and prayed for God to give me strength.

I remember the day you came home from the nursing home. You wanted to stop for a hot dog and a soda. This was not part of the diet you were supposed to follow, but it made you happy, so I gave in!

I remember trying so hard to keep you healthy. I did not want you to smoke anymore, or eat anymore cupcakes. But I knew you were going to do it anyway.  It made you happy!

I remember the day before your last day here on earth. We had a yard sale, you were cold that day and wore a jacket in 90 degree weather. I was so caught up in rushing around the yard sale to get back home to my six month old daughter. As I left that day,  I noticed you were smoking on the deck, trying to hide and sneak , like a kid. I accepted it , although it broke my heart. You called me when I left that day, to come back. You needed some bread. I did not know that this would be our last phone call with each other.

I remember the call I got into the beginning of my shift at work. Mom said you were not waking up and she thought you passed away. I dropped what I was doing, left work and dialed 911 as I raced home. This was the worst feeling in the world, I could not believe this was the day. If I only had more time to spend with him, I thought.

I remember the recliner you slept in. We still have it! It still smells like you. It is the same chair I found you in when you passed on into another life. You were now in God's kingdom, I believe, eating a twinkie and a hostess cupcake, looking down on us, saying.. keep up the good work. I am happy that you are not suffering anymore. I will always love you and you are still my inspiration for all that I do. Thank you for being strong and for always loving our family. I will always be the best that I can be.

In honor of my father, I decided to write this article as a tribute to him.  Tuesday, July 16th, 2013, will make seven years since our loss. As I reflect upon his life and the difficulties with his health, I have made a pledge to myself to be the healthiest me I can be. His Diabetes Mellitus caused peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, and myocardial infarction along with COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. It breaks my heart to know that all this could have been prevented with a little health and wellness in his mind and body. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I know that my passion for health and wellness lies within the experiences I have had with my father and mother.

My own journey towards better health has recently led me to the discovery of organic living and healthy lifestyle products.

If I only had this knowledge to give to my father 10- 15 years ago, I truly believe he would still be here with us now. You see, Your body has its own repair mechanism, the physiological ability to regenerate your own damaged cells, and restore the body to homeostasis -- the natural state of balance.

So it is in honor of my father that I share this with you all.  Who do you know who needs help with their health today? Send them to my website , you never know how powerful the body really is. When you start giving it what it needs to regenerate and repair, the body will do amazing things.

 Thanks for reading this. It means a lot to me, and I hope that you will share this with folks you know who may be someone you love, or someone who suffers from chronic fatigue, diabetes, stress or anxiety, fibromyalgia, muscle or joint pain, sleep problems, difficulty focusing,
decreased sex-drive, immune or neurological concerns, including Parkinson's & Alzheimer's Diseases.

  Or an athlete or performer. Or someone who is just concerned about preventing
the premature signs of aging, like me.

I encourage you to get in touch with me so we can talk about some of the things that have worked for me and some of the things that have worked for others that I know. Wishing you success!

Your Wellness Advocate,

 Deana Hodell, LMT

 +1.401.523.4275

 

Don't Quit!

We all need a little inspiration to get us through hard times. Life is not easy and we must take extra care of ourselves when things become so crazy that we feel like giving up. I am here to say, Don't Quit! 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit-

Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down,

How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out -

The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It might be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit. 

 

Author: Unknown

 

 

 

Your Wellness Advocate,

 Deana Hodell, LMT

 +1.401.523.4275

Chronic Muscular Pain And How To Enter The Exclusion Zone!

I can remember days of chronic fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, chronic muscular pain and tension headaches. Can anyone relate? These days were uneventful and not fun for myself or my family. I spent countless miserable days wishing for a way to feel better, and I tried many things. Massage Therapy, Meditation, Yoga, Trips to the Doctor. This was getting scary. Things started to become 10 fold after the birth of my daughter. Then one day my primary DO , told me to go and see an ENT (Ear, nose , throat ) specialist for the swollen lymph glands in my neck. It was at this visit where I received a blood test to see what I may be allergic to. The final verdict came to WHEAT AKA Gluten! It's in everything, what was I going to do? No one advised me to change my diet either. What did this mean? I started to do my research and decided to enter the exclusion zone.

On my journey I learned that adverse reactions to certain foods and drinks are responsible for much of the pain and discomfort I was feeling.  Did you know that headaches, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, agitation, skin irritations, diarrhea,  joint pain, muscle pain, palpitations and anxiety are some of the symptoms related to the reactions that certain foods can provoke?

So here are the culprits you may want to try excluding: Wheat, dairy, sugar, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine.  If you suffer from chronic pain, you may benefit from conducting a food exclusion experiment.  You will want to try one at a time and keep a food journal close by to record your experiences.  Keep in mind that you may experience withdrawal symptoms which include, flu- like symptoms, anxiety, muscle and joint pain and restlessness for a few days. It can take up to five days for a food that produces a reaction to stop producing it's symptoms. But do not worry , this will pass and drinking water throughout the day should help flush out these toxins from the body.

How I found relief? Eliminating wheat and including a Natural, Synergistic Super Food 
that contains 22 amino acids, trace minerals, vitamins and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), into my dietary plan. This has had a tremendous effect on my lifestyle and my ability to continue doing all the things I enjoy. I have more energy, better sleep, no more anxiety, no pain and my tension headaches are gone. I am feeling great, and will never go a day without this diet or my Laminine.

I hope you may have found a solution to your problem. For more info you may want to research the oligoantigenic diet and Leaky Gut Syndrome.

I wish you well on your journey towards better health. 

  

I encourage you to get in touch with me so we can talk about some of the things that have worked for me and some of the things that have worked for others that I know. Wishing you success!

Your Wellness Advocate,

 Deana Hodell, LMT

 +1.401.523.4275

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