How your Mind, Body, and diet can be Your tools for good Health and Well Being.
Since having the COVID-19 vaccination 2 years ago, I’ve had things change dramatically in my health. I have been out of sorts for at least three months, constantly feeling weak and tired with losing my appetite, and I lost a lot of weight. I also had a rash on the upper part of my body that no amount of cream could get rid of. The doctor told me I had a severe reaction because my immune system was so strong that it fought the effects of the vaccine, and my body violently reacted. I was advised to have no more COVID boosters. I am pleased about my strong immune stem, as medical professionals have informed me of this in the past. However, when one is suffering, it is of little consolation!
Through diet, the rash is primarily gone. It also left me with terrible shooting nerve pains in my legs, arms, hips, and shoulders. This has stopped me from moving at the pace I am accustomed to. As a result, I stopped doing my daily workout because it was just too painful to do. On sharing with friends and the medical profession, the feedback I received was all similar. They all agreed that now 67, I should expect aches and pains and things to go wrong with my body – REALLY?
Then when a fourth professional opinion chimed in with this, I decided to do anything to be healed because I didn’t want to live the rest of my life with chronic pain syndrome.
Ordinary painkillers did not touch the pain, so I chose something more potent. Unfortunately, long-term solid painkillers can mess with one’s kidneys and liver, and I undoubtedly didn’t want to go that route.
I’m not happy taking medications; however, I am interested in holistic health, good eating, a good mindset, and exercising regularly. My faith has kept me going because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and I appropriate that truth; I find that to be so. So I got irate and said, no, I won’t live like this anymore; I’ve had enough!
I could live for another 20 to 30 years on this planet, so there’s NO WAY I will live with this pain for that long! So I said out loud- “this pain is not mine- it does not belong to me!”
So, I prayed and asked God to help me gather ideas of what to do.
My Mind Workout
I got the idea to consistently listen to many audiobooks on youtube, which is free to change my mindset. The topics I chose reminded me about our minds, how thoughts affect our bodies and how having a healthy mindset makes for a healthy body. I will list the books below this blog. I learnt that my mind will dictate to my body, so I began to practice mindfulness and meditation and learn positive scriptures from the Bible,
My Body Workout
I soaked up audiobooks for several months and decided to start power walking again. I hadn’t powered walked for over six years because my knees began to give out. After all these years, I am still waiting on the NHS for a knee replacement – maybe soon! I can hear and feel the grinding bone upon bone, but I keep walking.
But I felt that the pains in my legs were so severe it would take something severe to stop them. So I prayed and asked God for healing, but like everything, sometimes we need to get to the cause of this problem to cure it. I knew that the nerve pain had affected my muscles.
So I set myself defiantly against the pain by creating an exercise program, and I am now steadily following that program.
It took a lot of work to start, and it still is. My legs felt like lead as I dragged them around, making the poor things run. But, by the end of the first week, the pain in my legs, arms and hips subsided; I no longer did need painkillers during the day.
My Diet Workout
I have changed my diet and am now finding that I can sleep all night without being aggravated awake by intense pain. I also researched the nerves and revised them from my past experience. Our nerves are protected by the myelin sheath. The sheath is fed with vitamin B12. So, I wondered whether I was not getting enough vitamin B12; the other Bs’ were to feed my nerves, so I reviewed my diet.
Recently I decided to go to carnivore. I’ve done keto, but the inflammation in my joints remained. The carnivore diet does not cause inflammation, and it’s the information that causes my joint pain. I researched the carnivore way of eating and decided to switch from carbs zero to total meat eating in the next few weeks. Red meat provides B vitamins.
I discovered that my vitamin B12 reserves were low, and one of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is weakness and tingling in my arms and fingers and pains in my legs and hips, which is precisely what I have had.
I also looked up the effects of magnesium and potassium on the body. A lack of these essential minerals results in muscle cramps. So I would get terrible cramps also. So I purchased magnesium and potassium liquid because the liquid is more readily absorbed into the intestines.
Doing Something Positive
It’s still early days, but I’m feeling much better. My joints are not as swollen and stiff in the mornings as they once were. I look forward to my workouts each day.
Now I hobble along, but as I regain my power walking confidence and get into the swing of things, I’ll improve. I still hear my knees grinding (hoping to get a knee replacement soon). However, exercise causes my heart to beat fast, and strengthen my muscles. I pick my legs up and find that my legs don’t feel so heavy anymore, and the pain is much less.
Be Consistent- Keep On, Keep On! Set Your Health Goals.
It is still a struggle, but as I keep my mindset and affirmations positive, I will gain strength in my mind and body.
I want good health, so I must do something to achieve that goal. So I have set that goal because I need to be healthy to continue to help and serve others in my ministry.
Your Thoughts Have Power.
And this is where mindfulness comes in as well. However, we only can have a mindfulness lifestyle if we change our mindset. Our thoughts are powerful, and the Bible tells us we will become what we believe. Indeed, neuroscientists have discovered this truth in more recent years. And this is why having a mindfulness lifestyle is essential for holistic well-being.
I am advocating a lifestyle of mindfulness living, meaning your attention is in the NOW. It means giving your full attention to the thing that is before you. This helps to heal your brain, heal your emotions and body. Mindfulness enables you to control your thoughts, giving you happiness and appreciation of what you’re doing right then and right now. Time goes quickly- you will never have this day again, so enjoy and be mindful of it.
Focus is Key
The opposite of mindfulness is non-intention – constantly pushing to get to the next thing to be done. The opposite of mindfulness is failing to focus on and appreciate what is right in front of you.
Create a Gratitude Attitude
And so, when I run or work out in my mini gym at home, I am mindful of that moment. I concentrate on my body, how it feels and how I want it to feel, and I visualise my body being strong and well again. Then, I give thanks to God for my surroundings and joy in it all.
There is so much more that I want to share with you on mindfulness and the power of gratitude. My goals are to bring you Hope, joy and love by encouraging you to live a better lifestyle for your happiness and well-being in Christ.
If you are unhappy with what you have, you can change it by changing your mindset, so you too can live a full life.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog. Please come back here, as I post regularly.
Check out my menu bar above; there, you’ll find online courses about mindfulness masterclass that will help you begin your mindfulness journey.
Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!
Remember to live life on purpose, in Hope. Faith and Love
Paula Rose Parish💕
Hope. Faith. Love. 