Blogs You Might Like to Explore

Hope everyone is as well as possible today!
 I can't believe it's Friday already!

For this evening, seeing that I feel too flopped to do anything (as in pop to the shops to gorge on some crisps...) I thought I would recommend a few blogs :-)

Talking about chronic health can get a bit much from time to time, so reading about anything that isn't to do with it helps keep me ticking!

I'm quite new to writing, even though I got an average GCSE in English, I was often too unwell and foggy to write anything. But since some fog has lifted, I am starting to really enjoy writing at my own pace. I have no idea if I'm any good at it, but nonetheless, I enjoy it.

Another Made Idea Blog has a post about how to improve writing skills. It was an absolute joy to read and very helpful.

ThriftyDee is exactly what the blog title is. A student that's on a mission to save money. To be Thrifty. Everyone needs tips on how to save money on a number of topics, I'm sure she will cover most of them over time.

Nikki Miles Illustration is a colourful, artistic website with lots of lovely arts and crafts to read about. I love her work, it's so original!

Katie eats vegan is a great blog for, you guessed it, Vegan Food!
She writes about her vegan food missions round the UK (and anywhere else that takes her fancy)
And has found some amazing little places that I hope I can visit one day. She has some wonderful recipes too!

Vegan Beauty Review is a beautifully made blog with some brilliantly written reviews. If you're looking for some new beauty products, this is a great place to start 

Angel Numbers - I love this blog, it is ram-packed with spiritual information. I am fascinated with angel numbers as mine have always been amazingly accurate.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Pacifica - Vegan, Natural Beauty Products

I have used products for a while now that are as plant based as possible, I hate harmful chemicals! 

I have known about Pacifica perfume for a while, and it smells divine! 

Well, recently (for me at least) I discovered their make up range (uh oh!) 

I bought 2 tinted lip balms, and 2 solid perfumes.

OMG 

They all smell amazing! 

None of their products so far have given me a headache (yaay!)

The lip balms are more like lipstick, but super moisturising at the same time. 

Pacifica, for me, is not a cheap brand - But you really do get what you pay for. 

superior quality...

A Guide to Keeping your well being in balance with M.E

Hello!

Living with M.E or any other chronic health condition is always a real bastard, All of the time!

What bothers me is when doctors tell me that 'I'm just depressed'

How many of you have heard that one before??

So before you really do get depressed by all these awful obstacles you have to deal with, read these tips. I hope they help. 

Supplements that help my wellbeing are;

St Johns Wort - for depression caused by PMS and hormones

And

Lemon Balm + L Theanine  - for anxiety and heart palpitations

I do not take any prescription medication so these are safe for me to take. Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements if you are on medication, or consult a holistic doctor if you are unsure. 

Essential Oils

There are so many essential oils, there is bound to be one for you!
Because it's difficult and stressful living with a chronic health condition, the ones I find most helpful are calming and energizing.
Mint: A fresh scent, it will help clear your mind
Lemon: Uplifting and fresh, smells like lemon cheesecake!
Litsea: Although energizing, it's also good for calming anxiety, aiding good quality sleep, and helps digestion.
Lavender: Good for headaches and stress.
Grapefruit: Smells like cheesecake and is very uplifting!

Add essential oils to unscented massage oils or products; Use them as a foot or bath soak - just be careful as oils are slippery.

I have recently purchased a aromatherapy humidifier, it's one of the best things I have ever bought!
They have no heat element, and change colours whilst on, you can also have the light turned off. Just put a few drops of your favourite oil in the water and it will fill the room with its delightful scent!
I have this one 

Keep your sugar content low 

It's always so tempting to gorge on sugary foods when you're feeling stressed, but it really is the worst thing you could do! Sugar causes highs, and lows, and can really affect mood swings, and if you eat too much, you'll get a headache too. 
A treat once in a while is great, but try not to make it a habit as your stress levels may rise over time. Honey, Coconut sugar, stevia and xylitol are good alternatives to sugar that helps to cut down sugar without feeling restricted. Also, Chromium is a great supplement that helps regulate blood sugar levels, which I have found beneficial.

Opt for Dark Chocolate 

Who needs an excuse to eat chocolate?? Dark chocolate triggars serotonin production, which can make you feel happy, even if it's for a little while!
if you need a fix, and trying to keep that sugar content low. Dark chocolate is often lower in sugar. You can even buy Raw chocolate which uses coconut sugar, much lower Gi than regular sugar!

Legs in the Air!

Sounds silly, but this is a great exercise to do (not for severe sufferers) 
Simply lay down, and rest your legs against your bed or wall for up to 10 minutes - Lower your legs (do not sit up) lay flat for a couple of minutes, then slowly sit up without making yourself dizzy. 
This exercise helps blood flow to the brain which could help brainfog, and helps remove toxins hanging around in your legs.

Stop Reading Negative Articles 

I know sometimes it is unavoidable, but if you can, stop reading anything negative. You have enough to deal with, and reading something upsetting, or stressful will only impact your energy more. Try reading more positive things that make you happy.

Don't get caught up trying to prove yourself

You have nothing to prove! You don't need to prove to anyone that you have a chronic illness! I understand that family members can be tough, or old friends don't understand. But really, if they don't understand already, stop wasting your precious energy trying to get through to them. There are many more people out there that will understand what you're going through. 

Deep breathing for 10 minutes, 3 times a day 

It's relaxing, easy, and free!
breathe in, feeling your tummy rise (not your chest)
Lower torso breathing is more relaxing and energising, helping the body to regenerate quicker. Breathing chest first is very tiring and can leave you 'air hungry' so doing this exercise 3 times a day could help you feel a little better (little is better than nothing right?!)

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often shunted at, probably because some people have claimed that it's 'cured them'

Well fear not - I'm not claiming that!

CBT is a really good tool to have as it will help keep the mind demons at bay that can occur when dealing with a long term health condition.

Isolation, depression, anxiety... countless mental health problems can sink in when one has been unwell for a very long time. This is actually pretty normal, but it doesn't mean that you have to accept it, as it will just make your quality of life worse if you don't fight it. CBT caould help you fight these horrid symptoms that can occur with chronic health conditions.

It will not improve your energy, it will not get rid of pain - But, it will help you cope better mentally and it will give you professional support through the tough things that living with chronic health can throw at you.If you think you would benefit from CBT - Just speak to your GP and they can refer you to a cbt counsellor for free, or in some counties you can refer yourself.

Keep one room tidy 

If you struggle to to tidy up - Don't stress about it. No one likes living in a mess, so I decided that if I can keep just one room tidy, I can go to that room if I need to escape from reality.
The room I keep tidy is usually the spare room, as it never gets used! If I need to relax, but my bedroom is a mess, it's the place I go to.
When I have got a little bit of energy to tidy, I simply tidy in 5 minute bursts a day so I don't overexert myself.

Himalayan salt lamps 

A stagnant house is an unhappy house, so it's really important to keep the place you spend the most time in naturally fresh and positive. 

Nature 

Listening to nature can be naturally calming. birdsong, rain, the sound of the sea...
It's the only form of noise that I consider to be therapeutic. So if you're struggling to shut your mind of for some quiet time, invest in a nature cd and listen to it at least once a day.

Happy outings 

You want to spend your time wisely. So days when you're not visiting the doctor, and have rested enough, going out needs to be therapeutic.

Going to parks, cafes, restaurants, the beach is a great way to get some lovely fresh air and that much needed vitamin D from the sun. Or going to shops like The Range, The works, or other hobby shops can be really fulfilling and fun to go to.
What's better is that most of these places are wheelchair friendly!

Rescue Remedy 

A brilliant little remedy that can help anxiety and stress levels for those days when these emotions become too dominant. Using this along side the other stress management methods is always a good idea!

Probiotics
An imbalance of good bacteria in your gut can surprisingly have a big affect your moods, as well as your weight, energy, and nutrition absorption.
If you're unsure about what to do, a CNM qualified Holistic Nutritionist should be able to help.

Air out your home daily.

It's a brilliant routine to have - Opening the windows each day (preferably in the morning) to bring in lovely fresh air whilst ushering out the bad, stagnant stuff. I always feel much more uplifted and positive after airing out my home for a good 20 minutes.

  Fresh air is always good, even when it's cold! Blow out those cobwebs!

Dealing with M.E - Cooking and food Tips

When you're living with a chronic illness, cooking is the most important things to do - it's also one of the hardest.

Here are a few tips that help me and my carers cook healthy and fast meals.

(the ready meals are for desperate times, if you have intolerances like me, be sure to check the labels. Most innocent veg pots are 'safe' to eat, but please double check before consuming)

Shop online

As fun as it can be to sometimes go out, shopping for daily essentials and food can really be a waste of energy!

Buy your food online, so you can spend your energy on better things, like visiting your local park, favourite cafe for lunch, or a tearoom, for tea and cake of course...

I love ordering my veg from Riverford, or Able and Cole. Knowing that my veg is organic, fresh AND local, it's a win all round. Yes, it does cost more, but I cut back on other things where I can. 

On weeks when I can't afford these lovely veg boxes, I buy organic veg from the supermarket online.

Ocado is also a really good place to shop online if you have food intolerances.

 I get my veggies mainly from Riverford, cupboard food from the major supermarkets depending on what vouchers I have, supplements mainly from Bodykind (Sometimes I take a special outing to Holland and Barrett as it's next to a coffee shop so I can sit down after) Beauty products from Naturisimo, Lucy Rose (free delivery over £15), HandMadeNaturals (not free delivery but the products are amazing) And have recently found another shop, Love Lula.

Apart from the supermarkets... most of the web shops mentioned above offer Free Delivery in the UK

What's great about shops that offer free delivery on any purchase is the fact that I don't have to buy everything at once, so I'm not spending lots of money in one go just to get free postage.

Shop Bought Ready Meals

It's not always the healthiest choice, but there are healthier ready meals to choose from these days. One great little tip I found was to remove the food contents from the plastic containers before microwaving - As an attempt to reduce chemical exposure from heated plastic molecules from seeping into food.
Choose ready meals that are high in protein and low in sugar as this will keep you full, without having sugar highs and slumps. Always make sure to stick to the recommended daily allowance for salt without going over. Here's some links to help you find some healthier ready meals...

Innocent have some lovely vegan options - If you're gluten free (and/or vegan) - The you'll love Amy's Kitchen as some of their meals are gluten free AND vegan.

Innocent Ready meal Pots (sains)

Innocent Ready meal Pots (Tsco)

Healthier ready meals (Asda)

Healthy living ready meals

Be good to yourself Ready meals

M&S Ready meal information

NuMe Ready meals

Soups

Kitchen Gadgets 

Gadgets like a NutriBullet or Breville Family Blender; A Food Processor, Slow Cooker, and Dishwasher (I have a full size dishwasher)

Have all been the most helpful gadgets I and my family have invested in over the years. (not forgetting the microwave)

Cut down food preperation time with a food processor and just place the used components in the dishwasher after use! With a food processor you can also make super healthy treats and snacks like nut truffles, raw cheesecake, and raw protein bars. ( I have the kenwood as it was the best cheap one I could find, but if you are noise sensitive, I suggest using ear plugs, or buying a MagiMix food processor as it's a much better quality machine with a very low noise level when it's in use, just be prepared for it's ridiculous price tag!)

Make a breakfast or lunch smoothie in less than 5 minutes with the smoothie gadgets mentioned above, or make your own nut mylk - they're super easy to clean too!

The Slow cooker is super easy - throw ingredients and water into a slow cooker before bed or in the morning, turn on, and leave to cook all day, it's the easiest way to have a healthy dinner freshly cooked. You could makes ready meals by freezing any leftovers too.

Get someone to batch cook for you.

It could be a healthier alternative if someone makes homemade ready meals for you from scratch. Just be sure to freeze homemade food within 24 hours of making them, to use fresh frozen meals within one month of freezing and always make sure food is piping hot throughout before eating.

Large Mugs 

I love my pint sized mugs! I don't need to ask for drinks as often and the large handle makes it much easier to hold than a glass or standard mugs.

Lap Trays 

These little things can make life so much easier whilst resting on the sofa or bed.

Use them as a light desk, a place to put your drink, or however else you like.