(((hug)))
There's lots of good coping articles in The Coping Centre on how to deal with this. I especially love the ones by Bruce Campbell, and still reread them when I feel like I can't do this anymore.
Also check Navigating Through Life After Diagnosis from FOG magazine.

For weight loss tips with FM, check out The Diet Club and Diet & Supplement Recommendations from Leading FM & CFS Drs

Here's two of my favorite coping articles. They are long, so don't feel overwhelmed, take your time, but they are my "go to's" when I'm having a tough time.
Bruce Campbell: Self-Management (Four Parts/Steps)
Bruce Campbell:Meeting the Challenges/LongTerm Illness-6part

Dear Cindy,

Being overwhelmed is natural when you are diagnosed with FMS/CFS. They are hard illnesses to understand. However, there is a lot of great information here on FT. I would suggest taking it in small chunks though. One thing we all struggle with is learning to pace ourselves. IMHO, this is the most important lesson to learn (but also the hardest!!)

I'm sorry you are struggling so much with your eating/weight. I'm praying for you, so hang in there and don't give up. There are a lot of people here who can relate and we'll all be pulling for you.

Know that we are here for you when you need us. This is a wonderful place to find acceptance and encouragment.

I'm sending you lots of gentle hugs!

Thank you so much ladies! I spent at least a couple hours on yesterday reading all those articles you suggested Barbara. I know it was too long because I was so stiff when I finally quit. But I woke up feeling sleepy and down and wanted to do something that "I" wanted to do and I wanted to spend some time here on the site. I was going to post, but got so engrossed in the reading that I never made it that far.

I read and read and read...
The coping center
The crisis forum
Bruce Campbell's articles
and member posts in some of the forums

I even went to his Bruce Campbell's web site and read about his book, cd's and his course that you can purchase. It sounds like these tools would be a really good place to start for someone who has just been diagnosed? I'm curious if there are any FT members who have purchased any of these materials. I'll post that question in a more appropriate forum or thread.

I'm feeling somewhat better this morning. I almost always get up pretty early, but I either have a difficult time getting moving because of severe lower back pain or I get lost in other things and before I know it, I'm half-way through the day without getting showered and dressed. My therapist wants me to get right in as soon as I can and get showered and dressed and open my blinds to let the sun light in. So this morning I did just that. And I did my 4 min. hall walk in my apartment building. If I can manage these things every morning it would help a whole lot with my spirits.

I really want to begin doing some meditation each day which is encouraged to help with stress. I found something that I think would help me with that. There was a man (Dr.) on Dr. Oz the other day who explained a simple "do-able" meditation. I would begin with only a couple minutes each time just to get started, then I can increase it as I'm ready.

I also want to begin doing some strength exercises 3 times a week. And again, I want to just pick about 3 or 4 exercises that include those areas that I'm experiencing the most pain with. And I would only do a few reps, just to get started so I don't overdo.

I really enjoy journal writing and know from experience what a huge benefit this is in coping from day to day with personal challenges. But I just can't seem to fit it into my schedule, as I've got to do it early when my brain is still running on at least a couple cylenders.

What makes it hard to do all these things that I know would help me, is that I have to do everything during the morning hours because by noon my energy reserves are totally depleeted. After my lunch I take a nap and when I get up I'm shot for the rest of the day.

I'm going to join the weight group here on FT. I can't do a strict program because that only makes my eating disorder/addiction worse. But I do want to begin some baby steps to get more nutrition into my body because it's so important in getting better. My biggest challenge is getting my fruits and veggies in. So I was thinking about starting a rewards jar and putting in a dime for every veggie serving and a nickle for every fruit serving I get in each day. Just some place to start. Then I can use the reward money to buy myself some little thing that I normally don't splurge on, like a pair of earrings.

Well, I've got to sign off and get ready for an appointment with my sleep doctor. I'm hoping to talk him into giving me one more month to stop the weight gain and maybe even lose a couple pounds. He said if I can at least manage to change the direction I've been heading (up), we won't have to do the sleep test again.

Thanks again for all your support. I'm going to work on spending more time connecting here on FT and I'll be sending some friend requests out. I wish each of you well in managing your own struggles with this/these difficult condition(s).

"Together we can do what we can't do alone"

Hi,

I suggest before you go buy the CD's, tapes, books etc. check out your local library. I have found a lot of the items mentioned here at my library. I check out the one's that interest me or look helpful and if it is one I want for my library then I go buy it.

Also check out ebay and amazon.com I have found good bargains there on many of the books I want either new or used.

Bonnie

Hi Fibrolady,

I hope you are doing well today.

Everyone has had some great advice for you. Barbara with the articles, and Bonnie about checking the local library.

I did notice that you stated you were borderline Diabetic and wanted to lose weight. I was wondering if this is coming from your PCP or an Endocrinologist. I ask because there are medications that can help with both. One, called Metformin, is known to help regulate glucose and lose weight, along with a healthy diet and exercise can maybe help. You can at least search on Metformin to see if it's something that could help. Also, maybe weight watchers, which is online, or sparkpeople.com may help also. Sparkpeople.com helps you track everything you eat, your weight goal, how much to lose per week, (2 lbs is good they say) and how much exercise and calories you are burning. I love it.

I too find I crave certain foods when I am trying to lose weight, and I have found that Jello has been my best friend. It's cheap, sugar free, and very low calories. When I have become aware I just want to snack, I eat it and with the flavors it really helps .

Katrinasmom

cindy,

you have been given some good advice here, hun, and we are around to support you. that's what we are about.

even those of us that have had these DDs since childhood get overwhelmed, so i can imagine you are reeling given your problems. but they can be managed.

as my friend sparkie would say, "baby steps, baby steps". she is a very wise person, and it is so much easier than trying to handle everything at one time.

love ya'll

Hi Cindy-

First of all,

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I, too, have been fighting the "battle of the bulge" as well as FMS/CFS (although I wasn't dx'd until a short time ago when things just got too bad) for most of my life. I've found a few things to be really helpful for me.

Meditation - you don't really need to buy anything, as someone else suggested, you can go to the library or even go online to get samples to listen too. I've found that sequential contracting and relaxing of muscles, starting with my toes and working up to my head/jaw, seems to work to relax me. Also, doing visualization exercises like picturing myself in a serene environment with flowing water (river, stream, ocean) and focusing on the movement of the water in my mind can help me. I tell myself that if I have intrusive thoughts to just let them go and with practice I've been able to do this. Above all, the most important thing you can do is BREATHE -- focus on your breath, the inhale the "top" of the breath, the exhale and the little space between breaths -- 5 minutes of this and I'm relaxed!

Food - I've found that a lower-carb and lower-fat diet has helped with a lot of my symptoms (including the carb cravings and wicked IBS I have). It is hard to follow at first, and I totally admit to falling off the wagon (and being run over by the wheels) a few more times than I'd like to admit, but when I DO follow it, I feel soooooooooo much better. I also have been following some of the advice of Geneen Roth in terms of my relationship with food (her books are in the library and you can check out articles and her blog on her website for free). Combining eating and meditation has helped -- focusing on the taste and feel of the food with each bite; stopping after a few bites and checking my hunger level; selecting foods that will nourish my body and soul, etc.

Hang in there! C'mon by chat too, even if there isn't anyone in the chatroom, if you go on in and wait someone will come in and join you! (Besides, it is hard to eat if you're typing!!!)

Hi Cindy,

Everyone else has given you good advice. I find it helps to put yourself on a schedule and stick to it as close as possible.

I also do several crafts and find that as long as my hands are busy, the rest of me is not concentrating on my pain and also keeps me from wanting to snack all the time.

Hope things work out for you soon.

Hugs, Kathy