Coping with Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a very challenging disease - you don't know how you are going to feel day to day or year to year. The key to maximizing your health and energy is to work hard at helping your body regenerate, so that you can counter-balance many of the degenerative effects of the disease. Think of yourself as in a race to keep your cells healthy and regenerating faster than the degenerative process. Here is what is vital:
Nutrition
Everybody should eat well - but for you it is absolutely essential that you constantly give your body what it needs. Lean proteins, vegetables in abundance, fruits, and nuts are some of the key components. Concentrate on eating minimally-processed or raw foods that are nutrient-rich.
Water
Your body is made up mainly of water - so it should not surprise you that you need lots of water to help your cells regenerate and recover from inflammation. Don't just assume that you are drinking enough water if you drink when you are thirsty - you need a lot more water than that. Try to have several glasses of water early in the morning, and then several more glasses spread through the day.
Rest
Your body needs rest to repair itself. With MS, you may find that you have trouble getting restful sleep when you want at night, and have periods of exhaustion during the day. Experiment with different patterns of sleep, rest, and activity, and keep track of what works best for you. You may find that simple things, such as mid-day meditation or yoga stretches, can help give you rest periods that re-vitalize you.
Movement
You must move as much as possible. Moving gives you more flexibility and strength, helps with balance, holds down inflammation, and teaches your body how to maximize the usefulness of your nerve pathways. And it enhances your mood and feeling of well-being!
I'm Mike Alalof, and I have had MS for 14 years. I was incapacitated by the disease in the first couple of years. But then I started to fight back - I used what I knew from my background in body-building and nutrition to make sure that I gave my body every advantage possible. Yes, I still have relapses and if I get sick or tired my disease can really flare up. But I counter many of the degenerative effects of the disease by giving my body what it ideally needs to keep on regenerating.
You may think that it is too tough to figure out how to exercise if you have MS. We've developed several exercise programs that are done from a seated position - so if you have mobility difficulties, weakness, or balance problems, you can do these exercises. Best of all, exercising from a seated position gives anyone, even strong athletes, a full program of conditioning. With these adaptable exercises, you can do them by yourself or have fun exercising with friends or relatives of widely-varying abilities. You'll be amazed at how much better you will feel as your fitness level increases!
| If you are just starting an exercise program, try Seated Exercise I. These exercises are adaptable to any kind of mobility or balance difficulties, but also provide a really solid exercise program for developing your body. If you have trouble moving some parts of your body, you will learn how to adapt the exercises to work and develop the strength that you have. If you are in a wheelchair or use a walker, you will find the upper body exercises great for helping you have the strength to maximize your mobility. |
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| Another alternative if you are starting an exercise program is Seated Exercise: Class - Mike and a class of people with MS demonstrate an exercise program that has helped everyone in the group increase their strength and balance, and have fun in the process! |  |
| If you want a more challenging workout that combines strength training and cardio effects, try Seated Exercise To Go. This exercise routine is short and very effective. You will learn how to exercise your body effectively in short bursts you can fit into your day. |
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