Personal Trainer In Belfast

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, a Greek word meaning “pain in the muscles and fibres” is a chronic pain condition affecting the skeletal system, the neuromuscular system, and the central nervous system. Approximately 85% of sufferers are female and it commonly referred to as a “stress-related illness” as it is often brought on, and exacerbated, by stressful events.

Contrary to the popular belief that Fibromyalgia is a new, mysterious illness, it has, in fact, been around for centuries. However, it was often misdiagnosed by Doctors unaware of of the condition’s existence. It was categorized as many things, for e.g, neuralgia, chronic fatigue, myalgia and sometimes, (and rather unfortunately), hysteria and hypochondria! Fibromyalgia can be difficult to detect and many sufferers can go undiagnosed for years, completely unaware of why their body won’t work properly.

Fibromyalgia causes the following symptoms and problems:

* Depleted energy stores and general lack of “get-up-and-go”
* Insomnia and constant exhaustion. Sleep disturbances are caused by the inability of the muscular system to fully relax and therefore the rejuvenating and restorative effects of sleep are missed as the body is unable to enter deep stages of sleep.
* Depression, irritability, poor memory and confusion, (many of these are a result of poor sleep patterns)
* Swollen knees, hands, wrists and poor circulation, leading to constant pain and feeling cold
* Lack of muscular strength and ability to support one’s own body weight in a standing position for long periods of time
* Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and bowel muscle spasm
* Vertigo (imbalances and dizziness caused by trauma to the inner ear)
* Spasm affecting the internal organs, for e.g. the lungs. Can result in a feeling of hyperventilation.
* Skin conditions, rashes, hives, etc.

The list is truly endless and if a potential client were to experience all, or a number, of these symptoms they’d probably be under the impression that exercise would do them more harm than good. Particularly if they suffer from joint swelling and poor muscular strength.

However, this is most definitely not the case. In fact exercise, combined with a healthy diet, could not only ease their current symptoms, but could potentially make them feel like a whole new person. Much of the pain that Fibromyalgia sufferers experience in their muscles is due to muscular weakness. So,o if we as trainers make it our duty to help our clients gain muscular strength and train their bodies to become better able to cope with the stresses of lifting weights, then our clients will almost certainly become stronger at dealing with their physical condition. Therefore, enhancing their quality of life and making their day to day activities less exhausting and more achievable.

I am the proof that a change in lifestyle and dietary habits are essential to improving quality of life and building strength.

Fibromyalgia and Me

I was initially diagnosed with the condition when I was 16 years old and it proved to be a really difficult period in my life. I went from being very active to having no energy whatsoever. I was constantly in pain and when I was 17 I had to have a stairlift installed in my house as walking up the stairs became such a physical impossibility. I was constantly knackered because of the insomnia, I couldn’t do stairs if we went anywhere, but when I took the lift I was so dizzy I sometimes passed out due to the vertigo. My knees and wrists were ALWAYS swollen, my bowel and lung muscles were constantly going into spasm. So, to say that life felt shitty, would be quite the understatement.

Luckily for me I had my mum to give me a metaphorical boot up the backside and she helped me focus on what I wanted to achieve academically. I had had to drop out of school in the January prior to my G.C.S.Es, so I had few qualifications to my name.

However, with her help I managed to get through 2 years at tech, followed by another 3 at university. I studied Media in those days and in between my 2nd and 3rd year of uni I took the opportunity to go and study in the States for a year. I was 21 years old when I went and it was this year that put the wheels in motion for what was to be a life-changing experience for me.

I decided that I was going to embrace the American culture and so I decided to try-out for the cheerleading squad. I was already in a better state of health than I had been a couple of years before, through appropriate supplements and meds. So I thought that cheerleading would be fun. And fun it was…. but it was SO tough and at times my body ached from lifting weights and training so much that I wanted to give up. But for some reason I just got angry at myself and this anger spurred me on to the finish.

When I left America I had been bitten by the fitness bug, and was eager to continue what I had learned training with the squad. Through exercise and some necessary dietary changes, I have not only improved my general health and immune function, but “flare-ups” of pain are now a thing of the of the past. I basically decided that if my body was going to let me down physically, then I had to fight back. And being told at such a young age that my quality of life would be severely limited as a result of Fibromyalgia almost left me in a state of mourning for my lost years of my teens.

The medications recommended for Fibromyalgia are pretty heavy duty, with steroids and beta-blockers being typical prescriptions for some patients. I personally refused most of the medications prescribed for me based on the side effects alone.

Instead, I researched natural remedies and followed the advice of Jan De Vries. I took 1000mg of Oil of Evening Primrose at night to help me sleep, Ginkgo Biloba to improve my circulation, Feverfew for headaches and digestive problems. I also took Forever Living’s Aloe Vera Gel Drink as it acts as an anti-inflammatory, creates balance within the immune system and improves joint function. Also worth considering is the Bach Agrimony flower tincture as this helps those who suffer from restlessness during sleep and seems a good match for the personality types susceptible to Fibromyalgia.

Appropriate Nutrition for Sufferers

Our bodies are our vehicles through life and they need the appropriate fuel for optimum performance. Diet is key in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. There are no real “danger” foods for Fibromyalgia sufferers, however there are particular foods which can make symptoms worse. These include:
High Fat dairy foods
Refined sugar and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame
White Flour
Fried Foods (Gross!)
Foods containing preservatives and additives – A general rule of thumb when buying food, always check the label and if you can’t read or pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it!
Fast food, convenience foods – particularly chinese food as it contains Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). It is yummy, but not so good for us!
Salt
Red meat (cured and smoked varieties in particular)
Caffeine – Coffee, Tea and most soft drinks.
Highly acidic foods – there are many foods to consider and it maybe worth researching them based on a client by client basis. Citrus fruits are a debatable one because although they are acidic in nature, they actually have the reverse effect on the body and are alkalinizing.
Nightshade plants (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and potatoes) – This is highly debatable as tomatoes and peppers are also good sources of vitamin C and other anti-oxidants which actually have an anti-inflammatory effect.

These are a basic guideline, however each sufferer is highly individual and while it’s smart to stay away from the obvious nasties, not everyone will need to avoid potatoes or tomatoes, etc.

In very basic terms, sufferers should be looking at making their diet the key to getting them back on the road to recovery. By introducing fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet, and choosing organic produce where possible, they will be ensuring that they are consuming a broad range of vitamins and minerals. Encourage clients to look for variety and different colors and try to eat with diversity in mind to avoid boredom.
Make sure that they getting their Essential Fatty Acids, either through their diet or supplementation, particularly their Omega 3s as these have a natural anti-inflammatory effect, which is great for treating Fibromyalgia.

Good sources of these include:
OMEGA 3s: Oily Fish, Flax Oil, Unrefined Canola Oil, Unrefined Soybean Oil, Walnuts
OMEGA 6s: Sunflower Seeds, Sunflower Oil, Safflower Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds.
They should aim for a 2:1 or a 1:1 ratio in favor of Omega 6s for an ideal balance.
Other foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect include:
Cold water fish, particularly wild Alaskan salmon. Herring, tuna and sardines are also good choices. Although go easy on the Tuna as it is also high in mercury.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – excellent for the immune system.
Spinach, tomatoes, peppers, dark green lettuce, cruciferous vegetables (rich in sulfur).
Cherries – eat daily to reduce inflammation naturally.
Blueberries, fresh or frozen, Green Tea, tumeric, garlic, and ginger are rich in “natural anti-inflammatory compounds.”

Not everyone likes to take advice about their diet, however, when it comes to treating a medical condition, clients need to be educated in order to help themselves. So, tread carefully, but don’t be afraid to help them help themselves.