Tuesday 30 October 2012

The Overcoming MS Retreat - I'm Back


I'm back from my 5 day Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis retreat in the Yarra Valley and I feel like a whole new person.



I spent 5 very busy and emotional days with 34 other people learning all about MS, current medical information, and all the diet and lifestyle choices I can make to improve my quality of life.

Here's a quick summary of what I learnt.  I think most of these apply to all of us, not just the 1 in 1,000 with MS.


  • Eat more fruit and vegetables.  I know, we all mean to, but they are so important to our nutrition.
  • Get some vitamin D.  Get 10-15 minutes of all over sun or if it's cloudy take a vitamin D supplement.  You will start hearing a lot about how Australians have become vitamin D deficient over the next few years.
  • Eat more omega 3 in place of saturated fat in your diet.  Choose fish over meat.
  • Avoid highly refined vegetable oils, trans fats, and hydrogenated oils - they're not good, and they're in so many foods we buy.  Read the labels.
  • Eat real food rather than processed food.  If the ingredient list has 20 items listed and many of them have numbers, give them a miss.
  • Exercise.  Swim, ride a bike, do something a little more than just walking.  It's not for weight loss.  It's for your health. 
  • Meditate or take some quiet 'me' time daily.  Slow your breathing down.
  • Find ways to reduce or eliminate stress in your life.
  • Look after your emotional, social and spiritual side - build a support network of friends & family.  Laugh often - it's good medicine!

The retreat was truly a life changing experience, and I highly recommend it to anybody with MS or there was one lady there with motor-neuron disease.  If you have MS or know somebody with MS, please email me and I'll happily tell you more about it.  You can get a free copy of the book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis from The Gawler Foundation here.

Yesterday was day 1 of my recovery plan.  I swam 750 metres in the pool at my gym.  I made my first batch of bircher muesli.  I ate sardines on toast for lunch - not nearly as disgusting as it sounds.  My whole family had steamed snapper with Asian flavours and vegetables for dinner.  I bought a yoghurt making kit, so I can make my own soy yoghurt.  I used a meditation app to meditate for 15 minutes.  Not quite the one hour of daily meditation we did at the retreat, but it's a start.  Today is day 2.  More changes to make.

Thanks for all your lovely comments and support from my last post.  I appreciate it.

24 comments:

  1. Well done Kylie. Some positive lifestyle tips we could all use. Good luck xT

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  2. good on you kylie! glad you enjoyed the retreat. lifestyle changes that would benefit every one of us.
    x

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  3. You are right, it sounds like something we should all do. A lot of it is habit. I have never been one for drinking water, despite having almost daily headaches. I just didn't like the taste, However, I do like the taste of carbonated water so started drinking it. Now I'm almost in the habit of it and I'm sure it has made a difference. I've not thought to look for a meditation app. I used to love meditating, especially the guided types, so that's a good idea. I will have a look now.
    It's so good to hear you feeling so refreshed and positive :)

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    1. Thanks Sarah. I know what you mean about drinking water.
      There are some good meditation apps. I'm using Headspace and Smiling Mind. Both are free.
      K xx

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  4. Hi Kylie, Sounds like you had such an invigorating time and are so inspired. Good on you for embracing these lifestyle choices.xx

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  5. I am so glad to hear about how you went. Your tips are how I try to live. Sardines are fab. Try fresh ones baked with garlic, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, parsley and lemon juice. So delicious. I even bring myself to fillet them. Yucky but worth it.
    Carolyn

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  6. Ps add fresh breadcrumb as well if you can
    Caro

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  7. Glad it was a positive experience for you Kylie and thank you for sharing the tips. When I was planning pregnancy years ago I decided to banish as many processed foods as I could and have tried really hard to stick to that. It's become just my way now, so any changes can happen. Maybe I should have a little reminder list like the one you've shared somewhere I can take note of daily. Yes, that can be my afternoon job...
    x

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  8. I am so pleased for you Kylie. We can all benefit from healthy exercise and good eating. x

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  9. Hi, Kylie, and welcome back. I am thrilled that you were thrilled with the retreat. It's great to really get something out of a retreat rather than to feel as if you were just there as a spectator. Here's to your continued success is managing your MS!

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  10. I really need to try eating sardines too.
    You've inspired my to make health more of a priority.
    I'm glad you're back Kylie!!!
    Tania xx

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  11. I am in awe of your positiveness. Something we could all add to your list of tips. G.x

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  12. So glad you're back and feeling positive Kylie! I've been trying to incorporate a lot of these tips into my life this past month or so and I'm feeling so much better for it. Talk soon :)
    Cas x

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  13. It sounds like it was a great experience and what you learned would benefit everybody I'm sure.
    I'm intrigued about the meditation app. Going to look into it. My biggest issue at the moment is lack of sleep and maybe meditation would help! x

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    1. I think I really underestimated the power of meditation. I know it sounds a little bit 'out there', but it is really beneficial. Give it a try. It may help you sleep.

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  14. Hi Kylie, your retreat sound so informative/ supportive. Such timely nutrition advice, am also trying hard to get my munchkins on the healthy eating path... so much advice out there, I find it gets so confusing at times. At least they are all agreeing eat less processed foods and it makes allot of sense! Good effort on the swim, you feel so good after a good workout... can be for the soul (besides fabulous and inspiring interiors that is ;-0). Rach x

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  15. so good you had a positive experience, and to come away with so many great tips. Keep up the great work.
    Bec x

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  16. Welcome back Ms K! I need a recovery plan too and am going to use you as my inspiration to get started and back on track to a healthy lifestyle.

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  17. So glad you enjoyed it Kylie, what a wealth of information.x

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  18. Sorry I haven't caught up with you sooner. Glad you had a great time!
    I love sardines- was raised on them! I was actually saying the other day that we no longer have them very much because we no longer eat bread- need to find an alternative way to eat them!

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  19. It sounds like such a great experience Kylie. Thanks for sharing some of what you learnt. I spoke to my husband about it the other day and he's really keen for me to go to one in the future. So maybe once the new baby stops breastfeeding I'll have the chance to attend.

    I just put in an order for the book you mentioned too, thanks for the heads up on that.

    Personal question... do you find spending time with people that are further along with MS and experiencing really severe symptoms to be overwhelming and scary? I feel like such a bad person for admitting this, but when I see people in wheelchairs and the like it scares the hell out of me and leaves me depressed. I guess I'm still in denial that my life will be so dramatically different in the future. But then maybe with the right lifestyle changes now things might not be too bad?

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    1. After getting this comment, Tamsyn and I had a 40 minute chat on the phone. I think it was good for both of us. Thanks Tamsyn, Kylie xx

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    2. Thanks Kylie, I appreciated that phone call so much xx

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  20. You're a star Kylie!! Thanks for your honesty inspiration and well just being you ! X

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