9 Surprising Health Benefits of Massage

Massages do a body—and mind—good. Here are 9 scientifically-proven reasons to go get that massage.

Find Fibro Pain Relief With Massage

So, as you know, I am going to school to become a Massage Therapist. One of the reasons that I made this decision to go to school full time for nine months along with running a business (all the while forfeiting any hopes of a normal sleep schedule) is because I believe in the power of massage on those of us battling chronic pain.

I found this article that talks about how beneficial it is for us to get regular massage.

http://blog.spafinder.com/ease-fibromyalgia-pain-massage/#

If you live in my area (Fayetteville, NC), you can come to Serenity Spa and let me take care of you. Only $30 for 60 minutes!

God Bless and Take Care
Love, Tonya
www.tonyaoutlaw.com
P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

Help Me Get Out of Bed!

So, one of the most aggravating parts of fibromyalgia is how hard it is to get out of bed in the morning. My body is absolutely WRACKED with pain and I'm usually exhausted. I having a really hard time now because I am in school for massage therapy so I have to be up at 7. Class is from 8:30 to 2:40 and then I have to take care of the family, teach Zumba and Salsa and my day usually ends around 10 or 11 PM. I will be doing this until I graduate the program in December. Needless to say, I am struggling a bit right now. BTW, please keep me in your prayers including a GINORMOUS hedge of protection.

But anyway, thank God I have discovered a routine that helps me to get moving. I have committed myself to doing this every morning and I hope that you guys join me!

5 Morning Stretches You Can Do In Bed - Fitness By Patty

http://www.fitnessbypatty.com/5-morning-stretches-you-can-do-in-bed/

God Bless and Take Care
Love, Tonya
P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

Fibro You Can't Beat THIS Girl. I'm Covered!

I found this wonderful article today and  it has inspired me to write this blog.

I have fibromyalgia. It has changed my life. Here is a pretty basic description of what it is:

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue (feeling tired). People with fibromyalgia have “tender points” on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.

People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as:

Trouble sleeping

Morning stiffness

Headaches

Painful menstrual periods

Tingling or numbness in hands and feet

Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called “fibro fog”). 

***Side note: To all my friends and family that I have let down due to me forgetting something I'm supposed to do, please forgive me. Right now this especially goes to Osaremi, founder of TCE Events, who I totally forgot about on Saturday because I didn't write down her event like I should have. I'm still coming up with different ways to cope with my memory loss, but some things fall through the cracks. I truly appreciate those of you who work with me to help me remember stuff. <3***

I have ALL those symptoms of fibromyalgia, plus quite a few more. But, thank you Jesus, I am able to teach Salsa, Zumba, PiYo, Bokwa, perform on stage and more! Yes, there are times when I need to stop and let my body rest. And yes, sometimes I fall back on my pre fibromyalgia mindset and go hard, and then wind up knocked on my butt for a few days. But that's OK. I'm still learning how to cope with this disease, but it hasn't beat me and it WON'T beat me.

So I've been asked how I am able to physically do the things that I am able to do and I have this debilitating condition. I've heard, 'I can't even make it to my mailbox.", "I can't even pick up this case of water", "I can't even clean my house.", "I can't even get out of bed.", "I can't do Zumba", "I can't dance", the list goes on.

My answer to how I'm able to be as active as I am is... God has blessed me. He has blessed me with a passion for dance. He has blessed me with a passion to help people. He blessed me with my own businesses Love 2 Dance Fitness and Baile con Sazon before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia even though I was still active Duty Air Force.

I stress the fact that we opened the studio before the diagnosis because I don't think I would have had the mental strength to chase my dreams after I was told I had fibro. God especially blessed me with bills to pay (yes, I said it!) for our studio so that I would HAVE to teach classes! I've had no choice but to keep my body moving because I sure can't afford a full staff! :)

God has also surrounded me with people who are positive and who help me to keep going and who gave me the courage to step out and do things that most people are afraid to try.

First and foremost being my wonderful husband. He's my Boaz and he's always there for me. I don't know what I would do without him.

I'd also like to thank Reggie Santiago for standing in for me a trillion times when I couldn't show up to the studio to help teach. I'd like to thank J and Monica for helping me out so much on the fitness side of the house. I know there have been times that I've been super flaky but you lovely ladies stood by me! I'd like to thank our whole Baile con Sazon Black Belt Salsa family. Marci, Loretta, Seymore, Willie Mac, Tonino, Tashia, DJ, Max, Erik, Sara, JuanYe, April, Pepe, Edie the Salsa Freak... You've covered for me, taught me, performed with me, held events with me, held events for me, helped to promote, taken gorgeous pictures, practiced with me, pushed me, the list goes on.

So, to sum it all up, I'm blessed and God is good!

I'd love to hear your stories, testimonies, questions, comments. Tell me about your journey. I eat that stuff up. :)

God Bless and Take Care
Love, 
Tonya

www.TonyaOutlaw.com

P.S. Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

Pleasure, pain brain signals disrupted in fibromyalgia patients

This is interesting. And it explains a lot about what I feel at times.

"New research indicates that a disruption of brain signals for reward and punishment contributes to increased pain sensitivity, known as hyperalgesia, in fibromyalgia patients. Results published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, suggest that this altered brain processing might contribute to widespread pain and lack of response to opioid therapy in patients with fibromyalgia."

Read more:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131105081519.htm

God Bless and Take Care

Love,
Tonya

P.S. Thoughts? Comment below, please. Love it? Hate it? Indifferent? I'd love to know what you think!

The Worst Diet Advice In History

This is an interesting article.  I'm not sure how I feel about all of it, but I DO believe that real food trumps chemicals that just look and taste like real food.

Worst Diet Advice

"Nutrition history is riddled with nonsense. 
People have been advised to do all sorts of strange things that challenge common sense.Some of these things are not only useless, but potentially harmful.
The worst part… a lot of this misguided advice is still being pushed.
Here are the top 5 contenders for the worst diet advice in history."

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.the-worst-diet-advice-in-history-2014-3

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya
www.TonyaOutlaw.com

The Fibro Food Connection

Those of us suffering from fibromyalgia have to think about what we put into our bodies.  This is an article that I really thought was helpful and I hope it helps you too.

Fibro Food Connection

The Fibro-Food Connection

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya

www.TonyaOutlaw.com

The Fog is REAL

Story of my life, Boys and Girls. The story of my life. :)

#dontjudgeme #justloveme #funwithfibrofog

So, who has heard of any links between iodine and different diseases including fibromyalgia?  Anyone have any insight on this?  I'd totally love to get rid of this fog...

http://i.l2df.com/1keaynM 

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya

www.TonyaOutlaw.com

You Can't Do It?

Push yourself. No one is going to do it for you.

#nofear

God Bless and Take Care
Love, 
Tonya
www.TonyaOutlaw.com

YOU are Amazing!

If you are suffering from any kind of chronic illness, it is hard not to compare yourself to others, including the person you "used to be".  I've said it many times. I "used to be able to...".

But you know what? What is important is to be the best YOU that you can be TODAY.

Don't look back. Don't give away your joy. You deserve so much more.

Thanks for the picture, Marvine! <3

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya
www.TonyaOutlaw.com

Do You Feel Like You Can't Go On?

This is a testimony to what perseverance in the face of extreme adversity can do. Always fight. Never give up. No matter what. If you still have air to breath, you still have a chance to live your life.

http://i.l2df.com/1gRnYSK

God Bless and Take Care
Love,
Tonya
www.tonyaoutlaw.com