[TMIC] Exercise and diet

Dgtizr2(AT)aol.com
Sun, 16 May 1999 12:23:52 EDT

Hi, all!
I have been reading your posts, with your answers, and problems, and
encouragements. You are all a very special group of people to me, even tho
we have never met. I am the one who wrote in just before Easter about taking
care of my mom when I was growing up.
My mom and dad live in WVA, and Daddy's family lives in Indiana. My
Grandma is very ill, and almost died on Easter Sunday, during the family
dinner. My mother does not like Grandma, and she and Daddy were not there.
I think someone in the family told my dad that Grandma was not going to last
forever, and if he wanted to see her again, he should get up there shortly.
So, they made plans to visit. The NEXT DAY my mom got sick (she does that on
purpose) so they could not go. But they did end up going up to visit during
the week before Mother's Day.
My other aunt and uncle are on the internet, and I instant message back
and forth with them. So we arranged to do that while Mommy and Daddy were
at their house, so my mom could see what it was like. Well, she hates
anything new, and was so sharp and nasty, that I decided after getting my
head sliced off verbally, I would not go visit Grandma while my mom was
there, even tho it was near Mother's Day. I had emailed Dr. Kerr about my
mom, she is partially paralyzed between her shoulders and has no use of her
hands, and from there down. He is very interested in seeing her (she has
never been to a Dr. who knows anything about TM) and I told her about the
conference in August. She made excuses, and finally quit talking to me, said
this computer stuff was too confusing to her: what did I want from her, they
just now got a push-button phone! Then she told my aunt that she could not
possibly have TM, because of the way it came on her. Well, after reading
lots of your accounts of your problems, you have all the symptoms she does,
and has had for 30 years. My aunt thinks she does not really want to even
admit that she has TM (she never told my dad's family or us kids), and is
afraid that if she gets well, Daddy will leave her. He should have left her
years ago, she makes his life (and some of us kids' lives) miserable. So,
I continue to read the email from the list, and care about everyone
struggling with TM, I know it is an every day struggle. I have watched my
mom for 30 years. While she goes to a chiro, and has gone thru hypnosis, and
wants to know if putting aluminum foil on the injured spot in her spine will
make her hands work. Oh, well.
I wanted to tell you about a different philosophy of eating (I will not
call it a diet), that a friend told me about. I grew up in WV, where I was
larger than all my classmates, because I have always been large-boned and
heavy-thighed. Now I am muscular on top of that, and extra weight besides.
Took me a long time to realize that muscle weighs more than fat, and I am
heavier than women I see who are yards bigger around than I am. (I look like
a football player in a tank-top). Anyway, a friend told me about this book,
with researched information, about eating according to your blood type. So,
I gradually started eliminating the things that are listed for my type, and
have lost 14 pounds so far. Without even trying. The name of the book is
something on the order of "Eat right according to your blood type." (I just
looked all over the house, and cannot find it. Wonder if my guest from last
week took it home with her? Anyway, if I can find it, I will send the name
and author. It is not a starvation-type diet, and the things to eliminate
from your diet are given good reasons. The theory of the book was researched
by father and son, over many years, and is very sound in it's reasoning.
Now, if I can just find it!
I am reading, sympathizing, and pulling for each of you. My mom does
not realize how lucky she is. She has no use of her hands, but she can walk
(shakily at times), she drives, does ceramics, sews, gardens, swims, and
paints. She is not confined to a wheelchair (never was), and can eat just
fine. So I think she is very lucky, as far as TM goes. Keep on working on
walking, and exercising, and all the little day-to-day things that TM makes
more challenging. I am in my corner rooting for ALL of you, you are so
strong and determined!
Part of your "family", Norma in Illinois
Busy sewing,
as usual.
PS> How about coming up with a logo for TMA, and I will digitize it and
embroider it on garments for anyone who wants to send a shirt or whatever?
Maybe do a logo for the Symposium in August? I will donate the setup fee for
the logo.