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spoonieironman

•Bedridden➡️Ironman🏊‍♂️🚲🏃
•Chronic Illness Advocate🥄
•Helping Spoonies with fitness, mental health, habits, & more #progressnotperfection
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My workout buddy is cuter than yours. Might not be

My workout buddy is cuter than yours. Might not be as inspiring to keep moving, in fact she makes me want to take a nap and cuddle. But she sure is adorable when she watches me workout almost EVERY SINGLE morning.

How do you find inspiration or motivation to keep moving? How do you try to be 1% better each day?

#1percentbetter #staymotivated💪 #spoonielife #chronicillnesslife #spoonies #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #disability #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #spooniecommunity #spoonietips #chronicillnessadvice #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #spooniechallenges #chronicillnesschallenges #spoonieironman #bedriddentoironman #inclusion #chronicdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #IBDlife #ostomylife #dowork

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #5: COVID-19 Vaccine & Turtl

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #5: COVID-19 Vaccine & Turtle Steps. In this episode of Spoonie Sunday Strolls I discuss my experience with the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and how making turtle steps with chronic illness can help you reach your goals.

#spooniesundaystroll #chronicillness #invisibleillness #covid19 #covid19vaccine #vaccine #spoonielife #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #spooniecoach #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #turtlesteps #goals #progress #1percentbettereveryday #butyoudontlooksick #dothework #progressnotperfection #movefoward #eatthefrog #harddecisions

The last year has been rough for everyone. I can’t believe there is anyone in the real world most of us live in that hasn’t been impacted by the pandemic.

It’s been even harder for those like me who live with a chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. The fear we’ve had to wake up with each day, wondering what lays ahead, and if we’ll end up in the hospital with the most serious symptoms of COVID. It’s hard to describe the anxiety I’ve had at times.

This Thursday was the day of hope that so many of us have been waiting for, for me. I was vaccinated with the first of two shots of the Pfizer vaccine. Something that will give us a little bit more of a shield against the new world we’ll be living in for at least a while longer.

My experience of getting the vaccine was smooth for the most part in NY. Not perfect, but acceptable in my mind since everyone is scrambling to learn how to implement this enormous task of vaccinating the world in a short amount of time.

When I ended my very busy day on Thursday I did get hit with some chills, aches, and serious fatigue but I would easily deal with those over the unknown of COVID. I am interested to see how my body reacts to the second shot which I know people have had some more aggressive reactions.

Still, this is a step in the right direction. It’s a step in the dream we’re all having of getting back to the normal world we all miss so much. It’s a day we dreamed of the way Walt Disney has made so many other dreams come true.

Stay strong, stay masked, and get vaccinated when you can.

#covid #covid19 #highriskcovid19 #chronicillness #invisibleillness #disability #mentalhealth #vaccine #covidvaccine #anxiety #spoonielife #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #spoonie #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ibdvisible #ostomy #ostomylife #butyoudontlooksick #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #maskup

Aspen had a ball today in the snow!

Aspen had a ball today in the snow!

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #4 - Dating & Relationships

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #4 - Dating & Relationships With A Chronic Illness.. It's Valentine's Day so I figured it was appropriate to share some thoughts on dating and relationships with a chronic illness. It's not easy, but there are some things I've found successful.

Today I share three tips that I think are key in order to get things off to a good start and continue down a great path. Plus, I share one pearl of wisdom on the best mindset possible for dating.

#spooniesundaystroll #spoonielife #chronicillnesslife #spoonies #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #disability #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #spooniecommunity #spoonietips #chronicillnessadvice #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #spooniechallenges #chronicillnesschallenges #spoonieironman #bedriddentoironman #spooniedating #chronicdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #IBDlife #ostomylife #relationships #dating

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #3 - Mental Health With Chro

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #3 - Mental Health With Chronic Illness And 3 Tips. On this Spoonie Sunday Stroll I talk about mental health, therapy, and three tips that helped improve my mental health and will potentially help yours as well.

Please check out my new YouTube page and subscribe for other videos I’ll be sharing to help those with chronic illness. Thanks.

#spooniesundaystroll #spoonielife #chronicillnesslife #spoonies #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #disability #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #spooniecommunity #spoonietips #chronicillnessadvice #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #spooniechallenges #chronicillnesschallenges #spoonieironman #bedriddentoironman #mentalhealthawareness #chronicdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #IBDlife #ostomylife #therapy #mentalhealth

It’s science, dogs running in snow will make you

It’s science, dogs running in snow will make you smile. For your enjoyment, Aspen enjoying this snow day just outside of NYC.

Living with a chronic illness means I won’t be g

Living with a chronic illness means I won’t be going back to the gym for a while. As much as I want to get back with my people, it’s a risk that I don’t have to take at this time. Especially being a new dad too.

That doesn’t mean I can’t get a good workout at home. In fact, I’ve found that I can get some great training sessions right in my living room or community.

One of the best pandemic purchases I made was this kettlebell from @jaxjoxfitness. I place it on the stand and with a touch of a button I can go from 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 lbs. in seconds I can change up the weight between sets or exercises.

If you’re at home and want to live a healthier life in 2021 and if you know you won’t be going back to the gym anytime soon, I highly recommend this as an addition to your routine.

As an additional tip, I don’t recommend Aspen as a motivational trainer or coach. She doesn’t bring a lot of energy. 😂

#spoonieworkout #spoonielife #chronicillnesslife #spoonies #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #disability #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #spooniecommunity #spoonietips #chronicillnessadvice #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #spooniechallenges #chronicillnesschallenges #spoonieironman #bedriddentoironman #inclusion #chronicdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #IBDlife #ostomylife #dowork #acceptance

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #2 - The 3 Stages Of Accepta

Spoonie Sunday Stroll #2 - The 3 Stages Of Acceptance With Chronic Illness. In this Spoonie Sunday Stroll I talk about the 3 phases of acceptance I think most, if not all those with a chronic illness must go through. It’s a long journey but when we accept these 3 phases, the Spoonie life does get a little easier along the way.

#spooniesundaystroll #spoonielife #chronicillnesslife #spoonies #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #disability #spooniestrong #spooniewarrior #chronicillnesswarrior #spooniecommunity #spoonietips #chronicillnessadvice #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #spooniechallenges #chronicillnesschallenges #spoonieironman #bedriddentoironman #inclusion #chronicdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #IBDlife #ostomylife #dowork #acceptance

This is a face that’s so confused about what hap

This is a face that’s so confused about what happened in 2020. It was the first year I can remember that I did NOT go into the hospital for my own illness.

You read that right. With all the crap that we all dealt with in 2020, I didn’t even have to head to the ER for dehydration with my ostomy. This is down right shocking to me.

Now I did go to the hospital when it was absolutely necessary to help my family or loved ones. And if course I had to go to the hospital for the birth of my daughter, when this picture was taken. (Can you sense a little fear in this eyes?)

I hope for my own health and yours that 2021 is a better year for all of us. That it’s a year with limited me hospital visits, procedures, and chronic illness.

Now we’re 20 days into this year which means we have 345 more days to put in the work and do our best to stay out of the big house.
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#chronicillness #invisibleillness #chronicallybadassclub #chronicillnesswarrior #spoonie #spoonielife #spooniewarrior #autoimmunedisease #spoonies #spooniecoach #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #crohns #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #ostomylife #ibdawareness #crohnslife #rheumatoidarthritis #asthma #hospital #brainfog #butyoudontlooksick #staystrong #mymedicationshouldntcostthousandseverymonth #humirahelps #patientadvocate #spooniesupport #spooniestrong

Every other Tuesday I have to give myself a shot i

Every other Tuesday I have to give myself a shot in order to control my immune system and give my body a chance at health.

I get asked all the time why I don’t use the pen and go with a syringe. Well, it’s because I had a couple of bad experiences with the pen.

After being scared to push the button, hear the thump, and have a needle shot into my leg, I’d pull away watching thousands of dollars of medication drip down my leg.

Now I have control again and after everything I’ve been through, seeing a needle doesn’t bother me that much. And it bothers me a lot less than seeing money wasted if I don’t perform the shot perfectly.
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#chronicillness #invisibleillness #chronicallybadassclub #chronicillnesswarrior #spoonie #spoonielife #spooniewarrior #autoimmunedisease #spoonies #spooniecoach #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #crohns #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #ostomy #ostomylife #ibdawareness #crohnslife #rheumatoidarthritis #asthma #humiranight #brainfog #butyoudontlooksick #healthcarereform #mymedicationshouldntcostthousandseverymonth #humirahelps #patientadvocate #spooniesupport #spooniestrong

Aspen demonstrates how I feel on a fatigue day or

Aspen demonstrates how I feel on a fatigue day or after my Humira shot. 🛌😴💤

Spoonie Sunday Strolls #1: Big News & What Will Sp

Spoonie Sunday Strolls #1: Big News & What Will Spoonie Sunday Strolls Be!. During this pandemic I had the idea to go our for a walk and share some thoughts that all of us have while living with chronic illness. The end result will be a project I work I called Spoonie Sunday Strolls.

This will be a place to discuss everything chronic illness, rants, mindsets, mental and physical health, tips, tricks, hacks, products, and hopefully guests as well.

Join me every Sunday (well hopefully most Sundays) and let’s go for a walk to improve our health and talk about what Spoonie life is truly like.

HIYA Fellow Spoonies! I’m super excited about a

HIYA Fellow Spoonies! I’m super excited about a new advocacy project I will be working on for 2021, Spoonie Sunday Strolls. Why am I so excited? Because walking and motion is healthy for almost every any chronic illness and talking about everything we go through is healthy too. So join me this Sunday for a stroll to start discussingeverything Spoonie life.

A few years ago I had the honor of not only hearin

A few years ago I had the honor of not only hearing Jim Abbott speak but I also shared someone my story with him and we spent some time together as well. It was beyond inspiring to listen to his story in person and how he figured out a way to make his dream come true, pitching in the majors. ⠀
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Whenever I see this picture it gives me chills and gets my blood moving to do more. If Mr. Abbott can figure out a way to pitch at the highest level of baseball in the MLB, what can I do with my chronic illness? The key, problem solving. ⠀
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Living with a chronic illness is all about problem solving and figuring out the challenges we face on daily basis. We have to look at the adversity we face, make the hard decisions to push ourselves in the right direction, and then take the appropriate actions when the opportunity shows itself. ⠀
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I’m not saying this is easy. In fact from personal experience it isn’t. But when I started to not only want change, but wanted to make change happen, it changed my life. I went from bedridden to IRONMAN in just a few years. From being treated in my parents master bedroom with a visiting nurse every day, to crossing the finish line of a 140.6 mile race. ⠀
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Now I’m not saying that should be your goal. In fact, I don’t suggest it. The human body is not supposed to go 140.6 miles in 17 hours. But there must be some goal that you have in mind. Some direction you’d like to see your life head, and that my friends is YOUR finish line. ⠀
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Once you figure out what that is, it’s about one foot in front of another, making slow and steady turtle steps, and doing your best to be 1% better every day. ⠀
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Before you know it, you’ll be in a completely different life and I can’t wait to see where you go!

Aspen and me are running into 2021 ready to take o

Coddiwomple - To travel in a purposeful manner to

Coddiwomple - To travel in a purposeful manner to a vague destination. Isn’t that a perfect way to describe life with a chronic illness and living in 2020 with COVID?⠀
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Link in bio! Check out my latest blog post about how to live life with so much uncertainty but still move it forward with the challenges we face as Spoonies.

#WatchTheTail Since I know you all love when Aspen

#WatchTheTail Since I know you all love when Aspen makes an appearance, here is some dog park action and then a dog nap with her crew after.

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today! I h

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today! I hope you all are able to enjoy the end of the holiday season safely and happily with your pod.

My 2021 Advocacy Plan - Link in bio. It's been a

My 2021 Advocacy Plan - Link in bio.

It's been a few years since I've sat down and created a plan for my advocacy. For 2021, I've got some big plans to share a new chapter of my life and help others along the way. Check out my latest blog post where I share my 2021 advocacy plan and some of the ideas I'm excited about.

Also, I'm super excited about sharing this because now it's out in the universe and I have to hold myself accountable. If you want some extra motivation, put a goal you have out there for others to see. You'll be amazed at how it can impact your mindset and keep you on track.

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