New Year’s Resolutions, Taking Stock & Creating a Personal Health Reference Manual

Posted on January 9, 2017 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

I used to think it was more important to just do things than to track them, but now I see the value in writing them down and acknowledging how far I’ve come over time. When the calendar year ratchets up and I think of myself as another year older, it’s a natural time to reflect and make goals. I like to review what I’ve accomplished, endured, thwarted and nurtured. When I’m feeling like I have a lot I still want to do, knowing how far I’ve come is a reality check for my expectations.

I aim for full life wellness, and I categorize my areas of wellness as health, home, relationships, finances, creativity and adventure. At all times, I try to have at least one goal for each area. I like to incorporate small activities in my life that move me toward achieving my goals, and I like doing one or two large projects at a time that leap me forward on a goal. Depending on my levels of energy and obligations, I’ll do a little or a lot on the larger projects. I try to establish and maintain balance in my life without sacrificing or ignoring another aspect of my life. My overarching goal is to keep working toward something while appreciating who, where and what I am now.

My 2017 Resolution: Take stock.

I think it’s helpful to take stock. To think about what made me happy in the past, what I love about the present, and what I would like my life to be soon or someday. Committing those thoughts and ambitions to paper or a digital file allows me to look back over time to see if I still want the same things in life now that I thought I wanted in the past.

I’m taking stock figuratively and literally. I’m pouring through all of my personal belongings, my finances, my routines and my data. I’m compiling the things I’ve learned over the years since I don’t always remember something when I encounter it again. This will focus my attention on what I have, what I could adapt to use differently, what I still want, and what I’d like to upgrade for the perfect fit.

My Personal Health Reference Manual

A big project I’d like to accomplish this year is compiling all of my health information for things I’ve experienced, tried and currently use. I aim to create and maintain a binder for all the ways I keep my health in check. It will include all the successful and unsuccessful treatments.

The idea for this project came to me after my hip started hurting. I know that my hip can hurt when I jog longer distances, and I could tell that I’d overdone it. I believe the cause is foot drop that slightly affects my gait when I jog and triggers a misalignment in my hips to compensate. In the past, I’d curbed my distances to deal with it. Sadly, it took hurting my hip twice in a month and six weeks of recovery time before it occurred to me I’d dealt with this before! I remembered that I had physical therapy exercises from seven years ago that helped heal my hip from the same problem. My hope is that using these exercises will not only allow me to heal my hip faster but prevent future injury and allow me to work back up to longer distances again.

This experience made me realize I need a personalized easy-reference health manual to manage my health with less stress. MS affects each person differently, and it requires constant adaptation to live successfully with MS. I want to reduce the amount of time spent enduring something and wracking my brain figuring out what will work for me in order to hasten effective treatment. An up to date personalized health reference manual will help.

The information I want to compile will include the following:

Conditions, Symptoms, and Injuries

Indicators, triggers and causes
Preventative measures including lifestyle choices, nutrition and activities
Treatments including prescriptions, exercises, and natural remedies
– Pros
– Cons
– When it’s effective
– When it’s not effective
– Why I choose this (or don’t)
Experiences with this issue – what’s worked or failed
Theories for why my body reacts a certain way – correlations proven and disproven

Sources of information I’ll use to compile this reference manual include:

Tracking calendars of health data and disease-modifying drugs
Notes I’ve taken at health appointments
Physical therapy treatments and exercises
My memory
My friends’ memories – often they recall things for me that I’ve forgotten
Books and internet resources that can trigger my memory for things I’ve tried but didn’t write down
Medical records from doctors

I’ve included a couple of examples at the end of this post that I’ve put together so far. It’s tailored to my health and experiences, so yours will look different. It’s also a work in progress, so I’ll keep adding and editing it as time passes and I change.

I wish I was low maintenance. Sadly, as I’ve aged I’m getting to be higher and higher maintenance. I joke that at least I’m doing the maintenance and not pushing that responsibility onto other people!

That said, if I do ever need help with my health, this will be a great tool for anyone helping me. They’ll know what I’ve already tried, what works, and what hasn’t worked. I won’t need to start from scratch with each new provider.

This is organizing my health from my information and experiences. It frees me from relying on information from the web each time I confront an issue. Sometimes the information can just be too much, and what will help me gets lost in the mass of opinions and recommendations. This is organizing around me and benefiting from the decades of experience I have being me.

Examples of pages from my Personal Health Reference Manual:

Condition: Vertigo and dizziness with nausea

Indicators, triggers and causes: crystals in ear out of place
Preventative measures: none
Treatments: Epley Maneuver to put crystals in ear back in place
Pros: Non-invasive, I can do it at home, and no side effects. Immediate results.
Cons: none
When it’s effective: When dizziness is caused by ear crystals out of place.
When it’s not effective: If dizziness is caused by something else.
Why I choose this for now: It’s an easy fix.
Experiences with this issue, what’s worked or failed. I experienced dizziness and nausea for a week before seeing my neurologist. He did the Epley maneuver to me on one side and it didn’t do anything. He did it again on the other side, and immediately my vertigo vanished! He taught me how to do the Epley maneuver at home, and I have used it a couple times over the years since. When I need a refresher, I’ve found a Youtube video to remind me.
Theories for why my body reacts a certain way, correlations proven and disproven: It’s common.

Condition: Fatigue

Indicators, triggers and causes:
– When numbness intensifies or spreads from the usual areas
– Spring and Fall when the seasons change
– Less daylight in winter
– More obligations than usual after work or on weekends
– Workdays that involve constant personal interaction without breaks
– Relationship stress
– Big events – both happy and sad!
– Long periods of added stress
Preventative measures: Track fatigue level daily and adjust activities and treatments based on fatigue level.
Treatments:
1. Coffee/caffeine:
  Pros: It lessens light or moderate fatigue effectively and temporarily, it tastes good, it’s accessible, I don’t need a prescription, fewer side effects than other methods
  Cons: It can adversely affect sleep and intestinal health. Dosage can only go up to a certain level before getting jittery and anxious. I felt better physically (except for fatigue) when I went without coffee for a month.
  When it’s effective: For minimal to moderate fatigue.
  When it’s not effective: When fatigue is extreme.
  Why I choose this for now: I like it and it fits within my lifestyle. While I need to work in an office setting, it’s helped me maintain.
  Experience: Green tea inflames my throat. Caffeine tablets were harsh on my stomach. I may as well drink coffee and enjoy it.
2. Rest:
  Pros: It’s helpful
  Cons: It’s isolating, it can conflict with life obligations.
  When it’s effective: At least some rest daily, but more intensive rest needed when fatigue is heavy or extreme.
3. Modafinil (Provigil):
  Pros: It’s effective
  Cons: It requires a prescription, and my insurance doesn’t cover it. Out of pocket cost was $120 for six pills in 2012. (Could check on this periodically to see if it’s changed.)
  When it’s effective: It can help me get through periods of time when I’m not able to limit my obligations to get more rest. It’s a good temporary option if I can get an Rx.
4. Exercise:
  Pros: Moderate exercise helps reduce fatigue. It’s good for weight management. It helps keep me mobile and able to experience lots of activities.
  Cons: Hard to always gauge how much exercise is enough and how much is too much. Too much extreme exercise over months can tax my body and lead to more fatigue.
  When it’s effective: When I’m not injured or severely fatigued.
5. Organization & Prioritization:
  Pros: It lessens stress and frees up mental and physical capacity for reducing stress.
  Cons: It takes a lot of thought and practice to create organization methods.
  When it’s effective: Pretty much always.
6. Blue light
  Pros: Non-invasive
  Cons: Daily time investment required, and the results aren’t immediate. Hard to gauge if it’s helping or not. It was an expensive investment without any assurance it would help.
  When it’s effective: Fall and winter when the days are short where I live.
7. Limit activities
  Pros: Helps free up time for rest and sleep.
  Cons: It can get depressing and make me feel like I’m being punished.
  When it’s effective: When I’m still able to do things that satisfy me emotionally.
Experiences with this issue, what’s worked or failed. I used a blue light in 2010 through 2012. I think it helped, and I should pull it out and try it again this winter. I don’t need it in the summer and I forgot I had it. Exercise, rest, coffee, and good nutrition work for daily maintenance. Modafinil works well when I need to keep going for a week or so beyond what my body would prefer. Rest is required to recover from overdoing it.
Theories for why my body reacts a certain way, correlations proven and disproven: Fatigue is the #1 symptom common for people with MS. With so much damaged nerve insulation (myelin), it takes more energy to do common tasks than for someone with healthy myelin. My neurologist explained that the energy it takes a healthy person to walk a mile may be an equivalent of a mile and a half or two miles for someone with MS.

*Stacie Prada was diagnosed with RRMS in 2008 at the age of 38. Her blog, “Keep Doing What You’re Doing” is a compilation of inspiration, exploration, and practical tips for living with Multiple Sclerosis while living a full, productive, and healthy life with a positive perspective. It includes musings on things that help her adapt, cope and rejoice in this adventure on earth. Please visit her at http://stacieprada.blogspot.com/

New Year – New You

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Samantha Schech

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a New Year’s resolution. Maybe it’s the over-indulgences from the holiday season, or the thought that summer is quickly approaching. But I really enjoy the idea of a reset; or a chance for a redo. The key word there is “chance”; each individual has the power to elicit a change in their lives.

For me, January 1st is the first day of a new life. While we can look at each day as an opportunity for change, for some, the bigger picture provides a sense of ease in that the familiar world we are used to will not be transformed in one fell swoop.

Honor the journey that you have been through thus far, for it has created memories and life moments that can propel you through this new life. Respect the past for what is it, and allow yourself to move forward. The new life in front of you is not designed to change your past experiences, but to allow a place for growth.

This is your choice and your time to make a change that can possibly help with a challenge that is causing you to struggle. Perhaps this is the time to contact that specialist to talk about a troubling symptom, or reach out to a friend from the past which you’ve lost contact. The possibilities for change are endless, but committing to one is the first step.

“It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me
And I’m feeling good”
– Leslie Bricusse

Allow this new year to be your chance for change! Comment below or write to us sharing your experience.

New Year’s Inspiration

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Melissa Young

If you are like me, every January you sit down and make a list of New Year’s resolutions. Whether it be deciding to find a new job or lose a few pounds, the turning of the calendar seems to inspire a lot of us to turn over a new leaf. But change isn’t always easy. It takes hard work and that work can be even harder if we don’t keep a positive outlook or put mental roadblocks in the way.

On another note, over the past few years, I have become obsessed with the show Shark Tank. My husband and I record and watch it religiously. At least once an episode, we turn to each other and say “Why didn’t we think of that?”. But, we don’t watch the show to feel bad about ourselves. We find the show inspirational because it is a great example to us and our children that hard work and perseverance still pay off.

So, I thought I would provide you with some inspirational quotes from the Sharks themselves that I found on the Internet to keep you going when the going gets tough.

1. “Tough times never last; tough people always do.” – Robert Herjavec
2. “A goal without a timeline is just a dream.” – Robert Herjavec
3. “Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist–while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!” – Lori Greiner
4. “Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.” – Kevin O’Leary
5. “Never give up what you believe.” – Daymond John
6. “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.” – Barbara Corcoran
7. “Finding opportunity is a matter of believing it’s there.” – Barbara Corcoran
8. “I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t fail… a lot. The good, the bad, it’s all part of the success equation” – Mark Cuban
9. “It comes down to finding something you love to do and then just being great at it.” – Mark Cuban
10. “You can always find a solution if you try hard enough.” – Lori Greiner
11. “Don’t you dare undermine the power of your own instinct.” – Barbara Corcoran
12. “All the best things that happened to me happened after I was rejected. I knew the power of getting past no.” – Barbara Corcoran

Wishing you health, happiness and success in 2016!

New Year Goals and Designing My Life

Posted on January 18, 2016 by MSAA

By: Stacie Prada

My approach toward New Year resolutions is to just pause, think about things I want to accomplish or do in my life, or stop doing for that matter, and make a plan. It’s less about making resolutions than focusing my energy toward goals I’d like to achieve and living a life I’ll love. I think of it as designing my life and using a new year to motivate me to consider and organize my priorities.

Articles online say people fail their New Year’s resolutions within a very short time into the New Year. I’d rather commit to change and effort than to a specific task-based resolution that isn’t always achievable when health issues or life obligations interfere. It’s also easy to get sidetracked. If I have a plan and a mechanism for remembering what I’d like to accomplish, I’m more likely to succeed.

This approach was very successful for me last year when I signed up for a marathon. I stretched a 20 week training plan to 36 weeks. It allowed for plenty of setbacks without the pressure of failing. It also helped keep it fun. See my post, “Adapting to My Limitations and Doing a Marathon Anyway.”

Considering my MS disease progression will likely include mobility issues in the future, I prioritize being active. I think about things I want to do in my lifetime that I will enjoy and that I may not be able to do if I lose my mobility. My goal is to try to do them sooner than later. If I don’t do some of these things, it won’t ruin me. But I want to be conscious of them and incorporate them into my life now if possible. I enjoy planning and doing them now, and I will enjoy them in the future while reminiscing about them.

None of the changes I want to make are done in the first month of a new year. Instead, my intention is to prepare. I’m not setting up resolutions to do things perfectly all year long. I’m creating a plan with routines to make progress toward living a life I love while enjoying my life as it is today.

2016 – A Work-in-Progress

Posted on January 11, 2016 by MSAA

By: Matt Cavallo

Last year at this time I wrote about how small changes can make a big difference in the New Year. Some of the advice from that post included: developing a financial plan, changing eating habits, exercising, getting back on your schedule and setting attainable goals. I used this advice to make major changes in my life which led to a year of self-renewal. This doesn’t mean that I achieved all of my goals. Rather, I found that at the start of 2016, I am still a work in progress. Let me explain.

Exercising was one small change in 2015 that led to a big difference in how I felt. Let me first state that I am no workout warrior and have spent a lifetime of avoiding working out, but I knew that it would make me feel better so I took the leap. I started going to the gym three days a week. Not only that, but I was riding my bike back in forth to the gym to get in 10 miles of cardio each day. I started to see real results in about three months. Then, during a routine work out I felt that I tweaked my neck a little bit. Because of my past multiple sclerosis episodes and ensuing cervical fusion, I wasn’t about to risk further injury. So, I called my neurologist who scheduled an MRI and referred me to physical therapy. My goal for 2016 now include starting physical therapy to strengthen my neck so I can return to the gym and resume my previous work out plan.

Developing a financial plan, setting attainable goals and sticking to a schedule were also critical to my 2015 success. My wife and I set a goal of being able to quit my day job and pursue my writing, speaking and clinical education full time by 2016. In order to do this we needed to get our finances in order and create a schedule that allowed me to build my business while still completing my full-time commitments. This required a lot of work and sacrifices. However, careful planning allowed me to make sure that I fulfilled all my commitments while remaining balanced with family life. In December of 2015, I was able to leave my full-time job and pursue to my business full time. We knew that starting a business while having multiple sclerosis and a family is a big risk but now I am living the life that I always wanted to and my multiple sclerosis is not getting in my way.

The one resolution for 2015 that I failed was controlling my eating habits. It is hard to eat right, especially with traveling for work and raising young boys. As I celebrated my last birthday this past summer, I realized that the pounds were not melting off the way that they had in the past. The holidays added some extra weight and as I am writing this I am ten pounds heavier than I was last year. Those extra ten pounds create fatigue and numbness for me and my multiple sclerosis. Now in the New Year, I have started eating salads for lunch each day and cutting back on refined carbohydrates. I am also riding my bike again. I realize now that the metabolism of my youth is not coming back and that my eating decision can affect my MS symptoms. In 2016, I am making a commitment to make change in my diet for my health and well being.

The thing about it is I have realized that I am in charge of all decisions I make in life. Some of the risks I have taken or the changes that I have made have been tough. The easy thing would have been to do nothing. With hard work and determination I took control of my life and you can do the same with yours. If you are reading this post maybe you want to make changes but don’t know how. The MSAA has great resources in all of these areas from financial planning and fitness to goal-setting and diet.

To start 2016, I am still a work in progress and that is OK. The first step in change is making the decision to do so. Once you have, you’ll be glad you did. From my family to yours, Happy New Year’s. Believe that you can be the change you want in 2016!

*Matt Cavallo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. Matt is an MS blogger, author, patient advocate, and motivational speaker. Matt also has his Master’s degree in Public Health Administration. Matt is the proud father of his two sons, loving husband to his wife, Jocelyn, and best friend to his dog, Teddy. Originally from the Boston suburbs, Matt currently resides in Arizona with his family. To learn more about Matt, please visit him at : http://mattcavallo.com/blog/

From Junk Food Junkie to Health Food Nut: My New Year’s Resolution

Posted on January 23, 2015 by MSAA

By: Jeri Burtchell

Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I’m starting fresh, determined to make this year better than the one before.

I try not to make unrealistic promises to myself in January since I’m not so “resolute” when it comes to my resolutions. Instead, I set the bar low so I can cross it–even if I have to trip and fall to make it over.

This year I chose only one goal: to eat better. I figured if I can do that, maybe there will be side benefits like losing weight or feeling better.

I confess I’ve been a junk foodie in the past. I use air quotes when I say the word “food” as some people would beg to differ. Yes, I’ve eaten leftover french fries from the bottom of a McDonalds bag a day later. Am I ashamed of that? You bet.

It’s hard to be a freelance writer covering MS and ignore my own bad habits. The latest news regarding the gut microbiome and how it can influence a whole host of diseases has been in the news and on the internet so much I can’t help but feel guilty hoisting a Coke to my lips as I look on and take it all in. Maybe there’s no definitive proof that diet influences MS, but if I can control what goes in my mouth on the off chance I might feel better, don’t I have an obligation to do that?

So enough was enough. I slurped up the rest of my Wendys frosty and pledged to tighten up my definition of food. I mentally stationed a miniature bouncer at the corner of my mouth who only lets the good foods pass.

I wish this bouncer had a wallet full of cash, though. My first stop after I (loosely) defined my resolution was the grocery store. Who knew eating only organic whole foods and raw honey or cold-pressed virgin coconut oil was only a pastime the rich and famous could afford?

The upside to taking out another mortgage in order to eat right is that you are hyper-aware of expiration dates and the gradual decomposition of your quality fruits and veggies. If I wanted everything to turn to compost in the vegetable drawer I would have cut out the middleman and simply buried my hard earned dollars in the back yard.

Not everyone in the house is on this health food bandwagon, however.

My teenager hates vegetables and my 91 year old mother is set in her routine, and she’s in great shape. “She’s earned the right to eat what she likes,” said her doctor, and I swear I saw Mom stick her tongue out at me.

Even though this is my resolution, I’ve found myself asking “every day??” when I think about how often a person is supposed to eat like this. For a terrible cook (another confession), eating things that aren’t ready to “microwave and enjoy” has been a huge challenge.

So I started out with something easy. We all like shakes, and smoothies are like shakes, right?

I got out the old Hamilton-Beach blender and blew the dust off. I looked at all the fancy stuff I’d bought at the grocery store and began flinging in a handful of this, a spoonful of that. I topped it all off with a generous heap of kale (because you can’t toss an Oreo cookie without hitting a story about how good kale is for you), and I set the blender spinning.

It looked…disgusting! The green of the kale, combined with the red of the strawberries gave the concoction an overall brown color. Even though it looked kind of like a chocolate shake, my teenager wrinkled his nose, well aware there had been no chocolate involved in the making of his mom’s new drink.

Ignoring my own urge to pinch my nose closed before gulping it down, I sipped mine and smiled, nodding to him to give his a try.

It turns out we both loved it so much it has become our daily ritual–and the uglier the better. We throw every healthy thing we can find in there.

Besides the smoothies, I cut out processed foods, refined sugar, and carbs. I have no clue how–or if–it affects my MS, but I can tell you this: in the 22 days since I began, I’ve lost 5 lbs., I don’t need afternoon naps, and my brain fog seems to be lifting.

I can’t wait to see how I feel a month from now. Unlike past resolutions, I think I just might be able to keep this one!

*Jeri Burtchell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. She has spoken from a patient perspective at conferences around the country, addressing social media and the role it plays in designing clinical trials. Jeri is a MS blogger, patient activist, and freelance writer for the MS News Beat of Healthline.com. She lives in northeast Florida with her youngest son and elderly mother. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys crafting and photography.

My MS New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Ashley

So, the usual New Year’s resolution has to do with being healthier, losing weight, etc. I’ve decided to make a resolution, but it has nothing to do with what I just listed.

So what’s my ‘big’ resolution? I plan on working on not being SO STUBBORN! I know that seems odd, but if you continue reading, you will understand.

I am a very stubborn person in many aspects in life, especially when it comes to my MS. Here are some things I plan on being less stubborn/hard headed about:

When someone offers me help, when it’s obvious I’m having a difficult time, I’m going to try and accept the help that is offered instead of being stubborn and trying to do everything on my own. While we don’t want our independence taken from us, and we like to do things on our own like we used to, sometimes it would make life easier to accept the help that is offered because that offer is coming from someone who obviously cares.

When my MS gets in my way of doing certain things, I’m usually too stubborn to stop what I’m doing or just take a break. I try and push through it all, but in the end I seem to suffer more in the aftermath of it all. So, I plan on ‘listening’ to my body & MS better, which will of course get on my nerves, but I believe it will benefit me in the long run.

When a loved one asks how I’m doing (and isn’t just asking it to be polite), I will not be so stubborn and disregard their question with an, “I’m Fine” answer… if they’re someone who genuinely cares about how I’m doing, I will give them a genuine answer. By doing so, I’m hoping that it will ease some of the tension I gather when holding all the information of “how I’m feeling” bottled up inside.

I’m also going to work on not being so stubborn about ‘remembering’ things. I always tell myself that I will remember a certain bit of information and I don’t need to write it down… but I end up forgetting the information in the long run, so I’m going to start making notes on my phone or a small spiral notebook.

Finally, I won’t be stubborn at my neurologist’s office, and I will ask the questions that need to be asked, and I will be completely honest when answering questions. I’ve realized that by being truthful about how I’m feeling, which isn’t good all the time, I’m not showing any weakness, but I show strength by being able to communicate this information.

So that’s my New Year’s Resolution…what’s yours?

Sticking to My Resolution for Better Health and MS Symptom Management

Posted on January 13, 2014 by MSAA

By: Matt Cavallo

I’ll admit it. The holidays were not good to my waistline. My pants are tight and hard to button, and it is uncomfortable to reach down to put on my socks and shoes. At the end of the summer, I weighed in at 190lbs. I just got off the scale and I was exactly 211 lbs. With the weight gain, my New Year’s resolution was to start exercising more and eating less.

The extra weight is a problem for me and my MS. That 21 pounds has definitely made a difference in the way I feel. At 6’2”tall I don’t look that much heavier, I feel like a completely different person. The extra weight also seems to increase weakness and tingling in my legs. Also, my energy levels have dropped and my fatigue has increased. I find myself waking up later and later to walk my dog and the walks are becoming shorter. It is already halfway through January and I am not making progress on my goals.

I was talking with my wife who told me that it takes 21 days to change a behavior. Often with resolutions, we start with the best of intentions, but don’t stick with it long enough to change our behaviors. This has been the case with my diet and exercise resolution. I started out strong for the first couple of days, but have regressed to my old ways.

However, my old ways are not good enough for me. In living with Multiple Sclerosis, it is important for me to take charge of the areas of my health that I can control, like diet and exercise. If extra weight is going to make my MS symptoms flare up, I need to fight through the fatigue and get control. To do this, I am going to create a Wellness Journal. This journal is going to track my daily exercise routine and food intake. The reason for keeping these journals is to keep myself accountable. If I keep a record of my progress everyday then I will be more likely to stick to my resolution. New Year’s doesn’t have to be the only time of year we reassess life and develop goals.

Successful Goal Setting Tips

Keep goals realistic: Don’t set yourself up for failure by aiming for something that is completely unachievable. It is best to start with a small goal and work towards bigger goals as you accomplish them.
Create a plan that works for you: Figure out exactly how you can accomplish your goal and write down specific actions that you will take.
Stick to your plan: Since changing a habit takes about 21 days, perform that habit every day to make it a conscious part of your day.
Keep a daily journal: Write down what you do every day to hold you accountable. This will also help you identify obstacles that may be holding you back.
Don’t give up: Even if you slip up on your journey, forgive yourself and start fresh they next day.

I am also going to post my 21 day journey on my personal blog at www.mattcavallo.com/blog. By making my journey public, I am holding myself accountable to all of my readers, as well. My hope is that my story will also motivate others struggling with sticking to their New Year’s Resolutions or any goals for that matter to get back on track.

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