Aching back in bed? Could relief be this easy?

Do you wake up every morning with more back pain than when you went to bed?

Iv`e been a landscaper and gardener most of my life, so back aches are pretty normal for me. Digging, shovelling and moving heavy things have all contributed to regular visits to my wonderful chiropractor and having a large semi rural garden for the last 18 years has kept me fit, as does my regular yoga and Pilate's classes - great for core strength!

However, I still suffered from chronic back aches at night, to the point where I would have to sleep almost sitting propped up! Some mornings I would be in tears from the relentless broken sleep and aching. I literally felt like someone had punched me in the kidneys every night. I sleep on my side and as the aches started I would rotate to the other side, groaning with each turn until I was basically turning round and round all night long. Needless to say It didn`t impress my husband so I started taking painkillers just to get some sleep (and I hate taking anything unless it`s natural).

We did all the things you are thinking right now.... changed our expensive mattress, I even got fitted for wiz bang pillow - which I love - and still I woke up feeling 80+ with aches. So I did some research on line and asked the simple question `Why do I wake up aching?`

I didn`t realise how many people are suffering similar aches and pains each morning. You see, as the day wore on, all pains would melt away and I was fine - so something was going on in my bed!

One site simply stated that it was the sleeping position, and to use a pillow between your legs. What?
As if that was going to cure my chronic aches. So that night I took particular notice of my body positioning - being a side sleeper I made sure my hips were stacked and I was in a straight but comfy line. In fact, I would sleep with all of the above positions. I still woke aching. Right, now at desperation stakes I grabbed a spare pillow and shoved it between my legs. Hmm. It felt unusual but kinda nice. To my amazement I woke up PAIN FREE.

Could It really be this simple? The answer is yes. Give it a try for a few nights - it`s amazing.

It works by simply stopping your body from gently twisting your spine. I know many people have all sorts of back trouble that is not as easily fixed, however, this simple,easy and very comfy trick will help to lessen your spinal rotation at night, easing pressure on discs.

I gave the pillow up some time ago as I had no aches for months, but this week I have again suffered restless aching sleep, so I grabbed my favourite soft pillow and off to bed we went. Again I experienced great sleep and little to no pain in the morning. If only life`s other aches and pains were as easily remedied.

Have you tried this technique? I know many pregnant women do but for the obvious different reason. If you havn`t tried it, give it a go for a few nights - you`ve only got back pain to lose. Let me know how you go, perhaps you will inspire others to give it a go.

Cruising the seas - a gluttons paradise

My wellness journey - which began in January this year (2015) has seen me lose 8 kilos or 17 lbs simply from changing my eating. You see I gave up 95 percent of my sugar intake, which was recommended by my Naturopath to heal my leaky gut (more about that later).

So iv`e just gotten back from a little 4 day cruise up the east coast of Australia - very lucky indeed!
But what an eating and drinking fest it was! Now I`m all up for some yummy meals and a few cocktails, but most people over ate at least three times a day!

I would like to think that most people don`t eat that quantity normally, but why does a holiday equate to eating and drinking to excess these days? And of course a cruise is the perfect environment to indulge.

I had a couple of cocktails, well three to be exact. Pina Coladas - they seemed the best option with soothing coconut, pineapple and white rum. The rest of the time I drank Vodka, lime and soda or Gin Tonics. I did give in to a lovely glass of white wine with dinner one night and paid the price with a crook belly - too much sugar for my system now. But it seemed as though everyone drank from sun up till very late, with creamy, sugar loaded cocktails, beer and spirits which is all WELL & GOOD, but they also ate extremely large quantities of food.

After all, those of you who have been on a Cruise will know that everything revolves around meal times and cocktail lounges and bars. So it was no great surprise to find myself eating way more than I normally would - I don`t eat 3 course meals at home!, but at least I made lots of healthy choices, drank plenty of water and passed, on most desserts - I promised my daughter I would have a Creme Brule` for her, which was rather yummy and not too sweet.

Breakfast and most lunches were the self serve buffet, with everything laid on - so plates were usually piled high and second and third helpings normal for many people. We opted for the fine dining restaurant each evening and even one lunch, however I drew the line at dining there for breakfast which the rest of my lovely group enjoyed - twice.

I was often appalled at the amount of waste that self serve diners left, eyes bigger than their expanding bellies, but more so the fact that because it was all laid out for free, people seemed to think they needed to eat to excess to `get their monies worth`. No wonder we are such an overweight and unhealthy nation.

Very few people exercise moderation over temptation - there seems to be so little self control any more, and always the old adage - `must go on a diet when we get home`. Well, we all had a happy time of self indulgence - now back to reality and healthy choices...

Have you over indulged on holiday? or did you still make healthy choices.