I remember vividly the very first day I woke up with a stiffness so severe in my joints that I cried when I tried to walk. It happened out of the blue and quite literally scared me as I had no idea what had caused this pain. After a visit to the family doctor and then to a specialist for blood tests and bone scans, it was determined I had a form of arthritis called Seronegative Arthropathy. – Did I mention that I was only in my 20’s when this all started? It effected mainly my knees, ankles and feet.

However your arthritis started and what type you have – I can painfully relate. Arthritis effects a large percentage of the world’s population and comes in varying forms. As with many arthritis sufferers, Vioxx was my pill of choice until it was taken off the market several years ago. It left me, along with many others, devastated as to what the next alternative was – especially if the other popular medications you tried weren’t as effective. I have some great tips to reducing stiffness in your joints and increasing your overall health. So, read on! I’m sure many Arthritis sufferers will wonder why they haven’t started using this sooner! Especially tip #1.

A few years after trying different medications, potions and lotions – (Come on, you know you’ve tried them! – only to find out that they didn’t work and you felt scammed), I became pregnant. During this time, I became depressed and started eating out of control. Needless to say after my son was born, I still remained overweight and depressed. It seemed that no matter what I did, I could NOT lose the weight I so desperately wanted to lose. To make matters worse, I had made the decision to not return to my current place of employment – due to the long commute. And, after maternity leave, accepted a position at a local company paying half the salary. After about 3 months, the company went belly up. So, now I was fat, depressed, out of a job and had joint pain. It could be worse. Which is exactly what my family said. Time for a change of lifestyle, attitude, research and support.

In a nutshell there are several things that can help you with your Arthritis and Health. I hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me.

5. De-stress – Organize

As with many health problems, a great deal of them stem from stress. As an arthritis sufferer I’m sure you’ve heard and know that stress is a trigger for flare ups. In a previous ‘weight loss strategies’ article I wrote, I too discussed how personal chaos and being unorganized trickles down to your health – or lack their of it. Pick up a book on how to organize your home and/or get some commitment from your family to prioritize, de-clutter, purge, set goals and get into a routine. This may take a few weeks but the end result will be less stress and you’ll find you will have time to tackle other things that were weighing you down.

4. Join An Online Support Group – Research

With today’s technology, you can search online until the cows come home to find a group or information offering products and advise for your problems. Arthritis groups can be found everywhere. A good one to check out is the Arthritis Society. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you are to know how to deal with your pain and which ones aren’t worth your time. You can also chat with others about their own experiences and what has/hasn’t worked for them. Surround yourself with people who love, support and motivate you to be a better person. Get rid of the negativity!

3. Eating Habits – Lifestyle Change

Well, you knew this one was coming. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, we can’t deny the fact that eating the right foods is critical to our well being and overall health. As my husband once said – no-one ever got fat eating fruit and vegetables. It boils down to a work/life balance. Good nutrition, routine, exercise, drinking lots of water, your attitude and outlook on life – they all contribute to your health. By starting slowly you will become a person more likely to stick with it and notice a difference.

2. Stay Positive And Focused

Write down some life goals, get on a routine and start an exercise plan. After making my own changes and sticking to the first 3 tips, I was able to join a walking group and eventually started running as a form of exercise. I became dedicated and focused on myself, training several times during the week and ran long runs on the weekend. I ran my first half marathon in Ottawa several years ago.

But what about the pain you ask?

1. Ascenta-NutraSea

This is my secret – well its not really mine, but I’m extremely glad I found it. Ascenta’s NutraSea oil is made primarily with a pharmaceutical quality Herring Oil. It also contains Thyme Oil, Rosemary Extract, Natural Lemon Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate and natural tocopherols. It has been great for my arthritis and I know of many others who use it. After a month of use, you WILL notice a difference in your joint pain. My mother-in-law, who has rheumatoid arthritis is also a big advocate of this product. If you’re interested in purchasing this product or for other arthritis information, please visit my website.

For more information on how you can find the weight loss plan that’s right for you, regain your life back, free yourself to a healthy and happy person, AND get FREE monthly advise, visit http://www.dropweighteasily.com/jointpain_arthritis.html