How was your morning?

Something that I get asked a lot is What's a typical morning for a Girl with Arthritis?
Every day is different but a typical day goes like this. 

Woken up by the birds in the trees and a pain in my right hip. Sometimes I can move it other times I just lie there waiting for it to decide what it's going to do. I feel it has a mind of its own but then I remember, I control that mind.

As many of you know I am blind in my right eye but have minimal vision in my left eye that requires a daily contact lens or glasses use. I prefer the contact as my eyes are too big and my face to small to find a pair that fit just right. The contacts go in and usually by then my hip has decided to move.

The Meloxicam pills are swallowed and the adventure to get clothed begins.

I like to keep the clothes I wear the next day fresh next to my bed so that if I'm in too much pain to do anything I don't have far to walk to get clothed. The part that annoys me the most are my socks and shoes. I have my shoes laces pre tired so that I don't have to rely on anyone else to tie them but the socks are the most difficult part. If no one is around to help then I have the 'Sarah Way' of getting them on. It does take more time so sometimes I ask my dogs for help (not really, but imagine if that could really happen) 

Once the PJs are away in the drawer next to my bed and the bed is made I head to the gym for my morning unstiffening aka workout as the normal people call it. 

During this 'workout' my key exercises I complete everyday to unstiffen myself are:
10 minutes on the exercise bike 
100 Squats at 60kg on a smith machine
80 Lat pull downs at 25.5kg 
60 Jack knives with a 10kg weight
60 Chin Ups 
40 Tricep dips 
80 Leg Press at 140kg
On days when I am not so stiff I do more (which isn't often)
You may be thinking WOW THIS IS A LOT! but you have to remember that I train very hard everyday because if I have strong muscles, I'll have strong bones which leads to a healthier life, hopefully.

From here I mix myself a fruit smoothie full of bananas, peaches and strawberries with a bowl of yummy oats. 

What is your morning like? Head to my Facebook page and please let me know. www.facebook.com/sarahhammondgirlwitharthritis 

Until next week,

Just keep smiling as you never know who's day you'll brighten.

I have hobbies too..

When I was 15 I took part in work experience at a local community radio station and at this time I had taken myself off Prednisolne and was quickly loosing weight that had been gained through this.
My passion for radio all started because of my Arthritis. At 12 years of age I was asked to have an interview on the SA Radio network ABC. From the moment I walked into the radio studio, it could see myself really liking this. Then when we were on air it just flowed so naturally and this is where the passion sparked.

If you have read my other blogs you will see time and time again that I don't look up to anyone or idolise anyone as I am my own hero, but in a radio sense. Peter Goers is the inspiration. When I am driving after 7pm only in the lighter months, you will hear his radio show bursting from my car.
I describe his shows to others as an old fashion type of program, which I love.

From my work experience it lead me to beginning a youth show on that very station and after 6 long years it was time to move on to bigger things in the industry.
Hills Radio was where just recently as a 21 year old created "Life Bursts" a show where my host and I bring a burst of peoples lives through the air waves to you.
Other radio shows interview people about their work and their job position but at Life Bursts it's all about where you came from and why you love life, which I find really interesting.

Radio is fun as a hobby as I get to meet new people and talk all I want as I produce and host the show with Matt my other host. We get along so well and couldn't ask for a better person to spend 2 hours in a room with each Wednesday afternoon. The passion flows from us both as we work as a team to do what we both love, radio.

Having Arthritis doesn't stop me from doing what I love and neither should things in life that you think are too hard stop you. Yes sometimes it's hard but just remember all those wonderful, pain free moments in your life and everything will be just fine.


Until next week,

Just keep smiling, as you never know who's day you'll brighten.