Welcome to THE PICKLE JAR PODCAST. Educating, advocating and building a community of people living with ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY.

Tomorrow is a BIG DAY for Jill as she acknowledges and celebrates a MAJOR life change and accomplishment.
She is now ready to take the next step forward. Life is continuously changing and she is ready to change with it.

As you know Jill lives with a chronic illness ADDISON'S DISEASE, is on the edge of being 50 and is close to an empty nester. It is time to take back her POWER and continue on her journey of self-discovery and self-love.
The question is...would you like to join me?

If you are READY to take a step forward and remember WHO you are. If you are READY to find yourself again. Then you need to consider joining Jill on this journey.

She has been held down for too long and it is time be finally BE HERSELF.

It is simple.

Follow this link and join her CHRONICALLY FIT COMMUNITY on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronicallyfitcommunity

It is a complimentary group where you can follow her journey - exercise, nutrition, mental health and more.

If you are looking for REAL LIFE tips, motivation and a sense of belonging then this is for YOU!

It is just Jill and her story. She is through being held down all her life. It is time to be HERSELF. She is not perfect and her journey will not be either.

But she has goals.

Jill wants her body to be as strong and healthy as possible as she enters this next stage of life.

She hopes you join her.

Again, it is simple. Join her complimentary CHRONICALLY FIT COMMUNITY on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronicallyfitcommunity

Sunday, July 16th at 9 am you can join Jill for a Facebook live CHAT.

She will tell you all about her goals and what to expect from the COMMUNITY.

Let's connect.

Let's be real.

Let's make progress.

Let's do it together.

Looking forward to seeing you,

Love Warrior Jill xxoo

Just click on this link to join the COMMUNITY.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronicallyfitcommunity

Welcome back into THE PICKLE JAR. This is life with adrenal insufficiency.

This past week Jill “life’d” more. Hike with her daughter, work, podcast, online fitness sessions, birthday party prep/celebration and getting ready for a weekend escape. Add in the emotional excitement of getting a fence, and on the side a heat wave in Southern Ontario and extra grocery store trips. Low cortisol was unavoidable no matter how hard she tried.

This week Jill simply life’d more and it led her down the LOW CORTISOL road. The week ended with feet shuffling like she was 90 and every step felt like a hundred. Her gaze was empty and lifeless. Just because she life’d more, her life was at risk of an adrenal crisis

Jill has learned to accept that LIVING with lead to low cortisol but she deserves to live her life. This is the price she pays. Low cortisol and lifeless nights. But she remembers that tomorrow the dance party will return. She will "life" tomorrow.

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome back into THE PICKLE JAR our inspiring friend Belinda. In November of 2022, Belinda shared her LIFE-LONG JOURNEY to adrenal insufficiency diagnosis at the age of 49. This was a journey that should have been started at the age of 14 when Belinda's health issues led to an ACTH stimulation test that indicated she has primary Addison's Disease. However, this diagnosis was set aside and the doctors choose to focus on Belinda's GI issues and treat her suspecting she had Crohn's Disease. Years of 'treating' a misdiagnosed Crohn's disease with steroids avoid any major adrenal crisis and managed her adrenal insufficiency.

Eventually, that treatment was not enough to sustain life and in 2017 low cortisol levels flagged that there was certainly something more serious going on. After diagnosis, Belinda has a MAJOR ADRENAL CRISIS leading to a minor stroke and making her WORK HARD to regain her quality of life.

That HARD WORK paid off. Belinda recaps her journey with us and updates us on being able to return to work full-time and manage her illnesses. She has learned to PLAY BY HER NEW RULES...and she is winning the game of life.

Boundaries, self-love, communication with her advocates and so much more you will take from this episode. And of course, the LOVE OF A DOG to keep her motivated and moving.

Listen to Belinda's original episode E43 - Belinda's Long Journey to Addison's Disease. OR watch on YouTube "CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA"

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome into THE PICKLE JAR founder of OfferingTree, Eddie Arpin. Jill was ecstatic when she approached OfferingTree to be a guest in THE PICKLE JAR to help Jill share their services that have truly helped Jill manage her business and STRESS IN HER LIFE.

Having ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY and added stress can be detrimental to our health, and quality of life and possibly lead to a life-threatening adrenal crisis. Stress management is an essential tool for anyone living with adrenal insufficiency. We also deserve to follow our dreams in life.

If you have ever DREAMED of having a fitness/wellness business but felt overwhelmed about the technical aspects OFFERINGTREE is YOUR ANSWER.

Jill stumbled across OfferingTree a few months ago and its simplicity and functionality she knew was her answer to managing her business stress-free. It has empowered Jill to better serve her clients and also allowed her the ability to return to work outside of the home and easily manage her fitness business.

Everything from amazing website features such as appointment booking, scheduling, video libraries and more. Not to mention the incredible customer service and OfferingTree makes you feel like you are part of the family and that you and your business matter.

Check out my website www.chronicallyfitcanada.com

If you are interested in trying OfferingTree to follow your dreams you can use Jill's affiliate link to save as well. Email Jill any questions at [email protected]

https://www.chronicallyfitcanada.com/pages/resources

Check out OfferingTree at www.offeringtree.com

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome back into THE PICKLE JAR...Jill dives into this episode about an intriguing conversation with her daughter's boyfriend about what he recently learned about the adrenal glands in a high school course. His knowledge and understanding of the function of the adrenal glands was impressive and the conversation gave Jill hope knowing there is one more human on this earth that understands the complexity and seriousness of Addison's Disease.

His knowledge was beyond that then most endocrinologists and medical doctors and nurses. Not only did he have a solid understanding of the complex and critical role the adrenal glands play in the body he also had compassion in his eyes for the fight Jill's body endures every day to survive. He is next in line to be Jill’s endocrinologist in which she feels she would get with this 19-year-old young man. And not knowing he has volunteered his presence to advocate for Jill in a crisis situation.

Jill also revisits the common symptoms she experiences with low cortisol and some of the things she is currently doing with her lifestyle to add living back into her reality.

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome into THE PICKLE JAR and a very special guest, Jill's friend Scott. Jill invited Scott into THE PICKLE JAR to share his unique and inspiring story knowing his message and MINDSET needed to be shared and heard.

Scott's journey is not with adrenal insufficiency but with a workplace neck injury that left him paralyzed and fighting for his survival alone in the hospital at the start of COVID.

His resilience and perseverance, and the support of his family and friends fuelled his recovery beyond expectations. Every story, every journey is unique but parallels are shared that validate and give us hope.

Scott's journey will give you that hope and remind you of the power you have in your own healing. Our stories are not just only about us but a whole team who are experiencing their own journey with us.

Our journey teaches a deep level of empathy for others joining through their own personal struggles. This empathy along with communication can lead to a positive ripple effect in our lives. We all carry our own burdens and live with the trauma of life-changing events such as illness and injury but Scott reminds it is okay to cry but it is not okay to give up.

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome into THE PICKLE JAR Jewel's as she shares her amazing journey with Cushing's Disease. It all began in May of 2020 at the height of the pandemic with 2 mini strokes at 35. With no immediate answers, Jewel decided to take matters into her own hands holistically with nutrition and exercise. Shockingly she gained 100 lbs despite her healthy lifestyle. With time in August of 2021, she was diagnosed with Cushing Disease from a pituitary tumour. Not happy with the 'watch it' approach from her doctor Jewel advocated for herself for treatment.

In October 2021 the tumour was removed and Jewel was no living with adrenal insufficiency. Things for Jewel fell apart as low cortisol struggles took over. Her body now dealing with chronic inflammation.

In 1 1/2 years she has experienced 2 adrenal crises. Each she has learned valuable lessons from to move forward with living with adrenal insufficiency. She has found her strength through her AWESOME FAMILY, her community of support on Facebook and simply the joys in life.

Her story will remind you that life is beautiful and you can keep your spark alive and continue shining bright like a diamond despite living with a chronic illness.

Jill invites you to join her new journey starting July 1....THE ADVENTURES OF JILL AND PENNY. You can meet Penny on Jill's website, www.chronicallyfitcanada.com, where she will step again out of her comfort zone and start a BLOG. Please join Jill as life is going to be her sport to improve her quality of life.

You are also welcome to join Jill's CHRONICALLY FIT COMMUNITY of Facebook where she will do documenting more in-depth details about her nutrition and exercise to build back strength and support her body living with a chronic illness.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronicallyfitcommunity

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome into THE PICKLE JAR Jill starts this episode by giving an overview of her current steroid treatment for her adrenal insufficiency. She is on a high daily dose and currently using SOLU-CORTEF, DEX and PRED to manage her illness. It has been an eventful 12-year journey to get to this dosing regime but worth it. Jill is an advocate that dosage for adrenal insufficiency should not be dictated on values from a textbook but guided by knowledge of medical professionals using traditional medicine and the patient's quality of life as indicators of sufficient steroids. If the quality of life is measured as 'normal' Jill knows she is less likely to experience an adrenal crisis.

Jill invites you to join her new journey starting July 1....THE ADVENTURES OF JILL AND PENNY. You can meet Penny on Jill's website, www.chronicallyfitcanada.com, where she will step again out of her comfort zone and start a BLOG. Please join Jill as life is going to be her sport to improve her quality of life.

You are also welcome to join Jill's CHRONICALLY FIT COMMUNITY of Facebook where she will do documenting more in-depth details about her nutrition and exercise to build back strength and support her body living with a chronic illness.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronicallyfitcommunity

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.

Welcome to THE PICKLE JAR PODCAST for episode 122 - Jill's Death-Aversary. Adrenal insufficiency is a serious life-threatening chronic illness and last June Jill experienced an Addison's tailspin that almost put her into cardiac arrest. Listening to this episode will remind you of the scary reality of this illness but also the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and being prepared for emergency situations.

Months of physical exhaustion, leg injury, and then wound infection sent Jill into a tailspin of low potassium and finally her potassium SPIKING to dangerous levels that should have stopped her heart. Luckily she was in her doctor's office when her body decided it no longer had the strength to manage ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY. A MEGA dose in-office of solu-cortef and a FAST & HARD ride to the emergency room to prevent cardiac arrest. Thankfully the megadose of steroids shifted Jill's electrolytes fast enough to prevent a tragic end.

Jill now experiences PTSD from the incident but is grateful for the reminder of the delicate nature of this disease. She is PREPARED for future crises. Instead of seeing the weaknesses in her body she now chooses to see the strength her body has every day to fight ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY.

Check out the ADVENTURES OF JILL AND PENNY BLOG at www.chronicallyfitcanada.com

Coming July 1, 2023

Watch this episode on YouTube at CHRONICALLY FIT CANADA.