I need to change eating habits as well as exercise more to better control my weight and health. I have been reading your articles and now wonder how big a part of my weight issue is my fibromyalgia and thoracic outlet syndrome issues. For years I have felt bloated and like I was retaining fluid no matter how much water I drank to try to stay well hydrated and hopefully not retain fluid. How can I beat my own body’s internal functioning?

Let’s look first at your final sentence in your question: How can I beat my own body’s internal functioning?  An important part of healing and getting your body back into balance, with weight and with health in general, is to recognize your partnership role with your body in being healthy.  You and your body are not at war, even if it may seem so at times when you struggle with health issues.  But start thinking of your body as a beloved, faithful servant, doing what you bid it.  When we are unhealthy, the signals can be messed up, but your body is doing its best to keep you alive and well.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is impingement of nerves coming out of the neck. The pressure or impingement needs to be relieved, or there is pain on movement of the arm or shoulder. The less the overall movement of any joint, the less complete the whole body is.

Lack of movement will contribute to weight gain. Massage therapy, physical therapy, energy work (Jin Shin Jyutsu, acupuncture, frequency generators like FSM) may be able to release the pressure.

Fibromyalgia has so many possible causes, that it would be difficult to know what is the chicken and what is the egg as far as weight gain and poor health. One consideration is the possibility of a cervical disc injury causing both the thoracic outlet syndrome and fibromyalgia. If you were in a car accident or fall (or even aggressive raking or shoveling) months before the start of these problems, then that should be considered. The best and most successful treatment I have encountered in my practice is with the FSM machine. The diagnosis is also confirmed by measuring response to the first few treatments with the machine.