My Journey To Health

One of the biggest things I’ve learned along my journey to health is to listen to my body. Back in April I was in a really bad shape. My back was in excruciating pain, my knees hurt when I climbed stairs. I got winded really fast and I was in so much pain. I was always tired and was so unhappy. It call came to head when one day my back went completely, I could barely move and was in excruciating pain. I went off to the Dr who sent me for X-rays and made an appointment to see the nutritionist that very same day.

For my back, the Doctor sent me to have weekly PT visits and of course loosing weight would help. I began eating better and attending physical therapy session and almost instantaneously I felt better. I lost 11lb that first week and I right away had so much energy. (To note is my diet had been extremely high in sodium and most of that 11lb was water weight from retained water). I remember my first follow-up visit and the nutritionist asking me how my first week was – I told her it was amazing – she was surprised since the first week us usually the hardest but I explained I was so ready for this – my body had been telling me for a long time that it needed change and since I felt so good as soon as I was eating normal I was thrilled.

Don’t get me wrong, being careful of what went into my mouth wasn’t easy and still isn’t easy. It’s so much quicker to order a sandwich then to make lunch. But being aware of what you are eating helps so much.  Seeing results as the weeks go by, having more and more energy are incentives enough to keep me going.

Having a healthier lifestyle and life isn’t just about what you eat. It’s a whole package, it’s the mindset, it’s taking care of your body in other ways such as I realized I was going to bed way too late and being up late I wasn’t productive, it’s self-care, it’s knowing when to say no – and knowing when your body has had enough. I realized I needed to start listening to my bodies cues.

Once the weight started to fall off and I got stronger I noticed so many things different. I was less irritable. I wasn’t as tired. I didn’t have the migraines I was so used to having. I didn’t have the stomach pains I was so used to living with. I started listening to my body and doing what it needed me to do.

This past Sunday I fell and hurt my foot. I’m still in the process of appointments trying to figure out exactly what is wrong, I’m wearing a boot on my leg and boy am I exhausted. Every Thursday Evening is my weekly PT for my back. There as a little voice in my head saying “Shaindel you won’t be able to do most of the exercises anyway, just stay home”. My husband even said to me. “why go?” I pushed myself to go anyway, and boy am I glad I did. My therapist had a look at my foot, gave me modified routine to do including some exercises to strengthen my upper legs since my foot is out of commission.

While doing the routine some of the exercises that I do EVERY week with no issue were SO hard for me to do. I struggled to do the same exercises that i had build up stamina to do no problem.  And then it hit me, our body is one entity. When one part is hurting the rest hurts too. Since my foot is in pain it has taken a toll on my whole body. We cant just say – eh, its such a small pain i’ll just leave it.  This stresses to me even further how important it is to be in tune and take care of ourselves.  Our bodies were created to work unison – just like a car – if one part is broken the car will probably not work well.

We all have hectic lives and we so often neglect ourselves.   Not only is it detrimental to our own self’s but its detrimental to those around us – and we need to watch out and take care inwards too.

Go take the time for some self care! – You deserve it!

Back on Mother’s Day I wrote this article – it includes a list of some of my favorite pampering stuffs!