I've learned a lot about the value of health over the past year. Two years ago, I felt motivated & invincible. I had been a runner for years, and it was time to complete my first half marathon. I followed a training plan that had me running 3 times a week. I didn't take care of myself in other ways like sleeping, eating healthy foods, drinking water, etc. But on race-day in Nov 2010, I beat my goal time, and I felt even more invincible. Next plan was to complete a duathlon.
Well pride comes before a fall, and within weeks of completing the half marathon, I found myself becoming ill. I had begun a medication in Oct 2010 that was beginning to make me immunodeficient & severely dehydrated, but I wouldn't figure that out for another 11 months. I suddenly went from running many miles a week to not even being able to walk for 30 minutes. I suffered for the next 11 months with unexplained weight loss, blackouts, nausea, vomiting, headaches, sinus infections, UTI's, mouth ulcers, boils, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. My bank account suffered some steep medical bills too, despite having great health insurance.
In Sept 2011, I finally put two & two together & realized it was the medication that was killing me. I spent a weekend pondering my health, lifestyle, vulnerability, and what I could do to turn things around. In one fell swoop, I stopped the medication, began drinking water, sleeping, eating healthy foods, and avoiding sweets (which previously comprised around 2/3 of my diet..).
Four months later, and I can humbly say my health has stabilized. I am ready to exercise again, but I am not rushing into things the way I used to. I now realize that although I'm motivated, I'm not invincible. Over the last four months, I have regained the ability to walk for 30 minutes. Next step is to return to jogging. Long-term goal is to regain my running skills, develop some cycling skills, and finally complete that duathlon.
I hope to chronicle my exercise-recovery here online. Something about it being visible to the public makes me more determined to make it work. Thank you for reading my ramblings.
Well pride comes before a fall, and within weeks of completing the half marathon, I found myself becoming ill. I had begun a medication in Oct 2010 that was beginning to make me immunodeficient & severely dehydrated, but I wouldn't figure that out for another 11 months. I suddenly went from running many miles a week to not even being able to walk for 30 minutes. I suffered for the next 11 months with unexplained weight loss, blackouts, nausea, vomiting, headaches, sinus infections, UTI's, mouth ulcers, boils, extreme fatigue, and digestive problems. My bank account suffered some steep medical bills too, despite having great health insurance.
In Sept 2011, I finally put two & two together & realized it was the medication that was killing me. I spent a weekend pondering my health, lifestyle, vulnerability, and what I could do to turn things around. In one fell swoop, I stopped the medication, began drinking water, sleeping, eating healthy foods, and avoiding sweets (which previously comprised around 2/3 of my diet..).
Four months later, and I can humbly say my health has stabilized. I am ready to exercise again, but I am not rushing into things the way I used to. I now realize that although I'm motivated, I'm not invincible. Over the last four months, I have regained the ability to walk for 30 minutes. Next step is to return to jogging. Long-term goal is to regain my running skills, develop some cycling skills, and finally complete that duathlon.
I hope to chronicle my exercise-recovery here online. Something about it being visible to the public makes me more determined to make it work. Thank you for reading my ramblings.