Exercise and Autoimmune (Myopathy)
In 2008 when I was starting to feel some unusual symptom’s, such as Raynaud’s, swollen hands and fingers, muscle weakness along with many others as well as severe fatigue. My first thought was that I needed to get in shape. Especially since my nurse practitioner told me there was nothing wrong with me. I started to walk, run, and tried getting back into shape but things just seemed to get worse. The more I exercised the worse I seemed to be getting.
After my diagnosis of Mixed Connective tissue Disease in 2013, 5 years after my NP told me there was nothing wrong with me, I was put on medication and prescribed physical therapy. I was also told that I could not push too hard because of the attack on my muscles. The more I pushed the greater the attack. The harder I worked my muscles the thought was it could increase my already elevated CPK (Creatine Phosphokinase or CPK- a test that determines the levels of enzymes in the blood stream).
I remember my therapist telling me that at my age I may not regain my lost muscles. After 3 weeks in therapy, and taking immunosuppressive drugs, I was making tremendous progress. I was going to beat this. When they told me there was no cure and the disease could be managed with drugs, I refused to believe this! Little did I know how long this healing journey was going to take.
Later in 2013 something terrible went wrong. I suddenly developed a severe pain in my right hip that shot all the way down the outside of my leg. It created a very painful muscle knot in the outside of my right calf. I was in so much pain that I wanted someone to put me out of my misery. I had never felt pain like this in my life. Back to physical therapy I went.
I started this blog almost 2 years ago. I was doing very well and wanted to help others heal by sharing my journey. Going public has been an amazing leap of faith. Many people reach out to me for help and most are women. In September of 2019 I was contacted by a health and fitness coach who was looking for an addition to her “team” that could help with those struggling with autoimmune disease. This involved nutrition products and a workout app. Little did she realize just because I looked pretty good, and felt pretty good, I was still not “working out”. My nutrition was amazing! I had been eating a healing diet for over 5 years at this point.
After a couple months of trying the products and researching them, I decided to give it a try. I started working out and decided to start coaching those who were struggling with autoimmune conditions and those who just wanted to get healthier, maybe lose some weight or just get in better shape and learn to eat cleaner.
The first program I started and finished was the 3-week yoga program. I made huge improvements! Remember one of my autoimmune conditions is myopathy. This is inflammation and an attack on my muscles. I then was picked to be a part of a test group for a new program. This new program was a 6 week boxing workout that included upper body and weights, legs, and core. I was not the greatest at the foot work, but I did the 6 weeks and felt so amazing to be able to do this! I have continued to workout several times a week now for over a year. When someone suffers with autoimmune disease, often their physical activity drops drastically. Fatigue, weakness, lack of sleep, along with depression and sadness makes it very difficult to exercise let alone be motivated to do our daily activities. It was thought rest and medication was all we needed to manage this disease. It is now known that proper nutrition and movement is a huge part of healing and getting back to a normal life. A sedentary lifestyle is a very unhealthy lifestyle! Yes, even for those who are ill with disease. Muscles need movement like strength training, stretching like yoga, and we need to have fun while doing these activities. Get outside. Go for walks. Workout with a friend. Join a group.
I may never have killer abs, or defined muscles, or be at the perfect weight. My success is being off toxic drugs now for 2 ½ years. Golfing 3-4 times a week. Enjoying my family, including 5 very active grandchildren. I get to workout in my home at my convenience, which has been very important this last year with the pandemic. I have learned to modify workouts for me! I have gained muscle, got rid of my pain and have amazing energy. I sleep well and enjoy life!
Whether you are battling illness or just want to live a healthier life, nutrition and fitness is the key.
Do not wait another minute. Start eating a clean diet, moving your body daily and create a mindset for success. Join a group or join me and my team for support. Do not let age or illness be your excuse. Exercise is fun! Exercise is healing! Exercise is a must for a healthy life.
