Many of you are familiar with the basics of my story. Mostly bedridden for 8.5 years, then significant improvement from a combination of n advanced form of cranial osteopathy, meditation techniques, lots of rest and intense lifestyle changes.
The past 3ish years my improvement has continued, but been gradual as I struggle to survive on the streets in my van. My osteo says if I just get some stability and reduced stress my body could heal a lot more, but life happens. 2 years ago I met the love of my life. Having an amazing reliable caregiver took a weight off my shoulders. Continued improvement has been hard to see unless I look back a year. I still end up in the ER ever other month or so with severe GI issues or other stuff. Still have a laundry list of secondary issues too long for doctors to go through. Extensive dietary restrictions. Etc.
Up until last week, I could still only walk about a block, slowly, maybe two, before needing to rest. And that was on a good day. While using hiking poles.
A couple days ago I jogged 2 blocks and had energy to spare.
No crash.
Yesterday I speed walked about 5 blocks without resting. I was barely even breathing hard afterwards.
Neither of these utilized my hiking poles, which I've been relying on for a good 4 years now.
It's amazing and awesome. The improvement happened so fast I'm still adjusting to it. I don't want to push myself hard enough to crash, but strangely I can just....DO things now. This is in the midst of having to drive 4+ hours a day and getting very little sleep various nights and lots of stress due to complicated stuff. It's not a good time to test limits because my body is super run down.
But it also most definitely wants exercise now. If I don't manage to walk at least 10-15 minutes a day my body feels yucky. It WANTS exercise, now.
The only thing that changed recently is I got three teeth pulled about a month ago. Two were abscessed, and the infections have been present for a good 5 years at least.
I don't share this as a potential cure. There are many factors that have contributed to my healing and this is simply one more.
But rather I want to share just how this healing process works, when it happens. I DON'T have to convince myself to exercise more. That has NEVER been part of my healing process AT ALL. As soon as my body was capable, it began to crave it. I don't push myself to build muscle and endurance. I just do however much my body naturally wants. And last week I did a combination of walking and jogging 4 blocks total there and back to a nearby restroom.
My world has expanded SO MUCH!
This is awesome for me, and I wish I could share it with you all.
But what I CAN give you is maybe a bit of validation.
There are reasons your body is not up to doing stuff. All this graded exercise shit can just be shoved where the sun don't shine.
When the reasons your body is intolerant to exercise are addressed, then you will want to exercise. It's as simple as that. The problem is NOT muscle atrophy - look, I had that from being bedridden so long, and it was pretty easy to address myself the moment my body was physically capable.
I hope you all can someday encounter some of the healing I'm experiencing. In the meantime, keep your chin up, keep doing whatever works for you, and ignore those stupid naysayers who don't have a clue what they're talking about. I'm recovering and it has absolutely nothing to do with pushing exercise.
And YAY I CAN WALK!
The past 3ish years my improvement has continued, but been gradual as I struggle to survive on the streets in my van. My osteo says if I just get some stability and reduced stress my body could heal a lot more, but life happens. 2 years ago I met the love of my life. Having an amazing reliable caregiver took a weight off my shoulders. Continued improvement has been hard to see unless I look back a year. I still end up in the ER ever other month or so with severe GI issues or other stuff. Still have a laundry list of secondary issues too long for doctors to go through. Extensive dietary restrictions. Etc.
Up until last week, I could still only walk about a block, slowly, maybe two, before needing to rest. And that was on a good day. While using hiking poles.
A couple days ago I jogged 2 blocks and had energy to spare.
No crash.
Yesterday I speed walked about 5 blocks without resting. I was barely even breathing hard afterwards.
Neither of these utilized my hiking poles, which I've been relying on for a good 4 years now.
It's amazing and awesome. The improvement happened so fast I'm still adjusting to it. I don't want to push myself hard enough to crash, but strangely I can just....DO things now. This is in the midst of having to drive 4+ hours a day and getting very little sleep various nights and lots of stress due to complicated stuff. It's not a good time to test limits because my body is super run down.
But it also most definitely wants exercise now. If I don't manage to walk at least 10-15 minutes a day my body feels yucky. It WANTS exercise, now.
The only thing that changed recently is I got three teeth pulled about a month ago. Two were abscessed, and the infections have been present for a good 5 years at least.
I don't share this as a potential cure. There are many factors that have contributed to my healing and this is simply one more.
But rather I want to share just how this healing process works, when it happens. I DON'T have to convince myself to exercise more. That has NEVER been part of my healing process AT ALL. As soon as my body was capable, it began to crave it. I don't push myself to build muscle and endurance. I just do however much my body naturally wants. And last week I did a combination of walking and jogging 4 blocks total there and back to a nearby restroom.
My world has expanded SO MUCH!
This is awesome for me, and I wish I could share it with you all.
But what I CAN give you is maybe a bit of validation.
There are reasons your body is not up to doing stuff. All this graded exercise shit can just be shoved where the sun don't shine.
When the reasons your body is intolerant to exercise are addressed, then you will want to exercise. It's as simple as that. The problem is NOT muscle atrophy - look, I had that from being bedridden so long, and it was pretty easy to address myself the moment my body was physically capable.
I hope you all can someday encounter some of the healing I'm experiencing. In the meantime, keep your chin up, keep doing whatever works for you, and ignore those stupid naysayers who don't have a clue what they're talking about. I'm recovering and it has absolutely nothing to do with pushing exercise.
And YAY I CAN WALK!
