Fitness and Invisible Illness
September 18, 2009 by MELISSA, MULTI-TASKING MAMA
Filed under MS, chronic illness, exercise, multiple sclerosis
So, if you don’t know that this is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness week then you have been hiding under a rock (or not reading my blog on a regular basis). Each day this week (that I have posted) I have been talking about living with chronic illness. Today, I wanted to talk about fitness and chronic illness- how they work together and how they don’t.
Most of my loyal readers know that I applied to be the first Mamavation mom. I didn’t win the contest but I did gain the motivation I needed (or kick in the butt as it may be) that I needed to start on my personal weight loss journey. I have lost 10 lbs. since I made that video in late July! I am down two pants sizes and my endurance has really increased.
Where I am having trouble is this: stagnation. For the last week and a half, I have not lost a pound, not even a half a darn pound. I haven’t gained anything back but it gets depressing to see the number on the scale look stuck when you want it to not be stuck yet, you know what I’m sayin’?
Could this be blamed on the fact that I eat my weight in chocolate when I am on my period (which was last week and sorry for the TMI)? Possibly. Could it be that I have gained muscle from the GINORMOUS amount of exercise I have been performing compared to before I started this journey? Possibly. But there is a little gnawing voice in the back of my head saying “Is this all you’ve got”?
Anybody know how to make that stop?
Anyways, back to chronic illness. I have to stay cool when I exercise, be careful not to push myself too far (with neurological weakness it can take a while to “feel the burn” so to speak) but other than that my doctor’s have not limited my physical activity in any way. In fact they have encouraged me to engage in exercise, particularly Pilates and yoga type exercises which strengthen your core.
I am going to keep being healthy (except for my monthly chocolate gorge fest) and exercising. Will you please join me in prayer that the darn number on the scale will keep up it’s end of the bargain and diminish each week? Thanks!
