Health & Wellness | L.B.

This is my most revealing post to date. It’s the first time mentioning that I have an autoimmune disease, specifically lupus, and mixed connective tissue disease. I’ve gone back and forth about sharing this information because I recognize that my diagnosis isn’t as severe as others who have autoimmune diseases. The last thing I want to do is misrepresent life with lupus.  I was fortunate to have been diagnosed early on and began treatment before any organ damage was done. 

It’s been less than a year since my diagnosis and I’ve spent most of this time trying to accept that this is a permanent condition. Along with that, I’ve begun working to rebuild my physical endurance. Staying active with a lupus diagnosis is possible and is also encouraged. An article from the Lupus Foundation of America has more information on staying active with lupus. Please, consult with your physician before starting any new exercise program.

I HAD ALWAYS LED AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE
Initially, I thought my frustrations getting back into shape were post-pregnancy related. I kept thinking, “Give yourself more time. Be patient.” But I kept facing new, and sometimes scary, physical challenges. I had always led an active lifestyle and I couldn’t make sense of what was happening. It wasn’t until my routine bloodwork came back with unusual results. That was when I got answers for many of the concerns I had.  

I’ve always known what moves trigger what bodily responses and how I’d feel afterward. Now, I’m learning that all over again. My “usual” isn’t’ my usual anymore. For example, a few days ago, I went for my first outside run in about seven months. Since it had been a while, I decided to run only one lap (1.3 miles) around the neighborhood. It felt good! My chest was expanding, my heart was pumping hard, and I realized how much I missed the soothing rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement. I craved more but was wary of overexerting myself as I had done before. The next day, my legs felt fatigued, and at one point, I felt like I was going to collapse. It took me four days to fully recover from running a mile. Mentally, I’m ready to open up and exhaust myself, but my body isn’t ready yet.

I love the adrenaline rush after an intense cardio session, and as weird as this sounds, I used to love the soreness that came with trying out a new workout. I like to believe that I can rebuild my endurance and get back to my previous level of fitness but, I’m not sure it works that way. I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to a point where I feel like my mind and body are on the same fitness page, but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying.

MY CURRENT APPROACH TO FITNESS
At this point, thankfully, having an autoimmune disease hasn’t disrupted my life too much. My current approach to fitness focuses on daily stretching, light cardio, and proper hydration. I can feel my muscles are tighter than they used to be which is why I have a new focus on stretching. Often, it’s just 5 or 10 minutes but there is a noticeable difference in how I feel. Other times it is incorporated into what I’m doing at that moment. For example, if sitting at a table or desk for an extended period, I’ll bend and twist to each side. You’re probably wondering, “why don’t you just subscribe to Yoga.” I know. I have nothing against it. I’ve tried it and tried variations of it but I prefer to keep things simple.

I usually ride my stationary bike four to six miles every other day. When I’m consistent with that schedule, my muscles don’t feel as tight; it gives me a better sense of general wellness. On designated cardio days, I shoot to consume a minimum of 64 oz of water. That’s 8 glasses. On non-cardio days my goal is 64 oz throughout the day. The added benefits of reaching my water consumption goals are I feel refreshed, and my skin seems to have a bit of a glow to it the following day.

Despite being apprehensive about sharing my journey, I think it is important that I do because others are experiencing this as well. I’m not an expert on lupus or mixed connective tissue disease but maybe I’ll learn something new by opening for dialogue.