After 4 years of being away from the YMCA and a routine of activity, I decided to sign the family up for a membership and get back into the pool 3-4 times a week. My goal is to lose 20 pounds by the time the LPA Conference begins and hopefully participate in the DAAA Games. The biggest motivator to getting back into shape is the fact that my Spinal Stenosis has flared up again, and I'm tired of being in pain and not being able to stand on my feet, like I used to. For those who are unaware, many individuals with Dwarfism have back issues like compression or stenosis. Stenosis is a narrowing of the open spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on your spinal cord and the nerves that travel through the spine, while compression develops when the spinal is compressed by bone fragments from a vertebral fracture, a tumor, abscess, ruptured inter vertebral disc or other lesion. It is regarded as a medical emergency independent of its cause, and requires swift diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term disability due to irreversible spinal cord injury. Thanks to Wikipedia for helping me out with those definitions. I had sought out surgical options, but when it comes to procedures to the spinal, it makes me very weary and worried that I might need more procedures performed. Also, I feel that if I use alternative therapies such as exercising on the treadmill and in the water, as well as other remedial therapies such as acupuncture, I will be able to overcome this ailment.
With today's exercise, it felt like it was four years, as I was very winded after one lap! Rather than quitting, I kept going and was able to work out for close to 40 minutes. It was very therapeutic as I felt the pain in my hip slowly fade as I swam. I followed this up sitting in the hot tub which I should also add is very therapeutic. Also, I'm planning on following this with being on a Weight Watchers diet where I hope to stay under 30 points per day, and I will say that when I followed the WW plan with exercise in 2008, I was able to lose more than 20 pounds.
While I am proud of getting back into the swing of things, I'm writing this to let others know , especially in the Dwarfism community, that with a weekly regiment and changing the eating habits, the ailments can fade away. I know in some circumstances it's not possible, but in many it is. It comes down to motivation and getting to the gym or the pool. I hope that I am participating in DAAA games such as basketball, soccer, and many others this summer, but if not, my goal is to have a healthy body and mind.
