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Healthy But Not Well - Is There A Difference?
By Angela Steward,
Fitness Motivator
Guest Column
I had accepted the fact that I wasn’t healthy and needed to
do something about the weight I had gained over the years. I
also wanted to improve my fitness level. I realized there
were benefits in becoming healthy and feeling well. So, five
years ago my fitness journey began. I set out to change what
I ate, how much I ate, when I ate and why I ate. I drank a
lot of water, watched my sodium intake and I eventually lost
over 50 pounds.
I continue to exercise daily, sometimes twice a day. I feel
great, I look healthy, I’m happy and I’m well. I think I
have this whole healthy lifestyle thing figured out – yay
me! Then – BAM! During one of my annual visits to the doctor
I find out I’m fit, I’m healthy, but not well. What? How can
that be? I exercise daily, I eat healthy, I drink water,
etc. How can I be healthy, but not well?
My mind kept telling me “you feel fine.” Turns out my mind
shielded me from the actual pain I was in. So what if you
have pain in your lower back – doesn’t everybody? My left
side is a lot weaker than my right (it’s because you’re
right handed)! My hands were always cold and ached to the
point I avoided handshakes (You’re getting older and
becoming more fragile)! I refused to believe I was healthy
and fit, but not well.
After getting the same diagnosis from three different
doctors – large fibroid tumor, I finally surrendered to the
surgery – I needed to get well. My doctor graciously
explained to me the surgery required to get rid of the
eight-pound mound. He also told me I was way sicker than I
realize. But because I was healthy and fit, my recovery
would be extremely different from others who had the same
surgery. I would heal faster, I would feel better
instantaneously, and I’d return to normal activity in half
the time as most women who have the same procedure.
I still tried to put it off for a couple of months – but he
made sure I understood the severity of that decision, the
tumor was growing and the longer I waited the more invasive
the surgery would be, the larger and uglier the scar would
be, and my recovery would take longer – I decided to step
out on faith and scheduled my surgery immediately. Thank you
Drs. Geissler, Rolf-Anderson and Emch!
Today (Feb. 28) (Sunday), I’m recovering from my surgery!
The tumor was non-cancerous. In only five days I feel
wonderful, sore, but happy I listened to my doctor. I
instantly lost 10 pounds – yippee! My doctor was right – my
back no longer hurts: the tumor was resting on my tailbone;
my left side is as strong as my right, my hands are warm and
don’t hurt anymore, all because the tumor was cutting off
the circulation of blood in my legs and hands.
I’d like to thank all the wonderful doctors, nurses and
nurse aides at MCO who took wonderful care of me, and to all
my friends and family who prayed for me and have always
supported me.
I’m taking it easy, on my way to a full recovery. Staying
home, hubby spoiling me, no exercise, no lifting, but I did
sneak out this weekend to buy two new cute pairs of pumps!
A great pair of pumps just makes you feel good - LOL!
I now know that my mind and body have to work in harmony. If
my body doesn’t feel right, then something is wrong!
How are you feeling today?
Yours in Fitness and Wellness!!!
(Keep me in your prayers)!!
Email Angela Steward at:
Fabfitu@yahoo.com or call
Cell: 419-699-9399
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