Get Healthy! | My Life Transformation

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Looking back, I didn’t have much of a healthy lifestyle. I thought I did. Was cycling, eating good sometimes. I have fibromyalgia, the stiffness, pain and lack of energy was frustrating. The condition depressed me so I found comfort in food. Exercise hurt, so I avoided it. I’m artist by trade, both behind the computer and an easel, the sedentary work was not doing me any favors. I’ve always been an optimist, but I wasn’t feeling good nor believed “great” things were ahead for me to accomplish, physically. Those things were always for someone else – like athletes.

“Insanity” The Hardest Workout Program ever put on DVD. Nothing like divin right in! It was my test to see if I could actually do something “hard”. If I could, a new chapter of positive. If not, I’d accept this was my hand. The first 2 weeks about killed me, not gonna lie; couldn’t do many of the exercises due to an old neck/shoulder injury. What many Fibromyalgia patients don’t know is: you have to get to this point of soreness and go beyond – before the pain management kicks in. After this, you’re golden.

This vigorous exercise routine, the circulation, water, and great nutrition improved my pain symptoms by over 90%. I had never known before this point that what I put into my body, digested - directly affected how I felt, Fibromyalgia or not. So many out there don’t realize this! Some days I didn’t even feel like I had the condition, and what was there wasn’t enough to hinder my plans. I had energy, the best sleep I had in years. 17 years, to be exact.

Back to the story-

About 4 weeks into the routine, I got news of my Mom’s colon cancer.

Finishing Insanity now became something beyond an exercise program; gave me focus and Mom too, actually. I’d visit her in the hospital post surgery and she’d want to know every detail, how my workouts were going, got chuckles out of how sore I was (limping in). She could see the transformation inside, and it struck a chord. I see an analogy of sticking to something positive during all that; if I had quit, she’d have felt somehow responsible. That negativity was the last thing she needed. I’m a firm believer in mind over matter, how powerful it can be. I finished the program within 1 week of her starting Radiation and Chemo through November. Began a 2nd Round through the holidays and into January, as Mom was going into her treatments with just Chemo.

The lifestyle has extended to my husband, immediate family, extended family, and friends.

OH – And how is Mom now? She’s 45 lbs lighter, doing Yoga and juicing – along with my Dad – the healthiest they’ve been in years!