By: Valerie Singley- Affiliate/Community Communication
After I found healthier eating enjoyable, I had to ask myself why I was I allowing my body’s limitations to control my activity? How would I feel and what would I do with more mobility?
Another piece of my ‘aha moment’ was a nurse’s remark in my medical records stating that the cause of my limited mobility was obesity. This time I wasn’t crushed I was ANGRY! I felt the need to prove that wrong.
I shifted through years of medical records and made a chart – date, weight, appointment complaint. The chart confirmed that obesity was a factor in the latter two years. And partially a result of the medical limitations of the previous decade. Most of the complaints involved joint injury or joint stiffness which caused the limited movement and over the years my weight increased. The final diagnosis was arthritis, the root cause of it all.
Of course, this was not surprising. I knew this but hadn’t had a heart to heart over it with myself. It lingered without resolution. I allowed it to turn me into The Queen of Modification.
I was never a person who enjoyed exercising. Instead, I enjoyed sports. So why was I forcing myself to attend group exercise activities? Finding a way to exercise with modification was the Band-Aid that kept me from dealing with the root cause.
My arthritis isn’t going away so it’s time for better options. Eliminating foods which cause inflammation is a plus. The DNA repairing nutraceutical supplements are a win. Both actions reduced my pain, so I put focus on getting more movement in my day.
Walking was where I started and since I like to support charitable causes, I decided to walk in the October 2021 Hilton Head Pledge the Pink cancer walk. 30 total miles at 10 miles a day for 3 consecutive days. I added trekking poles and increased my walking! 27 of the 30 miles complete. Wow, what else could I do? I was excited to share my accomplishment at my upcoming annual appointment.
It wasn’t the 27 miles that pleased my doctor. It was my excitement to move more that made her smile. She agreed that pickle ball would be okay as part of my routine and quickly ordered me knee braces. Pickle ball was added to my lifestyle in January of 2022.
In June of 2022, I completed a cross-country road trip with my daughter and 8-year-old grandson. 5,758 miles traveled across 19 states in 17 days. We dug for diamonds, hiked to waterfalls, saw the Bean in Chicago, climbed rock formations in the Badlands, viewed Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. We even got stuck in a traffic jam caused by bison. Yes, bison.
Eventually I will need a knee replacement, or two, but for now I’m equipped for my life and focused on my health. Don’t be afraid to talk with yourself and build the lifestyle you want.
Valerie is originally from Chambersburg, PA and has resided in the Charleston area for 25 years. She owns VALOSI Enterprises, LLC and believes that your bottom line matters. Whether it is your health or financial journey, today is the day to begin your journey toward an improved bottom line. She provides health and wellness products to assist with your health journey. She offers income generating opportunities for individuals wanting an extra income and small businesses looking for sidelining products. Contact Valerie at: valsingley@gmail.com or find out more at www.VALOSILLC.com