On Health...

As I am talking about an all around healthier new me, there is one aspect that I haven't yet touched on that is very real in me life. That is my actual physical health. Many of you know that almost 2 years ago, my body kind of started spazzing out on me. I had reached the tender old age of thirty. My husband has always teased me that it is all downhill from 30 and sometimes, it seems he has a point. It is a little difficult to describe what all goes on with my body because it has really been a multitude of things. I've had numb hands and feet; feet that have fallen asleep on me even when standing and doing things, tingling over my entire body - at times extremely escalated in the heat or when adjusting from hot to cold, arms that get sore and heavy (like magnets are pulling them to the ground), sore back and neck, sore joints (we would joke that I am the tin man and need an oil can just to get up off the floor), tremors in my hands, cramping in my feet and legs that would come and go for weeks, an eye twitch, tiredness, and the most bizarre (and somewhat humorous) was when I had a couple of week stretch of jerking awake throughout the night. I know that sounds like a normal thing and usually it is, but I was doing it like 8-10 times an hour and would almost jerk off the bed. Sometimes I would end up laying on the couch begging for real sleep. Now, to be fair, I've never had all these things going on at the same time and while most have happened from the get go, this has also been over the course of the last 20 months. Much of it comes and goes. I am on about 4 years now of having my back tingle (like when a limb falls asleep) and that is part of my new normal. Other than that, most things have stayed at bay for awhile. The main symptoms I encounter are the tingling all over the body and the heavy arms. They come and go, but almost always re-appear when I am stressed. I saw a neurologist for awhile and he did a multitude of tests for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and they came back negative. So it was concluded I must have a virus. I was on a combination of antidepressants and tranquilizers (like valium) to combat the symptoms, but they didn't really work and I gave up on them. I didn't see the use of being on meds to mask the symptoms of something we have no clue about when it wasn't even working. I have started seeing a chiropractor who specializes in natural therapies. He has given me some natural food supplements to help strengthen my immune system against viruses, but he also thinks my adrenals are a little sluggish. Not to the point of being diagnosed with a medical condition, but enough that they aren't working efficiently. This could explain a lot of the achey joints and the fact that I almost always feel it physically first when I am getting stresses (since the adrenals are your fight or flight responder or where your adrenaline comes from) It could also address some of the sluggishness I often feel. So I am taking natural food supplements for that as well. Natural food supplements are new for me as I have always been a firm believer in modern medicine and thought holistic stuff was "out there". However, I have come to believe that God has made our bodies so incredibly that there is a lot that they can do to regenerate and care for themselves when treated properly. And I KNOW that my daily meals are not all that nutritious, sad to say. Besides, given the choice between antidepressants and tranquilizers (that weren't working) or natural food supplements (which can only help me get all the nutrients I need anyway), it's not too difficult.

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is that as I have been working out, my body is under stress, so of course I have become tingly all over my body again. It isn't constant, but pretty regular again and it is so frustrating. It's not surprising, but frustrating nonetheless. Last night, as I was laying in bed, just my nose was tingling. It is strange to have this thing sticking out in the middle of your face tingling. But it has made me consider my motives for doing this Ultimate Body Challenge. Yes, I want to get fit. I want to loose a little weight. But there is also a part of me that wants my body to be strong. In the back of my mind there is always the possibility that in 5 years from now it will be decided that I do have MS or some other diagnosis other than a virus. Should that be the case, do I want to fight it with a weak, unfit body or with a fit, strong body? With proper exercise and diet, many people become markedly better from whatever has been ailing them and can even quit medications. Granted, I don't have a heart condition or diabetes, but could the same principle apply for me? If I get my act together nutritionally and get a strong body, could my body take care of itself? Just things I ponder.

In general, I am well and as this is all going on almost 2 years, it has very much become "background" in my life and except when something rears its ugly head for a bit, I don't really pay it much attention anymore. But if this "journey" I am on could cause me to be physically whole, as well as mentally and spiritually, I will welcome it. God is good, regardless of where my body takes me. I am grateful for the health I have and that of my family. I am grateful for each day He gives me that I feel great (which is many more than when I don't feel great) and I have been learning to just not take it for granted. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?