Taking my body for granted

I have been watching what I have been eating ever since I was introduced to Weight Watchers almost 25 years ago. So I certainly learned that healthy foods were a better choice than junky foods, and I had thought that I trained my body to know the difference. Therefore as the years went on and my body started to really reject "bad" foods, I chalked it up to my body telling me what it liked and did not like, and therefore I continually did my best to make good choices while trying to limit those not so good foods.

But something was different this past summer, when I was starting to have stabbing stomach pain after I ate some broasted chicken at a golf outing. Perhaps it was time to ask why I could no longer handle some foods? After a conversation with my primary care provider, we determined it was a good idea to get an ultrasound just to see what may be going on in my body. Not really to my surprise based on my family history, I had a gallstone the size of a quarter which meant it was time to evict my gallbladder since it was not functioning properly. The path of surgery started to unfold in front of me.

I had surgery to remove my gallbladder on July 29th and through the ups and downs of the process, it became so apparent to me. If I don't have my health, I HAVE NOTHING. When crossing a hallway was a major feat, or picking up a plate of food became my weight lifting, it became very clear to me that this was maybe a little bit more significant that I had first thought. I have to give kudos to all the healthcare providers at Bellin who took amazing care of me. From warmed blankets to understanding pain pill illness, they were absolutely outstanding. Now, I am almost 3 weeks out, and I am just grateful to be able to pick up something I drop off the floor or walk a half mile without quitting. Before the surgery I could find excuses to not be active, and now I just can't wait until my body is healed and I can back to using my body at full capacity. I can't wait to feel the sweat from a good workout or the aches in my legs from doing a bunch of lunges. I can't wait to fully engage my body again.

Workouts have always been a stress reliever for me, so my husband said to me the other day, "It must be driving you crazy to not work out." I replied with, "Well it's just different when the pain stops you." This whole experience has made me realize the struggles that people have every day physically and how lucky and blessed I have been to only have a short time out before I am healed and can get back to it.

Our bodies are so amazing! I want to remember this experience, well not the pain and sickness part, but the part where I realize that our health is not something we should take for granted. If you are able, take the walk, lift the weights, go kayaking, whatever! Just do it because you can!