I have always been conscious of the value of healthy eating, sleeping, and exercising habits. I know that if I am a person of excellence I must strive for that in every area of my life. Though I probably eat healthy more times than not, having good sleeping, and exercising habits weren’t my strong point. This is how I knew that they were exactly the areas I needed to work on if I wanted my body to get back into balance. However, what made me decide to start exercising was seeing this eye-opening image stating the benefits of exercise.
Benefits of Exercising
What really called my attention was how it helped migraines, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I have been very thin my whole life, so I was not looking to lose any weight. Quite the contrary, I wouldn’t mind putting on some pounds. At 5’4” the most I have ever weighed has been 109lbs., so there is still room in my BMI to grow. As it happens, the same fast metabolism that has kept me thin my whole life, has also been responsible for my migraines, PCOS, and my mildly fatty liver. Without getting in the tedious details of how the endocrine system controls what happens in our bodies, I will try to explain this as briefly as possible. Ok, maybe not brief, I am rarely brief.
From what research I have done, I learned that a fast metabolism means that you burn your food faster because your body releases more insulin that drives the glucose (from food) into the cells for energy. Sounds great at first, right? I could literally eat everything I wanted, and any amount I wanted, and I wouldn’t gain weight. Besides that I was always eating, because I was always hungry (low blood sugar caused by so much insulin). However, that same insulin was the cause for the migraines I would get almost immediately after I would eat refined sugar. It was also the cause for my menstrual irregularities, which I never gave much importance to until I was married, and off the pill, and wondering where my period was for 6 months (and no, I was not pregnant). During those 6 months, some test were done showing ovaries with cysts. Then, there was the gallbladder attack. The test to see my gallbladder also revealed a mild fatty liver, which may have been a result of all the excess estrogen in my system. (The liver is responsible for eliminating the excess hormones in the body.) At the point of my gallbladder attack I was also jaundice, so my liver was not in the best conditions. So, this is where my fast metabolism, (and love for carbs) had led me: I was 21 years old, thin as always, but my health was not in the best shape because my hormones, controlled by the thyroid in charge of the metabolism, were out of whack. So, I began looking for ways to restore my health, natural ways.
First things had to be first, my doctor wanted to remove my gallbladder, I had other ideas. I googled it (of course), and apparently there was a gallbladder flush. After gulping down a nasty mixture of extra virgin olive oil, and lemon juice, away went most of the stones! (I’ve got the ultrasounds to prove it.) I still had the liver issue, the migraines, and the PCOS. I began learning what I should eat, and what I shouldn’t. This helped avoid at least those migraines brought on by my diet. About the PCOS, I began taking a natural supplement, vitex, which did help. I went from going 6 months without a cycle to having consistent 35 day cycles, something I had never had before. I was also taking dandelion root tea for my liver, and I noticed, the pain in my liver went away.
In all this, I didn’t give exercise a chance, I figured the natural supplements were good enough. What I didn’t realize is that this just served as, exactly that, a supplement to a healthy life style, which needed to include exercise. The supplements were not meant to be taken forever, there needed to come a point where my body was enough in balance to sustain itself. When the time came, I started to look for other alternatives, and I found that image. I knew my father never wanted to go a day without working out, and when he had to it would literally make him sick. I thought: “Maybe that is what I am missing, maybe my body needs exercise to keep its own balance”. I figured it was time.
My husband had been doing P90x for quite a while, and was about to start again. I suggested I join him the next Monday to start off. I want to point out, I believe when one does exercise, it should be with a goal in mind. My goal? Excercise at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. I did not want to lose weight, I did not want to “look better”, I did not want a six-pack. My only complaint was a distended lower abdomen, caused by PCOS. I just wanted to exercise to bring my body into balance, and I knew it would take care of everything else.
My distended abdomen due to PCOS, and yes, this is without sticking my belly out
I began P90x without being able to do 1 push-up. After the first, and most painful week, I noticed I was able to do 1 then 5 push-ups, and still improving. My heart rate doesn’t go so high as it used to, meaning my heart is working more efficiently. My migraines are abolished, and if I notice one is about to start-up, I just start doing jumping jacks, getting the blood flowing prevents it from happening. Most importantly, my hormones are being balanced, I don’t wake up with that pain on my ovaries, my cycles are regulating, going to 28 days (which is how it should be). I remember reading about how in Eastern medicine, PCOS, and reproductive disorders were caused by stagnant blood. That may be the truth because I have seen improvement, and it makes sense.
Along with these improvements, exercising has led to other healthy habits. Due to our schedules, my husband, and I could not find a decent time to work out after work. We found the best time would be to exercise before work, around 8 am. Of course, this means we have to be in bed earlier than 12am, way before that, preferably. Thus, without meaning to, we have been able to improve our sleeping habits as we have wanted to for so long. Additionally, I’ve read that going to bed early helps your liver, so added bonus there. Also, if we go to bed early we are no longer going out to eat at fast foods late at night. Since we workout in the morning, I can use the evening to cook, so that we eat something good, but not too heavy before 8 or 9pm.
We are now starting the second month, and though I only mean to workout 30 minutes per day, I usually end up doing the whole hour or hour, and a half (when it’s Yoga). It is true, I do not always wake up eager to excercise, but I begin anyways, and the energy follows. Going to show me that it’s not about how you feel, it’s about showing up, and being committed, and good things will follow. I notice my abs are starting to show, my distended lower abdomen (result of PCOS) is a lot flatter, and I feel more energetic. Sometimes I think to myself that the answer has always been staring me in the face. I am glad, I finally began. This was not a new year’s resolution. I never make those. I make new day’s resolutions, I decide to work on things that need improvement in my life, and everyday I wake up is a new opportunity to do so.
Sara E Dunphy 