My Fitness Journey

Today I’m sharing my personal fitness story and how it has changed drastically for me over the last year.  Prior to my diagnosis in January, I would run about 15-20 miles a week and do several other strength-training & toning workouts as well.  There was a time when it wasn’t uncommon for me to put in two solid hours of exercise each day and it was something I truly enjoyed – pushing my body to the limit & feeling strong.  But, after I recovered from a severe Lupus flare last winter, I noticed a significant change.  Every time I tried to go to the gym and log my usual miles on the treadmill, I would spend the rest of the day feeling overly fatigued and would sometimes even get sick afterwards.  My body was clearly telling me that it was not yet strong enough to handle such high-intensity workouts.  

Because my health is now something that I have to fight for every day, I’ve had to re-learn how to properly care for my body – through the foods I eat, getting a full night’s sleep & doing exercises that won’t exhaust me to the point of triggering another flare.  As frustrating as this realization was for me, I finally was able to let it go & embrace lower-impact workouts that were still effective, but would be gentler on my immune system.  

I’ve been wearing Old Navy workout gear religiously for the past few years because the price point is ideal for something you’re going to regularly sweat in & they do such a good job of constructing the pieces to be durable.  I have gotten more friends (and even my daughter!) hooked on these compression capris for their flattering & comfortable fit – I own 3 pairs in different colors/prints and just rotate them during the week.  But, be warned: you may not want to take them off after your workout is over!

 

Maybe you are, like me, adjusting to a “new normal” and trying to learn what workouts will be best for your health. Maybe you are in the middle of intense training for a big challenge ahead.  Maybe you are just beginning & simply trying to keep a New Year’s resolution.  Wherever you’re at in your fitness journey, I would encourage you to remember that we are all different and that your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. 

c/o Old Navy Sports Bra, c/o Old Navy Compression CaprisAll photos: Anabella V. Photography

Special thank you to Amanda, our instructor, for so graciously teaching us the ropes & pushing us to do our best.  
If you live in the city, I highly recommend checking out her SLT class!