How Bad Do You Want to Get Better?
It doesn’t come easy. Let’s get this out there right now. Getting back to health after that disease relapse, or initial onset, is not easy. Plain and simple. You know, I’ve sat here day after day, week after week, and I’ve spoken all sunshine and rainbows, with hope on the horizon and thoughts of well-being just around the corner after you sign that registration form for your sport. Well, I think we have been on this journey together long enough for me to be very real with all of you. After all, what good are promises of an end goal if I don’t tell you what you are in for along the way.
The truth is, this journey is HARD. You have to want your health back. I know what you are thinking, “But Mike, I want to feel better, but I’m scared to go after it and I’m not able to buy good food, and I’m not able to get to the gym.” Just stop right there because that is the kind of thinking that tells me that you may want to feel better, but you don’t want it bad enough. I’m going to open up and let you all in on a little secret of mine. It’s a little story of how I started all of this and I’m not talking about the conception of the idea, but the actual process. Soccer got me started, but I’ve always loved weightlifting. I’ve always loved the challenge of testing my body to see what I could do. When I first began to relapse and have a colitis attack, I was going to the gym regularly. I was lifting heavy. I had just squatted 200lbs for the first time in my life. Then disease happened, and I began having to run to the bathroom between sets; that is, if I even went to the gym. I was terrified of having an accident at the gym. I had good reason after all. My disease was getting bad. How bad you may ask. Well, bad enough that my wife confessed to me that she probably should’ve taken me to the hospital one or two times for fluid and nutrition. Problem is, I’m stubborn.
As you can see, I did exactly what I just said I don’t want to hear. I made excuses. “I don’t want to have an accident at the gym. I don’t want to lose any more weight. I hurt.” On and on the excuses poured out of me. Then, I found that life-changing article. I joined soccer and forced myself out of my comfort zone. Yet, I didn’t hit the gym just yet, but I didn’t give up. I planned around my issues. I bought weights and used what I owned. I worked out in my basement day in and day out. I ran to the bathroom between sets. I trained on my heavy bag and I made progress. Most importantly, I DIDN’T GIVE UP. Don’t give up! It’s that simple.
You will give yourself excuses. I know I did. I had 101 reasons to not step out the door and do anything physical, but let me tell you something. The first time I conquered that fear completely, the first time I ran 2.5km in over two years, I cried. I cried like a child, but not because something bad happened. No, it was because I realized my potential. I realized that despite being sick, despite losing 15lbs, and despite the pain, I was still able to conquer a challenge.
Since then I’ve ended up back in the gym. The fear no longer consumes me, and I feel better than I ever have. In the past I have always bounced back and forth between weight training and sport, thinking of them as mutually exclusive. Yet I have realized that they are actually mutually inclusive. It became so apparent that in the 5-6 weeks that I have been weightlifting AND playing sports, I have had almost 90% symptom free days. This is something I have not experienced in the three years (now) since my relapse of disease. Yes, I still take my meds, it’s the safe thing to do. But I’ve been taking these for over a year now, with moderate change. Since I’ve added sport and training into my life, I’ve improved more than I can explain.
So getting back to the message of the day. No excuses! This journey is hard. Trust me, I know because I have been there. I’ve been desperate for change but scared to jump in to it. I’ve been at all time lows, both physically and mentally. I’ve struggled. And if I can persevere, through all of that for three years, you can to. There’s no secret formula. Courage, hard work, dedication, and a belief that you will get better. Have these four things and I guarantee you that you will see an improvement in your health. Fight for your health, don’t give up on it. Take control and fight back.
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