Epiphany

I have never liked exercise, never did it unless I was walking up stairs, carrying packages, strolling around the block a few times, doing laundry or shopping at the mall.  

A gym membership, no way, a bicycle, nope, public transportation, not a chance I have a car.  

As I got older, much older, I got arthritis, plus this year I got Covid and lost my sense of smell and taste, both conditions caused lots of pain in my bones and my lungs hurt from not enough oxygen. I couldn’t take the pain and the inability to take deep breaths; this was scary.  

When all non-essential businesses opened back up after the shut down, I figured that I would try the gym having decided to experiment with exercise to heal the arthritis and shortness of breath.  

The first week was hard but I was determined to continue, I did the stationary bike with the big seat, the leg squishing machine, the rowing machine and chest press. Not easy for me, however, after about a week I started to feel better, much of the pain in my legs was gone, I was breathing a little better. I decided to go four to five times a week. 

Three weeks passed and I was on a roll, my shoulders felt better, the pain in my legs and hip was gone, my lungs were opening up. I began meeting the other gym rats. As I, too, am now officially a gym rat, I got to know more about exercise and workout routines. I have added weights to my routine and the track, I lost eleven pounds and I am slowly tightening up my muscles. 

The epiphany moment happened when I became conscious of how I let myself really go by not exercising and how lucky I am to have begun now. All of the pain is gone, I have no more shortness of breath and I seem to be getting my sense of smell and taste back very slowly. From the research I have done, the brain rewires itself to regain the sense of smell and taste after Covid. My theory is that I am helping my brain rewire faster with all the oxygen it is getting from exercise. I now know I can’t stop exercising for my all-around well-being and I have met some really fantastic people who regularly work out at the gym and they welcomed me into their tribe.  

I am looking forward to keeping my routine, making my well-being a priority and enjoying my new gym friends. It is never too late to begin again.

 

Georgia P.

12.17.20