I Choose Happy

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”
-1 Corinthians 6:19-20

     I looked in the mirror a few days ago and realized that I didn't feel happy. It wasn't the weight gain, or the steroid caused acne, or even the fact that my hair had gone unwashed and hadn't seen the outside of a hair tie in a while. I just didn't feel like myself. I decided that needed to change. That it was time to feel happy inside my body again. So I made the decision to start being active again, not just on the weekends, and not just when I feel like it. But actually putting forth the effort in doing an hour of something, anything really, a day. For one whole hour.
     I started over the weekend. Going on a spontaneous hike out at Red Rocks. I got lost, about nearly didn't make it back to the car because I was so tired, and kind of accidentally almost starved myself because I forgot the lunch I packed in the car. It was 3.5 miles of hell. Google told me the hike was 2 miles to the waterfall and 2 miles back. But.. it was not. I didn't reach the actual trail head until 1.5miles in. I had to turn around before getting to the waterfall because I knew I was getting close to past my limit and since I was out alone I didn't want to push to much. I was discouraged that I decided to turn around. I felt like a failure because I set out on this adventure and couldn't make it. Once I was back in my car my watch loaded the stats onto my phone. I hiked 3.60 miles in under an hour and a half. That's amazing! I realized there is no reason to feel ashamed about that. I accomplished something big and I was turning that feeling of failure into a feeling of accomplishment.
     Then yesterday, I decided to go out to Exploration Peak. It's trail is just under half a mile but it's almost straight up. If I thought my hike at Red Rock was tough... I would have to stop every 15-20 feet to catch my breath and let my heart rate come back down from the 180s range. As I was taking a break a large group of soccer players started jogging up the mountain passed me. WHO JOGS UP A MOUNTAIN?!
     It's so hard to look at things like people jogging past me or having to turn around and not think "wow Elizabeth this is kind of pathetic." But I have to remember and constantly remind myself that my health isn't where there's is. And for what I've been through and the fact that my POTs is kind of out of control right now and still being able push through and accomplish things is pretty amazing. And I'm proud of what I am able to do. I am going to take advantage of every good and healthy day. I also signed up to be a virtual participant in the POTs Pi Day 5k so I will be doing that March 10th if anyone is interested in walking with me!

With Love,
Elizabeth <3

Learning To Be Active Again

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it reveals the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have trained by it."

-Hebrews 12:11

     I am trying to get into the habit of being active again. Not working out, but active. The difference between working out and being active is I am soley trying to get off the couch. I have no outcome goals of losing weight or gaining muscle. I merely just want to move as much as I can. And to say that has been an uphill battle is an understatement. 

     One thing with my Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is that deconditioning makes my symptoms worse. My body literally forgets how to push blood to my brain when I am moving. The more often I move the less my body forgets and the easier it is to do everyday things. When I lay for a month in a hospital bed my body forgets all of that and when I start to move and do life again my autonomic nervous system goes absolute haywire. 

Yep, this is why laundry day
is my least favorite day. 

     One thing I do to be active is go for walks. Small walks, half a mile at most. My heart can barely tolerate that. Some family and I have been walking around the park every once and a while. We also went to look at model homes, which ended up being a bit more of a workout that I anticipated. Damn these three story houses in Vegas. I also walked to my aunt's house for breakfast and back. It's simple yes, but my body is starting to thank me. 

     I have no real plans to begin hard core working out again. Just looking at my heart rate from the little things I already do makes me want to never ever workout again. But I know I'll work my way up to that. It'll take a bit, but I'll get there. I'll slowl

y start to push the limits and work my way up to weight lifting and being buff (JK that's never been the case) again.

With Love, 

Elizabeth <3 

Celebrating The Victories

     After a rough couple of weeks and being frustrated and tired I wanted to prove to myself I was still able to be "normal". I wanted to go for a hike. The weather is absolutely gorgeous right now so it was the perfect time to go. I asked my adventure buddy who agreed to go hiking with me. And we set out to the Discovery Trail in Red Rock park. The Discovery Trail is a super short trail also known as the "children's trail". It's about 1/4 mile in and a 1/4 mile back and it goes in a nice little loop. It was all shaded by the time we got out there which was perfect! We actually were both pretty chilly during most of the hike. (We're wimps; we know)
     The hike itself wasn't difficult. There were a few spots where you have to go up a rock "staircase" or two. But other than that it was mostly flat and led to where there would have been a waterfall (if we actually got precipitation in Las Vegas). It was super fun climbing around and watching kids do the hike as well. At one point, on our way back to the car, three kids came around the corner and gasped "We heard you and thought you were rattlesnakes!" Yes child; I took hear voices and footsteps and think rattlesnakes. It became a joke and it inspired these fantastic pictures!
      I'm so glad I conquered this hike! My heart had a hard time cooperating with my heart rate in the 190's most of the time; but I didn't pass out! Which is always a huge accomplishment! Even better my PICC line stayed nice and clean which is always a concern of mine. I'm so thankful to have friends like my Adventure Buddy to accompany me on adventures like this. Even if they are just short little excursions!
     Always remember to celebrate the victories no matter how small they may seem to most people. It may be the biggest thing you've ever accomplished, and that, should always be celebrated! "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." Psalm 96:1-2

With Love,
Elizabeth <3

Silent Savsana

     I might have self invited myself to Silent Savasana. It was a free yoga class held by the pool at Red Rock Hotel and Casino in Vegas. I am always looking for fun free things to do. It's even better if it doubles as a workout class that I'm able to do! I had so much fun! I met some family and friends there and none of us really knew what to expect. I was completely lost wondering around the hotel in work out clothes and a yoga mat. I felt so out of place but once I finally found everyone and got settled in it was super enjoyable! The weather was really nice for Vegas standards and the sun was starting to set so it ended up not being bright or to hot which I was really worried about. I'm trying to work out more. Not to lose weight or anything, although that would be a nice perk. But just to keep my heart healthy and my body healthy. I can't run or walk long distances so I'm always looking for better ways to stay healthy that are "easy" for me or that I can do without passing out from my POTs. I'm so glad I was able to find this company. Right now I think they are just in Vegas but they are trying to expand. Check them out on FaceBook!
     What ever your workout goals may be this week you can do it! I did and I don't even have workout goals. :)
With Love,
Elizabeth <3