I think by now everyone knows that something like 85% of all resolutions fail, so why commit yourself to something with only a 15% success rate? I made a resolution years ago to not make any more resolutions, and that is the one resolution I have stuck with.
This year Rob and I are resolved to improve our health. We are both turning the big 4-0 in 2009 and have decided we want to spend the next decade healthier than we did the last. Because of my Fibromyalgia we have not been able to do the hiking, backpacking and other outdoor activities we once enjoyed doing together. An unfortunate side affect of my FM limitations has been that Rob no longer has his partner in crime to do all those activities with. Even something as simple as walking the dogs has become a solo activity for him.
Even though my doctor released me several months ago, I have frankly been fearful to start exercising again because I know it will lead to pain and to flare-ups, and I live everyday trying to avoid exacerbating my Fibromyalgia. And yet I firmly believe that I need to exercise to strengthen my core and my muscles, which will enable me to better manage my FM. Crazy, vicious circle! Well I think we have found the place that will encourage both of us to exercise and improve our health, and as our gift to each other this year we bought a membership.
Today is actually the grand opening of a brand-new-state-of-the-art Wellness Center which was built just a couple of miles from our house. When I first drove past the two-story, 58,000 square foot facility I had no idea what I was looking at. So I went to their website and found this description:
The Wellness Center offers the only health and fitness experience of its kind in the region. A fully-integrated health and fitness campus sets the stage for a comprehensive, medically integrated environment focused on your total well-being, ranging from day-to-day health maintenance to sports performance training and rehabilitation.
We also place a priority on personalized service. Our team of degreed and certified fitness specialists, dietitians and health educators are able to work collaboratively with you to develop a personalized fitness program that will help you achieve the positive benefits of exercise including:
- Improved quality of life
- Reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer
- Weight control and enhanced body composition
- Healthier bones, muscles and joints
- Increased flexibility
- Increased muscle strength and endurance
- Increased cardiovascular fitness
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced stress
- Healthier outlook
After reading this my interest was peaked, so Rob and I went on a tour last month, and before we even got out of the locker room we were convinced this was the place where we could both commit to getting our health back. Not only do they have every high-end piece of gym equipment you would expect to find, but included in the membership are cooking and nutrition classes; meditation, yoga, pilates & qigong classes; three indoor pools with aquatic fitness classes; personal trainers and physical therapists. They even have massage and accupunture, but they do cost extra.
We were beyond impressed with the Wellness Center. Rob calls it a fitness country club. They have everything I need to ease myself back into exercise and they are all about improving health and wellness. I have been interested in Qigong for quite some time, but the only place I could find that offers it is 45 minutes away. Now it is just down the road, and if all is well I will be taking my first class this Thursday. So we are excited, and RESOLVED to get the most out of the Center and improving our health. As a team I believe we can do anything. To quote Rob, we will be “looking fine in 0-9.”
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are diverse and vary among patients, so treatment programs must be individualized for each patient. The latest treatments for fibromyalgia, which are presently accepted by the medical community, consists of acupuncture, massage, and sleep therapy. Read here
Treatment of fibromyalgia for more updates on fibromyalgia.
Thanks and best wishes…
I am excited for you and Rob (my Bro)! I am sure you will love The Wellness Center. I know how much better my back feels since I am carrying around a lighter load now. You will look FINE in 09. Good luck!!! LOVE YA!!
Thanks for the support sis. I am glad you feel better, & you look great! Now we can look fine like you!
Wow, I wish they would open a place like that around me. I live in Detroit, Michigan and I’m unaware of anything like a wellness center. I can tell you a couple things that have worked for me. Tai Chi is something that I find helpful in many ways, not only in gaining strenght and flexibility but also by making me feel graceful. The same goes for yoga, although it took me a while to realize I had to take a very slow paced yoga and not ashtunga or any type of weight loss yoga. I found a yoga class offered at a nearby senior center that was just challenging enough but very rarely would I flare-up from it. In the past few months I have gone through some drastic personal changes that I was not anticipating, hard enough for someone in great health but for me w/ my FMS, I became completely debilitated. I just recently decided it was time to add some very slow walking. I did some research and I also found the book Arthritis: What Exercises Work. It has some wonderful exercises but what I like the most about it is that it has a whole series of exercises I can do when I’m stuck in bed with a flare-up. It has been unbelievably helpful because, as most FMS sufferers know, it is very difficult to build up exercise tolerance just to be thrown into a flare-up and have to start all over again. I also found a book called Yoga in Bed and I’ve heard that the same Arthritis Exercise book series now has a book: Arthritis, Yoga Exercises That Work. Just some ideas for you if your stuck in bed. Please write about your Wellness Center experiences, I’m very interested. Also, I was wondering if you’ve done research on your FMS and weather changes. I think you said you live in San Diego so it may not affect you but I’m very curious about FMS sufferers and how they do in dry, warm climates. I may have to make a move…MZ
Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into them. I have just started working out after a very long hiatus and it is a little intimidating. I tried the Qigong which Tai Chi is a derivative of and I enjoyed it very much. Then I followed it up with a water cardio class and it kicked my butt! Spent the weekend in a flare, but now I am ready to head back to the Center tomorrow and keep moving forward. I hate that we have to anticipate pain and flare-ups, but I do believe that they will eventually decrease as I build my strength.
I will continue to share my experiences at the Wellness Center. I wish everyone had access to a facility like it. More and more hospitals are turning to a integrated health philosophy, so hopefully more Centers will soon follow.
And yes, even in sunny San Diego the weather is a concern. It can get too hot and too cold for me, but I know it is much less of an issue than where you live. FH