I saw my GP today to talk about various things – MS, treatment options, hypothyroidism (I have that as well) etc. She decided to check my weight and blood pressure while I was there.
Obviously, I’m very aware that I have gained weight over the last few years. Lots of things have contributed to this …my age is one (honestly once you hit 50, anything more than the odd nibble of celery causes weight gain).
Anyway, my weigh in revealed that I am now the heaviest I have ever been (including when 9 months pregnant!).
I feel that MS is a major cause of my weight gain. A few years ago I was several stone lighter, at the gym two or three times a week and generally pretty energetic. My favourite class was Body Pump – a high energy full body work out using weights.
Ok, I didn’t quite look like this, but you get the picture!
I felt great, strong, confident …I’d love to be able to do it again.
As my MS has affected me more and more, I have become less and less active. I wish now, that I’d pushed myself to do more – perhaps not body pump – but not to have given in to it so much. The symptoms of MS make exercising so difficult and of course, once you lose fitness, you become weaker and weaker, energy levels drop and it’s so hard to get motivated again.
I have been reading a lot about the benefits of exercise to those with MS, in terms of relieving symptoms and to maintain strength in order to cope with those symptoms. Somehow I need to find a way to get back into exercise.
Recently, Niamh, Sophie and I have been going to an Aquafit class at my local pool – great fun and more of a work out than you might think! For me, being in water feels amazing. I have always loved swimming and been confident in the water and have now found it is the only place where I don’t have the constant feeling that I’m about to fall over!
I am working on some exercises at home to improve my balance and have been referred to a scheme at my local gym where I will be allocated a trainer for 3 months. They will help me to plan an exercise programme, help me to access appropriate classes and hopefully gently get me back into moving a bit more.
My weight gain is not just due to lack of activity – know I’ve been comfort eating for a while now – I need to find a way to get on top of that too.
As you all know, I am hoping to have HSCT next year. The treatment is challenging to the body, so I want to get myself in the best shape I can, as I feel this will improve my chances of coping with treatment and having a smooth recovery.
On a positive note, my blood pressure is “perfect”!