Looking back, I can’t believe how much I ignored my health for so long. It wasn’t until I hit a major wall that I truly understood just how bad things had gotten. I never thought it would come to this, but life has a funny way of throwing curveballs. Here’s how I went from living in denial about my health to finally facing the music and starting my journey to get my life back.
The Photo Walk Incident
It all came crashing down one day while I was out on a photo walk with my wife. The sun was blazing, and I was lugging around all my camera gear because, of course, I had to have all the lenses. I was just minding my own business, doing what I loved, and then… BAM. I passed out. Just like that.
I blamed it on the heat, the heavy equipment, and just the fact that I was having an off day. But deep down, I knew there was more to it.
My wife, being the absolute champ she is, rushed to help, handing me cold water and towels. That was just the beginning of my wake-up call, though. I had been living in denial for far too long. My body was sending me signals, and I had ignored every single one of them.
Denial and the Wake-Up Call
Let’s be real for a second. I was obese. There’s no nice way to say it. I was fat. And I had been for a while. It took that moment, the passing out incident, for me to finally stop pretending that everything was okay. Before that, I was in denial about the whole thing.
I remember an event where my team and I decided to hit the hotel pool to unwind. They were all young, healthy, and looking great. Meanwhile, there I was, trying to figure out where I could hide in the shadows of the pool so no one would notice me.
I wasn’t proud of my body, and let’s be honest, overweight people don’t look great in shorts. At least, that’s how I felt. But that’s a topic for another blog post, trust me.
My Wardrobe and Body Changes
Once upon a time, I had a 28-30 inch waist. I was slim, fit, and could rock a decent outfit. Fast forward to my mid-40s, and my wardrobe had done a 180. Baggy jeans, shirts that I didn’t dare tuck in; anything to hide my growing belly.
Looking in the mirror became a game of “how can I avoid seeing my reflection?” And the worst part? While showering, I couldn’t even see my friend anymore. It was like it disappeared… or maybe it was just hiding. Who knows?
But it wasn’t just about clothes. It was about how I felt. I was ashamed. I didn’t feel like myself anymore, and that’s something no one should ever go through.
Always Out of Breath
Let’s talk about the exhaustion. It became a running joke with myself. Walking anywhere was exhausting. Seriously! I couldn’t walk far without feeling winded, and if I’m being honest, I hated it.
I was already spending way too much time sitting at my desk working on my Mac. Every day felt like I was more and more tethered to a chair, not living my life, just going through the motions. But I wasn’t ready to admit how bad it had really gotten.
Looking back, that lack of movement was doing me real harm, and it’s a big part of why I now bang on about staying active on my exercise page.
Hospital Visits and Denial
I’d been to the hospital so many times it felt like a second home. The doctors had been telling me I had a fatty liver. I heard it over and over, but I never took it seriously. “It’s just a fatty liver,” I’d say to myself, brushing it off like it wasn’t important. But soon enough, I realized that the liver wasn’t just some random organ; it was a pretty big deal.
The Diabetes Diagnosis
Then came the diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes. I was put on medication, and the doctor told me my blood sugar levels were through the roof. At first, I was in denial. I couldn’t believe it. But once the shock wore off, I knew I had to do something about it.
I’m going to say this from my own experience: Type 2 diabetes isn’t really about diabetes. It’s about uncontrolled blood sugar. And in just 10 days, I started to see results. I reversed it. Simple fixes, but I’ll save that for another blog post: The Start to Getting My Health Back!
Struggling with IBS
Along with all the other symptoms, I was dealing with IBS. The abdominal pain, the bloating, the constant need to use the bathroom. It wasn’t fun. IBS took a toll on my daily life. I’d be at work, trying to focus, and then, bam, I’d have to rush to the bathroom. It was draining, both physically and mentally.
The Elbow Pain and High Triglycerides
Then came the elbow pain. Every time I placed my elbows on a table, the pain was unbearable. After a visit to the doctor, I found out that it was due to high triglycerides. My levels were so high, the doctor said I needed to bring them down immediately. My test results came back with a number that scared me—hypertriglyceridemia around 900 mg/dl. The normal range? Around 100 mg/dl.
It wasn’t just about the numbers on the paper, though. My doctor was seriously concerned. And then I noticed the small, yellowish bumps on my elbows and under my left eye. At first, I thought it was nothing, but my dermatologist insisted on a blood test, and sure enough, it was all related to the high triglycerides and my obesity.
Insomnia and Its Impact
And don’t even get me started on insomnia. I was getting next to no sleep. I’d wake up every night and toss and turn, my mind racing, and my body completely exhausted. It affected every part of my life, making everything harder. Even on days when I thought I could push through, I felt like I was running on empty.
The Realization
So, I asked myself, “ Why did I let things get so bad? ” I had ignored every symptom, every warning, until it all caught up to me. But that moment was the turning point. It was the beginning of realizing that I needed to change. I wasn’t going to let this be my life anymore. Sure, it wasn’t going to be easy, but I was ready to face the challenge and take control of my health.
And, spoiler alert: “ It wasn’t as hard as I thought “.
My Health Symptoms Conclusion
That’s where it all started the realization that I was going to take back control of my life, one step at a time. My health wasn’t going to fix itself, and no one else was going to do it for me. It was time for me to stand up, take action, and make the changes that would lead me back to feeling like myself again.
Stay tuned for my next blog post where I’ll share how I started getting my health back and what changes made the biggest difference. It’s gonna be a journey worth taking, and I hope you’ll follow along.