My Own Health Issues

I have been an avid athlete and fitness person my whole life and also have struggled with many health issues. During my teen years I found out the reason I would get so fatigued while playing sports was due to a genetic blood disorder, Thalassemia, which I inherited from my Italian mother. In simple terms, people with Thalassemia make less red blood cells and hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. This results in fatigue and mild or severe anemia. Taking iron supplements is not the answer either as I have found out. I have Thalassemia minor, which is not a major health issue, but I constantly struggled with fatigue and getting run down, which is a challenge when exercise and fitness is your way of life. As a result of this I’ve studied wellness, nutrition, diet and supplementation all of my adult life and learned what kind of diet works best for me and how to eat for energy. I am now a licensed Lifestyle and Weight Management Health Coach.

Later on in my early thirties I discovered after waking up in the middle of the night in the most pain I’ve ever experienced (besides childbirth) in my lower back, that I have degenerative disk disease; including 6 herniated disks in my lumbar and cervical spine, a reverse curve in my neck and arthritis in my spine. The spinal specialists told me I had the spine of a 70 year old and should give up running. I was shocked. It was puzzling since I lived such a clean and healthy lifestyle. Being a voracious reader I devoured every book I could find on health and wellness and studied and learned from many different holistic specialists. I realized that for me it was the long time chronic mental and emotional stress that ended up damaging my body. Thus started my true healing and my journey back to wholeness and true health… body, mind, heart and soul. This took many years and a lot of persistence, but I was committed and determined to healing myself. During that time I also had knee surgery on both knees.

These health issues were really a blessing in disguise. They helped me learn how to be proactive with my health and to listen and honor my body. I am now pain free and have been for many years. I wake up in the morning feeling alive and vibrant, and not just “getting by or hanging in there.” The health issues/injuries also gave me the sensitivity to be a better trainer, yoga teacher, and healer. Mostly everyone I work with has injuries of some sort. I live and play full on and can do all the things I had to give up while I was “disabled.” Every injury, sickness or disease which can be debilitating and painful, can also bring with it healing and wisdom if you allow it. You can heal your life.