Rant: Quite literally, your mileage may vary

Shifting gears here from my medical and adrenal insufficiency related rants, I'm on to an exercise rant.

I've had people say to me, quite apologetically, "I'm not running yet but I'm going to or used to or insert excuse here."  Here's the truth.  I DON'T CARE IF YOU RUN OR NOT.  The more important question is, "Are you moving daily?"  Do you walk your dog every day?  Squats and push ups during commercials?

Let's get real.  I'm big time into walking.  I LOVE me lots of walking.  Running makes it hard to find money, take pictures, play with snakes and mud puppies on the side of the road and generally screw around.  Half the fun of my "running" is screwing around and finding treasures.  I'm not a serious runner.  Don't apologize or make excuses to me, the Screw Around.  Find out what YOUR thing is and DO IT.

Often people start out with lofty goals, don't write them down and plan out a reasonable schedule or any schedule at all and then they get injured or fail.  It's disgusting.  Don't get up off the couch and do five miles if you've been sick for three years.  For hell's sake, go to halhigdon.com and find a nice, reasonable WALKING plan that you can stick to for six or eight weeks. Find someone who will hold you accountable.  Report back to them daily Be nice to your body and don't damage it right out of the gate.  Exercise shouldn't hurt mentally or physically.  Find something you love.

You can do anything I can do.  Chances are, you can do it much, much better than I can.  I'm a hack.  Find what you love and get a reasonable program to get you there.  It doesn't matter how you get your miles in.  Biking, swimming, running, martial arts, walking, hiking, rock climbing, gym ratting, CrossFiting, WHATEVER!  Commit to something, set your goals high, progress reasonably and move your ass each and every day.  You can and you will feel so much better for it!

Don't compare yourselves to others.  Compare yourself to you last week.  After a month of moving, compare yourself to the you of a month ago.  After six months, set your goals higher and be proud of where you've come from.  Do more, be more, shoot for the stars.  Start today.

July 2013 in pictures

One of my favorite things ever.  Thank you Bonnie for your gifts and friendship!

July was a crazy busy month.  I did the Pennies for Parrots fundraiser ($2,000!!  Thanks everyone!!), Vol State, visited my 101 year old Grandma in Virginia and had a birthday.  

The pictures below are in no particular order.

AWESOME birthday present!  I wore these socks at Big's Backyard Ultra in October with some gold gaiters that I made.  These socks make me smile.  Thank you Allison.  I miss you.

Roanoke, Virginia.  "Spiritual Skate Night"  Sounds interesting!

Chad and Chrissy's beautiful boxer, Mosely, who was a very willing participant in my daily mile.  Thanks again Chad and Chrissy for the hospitality!

I am so easy to amuse

My Grandmother's farm in Virginia.  Beautiful.  This picture doesn't do it justice.

During my morning mile at the Farm.

Grandma Margie at the nursing home.  She was too full for food but all over the ice cream.  My weakness for treats is genetic  

A storm rolling in over the Peace River on the 4th of July

DORK.  500th day of my running streak.

Rant: "Believe one who has proved it."

Believe one who has proved it. Believe an expert.

Virgil, Aeneid

Roman epic poet (70 BC - 19 BC) 

Here is a post where I'm going to sound like more of an asshole than usual.  I've seen many adrenal insufficiency forums over the last decade.  Many of them moderated by sick people with adrenal insufficiency.  The forums are also populated by the sick.

My forum is different (www.addisonssupport.com).  I am well.  I am active.  I study about adrenal insufficiency.  I can point you toward medical references.  Many of the people on my forum are well and active or have the desire to be well and active and are very well educated.  Despite this, there are people who have visited my forum and then gone to another with a sick or uneducated mod and sick and uneducated participants.  I am not offended but don't understand it.  These same people suffer frequent crises, are often on disability and have very dramatic lives.  They often come to me in a frenzy, wondering why the awful, uneducated advice from other forums or from uneducated doctors doesn't work.  I digress.

Once again, I have to say that when you have adrenal insufficiency and/or thyroid problems YOU have to work with and educate your doctor.  It is your responsibility.  Your doctor has about 15 minutes to spend with you every year or so.  You are totally fooling yourself if you think your doctor is spending one minute outside of your visit learning about adrenal insufficiency or normal lab ranges associated with adrenal insufficiency. Hell, about 75% of the time they don't have any clue what needs to be tested (LEARN and let them know!).

How this applies to "Believe one who has proved it."  Although I'm not working right now, I have a very, very busy life.  I'm proud of what I'm able to accomplish despite chronic illnesses.  I do more than people who are eating their healthy bodies into permanent illness.  Why am I able to do so much?  I follow my own guidelines.  I practice what I preach.  I am healthy.  I am well.  I am active.  Sometimes the adrenal insufficiency is a huge pain in the ass.  Sometimes I'm mad about it.  Most of the time, it's no big deal.  

Want to be healthy?  Print out what I've written recently.  Research what I've written.  Talk to your doctor about it.  Optimize your health.  You deserve it.  You need to be well.  Life is shit when you feel bad.  No one should live like that. 

You can come to my forum www.addisonssupport.com for free advice on your specific situation.  If you want personalized assistance in advocating for yourself (for a fee), please shoot me an email at contact@addisonssupport.com.  I can do email, phone, Skype or assist you on site.

Don't follow or listen to sick people who don't emulate the life you'd like to live!!!!!!!!!!!!  STUDY, LEARN, ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF!  Running ultras is not for everyone.  I don't give a flying crap if you don't want to emulate what I do.  Find trustworthy info and fly with it.  Get your life back.