Nine years ago I finished my first challenge and looked great. On 9/11/07 i came down with vertigo and have gained a ton of weight. Being dizzy and naucious all the time is tough but I am dedicated to working out as hard as I can and giving the next 11 weeks the best I can. So far I have lost 2.8 pounds in 1 week with a goal of losing 25 pounds by the end of day 84 Let me know what issues some of you deal with. Watch my progress at abodyforlifeblog.com

My issues are minor compared to most but I have arthritis in my back and knees I am going to whip them into submission and do my best finding work arounds when there is pain

I had a motorcycle accident and am nursing a disloacated shoulder. The shoulder is back in place but, everything else was stretched to the limit. It feels like it is healing but, there is still alot of pain and can't get my full range of motion. It's been about 9 weeks since it happen. I just don't know how long should it take to heal. It's pretty frustrating.

Martin, What a great attitude! You are going to do awesome. Having a life changing adversity such as yours is just another step to overcome. Thank you for sharing and I am looking forward to following your progress. I and the others here are routing for you to overcome and succeed!

Semper Fi!

Blaine,

Thank you for all you have done and how you serve the country we live in. I have my freedom to do whatever I want because of people like you. I have a nephew who is graduating from the Naval Achademy next year and he is one of the finest person I know. We should not thank people like you on Veterine's Day but everyday. Thank you. And good luck.

Martin,
Thanks for posting your story. I had vertigo a few years ago. It was awful. It felt like I had too much to drink (bed spins and passing out) but without the several hours of drinking beforehand.
I have Multiple Sclerosis and the biggest problem for me is that when I get tired or walk too much, my right leg is just useless. I went to the gym last night and limped from bench to machine to get through my upper body workout. It didn't feel too great, but the work has to get done.

Here's a few examples of people that have had to overcome physical challenges ... and are a source of great inspiration to us all ...

Cerebral Palsy:
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2000

Type 1 Diabetes:
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2000

Eating disorder / death of 16 yr old son:
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2003

Chronic Pain & headaches following a motorcycle accident:
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2005

Lost left leg to cancer (aged 9):
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2006

Lung Disease:
Body-for-LIFE Challenge Champions 2004



Let me share a little bit more about Julie Whitt's journey with you, if I may ...

"I’ve been living the Body-For-LIFE/Eating-For-LIFE way of life for two years.
At age 19, I had lymphoma and the treatments nearly destroyed my lungs. I developed interstitial lung disease, a permanent condition. Through the years I’ve been plagued with serious lung infections, the last one culminating in pneumonia.
I was on life-support and in a coma for weeks and it took months to rehabilitate.
I have 25% of the lung capacity that I need, or in other words, half of a lung!

BFL was my pathway out of the destruction. Last year I was alive, but this year I’m living!
When I began my first challenge, I was in such bad shape, I had to wear oxygen to do the least little thing.

The first challenge changed my life forever and in 12 weeks I only needed supplemental oxygen with intense exercise.

By my second challenge, I was doing well and my feeding tube was removed. Unfortunately, I stayed sick with bronchitis throughout the challenge. I even got thrown in the ICU for a day, but I made that free day, and never missed a workout until…the dreaded lung contusion in March. I was bench pressing at home and my bench malfunctioned and I instantly went from flat to decline and was thrown backwards onto a set of dumbbells. At the time, I thought, “I’m ok” and I even finished the workout. Three days later I was in the hospital in screaming pain, coughing up blood. This was the lowest point of my entire life. Here I was, trying to improve my situation, and I got hurt in the process. I had to start wearing oxygen again 24 hours a day. Still recovering from the contusion, I started my third challenge doing what I call “turtle” cardio and “weightless” strength training. I soon graduated to rolls of coins and then back to dumbbells. After six weeks or so, I had gotten myself back to where I was before the contusion and just used oxygen for exercise. During this time, I found out that I had won the inspirational category of the EAS Jump-Start! Only God understands just how much that meant to me.

During Challenge Three I endured a week of tests at Duke University Medical Center to be evaluated for lung transplant. I was hoping I would improve so much that I wouldn’t need it. During the heart catheterization, they found that my right coronary artery had collapsed from radiation damage. They did emergency surgery that day to correct it.

On to Challenge Four! A few weeks later I get “the call”. Not only was I listed for double-lung transplant, but heart transplant as well. It appears that I’m developing radiation-induced coronary artery disease. This just devastated me until…I changed my thinking. A year ago, I couldn’t even be considered for transplant. Now I’m able to pass the exercise and other requirements to be considered.

During Challenge Five, I spent two days in the hospital with chest pain and had another heart catheterization. Everything turned out to be fine and I continued with the program.

During Challenge Six, Porter Freeman came to town and crowned me the EAS Inspirational Grand Champion for 2004! To God be the glory! I don't know what the future holds for me, but the BFL lifestyle will be the one constant I can count on. I want to spend the rest of my life helping and inspiring others".

Gloomraider - Thanks for the post. This is such a double edged sword for me today. Its raining here from the effects of the huricane down south and I'm spinning and feel half drunk but this in no way compares to the issues other people face every day, every minute of their life. You left me in tears reading this. Really thank you, I need a reality check now and then. If these people could overcome serious life challenges that they face, why are most of us satisfied with mediocrity. I will strive harder and work out harder to get to where I want to be. God has blessed me with so many good things, a loving and caring wife, two fabulous children that I can talk about endlessly, and I am truely blessed beyond belief. Thank you again for this well planned reply. God's peace and love to all.

Gloomraider,
Thanks for sharing your story (along with the links to other inspirers). I appreciated hearing how you are fighting adversity -- and winning. It's exactly what I needed to hear.
Keep up the awesome work

Martin,

It was good to read your post of all that you have to be thankful for. We will all encounter setbacks and they can be discouraging but what makes a true champion isn't how much weight we lose or what a great essay we can write. It's about a victorious attitude, a desire to help others and a will to perservere. Every great race has a few hurdles and every true victory comes with sweat and tears.

Since winning BFL in 2000 (which I did while recovering from a major car accident) I have had 3 major surgeries, given birth, fractured my foot, fractured my hand, had near heart failure, had a semi concussion etc, etc and I am still in the race, still focusing on crossing that finish line at the end and knowing I gave it my all.

Stand firm Martin!

bon

For all those with physical challenges that make this transformation an up hill effort, keep up the positive attitude!!! "It's your attitude that determines your altitude!!"

Howdy Martinz
After reading several stories on setbacks my situation has no merit. What I thought was a big deal pales in comparison and I thank all that have shared their stories. I have to have surgery on my shoulder from a on the job accident. I will be down and out of the gym for 12 weeks. What I have is temporary and I will begin again. Thanks for the attitude adjustment. If I start to feel sorry for myself I'll reread these inspirational stories. Thanks again

Ok, I understand you have a bum shoulder, that doesn't mean that you need to take a break from working out. You still have another 95% of your body you can train. Work your legs, stomach, lower back, quads, calves, glutes, forearms, hands ect. ect. ect. Plus you have your mental and spiritual portion that we all must constantly work on. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Modify and proceed! Life offers us obstacles in our journey! We can either chose to give up or find a way around! Today is the day to be the change! Live the change! Over, under, around or through, this is anything that I will do! No mountain to high or barrier to wide! I live to day to live in stride!

You can do it! The more you do the faster you will heal! Good luck with your progress! To our success!

Martin, you've made a great point.

All too often we'll put off doing what we can until conditions are "right" again; until we can give our workouts etc 100% - my advice, if you're challenged by an injury, is to work around it and do what you still can; don't "throw the baby out with the bathwater", don't convince yourself you can't still make improvements.

Let me share a little excerpt from my journey (not to "big myself up" but to illustrate the point and back up what some of you are saying):
When I got out of hospital I spent over a month in a wheelchair - I was still pretty bashed-up and I felt all I could really do was eat clean (never mind suicide bombers, hospital food will get you every time !!), so that's what I started to do.
Then when I got upright onto a walking frame / crutches, I got a taxi to the gym every day. Inside I pulled my bench over to the dumbell rack so I could prop my right leg (which was permamnently locked out, fully-extended for several months) up onto the rack, then I lay down on the bench and started exercising my chest, arms and shoulders.
It wasn't a full workout, but I did what I could and added to it when I was able. It helped my recovery immensely and gave me a good grounding for my official BfL Challenge later that year.

For those of you reading this; I'd ask you PLEASE don't cheat yourself out of what you can have RIGHT NOW.

Life doesn't stop just because we've decided to take-on a 12 or 18 week transformation challenge and we will still meet and have to deal with adversity along the way - but as Bonnie so rightly says "It's about a victorious attitude, a desire to help others and a will to perservere."

.

Thank you for this thread Martin. It puts much into perspective; mind over matter.

Most of us don't deal with half or even a quarter the amount of adversity others deal with in their life. So we really don't have excuses to do nothing but excell and give back to others in need. Gloomraider, you make some great points, you are a true inspiration to all of us here.

I've been dealing with chronic pain from 7 lower back surgeries and still I have to watch what I can do. I have limits on what I can and can't do, there are times when I push too hard I get paralysis in my legs then my legs give out, I have been diagnosed with Arachnoiditis and Spondylolisthesis as well as Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. It's hard for me to do cardio and strength train but I try my best to push through, there are days that I want to just give up but I won't. I've come a long way and I love what I see inside of me as well as outside of me. This transformation for me is ongoing, I have more energy, I am happy about myself, no longer depressed. I am going to finish this race set before me and one of the things that has help me on my journey is all of you here @ T.com I am so blessed to have support from each and everyone of you here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.



Love
Jerome

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloomraider PLEASE don't cheat yourself out of what you can have RIGHT NOW.

Beautifully said - absolutely perfect!
D

This was very helpful. Thnks for your assistance on work out options while Iwork through my hand, arm injuries. As I type, with each key stroke a sharp pain runs through my body, reminding me that I will persevere, and that my hands work. If there were no pain, Then I really would be in trouble. It's kind of sad to know that I have spent many days on the couch in no pain and did nothing produvtive. Now that I'm focusing on productive behaviors, I've been forced to the couch because of pain. However, I'm at least trying to do something, even if it means struggling to make a fist one finger at a time. Working on re-establishing my grip in attitudes as well...thanks!