Hello Fellow Baby Boomers

Today I’m changing gears so to speak. I’m going to add something to my exercise routine that I have wanted to do for years, but never took the initiative to put into action.

I’ve always been active, sticking to a specific exercise regimen at every stage of life. Over the past few months, however, I have had some challenges that were totally unexpected.

Due to those challenges I spent the majority of the last six months rehabilitating my shoulder and not much else in the way of exercise.

Most of my life I have concentrated on strength training by lifting weights. Within the last few years, however, I’ve added swimming for the aerobics, which according to my doctor played a big part in my set-back not being as intense as it could have been.

So being in fairly good condition aided me in my rehabilitation and I consider myself at about 75% of where I was pre-November.

Hurry Up and Wait

In November, after I was diagnosed, my physician told me to lay off the weights for awhile. That was a bit of a shock.

You see, I began weight training around the age of 14 after earning my first-ever paycheck of $21.67 as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. With the proceeds I made an initial investment of $21.14 in my health; a 110 lb. Joe Weider weight set. Probably the best investment I ever made.

Until five years ago that set was still complete. I mistakenly loaned all but one 20 lb dumbbell to someone whom I considered a friend. To shorten the story, he was evicted and disappeared. So did my weights. Lesson learned.

For the next phase of life I want to take advantage of what I have heard referred to as the “life-enhancing benefits” of yoga?

Yoga Is Healthy Living

Since I write a blog about healthy living for baby boomers, I thought I’d, once again, practice what I write about. One of the aspects I research and write about is relieving stress and everyone I know who practices Yoga regularly seems to have their stress levels under control. They seem to be so at peace. I want to taste that.

My shoulder requires gentle stretching exercises for rehab and it appears Yoga is the key for me to create vitality, strength and flexibility.

Baby Boomers and Yoga

Baby Boomers, myself included, can benefit from Yoga as a well travelled path to health and vitality, by staying involved in life and taking action to stay healthy.

By making yoga part of my daily routine, I hope to develop and maintain fitness and a relaxed attitude that will have me enjoying every minute to the fullest.

I’ll keep you posted from time to time on my progress. Wish me luck.

Namaste,

CK Dillon

Support@CreateVitality.Com

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Hey everybody. Thanks for dropping by.

As you all know, I tend to be open minded and will share my points of view freely. Today’s article will be about one of those opinionated subjects  that I am a bit more adamant about and somewhat inflexible.

This time, “It’s Personal.”

It has been a few months since my last publication appeared here on CreateVitality.Com and I have many reasons, but no excuses. During that time my life took some turns that were unforeseen. Those turns needless to say, got my attention.

My closest friends already know the intimate details so I won’t belabor them.

In that time, while still being very  good to me, life taught me a few lessons. I discovered some things about myself that I am especially proud of. Like the fact that I walk the talk.

By that I mean, I don’t promote ‘do as I say, not as I do’. If I promote something  in an article, you can bet I have tried it myself or know someone who has.

That being said, I had the opportunity last fall to follow my own advice. I had written an article last summer about it so, long story short, I went to my doctor’s office and had a complete physical.

I have always been a proponent of pro-activity, i.e., catch something early and you can do something about it, but like most men in my community, I put it off. I felt like I was o.k.

Well my wife, who is not one to let something slide said, over and over, until I got tired of hearing it,  ”you write about health, you need to follow your own advice.”

Studies have shown that when it comes to our health, we Black men are inclined to put off testing etc., until some minor condition, suddenly culminates  with us going to emergency. “Ignore it and it will go away”, is a common way of thinking.

Well, I got the physical and went home to await the results that would come in a few days. Surprisingly my doctor called that same afternoon and had already scheduled me for more tests at Sanger Heart and Vascular Clinic. He told me to back off my exercise routine until after the tests.

The Prognosis

Turns out I had (have) an irregular heartbeat, which explains why I was having shortness of breath at times. At the beginning of my workouts I would be short-winded, then it would level out and I could continue. Since I had not exercised as often as usual that month, I just ass-u-me-d I was out of shape.

During all of the stress tests at the clinic, the nurse kept asking me if I was ok. My heartbeat was all over the place. I was so used to working out that I worked through the discomfort and kept it moving. At one point the nurse asked how I got to the clinic and was there someone who could pick up my car. My heartbeat was so erratic she planned to have me admitted to the hospital, right then!

After conferring with my doctor she learned I have Sarcoidosis and it may be causing the problem. They decided it was alright for me to drive and not be admitted that day. Mind you, in all this time I never had any discomfort.  Nothing I would consider a ’symptom’ of anything more serious.

Fast-Forward to Now

Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to be admitted to a hospital (Sanger Heart and Vascular) for the first time in my life.

I say opportunity because due to that decision, and three-day stay, I am in better health than I was last fall, even though I had no knowledge that I had a health problem. My health problem was serious enough that I could not be here now. And I had no clue.

The Conclusion

So what am I advocating? Be pro-active. Get the check-ups. Get tested. You don’t know what you don’t know.

Imagine: I went to get the physical mostly to be a man of my word, and to appease my wife. I came away with an extension on my life.

If that is not a good reason to be pro-active, what is?

Good Health and Success is a Lifestyle You Deserve, Live Well.

CK Dillon

828-351-9770

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