Archives for June 2020

Em was not ok. She knew that life and death were in the power of the tongue, and that we speak things into existence– so she didn’t say much. She wasn’t sure whether or not Satan could read her thoughts or words. She did, however, believe that autocorrect was of the devil, tempting people everywhere to not learn how to spell.

You could say her address was 6 Flags St., her life a perpetual rollercoaster of moodiness and sensitivity it seemed. She didn’t consider herself suicidal. Sometimes she just really wouldn’t mind not being here. Whenever she heard that someone had died she wondered why God didn’t choose her instead. She felt like no one would notice, it wouldn’t really have an impact. During the pandemic, when most people used the time, the shelter-in-place order to finally pursue their dreams, she was instead exhausted from chasing hers, not to mention the actuality of caring for her aging parents. Girls are taught to grow up and pursue the fairy-tale ending of marriage, kids and a white picket fence. No one ever talks about real life: divorce, infertility and a face red from hot flashes. No one except…Marshanelle Horne APN, Owner and Founder of Thrive Life Wellness Center, Inc.

Focused on prevention and a more proactive approach to “help patients set clear health goals,” Horne and her team want you to well… thrive, not just survive. From A to Z (Acute Care to the Zen of Yoga), they have your health covered. While one of the most popular services offered might be the Weight Loss Bootcamp, the gains of joining the Thrive Tribe are endless. Em discovered this as she joined the online 30 Day Hula Hoop Challenge. With the childlike wonder of a game of ‘Mother May I,’ she questioned whether or not she could do it. To her surprise and nothing short of divine delight, she could…and LOVED it! Turns out it was just what the doctor ordered. Hula Hooping has the following benefits:

1. Burns As Much Fat as Treadmill Workouts
-over 400 calories per hour
2. Can Replace Ab Workouts
-burns belly fat, tones muscles of midsection
3. Strengthens Your Heart
-after 15 to 30 minutes blood pumps throughout body more efficiently, heart beats faster and blood pressure lowers
4. Strengthens Back
-movement releases tension of the muscles
5. Gives You a Massage
-allows more blood to flow to muscles, helps with oxygen supply, makes muscles stronger
6. Works Out Your Brain
-similar to meditation, the rocking and rhythm cause relaxation and deep breathing
7. Fights Anxiety and Depression By Increasing Endorphins
-Em’s favorite, the “hula hoop high” is amazing. It is actually the result of the release of endorphins which make you happy.
(prettysimpleideas.com)

People often go to the doctor to get help. The doctors in turn prescribe pills to give said help. All of the work is external. Marshanelle Horne leads her clients onto the road less traveled, inward. This Thrive Queen, with her magic mirror of sorts, begs the question “Who is the fairest of them all?” challenging you not only to jump rope, hula hoop, kettlebell etc., but to dig deeper, rise higher, and ultimately “obtain and sustain a healthier lifestyle” for yourself. I should know. In the mirror EM is ME.

“I will praise The Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on The Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me…”
Psalm 16:7-10

For more information on upcoming challenges, services and products offered, please visit:
tlwcenter.com

*This blog is in no way meant to minimize the seriousness of mental health, nor negate the necessity and benefits of prescriptions in certain cases. If you suffer from depression please seek help and find what works for you. If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free and confidential support.
You are valuable. You are capable. You are beautiful. Your are loved.

I was an anesthesiologist of sorts. Since the shelter-in-place and subsequent boredom I began dulling my pain (or attempting to anyway). My drug of choice? Food.

Now at my highest weight ever, it was no longer just emotional pain, but physical. Everything hurt. My lower back. My knees. My ankles. It’s one thing to have to angle your selfies a little higher (Jedi slimming mind trick). It’s another not to even want to take them anymore. I felt like somebody else. I literally caught my reflection in the car window and didn’t recognize myself. I’d “fish” my clothes on with my feet to ease the bending and pull them up and around foreign, darkened areas (poor circulation). Popping my waist beads was no longer a concern as they are hiding safely under my belly. And while I had new dents in my body, my thighs reached out and touched. I tearfully Googled and discovered I had the lowercase c word, chafing. I heard a strange noise when I was walking–it was me, breathing. I had no energy to do housework or yard work. I feared the cashier at Culver’s, my former math student, calculated how many times she saw me. If you are what you eat I was transgender, somewhere between Burger King and Dairy Queen. Attempts at sleep were an Olympic sport. I had to kick/pump my leg to get out of bed. I was swimming in my own sweat at night. And yet I would lay thinking about what I was going to eat for breakfast the next morning. I felt little fireworks in my heart.
I was fat.

And so on a Tuesday evening I checked myself in to where anyone who is fat should–X Fat Azz Cycling & Fitness Studio. Pounds weren’t lost on me the minute I mounted, but neither was the fact that Reasons by Earth, Wind & Fire was the first song playing. The reeeason? The reason that I was here? Why to look fabulous of course. I would soon learn that this falls short (pun intended) of the real importance of fitness. Oddly enough the class was led by a sister named Toi who wasn’t to be played with. She was firm in her instructions, but fun. Between her, the hype man’s infectious energy and smile, and the variety of good music played it really was a true party. That is until the beat dropped, well actually I did–right on my fat…

I made it all the way through the warm up, the stand ups and sit downs (well some), the side to sides, the turns of the resistance knob…just for my legs to give out upon dismounting. It was the weirdest feeling. You know how people say their legs “felt like jelly?” Well call me Smuckers. The soreness (which I’m sure is normal) persisted over the next couple of days, but so did the light-headedness which is not. A visit to the doctor revealed another first for me other than cycling, high blood pressure. And just like that I broke up with Mr. Culver’s and told Stella Rose we can’t be friends. I won’t lie to myself and say I’ll never have ice cream or a glass of wine again, but I also have to tell myself the truth about my feelings. There is a difference between boredom and hunger pains…and pizza is not a prescription.

I’ve since traded in my doctor’s scrubs for workout clothes. I’m choosing to deal, not dull my pain with morning walks and healthier food choices. The pounds will come off, but for right now my heart…is lighter.

“A joyful heart is good medicine…”
Proverbs 17:22

For more information on cycling classes, please visit:
https://www.xfatazz.com