- Absolutely NOT Is Still Here!
Some addictions are good for you. I guess you can go overboard with anything. You can push yourself too far; even with activities that are otherwise very healthy. But I am becoming more and more addicted to exercise. I wish like hell I had stayed with more constant focused exercise when I was younger. It would not have stopped the disease that led to my health issues. But I now know just how much regular, focused exercise can benefit all aspects of life.
I do not for a moment believe that my lymphoma could have been prevented simply by exercise. When I was diagnosed, I was actually in fairly good shape. I was still biking for much of my transportation. It had not been that many years since I stopped competitive swimming (with limited success) and surfing (purely recreational, but as frequently as possible and with only a few self-induced injuries). No, whatever went wrong with my immune system and/or whatever invaded my body and caused the lymphoma, would not have been prevented by exercise. I do believe that I got through the treatment better because I entered it in moderately good condition. I also believe that I recovered over the subsequent years by remaining reasonably active.
More exercise would not have prevented my heart valve from failing. There are still people around me that believe that my heart surgery was somehow related to some typical male mid-life lack-of-activity lifestyle heart failure. My heart muscle was and is just fine, thank you. It was scarring of the value and arteries from my radiation treatment. Since they put the “plastic” value in place things work just fine.
One thing I did start because of the valve surgery is a more regimented workout plan. Without any intent for it to become so important, my body and probably my mind have come to expect exercise to the point were now I just do not feel right if I do not work out. In fact I do not feel right if do not push to increase the intensity of the workouts. I must admit that I am now addicted. But this is a good addiction. Glad it has happened. Feel so much better for it. Just have to keep forcing the time to make it happen. That is the hardest part. So much of life’s crap keeps getting in the way. No time to keep ourselves in physical shape is one of the biggest ills of modern society.
Wonder when I will be ready to win an Ultra Masters Bodybuilders competition (hint: will happen just before hell freezes over!)
Is Still Here
