Exercise
Friends, if you have rheumatoid arthritis you
must…
have to…
no excuses…
absolutely…
without apology…
you are required to exercise in some way for 30 minutes e v e r y s i n g l e d a y .
Push your limits. Try to go a little farther, a little faster, a little more out of breath as the time goes by. When becoming more mobile, more capable, and more functional exercise is your very best friend.
Why is this true?
Exercise fights inflammation and counteracts the free radical abuse that is linked to inflammation in the body. Exercise brings oxygen rich blood and nutrients into those pesky little finger and foot joints that other wise are not well oxygenated due to their tiny size and limited blood supply. FACT: People with RA have less oxygen, and more acidity in their joints that the average person.
Exercise improves cognitive function, lung function, flexibility, strength, mobility. It is arthritis’ worst nightmare, allowing you to bring your life, and your body, back under your control.
Go for the swim, take the dog around the neighborhood, play soccer with your kids, lift the weights, go to the class, do the video. You must.
Your jog might be a little wonkier than it used to be. When you lift those barbells they might waiver a little in that one spot. Your yoga pose might be utterly unrecognizable to the yoga instructor. That’s OK, my friend. You are fighting your battle.
For the RA sufferer, being able to exercise consistently every day hinges on eating a plant perfect diet, and avoiding any and all food / environmental triggers. You will not be able to exercise consistently if you are constantly flaring yourself up with foods that set off you immune system and ignite unbearable pain. We must always start with the diet. The diet is how we eliminate the pain and the bulk of the inflammation. The diet is the key to being able to exercise. Diet and the exercise together are a powerful counterattack to RA!
There was a time in my journey that I thought I was very close to immobility, and I believed that I would not be able to exercise any more. This was in the weeks and months leading up to the way of eating I embrace today. My diet restored so much of my mobility, and extinguished so much of my inflammation and pain, that I had the energy and the desire to exercise again. If you think you will not be able to exercise with RA, think again, my friend. You will be doing things you never thought you’d be able to do again, and you will be filled with gratitude in your heart that you are able to do them!