The Day Exercise Saved My Life

The Day Exercise Saved My Life – by Tammy Zubasic

Some people go through life without any weight issues until they hit their 30’s or 40’s. Others, like myself, have struggled their whole life.

Like many people, I found myself putting everyone else first. I did not take care of myself which ended up with finding myself about 100 lbs overweight. I didn’t feel good about myself, I was tired all the time and I was embarrassed about how I looked.

I started walking, then jogging, then running and dropped a nice amount of weight. But it seemed like those last twenty pounds would not come off no matter how far I ran or how little I was eating. I struggled for a year or so with this battle until I decided to try a personal trainer. I started with strength training sessions and even though I didn’t change anything else, the weight started coming off again!!

Long story short, I realized that I was using the wrong tool for weight loss. The typical approach to weight loss is lots of cardio. But the running, jogging, spinning and walking is not the most effective tool to lose weight. Don’t get me wrong – I still enjoy my runs as it provides many benefits. It improves cardiovascular endurance, clears my mind and feels great on a beautiful day but effective and efficient weight loss is not one of them.

Today, after numerous certifications, books, conferences, and first hand experiences, I know that weight loss is achieved by:
1) nutrition, nutrition, nutrition (yes it is that important)
2) 2-3 strength-training workouts a week
3) 10,000 steps a day (walking, jogging, biking) you need activity every day that gets you moving.

I had this all figured out and was enjoying being the healthiest I have ever been when that day came that changed my life.

Without boring you with all the details, I found myself lying on a hospital bed after a complication with a routine surgery, bleeding out and fighting for my life. I don’t remember much about the next next days I spent in the Critical Care unit, but luckily I pulled through and recovered.

Afterwards when I talked with the surgeon he told me that I was a very lucky girl. He explained that because I was very active and in good shape it increased my odds of survival. All my organs had shut down as a result of the sudden and major blood loss. They stopped the bleeding, gave me a transfusion but many times the organs will not start working again.

That’s when the light bulb came on. All of my attention and focus had been on losing weight and looking better. I would look in the mirror and beat myself up over not losing those last five pounds. Looking better was all I was focused on. But the truth is, exercise had saved my life by making my body strong enough to pull through.

You never think these things will happen to you. Fitness is not something to start tomorrow or when you’re not so busy, or when the kids get older. Your health is the most important thing ever given to you in life. but there are no guarantees! The laundry, house-cleaning, running the kids around, putting in extra hours at work to make more money doesn’t mean a thing if you are not here to enjoy it. Putting aside a couple hours each week out of the 168 available to each of us is a small price to pay for a long healthy life.

Fitness is about more than losing weight and looking good. Someday it might be the deciding factor between exiting this world leaving your family and kids behind versus being there for them in the years to come.

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