Chasing Fit at 56

Guest author: Linda Glynias

 

In that last few weeks (now at the age of 56) I have heard...

• "I am sorry Linda, but I did not recognize you, you look so much younger, maybe about 27?" said an older customer of mine from Bulgaria, possibly incurring failing vision...
• "The solution to diabetes is simple" said my endocrinology doctor, "stay healthy", as he is surrounded by mostly patients with severe issues. I am encouraged to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle to prevent complications of diabetes.
• "Whatever you are doing, keep it up," said my cardiologist after I had my lowest cholesterol reading in 15 years. Since my mother was a cardiac patient, I have been testing and trying to control my elevated cholesterol for over 20 years.
• "So how is your CrossFit going?" a friend asks. 
• "I respect the way you honor your modifications" my yoga instructor commented. I am carefully doing “my own version" of yoga classes at Inner Bliss Yoga. They know how important CrossFit is to me and the balance their yoga classes provide.
  

In my 30's, I gave birth to both of my children, Marissa and Joey. Being a mother is one of the greater joys I have. However, with each pregnancy I gained weight and had trouble losing it. Somehow the happiness of a cute baby justified a lack of diet control. At 35 I was told to have a hysterectomy due to pre cancerous cells. The hormones and surgery put me in a little "funk" of self-control.

In my 40's my children were still living at home and my parents were still alive but needing care. My father had Huntington’s Disease that forced him to live with us after my mother passed away. I dedicated my time to taking care of everyone around me, but by the time I reached 50 I had developed serious health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and migraines. I was overweight and inactive and not in a regular fitness program. I had a herniated disc and eventually had surgery. The partial numbness and tingling on my left leg still remains as do the bursitis in my left hip and an arthritic disc in my lower back. At the time I was told I would never lift more than 25 pounds ever again.

My children went off to college, my father passed away and I finally decided to start taking care of myself. My husband Manuel encouraged me to change and I was finally ready!

I started slowly, with one-on-one sessions at T3 Performance with Mike D'Andrea. Then I built an endurance running program. After losing 40 pounds, I added yoga, kickboxing and boxing into my schedule. By the time I lost 60 pounds, I started running 5k races, a 5 miler, and completed 2 sprint triathlons. Needless to say, fitness was now my top priority. I was trying to experience the activities I had previously been unable to do. Because of this success, I had a brief period where I was able to go off my medications. I thought I was healthy!

I heard about CrossFit, but wasn't sure I could really do it. I visited a gym and decided to start a year later.

In my very first CrossFit experience, Adam Daugherty (then CrossFit CLE) was my trainer. I thought that it was really interesting that he wanted to hear all about my former athletic endeavors. Being so new to CrossFit, I had not really proven my athletic ability there. He was very welcoming, with an optimistic, realistic, and thorough personality. I think we became quick friends because I felt that he wanted to see me excel as an older athlete. He really believed that I could do CrossFit, and improve. I believe we all begin CrossFit with "tricks" we can perform mine included handstands on the wall, rope singles and fairly strong for most lifts.  I had many weaknesses as well, which was mostly just moving slower during most WODs. I was also unable to perform pull-ups and other bodyweight movements.

About 3 months in we decided to do one-on-one sessions and develop serious goals. One of my goals was to participate in The CrossFit Open. As a less experienced CrossFitter, I almost always scaled movements. The Open was the one time of the year I could compare myself with other women in their 50's from around the world. Turns out, that year I was in the last 10%! A let-down but it still felt good to be part of it. Like so many things in CrossFit, I am usually doing a scaled version and only comparing myself against myself since my gym (CrossFit Sixth City) is about 95% 20 and 30 year-olds. It is fun and interesting to see your own achievements compared against others from around the world. The next year in the open I ended up in the 50% range of my age group. This past year, after entering a new master’s category and the added scaled division, I ended in the top 10% (OF THE WORLD!).

Since I had not seen a doctor in awhile, Adam encouraged me to get basic blood work to see how I was doing. I was disappointed to learn that my cholesterol was high, but my blood pressure and AIC looked normal. After a few more visits with no real improvement I decided to see a cardiologist. It turns out my NMR reading was completely off, and even eating cardboard would not correct it! I was told to go back on a statin. Since I felt that I was well and healthy, this did not fit into my "plan". However, my mother had three heart attacks, so taking a pill to prevent premature death from heart disease made sense for my family and I.

Later, during some diagnostic blood work for an unrelated issue, I learned that my fasting blood sugar was high. How could this be if my AIC is relatively normal? Adam helped me make dietary changes and we decided that I should regularly test my blood sugar to build a base of results to show the doctor. For months I checked my sugar twice a day, and found it to be normal during day, but really high (for fasting) in the AM. I decided to see a specialist, and, after wearing a glucometer for a week, verified that my unmedicated glucose is high in the AM. I agreed to try a diabetic drug, first at the lowest dose, and, after a month, at an increased dose (I eventually ended up with 2 pills/2x day). I began to see Dr. Pantalone, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic, to make sure that all possible causes of my high blood sugar are addressed. My most recent AIC was the lowest reading I have ever seen. It has been a very hard thing to accept, but my reality is I am a diabetic, whether I want to be or not. My body craves sugar ALL day, and after 3 hours I start to feel like I need to eat so as to not be light headed.

Facing our fears, being able to accept realities is not easy. Having someone point out your weaknesses is not easy. Finding ways to correct them and improve is a slow process, and not easy. As I tell Adam, we have a few more things to work on. Once I was having trouble with wall balls in WOD, and going faster. We spent the session with different ways to be more competitive. By the end, I learned to focus, distract myself with using chips and generally to keep moving! More recently he was watching a clean and jerk (a lift that he has helped me with for years) and asked, "Why are you afraid (of keeping your elbows up)? Just try it." I gave it all I had and it was easier that what I had been doing - surprise, surprise!

Consistent one-on-one sessions have helped me develop greater confidence in myself, both inside and outside the gym. Once during a bad week I questioned my belief in the ability to change or reach a goal. Adam said, "Of course I believe in you!" Not just for athletic goals, but also health and wellness. Without someone who really cares it would not be possible for me to be chasing fit at 56. I truly need the welcoming, safe, challenging atmosphere that CSC provides. Over the years we have worked together Adam has had enormous patience, perseverance and the ability to keep our sessions always aimed at a goal. When I end up off track, he makes my goals "real" again by pointing out the path. He knows when to be coach and when to be a friend.

My goal is to stay healthy, feel young (maybe 27?) and be a better person to help my family, friends and customers. I am used to living with realities that are not my choice. I am trying to change the ones that I can. Life is about balance, and mine is balancing love (family), fitness (fun) and work.

In the spirit of thanksgiving I would like to give Adam this gift of writing about him. He usually does not like attention, but this is well deserved. He began changing my life years ago and continues to daily. I thank you and so does my family - Manuel, Marissa and Joey.