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MY B3 JOURNEY: EASING BACK INTO EXERCISE AFTER ILLNESS
Who hasn’t been sidelined by an illness, injury or life hiccup at some point? It happens to the best (read: all) of us—including our Digital Marketing Lead Jenny Konopinksi, who is currently recovering from an out-of-the-blue illness. Her slow journey back to healthy has been incredibly mindful and empowering, so we asked her to share her story and what she’s learned along the way.
Active lifestyle? Check. Regular exercise? Check. Healthy eating habits? Check.
I was doing everything I thought I should to live a healthy and balanced life, yet I forgot one thing: Life happens. In my case that meant a burst appendix with several complications. By the numbers it was 13 days in the hospital, 7 weeks of antibiotics, 5 CT scans, 2 surgeries, 2 drain tubes, and countless blood tests and injections.
It was definitely not how I envisioned kicking off 2017. Instead of challenging myself with the B3 ALL IN program, I was struggling to recover. Two months after I was first admitted to the emergency room, I was so far away physically and emotionally from where I’d been before my appendix burst. I hadn’t realized how much physical activity contributed to my well-being, my confidence, and my sense of self until it wasn’t a part of my day-to-day life.
If you’ve ever had an illness or injury set you back, I’m sure you can relate to the flurry of questions I had swirling around in my head: How do I start working out again? Will my body do what I want? What if I can’t do what I used to? Four months into my recovery, I’m now able to reflect on my journey and share the answers I found to some of those questions.
TRUST YOUR BODY
Before my appendix burst, it was totally normal for me to power through days and workouts even when I wasn’t feeling 100%. However, I knew this situation was going to be different. I had to trust my body and honor what it needed. In this case, that meant rest.
Five weeks in, I received two pieces of great news: I did not need a third surgery, and I was cleared to have the drain removed from my abdomen. Instead of seeing this as a sign that I could go full-throttle, I started slowly by taking short walks.
Around week six, I got back into B3, starting with 10-minute online workouts. This was the perfect amount to ease my way in, because I wasn’t comfortable (honestly, I was scared) jumping back into studio classes right away. I stuck with workouts that focused on stretching and restorative moves so I could feel out my body and my physical limits, and slowly build up strength again.
STRONGER THAN YOU THINK
When I returned to work, there was an opportunity to take a special staff class with B3’s Director of Training and all-around rockstar Lisa Schale-Drake. I was super excited…and super nervous. I hadn’t stepped inside a studio for two months. I was nowhere near as strong as I had been before, and my endurance was low.
But then again, isn’t that why we love B3? Because of all the adaptations available and being able to make it your own? I would simply have to honor my truth and adapt the moves to work with me instead of against my newfound limitations.
So that’s what I did. I took breaks. I modified. I got sweaty. It felt amazing. It was in that moment that I realized just how much I needed Lisa’s class.
CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES
Before I got sick, my weeks were filled with B3 classes, running, and the occasional spinning or hot yoga session. I was active and pretty focused on checking exercise off the to-do list. In the weeks after my surgeries, even going up the stairs felt impossible. Just blow drying my hair felt like exercise.
But when I finished that first short online workout, I felt happy and accomplished just for having been able to press play and move. My pre-sickness self would have felt guilty for only doing ten minutes, but I’ve come to know better. As I continue to build back strength, I’m savoring every accomplishment and enjoying my victories, no matter how small they may be.
I’m still a work in progress, striving hard to never compare myself to where I was before or even where I want to be. Instead, I’m taking it slow and appreciating what I’m able to do in my body today.
Who hasn’t been sidelined by an illness, injury or life hiccup at some point? It happens to the best (read: all) of us—including our Digital Marketing Lead Jenny Konopinksi, who is currently recovering from an out-of-the-blue illness. Her slow journey back to healthy has been incredibly mindful and empowering, so we asked her to share her story and what she’s learned along the way.
Active lifestyle? Check. Regular exercise? Check. Healthy eating habits? Check.
I was doing everything I thought I should to live a healthy and balanced life, yet I forgot one thing: Life happens. In my case that meant a burst appendix with several complications. By the numbers it was 13 days in the hospital, 7 weeks of antibiotics, 5 CT scans, 2 surgeries, 2 drain tubes, and countless blood tests and injections.
It was definitely not how I envisioned kicking off 2017. Instead of challenging myself with the B3 ALL IN program, I was struggling to recover. Two months after I was first admitted to the emergency room, I was so far away physically and emotionally from where I’d been before my appendix burst. I hadn’t realized how much physical activity contributed to my well-being, my confidence, and my sense of self until it wasn’t a part of my day-to-day life.
If you’ve ever had an illness or injury set you back, I’m sure you can relate to the flurry of questions I had swirling around in my head: How do I start working out again? Will my body do what I want? What if I can’t do what I used to? Four months into my recovery, I’m now able to reflect on my journey and share the answers I found to some of those questions.
TRUST YOUR BODY
Before my appendix burst, it was totally normal for me to power through days and workouts even when I wasn’t feeling 100%. However, I knew this situation was going to be different. I had to trust my body and honor what it needed. In this case, that meant rest.
Five weeks in, I received two pieces of great news: I did not need a third surgery, and I was cleared to have the drain removed from my abdomen. Instead of seeing this as a sign that I could go full-throttle, I started slowly by taking short walks.
Around week six, I got back into B3, starting with 10-minute online workouts. This was the perfect amount to ease my way in, because I wasn’t comfortable (honestly, I was scared) jumping back into studio classes right away. I stuck with workouts that focused on stretching and restorative moves so I could feel out my body and my physical limits, and slowly build up strength again.
STRONGER THAN YOU THINK
When I returned to work, there was an opportunity to take a special staff class with B3’s Director of Training and all-around rockstar Lisa Schale-Drake. I was super excited…and super nervous. I hadn’t stepped inside a studio for two months. I was nowhere near as strong as I had been before, and my endurance was low.
But then again, isn’t that why we love B3? Because of all the adaptations available and being able to make it your own? I would simply have to honor my truth and adapt the moves to work with me instead of against my newfound limitations.
So that’s what I did. I took breaks. I modified. I got sweaty. It felt amazing. It was in that moment that I realized just how much I needed Lisa’s class.
CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES
Before I got sick, my weeks were filled with B3 classes, running, and the occasional spinning or hot yoga session. I was active and pretty focused on checking exercise off the to-do list. In the weeks after my surgeries, even going up the stairs felt impossible. Just blow drying my hair felt like exercise.
But when I finished that first short online workout, I felt happy and accomplished just for having been able to press play and move. My pre-sickness self would have felt guilty for only doing ten minutes, but I’ve come to know better. As I continue to build back strength, I’m savoring every accomplishment and enjoying my victories, no matter how small they may be.
I’m still a work in progress, striving hard to never compare myself to where I was before or even where I want to be. Instead, I’m taking it slow and appreciating what I’m able to do in my body today.
