After being diagnosed two times with right leg deep vein thrombosis, I find exercise even more essential for the body. I turned my whole life around after healing from DVT. Exercise became my No. 1 priority in life.
I started off with walking because I was on total bed rest for months and I was making a transition from lying down all day with my leg elevated to walking. My leg and foot had to get used to the pressure from my weight while I began walking again. My right leg felt weak for a little while. Once I started walking normally again, I knew it was time to build muscle, especially in my calf, because it was just sagging from the blood clots and not being used over time.
I used to play soccer, which is a tough contact sport, so I was ready to take on this new journey of building myself up, to be healthy, fit, and to gain my confidence back. I decided to try boxing. I got a trainer and I went from there. I started out jogging, and it was a bit of a challenge building my stamina, but I didn’t quit. I knew that getting my heart to beat at a good pace was good for my body, along with working up a great sweat while burning calories. Jump-rope, pushups, situps, and learning the sport of boxing were amazing!
I spent 6 days out of a week training and 3 days out of the week swimming. I felt so good being in shape and having good cardio. This made me very confident. I felt like myself again, but better because I built myself up physically and mentally after being at my lowest point of life. Exercise has helped me lose weight, build muscle, strengthen my immune system, and it keeps my blood flowing in a healthy way.
I learned that exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stress, and many other things that can harm my body. I feel that exercise is the greatest thing for your body, especially after suffering from a condition like deep vein thrombosis. Also, for people who suffer from circulation problems, exercise is what your body needs because it will increase blood flow.
I still see a cardiologist, and I’m informed how I should keep my heart healthy. Exercise is going to always be a part of my life.
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