I'm sure you've heard this phrase a time or two. When it comes to lipedema, you have good days and bad days, and you have to take them as they come. The last several days, I've spent recovering. I did little more than self-nurturing -- magnesium baths, MLD, Flexitouch treatments and rest. My brain is still the brain of a 42-year-old woman, but my legs seem at least twice that age. And it's hard to reconcile that.
Then you hear "Use it or lose it," and you think: "So this is my fault? I'm dealing with this because I didn't move enough?" It's an easy trap to fall into: self-blame. Lipedema is NOT your fault. While an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity can complicate and aggravate lipedema, they aren't the only things that can contribute to it. Stress, inflammation, illness and other things can also worsen lipedema and speed its progression -- and doctors believe that other factors may also play a role.
But use it or lose it -- does that apply here? In a word: yes. One of the best things you can do for your body is to keep moving. You may not be able to run marathons any longer (although you might!). But you CAN still move. If you can still walk, get out there and walk. If you can no longer walk long distances, walk around the block or around your house or around the room.
Biking is a great low-impact activity that is easy on your lippy joints (excellent if you, like me, have hypermobile joints on top of lipedema). Swimming is also a great activity that is easy on your joints and takes some of that weight off your lippy legs. Even better, the pressure of the water against your skin stimulates the lymph system, which will push fluid out of your body at a shocking rate.
Even if you are no longer fully mobile, you can still find ways to move more. Grab some light weights (or soup cans! Or just make fists!) and move your arms.
While it may seem tempting to hide away in your house forever -- girl, trust me, I've been there, I KNOW -- that's not a workable solution, and it will only hurt you in the long run. Instead, keep moving. Keep walking, biking, swimming, waving your arms, doing whatever you can to move forward in your life.
Then you hear "Use it or lose it," and you think: "So this is my fault? I'm dealing with this because I didn't move enough?" It's an easy trap to fall into: self-blame. Lipedema is NOT your fault. While an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity can complicate and aggravate lipedema, they aren't the only things that can contribute to it. Stress, inflammation, illness and other things can also worsen lipedema and speed its progression -- and doctors believe that other factors may also play a role.
But use it or lose it -- does that apply here? In a word: yes. One of the best things you can do for your body is to keep moving. You may not be able to run marathons any longer (although you might!). But you CAN still move. If you can still walk, get out there and walk. If you can no longer walk long distances, walk around the block or around your house or around the room.
Biking is a great low-impact activity that is easy on your lippy joints (excellent if you, like me, have hypermobile joints on top of lipedema). Swimming is also a great activity that is easy on your joints and takes some of that weight off your lippy legs. Even better, the pressure of the water against your skin stimulates the lymph system, which will push fluid out of your body at a shocking rate.
Even if you are no longer fully mobile, you can still find ways to move more. Grab some light weights (or soup cans! Or just make fists!) and move your arms.
While it may seem tempting to hide away in your house forever -- girl, trust me, I've been there, I KNOW -- that's not a workable solution, and it will only hurt you in the long run. Instead, keep moving. Keep walking, biking, swimming, waving your arms, doing whatever you can to move forward in your life.
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