I almost didn’t write this blog because I know you probably think I’m crazy from the title. It’s true. I had Cov*d* and while certain parts of it sucked for sure, I actually found the silver lining and was thankful it happened. Also please ignore the weird punctuation on certain words. I don’t want to get banned from the internet.
First and foremost, I’m glad it’s over. It was challenging and draining, as all sickness is. I knew it was inevitable given how rampant it is, but I was never afraid of getting it. I was taking imm*une support supplements beforehand. I had a game plan in place in case I did get it, and I live a pretty healthy lifestyle so I wasn’t worried about it having detrimental effects on me. Now I have the natural imm*unity which kind of makes me feel like I have a superpower. So there’s that.
The only concern I had was that my lungs might struggle because I’ve had pneumonia a few times before and asthma since I was young, but I actually didn’t have ANY issues breathing. Thank, God! My lungs rocked.
As for every other symptom? I pretty much had it all at some point over the course of a week, but hear me out…
I’m a bit of a workaholic or if I’m not working, I feel like I should be doing something productive. Given the fact that I had the virus and was super tired, I allowed myself to sleep as much as I wanted and didn’t feel bad about doing so. It was probably the most well-rested I’ve been in years. I’m thankful that self-employment allows me to take time to rest as needed without having to ask permission from someone else.
While exercise is great, sometimes I don’t know when to stop. I don’t prioritize recovery enough. I didn’t workout for about a week and gave my body time to really repair which was so helpful. Plus, I didn’t wear my Apple watch at all so I never thought about my calorie goal, exercise goal, or if I should stand up. There was something very mentally freeing about that.
I lost my sense of taste and smell, which was very odd to be able to breathe like normal but everything was nothing. This is the symptom that lasted the longest. I got very frustrated towards the end because my taste didn’t come back until about a week after all other symptoms left. However, it caused me to eat SO healthy. I maximized the opportunity to eat the most boring, nutritious food. It also caused me to learn more about my body’s natural hunger cues. I switched from eating based on cravings to eating based on fuel which helped my body to repair itself both inside and out. It’s the most annoying symptom, but it was a great learning experience too.
Lastly, it gave me a better appreciation for life and reaffirmed why I am passionate about living healthy myself and helping others do the same. The CDC, among many other resources, plainly states that obesity worsens outcomes from Cov*d* and that obese individuals may have impaired immune function and 3x the risk of hospitalization. It’s time for America to take their wellness into their own hands through healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and stress management. If you’d like the link to the resources I’ve referenced here, please let me know and I’m happy to share. I would also love to help you find a fitness routine you love. Contact me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/lindsaykalsow
