Back to basics for a healthier life
Lynne Crohn; Associate Director of IT; Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering; IU Bloomington
My Story
Since 2015, I've gone from a 2 pack-a-day sedentary overweight smoker to a much healthier (and happier!) marathon runner and non-smoker.
In 2015, I'd gained weight and become depressed over the passing of my parents and the ongoing illnesses of my in-laws. All had suffered the effects of vascular disease whether through heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease or vascular dementia. I realized one day that if I didn't make changes, I would end up with a similar fate sooner rather than later. My father-in-law, a once very active person, was relegated to a wheelchair — no longer able to walk due to peripheral neuropathy. He would have given anything to be able to walk, and here I was, fully capable of walking but doing as little walking as possible.
I realized I was wasting a blessing — the ability to walk — by living a sedentary life. I would have a lifetime of chronic problems if I didn't get active and change to healthier habits, particularly a healthier way to deal with stress. I decided I would go back to basics: walk every day and read my Bible every day. This was the start of my wellness journey.