Keep Moving, Stay Grateful

While we can practice gratitude every month, Americans have a longstanding tradition of emphasizing this practice during the month of November. With Thanksgiving and a slew of other holiday gatherings from now until the end of the year, there is a lot of time for introspection and reflection. For many, the month can serve as the time of year when appreciation starts blossoming. November also happens to be National Muscle Health Month. At the AMDA, this sense of gratitude and muscle health awareness lies at the heart of our messaging.

As I write this post, I look back on where my life has taken me — it’s been a pretty crazy ride! From my parents being told that I would not make it to my first birthday, to being 33 years old and working four different jobs and thriving, my life has been a terrifyingly exciting rollercoaster ride. There have been ups and downs (who here can’t say that?!), but one throughline in my life has been exercise and diet to help me maintain the best muscle health possible.

Ever since I was very young, I have stuck with the diet regimen outlined by Dr. Alfred Slonim: 25–30% protein, 30–35% carbohydrates, and 35–40% fat, in terms of total caloric intake. Many of the recipes from our Pompe Kitchen follow similar caloric ratios. In addition to this, I also take supplements like vitamin D, which promotes bone health, as well as L-carnitine and the amino acid L-Alanine. But the work doesn’t stop there. At the time of writing this article, I have just finished my daily exercise routine, which lasts about one hour. Though the exercises vary, I make sure to target my oral motor, core, neck, upper arm, grip, gluteal, and ankle muscles. At night, I use my wheelchair’s standing function to bear weight for around an hour. This helps to promote circulation and engage the muscles in my lower extremities.

Though I’m aware that drugs like NexviazymeA newer enzyme replacement therapy designed to improve delivery of the enzyme to muscle cells. and other enzymeA protein that helps the body carry out chemical reactions. replacement therapies do the heavy lifting (pun very much intended), I am a huge proponent of exercise and diet. The daily grind of maintaining this regimen can often feel like a loathsome task, but it is worth it. It is my firm belief that if I had not chosen to make this a part of my living routine, well, I wouldn’t be living. I wouldn’t be writing this article, performing and singing in concerts, or interviewing folks for my journalism job. At the end of the day, many of us have this drive, perhaps driven by ego, to leave something behind. I believe it is this desire to leave something behind that perpetuates humanity’s existence. Having no future goals can result in stagnation. A rolling stone gathers no moss as the saying goes.

It’s important to keep moving, whatever that may look like for any of us — especially for those who may have a harder time doing so. And, it’s important to remain grateful for our ability to still do so, no matter the extent to which we can. I hope you all have a wonderful start to your holiday season and that you continue to keep your eye on the prize, always forging ahead to meet your next goal. For me, I will strive to push even further next year with my various jobs, and attempt to help carry the torch, however long or brief, that our fearless leader and beloved Tiffany House did. I’m helping to hold it for now and am continually honored to be able to do so. What are some things you are grateful for this month?