Winter 2001 - Newsletter
Sports & Exercise
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From The Editor
By: Brett Vebber
The major question asked in this issue is, "Does exercise really make a difference?" I have not just believed in exercise because it has been preached to me from the doctor's office, but I have experienced the benefits of the answer to this question for myself.
I am 30 years old and it has only been in the past five years that I have had the conviction to run and lift weights three times a week. It has made a tremendous difference in my life physically as well as mentally. Discipline is never an easy task and is frustrating most of the time. The phrase, "I don't have the time", or "I get enough exercise walking everyday" goes in my ears and even in my head all the time. I know these are just excuses and attempts to get an easy way out of my responsibility to stay healthy.
What about this question? "My child does not want to exercise -- so what do I do?" Working with families involving CF over the years has taught me many things that I share with parents. It is so easy for parents to preach to the children to eat, take their medicine, exercise, and so forth. They have no idea how hard it is to have CF.
I truly believe that exercise is not just for people with CF. Parents, my advice is this: Model it and care for your child be getting in the trenches with them. This will have far-reaching results. Try exercising with your child for weeks or even months. This motivation not only speaks volumes to say, "I am going to suffer this with you", but it also reveals the truth that each one of us has responsibility for our own health. The main excuse is time. Do you have the time? I am an advocate that we do what we want to do. Is this important? Many transplant patients have taught me the value of life and exercise to realize it is never to early to begin.
Exercise is very important and can do nothing but benefit those discipline enough to partake. Hopefully this edition of Heart 2 Heart has given some insight into the importance of exercise. I am the first to admit that it is hard work and seasonal at best in my life. Knowing the importance is one thing and I have learned that living this out is another.
Winter has arrived and Spring is just around the corner. Our next issue will focus on Cystic Fibrosis and pain. Joint pain can be a problem for this with CF. If you have any other questions on pain, or suggestions to us, please mail them to:
Children's Hospital ACC, Suite 620 c/o Brett Vebber 1600 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233or e-mail me at: BVebber@peds.uab.edu.