I have reached my 62nd birthday (as 4-year member of Fit Mother) and I embrace my new total knee replacement after two full years of knee deterioration, pain to the point of immobility and acceptance of inevitable changes in my post menopause and sexagenarian decade ahead of me. As my surgeon told me just weeks ago, “your running days are over!”
That is how Fit Mother Deb Armenta begins her story. Deb joined team Fit Father/Fit Mother at a Ragnar event in Kentucky in 2022 at age 60! Well, she turned 60 the weekend we were together. She was a great addition to our team and enjoyed running at the time. Then came the knee pain and “life.”
We asked her to tell about her experience since then and below is her story.
Life moves quickly and our bodies change rapidly; these changes are never easy! Aging well, my new focus, includes a mindset of acceptance and flexing into unexpected and sometimes very difficult changes. Even in moments of grief and loss.
My FMP journey has taught me great lessons along the way and continues to aid me on my life-long journey to maintain good health. I wish to share some of my own experiences of what has been crucial to my health and what continues to aid me in this most recent knee replacement. For those of you who know knee surgeries, this surgery is grueling and the recovery is no less! Yes, I am thrilled I will walk with no pain! But I am accepting that this difficult journey is one of initial debilitating pain which can be isolating and even depressing at moments.
If I can encourage every woman in Fit Mother and beyond, the crucial component of what has helped me to continue to work towards health and recovery is movement. Movement aided by healthier eating; but I attribute the grounding element of my recovery and ability to bounce back from so many health issues including cancer and 11 major surgeries over the years as movement. I have learned that movement is essential particularly as I age and recover because being sedentary will only lead to immobility.
As my surgery was scheduled for August (2024), I fought hard to change my mindset to recovery. I could no longer even walk around the block. It was devastating. However, I returned to the gym and began low impact movement becoming a huge fan of the indoor bike, and the elliptical. I could still conquer a HIIT, even with a brace on, and I could work up a sweat. I sat on the weight benches and used arm weights; upper body became my focus, as well as my core. Even in my limitations, workouts became intentionally focused on strength training to aid my recovery. Stretching was difficult but I worked hard to continue to lubricate my joints. My workouts changed with my limits – but never ended. They absolutely kept me going. Working up a sweat 3 plus times weekly helped my mood, my anxiety about my surgery, and my overall well-being. And yes my leg pain was ever present!
My focus changes as my body and spirit change. I do wish to maintain good muscle strength, strong bones and flexible joints. It is not easy. And as women, we are often under the pressure to show how much we can accomplish and how strong we are (and we are!) but sometimes to the detriment of our bodies and our spirits. Negating our struggle and even our suffering is not honoring the truth of who we are as true women.
My choice to fight the despair and to continue to move before surgery was crucial to my recovery. My PTs were thrilled as I was weeks ahead of where I should have been in recovery. My joint mobility in my knee was at a 100 percent in 2.5 weeks. I walked into my first outpatient PT and my therapist was stunned I was walking as if surgery never happened! Now she works me twice as hard! But my hard work before has made all the difference in the recovery. Even my post op doctors and nurses cheered my rapid recovery! Movement is medicine as they say!
My encouragement to each of us is to not give up. This is not easy. And it is not without days of despair, real physical pain, and moments of near interior implosion. I fight the desire to cave to fear, frustration and anxiety. My workouts and brutal PT exercises are critical in helping me fight this despair. And I encourage my FMP sisters and beyond, to not live by any exterior pressure to achieve someone else’s definition of health and fitness, but to honor these incredible gifts of our unique individual bodies as they carry us through this life. And keep moving!
Aging, surgeries, and recoveries are a part of this life. We can embrace these changes without fear – and I encourage all to do so. Find support and face the headwinds with as much strength and awareness and grace as possible. The alternative is not where I think any of us wish to go! I say thank you and I love you to the women in my journey and some of my very special FMP sisters, as we have prayed, laughed, and cried together. So, to all of us… onward on this journey to health and longevity as we work to live with joy and peace, and grace, grit, and gratitude.
Grace, grit, and gratitude. Perfect! Thank you for sharing your story, Deb. You inspire others and it is our hope that all of us choose to embrace aging and physical struggles with your tenacity.
Written by Craig Taylor, FFP/FMP Staff.
Let Fit Mother Project inspire you to embrace change and aging also! Then we can post awesome stories and photos like these about you!
