Part 3
This is the story of how I chose to follow my intuition over the advice of my doctors and chiropractor and ultimately healed beyond what I was told was possible. It is set in San Kamphaeng, Thailand in 2007. It was my first trip to Thailand and the entries in this series were original updates intended for friends.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Training…
I have no idea where to start this. Not sure how much time has passed since I last wrote you all. Hell,I’m not even sure what day it is…so I may repeat myself. Could say I’m sorry, but I’m not. I’m having too much fun out here to even worry about that shit. And for that, I offer no apology. Ha!
The Gym
2 rings, I have no clue how many bags and sandpaper carpet that keeps ripping my toes apart. We train outdoors so there’s temple cats, stray dogs, squirrely kids and the occasional fighting chicken in the mix. Locals come to chill and cheer when we clinch. I can’t imagine training indoors again. Unless I can bring a rooster with me.
Weight
…The bane of my existence…I’ve been here one month – most people who come to Thailand to train lose mad weight. I get here, gain 5 lbs then lose 7. I’m told I need to drop another 8. How the fuck am I going to manage that? I came here a vegetarian and all there is to eat everywhere is meat. I saw some pics from the weekend, my arms are the size of my head.
Training
I wake up every morning and run 5km, 6 days a week. Next week it’s bumped up to 7km, then 10km, then I have to run 2x a day. Initially I had problems with my knees but I started to run on my toes. Literally. My heels rarely hit the ground. I compensate by shortening my stride. If you have joint problems, check it out. It completely changed everything for me. I hit the gym again around 4pm.
I’m still working on a tire. I shadowbox on the thing for about 20 minutes. Realized people didn’t know what I was talking about when I last wrote this. Translation. I jump up and down on the thing and listen to hardcore. This has been the first week my calves didn’t scream from the abuse…haven’t seen pics of them yet. They’re probably the size of my head too….
From there, it’s about 5 rounds full out on the bags, shadowboxing, technique, whatever they throw at me (yesterday was 5 rounds of hands with a trainer/pads), then 4-5 rounds with a kru on pads. Lately I’ve been clinching a lot. It’s probably my favourite thing to do. Don’t know why, but I’ve always liked close quarter fighting. I think striking bores me. ? My current clinching partner is a 15 year old Thai fighter who’s at least 25lbs lighter than me. I learn a lot from him. His technique is good and he’s had something like 60 – 70 fights.
I tried clinching with a girl yesterday. She’s been training here for over a year, broke for another gym and just got back a few days ago. She kneed me really hard in the ribs when I thought I was taking it easy on her. I had her in a clinch, but was tapping her lightly with the knees because I had her head secure and I could tell she was in a panic….so, I took her hit as intentional and threw her against the ropes….we both agreed that if we want to remain friends, we probably shouldn’t work together for a while. It’s all good for me, I like the squirmy Thai kid anyhow. I rather laugh while I train. I learn more that way. Plus, I’m glad there’s a woman here who can be straight. Doesn’t mean I want to train with her, but she’s cool to hang with afterwards. Ha.
Mind Games
My krus push me hard. The owner pushes me hard. Now the manager does as well. For this, I am thankful but at times it can be hard on my ego. I have to get that in check. My ego. Just drop it and push my limits. Drop my defenses and submit. This is good for me, it’s one of the hardest things for me to do. If they didn’t care, nothing would be said…
Health
A lot of you know I was two steps from being a bubble girl before I left. Test results showed I had something like 120 – 130 allergies/sensitivities. The few months before I left were the worst of my life – I have scars on my arms from the rashes, eczema, lesions, whatever the fuck it was that I was plagued with. My eyelids had been peeling consistently for four months.
Taking care of my health became a full-time job and doctor after specialist had no answer. What I didn’t tell a lot of you was about a week before I left, I tested positive for high levels of an autoimmune disease. I’ve been told I need to see yet another specialist when I go back. I don’t have it, but like I said, the levels are high. I’m stubborn as fuck and don’t take shit like this on my back.
Enough people have accused me of being crazy, more than enough neurotic. Telling me it’s in my head or it’s just one of those things I have to accept. If the doctors can’t figure it out…whatever. Basically to kill my intuition. I don’t have the answer, but I suspect it’s in the air and/or food. What, I have no idea…pollution, pollens, additives, GMOs…a mix….hell, I don’t know, I just feel like my body has been part of some biological experiment.
Within 4 DAYS of being here, my face cleared up. One month later and I’m all good. I can eat things I couldn’t touch before and my chronic pain is on the decline.
A few years ago I pissed off the wrong guy and he decided to be real hard and ghetto and hit me with his car while I was walking in the street.
Doctors told me to give up any kind of activity that was strenuous, maybe just light yoga for the rest of my life. Okay. Maybe you should tie me up and cut out my tongue too…..
4 years later and in the hills of Thailand, my health is finally coming together. The pain isn’t fully gone, but I have a lot of time for that. I’m consistently improving. People are offering to take me to specialists here, more old school ways. I’m open and I’ll clue you in if anything works. A few days ago I ate a handful of raw ox or bull (?) in a cup of room temperature blood for energy. It worked….iron levels must have been low….so I’ll end with this…
Fuck any system that doesn’t ring true with your heart. Trust your gut, it’s all you’ve got. One life, one chance. Don’t live it on your knees.
XO
Part 1: Ailments, Injuries And Dreams.
Part 2: Impressions And Settling In.
“Fuck any system that doesn’t ring true w/your heart. Trust your gut, it’s all you’ve got. One life, one chance. Don’t live it on your knees.”
AW, HELL. **grins warmly and broadly**
OK, you friggin’ *rule*. Period.
–L.
much appreciated!
Very inspiring story about your health changing. And hearing about that cup of ox meat and blood sounds good after a training session!
How is your health now that you’re back in Canada years later?
Thanks S!
I’ve been back in Canada approximately ten months and my allergies and sensitives are worse here than they were in Thailand (and are getting increasingly worse). They’re not nearly as bad as they were previously in Canada but as I’m getting more reactions, etc. I’m trying to be really strict with what I eat (i.e. no chemicals, additives, food colouring, preservatives, etc.). I’ve also cut out foods here that I could eat in Asia. I’m trying to not let it freak me out and I’m seeing it as a test of discipline, but I’m also paying attention to it and if it continues, I’ll have to make some decisions.
My back is fine though.:)
Don’t you ever give up on this. Ever.
In 2009 I already had had three kinds of cancer, 10 surgeries and 18 broken bones. I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. I was told I probably should not travel any more because my hips could break as I was just standing.
Fast forward five years, add six more broken bones, and a black belt in Muay Thai.
And I am 64 years old. I can’t do a real fight and I don’t run. But I train to the best of my ability. I had to do 100 sit ups and 100 push ups in 3 min each, spar 12 rounds non-stop, two rounds (with 30 sec. between) two on one, and the last round three on one. And that was just the first of three days of tests.
If I can – you can. Don’t give up.
Thank-you Pamm!