Healed my thyroid!”
that I stop running to help with my joint pain and ease stress on my body. I did what she suggested, but it was a difficult adjustment. Running had always been my stress reliever. Without it, I felt on edge. Even as my energy levels increased, I still felt adrift without regular runs to release my anxiety. the rowing machines they typically have at the gym. When I realized how narrow it was and that we could get it in a wood finish to match our décor, I finally agreed. I hadn’t tried it before, but my husband was so confident I would like it, I figured I would just dive in.
“When the rower arrived, I found the Regatta Fitness app, which taught me proper form and had beginner workouts available. I gave it a try and instantly fell in love! I had no idea rowing would be a full body workout, and I loved that I could easily adjust the intensity depending on how I was feeling just by pulling harder or lighter. Best of all, it made me feel normal again—something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
“I began rowing daily for 30 to 45 minutes, doing instructor-led classes through the Regatta app, and the more I rowed, the better I felt. As the muscles around my knees, hips and elbows got stronger, my joint pain decreased and eventually disappeared. I started sleeping deeper, so I felt refreshed and energized when I woke up, and I lost 15 pounds, dropping two jeans sizes. My panic attacks vanished, and I finally had an outlet for stress on days when my family drove me a little crazy.
“At my most recent appointment to check the size of the nodes on my thyroid, my doctor was pleased to see that they have actually shrunk significantly, meaning I won’t need to go onto thyroid medication after all. I finally feel like myself again—when my alarm goes off, I jump out of bed feeling refreshed, ready and excited to take on the day. Rowing will be part of my life for many years to come!”
—As told to Alyssa Sybertz