She makes no bones about: Alicia Arden is a diva in spandex. Nearly every day, she stretches on the Lycra and with perfectly coiffed hair leaves work and heads to the gym, where she works out for two hours to ease her rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms and fight for her life, she says.
But she wasn’t always so committed to improving her health. The Warrenton, Va., resident, who also has epilepsy, was severely overweight when she was diagnosed with RA in 2008. Barely able to walk due to the pain in her knees, hips and right shoulder, it took a hard dose of reality from her doctors to motivate her: Lose the weight or slowly die, they told her.
Alicia joined Weight Watchers and shed 50 pounds. Then she gained it back. In 2011 she started aquatic exercise classes. She stuck with it, slowly increased her workouts and hired a personal trainer and nutritionist. “Within one year I lost 102 pounds and I have not stopped,” she says.
除了锻炼和健康饮食，Alicia还通过两种治疗风湿性关节炎的药物控制她的风湿性关节炎，并通过其他药物控制她的癫痫。
On the eve of her 50thbirthday, we chatted with Alicia about her experiences and the moxie that has motivated her to drop more than 10 dress sizes.
问:关节炎对你有什么影响?
A:I had to fight for my life. When I first got sick I could only go up and down the stairs once a day. My husband reminds me every day, “I remember you couldn’t even walk up the stairs without breathing hard.” I knew I was dying. I can now walk up and down the stairs with no problems. I have more energy than I can even offer!
Q: What’s your weight-loss secret weapon?
A:It’s no secret. One: drinking plenty of water. Two: You have to get seven to eight hours of rest. Three: You have to exercise. Four: You have to eat the right food. And stick with it.
Q: How has your life improved since you’ve lost weight?
A:Oh my gosh! I have confidence. After retirement [in 2016] I want to go into fitness and I want to start an active-wear clothing line [for plus-size women]. When I started working out, and with the size I was – about a 34 – I couldn’t find anything to wear. I said, “This isn’t fair. I’m a diva.” I didn’t care how big I was, I wanted to look good!
问:从1到10分，你的疼痛有什么变化?
A:My pain was like a 20. Right now, it’s like 0.0. On days when it’s rainy or cold, then it’s like a 2, but it doesn’t stop me from working out.
Q: What do you do when you feel like you can’t exercise?
A:说实话，有时候我会想，“我一定要去吗?”但我仍然会去，即使在我身体肿胀、关节疼痛的日子，或者是下雨天。我多吃了一片布洛芬，然后告诉教练:“我今天不是我自己，所以我们不要发疯。”但我还是逼着自己去了。
Q: Ever have reservations about working out due to your weight?
A:I didn’t care how I looked. I was on a mission. Honestly, there were times I couldn’t even put my legs up in the air. I was the biggest thing in the pool and I did not care. I just thought I have got to exercise to get this weight off. My hair was done and my makeup was on, but the thing was, I did not care. And you’re right; people are judging you. But you know what? As big as I was, I was in the front of the class and made sure I learned and understood. Don’t pass judgment on yourself or others. You do only what your body can do.
Q: What got you through the grueling workouts?
A:即使当我觉得我做不到的时候——“我做不到，我做不到”，我会对自己说，因为你觉得你是孤独的，你没有办法开始——但你可以，你真的可以。但你必须做出承诺;你必须做出决定。即使在我重拾50磅的时候，我也从未停止过。
Q: What’s your favorite workout?
A:Yoga. I strongly believe the meditation and yoga itself has been a great help for my epilepsy.
Q: What’s on your workout playlist?
A:I love Justin Timberlake. I love Janet Jackson. Beyoncé is OK. Earth Wind and Fire.
问:你的首选减肥餐是什么?
A:I love a nice green salad with a chicken breast. I make it with olive oil, egg whites, chicken breast, lettuce, onion and chic peas.
Q: What do you eat on your cheat days?
A:I love french fries, french fries, french fries. I can’t eat them, so sometimes I make home potatoes with melted cheese and onions.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
A:Fighting for my life and not wanting to go backward to where I was. I didn’t want the pain anymore – in my knees and in my body.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A:I like hanging out with my girlfriends, hosting events at my home, going on date nights with my husband and gardening around my house.
问:后悔吗?
A:一开始我是这么做的。我很生气我得了风湿性关节炎。我想，“又来了。先是癫痫发作，现在是风湿性关节炎。”我想，“为什么是我?为什么我总是生病?”但我很高兴这件事发生了，因为它迫使我有一个健康的生活方式。现在我可以安心地过我的后半生了。
问:这次旅行教会了你什么?
A:I learned not to give up. I learned I had to make a change in life. I learned dedication.
Q: Any advice for others?
A:They’re not alone and they can do this, too.
Alicia’s Weekly Workout Schedule
Alicia takes a variety of cardio and strength-training classes – each one hour long – to ensure her fitness regime is well-rounded. But, she says, her workouts weren’t always so long. If you’re just starting out, five- to 10-minute workouts each day can have positive health effects. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about what type of exercise may be best for you. A personal trainer who has experience working with people who have arthritis or physical limitations can also help.
- Monday– Core Fusion Barre, Zumba toning
- Tuesday– step aerobics, land Zumba
- Wednesday– fit yoga, spin, jab kick core
- Thursday– water aerobics, body pump
- Friday– rest
- Saturday– spin, body pump
- Sunday– rest
Alicia最近获得了尊巴和瑜伽健身认证，目前正在努力获得私人教练认证。
This story was featured in the January-February 2014 issue of Arthritis Today Magazine.
This post was really inspiring! I’ve got lots of reasons to fight, but I find it so hard to stay motivated through life’s ups and downs. I recently learned that I’ve got two copies of the APOE4 gene for late-onset Alzheimer’s and I’ve gotta eat right and exercise, keep my brain active or I risk losing… losing myself. I don’t think there’s another way to put that, as hard as it is to say. I’m 38, so I have to start the battle NOW.
I also have widespread osteoarthritis and am pre-diabetic. My quality of life totally depends on the choices I make for myself every single day. It’s scary and hard and frustrating at times so I am so glad for these inspiring stories. Alicia, I’m cheering you on from afar. Thanks so much for sharing your story! You are helping others, too.