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Learn How Lisa Got Involved With Fitness

Sure, I look healthy and fit enough, but WOW!!!!!...what it took to get here. Hi, my name is Lisa Johnson, owner of EXERCISE A CHANGE, LLC, Fitness Training. I am 47 years old and have been involved in fitness and nutrition for close to a decade.

My Journey was long and hard.

My Passion is health and fitness.

My Goal is that all who visit my website will be inspired and begin a journey of transformation for their lives.

I stumbled upon fitness after living with a chronic disease that consumed me during my late twenties and early 30's. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disorder in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops ulcers.

For most of six years, I was on numerous medications along with many hospital stays for "gut rest", neither of which really worked consistently for me. During some of my more serious episodes, I would be given prednisone in large doses via an IV. This medication appeared to calm down the internal bleeding, but only temporarily, and the relief I received would come back to hurt me later.

I knew the ultimate treatment for this painful, chronic condition was to have my large intestine surgically removed. This would be a long, drawn-out process of three surgical procedures. My fears as to how this would change my life and plain old stubbornness caused me to want to fight this, and not let the disease win. Surgery was not an option for me.

It's funny how God can have other plans that are not the same as yours, and that process of mental transformation can be what miracles are made of. I was in Swedish Medical Center , (http://www.swedish.org/), in Seattle , WA attempting to get my latest flare-up under remission. Connected to a steady stream of strong and powerful anti-rejection drugs to counter my body's rejection of my colon, I remember feeling hopeful about my new course of medications.

Around the 10th day of my 30 day stay, I dosed off into a restful nap. A dream would change the whole battle plan in my fight for health. In my mind and heart I had a sence of urgency I knew I needed surgery performed immediately. I awoke with this charge and asked to speak with my doctor at his earliest opportunity.

This was quite a change in my attitude, from the doctor's perspective, and he and his staff were curious of my new feelings and attempted to convince me to continue the fight. I had my mind made up, and with prayerful consideration and the concurrence of my husband, spoke with my doctor expressing my determination to go through with the surgical removal of my colon. I was very much at peace with this decision.

The colonoscopy surgery was scheduled for the next day, and everything went well. Waking from anesthesia, I remember my doctor and pathologist standing in my room. Acknowledging I was awake, they informed me that I was a very lucky lady. You see, my colon had all ready ruptured and was releasing toxins to my blood stream. Waiting longer may have cost my life. Toxic infection did trigger arthritis throughout my body, causing me, (on top of healing from the surgery), to feel like I was in an eighty-year-old's body. Not a feeling any 32 year old wants to experience.

The loss of my colon required I wear an ileostomy bag until I was strong enough to go through parts 2 and 3 of this surgical trilogy. I used this devise for three months and finally was strong enough to continue. Discussions with the doctor and staff determined we would perform the two remaining surgical steps at the same time. This would result in two more weeks at Swedish Medical Center and a longer, harder recovery. The surgeries would complete the construction of an internal waste reservoir, created from my small intestine.

It was nice to have this complete, but the recovery was slow and painful. It took me close to a year before I felt like I had a handle on my life again. I was finally on the road to recovery and feeling better...!! Or was I ??

My bones and joints still ached. I broke my wrist making warm play dough for my children, and my knees began to ache very painfully. How is a young mother on the go with two pre-teen children supposed to function with knee joints so fragile - like they could just chip apart - that everyday life was a struggle. No one could tell me what was wrong. I know they were beginning to think it was in my head.

My doctor suggested I begin working out, that I had very little muscle in my legs. I tried, but my knees felt as fragile as champagne glasses. One summer afternoon changing sprinklers in my yard, a golf ball sized chunk of bone broke off one of my knees. The pain was excruciating.

This sent me back in to the doctor for exploratory surgery, which determined - good news, no cancer; bad news, I had avascular necrosis in both knees. High doses of prednisone during the early years of my ulcerative colitis caused a disruption in the oxygen supply to my knees, resulting in brittle bones. The verdict, bi-lateral total knee replacement. Both knees at the same time. Again, it appeared any quality of life was racing out of my reach. Or was it.?

Once again, God's plans are not immediately apparent. The orthopedic surgeon suggested that I join a gym and begin rehab on my new knees. That was a scary prospect for me. I had never been a gym member and thought you had to be fit to start with. I was not fit. Several weeks after my surgery, I hobbled myself into the local YMCA in hopes of getting stronger. Little did I know it would change my life forever.

I fell in love with the positive energy that exists in the gym atmosphere. I quickly was hooked on the feeling of empowerment that getting stronger gave me. A passionate desire for knowledge of fitness and nutrition led me to become a fitness trainer.

I now believe that all of my health trials that I have journeyed through have prepared me for a career in the fitness world. Exercise and a quality whole food diet has changed my life for the better. I have great empathy for anyone who has struggled with their body, whether it is a weight problem, skeletal or health issue, my experiences have taught me that I can do anything. My health issues do not own me . Let's begin your journey of reclaiming ownership of your body.

Let me help you EXERCISE A CHANGE today!

My typical day of eating is:

1 – cup oatmeal and 2 – scrambled eggs w/ 1 – Tsp flax oil or coconut oil
Snack of ¼ cup shelled walnuts, 1 – cup raw vegetables and ½ apple
½ turkey sandwich w/ avocado/tomatoes on whole grain bread and steamed vegetables or salad w/ chicken, nuts and veggies
Snack of ½ apple with vegetables and hummus dip
Grilled chicken or fish w/ ½ cup of rice and 2 – cups of steamed vegetables
Fresh fruit and a small amount of dark chocolate