When it comes to cycling, possible illnesses are often ignored. What does cycling have to do with diseases? Nothing for now. But that's not what it's about, it's about a positive attitude to life and the will to change something.
The following text was sent to us by a reader. With her blog she tries to create an understanding for the diagnosis of lipoedema and she tells how she came to racing bikes and a positive attitude to life. Since we liked this topic and your approach, we don't want to withhold it from our readers.
– Round and sporty –
Hey! My name is Vanessa, I'm 32 years old and I love to ride a racing bike - albeit for a very short time, namely since summer 2020. With this article I would like to give everyone the courage to discover cycling for themselves, even with curves (like me). to be able to
At first glance I have pretty strong thighs for most. That's correct. But there is also a very specific reason: I have stage 2 lipoedema in my arms and legs. In this blog post I would like to take you a little bit on how I got into road cycling and even practice it despite a chronic illness.
How it all began
At the beginning of 2020 everything should change for me. I just didn't know. We had recently moved and had new neighbors as a result. One of our neighbors is a triathlete... and what can I say?! Thank God. He encouraged my husband and I to start cycling again. Back then with our MTBs.
On May 1.5.2020st, 20, my husband and I did the first tour together - of course XNUMX km straight away. Some of you can probably imagine how my butt felt after that, despite wearing winter cycling shorts including padding. However, it just started from there. From then on we drove together or alone, several times a week. After a while it was simply anchored and an integral part of my everyday life.
It was a pleasure for me to see my speed steadily improve over the same distance. Incidentally, I always have a great drive and perfectionism in everything I do. Because when I do something, I do it right!
In August 2020, another milestone in my sporting life was to follow. With all my courage I rode my racing bike for the very first time! Sometimes the tools alone aren't enough - I felt like a elephant in a china shop. With my physique I was not at all comfortable with these thin tires and that's how the first ride went. I drove what felt like 10 km/h and my hands hurt endlessly, of course I wasn't used to this position.
After another road bike rider had almost knocked me out, my motivation wasn't very high after the first 10 road bike km. I didn't even know if I liked it or not. I was really insecure and didn't know what to think of it. But the way I am, I gave the whole thing another chance a little later. Lo and behold: I liked it very much! And: I wanted to have my own racing bike.
My first own racing bike
Uncertainty turned into great love in no time at all. I did a little research and immediately fell in love with a Scott road bike. But especially when it comes to buying a bike (also due to the current situation) it is not so easy to get exactly what you want at the moment. In the end I was lucky in misfortune. We kept checking with the manufacturer and the bike shop to see if anything was available.
A few weeks later the bike was no longer available. Of course, I couldn't be satisfied with that and called Scott directly. The lady on the phone was nice enough to give me a few addresses where I could order the bike. Said and done.
10 days later it was there. And I could hardly contain my joy. It was even more beautiful than I imagined and I still love it to this day! From then on it was only with this great racing bike in front of the door.
Since I wanted to continue cycling regularly despite the cold and always had extremely cold legs despite the winter bibtight (probably also because of the compression), a roller trainer was needed. Again: said, done. Thanks to the Zwift app, you can drive wonderfully different routes. Whether long or short, many meters of altitude or less - you can ride whatever you feel like or whatever suits your schedule.
I have been working from home since March 2020 and very often use my lunch break to do sports. The hour is enough to cover a good distance whether on the roller or outside.
Current boss: clipless pedals
What I am currently not 100% friends with are my clipless pedals. Right from the start I practiced the "mechanics" on the roller trainer, just like I would do outside. Click on the right, drive off with the right and then click on the left only when driving. When I stop, I first click out on the left and then on the right. However, in “real” traffic it is a completely different number.
I find it generally difficult to start because I've always sat with my butt on the saddle and only then started. I tried to do that less in 2020, but unfortunately, as we know, humans are creatures of habit.
Sport has new priority in my life
Before I saddled up again in May 2020, my sporting life was rather – let’s call it – reserved. I did sport from time to time, but unfortunately not regularly or with specific goals. This has changed now.
At the beginning of this new path with the sport, the weaker self often stood in the way (like probably with most people). But I drove him away every time and hiked in the direction of #teamantiSchwinehund with every single sports unit. Today I'm a permanent member and I always push myself, even when I don't feel like it.
In May 2020 I had a proud 99,4 kg at 1,67 m. It's no wonder that I didn't always feel completely comfortable with these measurements, especially when I was doing sports. I'm glad that it was swirling around in my head what other people COULD think of me right now, but in the end I didn't care. This is about me and not about what X or Y thinks of me. And even if someone didn't like it, that doesn't affect me. Why should I let someone else take my chance at a healthier body? Correct! There's no reason to.
diet and weight loss
Not only have I broken new ground in sports, but also in the area of nutrition. I have been eating very little animal protein since the end of 2019 (on the recommendation of the specialist), as these could be a trigger for pain in connection with lipoedema, among other things.
After I had already been doing sports for five months, the scales showed me "only" a minus of 2,7 kg. Of course there was still a lot going on. On a Sunday, while I was lying on the couch surfing the internet, I (however) came across the Weightwatchers website (to this day really don't know why) and just signed up. In 2012 I had already lost over 21 kg as a result. However, these crept back on over the years.
On October 5.10.2020th, 20, the “right” starting signal for my current weight loss journey began. To date I have lost a total of over XNUMX kg and feel really good again. Before I started WW again, I spoke to nutritionists and coaches. Very often the sentence was said: "I don't feel like weighing everything anymore". So much for that... Today I have to say that it's really easy and (as you can see) it works for me.
By simply planning my points for the day or week, I can eat whatever I want, just in moderation. So I can take care of all those who are scared of diets: I eat pizza at least once a week! Actually, it's not a diet at all, it's a new awareness of food and calories. But in the end everyone has to find their own way, of course.
Lipoedema - what is it actually?
This is a chronic disease. More specifically, a fat distribution disorder. Almost exclusively women and girls are affected, while men are very rarely affected. The exact causes have not yet been researched enough, but the time of the outbreak can often be traced back to a hormonal change (e.g. the pill, pregnancy, puberty, menopause).
The most typical features of lipedema are:
- Uneven proportions from torso to legs (often slim torso with thick legs)
- Very easy to bruise quickly and easily
- Sensitivity to touch or tightness
- Touch and pressure pain
- Orange peel or wavy skin with lumps forming under the skin
- Symmetrical, relatively spontaneous "unexplained" increase in volume in both legs. This leads to "pillar-like" changes and subsequent deformation of the legs
- In the further course: bulges, especially on the inner thighs
If you suffer from so-called "saddlebags" that do not go away despite exercise and/or diet, this could also be an indication of lipoedema. There are also mixed forms such as lipo-lymphoids. Here, the lymphatic vessels are so heavily loaded that their ability to transport is restricted and fluid builds up in the tissue.
How I came to the diagnosis myself
In 2014, a friend asked me about lipoedema. She had a work colleague who received her diagnosis from the doctor. Since my girlfriend knew my body from the swimming pool, of course, she made the first guess. On October 24.10.2014th, XNUMX I had my appointment with a specialist and the suspicion became real.
"Yes, of course they have it" - in this wording the doctor said what I had never understood over the years. It was the words that suddenly explained why, even as a teenager, I always had these thick thighs without being completely fat.
As the reality is, of course I had to let it sink in first. I knew what I had now, but I didn't know what to do. So it happened that my first compression fitting was a complete disaster. The brochures I received from the doctor and medical supply store answered some of my questions, but not all of them. Back then, social media wasn’t as widespread as it is today, so I was pretty much on my own. So all I had left was what I had, my phlebologist (specialist in lipoedema) and her instructions. These were quite simple: conservative therapy.
Do you already have the diagnosis or currently "just" the assumption? With this post, I encourage you to face it. You only have two options:
A) You don't have lipedema - Yay, that's great!
B) You have lipedema - and now you can do something about it.
Just assuming that you might have it takes you many steps further. Most of those affected do not even know anything about the disease. I used to think that I was “only” fat.
Find a phlebologist in your area, don't be afraid and make an appointment. You can do it!
Treatment options
There are two important building blocks for the conservative treatment of lipoedema: manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and flat-knit compression garments. The MLD keeps the tissue soft, stimulates the lymph flow and generally creates a feeling of well-being.
Note: Circular knitted compression garments are not an option for lipoedema. It can squeeze lymph vessels and is therefore not suitable.
The flat-knitted compression garment tries to keep the current state as far as possible by putting pressure on the tissue. It has also become an absolute must-have for me. For me it is the most important key against the pain in my legs. When I wear them, I have a lot less pain (some days almost no pain at all), and the body shaping is also included. It shapes my body and actually gives me a bit of security.
Another form of treatment is liposuction (fat removal). Attempts are made to remove as much diseased tissue as possible – usually spread over several surgeries. These surgeries are rarely approved by health insurance and are usually in the lower to middle five-digit range for self-payers.
I have to say very clearly here that I decided to go the non-surgical route. Everyone has to decide that for themselves - I have pluses with the conservative methodology Diet change and sport found my way. And since this "conservative way" has become so important to me, I created a hashtag for it: #lipoedemohneop
Why am I mentioning liposuction anyway? Because I accept both sides. Even if someone is having an operation or has already had an operation. I have absolutely no problem with that. The women with #liposuctionbeilpödem do not have an easy path ahead or behind them. It is an enormous intervention, especially for the psyche. Many people without lipoedema call it cosmetic surgery, which may be correct in itself, but it's not about a perfect body, it's about the path towards "normality".
My path with lipoedema & sport
Luckily, I was diagnosed relatively early at the age of 25 and have been on the right track with myself since my first rehab in the summer of 2017. My environment has supported me from the start. I have always received understanding support from my husband, family and friends.
At some point I reached the point where I could deal with the topic completely openly. That was one of the most important steps in coming to terms with the disease. Compression wasn't easy at first either, but I've learned to love my compression (also through rehab).
Believe me when I tell you, I hated this thing before and I NEVER dreamed that I would have the attitude I have today.
When I had completely integrated the basics (Kompri and MLD) into my everyday life, sport was added and that was really the best thing that could ever happen to me.
So – would you like some motivation?
Since September 2020 I have been actively blogging on Instagram/Facebook about sport related to lipoedema. But not only those affected by lipoedema benefit from my general educational work, no – even without lipoedema, I motivate my followers to exercise and spread courage. The core work of my profile has developed in such a way that I also give many tips on lipoedema and do educational work. I simply let my community participate in my life, so there is something for everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/rundundsportlich/
https://instagram.com/rundundsportlich?igshid=t2mdov6cxwu3
Feel free to stop by if you want to know more about sports & lipoedema. I'm glad that I can give you an insight into my (lip & sport) life and answer all questions to the best of my knowledge and belief. Why am I doing it? So that none of us is as alone with the topic as I was at the time. I often didn't feel comfortable or even out of place in this social media world at first, but here too I overcame my weaker self and found my way.
What about you? where are you going Are you ready to do it?
No matter what it is: give everything but give up.
GET UR LOOK | www.geturlook.com
Road bike clothing: www.alecycling.com
Photographer: Isabelle Martens | www.instagram.com/isabelle.amphotography
Do you want to inform yourself? Here is information
In keeping with the topic, we can recommend the guide, which covers the entire topic of lipoedema.
The book was developed together with experts and those affected. By those affected for those affected.
This book wants to enlighten and help to live with this chronic disease and to fight it. A number of experts from different fields of knowledge give practical life advice. Myths of the disease are explained and disproved by scientific facts.
You can find the link to the book here: