Dealing with a lifetime illness

[erif]

Hi there,

First of all, sorry for the bad english. Also, I am pretty new to this thing so I don't quite know how to Rep yet but make sure I will do so to thank those who answer me as soon as I get how this works haha!

So here it is; and seriously this is not a thread to complain or anything.. I am not looking for pity; only seeking some help to get back that motivation that I feel is going away.

3 years ago, I learned that I was stuck with an illness called the crohn disease in kind of a severe way. Honestly, at this point, I am really pissed off. This illness is all about ups and downs. For some periods I just feel great and it's just like I am a perfectly healty person. But when the symptoms come out again (cramps, vomiting, etc), it is defenetly striking out enough to keep me out of the gym for quite a couple weeks.

Now I don't complain about my physical condition. Even if my body doesnt look as great as the majority of u guys in here, I always had the chance to be a natural athlete. And srsly, the positive i get out of this is when I jump back in the gym; man i'm always impressed with muscular memory and the very little time it takes to get back in shape.

What really kills me is not being able to progress anymore. It only feels like the periods in which I can train are just dedicated to "get back to the point I was before". And u guys are all dedicated athletes, I guess u can imagine how I feel like s*** : you know, I used to be the one who would be choosen first in team sports; who would outlift all of his friends and be chosen for the big plays when the clock runs down on the board... But even if I had the awesome chance to be a natural, I worked my a** like crazy to stay on top. And now even if I can stay pretty competitive, the anger of seeing all these people I used to beat hands down getting better and better while I am not progressing is bringing me down as crazy.

Now again i'm not one looking for pity. And you know, I don't want to use my illness as an excuse to pus** out from the gym. There is no such thing as excuses in that game and I know that don't worry. And I know life is all about dedication and hard work. But to sometimes not be able to work, which drains my possibility to progress, it just takes away from me the motivation to work in the periods in which I could..

And as I am writing that down, I'm also really wondering what u guys would tell me about it. I feel kinda like a little boy to come and cry on the web about my situation and if u find it ridiculous well don't worry I feel at least twice as bad as u do about it. But i'm just to a point where I need some people to share their experience or give me some tips to go over that rough moment u know..

And if you feel like i'm just a little b**** for complaining about it while people around the world have much bigger issues than I do, well u can sh** up because I already know this. And it's what I used to tell myself to keep on pushing but it just doesn't seem to work anymore. I want to perform so bad and I know i have to work for it but thats exactly the point: I can't even go through sweat and blood even tough my mind wants me to; my body keeps me from doing it.

Thxs for reading, i guess its gonna come out to be a pretty long post. Thxs for the help also! Btw, i'm not a bodybuilder (that's just not my thing, I lift to keep in shape for martial arts and handball) but even if we don't share the same sports this place is a great board where great athletes meet. We might not share the same sport but we sure do understand the passion of each other. TY!

[Layziegtp]

Realize that the larger the obstacles you overcome, the more respect you are bound to receive. =)

If respect from others isn't what you're looking for, then there's still the enormous self respect you have to have for yourself to keep keepin on. And that's worth something.

It might help to tell yourself too - it could be worse.

[selffirst]

Dude ....don't measure yourself by others...this is a recipe for disaster.....Rethink what you see as your limitations.....don't dwell on what you can't do....Focus on what is possible.....You will be amazed how a positive frame of mind will improve and enchance your routine and progress......You don't need to prove anything to anybody but yourself....remember this...and put these truths into action in your daily life....Keeping positive thoughts for your improved health.......Self