Wednesday, September 30, 2009

How is Nirmalpal Sachdev healthy?


Being HIV + can be a blessing and a curse on your overall health as I have learned for the past 12 years. At first I was sad, and I felt so unprepared.

Every time I lost weight I would worry that I was going to die soon. This is back in 1997, and I was only 23 so you can understand my drama. I didn’t want to work out too much for fear of losing more weight, but I didn’t want to get unhealthy for fear of causing an opportunistic infection to take its course.

Over the years, I have learned that a healthy attitude about life is the best way to keep my body and mind healthy. Excess in any form is damaging to my HIV, so I don’t over indulge. I have my vices and I love to work out, but I have a reason to stay healthy.

The disease will only get worse as I take worse care of myself. I remind myself of that when I’ve had pizza more than one night a week or junk food more than once a week. I find that cooking your own food is a way to keep healthy and it’s always a cathartic experience. I live for my Cooking Light magazine every month. It’s like my bible. I read how to reduce the fat & calories in favorite recipes without giving up great flavor. Couple that with gym and all those endorphins that make you more horny as a result, and I feel better about my future with HIV.

How Am I Healthy? It’s a work in progress, but I never stop thinking that the better I take care of myself body, mind and spirit, the longer I live to torment my friends and family with my existence. P.S. I love to laugh. It’s the best medicine for any downer on your health woes.

-- Nirmalpal Sachdev
Chicago


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