Zeann Linder loves her yaks – kayaks, that is. She keeps three in her garage in Thief River Falls, Minn., but for a time failing health kept her from enjoying them.
Zeann's trouble started in her 40s. Too many donuts here, not enough exercise there. By age 54, she tipped the scale at 188 pounds. She suffered lower back pain, swollen ankles and aching legs, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. "I felt like a failure," she says. And sadly, the yaks suffered, too… She relied on ibuprofen – as many as nine a day, daily blood pressure medication and a night-time breathing device to relieve sleep apnea. But none could return her quality of life. "I kept giving up activities I loved – kayaking and camping, but even that wasn't enough to make me change my ways," Zeann says. "I was in total denial and refused to make the connection between my habits and my poor health."
A mirror helped set the record straight. "I looked at myself and finally had to admit the real problem was me. I was lazy. I was the one responsible for eating myself stupid and suffering the consequences," she says. A woman of faith, she called upon God.
For physical help, she called MeritCare Life Fitness Center in Thief River Falls. Chad Tabatt, physical therapist, welcomed her request. With a physical therapy referral from her doctor, Zeann met with Chad and outlined her three goals: reduce back pain, rebuild heart strength and overall conditioning, and lose weight. After a thorough assessment, he designed a program to address all three goals. The program began with physical therapy to reduce her back pain, gradually leading to safe, comfortable exercise on her own.
Zeann faithfully exercised four times a week, fitting it around her career as a technical illustrator. She adopted better eating habits including three healthy meals a day, plenty of fruits and veggies, and just occasional treats.
One year later, she met her goals – and reversed her failing health. Today she's free of sleep apnea, swollen ankles and aching legs. She easily jogs up a flight of stairs with energy to spare. Her blood pressure medication has been cut in half and she no longer needs ibuprofen. Her successful course of physical therapy combined with a 44-pound weight loss and muscle tone reduced her lower back pain 90 percent.
"I feel healthy, strong and alive – better than I've felt in years," she says.
And the yaks? Zeann has heard their call and answered, taking them to Ely, Hayes Lake and other northwoods favorites. "It's great to be able to play again," she says.