When the Body Forces You to Listen

At 36, I lost the ability to swallow.

Not gradually. Not subtly. One day, something that had always been automatic—eating—became difficult, painful, and unpredictable. What I didn’t know at the time was that I had a hiatal hernia, possibly since birth. I also had GERD and didn’t know it. At 36, I lost the ability to swallow.

Because the symptoms had always been there, I didn’t know what life felt like without them. Discomfort had become my normal baseline.

Eventually, the hernia was diagnosed, and I underwent surgery to correct it. The results were significant. The GERD was cured, and something unexpected happened as well—my asthma, which had been severe at times, became far more manageable. In many ways, it felt like it was almost gone.

But while the surgery solved part of the problem, it didn’t fix everything.

The swallowing issues remained.

Over the next few years, I had to relearn how to eat. I learned what foods worked and which ones didn’t. I learned how to manage pain, how to slow down, and how to recognize the signs that food was going to stick. I picked up small tricks—posture, timing, textures—that helped when swallowing became difficult.

It wasn’t linear. There were good stretches and frustrating setbacks. There were moments when meals felt exhausting instead of enjoyable. For a long time, protein shakes and soup were my primary fuel—not because I wanted them to be, but because they had to be.

Still, I didn’t want to lose the mindset I had developed years earlier with asthma—the belief that limitations don’t define the outcome unless you stop adapting.

So I approached this the same way.

I learned. I experimented. I paid attention. I adjusted.

In the process, I gained a much deeper understanding of nutrition, pain management, and what it really means to fuel a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Food stopped being about convenience or habit and became about intention. What nourishes me? What hurts me? What helps me recover?

Today, I can eat about 80% of what I could before.

I’m no longer dependent on meal replacement shakes or liquid nutrition to get through the day. I can train, recover, and live with far more freedom than I once thought possible. The experience didn’t just change how I eat—it changed how I understand health.

This journey reinforced something I’ve learned over and over again: challenges don’t automatically make you weaker. Sometimes they force you to become more aware, more patient, and more resilient than you ever would have been otherwise.

Setbacks don’t mean the path is over. They often mean the path is changing.

Health, wellness, and fitness aren’t about perfection. They’re about adaptation. They’re about listening when your body speaks—and responding with curiosity instead of frustration.

Failure only happens when you stop trying.

Everything else is learning.

And sometimes, the hardest chapters end up teaching you the most about strength.

Real progress starts with the right plan—and the right support.

With Punzy Fitness, you’ll get weekly coaching, personalized movement assessments, and clear next steps tailored to your goals.

👉 Apply for online coaching and start moving better, feeling stronger, and living healthier.

Disclaimer:

The information shared in this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare team before beginning a new exercise program, using supplements, or making dietary changes, especially if you have existing health conditions.