Mary Stegall was featured in our September 2023 issue. She has since had a successful total knee replacement surgery and we want you to know how she got to where she is today.
Mary, a 71-year-old retired nurse, joined Sparkle in 2019, lost 50 pounds, and has been in maintenance for five years.
WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISES DO YOU NORMALLY DO?
Since 2020, I strength train 4-5 times a week via Zoom with Jacynta and a group of ladies. It is easy to roll out of bed, go to my hubby’s man cave where my weights are, and just do it. The comradery has been amazing. We encourage each other before class and talk about it on the Facebook page afterwards. Since 2019, I have completed a 5K every month and six 10K races.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOU NEEDED A KNEE REPLACEMENT?
I had knee pain for three to four years. I got knee injections for a while, but eventually the injections no longer worked. When I could not walk a mile and I felt bone-on-bone, I knew it had progressed. Surgery for a smart knee was the only option.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR KNEE SURGERY?
I am in the high 90th percentile for both strength and overall health in my age group due to strength training. I have built muscles and endurance which prepared me for surgery, so I kept strength training. I am chasing strong.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH KNEE REPLACEMENT?
Being patient is the hardest thing. My doctor said I would hate him for the first month but love him there after. He was right. I must be patient because recovery does not happen overnight.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS TO PREPARE FOR AND RECOVER FROM MAJOR SURGERY?
Eat healthy. I prepared food and stored it in the freezer for the first couple of weeks. I prepared my hus band so he would know what to expect. I made sure I understood the exercises physical therapy would have me complete every day. Total Joint Specialists helped me prepare for the experience. I felt positive about the benefit of total knee replacement and getting back to my active lifestyle. Since this was a smart knee, I also receive positive feedback from the chip in my knee. It notifies me how much I flex and extend the knee.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PROCESS?
Three weeks after surgery, I climbed three flights of stairs at church. Going downstairs was much more dif ficult. I moved light furniture around after three weeks. I am already doing modified strength training. I am looking forward to walking a Disney 5K in 2027 with my daughter. One reason for my success is not just the fab ulous, energetic coach Jacynta Harb, but the Sparkle community! The Zoom and in-person Sparkle Wellness meetings remind me to move, eat right, read labels, and practice kindness to myself and others. The Sparkle Fitness classes help me be strong and live a longer life. Balance and modifications are necessary at different levels. Wherever I am in my journey, someone in Sparkle is probably there, too.
I am grateful to be over 70 and active. I have activ ities with my seven grandchildren, and look forward to doing everything I could before knee replacement with out pain. I will never give up Sparkle Fitness. It is so import ant to strength train and chase strong.
For more information about Sparkle Wellness, visit www.sparkleanewyou.com or phone 404-242-5062.
