From India With Love

I am Genail Porter (also known as Genail McKinley), a recent bride as of June 2019. Yaaassss! I am a Lupus Warrior, Corporate Queen, Group Fitness Instructor and Plant-Based, Whole-Foods Lover. I would like to share my story on how I discovered my disease and fight it every day by living an active, healthy lifestyle while juggling a corporate lifstyle and my fitness side-hustle.

Here’s the synopsis. I was diagnosed with Lupus in October 2017. For those unfamiliar with this condition, it is an autoimmune disease that mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs, such as the skin, kidneys, brain, and lungs, in my case. Upon my diagnosis, I had a huge “flare”, felt fatigued, extremely achy with swollen ankles and knees (the size of golf balls), and felt like I had pneumonia. This was tough news to digest as an avid workout junkie. It meant that I had to conform to the American medical lifestyle. I had to take prescription drugs to manage my disease. This included taking steroids (the infamous “prednisone”), which sometimes felt like more harm was done to a tough disease to manage but I had loads of support from my mother, as she also was diagnosed with Lupus during her childbearing years.

Fast-forward a few months, I ‘managed to manage the disease’ enough to skip the sick days and come into work M-F. As an established financial consultant working at the #1 accounting firm in the world, I had to keep my focus on my career while keeping my battle on the hush. I was presented with the opportunity to live and work in India for three months. I contemplated long and hard about this work opportunity. I could not pass it up. I would be living rent and expense free for three months. Plus, I would be able to say that I lived and worked in two foreign countries and enrich my global acumen. Quick side note, I lived in London from 2014-2016 and met and fell in love with Mr. Porter. He is a blessing and is truly supportive. Anyways, I decided to take on this experience and packed up two suitcases to depart from NYC to Bangalore, India on January 5, 2018.

When I arrived in India, I was beyond excited! I loved the bustling city, colorful clothing, animal kingdom and “veg” options. The Ayurveda culture would be perfect to manage my disease, I thought. Each morning, I’d wake up, drink a fresh “ABC” (apple, beet, carrot juice) and eat a Dosa. It was fantastic. But this thrill did not last long.

One morning, I couldn’t get out of bed. Then the next morning I couldn’t get out of bed. As soon as I knew it, my lupus was flaring up again, but this time, it felt like I was having a heart attack! I lasted in India 2.5 months battling ailments every day, such as fevers, extreme chest pain, weird facial and body swelling and drastic weight loss, to name a few. I saw six local doctors and was demanded to return back home to America to receive “proper” medical treatment. My sister, Gobeail, came to India to rescue me on my job’s dime. The least they could do was get me out of there in first class with my day one. What a saving grace!

I returned home March 18, 2018 and decided to be under the supervisory care of my mother. Also, what an Angel! She knew I was “not right” and rushed me to the hospital, where I was immediately admitted for care. I was malnourished. I lost 30 lbs. I also had “kidney nephritis”, this is what Selena Gomez and Nick Cannon battled. I was scared. After 3 weeks in the hospital at UPenn, and being told to protect myself from the sun, I finally was able to come home and start over. Sigh.

I decided to write daily and write down my gratitude and goals. I told myself that I wanted to be the healthiest person I could be. I would not let fear conquer me. So, I took it slow. I went on a 3-month work disability leave to start fresh. I ate “cleaner”, which mean I cut out processed and non-digestible foods, including meat, dairy and added sugars. I slowly got back into the gym, did strength and cardiorespiratory

training and felt stronger than ever.

So today, I am leaps and bounds ahead and have found ways to manage Lupus the best way I can. I invested in a fancy juicer. I love to eat vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans. It’s an adventure to find creative ways to eat these delicious foods. I juice daily and have my ABC juice before eating a hearty breakfast, like oats. I just subscribed to a vegetable share and eat what is in season. I exercise 3-5 times a week and ALWAYS listen to my body when I need a rest. I found a way to live my best life while teaching others how to conform to a healthy lifestyle through fitness. I am also excelling in my career and was promoted through all this as an Executive Director in the summer of 2018!

The truth is, I have bad days but mostly good days because of what I learned over the years. I use prednisone only when I am feeling terrible but I mostly fight Lupus by eating clean and exercising. I have learned that life is about trial and error and finding the best way to sustain and balance. My three life lessons learned are: 1. Start early. Set your alarm before the sun comes up and use that time in the morning for YOU. 2. Eat whole foods that come from the ground. Eat foods with less than five ingredients (go for the single ingredient if you can). It is better for your body. 3. Stay close to those who support you. With this, your network can also “work” in your best interest.

Here is a quick recipe that I am currently excited about. Carrot-Top Pesto! Use the greens from the top of the carrot bunch. Blanche the carrot greens in hot water. Mix with fresh garlic, sea salt, olive oil, almond milk (optional) and toasted almonds (optional). Blend. Enjoy on pasta (zoodles), salads and bread! Follow my journey on IG @gennymack.