STRESS AS A FACTOR IN FITNESS

It never occurred to me that, in my years-long struggle towards better fitness, that I would need to worry about stress. Weight? Various health issues resulting from years of being overweight? Sports injuries? My neverending struggle with food? Sure, all of those were and are constant considerations, but the idea that I needed to pay attention to my stress level just never entered the picture. After all, I've always been pretty happy, overall, and in my circle of friends I tend to be the one others come to for advice (Yes. I am a bossy know-it-all. It's part of my charm).

Stress was just one of those things you put up with, take a deep breath or a long hot bath, cry if you have to, drink a glass of wine if it's been a really bad day, and then get up the next morning and get on with your life.

But over the Christmas break, I had this mysterious, debilitating illness ...which after much investigation turned out to be nothing more than the accumulation of stress, stress I didn't even realize I was feeling. And while I am doing SO much better, and physically am back to normal, I now realize that stress is another factor of the overall fitness picture that must be accounted for.

Meanwhile, as I continue to struggle and flounder and somehow keep my head above water (but only just), one of my daily battles is to JUST SAY NO to shame and guilt. It is more than counterproductive; it is destructive. And I've worked too hard to be self-destructive now.

Yesterday was a very long day of rehearsal; and though I'd planned to come home and work out in the evening, at the end of the day it was more important to go out and unwind with my colleagues; and this unwinding ended up involving many more carbs and calories that I really needed to be taking in. As I drove home, I told myself that today, I would get up and work out first thing. I would write out a food plan and stick to it.

And I did. I'm sitting here now, sweaty and stinky, food plan for the day sketched out and cardio/abs workout accomplished. But before I did that, I did arts and crafts.

When I woke up this morning, I knew I needed something extra to help me get off the emotional roller coaster; I needed to make a stronger effort to get back the basic tools I have used so successfully in the past and that work. I needed reminders about why I am doing what I'm doing, but this time, they needed something extra, something that pertains to the present aspect of my ongoing battle. My response cards had been the most powerful weapon in my arsenal; but after a while, they lost some of their power.

So this morning, I made a beautiful little booklet to carry with me and read every day, every time I need reinforcement or reminding. Every time I sit down to eat, or make a decision about whether to work out. There's room to write more in it, but right now it has one special entry. I really thought about it. I thought, "What do I need to hear right now, every time I make a decision about whether to eat or not to eat, what to eat, whether to work out or not, how much, what to do? How do I keep this from becoming yet another stressor?'

And this is what I came up with.

It reads:

Right now, I start over.

Right now, I commit to my best health and fitness.

Right now, I choose to eat that which will help me be healthy; or not eat that which will slow my progress.

Right now, I choose to move and care for my body.

Right now, I acknowledge my struggle, celebrate my success, forgive my failure.

Right now I am beautiful, healthy, fit, successful, and strong.*

 

Feel free to use it, if it helps you. If you reprint it, please give me credit. If you repost it somewhere, please link back to this blog post.

To me, it's really important to acknowledge living in the now. This is the best I can do right now; and if moments before I read this I've just eaten a whole pint of Ben & Jerry's (which, BTW, I did NOT do last night, though great was the temptation) it doesn't matter because right now I am starting over. That's the wonderful thing about this journey. You get to start over as many times as it takes.

 

*Copyright Cindy Sadler, 2012. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Ackley]

Stress is one of the main factor which will affect the health and fitness. I am impressed by the insightful blog post. Thanks for sharing good views and opinions about stress.

[Brave (Sportswear Love) Heart]

I always enjoy reading your posts but don't often comment.

I came across this site and thought you may like to see it, as it seems to have some really cool stuff.

www.braveheartsportswear.com

Let me know what you think.

[Sammy]

Moderate way of living is the most important

[Cindy]

Thanks, Ann! Buy tickets soon ... apparently they are selling really fast.

Valleycat, thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

[ann]

Just saw you will be in Sarasota!
Thank you for including your opera schedule!

We look forward to it!

Love your "diary" but not your struggles with stress.
I will keep positive thoughts coming your way.

[valleycat1]

You might enjoy signing up for the free daily messages from Brave Girls Club. Be SURE to search for the entire name, don't leave off the 'club'. Don't ask/don't look!

[RebeccaNYC]

"Always, we begin again" is my mantra..

And yeah, stress is a biggie. We don't take it seriously enough.