Week three, was a total flop –sigh-
Though last week did not go as I would have liked it to, it
has provided the fuel for this week’s post.
Part of my struggle in losing weight is finding the energy to work
out. Over the summer, my Dr. put me on
anxiety medicine to help me with the heart palpitations I was
experiencing. Before that time, I had
been unable to work out because any exertion would make my heart race and I
would feel very weak and winded. Now my
palpitations are pretty well non-existent, however the medicine (like most
prescriptions) has a side effect and for me that side effect is fatigue. I struggle with fatigue on a daily basis
now. Some days are much easier than
others are but sometimes I have weeks where I feel unable to raise above my
exhaustion. This my friends is very
frustrating. When I posse the will but
lack the energy necessary to complete the task at hand.
Now my struggle is just an example. I am well aware we all have our own set of
personal struggle’s that may make us feel trapped in some constant moving wheel
that never allows us to stop and regain the strength needed to move
forward. It can create a very helpless
feeling inside of us that has the potential to span negative self-talk. This can trick our minds to focus on external
behaviors we feel will fix our situation when in reality it only keeps the
wheel turning. This seems to be a very
unfair situation to be in. It is one we
never ask for and seldom can see from the outside until the damage is already
done.
I do not want to generalize because I realize their does
exist people in the world that claim they like being overweight, or enjoying over
indulging in alcohol or drugs, or maybe even materialism (excessive shopping). I hope however that most of us understand
that these things are mere symptoms to much deeper internal struggle’s. These symptoms are what keep the wheel spinning;
it is a part of what keeps us trapped instead of moving forward. The external cure for my struggle is
food. When I feel tired constantly, I
feel helpless and tell myself if I eat I will wake up and feel better. This external action has negative consequences
including consuming more calories than I actually need, creating the connection
that I need food to have energy, and the chemical reaction I feel from eating
only last for a few minutes until I’m back to feeling as tired and low as I did
before. So how are we supposed to win in
such an unfair fight?
I am positive most of you have heard, “the first step to
fixing a problem is admitting that you have one.” Though this phrase has overtime lost its
importance and may seem cheesy, it is undeniably a true statement. To begin defeating the cycle we have to be
aware of where it is occurring in our own lives. However, even when we become aware, it does
not mean suddenly we will posse the ability to defeat our issue or totally
conquer the cycle. From my perspective,
that is the true nature of struggle. Seeing
and understanding our own issues yet we feel unsure of what steps to take in
fixing it. The truth is we are all
different and the steps I need to take in bettering my situation are not the
same steps you may need to take. Nevertheless,
our struggles share a common thread that we all can follow and with
determination and patience we will eventually see success.
So let us break it down a bit more.
1.
The first step to fixing a problem is admitting
that you have one. (check)
2.
Once you realize the problem, break it down into
smaller parts. For example, understand
your triggers and the emotions behind them.
3.
Once you understand your triggers take steps in
countering your thinking or take steps to help yourself in times of
weakness. Personally, I do not keep sweets
around the house because I know in moments of fatigue they will be the first
thing I reach for.
4.
Remember to give yourself compassion.
Number four in my opinion is the most important. None of us are perfect and with that acceptance,
we understand that during this process we will have times where we will
experience defeat. This past week for
myself was a week of defeat but to counter it I have begun to take a multivitamin
for energy as well as a B vitamin complex.
I am also not going to allow myself to spend my whole day in my apartment,
even if that means simply sitting at the college I attend or going to the
park. I am not going to give up simply
because I had a difficult week. In fact,
I truly believe that during our struggles is when we learn the most about ourselves
and can grow the most if we allow ourselves to.
“I've
come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying
the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living
I now enjoy.”
Tony Robbins
Thank you for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment