An Apple A Day

[Meadowsweet]

Thanks to KP for the inspiration.

I am really struggling with using alcohol and food as crutches, and am struggling to find the motivation to exercise.

I know what I need to do to become healthy physically and it sounds very very simple. ALL I need to do is cut out snacks and desserts, keep wine for a saturday only treat and exercise for 20/30 minutes everyday.

Its easy peasy right ;)

Except when living through a day feels like swimming through a storm ripped sea of emotion, then you grab onto anything that might keep you afloat in that moment, and worry about the consequences later.

But I beat myself up everytime I fail, and thats counter-productive.

So I want to start a thread that doesn't note the trillion failings, but will highlight the one good thing I've done amongst them. And if I challenge myself to find something to write here everyday for a month, then hopefully I will make sure I do one good thing so that I have something to write.

It would be really lovely if others shared their one a day health boost too.

 

[simplekindofgirl]

I struggle with this as well. It takes an extreme amount of determination and discipline. And sometimes I simply do not have it.

I have found something that works for me though. I had a really bad accident, the kind that leaves you with PTSD. Aside from the mental challenges, I face physical challenges as well. I struggle with pain, though I usually will not take medication for pain management. Mostly because I am an addict. I have reached the point where I can manage pain naturally with some exceptions which is when I am allowed to take prescribed medications. I have pain in my neck, back, and shoulder. Some of the times in all three places at once.

But I was very weak after the broken bones healed. So weak that I could not carry 3 pounds. It was just too heavy. I wanted to be stronger, capable of functioning in a normal capacity. But I was unable to hold myself accountable to working out, or strength training when it was just for the purpose of being healthy.

I found a program with a group of people that do fundraising and then event participation. In this case, it was to run a marathon. And I immediately said, I believe in this cause and I need to do this because the people who are affected by this need me to. I want to be a part of a solution for this problem. 'They need me to' being the key phrase for my motivation and determination. I could not do it for myself. I still can not oddly enough. But the moment I am involved in doing it for someone else, I can find my way.

It wasn't easy. I had never run for any reason, ever, in my entire life. Even in school I declined to do it knowing I would fail the course. I simply did not want to do it. I saw no point. But now with a purpose behind it, I see the point in it. It is a struggle, and I work closely with my physicians, but I now run two of them (marathons) every year. There is a reward in knowing that it is healthy, but I am only motivated by the success of being a part of something that helps someone else.

The result is that I can now carry 75 pounds with little effort. I can now push myself physically where I could not do so prior to my accident.

But it brings up something that I heard recently, and I have to laugh at. I was at a park, going for a run, and this lady and I started talking about running. I tell her the story about my first marathon- the complications along the way. She notices my pre- run cigarette that I am holding in my hand and she says, "Wow, that is really wonderful. But imagine how much you could accomplish if you quit smoking!"

Immediate face palm!

Accountability can help in a healthy lifestyle. Find people who are working towards the same goal as you, and focus on that task. Not just people who are in support of (which we also need), but who are collaboratively doing the same thing as you. Hold yourself accountable because they are relying on you to do so.

 

[Meadowsweet]

Wow. That is an amazing story. Thankyou so much for the inspiration.

 

[Coop]

I have been told I tend to think negatively regardless of my situation or bad luck over the years. You can read a little about my luck in the intro section so no use talking about it again I think.

I've tried cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) where they try to teach you to change your thoughts to positive ones hoping for positive change in your mood and thus life in general. It is hard but I usually manage to find positive things to say to family and friends, people that matter, so I do not bring them down and thus they will not want me around. I know I need them so I must do this regardless of how I really feel at that moment.

I can make it work because I believe in one positive thing really. I believe the mind is a powerful and imaginative thing - it is more than the physical brain we really know. It 'constructs' thoughts that can't be seen on the MRI or scanning device therefore they could be non-physical inside our physical body. If we have this PTSD that exists in the mind, then then mind can figure a way out or to cope at least inside this construct and relay to the brain. It works for me so far as I haven't given up...again.

As they say in AA -"Take what you like..."

"Crazy, like truth and art, is in the eye of the beholder." - Coop

 

[Meadowsweet]

I succeeded in exercising today - thats my good for me apple:)

 

[simplekindofgirl]

Meadowsweet, that is awesome! Keep on going with the endorphins, it does help. I will commit to it too. I didn't do it today, but tomorrow I must. And the day after, and the day after that. Hold me accountable- and I will do it! We can motivate one another.:)

 

[Meadowsweet]

I nearly forgot this, and its only day 2 :oops:

Ok, yesterday I braved the dogs and went for a walk in dog walking country. It was lovely to hear the birds sing and see the river again. well done me :)

 

[SeekingSerenity]

Well Done Meadowsweet!! Keep it up, thats brilliant!:tup:

 

[simplekindofgirl]

YAY!!!! Good job meadowsweet.

It was really hard for me to do it this weekend, not so easy to stick to a workout when traveling. But I managed to go everywhere on foot, intentionally (and completely against my American mindset of driving to go two blocks) and managed to see most of Paris by walking. My daughter is still rather small for her age, and I had to carry her a lot so the added weight was definitely a work out.

Today, I have already done my hours worth of strength training. I really had to push myself, sleep deprivation. I am exhausted. But I did it.

 

[Meadowsweet]

Well done simplekindofgirl. Paris is a beautiful city.

Yesterday, I didn't have any wine, even though I really felt like it.

 

[Meadowsweet]

No snacks after dinner or through the evening.

 

[Gamereign555]

I think I need exercise too. The thing that gets me is that exertion to me feels like the beginnings of a panic attack so I have to learn to take it slow and keep hydrated.