There are so many things that can get one off track from one week to another. It could be something as simple as the fact that the scale did not go the way that you were thinking that it was going to go, your favorite ice cream flavor that only comes out one time a year is out this week, or some sort of injury has crept up upon you and has sidelined your progression. Any one of these, or many other things, can make it hard to keep it together when trying to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis. The most important thing is to keep a mindset of the fact that there may be slip ups that occur but there is an end goal that is wanted and nothing is going to get in the way of that happening.
Just this past week I found myself with a sciatic nerve issue that caused me to have to listen to my body and put my walking to the side for a bit. It is hard to do something like that when I was getting into the rhythm and pattern again of my mornings and had the routine down, and so did my dog, as to what to expect. I had to realize that it was more important for my overall health and well-being and sit it down for a little bit and get stronger than to push myself and possibly cause an injury. It can be hard to do that but it is true that listening to one’s body is the best thing that you can do for yourself. If it is telling you that you can do a couple of more blocks of walking, then go ahead and do it, but just don’t overdo it.
When it comes to something that is your favorite kind of food, that is only out once a year, I feel that it is okay to treat yourself to a little bit of it; just don’t go overboard with it. I have found that if I keep myself from whatever it is, Girl Scout Cookies, Fig Newton Bars, or some kind of ice cream, I am going to go overboard when I think no one is watching me. However, if I get some of it and tell myself that I am going to only have one or two of them as a treat after a really good day of eating, then I don’t over eat those things. As you can tell, I am a girl who likes her sweets, it could be that for you it is those Lay’s Potato Chips that you want to eat. If that is the case then put a serving size into Ziplock baggies and allow yourself to have a serving size as a treat after a particularly good day of eating.
The hardest thing for myself is that darn scale. I have spent so many years looking down at the scale and judging myself by the number that is staring back at me. If it is not going in the direction that I want it to go then I feel that I have the right to do whatever I want to my body as a punishment for it not doing what it was supposed to do the past week. I know that is not the right thought process but it is one that I have had to deal with for so many years and maybe one that needs to have a Get Fit Friday post all of its own, but it is something that needs to change. It is so much better to find other ways to tell if you are making progress throughout the week. Are you drinking more water than you were earlier in the week? Are you walking farther than you were? Is it taking you less time to walk the distance you were walking earlier in the week? All of these are ways in which to tell if you are making progress in your fitness ways.
It is important to keep it together in our health and fitness travels as it is something that we will be on for many years. Even when we feel that we have gotten to where we want to be, we are going to have to maintain what we are doing for many years to come. Also don’t forget about your good friends that you can always ask for support. They can help you keep it together as well.
