I rarely sit still. I don't relax like most people think of relaxation. When my house is clean and organized, I feel less anxious. When the grass is cut and clear, I enjoy sitting outside more. I love pulling weeds. It gives me such satisfaction taking the junk out of the ground and manicuring flower beds, by yanking them out and getting dirty. I don't typically sit and just watch television. I'm either on my phone scrolling or working on something on my computer. I'm a veracious reader of non-fiction, historical fiction or stories that involve warrior women overcoming societal norms. Never just fluff reading. Reaction being part of my nature, its been a growth challenge for me to PAUSE. As a leader I've always believed that I needed to have all the answers, that I needed to have immediate solutions or that everything was urgent. This led me to burnout, making too many mistakes and going back on initial decisions. Being so reactive also caused me not think about ...
In the past I've done, Weight Watcher, Slim Fit, Curves, 21 Day Fix and so many other things that did not have sustainability. However, this time around I went deeper to determine some root health causes for my problems with inflammation, pain, constipation, fatigue and constant struggles with weight gain. I couldn't continue living the way I was living and I needed to make these changes for myself.
I first worked with my gynecologist to determine the causes of my mensural pain, which was not allowing me to move freely or with confidence. It turned out that had a tremendous amount of fibroids. We decided that I would get a partial hysterectomy. I finally felt comfortable within my body and able to move freely for more than a week out of the month.
Then I worked with my endocrinologist to review all my hormones to figure out why I was constantly tired and could not loose weight. Many of my hormones were in the "normal" range, but my sugars numbers indicated that I was pre-diabetic. He recommended that I begin Zepbound, which is a a GLP1 to assist with weight loss and allow me to regulate my glucose.
Finally, I still was concerned with my frequent constipation, bloating and stomach pain. In January, I went to the emergency room with horrible hemorrhoids, fissures and fear of an intestinal blockage. I was referred to a gastrointestinal who took a biopsy of my small intestine during a colonoscopy and I was confirmed to have Celiac Disease and a Tortuous Redundant Colon. I've cut out gluten completely, I was prescribed Trulance and I've also tried to increase my water intake as well as regularly taking Magnesium, Vitamin D and Stool Softeners.
Asking for the help from medical professionals allowed me to understand that I couldn't simply make the changes on my own, and that it was OK to ask for help to get what I needed for a more healthy life. These changes have definitely benefited myself, but also my family as a whole. My husband has even now decided to make positive changes to increase his health and wellness. It is absolutely a journey and not an easy one, but the benefits surpass the struggles.
Another huge!!! aspect of my weight loss/wellness journey has been MOVEMENT!!!! Prior to all the medical interventions I barely moved. I would walk the dogs around our property, take a Yin Yoga class here and there, and walk around my school from class to class, but mostly I was sedentary. Sitting on my couch watching stupid television from the moment I got home, until I went to bed. MOVEMENT!!! has been an essential element for not only weight loss, but for balanced hormones, sharper mental capacity, finding a positive like minded community and my overall continued motivation.
Before - 4/24 After - 4/25
Motivation to be sustainable can not be single faceted. OK, great - I feel better, I can fit into smaller clothes and I get positive comments from friends and colleagues. But to get up every single day and choose the habits that got me here is a different story. It is easy to slide back into old ways or take one too many "cheat" days, then end right back where you started from. How do I continue to stay motivated, day after day...even through the stress of work, endless family activities and tiredness of perimenopause?? It really has to do with my MOVEMENT MINDSET.
At the beginning of this year, my one word resolution of the year is MOVEMENT!!! Movement that is physical, mental and spiritual. I was determine to interweave movement into all aspects of my life. I regularly attended yoga and platies classes as well as strength trained with weights. I moved beyond my regular eating habits and was able to move on from foods that was harming my gut. I also felt confident enough to move forward during challenging situations at work by recognizing my circle of control.
Recently I went on a vacation with my mother and my aunts. During this trip we were on the beach, we ate wonderful seafood and we were able to relax and read by the pool. I was so grateful for the experience, especially right after the school year ended. However, there was a lot of the word "can't" being said. It was difficult to see family members incapable of significant duration of movement, balance and endurance. Seeing this probable future, has increasingly motivated me to ensure that my body is able to sustain critical movement as I age.
In our journey through life, movement is a precious gift that enriches our days and enhances our well-being. And its importance grows as we age. Remarkably, about 36 million falls among older adults are reported annually, leading to significant health challenges and, tragically, over 32,000 deaths (CDC, 2023). These statistics are a call to action, urging us to embrace movement and balance activities to safeguard our vitality. - SUSAN VANDELIP
Writing about my experiences, challenges and successes is also very motivating for me. Journaling allows me to reflect on my feelings and thoughts and if someone else gain insight, inspiration or ideas for themselves and their own growth journey, then that makes it even more worthwhile. I also enjoy creating reflection sheets that incorporate what has helped me though my journey and resources that either I've used, or found along the way. Please feel free to use MOVEMENT MINDSET: MOTIVATION for the first phase of your wellness exploration.
Comments
Post a Comment