“To be honest Kristy, I have really let myself go and are actually afraid to move”, she says to me with real concern in her voice.
“What is scaring you, what is holding you back?” I ask her.
“That I might get hurt. I used to be strong and fit and over the past few years I have really just let things slide, my health, my body and my weight.” she says sadly.
“I can appreciate where you are at so that is why you are going to start slowly and build up from there. No crazy exercise regimes or bootcamps. Just walking for now”, I say with encouragement.
This is not the first time I have had a conversation like this with a client.
Being afraid to move your body because you have gained weight, and are no longer as fit, flexible and healthy as you once were can really hold women back.
Movement is a huge part of human existence. It’s what our bodies were designed to do. Advances in technology and our current lifestyles make it easy to forget this fact, and with all the “convenience” in our lifestyles, it’s all too easy to lose sight of our health.
When I think of my own fears, moving my body and staying fit are something I take for granted. Being active is something that has always remained a constant in my life and I cannot imagine it any other way. Even when I was laid up with a serious back injury or completely wiped out with the H1N1 virus for over 2 weeks, I continued to trust that my body would bounce back and I would recover and heal.
I want to empower you to take control of your well being and know that fear should not stop you from regaining your strength, endurance and overall health.
Good health must be nurtured and it all starts with one tiny action. You can do it!
If this story speaks to you then please, try one of the following suggestions to slowly and effectively regain your fitness:
Take small steps each day
I mean literally taking steps each day. Get walking! Walking is an innate human ability and something we all need to do each day. It’s cheap, easy to do and you have total control over the time, place and speed you want to move at. A great way to begin a walking routine is to aim for 3 X 10 minute short walks a day or 2 X 15 minutes walks. Slowly build up your stamina so that you can walk for 30 minutes straight without stopping. Small steps daily equate to huge progress.
Add one new vegetable to your day
If you have not been eating enough veggies, you have not been getting enough nutrients into your body. It’s time to change that! By adding one new vegetable to your meals you are increasing your body’s immune system and giving it what it needs to thrive. Raw carrots, celery sticks or cucumber are all great options as is steamed broccoli, greens or a salad with any chopped veggies you like.
Tell yourself you are worth it
If the story that is playing on repeat in your mind is a negative one then hit the ‘STOP’ button right now. The only way to push past blocks is to truly believe in you. Saying daily affirmations, saying aloud the things you love about yourself (or your body) and really meaning it, goes a long way to feeling better about your health. Tell yourself you are powerful, strong, creative, intelligent and beautiful. Use whatever words speak to you. A great practice is choosing one thing you love about yourself each day and writing it onto a post it note. Then put the post it note on your wall, mirror or desk and let the notes add up. This is a great way to remind yourself of how amazing you really are.
The next time you are feeling down on yourself, unfit or unhealthy; know that every small action towards the bigger journey is something to be celebrated.
It’s much easier to write off that ‘this is who I am and it’s never going to change’ then it is to take action.
Exercise energizes us. Fueling our bodies with healthy food nourishes us. Speaking kindly to ourselves feeds our soul.
I know you want to live a vibrant life! It’s yours if you choose it.
If you would like to dive deeper and find out what is holding you back and how to bust through your fears, let’s talk.
Book an Inspired Health Coaching Call