We all have different struggles and stress and we all react differently to those struggles and stress.
I had posted on Facebook the other day about a moment of courage I had.
Most know we had our daughter 5 months ago and things have been going really well.
I have been back in my workouts consistently since I was released, eating well and reasonably speaking I felt my body should be making the appropriate changes.
I check my weight on the scale every so often and it keep reading the same.
No big deal, right.
Well week after week, month after month, it starts wearing on you.
I started tracking calories burned/consumed, etc.
Still no movement.
Reasonably speaking I felt like my clothes were getting looser and I mustered up the courage to try on my “normal” jeans. Not the pair you wear on a bloated day, the real ones. The ones you love.
I had been so scared to put them on out of fear of rejection, frustration, etc.
Heck I even bought a larger size just so I could avoid these feels and had been wearing those!
I had been feeling reasonably well, despite the scale not doing its thing and tried my normal jeans on…
And without too many dance moves they went on and buttoned!
Victory!
This was a true reminder of so many things.
1.) Trust the process
2.) Body Fat and inches are changing, but we gauge results from a scale that doesn’t portray the whole picture.
3.) Give myself grace
The last one is the hardest for me personally. I have very high expectations of everything we do and this can cause a ton of stress, let down and downright negative thoughts.
Running a business with two kids under two has been a challenge. I expect myself to continue to perform and serve others the way I did pre-kids and that is not a reality.
This is where grace comes in.
Being kind to ourselves, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was our bodies. It took 9+ months to create these little humans and its going to minimum take that and then some to get my body back. (Again expectations, have been unrealistic in my head.)
So how do you keep pushing when the struggle is real.
For me it has been perspective. I have to check myself on a daily basis and remind myself this is a short moment in life and with time I will see the changes I am looking for.
When I feel myself getting pretty worked up I used belly breathing to help center me. So simple to do and in a matter of 10-15 true belly breaths I can calm myself down.
Other people like to use meditation, I have yet to be able to do this, yes even using the apps and reading the books-don’t judge me ;).
Exercising has amazing effects on our stress level, it doesn’t have to be all out excursion, just some movement. Get the blood flowing and good endorphins are released.
No matter what you are going through please know none of us are immune, it may look like we are but that is not true.
Focus on what is true, noble and of good report. Give yourself the grace you deserve and not only be kind to others but please be kind to yourself.
Have an awesome day,
Arin
