The stress rose high and I went under!

B

Biteset

Cathlete
This is a long post--I'm in an exercise, fitness, and proper diet slump and just wanted to talk about it a little bit. I'm wondering if anyone has stories of a long slump like what I'm in?

I really lost my exercise mojo several months ago---three? four? My husband and I thought we were watching his professional career come to an end (he didn't get tenure in his current position and couldn't see any real opportunities in the near future)--and the stress of not knowing what was coming next just ate me up. Oh, and speaking of eating--I sort of just observed myself deliberately overeating to cope with stress. Yes I KNOW late night T.V., heavy snacking, and not enough sleep is not the ideal coping strategy! But that's what I did. I'm also raising two children under age 5, so when I lose my grip on healthy, structured living, it's REALLY an uphill battle to get it back!

The good news is--my husband just got a new and better job! NOW the only stress is that we need to sell the house and move out of state in a couple of months from now. Between packing and taking care of the kids, I still don't think I'll be getting back into exercise very soon. I am, however, emotionally ready to stop overeating at least!~ Whew!

I'm a naturally quasi-skinny person who has finally managed to pack on some padding and now I'm feeling quite the blob. But I just don't feel ready to DEAL with it in any kind of focused way. I feel that I just need to wait until we've sold the house and moved and found a new place and settled in...

So I'm uncomfortable with this extra padding and trying to be patent. Has anyone gone through a period of time like this?

(did anyone make it through all that? ;-) )

Gisela
 
oh yes girl go through it often myself. i wish i could give some better advice, but seeing what you are going through, i understand how fitness is not the top priority. on top of two young children, you have the legal,fincial,and just all out hassle of selling and buying a home for you family. any new job can be tough on the family as they go through a period of adjustment budget wise,schedule wise, and so on.

but i think first things first is some REST!!!!!! you truly need your sleep, just to stay in the right frame of mind and try to be alert as possible. eating, well you do what you can, emotional eating is very hard to deal with, especially during these times. i struggle through alot(in fact i just ate 2 more slices of cheesecake today after i had breakfast).exercise you can get creative with like trying to go for walks, taking the kids to the park and getting active with them, see of your library carries the 10 min solution workouts b/c they are a lifesaver!!!!! even just finding some time everyday to do yoga is a good start to get back. at least you would do something,without setting high expectations during rough times.


wishing you the best,
kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"
 
Thank you, Kassia! I need to rake in all the comfort and understanding I can right now. I feel like I'm in recovery from multiple injuries, except it was just stress. I didn't realize how bad it was until I got my husband's good news about the job. When he called me on the phone to tell me he got it, the first thing out of my mouth was a BIG sigh of relief. Huge exhalation.

I had also determined that the lack of sleep would probably be the first thing to combat. It's probably the one thing I have the most control over, besides drinking more water and taking a multi-vitamin. Feelings of defeat come right along with fatigue, so yes, earlier to bed with me! I'm not even attracted to T.V. anymore now. Seems so irrelevant. Finally!

Gisela
 
Congratulations on your DH's new job! I totally understand about the huge sigh of relief. Now, with all the new beginnings, is a perfect time to refocus yourself on healthy eating and exercise. I agree with kassia that you can start slowly and creatively until your move is made and life settles down a bit. Walking, bike riding, playground workouts are all things you could try to do with your kids. Good luck with the move.
 
Hmm...

You know, my 2 year old DOES love to jump! Most days it looks like he's practicing his dismounts for future gymnastics. He climbs up on chairs, tables, and furniture--just so he can jump off! He's quite good at it. I brought my Fanny Lifter upstairs so he could jump off of that, and sometimes when I'm at a loss for what to do with my kids (many rainy days!), I'll have us take turns jumping off the Fanny Lifter. Maybe I should "step it up" a notch and start practicing tuck jumps, air jacks, plie jacks, and explosive lunges! I bet my kids would love it...ooh, I just remembered my daughter wants to learn how to do jumping jacks...hmm...how about walking lunges?

(gotta remember to warm up a bit though, first...)

Thanks for helping me get the idea juices flowing!

Gisela
 
Yes, I relate Gisela. I don't exercise when I'm under a lot of stress either. I'm very happy for you! :D Don't worry about the weight. If you're a naturally thin person, as you say you are, your body will get back to normal now that you've stopped overeating.

I absolutely agree that sleep will do more for you than anything else. If things get really hectic while you're moving and you have to choose between exercise and sleep, I say go with sleep. Recent studies indicate that overweight people sleep less than thinner people.
Nancy
 
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