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If you would have asked me on January 1st what I would be doing 6 months into 2020, my answer would have been vastly different than what it now is. I would have told you that in June of 2020 I would have a few races under my belt, I would be starting my training for a longer race in the fall, my outdoor bootcamps would be in full swing and that I would be enjoying the start of the summer with family and friends. Instead I am facing a whole different reality – we are facing a whole different reality. Yes, life in Wisconsin is much more “normal”, but we are far from feeling normal. And one of the things that I personally am feeling is more anxious.
Fitness is my life. Moving my body, being active and feeling my heart pumping in my chest are things that drive me – it is my happy place. Nothing is better than leaving all your stress in a pool of sweat and walking away feeling like you can take on the world. But lately, for me, working out is hard. I am mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted and it is TOUGH for me to make the choice to do one more thing that is going to empty my fuel tank. Most days I feel like I am walking around with my heart beating 90 miles an hour, breathing like I just ran 2 flights of stairs and I have this crazy little squirrel with his tail on fire blazing trails in my head zipping from one worry to the other. And then just in the middle of that I am supposed to expect my body to rock out an amazing workout just to beat down some of the stress only to start all over again afterwards? No way dude. All I want to do is slow down and rest. Well, that and put that poor squirrel out of its misery.
A year ago, when my anxiety was off of the charts, I found a podcast that spoke about a book by Max Lucado called Anxious For Nothing. In the book he uses the acronym C.A.L.M. (Celebrate. Ask. Leave. Meditate) and Philippians 4:4-8 as a way to help people with anxiety find a way to work through it. If you get the opportunity, check out the book or look up the Proverbs 31 Ministry Podcast on C.A.L.M. If you suffer from anxiety, it is a game changer. So much so, that I am using this same tool to help me get myself moving again but in a way that honors what my body and mind really need in this moment.
Celebrate God’s Goodness and Blessings
Your gym may be closed, but nature is not. The best way I have found to be gentle with my body and get reset in my mind is to get out into nature and walk. No podcasts, no music, no phone calls – just me, my 2 feet and all the springtime beauty. Light walks get your muscles moving, calms your breathing and allow you to quiet your senses that have been bombarded with unsettling media.
Ask God and A Friend For Help
If you’re anything like me, asking for help can be hard. I don’t want to put my problems on anyone, especially God. But when we are struggling that is the best time to turn to Him. Ask for what you need – strength, grace, understanding, rest and let Him answer you I have found that God speaks volumes through my body. Little aches and pains lead me to stretching or yoga some days, other days when I feel weak, I head for the weights. Another great way to ask for help is to reach out to a friend. For me, I have been without face to face contact for so long that even the thought of working out with a friend gets me a little excited for the gym.
Leave Your Concerns With Him
Sometimes life is just not in our control and the saying “Let Go and Let God” is the only way to get through certain circumstances. Easier said than done right? Absolutely, but there are days I just have to leave my concerns at the door when I go for a run or else, I am distracted by my thoughts the entire time.
Meditate on the Good Things
When life gets hard, that’s all I focus on … the bad stuff. I have to constantly readjust what I’m thinking about, what I’m talking about and the conversations I have with others. But if I can pull myself out of the grim and glum, I have a better attitude towards being healthy. Currently the stress of life is taking it’s toll on my low back. (Getting older is not fun!) If I let it, I would focus on the discomfort in my back all day and never workout because of it. But if I change the focus onto what I can do, I realize that it’s not that bad.
And I would like to add one more to the list to and this is the most important
Be Kind
Right now it is SO easy to beat yourself up. I get it. I can fill a notebook of all of the places I feel like I am falling short in my life. But here is the thing – we were all flung into a weird situation without and real straight answer of what is right, what is wrong, what to do, how to do it and then we are supposed to figure out how to rearrange our lives to still find some sort of normality in it all and then home school our children. It is all too much and you might not be able to do it all – and that is ok. Right now is when you just try your best and be kind to yourself. Missing a workout (or 6 weeks worth), is not the end of the world. If your kids eat Cheetos for breakfast, they will live. If you have worn the same legging for 5 days in a row, who cares? Less laundry right – LOL. God will get us and our bad hair through this.
Phil 4: 4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Fitnesstogo.net, created by Tera Busker, is a mobile and private studio that offers personal training, nutrition coaching and wellness accountability services. Tera believes in creating a healthy lifestyle that is easy to fit into your already busy life with fast and effective workouts, simple, whole food meals and wellness plans that are created exclusively for you and your goals!
