I was talking to my therapist about feeling down about my injuries and we delved into the pattern of over-exercising that lead to injury. She made a very good observation, that I’ve been thinking about since, My body and physical activity only exist in the extreme.
Historically, I’d work out (intensely) until I was injured and then I’d switch to another activity and get injured in a different way—rinse, repeat, over and over again.
The day after my therapy session I had a physical therapy appointment, the first since my diagnosis with my hip. I love my PT, he’s great and so funny. He said that I have a history of playing “whack-a-mole” and it’s 100% spot on.
Over-Exercise and Under Nourish
I used exercise as the way to cope with stress and decrease anxiety.
“I had to exercise for stress relief” but was it really that? Or were the obsessive exercise techniques were avoidance and not actual techniques that improved my mood after the endorphins wore off. Too many times, exercise was a form of punishment for eating food.
Thinking back to the last 20 or so years of my fitness/weight loss journey, I really wonder about the doctors I saw. I was always injured. Why didn’t a doctor ask more questions? Like are you over-exercising? Are you giving your body time to rest? Are you stretching? Are you eating well enough to sustain the amount of heavy exercise you are doing?
When I went to the doctor because I was frequently feeling like I might black out during my runs. Or when I stood up too fast. They’d run tests–EKGs, etc–but never asked, “Are you drinking enough water? Are you eating enough food every day in order to exercise?”
No. Never asked. Because I was in a skinnier body. You look healthy.
So my “homework” is to change my relationship with exercise. Instead of “how many calories can I burn?” I need to ask, “What is moderation for me?”
For example, weight lifting is good for strength and bone health. Swimming gives me peace and is relaxing. Walking is great for fresh air and a change of scenery from being home. None of those things should be obsessive.
Find movement that is joyful.
So the weight lifting example–I need to do it when my body allows, not because I want to burn calories or it’s the scheduled weight day. Right now I am battling some elbow tendinitis and it’s made it hard to do things like bicep curls, etc. So I am trying to ease back and give my body time to rest and heal.
I am back to trying to do yoga on a regular basis. I need it for stability and balance–which are things I’ve always struggled with and now that I know what’s going on with my hip it makes a lot of sense.
I used to swim hard and fast, trying to burn a lot of calories. But now that I’ve been back to it lately I am easing into it and when I feel like I am done, I stop–even if it’s short of what my lap or time goal was.
I wish the weather was a little better so we could go hiking as a family. I miss that. But I am definitely looking forward to finding ways to enjoy fitness without it being a punishment.
QUESTION: What are some of your favorite exercises? Do you do it in moderation?
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