Blog Number 3 ~The Jane Experiment
When I first started this project, I was so gung ho! So ready to give-er and make waves and changes in my life. I’d recently recognized that I was the perfect example of the definition of insanity and I needed to switch things up if I actually wanted to change.
One of the main reasons I was so keen, was because I’d just been sick with a bad infection, and had a root canal and I was tired of healing and resting. I really wanted to get going with my health and weight loss goals!!
Guess what happened this week? I got sick again.
And though it was an inconvenience and I didn’t accomplish my mini goals or plans for all my workouts, I did have a few interesting discoveries about myself.
Mostly when I’ve been sick in the past I usually take 1 of 2 routes:
A: Push through, pretend I’m ok, take some meds and try to ignore being sick, or
B: Wallow in my sickness untill it goes away. Also ignoring how I really feel.
Both are equally not so effective. And in neither one do I really take care of myself and listen to my body.
I find when I’m sick, I really just don’t want to be, I feel week, puffy, sore, tired, angry and not ‘perfect’ (a major complex of mine.) I just want to feel healthy and energized so I can have fun and keep functioning.
But all that energizer bunny-ing persistence, which is great for making things happen and working hard, can also be detrimental.
So much of my time and energy goes to ‘being ok’ ALL THE TIME. Not showing weakness, pretending a lot, and not caring for myself in a loving way. I often opperate in a ‘do more, be better’ way. I’ve become pretty good at ignoring my body or my feelings, when that serves me. Which is helpful when my feet hurt but I need to push through the last two hours of a serving shift, or when I have a headache or cramps but I have an audition. I drive though the discomfort, but without listening, without reading the road signs saying; ‘Remember to feed me nutrients’, or ‘Please give me 8 hours of sleep tonight!’
Listening. An exercise I could use more practice in.
(Granted I’m pretty good at listening to my body when it’s telling me it wants chocolate…)
I’ve discovered it’s more about translating rather than listening. If I took constant care for my body and listened to it, how it felt, what it needed and wanted, how certain foods feel or how much sleep is required to function, then I might not get sick so often!
This week I was reminded of what I’ve always believed, but forget in the moment; we don’t get sick for no reason. Either we learn something, have time slow down or take a new approach to our health.
How do you function when you’re sick? Do you listen to your own body’s feelings, wants and needs? The balance is doing that, while still being operational and successful.
I think it takes baby steps, check ins with one’s self, and perhaps treating ourselves a little bit like we are kids again.
A few months ago, I read a Women’s Health Magazine article about Heather Morris and she said ate like a kid. She aimed to diet like she would feed her six or ten year old self.
Food for thought:
Would you constantly give a six year old food filled with chemicals? Would you starve them or eat at random, unpredictable times? Would you deny them the enjoyment of a few treats here and there? Would you give them all the sleep and vitamins they needed?
This sounds like a lovely way to live, with love, and care for ourselves and enjoyment for life. It’s going to be my new approach to how I eat, and treat myself; with love and joy! Of course I like a lot more foods and flavours now than I did when I was six, so I’ll be adding a little spice to that mix but still translating how that feels for me.
I would love to hear your thoughts about how you care for yourself with love, good food and fun exercise. It can be applied to exercise too; I jumped skip rope with my nieces yesterday and it was so much fun!
Also, if you have any topics you would like me to cover and rant about, suggestions and feedback are always welcome and appreciated!
Hug your six year old self for me, and have a great weekend in the sun!
Xox
Jane