Moving into and out of different life seasons is such an amazing adaptation of humans.
What if that wasn’t possible? Like what if you were born a caterpillar and had to stay a caterpillar forever? What if you never became a butterfly?
But let’s face it. That caterpillar digested all of its own body and then used base cells to totally reform itself.
Ew, David.
Luckily no one is asking humans to take it that far, but it doesn’t make evolving a not-painful process. Recognizing that the status quo is no longer meeting your needs means changes must be made, boundaries must be set, and people will not be happy.
But it’s so important.
This summer was spent navigating all four of my children at home, while also processing my feelings about fricking everything. I analyzed my relationship with my self, my body, my children, my husband, my family, my friends. And changes needed to be made. And so I made them.
It’s honestly been great. This is why I am going to encourage you all to do the same.
Maybe my biggest epiphany this summer was my relationship with my body. We were perpetually in a negative cycle of not being happy with how I looked or performed when training. I was hungry all. the. time. I was tired all the time. I was cranky all the time. I felt weak.
So I fricking CHANGED IT.
Hungry all the time = not eating enough food. Increased macros (because I L-O-V-E objective data and don’t trust my body’s feedback yet — I’m working on that relationship) and feeling better with each bump up in carbs and fat.
Not happy with how I looked or performed with training = switch mindset from trying to lose to trying to gain. Totally focused on gaining muscle versus losing fat and slowly changing the way my body looks but also feeling STRONG as I see my progression in lifting heavier and heavier weights.
Tired all the time = REST GUH! Once I cut out heavy cardio and increased rest and recovery days, I began feeling much better.
Cranky all the time = not taking care of myself properly. Since making all the other changes, I feel much more in control of my emotions because my body is feeling nurtured and safe.
I feel like I was fed this lie of moving more and eating less for so long, and lived my life that way for so long, that my body was just unhappy. Now I am focused much more on listening to my body’s cues and following her lead in bringing her to a happier, healthier place!
She also told me the hip pain that I had since birthing my children, and the shoulder pain I had for 2 years was not normal and I am finally seeing a physical therapist and getting relief.
My body is smart, yo.
