Weekly Weigh-In: Back on Track?

Been meaning to post all week but I’ve been seriously on the brink of losing my job. To hell and back and back and forth all in the past two weeks. I’m surprised I haven’t packed on the pounds from emotional eating and not sleeping enough.

Scale says: 115.2 lbs

Workouts since last Friday: run 3 days (9 miles total), 1 tone and sculpt class (we have a new instructor who KICKS butt!), and 1 hand-washing and drying of my car. It totally counts!

 

Exercise Your Emotions Away

Crying first thing in the morning is a sign that your day is possibly headed in the wrong direction.

I’ve had a really tough week at work and in my personal life, and it all just kind of hit me right when I woke up. Needless to say, I did not want to get out of bed or go to work this morning, let alone go for my usual 2 mile run.  But the longer I stayed wrapped up in my blankets, the more I knew I had to go for that run. Experience has shown me that I always feel better after a run, and I’ve read time and time again that exercise alleviates symptoms of depression. I knew that there was no way that going for a run would make my day worse and it was one thing I could do to make myself feel immediately better. So within 10 minutes, I forced myself out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, got dressed, put on my running shoes and drove down to Manhattan Beach where I usually run by the ocean.

And, man, do I feel better!

I am neither sitting at my desk feeling sorry for myself nor emotionally eating everything in site, which is what I usually do. I’m calm. I’m resolved. I know life will feel easier soon.

Nothing about my situation changed except for my outlook. I feel “accomplished” for having gone on the run at all. I feel good knowing that I took care of my body. I got my adrenaline and endorphins pumping, and I’m proud of running 2 miles in about 17 minutes — a major feat for me! Mostly though, I feel stronger knowing that I have complete control over how I feel and what I do; All those external factors like work and relationships are out of my control and will prove their significance or insignificance in due time.

Moral of the story is, when you’re feeling down and out, EXERCISE, even for just 10 minutes. There are no negatives that can result from it.