Hello All,
This week I got more than I bargained for when I found out that my journey was not only a physically fit project but a mentally fit project too. I was diagnosed this week with depression and anxiety. Which I know is unfortunately a more and more common thing these days, so it's not such a big deal, but to me it IS a big deal because my mental health has always been something that is so important to me. I have always striven to be in my happiest, healthiest state mentally by trying to always see the positive side to things no matter what it is. So I guess I have to find the positive outline to this also.
This week I found that I was really struggling. I was turning off my alarm and sleeping for an extra half an hour. I was looking for excuses to not get up and work out. I didn't slack off too much in my healthier eating side, though, and I was still sticking with my nutritional support program, but I found that I was loosing my appetite... I was having smaller snacks throughout the day and I wasn't finishing my meals at dinner. I also had no energy in the day and was finding it really hard to keep up with the kids and let everything they did get under my skin.
I was confused. I thought that eating better and doing exercise was meant to make me feel better about myself and yet here I was feeling worse than I had ever felt. I was crying at all times in the day for no reason. I was feeling overwhelmed and defeated. I just felt empty, like I was a mouse running in the wheel but not getting anywhere. That's when I decided to pick up the phone, call my doctor and see what was really going on.
Hearing those word "It sounds like you are experiencing depression and anxiety" hit me hard. All these years I had spent trying to keep away from depression since my young adult years just came crashing down. I felt like a failure, and that opened up a whole new side of me that thought 'well, since I have depression, I don't have to try to always put on that happy face anymore.' And I admit I have stopped putting in as much effort to do all the housework as I had been because I just didn't want to feel that exhaustion anymore. I guess I felt like I wanted to let myself be sad and get it of the way so I could try and move past it. Easier said than done, I know.
I have kept on smiling out of the house, and using that 'Fake it till you make it' mantra because I don't want people to see me as weak or as someone looking for attention or a pity party, because that is the last thing I want.
What was the outcome? I was offered low dosage anti-depressants. But I have seen the side effects of those and didn't want that. And I don't really want to be putting all those chemicals into my body if I can find another way. So I took the counsellor option. I still have to book for my first appointment, so I will let you know when that happens, how I all goes. But for now I am taking it one step at a time. I am focusing on loving myself, gratitude and keeping my body in the best shape it can be. I know I can come out the other end of this, and I will. 2020 is still my goal, it is just a bit of a different goal now. But I will keep on smiling and I will be back again next week to let you know how it's all going.
Thanks again for all your support and just for being out there and listening to what I have to say... even if it doesn't make much sense now....
- A
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Week One - Hard Beginnings
Hey everyone!
To be honest with you, I didn’t think I would make it to here. Ha ha. I have been getting up at 5.00am, three days in a row and doing an energetic workout before the kids get up. Then taking a rest day. But I am also been participating in the “Yoga With Adriene 30 Days of Yoga” practice called Dedicate every evening. Being completely straight with you.... my whole body hurts and I’m really tired.... but.... I am going to keep on going because I know that as soon as this becomes a habit, it won’t be as hard, and my body will get used to it.
There were two days when I fell back asleep after my alarm went off. But lucky for me I still woke up about 15-20 mins later and was still able to get my workout in before the kids woke up. Trying to get about my day while every single muscle in my body is screaming at me has also had its challenges. Especially when there has been no daycare for the New Years break and I have had both kids at home all day, everyday day... but I have somehow managed it. After my early morning exercise, I have tried to have a meal with some form of protein in it for muscle recovery, so I can only imagine how much more pain there would have been if I was not doing so.
I will admit that I haven’t been as strict in my diet as I could be, and I know that it’s something that I have to work on, so that is my goal for next week.
Anyways I am buggered and need to get some rest so I can get up at 5.00am tomorrow to keep on going.... I’ll check in with you all next week and hopefully things will be getting easier because I still have another 51 weeks to keep this up and reach my goals.
See you then...
- A
Here is the link to the 30 days of yoga in case anyone wants to start...
Yoga With Adriene
Check out my Instagram for daily updates on how I am doing....
My Instagram (Follow Me!)
To be honest with you, I didn’t think I would make it to here. Ha ha. I have been getting up at 5.00am, three days in a row and doing an energetic workout before the kids get up. Then taking a rest day. But I am also been participating in the “Yoga With Adriene 30 Days of Yoga” practice called Dedicate every evening. Being completely straight with you.... my whole body hurts and I’m really tired.... but.... I am going to keep on going because I know that as soon as this becomes a habit, it won’t be as hard, and my body will get used to it.
There were two days when I fell back asleep after my alarm went off. But lucky for me I still woke up about 15-20 mins later and was still able to get my workout in before the kids woke up. Trying to get about my day while every single muscle in my body is screaming at me has also had its challenges. Especially when there has been no daycare for the New Years break and I have had both kids at home all day, everyday day... but I have somehow managed it. After my early morning exercise, I have tried to have a meal with some form of protein in it for muscle recovery, so I can only imagine how much more pain there would have been if I was not doing so.
I will admit that I haven’t been as strict in my diet as I could be, and I know that it’s something that I have to work on, so that is my goal for next week.
Anyways I am buggered and need to get some rest so I can get up at 5.00am tomorrow to keep on going.... I’ll check in with you all next week and hopefully things will be getting easier because I still have another 51 weeks to keep this up and reach my goals.
See you then...
- A
Here is the link to the 30 days of yoga in case anyone wants to start...
Yoga With Adriene
Check out my Instagram for daily updates on how I am doing....
My Instagram (Follow Me!)
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
A Little About Me
Welcome back friends!!
So before I take you on my health journey next year I am going to tell you a little bit about myself, to fill you in on why I am doing this project...
My name is Amanda. I am 31 and a mum of two. After my daughter, my body bounced back pretty fast, but after my son.... my problems started showing. I have this “extra layer” hanging around my waist line that I just can seem to get rid of, no matter what I try. Now I totally understand and appreciate the fact that my body has changed after creating two little people, and I love my body, but I would just like a few places to be a bit more toned then they currently are.
Also, two years ago my partner asked me to marry him and with a wedding set for early 2020, I would love to have a nice, shapely body that looks stunning in a gown. Superficial... maybe... but it would make me happy, and to me, that’s something to work towards.
I also am looking at a change of career, and I wanting to do something that gets me motivated and passionate about health and fitness, so I want to be a living example to inspire others that a healthy lifestyle is the way to go.
So that is my reasoning behind my fit for 2020 project. I hope you will follow me on my journey and interact. Give me tips or tricks that have worked for you or someone you know and let’s all work together for a better, healthier and most of all, happier future.
See you next year when the real fun begins!!
- A
So before I take you on my health journey next year I am going to tell you a little bit about myself, to fill you in on why I am doing this project...
My name is Amanda. I am 31 and a mum of two. After my daughter, my body bounced back pretty fast, but after my son.... my problems started showing. I have this “extra layer” hanging around my waist line that I just can seem to get rid of, no matter what I try. Now I totally understand and appreciate the fact that my body has changed after creating two little people, and I love my body, but I would just like a few places to be a bit more toned then they currently are.
Also, two years ago my partner asked me to marry him and with a wedding set for early 2020, I would love to have a nice, shapely body that looks stunning in a gown. Superficial... maybe... but it would make me happy, and to me, that’s something to work towards.
I also am looking at a change of career, and I wanting to do something that gets me motivated and passionate about health and fitness, so I want to be a living example to inspire others that a healthy lifestyle is the way to go.
I guess throughout my life, I have seen too many people suffer with illnesses that could have been eliminated by a cleaner lifestyle. High cholesterol and diabetes are becoming more and more common, and it scares me that this is the lifestyle that my kids are going to grow up knowing unless something is done about it. It really hit home for me when I got gestational diabetes in my second pregnancy, and was told that because of this I had a higher risk of getting diabetes later in life. That is something that I don’t want. So this journey is towards a better, healthier me... and if I gain friends along the way that have similar values and thoughts, it’s a bonus.
So that is my reasoning behind my fit for 2020 project. I hope you will follow me on my journey and interact. Give me tips or tricks that have worked for you or someone you know and let’s all work together for a better, healthier and most of all, happier future.
See you next year when the real fun begins!!
- A
Friday, December 14, 2018
Welcome To The Journey!!
Hey all!! My name is Amanda! Welcome, I am so looking forward to taking you all on this journey with me!
Firstly, I’ll give you a rundown on what this blog will be about.... I have so many things happening in 2020, and to accomplish some of them I need to be a lot fitter than I am currently... I am going to take you on my journey to live a fitter and healthier lifestyle. Currently, I admit I am not living my healthiest lifestyle, I do try but I enjoy convenience a bit too much, and I really want to set an example for my kids. I want them to live their best lives possible and that includes living a balanced life. I don’t want them to think that they can never indulge, but I just don’t want them to always be eating junk food.
I am using this blog as my form of accountability. If I have to write on this blog every week giving my progress than I will work harder to find changes. Every week I will give the ups and downs that occurred and will chat about the things that I found easy and what I found harder. I will set challenges for myself, share my triumphs and ask for help and guidance to anyone out there reading when I feel down. I will measure myself on the 1st of each month and talk through what changes have occured and what I think contributed to these.
Most of all I want this to be fun, to be a community and I want to inspire and BE inspired so comment if you have ideas or tips that have worked for you. You can further follow my journey on my Instagram page which I will link below...
My Instagram
And.... That is what this blog will be about in a nutshell. Next week in the lead up to the new year I will fill you all in on a bit about me and what has led me to this project or challenge. Look forward to talking with you all again then!!
-A
Firstly, I’ll give you a rundown on what this blog will be about.... I have so many things happening in 2020, and to accomplish some of them I need to be a lot fitter than I am currently... I am going to take you on my journey to live a fitter and healthier lifestyle. Currently, I admit I am not living my healthiest lifestyle, I do try but I enjoy convenience a bit too much, and I really want to set an example for my kids. I want them to live their best lives possible and that includes living a balanced life. I don’t want them to think that they can never indulge, but I just don’t want them to always be eating junk food.
I am using this blog as my form of accountability. If I have to write on this blog every week giving my progress than I will work harder to find changes. Every week I will give the ups and downs that occurred and will chat about the things that I found easy and what I found harder. I will set challenges for myself, share my triumphs and ask for help and guidance to anyone out there reading when I feel down. I will measure myself on the 1st of each month and talk through what changes have occured and what I think contributed to these.
Most of all I want this to be fun, to be a community and I want to inspire and BE inspired so comment if you have ideas or tips that have worked for you. You can further follow my journey on my Instagram page which I will link below...
My Instagram
And.... That is what this blog will be about in a nutshell. Next week in the lead up to the new year I will fill you all in on a bit about me and what has led me to this project or challenge. Look forward to talking with you all again then!!
-A
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