Yesterday I did something completely new and different. I trusted my body and listened to what it is telling me.
My body and I have been at war since about 3rd grade when it unexpectedly decided to grow boobs. Tall eight year old girls with boobs was completely unacceptable in my book. The battles have been bloody and painful and I haven't won even the first one. So for the last few years I have been trying to negotiate a peace agreement not unlike that of something between Israel and Palestine. I make progress toward a cease-fire then my body goes and gains 25 pounds or something breaks that would not have broken 10 years ago and I'm off firing missiles of self hate and eating sugar by the cupful.
I think, however, that I am closer than ever to not only finding lasting peace, but learning to work WITH my body.
Yesterday was my scheduled run day in the training program that I am using. I had already played tennis that morning and nearly died from the heat. My body was telling me that is was tired. I felt sore all over. My foot was hurting from a flip-flop injury (Yes, in Florida we have other dangers besides hurricanes and oil spills. We also get injuries to our feet caused by wearing flip-flops or going barefoot.)
My usual routine would be to think about what I did recently that would make me so tired. I would then judge myself to see if I was worthy to feel tired and sore. Then I would either push myself to complete the run I had committed to or berate myself for being lazy and finding excuses not to run. I chose not to do any of this. I simply said to myself "Okay, I hear you and I respect what you are saying. Let's check back tomorrow to see if everything is better."
Guess what? I feel better today. I plan to run on the treadmill in a little while.
Is lasting peace possible? I do believe it is.
Lori
I so enjoy your posts. You are an amazingly gifted writer. I totally agree to listen to your body. I too am struggling with the same issues. I had surgery recently and I am frustrated that I am not feeling better as quickly as I Hoped. I am trying to do too much, too soon and Im paying for it. So today, Im being a good girl and taking it easy! Here's to actually being a good listener!
Posted by: Samantha Gotlib | June 02, 2010 at 02:20 PM
Good for you for listening to your body.
Every day my body tells me it wants to lay on the couch but lately I have told my body to go screw itself (now that would be something!), I'm going for a run or to the gym. My body doesn't like it one bit but I'm doing it anyway. I'm hoping that one of these days soon my body will realize that the workouts are going to continue and would be a lot easier if I were thinner and will start shedding some of these pounds.
Posted by: Cameron | June 02, 2010 at 04:41 PM
K first. The banner DOES look like an anthropologie catalog and thanks for that. You're waving a crack pipe in front of someone in detox. Jerk. Second, it seems like people are really into this running thing. So much so that I'm thinking of trying it? Maybe?
Posted by: bitethebedbugs | June 03, 2010 at 01:05 AM