Highs & Lows
I don’t know about you, but by the time Fall rolls around, my jeans usually feel a little bit… tight. In my experience, this is predictable following a fun-filled summer, so I don’t really sweat it. (Between backyard cook-outs, pool & beach time with cocktails in-hand, and less rigid routines in general, who hasn’t lived this?)
The good news is that, come September, it doesn’t typically take much for me to get back to my usual. This year, I decided that the theme of my Fall routine reset would be about approaching my wellness through the lens of aging gracefully. Honoring my 41-year-old joints meant incorporating more outdoor walks, and less frequent high impact workouts. I embraced the crisp air of the morning, I loved feeling the sun on my face, and I thought to myself “I could get used to this.”
When I’m working towards a weight loss goal (no matter how big or small), I know the first step is to calm any underlying sense of urgency. Yes, I wanted to lose a few pounds. But I also knew that navigating my goal with high-pressure strategies would backfire.
The solution to my tight-jeans problem was slow & steady – it’s never productive to approach weight loss like it’s a sprint to the finish line. (And FYI, there is no “finish line” when it comes to maintaining a healthy body).
But despite my inner Zen, I definitely wasn’t prepared for what was coming…
Two broken toes, one tragic looking boot, a pair of crutches, and an indefinite sentence to sit on the couch was definitely not in my plan. But this is the nature of life, right? Unexpected obstacles sometimes throw us off course, and there’s not much we can do about it.
There’s no doubt that this situation was my personal hell, but I knew that throwing a pity party or launching into panic mode wouldn’t help – I needed to put my coaching hat on.
The old me screamed in horror, “This is a disaster! What am I going to do? How am I going to lose weight if I can’t stay active?!”
Thankfully, the me that’s in charge countered calmly – “You won’t. You’re not going to lose the weight right now, and that is entirely OK.”
Something we all need to be reminded of is that there are seasons in life. Everyone goes through times when we don’t have the ability or bandwidth to work towards certain goals. Whether it be because of an injury, being stretched too thin with work and family obligations, or simply because we don’t have the stamina at the given moment – this happens to the best of us. (And it rings true for any goal, not just weight loss).
So will this be the season I was hoping for, ready to comfortably wear last year’s jeans after a month or two of consistency? Most likely not… but that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause.
Below are some key tidbits I’ll be keeping front & center, while I give my body the rest and time it needs to heal. Maybe they can help us all stay grounded, as we experience life’s endless ebbs and flows.
Keep perfectionism in-check. Remember that things don’t have to be “all or nothing.”
Let go of trying to control. It’s unreasonable to expect that everything will always go according to your plans.
Keep a growth mindset. How will this obstacle help me? Is there a gift somewhere in this mess? Is there an upside to this situation?
Practice the art of self-compassion. Especially when you’re going through challenging times, you need to show up to be your own best friend. Hold yourself accountable when appropriate, and give yourself grace when grace is in order.
Quiet the voices of fear. Catastrophizing will only add to your stress.
Above all else, remember: this too shall pass.
Stay tuned for more on this topic… perhaps a silver lining to these broken toes.