I was in what I like to call, "a health and fitness FUNK." Does this happen to anyone? You're going along in life, feeling great, eating awesome, delicious foods, exercising everyday, and then maybe one day something happens to throw you off, and BAM, the funk begins. You sleep in later on your days off, come up with excuses not to exercise. Proclaim that it's a "Rest day," or justify eating Hungry Howie's pizza at 1030pm (I'm human!).
To be honest, I'm not sure what put me into the funk. Perhaps it was a combination of focusing on my career since deciding to go back to school, and subsequently studying for the GRE and CCRN at the same time; or perhaps I just got caught up in family drama (y'all do not want to know), but it happened.
For me, I think the main issue is that I cannot focus on more than one thing at a time. I become obsessed with whatever I am doing. If I'm training for a triathlon, I put all of my time and effort into it. I sleep, eat, and dream it. But as soon as something else comes up (like studying for those exams), then my focus shifts and I suddenly become warped into that mode of thinking.
This is definitely a problem for me, and I am trying to balance everything and fit it all in a healthy manner. I cannot give up on one focus just because I have developed a new goal. There's room in life for bits and bits of it all.
What do I do when I am in a funk?
One, I recognize it. I accept it. I tell myself it will pass.At times, I might force myself to get out there and exercise or force myself to stop after eating half the pizza (ha...), but if that doesn't work, I give myself time. It is okay to be lazy sometimes, and I fully embrace that. But there is a difference between lazy and self destruction.
For instance, the last time I ran was on Saturday. Seeing as I have a triathlon in August, not running for 6 days is like suicide...self destruction.
Second, even if my mood is foul, deep down I focus on the positive. I stay optimistic because I know it will pass. It isn't in my blood to just be sedentary for the rest of my life. Also, reading blogs and healthy living sites help me get back on track, too.
Third, if you're in a real funk, then you need to find the cause. I know for me that I have difficulty with focusing on more than one thing at a time, but if you're feeling lethargic, or depressed, then you need to figure out why, and get the help you need. If not, it will be much more difficult, if not impossible to get out of the funk and back into your health and fitness routine.
Finally, having a goal is important. My goal is the triathlon. If you get into a funk and don't have even have a small goal (like 50 pushups, marathon, anything), then you won't have much of a drive to try and pull yourself out that frame of mind.
I am happy to say that although I slept a little later than I wanted this morning, I felt a sense of enthusiasm to get out and go for my run. And I did it.
And I feel better.
Do you go through health/fitness funks? How do you pull yourself out? Do you know what causes them?
4 comments:
I've been in a funk too. Not so much eating-wise, although I have been indulging a bit too much in "condolence cookies". I'm pulling myself out with activities that I know I enjoy, and slowly, things are looking up! Hang in there - you'll come around :)
You sound eerily similar to myself. I am the same way when I get in my funks and I am definitely guilty of throwing all my focus on one thing at a time.
I really enjoyed this post. Thanks for the encouraging advice. :)
Yay for feeling better after running!
I'm always amazed at the sense of accomplishment after each run, no matter how much I didn't want to do it in the first place!
Yeeep. Been thru da funk many a-times.
I liken it to what some athletes call over training.
I can't really say what causes it, other than maybe getting bored at what you are doing? Maybe too much repetition?
Try changing up your routine on a rolling basis (most would suggest about every 6-8 weeks).
You seem to have a handle on what to do about it, recognizing it and treating it.
Keep up the good work!
Glad your de-funk-da-fied.
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