PA Your Way Out of a Hard Day!
One recent morning I woke up feeling completely tired and overwhelmed with what was on my plate for the day. My husband was traveling for the week and I was responsible for getting all 3 of my little girls to school, then exercise, go to work and then pick up the girls in the afternoon and start our whole evening routines before crashing into bed just a mere 15 hours later. It was enough to make me feel like crying!
I went about my morning rituals as I always do and the thought hit me that, because of how I’m feeling today and how stressed out I am, I could maybe…just….um… skip the gym today (just today) and give myself a little break. The more I thought about it (change the baby’s diaper) and thought about it (find 5-year-old’s lost matching sock) and thought about it (thwart incoming 7-year-old crying fit because she doesn’t want to go to school today) the idea seemed better and better to me. In fact, it sounded so good that by the time I got everyone out and into the car I was feeling much better with my decision to skip my workout. Ooh, maybe I can take a nap – or Ahh, I could even get an hour Starbucks break before heading to work! (The time usually spent at the gym before work). And I wouldn’t have to worry about getting sweaty and taking an extra shower! The stress lifted from my soul.
As I kissed my last little darling goodbye and sent her off to school I felt a pang of guilt. “I have to go to the gym, don’t I?” I thought to myself. “I can’t just skip an entire workout! Where will I make that up?" The decision anxiety came swirling back and forth until I swatted it away once and for all with an “Ok already, I’ll just go!”
About 10 minutes into my workout, a wonderful calm yet powerful feeling washed over me. I felt energized, revved up, and the anxiety and overwhelm that I had felt that morning literally melted away. It was remarkable. Yet not, because this is what ALWAYS happens after about 10-15 minutes into a workout. It’s the anticipation of exercising that is always the worst. Moreover, what was even starker to me as I pounded through the hour on the elliptical was that I felt poised, no, make that completely ready, to face the rest of the day’s events. Totally ready to tackle it head on and have a wonderful day. Can you imagine? If someone were to tell me at home that morning that in just 10-15 minutes of starting my exercise regime I would have a completely different outlook on my day, I would have told them that they were crazy and to please go away. Because that’s how it feels in the moment sometimes right? Completely insurmountable. Until you get started.
The lesson of that day? You can PA your way out of an overwhelming day and feel amazing even 12-15 hours later. I have the proof. I even had enough energy that day for an extra book for each little girl at bedtime that night. What nap or Starbucks break can beat that? None that I can think of!
About the Author
Jenny has been a health educator at HMR since 2002, helping patients build healthier lifestyles and lose weight. She has 3 little girls at home and uses all the skills she’s learned at HMR to be a role model to them while at the same time making living a healthy lifestyle lots of fun!
-
2013 (43)
-
May
(7)
What Do You Do When Plans Are Up in the Air, but You Are In the Box?! Shake up the Afternoon to Stay Full and Satisfied Oh Hey! I Just Ran My First 5k! BBQ Survival Guide: Cookouts with a Healthy Kick Eat More 1s, 2s, and 3s To Keep Calories Low and Health High Top 5 from the Trenches: High Volume Fruit and Veggies Weight Loss Slowing Down? Watch Out For Those BLTs (Bites, Licks, and Tastes)
-
April
(9)
Top 5 from the Trenches: Environmental Control The Amazing Disappearing Appetizer Introducing the 2013 HMR Triple Imperative Challenge Going Nuts for PB2 I Eat Whole Cantaloupes Take Control of Your Food Environment Girl about Town: Every Little Bit Counts My Child Might Be Overweight How Our Home Environment Can Make Us or Break Us
-
March
(8)
The Vacation Question: To Eat (Junk) or Not to Eat (Junk) Moo Goo Gai Pan: In the Box Take-Out Food How Asking “How?” Can Help You Succeed Health Outlook: Physical Activity On the Road Again: Top Tips for Healthy Travels Navigating a Restaurant Menu Girl about Town: Hot Drinks for Cold Days Cook Your Way to Long-Term Weight Maintenance
-
January
(11)
The #1 Killer of American Women Has US Seeing RED Eight Ways to Get Off the Couch and into the Stretch Zone The Super Bowl: Who’s Going to Win? How to Boost Your Family’s Veggies and Fruits The Social Network for Health Kitchen Essentials for Your Healthy New Year Myth Buster: Why Eating After 8:00 Doesn’t Matter Ready-to-Go Snacks: A Good Offense is the Best Defense New Year, New You: Change YOUR World PA Your Way Out of a Hard Day! Make Healthy Eating a Family Affair this New Year
-
May
(7)
-
2012 (111)
-
December
(9)
Top 5 Ways to KEEP Your Fitness Resolution in the New Year Health Outlook: Keep Your Fruit Close and Your Veggies Closer How to Have a Healthy Holiday Season Holiday Gatherings: A Survival Guide Top 5 from the Trenches: Holiday Strategies The Cookie Swap Disaster Averted Every Day is a Holiday Healthy Hanukkah Helpings Cold Weather Weight Loss: Heating Things Up With Entrees
-
November
(10)
Cold Weather Weight Loss: Heating Things Up With Shakes This Holiday Season Make a Commitment to Yourself! Have a BLAST the Day after Thanksgiving Crazy for Caramel Apple Are You Planning to Stay “In the Box” on Thanksgiving? The Phase 1 Thanksgiving Challenge Eat More Sweets! (Potatoes, that is!) Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Holiday Travel Top 5 Ways to Stick to Your Holiday Diet Plan Health Outlook: The Role of BMI
-
October
(9)
The Great Pumpkin Be Different this Holiday Season, and Get a Different Result Tricks to Make Halloween Less Scary Top 5 Ways to Manage Your Calorie Budget Challenging Yourself How to Turn a Bad Day into a Good Week Potatoes Debunked Can’t Afford to Lose Weight? Or Can’t Afford Not To? Leeks: An Ally in the Fight for Better Health
-
September
(8)
Are You Waiting for a Weight-Loss Miracle? Top Ten Ways to Add More Fruits and Veggies to Your Day Avocad-OH! So Delicious! How to Avoid “The Freshman 15” Fruits and Veggies – More is Better! Top 5 from the Trenches: PA Strategies for a Busy Day This Fall, RESTART Your Weight Loss The Sweet Facts about “Artificial” Sweeteners
-
August
(9)
5 Steps to Create a Personalized Plan for Long-Term Success The Workout Program that Everyone’s Talking About Labor Day Reboot – HMR-Style Time to Rewrite Your Weight-Loss Story What Does it Mean to Be “In the Box”? Health Outlook: The Effects of Smoking Cigarettes Sleep Your Way to Weight Loss? Easy Meals Even My 5-Year-Old Can Make In Awe of YOU: Kudos to All in the HMR Success Story Contest!
-
June
(8)
Common Phase 1 Challenges: I’m Too Full to Finish All My Shakes/Entrees/Vegetables-Fruits Being "That" Mom When Faced with The Gap Scrumptious Health Food More is More! Pump up the Volume for Better Weight Management. Must-See Documentary: The Weight of the Nation My Gym Dilemma Continues 5-2-1-0: Jump Rope for Heart Top 5 from the Trenches: A Taste of the Exotic
-
April
(8)
Is it Really More Expensive to Eat Healthy? No Longer Black and White! The Guinea Pig Diet Really Simple Soup: Garden Chicken and Rice Common Phase 1 Challenges: Family Pizza Night Jackson’s Drawing Top 5 from the Trenches: Entrees with Veggies Healthy Families: Bringing Vegetables and Fruits into Meal Times
-
March
(13)
Dixie Dog and My Workout Rut Teach Your Children Well Sneaky Chef: The Purees Edition My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets (and how I use them to make my life easier): The Blender Edition 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! The Mileage Club Hacking Your HMR Shakes Eating Healthy Fats Gluten-Free Diets – A Closer Look Hacking Your HMR Entrees My Gym Dilemma March is National Nutrition Month Top 5 from the Trenches: High Volume Shakes The Importance of Good Hydration All Year Long
-
January
(12)
5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! After-School Snack of Champions BBQ that’s PDQ and ITB A Blast from My Past: The Counter-top Blender The Childhood Obesity Dilemma The Secret Life of a Five-Bean Entrée No Time for Morning Exercise? How to Pick a Diet Soup: The Weight-Loss Secret That Comes in a Bowl The DVR is my Secret Weapon So You Made a New Year’s Resolution to Lose Weight. Now What? The Rehabilitation of Brussels Sprouts
-
December
(9)
-
2011 (66)
-
December
(11)
Suffering from Holiday Diet Fatigue? Pump up the Volume! Demo-licious! To Snack or Not To Snack? Sneaking in Physical Activity during the Busiest Time of the Year Healthy Hanukkah Helpings The Phase 1 ‘Stay In the Box through Year End’ Challenge Banishing the Baking Blues Training for White Rock Girl about Town: The Well-Stocked Pantry Pesto Change-o Turkey Chili with Beans: Three Ways
-
November
(12)
The Kids are Back in Town Are You Planning to Stay “In the Box” on Thanksgiving? Un-learning Theory The Phase 1 Thanksgiving Challenge Wondering How to Make Sense Out of Health Information on the Internet? Autumn Chili Taking a Bite out of Holiday Weight Gain My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets (and how I use them to make my life easier): The Food Processor Edition Raise the BeneFit Bar Starting Over: How an Injury Brought My Exercise to a Whole New Level On the Road… and on the Decision-Free Diet Lettuce Play With Our Food
-
October
(11)
Empty Nest – Empty Fridge! Can You Reset Your Metabolism? Yoga with Irene On the Road: How to Take Your Exercise with You Picnic Beans Girl about Town: Party Down at the Pot Luck My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets (and how I use them to make my life easier): The Crockpot Edition Freeze, Frappe or Float A Train, A Plane, and A Hotel Room Dips Without Chips Sneaky Chef: The Zucchini Edition
-
September
(12)
A Conversation with Jason Fast Food for a Family of Five Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Extracts Dynamic Entree Duos Are School Lunches Getting Healthier? Farm Fresh, Any Time of Year Girl About Town: The Lost Weekend Misleading Labels: How ‘Zero’ Calorie Foods Contain Hidden Calories Just Like Mom Used to Make Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Sugar-Free Pudding or Jell-o Yo-yo Dieting: Harmful or Harmless? Kids and Kabobs
-
August
(14)
Recipe Substitutions: Great Taste, Less Calories! Benefits of Weight Loss that Your Doctor Won’t Tell You Yikes! The Gym! Veggies Undercover No-Bake Entree Recipes, Part 1 Looking for Straight Talk about Nutrition? The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly… of working out with kids in tow Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Sugar-free Syrups Girl About Town: Putting Your Best Foot Forward CSA Share, How Do I Love Thee? Diary of a Demo The 4 O’clock Shake Make a Shake, Make it Great: Use Diet Soda or Sugar-free Flavored Water What’s on the Menu? Lots of Calories!
-
December
(11)
