You can probably guess what the number one American New Year’s resolution is….that’s right, “I’m going to get in shape!” I see evidence of this every January at my gym. The population explodes after the first of the year! By March, the numbers have dwindled. By June…it’s a relative ghost town in the women’s room at Bally’s Fitness in Gresham, OR...
This warrants some thought. What really causes us to give up on our goals? Why is staying focused on a good idea, such as getting in shape, so hard? Why do we have that initial burst of adrenalin in January and then detour to Dairy Queen and the couch in February?
I think there are some good obvious theories. Changing a habit or a pattern is not an overnight process. It didn’t take three weeks to gain 50 pounds so the expectation of a quick fix for losing it is a set up for failure. Most often, we set very lofty goals because we like to dream big. But research shows that true change – which comes from a full internal shift in patterns and habits, happens when goals are broken down into smaller, doable chunks. One of the primary reasons for “giving up” on our goals is trying to accomplish too much, too soon. We are overwhelmed – and we simply….give up.
For most women over 40 – getting out of shape was a gradual process. In our 20’s and 30’s we can ride a bit on the faster metabolism God has graced us with because all our hormones are working in sync with each other. As the hormonal balance begins to shift in our 40’s, 90% of women gain 10-15 lbs. Like it or not… it’s no longer possible to maintain a lean, healthy form after 40 unless there is some extra effort dedicated to that purpose. And that means movement. That means exercise. {**We will be talking about practical ideas, tips, and motivational tools for getting into a regular exercise program in upcoming posts}.
One of the less talked about theories as to why physical shape-up goals are often discarded before being reached involves the concept that God created us as uniquely integrated beings. In other words, it is impossible to separate and compartmentalize our physical selves from our emotional and spiritual selves. We are body, soul (emotions/mind) and spirit. All three are woven together and integrated – just like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are separate, yet at the same time ONE.
Therefore, attempting a consistent nutrition and exercise plan without also taking into consideration the emotional and spiritual threads that play into our physical goals can sabotage our efforts. We all know, for example, that emotional eating is very real. We eat when we are stressed, depressed, exhausted, bored, angry, lonely, frustrated and/or dealing with internal pain and hurt. We also know that our body image is emotionally driven. Trying to focus on physical health – without also dealing with the emotional triggers – will only end in a bag of Doritos.
The same is true in another arena. Attempting to take care of our emotional health, without dealing with our spiritual health is an incomplete process, and will not result in total health. I encourage you to examine your commitment to total health. And let's get moving! Find a form of exercise you can commit to - start slow and small - and as you enter into the call to build your physical health - ask God to make you aware of any emotional and/or spiritual issues that could interfere with your goal. As a side note, remember...one very effective antidote for depression and anxiety, common at this season of life, is the increase of "feel good" serotonin that is released during moderate exercise! God really does think of everything!
In Part 2 of this post, we will be discussing the extremes we often fall into and how to seek and find balance in our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Be Blessed!
Cheryl
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