Over the last few weeks my energy levels have fluctuated enormously. One minute they are huge and I feel like I have vast reserves of energy just waiting to be used and the next I am falling asleep at the computer and also feeling weak. The highs and lows are probably a result of my diet and exercise, doing too much and eating too little. This is the balance that I have had to try and find during my journey. It hasn't always been like this, most of the time I have a lot of energy and, of late, this seems to be the case again. So I had to ask myself, why have I gone back to having lots of energy?
Firstly, I have really started to try and eat little and often throughout the day, making sure that the snacks I have are packed full of energy, like bananas, almonds and grapes. By eating fruit and nuts I have managed to keep my energy levels up but still not eat unhealthily and give myself a sugar rush that ultimately leads to a rapid deceleration of energy - a downer. If I haven't had those then I have tried to have something like a low fat yoghurt with active bacteria. By making sure that I am eating throughout the day I am ensuring that my energy levels remain at their peak.
Next, I have been trying to ensure that I keep moving as often as possible. Pretty much all the times I have felt my energy nosedive have been times when I have either been sitting doing nothing or doing something that requires very little physical energy. The less physical it is the more I seem to have my energy sucked from me. This has changed because I am now making sure that I am always trying to be active throughout the day. I start the day with exercises, I clean and tidy, I have done painting of the conservatory today and I have ironed. There hasn't been a moment when I haven't been active physically. This doesn't mean that I have neglected my other things, such as reading and writing and work, I have simply made sure that, after each, I have done something to get my body moving. I love moving and going and being active. It's the complete opposite of the way I used to be, but now I want to move as much as possible.
Keeping busy, although similar to my last reflection, is also something I have tried to do as consistently as possible. I am always trying to be doing something. Keeping busy has not only helped me to stay motivated and keep going, it has also helped me to forget any hunger pangs I may have leading to cravings, it has helped me to stay focused on what I am doing and not whether I feel tired or not, so therefore it has not mattered as I haven't thought about it. This has also helped my motivation and willpower as, when you keep moving you have to strengthen your mind to keep going despite feeling like you want to sit down. Here, having a Goggins mindset helps, because I am used to doing what may normally be uncomfortable, so therefore I do it regardless of whether I want to or not. I am in control of me and my mind and I will beat me, every time. Whether I want to or not, I will do whatever it is I need to do.
Finally, I have simply been enjoying 'going' and doing things. If you enjoy the things you are doing, you are more likely to want to keep doing them and therefore this also staves off the drop in energy you would feel (more keenly if you actually don't want to do it) if you were not enjoying it. There have definitely been days when I have not been enjoying keeping fit, staying active, living a healthier lifestyle, but now I am in the zone and have been for a good time now. It has become a habit and nothing will stop me. I love the drive you feel when you have found a way that suits you and you know you can maintain it because you enjoy it and want to do it and look forward to doing it every day.
Oh, and don't forget the support. Without the support network I have at home, at school and on healthunlocked.com (and to those of you who read this on a regular basis), I would have quit by now. There are some amazingly lovely people that I have got to know on different websites and all are helping me to continue and to carry on, even when I have a bad day or two. I love that about Healthunlocked.com. Let's hope that the energy and drive will continue and keep you going as well as me.
And so, until tomorrow, stay strong, stay safe and stay energised!
Thanks for reading.
Sean.
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