I like almost everyone during covid gained some weight. This actually happened after covid to me as during covid I exercised every day with my girls. to keep them busy. Right at the end of covid I got surgery on my wrist and couldn't even move this hand so no gym, no nothing. I also was laid up on the couch for 8 weeks with no pain medication, just "cookies" which in turn made me eat even more cookies and junk.
I was depressed, I was in pain, I had gained weight and I had no outlet for my stress so that made me more miserable. Usually I write, clean or exercise my stress away but I obviously couldn't do any of that so there I was falling deeper into a hole I couldn't dig myself out of. I now understand how this can happen, you are depressed, you don't feel like doing anything, you gain weight, you feel worse and so you don't feel like doing anything and the cycle keeps repeating itself.
When I finally emerged from the depression I had gained at least 10 lbs and felt horrible. Not just physically but mentally as well, I have exercised my whole life. Every day, 5 days a week for the last 40 years even though my both pregnancies, a broken toe, knee surgery, and a broken hand, it didn't matter I went and worked out. This surgery took me down for the count and took my mind and body with it.
Now most people would say it's only 10 pounds but to me at 5'3 it's a lot and besides from a person that's been the same weight since I was married and even after 2 kids, that said plenty.
Well, as soon as my hand was good to go I was back at it 3-4 miles a day on the treadmill while writing this blog. I added when allowed, some weight exercise even if there were no weights at the beginning, just many reps over and over. At least I was doing something, I was moving and the movement felt good. I also went back to my happy place, the beach. It brought me peace, walking for miles, listening to my gospel music and giving thanks. My church and my friends were there for me helping me out of my depression. They took me out, they came around and talked to me, making sure I was alright. I started watching what I ate, preparing my meals ahead of time, no late night binge watching TV and eating. I had to make a change because I hated the way I was feeling, I knew I had to do this for my mental and physical health.
Even with all of that I was still not where I wanted to be. I kept yelling at God a bout my purpose and when I was going to be able to do this as my full time career. I was ready, I needed this, this writing and speaking was my passion and what was taking so long!
What do they say? Ask and you shall receive well that's true and recently while speaking to 2 amazing women in my life. who also had fallen into ruts, we decided to pull our resources and do what we had started to talk about pre covid. We are all speakers that come from different backgrounds yet all have the same stories. Stories of overcoming, of abusive, of starting over in the second half of our lives and we decided that we needed to do this, we needed each other to pull ourselves out of this hole. And we realized that there are probably many women out there who need that hand up as well. This had put the fire under my ass to get my life together again and share my purpose with others like I am supposed to. So we are putting together a retreat that I will keep you informed of when more details come out.
So today my friends, my message is no matter how bad it looks, no matter how deep you are in it, you can always change. it. You can seek out professional help, you can change your diet, you can exercise more. You can surround yourself with like minded people to help you. You can do a creative outlet you enjoy, dancing, cooking, writing, painting whatever makes your heart happy and pumping. Just because you are in a run right now, just because things aren't good now doesn't mean it won't get better. After every storm comes the sun, just hold on.
At any point, you can change your life, you can say enough is enough and choose change and as I say at the end of every blog...you can be the change you want to see. It's up to you to get motivated.
