The compounding effects of all life has to throw at us can be overwhelming.
Many of us have to balance home life with work and other responsibilities.
Toss in a goal like weight loss and it may be enough to push you to the breaking point.
I understand how you feel. Between coaching both of my son’s Fall sports teams I run two other fitness businesses
besides Integrated Wellness Concepts. All of these responsibilities and commitments keep me spinning in circles on a daily basis.
Right now I am planning for the 2018 operating budget for one business, actively working to grow the other two and
continue to personal train and coach clients. It is a tremendous load that can take its toll both mentally and physically.
Last Tuesday I had enough, so I gave up.
I know what you're thinking; how can a coach, manager and personal trainer give up and quit?
The truth is, I didn't quit anything, but I wasn't kidding when I said I was overwhelmed and at my wits end.
I did give up some things to ensure I stayed healthy mentally and physically, but I didn't quit.
The strategies I'm about to share with you won't allow you to quit but they will help you give up certain things
that may help you or are the main cause of why you're not achieving your goals.
Many of us have to balance home life with work and other responsibilities.
Toss in a goal like weight loss and it may be enough to push you to the breaking point.
I understand how you feel. Between coaching both of my son’s Fall sports teams I run two other fitness businesses
besides Integrated Wellness Concepts. All of these responsibilities and commitments keep me spinning in circles on a daily basis.
Right now I am planning for the 2018 operating budget for one business, actively working to grow the other two and
continue to personal train and coach clients. It is a tremendous load that can take its toll both mentally and physically.
Last Tuesday I had enough, so I gave up.
I know what you're thinking; how can a coach, manager and personal trainer give up and quit?
The truth is, I didn't quit anything, but I wasn't kidding when I said I was overwhelmed and at my wits end.
I did give up some things to ensure I stayed healthy mentally and physically, but I didn't quit.
The strategies I'm about to share with you won't allow you to quit but they will help you give up certain things
that may help you or are the main cause of why you're not achieving your goals.
#1: Give up on work
I am not advising you to not perform your duties to the absolute best of your abilities but I am suggesting that when you get to the
end of your rope consider physical activity or play of some capacity. Can you remember when, as a child, you came in from recess?
After running around, laughing and engaging in play you were better able to focus and retain knowledge.
end of your rope consider physical activity or play of some capacity. Can you remember when, as a child, you came in from recess?
After running around, laughing and engaging in play you were better able to focus and retain knowledge.
 | Somewhere along the way, someone felt taking away recess was a good idea to get more done. |  |
Physical activity and play allows you to release pent up frustrations in a healthy manner.
If you are trying to solve a work problem, take a walk or going for a jog might allow your brain to hit the reset button,
allowing you to be more creative (I actually dreamed up this blog while running on a day I was mentally burned out).
Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to work even harder regardless of performance.
When you get to this point, take a break, get some movement and we promise you will come back refreshed with better focus and drive.
If you are trying to solve a work problem, take a walk or going for a jog might allow your brain to hit the reset button,
allowing you to be more creative (I actually dreamed up this blog while running on a day I was mentally burned out).
Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to work even harder regardless of performance.
When you get to this point, take a break, get some movement and we promise you will come back refreshed with better focus and drive.
#2: Give up on using food for comfort
I feel bad for the struggle that emotional eaters face. I truly do because we experience a wide variety of emotions, high’s and low’s on a daily basis.
You never get a break and are in a constant state where food is used as a coping mechanism for stress, sadness, anxiety and boredom.
We could also link poor nutritional choices to habits in your home and work life. For example, if you find yourself getting a candy bar
from the vending machine every day at 3pm even though you aren’t hungry you are experiencing habit not hunger.
A few years ago I witnessed something that helped me understand how we are conditioned to flock to sugar or other unhealthy foods in
times of emotional stress. I was listening to a young mother describe her trip through the grocery store with her two year old.
He was unhappy sitting in the cart and was attracting a lot of attention with his screaming.
Wanting to help her son (and lower the volume) the young mother grabbed a box of candy off the shelf and
popped a piece of chocolate in the youngster’s mouth. He immediately became quiet. A few minutes later, he started fussing again so
she gave him another piece of candy. This process continued until her shopping was completed and they were back in the car.
Now this young mother did not mean to do harm to her young son but inadvertently, the child was being conditioned to be an emotional eater.
Would you put sugar in your gas tank and expect your car to perform well?
Of course you wouldn’t….so why do you put sugar in your body and expect it to perform well, mentally and physically?
You never get a break and are in a constant state where food is used as a coping mechanism for stress, sadness, anxiety and boredom.
We could also link poor nutritional choices to habits in your home and work life. For example, if you find yourself getting a candy bar
from the vending machine every day at 3pm even though you aren’t hungry you are experiencing habit not hunger.
A few years ago I witnessed something that helped me understand how we are conditioned to flock to sugar or other unhealthy foods in
times of emotional stress. I was listening to a young mother describe her trip through the grocery store with her two year old.
He was unhappy sitting in the cart and was attracting a lot of attention with his screaming.
Wanting to help her son (and lower the volume) the young mother grabbed a box of candy off the shelf and
popped a piece of chocolate in the youngster’s mouth. He immediately became quiet. A few minutes later, he started fussing again so
she gave him another piece of candy. This process continued until her shopping was completed and they were back in the car.
Now this young mother did not mean to do harm to her young son but inadvertently, the child was being conditioned to be an emotional eater.
Would you put sugar in your gas tank and expect your car to perform well?
Of course you wouldn’t….so why do you put sugar in your body and expect it to perform well, mentally and physically?
 | When you cut out sugar and processed foods you will feel better physically and think more clearly. |  |
#3: Give up control
I am not afraid to admit I am a control freak.
I like things the way I like them in the time frame I wish for those things to be completed, achieved, accomplished.
In full disclosure, my next suggestion is not something I am an expert at nor do I profess to be good at it,
mainly because I like to fool myself into believing I am in control when I am not, but have you considered tapping into your spiritual side?
How many books, classes, tips and articles have you read to find a way to handle stress?
More importantly, how much money have you spent to find peace and contentment?
Last week a client who has struggled in the past spoke this line during her session.
“God is the ultimate holistic health plan. Give up control and you will feel a lot better.”
For some, the topic of a higher power pulling the puppet strings of the universe can be controversial but I would challenge
you that even if you do not subscribe to an organized faith, tap into your spiritual side and learn to give up control.
Immersing yourself in nature is a great way to accomplish this.
If you do subscribe to a specific faith, I would encourage you to work on giving up control on a more regular basis.
You will be happier and as a result, may find you have better perspective on just about everything in life.
Most importantly, you will be happier.
Whether you subscribe the fact there is a keeper of the stars or this planet came into existence in one big boom one thing is for certain…
this rock is hurtling through space as it orbits the sun and there isn’t a single thing you or I can do about it.
The eclipse we experienced a few weeks ago is proof positive we are not in control.
I like things the way I like them in the time frame I wish for those things to be completed, achieved, accomplished.
In full disclosure, my next suggestion is not something I am an expert at nor do I profess to be good at it,
mainly because I like to fool myself into believing I am in control when I am not, but have you considered tapping into your spiritual side?
How many books, classes, tips and articles have you read to find a way to handle stress?
More importantly, how much money have you spent to find peace and contentment?
Last week a client who has struggled in the past spoke this line during her session.
“God is the ultimate holistic health plan. Give up control and you will feel a lot better.”
For some, the topic of a higher power pulling the puppet strings of the universe can be controversial but I would challenge
you that even if you do not subscribe to an organized faith, tap into your spiritual side and learn to give up control.
Immersing yourself in nature is a great way to accomplish this.
If you do subscribe to a specific faith, I would encourage you to work on giving up control on a more regular basis.
You will be happier and as a result, may find you have better perspective on just about everything in life.
Most importantly, you will be happier.
Whether you subscribe the fact there is a keeper of the stars or this planet came into existence in one big boom one thing is for certain…
this rock is hurtling through space as it orbits the sun and there isn’t a single thing you or I can do about it.
The eclipse we experienced a few weeks ago is proof positive we are not in control.
 | Stop trying to control everything. |  |
Never ever quit, but in the right situation at the right time, giving up on certain things may very well be
the one thing that will propel you to better health, happiness and performance.
If you have been struggling with your own health and wellness,
the coaches at Integrated Wellness Concepts would love the opportunity to work with you.
Please call us at 314-807-8634 for a free consultation.
the one thing that will propel you to better health, happiness and performance.
If you have been struggling with your own health and wellness,
the coaches at Integrated Wellness Concepts would love the opportunity to work with you.
Please call us at 314-807-8634 for a free consultation.
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