Moody blues

Next Monday I go on holiday for 8 days. Before that I have the small matter of a marathon to run. This week I still have 3 days of work (if you can call it that) to go.

Throughout our lives we have goals set up to achieve and barriers to overcome. The goals can be as simple as a holiday or as big as a marathon. The barriers are whatever we choose to throw up against ourselves, what we allow our minds to fabricate and exaggerate. Work is one, whilst our own minds are often the biggest hurdle to overcome. Our internal dialogue can keep us wrapped up in our alleged inadequacies for so long that we never act.

I you've never suffered from doubt, worry and feelings of hopelessness then you are in the lucky few. I have been extremely fortunate in life with the support of my family and a loving girlfriend. My family supported me (in more ways than one) when I was 19 in becoming a fitness instructor and later at 20 to become a personal trainer. Getting a job in fitness helped me to develop into a confident, outgoing and positive person. Whether that was what I felt or not is another question! My girlfriend has then stuck by me as I've ridden a roller-coaster journey of emotions, debts and life seeking. Barriers that I created and made myself suffer for.

Why do I tell you this?

Well I've recently started writing a book. I've always loved writing and have used it over the years to help overcome depression and self loathing. Powerful words you might say, but that's just honesty. You have to crack the nut to know what's really inside and I am a hard nut to crack.

My book is a story about mental illness. Specifically it covers depression, Bipolar and Alzheimer's in a story that contains both light and dark humour. The reason to write it is to help my own dark moods and my personal experience of
depression, dementia and suicide.

It is to highlight how many people (especially men) keep their feelings to themselves to protect their masculinity and to avoid being seen as weak. Unfortunately this can lead to depression or worse. The mental health charity mind are currently highlighting this in their efforts to combat the stigmatism of mental illnesses of all types.

Now this wasn't meant to be a negative blog post, rather an admission to whoever may read this that it's OK. It's OK to feel as you do, to feel low, hopeless and useless. BUT, don't cover it with a facade of confidence, a "macho" suit or fake smile. Just talk or write down what you are feeling. Get over the bullshit that you are strong enough to cope and get on with letting go of your negativity. At the end of the day it's in your head and as you may have heard before,

"whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."

So start believing you can and get others to help you. When it starts to affect your daily life that's just the beginning of a slippery slope. I've been there and am always battling it. But with the support of my girlfriend and family I'm moving away from the moody blues.

Stay happy, stay healthy.

T :-)





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bad Sloth

Firstly an apology for not getting this posting out last week. That means that you will have to (well you don't have to) read two blog posts this week.

Since the week before last (when I blogged daily on my first week of the Four Hour Body diet) I have discovered some interesting things.

Firstly I need more carbohydrates. As much as I enjoy this way of eating (WOE) I struggle with light headedness through the week. The protein, beans, lentils and vegetables are great for filling me up and preventing me from even wanting to snack. But the calorie density of Mr and Mrs vegetable is much less than their evil nemesis Mr White Carb. However I have a solution, it is called the Sloth 4HB. Within this WOE I shall follow the 4 Hour Body, but add a little quinoa or brown rice to ensure I actually have some energy to work AND train. The 4HB is not a diet of less calories, it's just harder to eat enough vegetables when running with clients and cycling between their houses.

Secondly when I get to cheat day on a Saturday I need to remember that I haven't had sugar in a week. After this weekend just gone my stomach was not happy with me from all the sugar I introduced to it. Yes that included alcohol (bad sloth), cakes and numerous wheat products. On a plus side I think I helped my liver by drinking water like my life depended on it. So much in fact that I now have a toilet loyalty card from McDonalds.

Moving swiftly on. I think my profound blog will come a little later in the week as I am not feeling as saintly and heroic (thanks to cheat day) as usual. So I shall round up this post with a word of warning. If you stick to any diet, make sure that you don't limit yourself to the point of craving. If you get get enough protein, vegetables and good healthy fibre in during the week, you will stay filled up and keep your energy levels constant. That way when you get to your own cheat day/friday night/weekend you won't want to eat every cream cake, jammie dodger or pizza in sight. If you do then be realistic with yourself, no normal person is a saint (myself included) when it comes to eating. If you slip up, just let it slide and put your determination back into a healthy diet and exercise program.

T ;-)