Why am I categorizing this post under "Fitness"?
Because your physical fitness is influenced by not just your physical state, but also your mental and emotional states.
We're almost halfway through March, and my 2014 (especially February) has been crazy. Crazy packed. I appreciate and love what I'm doing. I'm extremely grateful for the many opportunities to teach what I love, see my clientele growing, and to continue to learn and grow as a personal trainer, fitness instructor and Yogi. Not many people discover something that they enjoy doing so much at such a young age. Not many people can study and work at the same time and still say that they have never felt so fulfilled, driven and satisfied with life. Not many people are able to start out fresh as a freelance and find themselves working a little too much.
Having too many things o n your plate (literally and figuratively) screws your hormones up - specifically Cortisol and Insulin. These are the hormones that determines how much fat you're going to be storing in your body. Insufficient rest, too much stress, worrying and eating the wrong food at the wrong time would kick your hormonal levels out of balance. This is when you'll start to watch your body fat increase, your weight increase, your energy level decrease and your junk food intake gets ruled by your emotions - even if your caloric intake remains consistent. Your body is amazing at protecting you from perceived disaster.
& yes, insufficient sleep IS disastrous to your body.
So in the month of February I found myself attached. After so many years of singlehood. To this dude. This cute, fluffy hair-ed dude. This funny sushi-obsessed dude. This other fitness freak. Extremely passionate, driven, focused, talented, adventurous, positive and sentimental individual.
Because your physical fitness is influenced by not just your physical state, but also your mental and emotional states.
We're almost halfway through March, and my 2014 (especially February) has been crazy. Crazy packed. I appreciate and love what I'm doing. I'm extremely grateful for the many opportunities to teach what I love, see my clientele growing, and to continue to learn and grow as a personal trainer, fitness instructor and Yogi. Not many people discover something that they enjoy doing so much at such a young age. Not many people can study and work at the same time and still say that they have never felt so fulfilled, driven and satisfied with life. Not many people are able to start out fresh as a freelance and find themselves working a little too much.
Having too many things o n your plate (literally and figuratively) screws your hormones up - specifically Cortisol and Insulin. These are the hormones that determines how much fat you're going to be storing in your body. Insufficient rest, too much stress, worrying and eating the wrong food at the wrong time would kick your hormonal levels out of balance. This is when you'll start to watch your body fat increase, your weight increase, your energy level decrease and your junk food intake gets ruled by your emotions - even if your caloric intake remains consistent. Your body is amazing at protecting you from perceived disaster.
& yes, insufficient sleep IS disastrous to your body.
So in the month of February I found myself attached. After so many years of singlehood. To this dude. This cute, fluffy hair-ed dude. This funny sushi-obsessed dude. This other fitness freak. Extremely passionate, driven, focused, talented, adventurous, positive and sentimental individual.
It's ridiculous how close we live to each other. To the point where we spent so many days with a pathetic amount of sleep, just because we could easily get away with a super short walk home after sticking together after work/school/whatever.
It was crazy. We were very happy but we were also extremely drained.
One night, Victor said:
It was crazy. We were very happy but we were also extremely drained.
One night, Victor said:
"Ok. Although I love spending time with you, but I told myself that I have to send you home by 12.30am."
Who in the world sets a 12.30am curfew?! People should be in bed, dead asleep by 12.30am - not sending their girlfriend home. Both of us probably had to wake up at 6am the next morning. The way we were living our lives - it's ridiculous.
We both knew that we were sleep and rest deprived. I even reached a point where I literally had to drag myself to my yoga training during the weekends. I'm not a person who relies on taxis but in one month, I took more taxi rides to my yoga training than I did in the last few years combined. I appeared at my yoga classes but I wasn't performing. I wasn't improving as quickly as I ought to. My mind wasn't there. I wasn't as interested as I should have been. My lack of focus annoyed and frustrated me. The lack of improvement pushed my self-esteem down the cliff.
It's so important to prioritize and to take care of yourself. I figured that if I don't clean up my own acts soon, and get myself back in good order, I'll not be able to deliver what my clients have paid for. I'll also not be giving my loved ones the kind of attention and care that they deserve and desire.
I let go of certain things that were adding income but minimal value to the pursuit of my dreams and my development as a fitness professional and person. Suddenly life seemed more manageable and focused. My yoga practices were showing me results that I've never dreamed of. I was pursuing things that meant much more to me. I delivered classes and training that met my own expectations. I worked out at the intensity and rigor that challenged my optimal self. I had time to cook! :D I had slightly more time to attend to my school work xP
It totally helps that my boyfriend's schedule changed too and he understands the importance of rest, recovery and the nature of our work and lifestyle.
Bottom line is, nobody can force you to prioritize and put yourself first. No one can force you to give up certain things that aren't helping you. It's such a personal decision. Asking yourself and answering "what do I want in life?" and "what is my dream?" is not an easy task. There's always the need to dig deep within yourself and find out what it is. The lack of an answer belittles your life and deprives yourself of the full life that you deserve to live.
We both knew that we were sleep and rest deprived. I even reached a point where I literally had to drag myself to my yoga training during the weekends. I'm not a person who relies on taxis but in one month, I took more taxi rides to my yoga training than I did in the last few years combined. I appeared at my yoga classes but I wasn't performing. I wasn't improving as quickly as I ought to. My mind wasn't there. I wasn't as interested as I should have been. My lack of focus annoyed and frustrated me. The lack of improvement pushed my self-esteem down the cliff.
It's so important to prioritize and to take care of yourself. I figured that if I don't clean up my own acts soon, and get myself back in good order, I'll not be able to deliver what my clients have paid for. I'll also not be giving my loved ones the kind of attention and care that they deserve and desire.
I let go of certain things that were adding income but minimal value to the pursuit of my dreams and my development as a fitness professional and person. Suddenly life seemed more manageable and focused. My yoga practices were showing me results that I've never dreamed of. I was pursuing things that meant much more to me. I delivered classes and training that met my own expectations. I worked out at the intensity and rigor that challenged my optimal self. I had time to cook! :D I had slightly more time to attend to my school work xP
It totally helps that my boyfriend's schedule changed too and he understands the importance of rest, recovery and the nature of our work and lifestyle.
Bottom line is, nobody can force you to prioritize and put yourself first. No one can force you to give up certain things that aren't helping you. It's such a personal decision. Asking yourself and answering "what do I want in life?" and "what is my dream?" is not an easy task. There's always the need to dig deep within yourself and find out what it is. The lack of an answer belittles your life and deprives yourself of the full life that you deserve to live.
What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?
On a side note, I thought this is pretty funny.
Some people asked me "how did you feel when he first held your hand?" (because he held my hand before we were "officially" together :'D)
My answer:
Some people asked me "how did you feel when he first held your hand?" (because he held my hand before we were "officially" together :'D)
My answer: