Listen To Your Body: Why It’s Important To Push When You Can, Chill When You Have To & Go Light When You Need To.

Yes, some days I work out twice.

I do it because I CAN.

I do it because I listen to & trust my body.

I have reached a point in my life where my level of mental stability is at its peak.

I am strong enough to not let it become unhealthy, abusive & obsessive.

I am no longer a slave to the “compensation” mentality.

Although my eating disorder was not a product of excessive exercise but rather of starvation & deprivation, I ALWAYS felt like I had to be moving, on the go & occupied.

This was the subconscious way in which my eating disorder’s voices spoke to, manipulated me to think that rest meant I was failing, lazy  & outright stupid for listening to my weak, frail & exhausted body.

Almost eight months later & I take pride in LISTENING TO MY BODY EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I exercise because it feels good & gives me energy.

Because after every workout, I feel my body getting stronger.

Because it’s therapeutic.

Because it makes me happy, relieves anxiety & allows me to disconnect.

&

Most importantly, because when my body speaks to me, I listen to it.

When it is feeling strong & energetic, I go hard.

When it needs a break, I chill.

When it is feeling sore & asks me for muscle recovery, I go a little less hard & aim for workouts that focus on stretching, flexibility, posture & balance, such as yoga, eccentrics & Pilates.

Doing this has allowed me to find balance & to feel my very best. 

Take a second to ask yourself the following question:

How can you expect to feel your best if you’re not responding to the cues & signs that the ONE THING sustaining you & keeping you alive is sending you? 

Answer: YOU CAN’T. 

So if I can inspire you with one thing today, it’s to exercise for the right reasons:

To feel good & for all the benefits it’ll bring to your life.

LET GO of that compensation mentality & of the view that rest isn’t necessary, is a waste of time & means you’re failing.

YOU AREN’T FAILING IF YOU’RE LISTENING TO YOUR BODY & IF REST IS WHAT IT’S ASKING FOR.

Find your balance, whatever it is.

Push hard when your body tells you it can.

Take a chill pill when your body just isn’t feeling it.

Go light when your body needs to recover.

Your body will thank you.