Other Things Weighing In

Lindsay Eichelman
Project & Promotions Manager

I lamented today to a coworker about the temporary plateau I’ve hit and the intense frustration it causes me. When I decided to come up for air, she simply asked, “Are you stressed?” I thought for a second and then responded with, “I guess I am.” She smiled and said, “Yep, the stress will get you every time.”

Sometimes, when you get bogged down in the weight loss battle, you forget the other things that count toward living a healthier lifestyle. In addition, sometimes, those other things can pose a problem to our weight loss battle if we don’t give them the attention they deserve.

Three of the main “other things” I struggle with most are:
1) Sleep
2) Taking care of myself when I’m under the weather
3) Dealing with stress

Obviously, independently these are important factors in a healthy lifestyle. In addition, when one or all aren’t addressed, they can all wreak havoc on the weight loss battle. If I’m not getting enough sleep, I’m more prone to skipping a workout or binge eating. If I don’t seek proper medical attention or give my body the vitamins and rest it needs when I’m not feeling well, the same rule applies. Also, for some reason, stress does tend to cause our bodies to hold on to those extra pounds.

For me, the fitness and weight loss portions of the healthy living lifestyle take up the majority of my focus. They are time consuming components. However, I need to be better about remembering my “other things.” Whether it’s the few I listed above or things outside that list, they also are important to a healthy lifestyle.

Tell me what your “other things” are and how you address them without losing your main focus?