Thursday, May 15, 2014

Overtraining

Brittle nails, thinned hair, fatigue, mood swings, forgetfulness/brain fog, menstrual cycle changes, joint pain, tendonitis, block in my weight training, and mild constipation are all things I have been experiencing lately. I know things change as you age....but I'm only 26 years old. Ha. So I'm looking into things on how to get my body functioning more normally again. 

My sweet girls. I love them so much.

It can be frustrating to experience some of these things that seem minor or maybe "normal" to others but when you add them up, it's a little list. So I've been taking a step back to gain perspective and see what things I may or may not be doing to help/hinder these things. I spoke with a doctor and nutritionist, and she first recommended it potentially being my thyroid. Yup, those are all on the list for your thyroid being off. 

God is showing me how to grow through this. Just realizing something may be "off" with my body has raised anxious thoughts, doubts, fears, etc and I just have had to take time to figure out why I go to these things. It's a good road, a road that is leading me closer to the Father's love and helping me stand firm that my identity and trust is in Christ. It's amazing how we are like layers of an onion. You peel back one to find another layer God wants to peel, and so on. 

Sleepover fun with Abby's cousin, Marie.

Anyways, with that, I am also looking at areas of my life that may be contributing to this potential issue (thyroid) or issues as a whole. So here are some steps I am taking...

- Getting my hormones checked. Went and had blood drawn yesterday.
- Not been eating sweets/desserts for this whole month (with 2 exceptions)
- Minimal wheat consumption
- Going to start some new/extra supplements such as magnesium, fish oil, and possibly some different essential oils

I was researching overtraining and there are 2 types. Sympathetic and Parasympathetic. Sympathetic deals with excessive hours in a gym/training. Well, that's not me. I exercise an average of 5 days a week but it's 30-45 minutes. Parasympathetic is intense training plus a more intense lifestyle. So not taking breaks during the day, not sleeping enough at night. Hmmm. Well I have been busier with projects, events, etc and not sleeping as well at night for various reasons. I realized I was literally going from the time I woke up till bed time, plus exercising in between with heavy weights. 


So here's what I am doing activity wise....

- Stopped heavy weight training
- Doing yoga once a week
- spending more time with my girls relaxing during the day
- resting more just in general
- deep breathing exercises
- Protein shakes after workouts (so many benefits)
- Extended stretching after intense workouts
- Spending more time reading and resting with God

I am enjoying this journey of slowing down. God is revealing things to me and speaking in new ways. I grew up with parents who are constantly going. Slow is not in my Dad's vocabulary. It's neat to see things about myself and to listen to what God is saying to me. Please pray with me on this journey. I'm excited to see what God has in store. 

Relaxing date night with my husband :)

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" (Psalm 62:5-8 ESV)

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