After the power outages in New England, I hope this article finds you all with heat, hot water, and electricity. I should probably refrain from telling some of you that I got my power back Halloween at midnight but I can guarantee you that two and a half days without power was plenty for me. I am not sure how the rest of you managed that were without power for a full week! I commend you for your strength!
I saw an interesting pattern happening with people around me this past week. Some unsuspectingly gained or lost weight. A few stayed about the same. None of the numbers really matter in the long term but the habits associated with these numbers certainly do.
The first question I want you to ask yourself is: Did you gain, lose, or maintain during this period of disruption?
The second question is: WHY?
Now is an important time to take a realistic look at your behaviors when your life is disrupted. Granted, this was an unusual circumstance but it will reflect behaviors you carry through your life that you may not realize. Here are some questions that may help to stimulate your self-evaluation:
If you gained weight:
Did you eat food that you probably shouldn't have because you were feeling emotionally upset? If you found yourself having a negative attitude and eating, or bored and eating, it's important to take note and remember that this is a behavior pattern that you exhibit at times.
Or did you eat similar to the way you normally would but you didn't exercise? Take note that your body NEEDS exercise to maintain balance.
If you lost weight:
Did you find yourself eating more out of necessity than luxury? Often times when we are provided the luxury of cooking elaborate meals or going out to dinner at a favorite restaurant, we don't realize how many additional calories we're consuming than if we were simply eating out of necessity.
Or did you eat similar to the way you normally would but the hustle and bustle of a busy life was eliminated? Take note that STRESS may be a culprit for weight retention in your life. When you were forced to slow down, your cortisol levels dropped, and so did some excess weight.
If you maintained: Did you find that you were able to keep some normalcy about your life as far as eating and exercising? If this is the case, congratulations! Stressful situations are true tests of our ability to maintain a healthful lifestyle. This doesn't mean that during these times you should be obsessive about getting to the gym or eating chicken and broccoli 24/7, but that you are able to take care of yourself even when you are knocked out of your comfort zone.
Behavior patterns have more to do with being successful in developing a healthful lifestyle than the workouts you do or the food that you eat. Once you are able to conquer negative behavior patterns and develop positive ones, you will be successful in every aspect of your life!
Ashley Brodeur
Personal Fitness Coach
413.519.9641
http://ashleybrodeur.com/
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