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tThis post was sponsored by BODYARMOR. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For the past few years, I’ve been plagued with some problematic health issues. I had dealt with some of it since I was a teenager but following my two pregnancies, my body had gained some new problems. Two of the new problems included endometriosis and something called pelvic congestion syndrome (varicose veins in your legs and pelvis). Since then, I’ve been plagued with pain. It’s been my daily companion and it made it incredibly difficult to maintain a workout routine. Pain makes you tired and the last thing I wanted to do was get up and be active!
But last year, with the encouragement of my husband, I decided it was time to take back some control. I was ready to dig deep and do as much as I could to get my body feeling better through exercise and watching what I ate. If I could do just 30 minutes of exercise, even if it wasn’t running mile, I knew it would help my overall mental health in addition to my physical well being.
I got a membership to a gym and bought some workout programs on DVD that I knew I’d enjoy for days I couldn’t get out. And I decided it was time for no more excuses!
It isn’t easy to fight through the pain, but I can tell you that it has made all the difference. While my health problems aren’t over, I feel like I’ve gained back some control over my physical health. It’s so empowering!
I’ve learned some things this past year that have helped me get back to being active. In fact, I’ll be using these tips myself this next month as I get back into things following a surgery last week! This was my sixth surgery in 2.5 years! Here I am at my 5th laparoscopic surgery.
These tips are perfect for anyone who is coming back from a health crisis, whether it’s chronic, like mine, pregnancy, surgery, an immune disorder. Here are 5 tips to getting active again following health problems.
- Find A Cheerleader
- Stay Hydrated
- Go Shopping for Fun Workout Items
- Get Enough Sleep
- Find An Exercise That You Love & Create A Goal
#1-Find A Cheerleader
This is one of the most important things to keeping up on any goals. A cheerleader is someone who you tell your goals to, someone who understands what your challenges have been. You want them to know where you’re coming from so they can help cheer you on without overwhelming you. If you are really having a bad day, they’ll understand that it’s not always an excuse and they will better know how to help you through it. And when you do go to they gym or run that mile, they are right there when you finish to give you a high-five and be excited with you! Every time I go to they gym is an accomplishment in my eyes. I come home and my husband will say, “I’m proud of you for going. How was your workout?”. He offers me words of encouragement when I need them most (and makes me laugh too!). Find a cheerleader you can count on and they will help you through!
#2-Stay Hydrated
I have always struggled with this one! Like so many of you, it’s a struggle to keep my body hydrated as it should be. And when I’m not feeling well, it’s easy to forget! But it really makes all the difference in how I feel and it’s important as I get active again.
One of my struggles with hydration is finding something to drink that I enjoy. I’ve tried many different types of drinks and finally found one that I love-BODYARMOR LYTE. It’s naturally flavored, naturally sweetened, and low-calorie! Plus it combines electrolytes, coconut water, and vitamins for the best hydration. At only 20 calories per serving, it’s the perfect way to keep hydrated while being LYTE on the calories.
Because it’s easy to grab out of the fridge and throw in my bag, it’s perfect for taking to the gym or running errands with my kids. If it’s with me, I’ll drink it!
#3-Go Shopping for Fun Workout Items
When I made the decision to get back to being active, my husband had the idea to take me shopping to pick out new workout clothes. I had old ones I had been using for years but having something new was exciting! Plus, I was able to choose things that I would be comfortable in while also having my own style. I snagged new shoes, bottoms, shirts, and a bag. It’s just like getting your kids ready to go back to school every year-the excitement of having something new takes away the fear and anxiety you may have.
#4-Get Enough Sleep
Sleep has been a battle since I was a teenager. I’m a night owl and I love staying up late reading, watching a movie, working on projects, or just hanging out. Maybe it’s a little bit of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) too! Because of the pain I experience, I’m often already pretty tired. But if you add to that not getting enough sleep the night before, it’s suddenly a very good reason for not getting off the couch. When that happens, it takes more encouragement and will power to get out the door, but I’m always so happy that I did it!
#5-Find An Exercise That You Love and Create A Goal
Finding an exercise I loved wasn’t easy for me. I had tried many different classes, programs, and routines over the years. When I became a mom, I tried exercising at home but never worked.
To start with, I created a goal. I decided how often I wanted to attend a class and then sat down to figure out what days would work with my family’s schedule. Once I had that information, I looked for classes that fit what I wanted and my goals. Then, I found the classes at my local gym that fit the criteria.
I decided to try a bunch of different classes to find one that fit what I was looking for. It needed something that was fun and upbeat, something that would keep my mind off the exertion and monotony I sometimes feel when working out. After trying some out, I can happily report that I did find a class that I love and it’s become a class that I look forward to attending every week.
As I mentioned, I’m currently recovering from a surgery just over a week ago. It was my sixth in 2.5 years! It has not been easy. But I can tell you from experience that applying these tips has made me feel better and my recovery is going more smoothly than it has in the past.
And while I’m resting, I can still keep myself hydrated with BODYARMOR LYTE. I may not be very active right now, but I can still keep myself hydrated! You can follow along on their social media for more tips and great ideas as you get back to being active too! You can find them at Kroger stores and at Target stores (I grabbed mine at Target here in Utah!).
What ways do you overcome the challenge to stay active?
