Heal Yourself from the Inside Out

Over the last few years, the number of people promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle has risen massively. People are getting fitter, healthier and stronger. If you watch a movie from the 80’s or 90’s the actors are just that, actors and they’re play fighting. Watch a movie now and you know that the actors have spent months in training. They’ve learnt martial arts, they’re in peak of condition. Hats off to them. It’s become a way more demanding profession to be in!

So we have superhero role models and our lives are filled with advertising, programming and media telling us to be fit and healthy. Plus we all wear smart devices to track our heart rates and movements. How are feeling about this? Inadequate?

I’ve spent nearly a year trying to get back in to shape… my best friends wedding is coming up, so I have a goal! But my medication slows my metabolism… awesome. So yes I’d gained a few pounds over the last few years. I’ve always been really active and pretty fit, but I wasn’t happy with my jiggly bits… who is. I’m doing ok though and lockdown has given me the perfect opportunity to do more exercise. I do yoga nearly every day. I have a long walk at least 3 or 4 times a week and I have cut loads of crap out of my life and diet. I feel pretty good. I’ve lost some of those jiggly bits and my mental health is better than it has been in probably five years.

So that’s my story but what’s yours? Have you added exercise into your mental health recovery plan? If not, why not? Getting outside every day will massively benefit you. Getting your heart rate up by doing some cardio will release loads of awesome hormones and help you feel better. Getting into shape will make you feel good about yourself.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s hard. It requires a lot of self-motivation. It requires hard work and determination, especially on your bad days. My advice is to start slowly. Sign up for one class a week. Download a new app. Set yourself achievable goals and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t hit them on time. You may not be as fit as a superhero, but you’ll feel like one inside. Good luck and get going!