Lately, everything is exhausting.
Is it because there is a global pandemic? That probably doesn’t help.
I have ulcerative colitis (my GI doctor originally thought I had Crohn’s) and one of the biggest change I’ve noticed is that my energy levels are much lower than they were before.
That makes my job as a trainer and instructor very interesting.
When I get asked how my workouts are going, I can’t help but feel a little bit of guilt and shame and even sadness. I love lifting weights but I haven’t been able to move much besides walking my dog.
The thing is, working out takes up most of my energy reserve for the day and I barely have enough to be a functional human being for most of it.
I baked some cookies the other day before work and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to survive my work day.
I am currently working on finding that balance in my life. I still want to move my body but that will look differently for me and that’s ok.
I didn’t write this post so that you pity me for my situation. I wrote it to raise awareness. Before you judge someone (or a trainer) for the amount of exercise they do or don’t do, remember that everyone’s situation is different. You don’t know if someone is working 12 hour days, has 3 kids at home, is struggling with mental health, has a chronic disease or a combination of all of that.
The #noexcuses rhetoric is damaging. Let’s encourage people to practice self-care in ways that work for them. Not what society expects that self-care to look like.
And if you’re dealing with low energy due to chronic illness, mental health or other. You’re not alone 💛 you are doing enough, even if our capitalist society tells you otherwise.
