By: Beth Donovan, SparkPeople Blogger
9/23/2011 12:00 PM   :  103 comments   :  13,890 Views

See More: motivation, weight loss, obesity, ~indygirl,

 
Tea and sympathy, not cake and apathy.
 
Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, or years, when everything that can go wrong does?  I’m going through that storm now.  I’ve recently lost two pets, a cat and a bunny; a close friend passed on as well. I’ve had hives for three going on four weeks, prednisone shots and pills, both cars of our cars broke down at once… and the list goes on. 
 
In the old days, I would say “To heck with it! I DESERVE to eat whatever I want!”  While, I still do indulge upon occasion, I plan for it and do sometimes go over.  I’ve found that in the middle of so many uncontrollable things in life, the one thing I CAN control is my program to get healthier.  It’s mine!  Nobody is going to mess with it.
 
Yes, I DESERVE to be healthier.  Let’s face it. In a whirlwind, you need something to hang onto, and SparkPeople is that for me.  I’m not talking about a website.  I’m talking about you there, reading this.  I’m talking about the community we have. We care for each other. I’m also talking about our common goal of getting in better shape by exercise and eating healthier. 
 
We all have bad days, but we are bound together by a common cause and a common goal.  We want to be healthier.  We want to believe. 
 
Well, believe, because dreams are coming true all around us.  It isn’t because of any grand will power of somebody finding a magic cure either.  It is simply making one good choice at a time. 
 
Think about it this way. Imagine a piece of paper with two columns: One for calories eaten and the other for calories you could have eaten--but didn't.  You’ll see you do make some good choices.  Try making more each day.  Then try the same thing with exercise.  Columns of "could have sat and…"  versus "did this."  It doesn’t matter how long you do move, just do something more each day.
 
It’s hard to go on when your life's in the midst of a storm.  Find the calm in the center of the storm.  My calm that I hang onto is my spirituality and my wellness program.  Here are a few things that I choose from to do to get centered:
 

• I pray.
• I turn on upbeat music to make me happier.
• I open the windows to let the sun in.
• I call a friend to go to the gym so that I WILL go.
• I call a friend to walk with me so that I WILL go.  (I HATE being alone)
• I log on to SparkPeople and blog.
• I make a list of things I need to do to resolve a problem.
• I deal with one of my problems head on and get it resolved.
• I stay on SparkPeople and drink low calorie beverages if I’m munchy from being nervous.
• I make time for myself, no matter what. 

 
What do you do to weather life’s storms and stay with your healthy lifestyle?