When your body hurts

Pain is inevitable when you start working out to lose weight. At some point, you will be uncomfortable as your body adjusts to new exercise. But what about when you are in pain - all the time? What do you do when your body hurts?

Physical ailments are hard. Not only on your body, but emotionally. 

• You may start a new workout program and get injured your first week. Or your second. Then you can't workout. 
• You may want to start a new workout program, but have old injuries that either inhibit what you want to do or start hurting again. 
• You may think about starting a new workout program, but your body hurts now. 

So what do you do? 
What can you do?

If your physical ailment is constant or a recent injury, have it checked out by your doctor. If you have done that and everything is okay, but you still hurt, consider these options:

1. The food you are eating or not eating causing nutrient imbalances
2. Your hormones are shot and need help
3. You may have emotional issues tied to your physical issues

#1 and #2 - okay, we can deal with these.
#1 - Eat clean. Find out how to eat clean. Eliminate those foods that cause inflammation - sugar, alcohol. Find out your trigger foods and find healthy substitutions for those foods.
#2 - Get it checked out. If your doctor takes blood tests for thyroid and they come back negative, get another opinion. Seriously ladies. Go somewhere that specializes in hormones and tests your thyroid and cortisol levels by saliva testing. This takes time and effort, but go on your instinct if your doctor says there is no problem but you FEEL like there is. Get balanced in your hormones!

But now #3...this is a little harder. Emotional issues? How can they affect your physical body?

In every way you can imagine.

Please remember that I am not a doctor, this is my personal opinion from a Fitness Professional who has helped hundreds of clients and who has been through this myself...emotional issues can greatly affect your body. From the overuse injury of not listening to your instinct and inside voice, to a mystery injury that just shows up one day.

• Your body responds to your emotional well-being. If you are not happy or going through a hard time, your body will respond. Kind of like a wake-up call "Hey, pay attention to me" that you ignore and keep thinking it will get better. 
• Your body listens to your emotional well-being. You may say everything is okay, but hold your emotions and feelings inside, not wanting to put them on display for everyone to see or even validate them. 
• Your body reacts to your emotional well-being. If you are hurting emotionally, your body wants some of that action. It wants to protect you from getting hurt again. So, if you are not listening to an emotional hurt and taking the time to fix it, a physical injury will stop you. 

Take care of your body!

Do things that will help your body heal:

• Eat clean
• Take an epsom salt bath twice a week
• Schedule a massage once a month [not fru-fru massage, a deep tissue massage]
• Find a way to handle your stress
• Be honest with yourself and get everything out on the table - whether this is through seeing a counselor [which I highly recommend] or talking with a close friend

When your body hurts, many times, it is a reaction to an emotional hurt that hasn't healed, so heal it. Do what you have to do to heal your mind. I am always here to help you...sandi@startwiththeinside.com