in order to make myself feel better about being deprived.
I’d lift weights and force myself to do another rep, ignoring the
parts inside me which were telling me to stop. Those bullied
parts would rebel sometimes by eating a whole packet of
chips late at night, or by getting drunk and overloading with
alcoholic calories to let off steam.
What I never realised back then was that whenever I forced
myself to do something against another part’s will, negativity
and inner conflict was created. This, in turn, produced stress,
which then creates the hormones that actually prevent us
from losing body fat.
Eventually, I got glandular fever and chronic fatigue
syndrome, and this forced me to change the way I did things.
Finally, I had no choice but to listen to those ‘parts’ and find
some inner peace.
Fortunately, I got help from a counsellour, who taught me
about loving and respecting all of my parts. It has been a
long journey, but one that I have no regrets about. As a result,
I’m much happier in my skin these days because I am more
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - SUMMER 2014
emotionally balanced. I no longer need to physically ‘look’
or ‘be’ the best. Instead, I exercise because I like doing it,
it makes me feel good and because I want to nurture the
body that I live in. I no longer do it to ‘buy love’ or adoration
from other people. I’m not the skinniest or the fittest, but I
am healthy and I can look in the mirror and honestly like the
reflection I see; even though these days I am much heavier
and much older than I used to be!
If your clients want to successfully achieve health and wellness
for the long term, then emotional healing may be the key. You
may like to debate me on this, but I do know first-hand that if
you deprive or bully yourself into getting fit and healthy, you
will end up lean and skinny, feeling deprived and bullied. It is
not a nice way to live and it is not sustainable in the long term!
Finding peace within is paramount in order to achieve long
lasting results.
Check out the online version of this article, which contains
a video with more information. Or for more emotional fitness
information, visit www.heidi.com.au
27