Self punishment

littlegreenparrot1 wrote: »

You have a job that is emotionally challenging, tbh it sounds like it all might be a bit much.

Do you have to go in the morning? Would it be possible to go in the early evening, that way you get a bit more sleep and get to re-set between work and home.

I would also suggest looking at different work outs that might feel more restorative. Yoga or swimming for example.

The only thing I can do in the mornings is swim or run, repetitive, meditative actions. It's worth doing and sets me up, but I don't have the mental capacity at 6am for classes or anything that requires thought!

kenyonhaff wrote: »

alexandravictoria88 wrote: »

Dolly989 wrote: »

I used to feel the same. If I missed a day at the gym I'd feel so guilty about it all week and I'd punish myself by working out for 2 hours instead of 1 the following day to 'make up for it.' The gym can become an obsession. I know people who are addicted to the gym, it can be as addicting as drugs and alcohol. Now I have a healthier mindset.

Try to aim for 3-4 days a week for the gym. Rest days are important. Life is about balance. It's not realistic to give 100% of your time and effort to the gym all the time. People have careers, families, and social lifes to keep up with. Keep saying positive things to yourself. "Ive been working really hard and making so much progress lately, I deserve to have a lazy day and eat the food I want. Somtimes life gets in the way and I take a week or 2 off the gym and guess what? It's not the end of the world. I didn't gain weight or lose any gains. If you don't find the right balance you could end up burning yourself out and giving up the gym altogether.

Im not putting on weight which is good, however certainly not losing it. i guess a lot of it is down to self image, never happy with my body. I work in a school with special education needs children, the job is quite physical and mentally challenging. I shouldn't use this an excuse but i think this is what the matter is, my body is just so tired. I try and go at least 4x a week. But i fail miserably. My bf is addicted to the gym so i sometimes feel the added pressure

I work in Special Ed world too -- and it is mentally, emotionally, and often physically exhausting... I wonder if what you need is a different workout set up.

First, you're probably getting up pretty early to get to work as an educator already. Getting up extra early might be more stressful than the benefits. That doesn't mean no workouts -- just consider working out at home. Or work out at a different time. Early morning is great for many people but it doesn't work for everyone.

If I work out in the mornings, I often try to do workouts that do not involve showering: yoga, walking, weight workouts, etc. Saves a lot of time. Also, I'm not trying to force my body into a hard workout when it feels better easing into the day.

Second, perhaps your gym is overloading you sensory-wise. Special educators have to be very sensitive and perceptive and focused and that takes mental and emotional focus. Going into a gym with booming music, bright lights, etc. might overload your system. After a difficult day of working with students, I usually find that sort of environment exhausting rather than pleasantly stimulating.

There's a reason yoga is very popular with Special Educators -- and don't underestimate the workout you can get. It tends to meet both the physical and mental needs of nurturing people.

Also consider classes like Zumba. While Zumba does have loud music and sometimes lights, the sensory input is different than a gym.

Just something to consider. Sometimes just considering timing, the environment, and what works and what doesn't makes all the difference. It's not just for intensive need students.