I remember a few years ago thinking to myself, I would ALWAYS make time for the gym and enjoy it.
While I do love physical activity, the work/life balance is not as manageable as I thought. I find myself utterly exhausted after a full day of work and nothing sounds better than cuddling up with my dog Gravy and resting. My physical activity went from at least an hour a day of strenuous activity plus movement throughout the day to light activity and workouts that were not very intense a few days a week. My insulin needs were up significantly and I felt like I had no energy.
Finally, I decided I should get my bloodwork done and came to find out that part of the problem was I had become severely iron deficient.
As my levels are returning back to normal, some energy has definitely come back. At this time, I really came to notice how much weight I had put on from my change in lifestyle.
I “complained” to my husband and he reminded me of how much I love the gym and my lack of appearances there. He also pointed out that he has been working with a trainer for a very long time (he’s a bodybuilder but also a personal trainer himself) and suggested giving it a try to get back into the groove. For a minute, I became defensive thinking of all I know about physical activity, my certifications, and my education. But then I realized that we all need support no matter what we know. Managing everything on your own is exhausting and not sustainable.
So, here I am, about 2 weeks into working with a trainer and already feeling so much better.
I’ve gotten a notification on my phone that my insulin needs are down, my watch told me my predicted VO2 max is improved AND that my resting heart rate has gone down. It is so amazing to be able to see again how impactful exercise is. While I’m still tired, I’m grateful to have some extra support and encouragement.
If you’re reading this and feeling alone in your exercise or diabetes journey, we’re here for you to give support, encouragement, and education. We’re happy to become a part of your success team.
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