Progress not perfection
In these days of social media influencers and highly edited photos, we sometimes lose sight of the progress that we make. This is true in not just fitness, but a variety of aspects of life.
My own fitness journey took a severe hit after caring for a loved one. I had been participating in obstacle course runs, triathlons, and generally, any activity I wanted to without worry. When life changed, all my energy was allocated to simply “getting through” and the day of the funeral, I rushed from the church to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. Tests were negative, scans were negative and I was sent home. Months following this I would have bouts of severe fatigue, uncontrollable shaking, and GI distress. I was eventually diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD. My activity was severely limited and my family has been scared a couple times with episodes in which I couldn’t function. That was 7 years ago when my body gave me the middle finger and told me to slow down. I have not returned to the high intensity workouts I had done prior, but I can lift weights and do moderate interval training depending on the day.
When I get frustrated with my body and its reactions to things I used to do, I have to remember that after the funeral, there were times that walking to the mailbox was a chore. I have made a significant amount of progress from where I had been, and have to give myself grace to stop when my body says so.
I share this not for attention, but to kindly remind those of you on your journey that there are some obstacles that may be unique to you, and when they present themselves, remember to look at how far you have come.