Unfortunately, I am taking a few days off from my June Goals. I am sick! Yesterday I felt rough but pushed through the day with a lot of walking and exertion. I put off my abs routine until late and by the time we walked home from our friends apartment it was midnight and I was totally whipped out.
This morning I woke up and immediately knew things had turned from “under the weather” to downright sick. I have spent the day in bed at the hostel and a walk across the street to the grocery store to stock up on fruit just about put me down for the night. So no push up variation challenge for me today.
C’est la vie.
In theory, I am a HUGE proponent of listening to my body. In practice, I sometimes choose to ignore it. This week I feel like I maybe pushed myself a little bit more than my body could take and as a result it broke down completely.
Well, it’s probably a good thing that we couldn’t book a train to Beijing until Tuesday night and we have to stay in Wuhan for another two days. Wuhan is known as the armpit of China. Delightful, no? Sooooo, sleeping the day away is not the worst way to pass some time in “The City in Central China” (great claim to fame, huh?).
Speaking of listening to my body, I have gotten much better on the sugar-free front. I realized I was being lazy about avoiding sugar and if I really wanted to stir clear of it, I could. I haven’t been 100% added-refined-sugar-free but I have been reducing my intake over the last few days.
I don’t think sugar is exactly evil…I just don’t believe it has much value. I have a sensitive immune system and keeping my refined sugar intake to a minimum is one of the simplest things I can do for my health. Also, when I eat sugar often I want it all the time and MORE of it. It is ADDICTIVE and I don’t like the strong cravings it gives me. Here is an article about some of the ill effects of sugar consumption, it is a bit extreme but it is a good illustration of how everything is connected and that refined sugar has a powerful effect on all of our bodily systems.
Apparently, your sugar craving is directly related to your last sugar rush, the bigger your last “fix” of sugar, the bigger your next craving will be…food for thought-no pun intended…enjoy your trip!
Exactly! This is how it snowballs out of control and so many people eat sugar many times a day when it really should be an occasional treat. Thanks for this insight, Nat!
Just stopped by your blog for the first time…I found it on a post from KERF. I like your thoughts on health and being healthy; I, too have an “athletic” body and once tried to become skinny. Needless to say, I got there, but my friends and family didn’t like how I looked. I am 5’5″ and 140 right now, but would like to get back to 120-125. I know my biggest problem is sugar and added sugar. Do you have any suggestions for me? Any cool workout ideas? Thanks and love your blog!
All of my ‘recipes’ are refined sugar-free. They don’t necessary have less calories than sugar-options but your body will be nourished and fueled instead of depleted. I have a post called “Sugar Alternatives” that lays out the nutritional benefits of swapping sugar out for dates, honey, molasses, and stevia. As far as exercise goes, check out the post links on the I Move page…lots of ideas, especially for interval workouts which will boost your metabolism more than steady state workouts. Thanks so much for reading-and commenting!