Putting anxious energy to good use

Making positive changes to live a healthier life has not been an easy process. Eating smaller portions and healthier food has been difficult but worth the pain. Over the last 29 days, I have lost 13.5 pounds by counting calories, exercising, and hydrating with tons of water. The most difficult part was trying to curb my addiction to the mighty Dr. Pepper. I have never been a fan of water. If I had to choose, I would always go for the soft drink. While I have not quit completely, I have cut my soft drink consumption to 8 ounces a day. I did have a setback last week gaining two pounds back. It was very difficult not to get discouraged. I found myself fighting off depression and anxiety. My fear is losing control and starting to binge because of my emotions. I knew I had to find a way to channel the anxiety and depression in a healthy manner. I decided to put my anxious energy to good use by working out.
Anxiety attacks are horrible. My chest tightens, heart races, and breathing becomes difficult. My body begins to tremble as my thoughts race. The ability to jump on my elliptical and work off the anxiety has been a blessing. It has helped me physically and emotionally. When I am anxious, I use the elliptical, and it helps me center myself providing relief from the anxiety. Over the last few weeks, I have noticed a slight decline in anxiety attacks. I attribute it to exercising 4 to 5 days a week. Being active allows me to clear my mind of stress. I can feel the difference in my body and mind, and I have regained flexibility. The lower back pain I have been dealing with for over 6 years is not as intense, and I am not in as much pain at the start of each day. My energy has increased, and my skin is glowing. I found my confidence by actively making healthy choices and watching the pounds disappear.
I realize my anxiety disorder is not going to simply disappear just because I am making healthy choices. I follow my doctor’s orders, and I continue to take the medicine I need to treat my chemical imbalance. My happiness is not dependent upon being thin that is not my goal. I just want to be healthy. Instead of feeding myself to find comfort, I keep active. Replacing bad habits with good ones is vital for success. When we feel better about ourselves, it shows in all aspects of our lives. I am confident the changes I am making in coping with my anxiety will ease my nerves and help me meet my fitness goals. To have a healthy body and mind, we must make positive changes. When you feel anxiety creeping up on you, take your power back by going for a walk, run it off, lift weights, do yoga, try Pilates, and make sure you are feeding yourself with healthy food. All of these things play a role in how you feel physically and mentally. Stop letting anxiety run your world. Fight for your life and happiness. I promise you will be glad that you did.