Dear Dr. Laura,
I have thought about calling you numerous times over the past number of weeks over the fact that I get down right angry if people ask me or tell me I need to exercise more.
I acknowledge the above statements to be true. Yes I should exercise more. But inside I would be seething with rage. You see I got a lot of the same statements growing up. Once I would exercise I would get a lot of negative feedback from my father. So what did I do? I stopped doing anything because A I was angry and B How can I disappoint anyone if I don’t do anything? And this act of rebellion became my bad habit.
I am happy to report changes of this behavior. You could say you were part of the aha moment I just had.
I have been using my acts of rebellion for years as a reason not to exercise. Well not avoid it completely, but to minimize it. Anytime I felt like I was failing, or wasn’t comfortable, I would stop with it. And somehow work my past in there as an excuse.
Well this past year I have managed to drop 35lbs mainly by changing my diet but I have reached a plateau and it has frustrated me. Enter a lot of “helpful” suggestions of adding exercise to things. Enter feeling of anger again...
But wait... Isn’t whining about it and doing nothing kind of a waste of time? There is only one way through this thing. If I want it bad enough, then let’s go get it!
I guess what I’m trying to say is this: Fine. I can be angry all I want. But it’s not going to get me healthier or stronger. Both of these are what I am aiming to become. As long as I am better than I was yesterday, I am headed in the right direction.
So buck up and quit whining will be my motto for the next while.
Thanks for all that you do,
Carla
