Do You Hear Voices?

For a few years now, I've been pretty consistent in my exercise regime, spending at least an hour 3-4 times a week doing SOME kind of physical activity. Sure there'd be stretches of time, sometimes even a few months where I wouldn't go to the gym at all, but I'd always make sure to find a way to break a sweat - whether it be running up the stairs in my building, swiftly and stealthily dodging my security guard who prohibts me from doing that but is too chubby to catch me, or blasting some Pink tunes and dancing while cleaning my apartment, or literally running to the grocery store as fast as my short legs will carry me. Hey, whatever blows your hair back. It's something, right? Exercise doesn't always have to be vigorous or lengthy to be of benefit, although it should at times be either.

What happens after a 2 week break from eating healthy and working out is that I start to notice changes in my body. Visually, it gets softer. Less toned and defined, more wiggle and wobble. Mentally, the changes are more apparent. I am unable to sleep. I lay in bed and my mind starts racing, even more than usual; I end up getting out of bed and start pacing the kitchen floor, trying to talk myself out of Kraft dinner and weiners (That was before. I'm reformed now, I swear). I start to go stir crazy from lack of a release for all of my pent up energy, my brain is on overload and I begin to feel like utter crap from eating junk food. My body gets confused, hurt, then angry, and basically commands I take action whether or not I feel like participating, forcing me against my will to run around the block or do yoga in my underwear at ungodly hours in the morning.

FitNut Kelly makes it known that this type of lethargic, unmotivated, chips-and-chocolate binging madness will not be tolerated, despite how badly BedLegs Kelly wants to "just for one more day". Nope. I will be dragged kicking and screaming back from the dark side before I sink deeper into watching Court TV and justifying my inactivity. (PMS. It's the weather. I'm tired. I just painted my toenails.) This feeling is what inspired the name of my blog - I truly am addicted to working out. It is my drug, my high, my sweet salvation. Without it I am withdrawn, tired, cranky, stressed and I actually physically start to hurt. My bones ache, my muscles nag, my body expresses its displeasure in a painful pinches and knife-like jabs. And believe me it gets heard.

I've always liked the expression " You better listen to your body when it whispers, because you'll damn well hear it when it screams." If you are in tune with your body, it will let you know what it needs. Whatever vitamins or minerals we are lacking indicate their low levels through what we recognize as a craving - sending a signal to the brain that a filet mignon would go down real good right about now. The body is such an amazingly complex machine, with such capacity well beyond what we will ever be able to comprehend. These signals, such as craving meat when you are low in iron, or even something simple as water when you are thirsty - these are your "Check Engine" lights. You wouldn't let your car run low on gas or oil and then wait for that light to appear before you fill up or bring it in for a tune-up, would you? Often by the time you feel the sensation of thirst, you are already experiencing dehydration. If you drink the daily recommended amount of water, 8-10 glasses per day (varies per person; more if sweating excessively or exercising), then this is an example of how you can be proactive in managing your health.

The problem is, most of society waits for the red flag signs before they take action. Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and a slew of other illnesses- for the most part are all preventable. Preventable illness makes up approximately 80% of the burden of illness and 90% of all healthcare costs.

Your body is your temple. You only get one. You only get ONE.