You didn't let yourself go.....Life Happened! Be Encouraged

This week's TBT is an article I wrote last Summer. It's about the realities of growing up and the challenges that a lot of us adults struggle with concerning balancing life and all that comes with it while trying to stay fit and be happy with ourselves. I hope it encourages you to take it easy on yourself! Enjoy!!

I was recently talking with a friend of mine about weight goals. We talked about everything from finding time to workout with both of us having children to how our weight has fluctuated in the last year to snacking etc. In the middle of our conversation the words I heard her say the words "I let myself go" and my heart broke. I immediately stopped her and said "you didn't let yourself go...life happened! " I went on to tell her that there is a difference between spending your extra time sitting around and eating junk and lazing around binge watching Netflix and what she does which is run behind her children, taking care of the house and making sure her husband is cared for as well.  See this friend has never been the type of person to just settle in life. She is always looking for ways to improve. Not in just her weight but in her life altogether.  She's the person that is there encouraging others when they are on a journey to improve. So to hear her that she  felt like she let herself got me wondering how many other people who sacrifice taking care of themselves to take care of others (not just women) felt this way as well.  

Being an adult can be tough business. You go from living with your parents and a simple list of chores being your only worries to paying bills, working, raising children and the list goes on. Then there are those that aren't raising children that are working on degrees and putting in overtime at work to hopefully go to the next level professionally or studying day and night to earn that next stripe in the military. Whatever your situation is you aren't letting yourself go there has just been a shift in your priorities.  Sometimes you have to shift things around to make other things happen. That's life...NOT letting yourself go.   

So to that friend and every other productive person out there doing their best with what life brings.  To those putting their interests on the back burner for the sake of others..... you have not let yourself go you have allowed life to happen!  So don’t be so hard on yourself!  You are doing the very best you can and if you aren’t it’s never too late to start!  Just make sure you are loving yourself the entire way!