02-11-11, 12:48 PM | |
Join Date: Dec 2002
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"Believing is seeing." If you believe every situation is negative, that is all you will see (and attract). Even calling exercise "an emotional crutch" is putting a negative spin on it!
For more information about changing your self-defeating, negative beliefs: http://www.lefkoeinstitute.com/ This technique changed my life and I am a much happier person, which I never thought was possible. There have even been scientific studies (one involved criminals) showing it works where other systems have failed.
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"Think for yourself, or others will think for you without thinking of you." Henry David Thoreau |
02-11-11, 01:42 PM | |
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Well, academics aside, I certainly have used and do use exercise as an emotional crutch. I don't think this is a bad thing, actually!
Years ago, I was morbidly obese. Food then was my crutch! I lost the weight and discovered the joy of exercise. There IS a part of me that fears that if I were to give up exercise, the weight would come back. So -- I won't give it up. And I enjoy it! I don't overtrain, I mix up my intensities, and I'm careful of my aging joints. Yes, it's a crutch, but it's a positive one. Furthermore, in the past couple of years my life has changed radically due to DH's job loss and subsequently taking a job in a distant city, issues with our adult children, aging parents, and other upheavals. Most of these items are beyond my control. What I still CAN control, I cling to! My fitness routine is one thing I CAN control. So -- it does satisfy some inner emotional needs that could perhaps be filled in other healthy (and unhealthy) ways. But it also contributes to my overall physical health. I look forward to it, and I enjoy it. My name is Judy and I'm an exerciser! But I'm not looking to join any support groups for it (Exercisers Anonymous?). It works for me! If it works for the OP or for anybody else, I say more power to them! |
02-11-11, 02:02 PM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Illinois
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I don't think this is off topic at all.
I also think exercise can help us deal with and reduce stresses, but if you feel it is becoming a crutch, perhaps it is for you. Quote:
For example, go to www.meetup.com and look for groups that have similar interests to you (you could fiind exercise-related ones, like running, or hobby-related ones, or lifestyle-related ones. Poke around a bit and see if there is a group or two that could give you the opportunity to meet people with like interests. For example, I'm in a vegan meetup group, a holistic health group, and used to be in a raw-food group. I'd like to find a jewelry-making or speed-walking group in my area, but so far, no luck). I'm sure there are quite a few groups to choose from in the Chicago area.
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Kathryn ^. .^ > ^ < 2010 season speed-walking 5K PR: 35:47 2011 season race-walking 5K PR: 34:42 |
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02-11-11, 02:38 PM | ||
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: the Silver State
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Quote:
Sending you good energy -Kelly |
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02-11-11, 03:39 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicago
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Part 1
I wrote so much, I decided to break it up into two sections :
Hello everyone! First and foremost, I want to say thank you for all the lovely responses. I can’t respond to all of you, so I’ll address some things that were repeatedly brought up. I reminded time and time again why I love this site and this forum. I am a member of other forums, but they never seem to have the sense of community and compassion that this one does. Have you ever seen the forums on Internet Movie Database? I think I should clarify some things in my original post. I’ll leave my school nameless, but I am seeking a Masters in Public Administration. Specifically, I have a concentration in nonprofit administration management, and a certificate in healthcare management. I also do have a vision for myself as to what I want to do once I graduate and where I see myself in the coming years. Regarding my professors, I should clarify a few things about that as well. I do want to say that I have some great professors in my program. There are two off the top of my head that I can think of that have done a great job tying in their working experiences into their teaching. The good, the bad, the ugly—they are able to bring it full circle. They are also very accessible outside of classroom hours and are always willing to help. For that, I feel enriched and grateful to have had them as professors. My problem with my other professors is that they can’t seem to see the forest from the trees (you’ll find that I love that expression). If I’m taking a course in management and leadership, I’d like to know about different management theories and what many people consider good and bad traits of an effective leader. I don’t need to hear about the time the toilets weren’t working at the IRS’s St. Louis field office for a whole week. I have one professor in particular who when she gripes, seems so stuck on tiny details. I often have to decipher what she is really trying to say and how it relates to our current lesson. Going by the reactions of my classmates, I’ve realized many of them are just as confused as I am. She is not the only professor who does this. Don’t get me started on the countless times she has bragged about her son working at Google! I do have some experience in the working world. I was laid off after 8-9 months from my first job out of college because as the expression goes “last one in the door, first one out.” The company I had been working for had a reputation for frivolous hiring, which I had to find out the hard way. Massive layoffs were done in February and March. The company was so determined to do aggressive expansion; they couldn’t see the forest from the trees. The problem with all this aggressive expansion is the product it was selling wasn’t in demand in this economic downturn: online job postings. It was a tough time for me since I had to work various odd jobs and I had some struggles living with my parents. Looking back on this experience, it was both humbling and bittersweet, and something I learned from as well. I’ve considered teaching in academia later on, down the road. If I needed to use this story as a way to illustrate a particular lesson to my students, I wouldn’t use it as a scare tactic or use my students as outlets to whine about my experiences.
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“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” ― Rumi http://musingsofafitnessjunkie.blogspot.com |
02-11-11, 03:39 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicago
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Part 2
My boss is another interesting one. I don't want to talk too much about this one. I'll say that it doesn't help that I’m crazy organized and she is not…we have often butted heads over things she couldn’t remember that were said or done. I record everything, and I mean everything!
In terms of my social life, I guess it can be tough because I have always felt older than my actual age. I’m not entirely disenfranchised by my generation (Gen Y), but I can’t always relate to their mentality. I have always been this way since I was little. I remember hearing a story of when I was 4 or 5 years old. My dad and older brother were taking care of the kids of some work clients of mother’s, while she took them to dinner. They were rowdy kids, running around our house screaming and pushing each other around. My dad claims I stood there with my arms crossed, shaking my head in disbelief, lol. That being said, I should definitely utilize meet-up groups more often. Even though my close friends are far away, I have to say I’m very blessed with my core group of friends. My family is great too. Despite little things like not always being able to always tell them about my problems, I know they love me and have always supported me, short-comings and all, lol. On the topic of exercise, I didn’t mean to demonize exercise as a crutch in the sense that drugs, alcohol food are crutches for some people…I guess I just wondered if there were ever days you felt exercise was the only thing you looked forward to. I wouldn’t say I’m near the brink of over exercising, but I can tell there are days I often go longer than usual because I can’t bring myself to do other things. I agree that exercise is a great outlet and one of my plans this year is to train for a 5K. Thank you again for all your kind words! I do recognize that is only a phase that will pass. I try to have a good outlook in general, even when I do the occasional whine session. It is nice to have such support. Now let's get back to debating Tracy Anderson!
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“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” ― Rumi http://musingsofafitnessjunkie.blogspot.com |
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depression, exercise, exercise addiction |
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