I am so brimming with ideas at the moment, I think I might burst! It’s snowing outside and I’ve had an enforced
stay at home this morning. So, I’ve been taking this opportunity to make the beds and sort the washing (even
managed to marry 25 pairs of odd socks, only another 25 to go!). While my body has been catching up on some
household chores, my mind has been brimming over with ideas on things like – how to revitilise our gites, new business
ventures, decorating projects, marketing plans, new chapters for the books I’m
writing. I’m going to have to write
them all down while they’re fresh in my mind.
It’s so strange because only a few days ago, I was the complete opposite,
slumped in a chair watching dribble on TV feeling positively lethargic. (Can you be positively lethargic? I think perhaps negatively lethargic is more
accurate a description). We had just
come back from a lovely couple of days away in Spain mixing business and
pleasure without the children. We
visited new suppliers for our Garden Centre in the Spanish mountains and
brought some new stock. We took
advantage of the fantastic deals in January by staying at a 4 star hotel with
views over a private beach. We watched
the sun rise over the sea, relaxed in the spa, ate some wonderful food, drank some
wine, had time to talk without the usual interruptions. It was wonderful.
I should have come back refreshed and ready to go, instead I felt
lethargic. Everything was an effort and
I couldn’t be bothered. It’s not a nice
feeling, but it’s one I recognise from the past and I don’t like it!! This is how I used to feel all the
time. It’s really hard to get motivated
when you feel so sluggish.
It got me thinking. Why did I
suddenly feel so crap and why a few days later do I feel so energetic
again? It wasn’t because I was feeling
down about anything – life is good at the moment. So what else could it be?
It wasn’t even that post holiday feeling when you don’t want to get back
to your normal life. I love life at
the moment and despite having a fantastic time, I’d missed my kids and was
looking forward to getting started on some of the new ideas we’d discussed
during our break. I wasn’t ill, so what
else could it be?
FOOD!!
I’ve decided that it must have been largely down to the food I’d eaten
while I was away. Before I went I’d
been on a 10 day detox. No alcohol, no
meat, cut down on coffee, ate lots of veg etc and I’d lost the few pounds I’d
gained over Christmas and was feeling much fitter. But, while I was away I’d had some wine, ate a very delicious
(but very rich) 5 course meal, had buffet breakfasts and all you can eat Chinese buffet and on the way home a chicken and chips dinner in a motorway
cafe (yuck!). I had tried to restrain
myself – I’d had yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast (perhaps I should have
resisted following this up with a plate of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs,
but is was yummy). However I did manage
to resist the bacon, sausage and eggs, and, I didn’t eat as much as I would have
in the past at the Chinese. But,
thinking about it my body must have been screaming Whoa, what’s going on here!
When I got back all I could think of eating was a nice big veg and bean
stew, which is exactly what I had and after a week of eating my normal, more
healthy diet, I’m regaining my enthusiasm and starting to feel the benefit our
our few days away. It must be the food
I eat that is making the big difference here.
I know exercise is another way of improving your energy levels, but I
can’t even think of exercising when I’m feeling so lethargic. I need to get myself feeling more motivated
before I can consider exercising and changing my diet for good is what has
worked for me. You can read about how I
went about changing my diet and what motivated me to do in “Losing Weight in France”.
This is a wonderful reminder. When I feel down a long walk on the beach daily soon perks me up again. During the walk, I recite and dwell all I am thankful for. It is hard to worry when one is walking and in tune with nature and in a gratitude mode. I also agree that what we ear is important.
ReplyDeleteHave an energized day
Helen xx
Thanks Helen, that's a good tip. A brisk walk is always a good way to sweep away the cobwebs and give us time to reflect. x
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you were able to pinpoont the problem and then do something about it. A good tip to think about what one's been eating when you find yourself in a funny mood.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are so right. It's the food. I have major lethargy problems. But I just cannot cut out diary and gluten, like everyone swears by. I can't. I'd be miserable (but maybe not lethargic?). So instead, I drink energy drinks. Ha, that's what I blogged about. :)
ReplyDelete(btw: now I know what spam comments look like - see above) Ugh, so sorry you got those.