This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week and I am featuring it in todays newsletter because it’s an area I’d like to touch upon having had many clients suffer from them and how important I think counselling is for rehabilitation.
Eating disorders are a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially. They are serious mental illnesses and include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Over 725,000 men and women in the UK are affected by eating disorders and they claim more lives than any other mental illness – one in five of the most seriously affected will die prematurely from the physical consequences or suicide.
I’m saddened by this statistic but also grateful the disorders are recognised and there is help for sufferers. The first contact being with your GP who will refer you to a specialist. There are also many self help approaches you could take like Beats – beat eating disorders website and helpline 0345 634 1414, support groups on Facebook and books to read like Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig a well known writer and journalist. He gives an honest account of his personal experiences of depression and suicide, how he dealt with it and eventually overcoming it.
When I first entered the fitness industry the focus on health was to exercise and eat a low fat diet. Over the years more emphasis was put upon on how important nutrition is alongside training, but nothing really was ever associated with metal health and the link to fitness, exercise and nutrition until the last few years. Mindfulness is just as important as the other two factors and only in recent years have we seen how successful this mindset has become.
I remember just a few years ago when I was working in the major health chains. Members would do back to back sessions and spend a good few hours at the gym. This still happens today because I see it on Facebook and I always want to question this behaviour. Why spend 2-3 hours per day exercising but not applying the other contributing factors like nutrition and mindset to the balance? If this rings alarm bells for you and you’re not seeing any progressions or changes to your physical and metal self, just try including some of the other strategies mentioned like meditation, self development books and motivational techniques. Try it and see what enhancements it brings to your life.
Sport Relief 2016
We’re almost half way! But only have just over 3 weeks left to complete 534 miles. This challenge is seriously pushing members to run, even those 1 mile school runs are clocking up. I had a really positive message yesterday from a member saying, thank you for setting the challenge, “I have ran 20 miles so far and would’ve never have done that if the challenge wasn’t set”. Not only are we raising money for a good cause (thanks again for your donations, were currently at £435… brilliant!) members are also getting fitter and doing distances they didn’t know they could and often in their spare time when relaxing used to take place!
Thanks for supporting us for the last 3 weeks.
Snowdon 2016
A date has been set for our trip to Snowdonia this summer ~ Friday 24th – 26th June. Put it in your diary and if you’re wanting to join us please get in touch. Either email, Facebook, tweet me or drop me a text. The tracks I have in mind to follow are the Pyg and the Miners as they start at the same point. This path starts 1,170 feet above sea level which gives you a helpful start on the way.
Much of this walk is rugged, and very challenging, but the scenery is interesting. The Miners’ track does get steeper towards the summit, so I will definitely be adding some walking lunges and step ups into sessions this summer!
And Finally…
Thought Of The Week…
“Wherever you are, at any moment, try and find something beautiful. A face, a line out of a poem, the clouds out of a window, some graffiti, a wind farm. Beauty cleans the mind.” Matt Haig
