12 Steps To Becoming My Own Dope

 "Food is the most widely abused anti-anxiety drug in America, and exercise is the most potent yet underutilized antidepressant." 

 Bill Phillips

  Most of us are familiar with the physical benefits of exercise and the positive affect it has on overall appearance, but did you know working your body has psychological benefits?

I sure didn’t until I unintentionally experienced it 1st hand, but it was definitely a welcomedbyproduct.

With all the new energy I felt from eating more nutrient dense foods, I begin utilizing that energy to start inching my way toward physical fitness.

The age of 5 is about the 1st time I can remember hearing the word chubby, so it's hard to remember a time I was ever fully comfortable taking my shirt off. Although improving my health was my main goal, I couldn’t help but imagine how dope it would feel, to take my family swimming and not wonder in the back of my mind if I’m embarrassing my babies.

  The worse part about exercise is that no one can do it for you, but the best thing about exercise is also that no one can do it for you. Your results are solely based off the effort and consistency that you put into it.

At 1st that fact was so intimidating that I would procrastinate knowing that it would be more work than results in the beginning.

By shifting my perception, I learned to view working out as an investment that guarantees a return. No matter how little the investment, it will pay somehow some way, if I just started by doing something.

   My biggest issue has always been starting things. Not just working out, but throughout life, starting has always been something I struggle with.

It's not necessarily the fear of failure for me, but rather the uncertainty of could I, or would I want to do what it takes to maintain the success.

I was determined to see change so change is what I had to do. I told myself that even if I started by doing a push up, that’s 1 push up that no one can take back.

No matter what else happen throughout my day, no one could undo any investment I made toward my health. Motivating myself with that thought, I would begin talking myself through the process. I became my own personal trainer motivating myself from inside my own mind.

  “Come on Rell let me see you just get on the floor.”

“That’s it now since you’re down there and going to have to eventually get yourself up any way, we might as well get into the push up position.”

“alright now before you get up let me get 5 good pushups out of you.”

“Alright that was 5, I knew you had it in you, now that’s 5 in the vault and can't nobody rob you of that!”

“Now let me get another 2, alright Rell I see you serious about this change fam well let's add more to the vault then!”

  I'd get so into it that the voice in my head start sounding like Mickey from the Rocky movies.

  “Let me get 5 more Champ! 5 more nobody can take back! Let's get more money in that bank! ”

“alright 2 more like you want it! Ok no 3 more to show the old you that the new you mean business!”

“Anxiety is a bum! self-doubt's a bum! They won't know what hit em, your gonna murderlize em!”

“And if you’re ever hurt again or knocked down, GETUP YOU SON OF A B**CH!!! Cause Relly loves ya”

I laugh at how I find ways to amuse myself, but by the time I'd run out of things for Relly Gillsberg to yell at me, a few sets would be completed.

  Once I get beyond the challenge of starting, I would look for more things to do while my blood was still pumping. Attempting to get the highest possible return on my investment when I collect on my health dividends.

Whenever I knew I needed to work out but didn’t feel like it, I would try to turn whatever I was doing into a way to break a sweat. Instead of vacuuming the carpet, I would sweep it instead. Making sure that my feet kept moving until I was done. Whether marching or jogging in place, I make sure that I keep moving until the dustpan and broom were back in the broom closet.

My determination told me that if I can't jog walk. If I couldn’t do a regular push up doit on my knees.

Any deposit made into my health bank no matter how large or small, is more than it previously had in its account, cannot be taken away from me and can help to contribute towards the change that I desire.

  Eventually I became employed at a company where I gained a gym on the same floor as my department as well as an hour lunch. Almost as if I was being tested in a way.

I jokingly tell others that when you decide on something you want in life, it's almost as if the universe, source or God if you will; puts you in a position where you must put up or shut up.

I not only had a free gym at my disposal, but an hour to make use of it at a place that I literally had to be at 5 days a week. I was without excuse and any wasted opportunity to use what I willed into my life for changing my life, would be an insult to all I prayed for. It would also be self-admittance that my conditions were not due to circumstances, but my lack in commitment.

  Once working out became almost a source of therapy, I begin to experience the psychological benefits of exercise that I mentioned before. No matter what was going on in my day, once I got to the gym, it was just me the weights and my music. I could forget whatever was currently outside of my control and give energy to what I could control, which was the amount of reps I deposited into my vault that day. Each workout a minor victory in the battle for health that ultimately leads to winning the war of my total wellbeing.

  Taking focus off my concerns and into feeling the burn, gave me relief from the stress factors of my life. That reduction in stress no matter the length of time, stops the production of stress hormones that can cause anxiety and inflammation.

Exercise also causes the release of neurotransmitters like endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.

Endorphins not only help in the management of pain by binding to the same receptor's morphine binds to but can also cause a sense of euphoria. Serotonin is said to help combat depression and anxiety as well as assist in the boosting your mood.

Dopamine motivates us to act towards achieving goals fulfilling desires and meeting our needs by rewarding those acts with a sense of pleasure that reinforces the likelihood of those actions being repeated. These 3 chemicals along with a 4th oxytocin, are collectively known as our happy hormones and can be greatly increased through exercise.

Even before I started to see the results of exercising, I could feel them. My mood improved drastically, the reduction of weight and increase of cardio improved my breathing even more than just reducing dairy. Also Like I said before no one can undo the progress you gain except you, so each additional rep I was able to do, or each additional minute I was able to run, was confirmation to myself that I not only made the right choice to change, but also that change is possible for those that actively take part in the change that they want to see.

This reinforced that with a changed mind, effort and consistency, the change you desire can take place. You may not see the change immediately, but sometimes you can feel the change taking place before you see it.

It gave me a sense of control of my life. Through knowledge, intention, action and diligence, I have the ability to change the things in my life that I was willing to put effort and time towards changing. This new awareness also resulted in the reduction of anxiety and through realizing that I'm not “stuck” in life or depression.

When asked how I was able to achieve such an accomplishment naturally and unassisted, all I can ever say is by taking it 1 day and 1 change at a time. Don't be afraid to start knowing that you will reap the reward of your diligence. Also allow yourself to be human and understand falling off is only failure if you never attempt to get back on.

If you ever need a word of encouragement or tips I've learned from my journey, be sure to check out my youtube channel "The Ole Hope Peddler" . while there, please like subscribe and share to keep the inspiration going.

Also follow me on Instagram @Higherfreakuency for positive quotes and things I learned while learning to love myself authentically.

12 Steps to Becoming My Own Dope Coming soon.

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https://www.bustle.com/p/does-exercising-affect-your-hormones-you-might-feel-these-8-changes-10127007Sources: