Five years ago, Liz came to the Church Heath Center feeling like she needed a change. She set a goal to lose ten pounds and she found the Wellness classes helpful and enjoyed the walking track.
But after she had been here for about a year, she experienced some major setbacks that didn’t have much to do with her exercise or nutrition. She lost her job and had a tough time finding another one, and her long-term relationship ended. Then, when her father lost a long-fought battle to cancer, Liz began to feel depressed. She started to lose interest in exercising, eating well, and wellness in general. She gained back the weight she had lost and ate poorly and sporadically. Even her favorite meals from the Wellness Kitchen didn’t seem to taste right anymore.
As her overall health started to deteriorate, her doctor recommended that she see a counselor. “I didn’t think of myself as depressed, but I just felt so down. It was a struggle to motivate myself to do anything,” she says. Her counselor recommended talk therapy and encouraged her to get back on her wellness regimen.
“I didn’t really feel like working out at first, but the encouragement from another person really helped.” Liz went back to her cooking class, started working out on a regular basis, and saw a counselor once a month. Eventually, she started to feel more “normal” again. “I still have good days and bad days, but even on bad days, I feel like it’s easier to manage when I stick with my classes and exercise.”
1. Think about the times your best efforts to live well were interrupted by unexpected setbacks.
2. What are your thoughts about seeking the support of a counselor or friend? What would your apprehensions or expectations be?
3. When you have a bad day what do you do to manage it and stick with your plans or commitments to maintain balance?
LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RELATED CONTENT
TEST YOUR METABOLISM – DO YOU BURN FAT OR STORE FAT?
Faith & Fitness Magazine OVERCOME DEPRESSION pages:
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – 7 PRACTICES TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – LIZ’S STORY
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – NADIA’S STORY
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – GREG’S STORY
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – MICHAEL’S STORY
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – ADA’S STORY
How Do I Think, Feel, And Live Better? – DAWN’S STORY
