De Government does not want you to be as big as de world. De Government wants you to be as big as Barcelona.

Are you there yet? Health wise I want to gain weight. I feel like I'm too small, but due to having acid reflux and attempting to control it by what I eat, I lost more weight than I would have liked. So I'm kind of preoccupied by food and trying to gain weight. I want to eat more but can only eat smaller portions at a time, so I try to focus on building my muscles when I go to the gym once a week. I don't always eat healthy...love the vanilla cookies since I cut alot of other stuff out like chocolate and sometimes pass up on the veggies. The challenge is accepting where I am and not worrying so much, but it's hard when it flairs up. Things could be much worse so I work more on mental health, since that's what I'm in school for right now, and strengthening my spiritual relationship, which seems to wane at times.

On the way? I would like to think so, but sometimes feel like I am in neutral.

Going in the opposite direction and enjoying the wallowing? I feel I wallow more than I should, and need to break that quickly since I'm anticipating having a full plate early next year. I really want to be more proactive and focused on what's really important and keep moving forward with my life.

Is there even a finishing line or do you anticipate a continuing process for as long as you live? I've grown to look at life as a journey, a process in which one should be constantly learning, discovering, and growing. The finish line I guess is when you are no longer living, but while the opportunity is still present to continue the journey.

What would be 'there' for you, and what will it take to get it from where you are now? I don't know what there would be, but maybe accomplishing a couple lifelong goals. Not standing in the way of God knocking out the procrastination so I would be more motivated to remain more focused.

Fauxie said:

I've been very lucky in my life; I am an extremely content person. Sure, there are things I wish were different, but I've become much better at letting go of things that I can't change.

Still working on: Not getting really pissed off about the stupid things stupid people do.

I'm glad you guys seem to like the thread. Some interesting stuff.

Health & fitness, I'm pretty close. I'm always getting compliments from the cats I work out with, so I'm on the right track.

Spiritually? I could care less.

Are you there yet? No
On the way? No
Going in the opposite direction and enjoying the wallowing? probably yes
Is there even a finishing line or do you anticipate a continuing process for as long as you live?

What would be 'there' for you, and what will it take to get it from where you are now?
there for me would be to lose at least 10-15 kg, that would be a good start

great thread

uPtoWnNY said:

Yes, letting go is the key.

connorhawke said:

i haaaaate green tea

mental health-wise i'm putting myself back together, yet again.

evenstar3 said:

prb said:

it's making me tougher at least! i think.

I could use some improvement in all three departments. No, I haven't arrived spiritually, but who has.

Vendetta1 said:

I feel you, Ivy. I quit smoking, gained a few pounds that I needed to, but as far as spiritually...ugh. and the sad part is, I lead people....I hate that feeling.

When people say "spiritually" what do they mean? How does one check their "spiritual" health?

I'm asking honestly as I'm not sure I understand the difference between one's mental health and overall wellbeing (happiness, esteem, etc.) and what one would consider their "spirit".

Or are they one and the same?

Its a weird question to answer.

I am fat now, and some would think "I let myself go"... but actually I am the healthiest I have ever been.
I feel the healthiest I have ever felt because for the first time in my life, my asthma is under control, my allergies are under control and I don't have to constantly wake up hourly in the night to blow my nose.
I CAN BREATHE!! I CAN SLEEP! I CAN REST! FEEL RENEWED IN THE MORNINGS!

Because I can breathe, my back isn't constantly sore, I'm not irritable, not depressed and I have energy to spare.

But because I took so many steroids to get better over the years, my metabloism is shot to hell. I am fat, huge even, but now feel good.

My stress is gone, my emotional health is great, I feel really good about where I am at in my spiritual walk. My kids are happy to see me happy and we laugh and play everyday. Heck I even enjoy my teen son more now than I ever did because I'm not sick anymore.

I still do my best to keep from taking so many asthma meds. They tear up your liver.

I am at a point where I can finally focus on the rest of me and not just my lungs. Its a good feeling. Now I don't feel so weak and now I can work on getting to a place where I can slim down and move freely with out being breathless. Funny how a person can be overweight but yet feel healthier.

paintedlady said:

Congrats to you.

It's a myth that being overweight=unhealthy. Certainly it's a factor to look at when considering your overall health and fitness level, but it's only one factor.

When I started running last spring I went to my doctor for a complete physical and all but one test came out perfect. My "good" cholesterol was 1 point below the limit they look at for when you should pay attention to it. My doctor said it was nothing to be concerned about since everything else was fine. I was obese and yet my doctor was telling me I was in good health, especially since I'd quit smoking. I've no reason to doubt my own doctor.

CarrieMpls said:

TY! And major kudos for kicking the cigarettes! It must have been so hard. I don't know if smokers are ever breathless like I was, heck, most of the dancers I know smoke like chimneys. I have so much respect for a person that can let go of such an addictive habit.

I can wait to start running. I can walk the beach now (2 miles) and not feel worn out after. I'll have a ways to go before I can run on that loose sand. Its a great workout though for now because it's relaxing and fun.

I'll be fine once can walk all day in 3" stiletto heels and not feel like I want to cut off my own feet. :Tina Turner wannabe:

CarrieMpls said:

I believe some people feel they are more spiritual and some people feel they are most healthy.

It is a hard question and perhaps a very personal/individual one, but for me, I feel spirituality is how I feel about everything overall. Do I feel enlightened, clearminded, light of worries. Am I living true to myself? Am I doing good things, living well. Do I feel connected to the universe, people and the job that I do each day.

Am I alive (meaning, awake) to all that I experience.

There are times when I feel exactly like this. There are times when it feels a bit off... and I have to really pay close attention to what is taking place in my everyday life. Change my attitude, but more... apply the daily events that will take me back to that spiritual place. It's work... but when I really focus on it... it is not hard to obtain.

Spirituality be different to many people I believe and some don't feel the need to attach themselves to such a term.

Being Spiritual is when I personally feel most alive, alert and free. Kind of like... a Free Spirit.

Life is a very spiritual experience for me, in all that I do and everyday that I live. When I am not feeling spiritual, I feel very much not myself.

Fauxie said:

I have been there and I have gone the other way... my fitness level can be there some days, but overall, there is so much I should be doing for a better physical self. I do not enjoy the wallowing at all... I can be very hard on myself during these times (as well as hard on other people), yet I am most often aware of this.

I do not believe there is a finish line, life is meant to hold challenges, as well as enlightening moments. We grow and learn from every experience and hopefully these life experiences will take us higher in our spiritual lives. I do believe there are highs and lows to our spiritual existences. I do feel, for me, I would rather obtain more highs than lows... and hang on to these high moments more often. Incredible moments to live in.

I have a vision what could possibly be "there" in the most highest moment... I have had tastes of these moments and there is very little doubt in my heart/mind... I would love to live more of these kind of days "in".

I will spare the writings of these visions.

How to get there? I feel I work toward this place most days, most often I feel I am there, in the moment (for I believe 'there' is a moment)... and then sometimes (not as often), I feel so far away.
[Edited 11/7/09 16:29pm]

CarrieMpls said:

It's all those things in the thread title, plus mental health and anything else I missed, not individually, but as a whole. It's how I move in the world. I'm not really religious, as such, but for me it would be something like moving with the Tao naturally, efficiently, spontaneously. I doubt I ever think at any one time as long as I'm doing right now about pinning it down to something mentally tangible. I can let my brain touch upon it from time to time for a split-second, doing a kind of super-quick inventory but sparing me actually going over the details, and just feel where I'm at.

paintedlady said:

good luck with it all

CarrieMpls said:

When I say spiritually, I am speaking about my personal relationship with God. It is very important to me.

i just started the gym again today after a very long hiatus - and something about sweating my ass off makes me feel closer to jesus and the ER...

For the record, now that this thread is coming to a close, none of any of your responses have furthered my progress in regards to health, fitness and spirituality in any way whatsoever. Thank you for participating.

Fauxie said:

I'm having deja vu!

connorhawke said:

Still funny.