May: National Physical Fitness Month
May in the Pacific Northwest doesn’t seem like May in every other area of the U.S., am I right? We still get lots of rain and cloud cover, but the temperatures do get slightly warmer…at any rate, don’t let it be an excuse not to start being more active!
Why? I think that this is probably the main point of conversation for physical fitness. So, you have probably heard every reason to be physically fit. However, I find that it is good to have a reminder here and there to keep my motivated. According to Health Plan Finder, it helps you control your blood sugar, weight, and blood pressure. It lowers your bad cholesterol and raises your good cholesterol, and prevents different types of cancer as well as type 2 diabetes. Did you know that exercise can help you sleep better, too? It also helps you keep your mood up and gives your skin and muscles a nice look.
Who? Everyone. Everyone at any age or ability should be active. Our bodies and each of its parts were meant to be used! If you think you feel good about where you are physically, then consider your future or consider at least finding something that is fun to relieve stress. After all, it does more than just help your body, it helps your mind, too.
 What? This is my favorite part about this whole month’s theme: being active doesn’t mean getting a gym membership and forcing yourself to run on a boring treadmill or lift weights. Being active can mean a lot of things. For me, sometimes the most active thing I can do is reorganize a closet, or just take some time to stretch out my joints and muscles. I have also recently taken up gardening, and I have found it to be very therapeutic and peaceful. Write down things you like to do or places you like to go and then build your own active curriculum. As you get started, think about the parts of your body that need strengthening, too. Do your joints hurt regularly? Look for stretches and exercises specifically for that.
Where? Youtube.com and Pinterest.com are great places to find videos and tutorials just for you and for what you want to do. If you have health conditions that require some monitoring, talk to your doctor about what you can do or get a gym membership (the YMCA often has the best prices for families and often provides free classes and personal training). Track your progress and then use that to make more goals.
Part of recovery is understanding that you have the ability within you to live a healthy, clean life free of the use of drugs or alcohol. Take this opportunity this month to test what you are capable of and how well you can accomplish a goal to be more physically active. This is a good way to build your self-confidence and discover some new hobbies and enjoy your life. It can also be a great way to connect with other people if you choose to join a team sport, or if you attend a regular class. If these seem like a little much for you now, it can also be a great opportunity for you to get projects done around the house or yard since you now have more than one reason to do it.
Lifeline Connections understands that this isn’t an easy task to get clean. But we do know that it is possible, and we offer our services to anyone at any ability level. If you are looking into an outpatient program, you can expect the same kind of care and attention you’d receive if you were in residential treatment. If you feel like residential treatment will be the best option for you, know that we provide yoga, exercise opportunities, and trips to the community center. We want to make sure you can rebuild your life with the best tools and with the support you need. If you feel like you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us today.
Phone:Â 360-397-8246 ext. 7580
Email:Â admissions@lifelineconnections.org
