This week was a definite improvement from the previous. Last week I did exercise, but did not ensure control over my eating habits. I disciplined myself and stuck on the keto diet for this week though. I only consumed portions of vegetables and protein that kept myself feeling full through out the day. I also felt a difference when I kept on this healthy path; my energy levels and positive mood were altered in a beneficial way. Every morning I would start my breakfast off with a delicious mushroom, cheese, and spinach omelette. This would keep me feeling full and for a much longer period than the usual carb filled breakfast. I also did, not one but two, sessions of yoga and this helped me feel more grounded and motivated to stick with the keto.
I have to say, when reading chapter 6 which covers addictions, food is my substitute. I find a lot of pleasure when I eat something, and I recognize that I obsess over the what I’m going to eat next. At the start of the semester, I happened to mention that alcohol and I don’t mix well. I have been sober for going on a year now and feel healthy in that aspect. However, my obsession with the psychoactive drug was absolutely substituted with food as reward for me. While reading this chapter, I learned a lot about how addiction played a role in my life. From my genes, environmental upbringing, and social expectations that I wanted to meet, I came to the conclusion that these factors had a lot of influence.
I also never knew there were so many drugs that existed and their affects on the brain. I’m really not too much of a risk taker, so I can’t understand the “high” of drugs other than alcohol. Some block reuptake of certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, and others not only do that but can damage major receptor sites that can bring everlasting effects on functioning long-term. I also found Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention is a great tool to use when stress and craving old negative behaviors become overwhelming. It assists many people by analyzing certain emotions that may compound sobriety. If a person is beginning to unravel with hard to cope emotions, it makes a person go over what’s the trigger and how to cope in a healthy manner. One of my coping skills currently, is to try and stick to yoga and exercise when I’m able to. At this point, I need to be able to create a stable routine for both my diet and exercise!
References
Donatelle, R. J. (2019). My health. New York: Pearson.
Kim's Health Journey 