Read your body
My husband and I have three boys and the activity level in our house never slows down. When they were little they would play and run, and go and go, until they were literally so tired they would fall down ready for bed. Sometimes however they got so exhausted that they would just break down into a full-blown temper tantrum. So because there were three of them and often only one of us, we quickly realized that this high energy little men needed to learn a few things about listening to their body.
We thought if we could just teach them to understand their bodies and how they worked, then they could start to feel some level of control over their lives. So we started saying to them, when they were just toddlers, "Read your body," what does it need. Of course, in the beginning it was basic things like, are you hungry, are you thirsty, are you tired, are you upset?
Now they are all teenagers, and they naturally like to burn the candle at both ends. They want to hang out, eat McDonalds, have a Red Bull, skateboard way past dark with their friends and then study until midnight. And guess what, we still say the same thing, when they come in the door exhausted and about to blow their top, "Read your body," what does it need? Of course that is not what they want to hear. There response is often quick to say," I'm not tired, hungry, thirsty or upset and I am sick of you both always saying that." However, often they are those very things because they have forgotten to listen to what their body needs.
How many of us, who are adults, are exactly the same way? I know adults who drink five shots of espresso just to keep going everyday and then wonder why they don't sleep well at night. I have friends who think walking to their car after a football game is their exercise for the day. I know people who never drink a sip of water all day and then wonder why they have a bladder infection every other month. Then there are people who eat only one time a day and then wonder why they are overweight and don't feel well. What to do? Ask your body, I am telling you it knows. And if it doesn't, then teach it what it needs to feel good everyday. Because as I tell my kiddos who go fast everyday, you only get one of these bodies and it needs to last you a long, long time.
One way to teach us about our bodies is described in the book, "Balanced Days, Balanced Lives." They say "The key to lifelong health is finding pleasure in the choices that bring us to a balance," Pleasure in the choices. Wow, what a statement. That's the toughest part, even for us as adults, let alone our kids. For example, like when we know we have a presentation on Monday morning, but we stay out late Sunday night at a concert in Spokane and then wonder why it didn't go as well as we would like. Or like the time we decided to eat pizza after the football game at 11 because we were so wound up. Or the morning we skied powder for three hours and then wondered why we couldn't walk the next day.
Well, you get the picture. "Read your body" and if you aren't sure, ask your health-care provider. We specialize in the health of your body and we can help you get on track and stay on track. As physical therapists we deal with wellness issues everyday. We want your body to be well all the way around.
Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at Lake City Physical Therapy (208) 667-1988. Please join them TONIGHT for a massage therapy instruction class at 6 p.m. Call for space availability. Class is free, space is limited.