CW: Brief discussion of eating disorders in this article.
Being healthy is tough. So many different obstacles get in the way of everyone’s journey that it feels incredibly out of reach, nigh impossible to achieve. These roadblocks can be demoralizing and make the journey impossible, but there are ways to get around them. Read on to learn more about the roadblocks that can hurt your health journey and how you can better manage and understand them.
Undue Stress
One of the biggest roadblocks that many people face is they are doing everything right for their body, but they fail to take care of their brain. Stress and the hormone cortisol are terrible for your body and can nullify all the hard work you are putting in. It makes sense you would be stressed as every time you step on the scale or try to exercise, you keep hitting roadblocks. This lack of progress ultimately creates more stress and hampers progress even more. Throughout your journey, never forget to evaluate how you feel mentally because without a positive mentality backing you up, your journey will end before reaching the goal line.
Eating Disorders
A significant roadblock that many faces in their health journey is eating disorders. Something interesting to add to the equation is that eating disorders often go untreated in men. Eating disorders are generally talked about more in relation to women, but many men experience them as well, and the stigma associated with them makes it difficult to receive help.
This can be particularly true for guys who struggle with body dysmorphia or other self-image issues that result in extreme dieting, even if done under the guise of bulking or cutting for gym progress.
These eating disorders are significant roadblocks by themselves, but the struggle of dealing with them also leads to depression and anxiety, which can hinder your health journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as hiding your eating issues only creates worse problems.
Plateauing
One of the worst things that can happen to you during your health journey, which happens to almost everyone, is plateauing. When people start eating healthier, spending more time on their mental health, and exercising, they see results immediately. However, those results do not last, and you quickly end up on a plateau where your previous strategies are no longer working. This plateau happens to almost everyone, and since everyone is different, there is no apparent reason. To navigate this plateau, reassess your habits and change things up; consider doing more muscle exercises instead of cardio, try journaling, swap in more protein for carbs but up the calories, etc.
Numerous roadblocks will hamper your health journey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your goals. It will be a complex process full of ups and downs, but as long as you keep your goal in sight and know the numerous pitfalls, you can get there.
