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Writer's pictureCoach Pollard

Overwhelmed By Fitness Advice?? You might have Alexithymia


This vibrant illustration shows a person holding a tub of ice cream, surrounded by gym equipment and meal plans, with chaotic emotions in a thought bubble. It highlights the struggle of identifying emotions and following wellness routines.
Struggling with emotions in wellness routines

Darling, let’s talk about a little thing called alexithymia. Now, if you’re scratching your head wondering what that is, don’t worry—grab a seat, because it’s time for some real talk. Alexithymia is a fancy word for when people struggle to identify and describe their emotions. This can throw a major wrench into our health and wellness goals. Picture this: you’re working out like a beast, eating what you think is right, but something’s just not clicking.

Let’s break down why that might be.


First off, if you exhibit alexithymia, you might find yourself behaving on autopilot when stress or anxiety hit. Imagine reaching for that tub of ice cream without even realizing why. You’re just trying to soothe that internal chaos, honey.


Now, developing internal awareness? Not your thing. You’d rather trust the calorie counter on the treadmill or a rigid meal plan than listen to your body’s hunger cues. And who can blame you? It’s easier to follow rules than to “do the work” of self-awareness.


But here’s the kicker: you might stick to these external rules so rigidly that you ignore your body’s cries for help. Overworking because “productive means putting in the time”? Even if your body is screaming for rest? Oh, sweetie, that’s a recipe for burnout.


And let’s be real, sticking to these rules isn’t always a breeze. Those abandoned 30-day challenges and personal transformation plans? Yep, we see you. It’s tough to stay on track when emotions and automatic behaviors are secretly steering the ship.


Analyzing what went wrong and how you felt about it? Not happening. This makes learning from your experiences a challenge, and you might not even notice when your emotions are sabotaging your goals.


Finally, confusing “shoulds” for your own needs is a big no-no. Listening to what your boss, partner, or society thinks you should do can lead you astray.


So, what’s the takeaway? If you see yourself in this, it’s time to pause, darling. Tune into your body, be kind to yourself, and maybe—just maybe—ditch those rigid rules for a little self-compassion. Your wellness journey should be about what feels good for you, not what the world thinks you should do.


Stay fabulous, and take care of that beautiful self!

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