Reflections on the ADDA Exercise Workshops
Winston Churchill was right: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” I have seen it happen over and over again throughout my life. And recently, I have seen it happen with an amazing group of ADD-ers. Since January, I have had the privilege of witnessing and walking alongside the participants of the ADDA Exercise Workshop. This dedicated and determined group of adults with ADHD, not only demonstrates the power of a positive attitude Churchill speaks of, but also the unstoppable force of ADD-itude, which is making a life-changing difference for some ADDA members.
Our purpose was simple: provide adults information about the impact of exercise on ADHD, education about the unique brain-wiring of ADHD, an awareness of the strengths individuals with ADHD possess to pursue goals such as exercise, and the support of other ADD-ers who are also seeking a healthier, more active lifestyle. For some, January was great timing, as it helped reinforce New Year’s resolutions; for others who were newly diagnosed, the workshop has been a way to develop an exercise plan though a new ADHD lens; for myself, it has been a time to listen and gain inspiration from others’ challenges and victories to motivate me on my own journey of wholeness.
Throughout the sessions, we have discussed ways to set realistic, attainable goals in the area of exercise and identify barriers that can keep us from attaining these objectives. To prevent the overwhelm so often experienced by individuals with ADHD, one participant recently shared her success of maintaining a routine of 15-minute exercise three days a week and how she is looking to build on that. Another participant discovered how a core belief around self-worth has been a barrier to her exercise goals in the past. And many in the group have identified big and small distractions that divert our attention away from our exercise goals. With support from each other and use of our individual strengths, we are all moving ahead and finding success in small increments that add up to a healthier life.
This phase of the ADDA Exercise Workshop will conclude in March, but stay tuned for new ways to get the support you need to create the healthy life you want. More is coming this spring!
By Diane McLean, M. Ed.
Eating Your Way to Healthier You; Food Choices and Dietary Habits for ADDers
If asked what one thing we could do that would make us healthier and happier, for many of us the obvious answer would be “Eat better!”. We all know the importance of good nutrition, we’ve seen the impact healthy eating can have, in our own lives and in others, so why is it so hard for us to do something that we know is good for us?
For me, as I’m sure for many of you, a large part of the struggle is that as we get older, our lives get more complex. We go from being young with lots of free time (and a great metabolism) to working full-time as an adult, and things just get more complicated from there. With personal and family responsibilities as well as other demands on our time, it’s not unusual for taking care of ourselves to get pushed back as a priority. What may start as the occasional fast food dinner when we are in a rush or the dessert we treat ourselves to at the end of a long or stressful day, eventually it becomes a habit. Healthy meals seem to take more time, be more expensive, and, frankly, often seem less appealing.
For individuals with ADD, these challenges can often seem even greater. In the diet and nutrition webinar series we will identify some of the specific challenges ADDers face when it comes to eating healthy and highlight some of the unique strengths they can draw upon to help. We’ll additional cover tools and strategies that can help us redefine the relationship we have with food and build an individualized path to success. Lastly, together, we’ll have fun and hopefully create some healthy habits!!
By Christina Hayden
