It’s February. And I’m tired.
It’s February and I’m tired. And cold. My brain never gets the “new year new you” memo. It wants me to hibernate in warm pajamas with hot tea and a good book. But I’m also annoyed about it, because I’ve worked so hard for four years to develop a fitness routine that helps me be healthy for now and long into the future.
I think a lot of women feel like me at this time of the year. We’re bombarded with messages that insist if we “stay consistent” and “push harder” we’ll eventually meet some unidentified goal. But the reality of life is that it’s not consistent, it’s seasonal. There is a time to be painstakingly consistent and push hard, but there is also a time to rest and recover.
The mental health world does a good job of recognizing that the winter months are hard on us. The dark days, cold temperatures, viruses, and fewer social interactions are a slurry for us to slog through.
But I can’t seem to just let myself stew in what may very well be a natural rest period; I’m not willing to give up the gym entirely, and to be honest I still want to feel confident and comfortable in my body. This has been a fascinating intersection where I’ve seen GLP peptides help women bridge the seasonal lull without losing ground.
My medical weight loss patients, many of whom use GLP peptides as part of their plan, see me monthly for body composition scanning and check-in. Many of them have told me a similar story in the last month.
“I’m so glad I have the GLP to just help me get through this season without having to obsess over food.”
“It’s been such a relief to let myself rest and not stress about gaining weight.”
“I don’t think I’ve lost any weight but honestly, I’m glad I could just stop thinking about it for a while.”
This is such a beautiful reframe of self care. It’s not always about transformation or upending your life. Sometimes it’s being gentle with yourself, giving yourself tools to be successful in the long term, taking worries off your mind.
Don’t get me wrong, all of my GLP patients are strongly encouraged to do regular resistance training to prevent muscle loss. We track muscle mass monthly, and if it starts to drop, we adjust our plan.
But if you’re in a season where you're tired, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re probably listening to yourself better than those who drive themselves into the ground 12 months out of the year. I believe in supporting women through each season, not asking them to override their minds and bodies when they need rest.
