NETTAVISEN: – I thought the reason why I was tired and unclear was just that I had a lot to do, says Torill Myrtveit Fjeld from Manger to Nettavisen.
The mother of four had little time to prioritize herself, between work, children and great involvement in her children’s leisure activities.
Ready for the half marathon
When Torill was contacted by health advisor Rolf-Harald Haugen from Abel, she first thought that she was doing well enough as it was, and that in any case she did not have enough time for exercise in the weekday, even though she was tired and lacked energy.
– In retrospect, I see that there is a huge difference between the form now and before, says Torill and chuckles a little.
– My children think it’s fun to show me old photos.
Right from the start, the focus was on how she could get better in total. This would turn out to change everything for Torill.
– We talked about weight, but the big topic was how I could feel better, sleep better and get a body that felt lighter.
One year after she started to get to grips with the lifestyle, she has lost 20 kg, is in a running club and will soon be ready for a half marathon.
Community was the key
For Torill, one of the most important things has been to find joy in training together with others, including in the running club Radøy LK.
– If someone had told me a year ago that I should join a running club, I would have laughed out loud, says Torill.
At the time, she couldn’t have imagined that she would want to go out for a jog, but now the running club and the social life there are part of what makes the training extra motivating and rewarding.
Community is one of the things that Torill valued most during training, both in the running club and through group training at the local fitness center where she trains strength in the gym twice a week.
– I am so lucky that I am part of a stable group with a dedicated instructor.
It is good to be part of a community.
Torill Myrtveit Fjeld
In order to have a better weekday, Torill’s diet has also been changed, with less sugar and fat and also a lot more vegetables. This, combined with all the new activity, has led to a weight loss of a whopping 20 kg, but for the mother of four, the most important thing has been to have more energy and surplus in the weekday.
From midday nap to training
It may seem impossible to find time for exercise when you have an active weekday with four children, but after prioritizing exercise, Torill says that she has both become more productive and has a more structured weekday.
So structured that she has not only started training, but also got a new job and started studying. How is that even possible, explains Torill with increased energy.
While she used to rest for dinner after work, she now takes a training session instead.
– You have to make the most of the little holes in your everyday life, says Torill, who also emphasizes that it would not have been possible without the support of her husband Torbjørn, who cheers and arranges so that she can spend some extra time on training.
When the children are on leisure activities, I use the time for training.
Torill Myrtveit Fjeld
That exercise can lead to increased focus is not an unknown effect, and according to psychologist Maria Abrahamsen, can be explained by the substance that is released in the brain in connection with physical activity. The substance is associated with increased focus and attention, happiness and well-being, in addition to having a positive effect on our sleep.
– This means that many people feel that they become more efficient in their work tasks and have more time and surplus for other things, says Abrahamsen.
– That is my own experience and. So when someone asks how, as parents of young children, you manage to prioritize time for physical activity, I say jokingly (but still true) that I don’t have time to be.
– Had deleted the app a long time ago
For Torill, having a health advisor, who has both followed up on what is being done and given instructions to calm down when needed, has been decisive in getting started with exercise and lifestyle changes.
– If I had a normal app without personal follow-up, I would have deleted the app long ago, says Torill and laughs.
According to Maria Abrahamsen, it is not surprising that one performs better with personal follow-up from another person.
– This type of follow-up increases the chance that we implement a lifestyle change, both because we experience social support along the way, and because we as humans behave differently when we are being observed and have someone to report to.
Abrahamsen explains that it can be much more difficult when you only have yourself as a witness to the process.
Many struggle with negative self-talk, and quickly fall back into old patterns. We need to feel seen, and to experience that someone has expectations of us. When someone cheers us on, and walks the path with us, our motivation to carry out increases.
Maria Abrahamsen
After a little over a year of close follow-up, Torill’s plan is to gradually manage more on his own two feet going forward. She must keep the good habits.
– I have to work on my diet every day, because I know it’s easy to slip back into old habits. Raising awareness and taking responsibility for what I choose to suppress helps me, says Torill.
