Fitness Fellowship 2019: Week Eight

[sylvanwitch]

Well, we're at the two-month mark for any fitness goals we set for the new year.

How are we doing?

As usual, I'll throw my own answer behind the cut. If you'd like to share, please do so in the comments. All are welcome! :-)

I'd like to say that I've lost a bunch of weight, but I can't because I haven't. I've lost about 5 pounds or so since 1 January. To meet my overall goal (20 pounds by 1 June), I have to do better than I've been doing.

I know exactly where I'm falling down on the job--exercise. I'm pretty good about eating (could be better occasionally, but generally, I'm doing well). I'm not as faithful about exercising.

That said, I did exercise four times this past week.

I did get enough sleep, mostly. I did not meditate because I am monumentally lame.

For the week ahead: Stay on plan, eating-wise. Exercise at least four times a week for at least 20-30 minutes each time. Meditate once (for gods' sake, just do it, already!). Get to bed at a reasonable hour on school nights in particular.





Have a great week ahead, friends!

Comments

[talkingtothesky]

I didn't end up setting myself any goals for this so I can't participate that way, but I am reading and wishing you success. I hope it's okay to say this...I just wanted to remind you to be PROUD of those 5 pounds. That is excellent progress. Encourage yourself, don't guilt trip yourself, it's way more motivating, even though it feels weird? Instead of 'must do better' try to say to yourself 'I've done really well already and I'm going to try even harder between now and June because the approaching deadline is going to motivate me even more!' Positive pressure, rather than 'if I carry on at this pace I'm likely to not make it', y'know?

Also, what are the obstacles preventing you from meditating? If it's a matter of 'I don't want to', can you reward yourself for doing it with something that won't sabotage your other goals? Ideally something you won't do / can't get any other way? If it's remembering / finding time, can you set an alarm on your phone? Define exactly what 'a reasonable hour' bedtime means for you and set a phone reminder for that too.

Exercising 4 times in a week!?! Are you kidding me, that's incredible, I am kind of intimidated by how awesome that is. :D

\o/ You can do this! *pompoms*

(P.S. Sorry if the above suggestions are unwelcome / unhelpful, I can just stick to the pompoms if you'd prefer.)

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you so much for reading and for replying. I don't mind your suggestions at all, and I appreciate both the support and the thoughtfulness. :-)

I'm not sure what's in my way in terms of meditating. I think I have a mental block about it. I used to do it all the time, though that was also in a period when I was going to a meditation group, which made the habit easier to keep. And then I led a meditation group for students (an after-school club), and that also made regular meditation easy. I think I need to pick a time when I am NOT already in bed (because I have anxiety related to sleeping, and putting pressure on myself to meditate is probably counterproductive) and just make a point of doing it at that time once a week (and then increasing the frequency once I have the habit).

I actually don't have a phone. (I have a flip-phone in my car for emergencies, but I don't bring it in the house, and it's not sophisticated enough to even have a reminder function, believe it or not. I'm not a Luddite--I just hate phones :-) That said, I AM capable of old-fashioned note-writing, so I should start sticky-noting reminders up where they're going to guilt/annoy me into actually just doing it already.

What I really needed was a firm kick in the pants, and your kindness here has sufficed in that regard, so thank you.

And thank you, too, for the reminder that five pounds is not nothing. I'm an all-or-nothing sort of person, which is NOT a positive quality, I know, so I tend to be more stick- than carrot-oriented when it comes to achieving goals. It's nice to be reminded that SOME of a goal is much better than NONE of a goal.

I used to be a weight loss champion. I mean it--it was, like, my super-power. (I was also obsessive, had unhealthy habits, and got into self-competitive loops that were pretty harmful, so...) I walked away/learned my way away from all of that behavior a long time ago, but the desire to *waves wand* lose weight quickly has lingered. Of course, THAT was a 38-year-old body, and this one has a decade more mileage on it, which also matters.

Anyway, THANK you, and please never feel the need to hold back. I appreciate your suggestions, your support and encouragement, and your overall awesomeness. (I also love pompoms!)

[miss_morland]

I think that as long as those 5 pounds are on the negative side, you should absolutely be happy with yourself! Getting fast to your goal isn't the point, getting (and staying) there is. <3

This was another week of travelling and shook-up routines, but I've finally entered my new flat and coincidentally (?) decided that I deserve to take better care of myself. So expect more serious fitness comments from me from now on. *g*

[sylvanwitch]

Yay for taking good care of yourself! I'm so looking forward to hear how you're doing in that regard. And thank you very much for the kind and encouraging comments. I much appreciate them and you. :-)