Fitness Fellowship 2021: Week 52 Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

A day late and a few pounds heavier. *sighs*

So, I figured this for 2021's wrap-up post. If you're inclined to share your retrospective on the old year, this is the spot to do so, but please don't feel obligated.

On Saturday, 1 January, I'll make the goals and introduction post for our 2022 Fellowship. I hope you'll join us, whether as a continuing or as a new member. All are welcome. Our prime directive is mutual respect.



Weight: I am actually a little bit heavier today than I was at the start of this year's fitness journey, and that's honestly down to the last few months of attempted maintenance, emphasis on "attempted" there. I am honestly bad at maintaining my weight. I am good at losing weight, at "being on a diet," or what have you, but I have always, always struggled with remaining near or at a goal weight once I've achieved it. I am weak-willed when it comes to food, particularly both sweet and salty snacks, and if they are in my house, I will eat them. So, my main challenge, which I'll discuss in Saturday's post, is eliminating the temptations.

Exercise: If my weight is a disappointment for me, I am conversely super proud of my exercise regimen, how faithful I have been to it, how often I use the elliptical, and how strong and fit I feel being able to walk, climb stairs, do workouts, etc. I have no regrets at all about devoting time and energy to exercise, and I plan to continue. (Again, more about that in Saturday's post.)

Eating plan: I have been VERY indulgent this past week, and I intend to continue the indulgence through tomorrow (NYE). We have an annual tradition of eating All the Bad Things, and I have the goodies in the freezer to prove it. Starting Saturday, it's back on the better eating plan. (More on Saturday.)


May the new year bring you peace, prosperity, and plenty, however you define those things in your own life, and may you be fitter for joining in fellowship with us!

Comments

[oschun]

Well done on the exercise front, hon. Feeling strong and fit are the two most important health goals in my opinion. I'm really glad investing in the elliptical worked out so well for you, especially over the winter months. Maintenance is probably so hard because it's so damn boring :D I guess it requires a different type of longer-term resilience and lacks the excitement and immediacy of being in actual weight-loss battle mode. Good luck with that next year. I fully believe in your ability to work out some smart strategies to help you on your way.

Excuse the cursing but *fuck* I've really gone backwards over the past year. In fact, the past couple of years since the pandemic began. I think an internal 'hunger' and 'addiction' to things can take so many different forms for different people. You know my long-term battle is with drinking too much, not really with eating. It's the reason I'm about 10kgs overweight. I'm a highly-functioning white wine alcoholic, which is so ridiculously middle class. (I feel like it would be a lot more romantic if I was a whiskey-fuelled Bukowski-style drunk who wrote mad poetry. Lol.) Anyway, your fitness fellowship posts and my responses remind me that I've been saying the same damn thing for years, but they also remind me that I need to not give up on *trying* to change, so thank you. Happy new year, hon.

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you so much for the kind words of support and encouragement. Between the winter blahs, the especial darkness of this, the Year of Our Lord Covid 2022, and a general sense of doom, I'm struggling to find upsides, and the reminder that yes, in fact, this exercise thing keeps me mentally healthier and somewhat happier is a good one.

I feel you SO much on the temptation--in your case to drink white wine, in my case to eat like a total hog. (And seriously, I mean, when I go off the wagon, I'm a desperate fool in need of a twelve-step program, not going to lie. My compulsive behavior used to be channeled via shopping, drinking, eating, and bad life choices with men. I've managed to confine that behavior to compulsive book-buying, the occasional "shopping therapy" that I really can't afford, and, now and again, a terrible, terrible food blowout. Today is the final day of said blowout. Tomorrow is going to be UGLY. But...

This is to say that I do understand being a high-functioning addict and how difficult it is to beat the compulsion in any sort of permanent way, and I do think we mostly struggle through peaks and valleys. If there is anything I can do to help you out of the valley, please don't hesitate to ask, either here or privately. You know I love you, babe, and I want you to be with us for a long, long time to come. *hugs*

[delphi]

I am good at losing weight, at "being on a diet," or what have you, but I have always, always struggled with remaining near or at a goal weight once I've achieved it.

To the best of my understanding, that's unfortunately most of the population. Studies seem to support that the majority of people who lose weight while restricting themselves don't keep it off, and suggest that it's not just a matter of will but a matter of how most bodies adjust to restriction and change.

That's not to say it's not a very good thing to maintain a way of eating that's healthy for our bodies, gives them the right number of calories to operate efficiently, and prioritizes nutritious foods over processed things designed to zing us in the part of our brains that love sugar/fat/salt. But I hope you're not being too hard on yourself, because you're one of the most diligent and focused people I know, and I'm constantly in awe at all the self-control and dedication you wield.

And that exercise regime and your commitment to it has been amazing! That's something I find very difficult and want to pay more attention to in the new year, because regardless of the number on the scale, taking good care of your cardiovascular system and making yourself strong is what really pays dividends in the health department.

For myself, I'd give the year a solid B, grading on a curve set by the pandemic and periods of climate disaster. I did not meet my weight goal, but I did follow through on moving more and eating more mindfully and environmentally sustainably. I felt more in touch with my body this year, and aside from having to really force myself to eat in the summer heat, eating intuitively led me in pretty healthy directions. I ate a lot of fruit and vegetables, cut way back on processed foods, reduced my sugar tolerance, and I think I largely found a good balance of making my meals a pleasure without reaching for food as comfort.

[sylvanwitch]

First, let me say thank you for always being a voice of competent, evidence-based reason in these comments. I've always admired you for your assuredness and sense of patience and balance, recognizing that sometimes there are peaks and sometimes valleys, and that what matters ultimately is the overall sense of health and wellness we have. I have a pretty long history of unhealthy relationships with food and exercise, and it has been a great gift of these interactions with you that you remind me to take a step back, put things in perspective, and recognize long-term patterns rather than short-term gains, so to speak.

Also, I think you did a MARVELOUS job of being as fit and healthy as you could be in this year, particularly as you yourself were ill for so much of it (through no fault of your own, not that I want to start engaging in the blame-game discourse surrounding this virus--ugh!). I am definitely taking a page from your book and *returning* to my actual plant-based program, which I'd abandoned partway through the year, first in favor of processed but "lower calorie" foods and then simply because I lost focus, honestly. If I can get back to cleaner eating and a healthier attitude toward occasional treats and stop looking to food for comfort once more, I think I'll be in good shape. Your habits are inspirational, as are you. :-)

2021

[oldtoadwoman]

I'm going to try to remember to post my charts tonight after work.

If I just look at this last year, I'm discouraged. (I'm up from my lowest weight in late spring and almost exactly where I was last year after a holiday binge.) But when I zoom out and look at the last two years, I'm more hopeful. I lost a lot in 2020 and almost maintained that in 2021 (when there was a lot of stress and temptations around). I'm ready to get serious again in 2022.

Goal: I want my favorite denim jacket to not be tight anymore. Goal: I want to not be "obese" any more. (I got so close to that goal this year, but then gave into binge eating this summer when I was having a rough patch emotionally.) Dream Goal: I want to be a "healthy" weight (whatever that is for me).

Plans: more vegetables, less sugar, less simple carbs, get back to "intermittent fasting" (aka "eating windows") so I'm not snacking in the evening

I need to find a way to diet and exercise at the same time without using exercise as an excuse to have a treat.

Re: 2021

[sylvanwitch]

Your plans and goals sound eminently doable, and I have EVERY confidence that we can get there together, as my goals are quite similar to yours. (I have pants I purchased in September that I cannot wear at the moment, and as they are work pants, and I cannot afford new ones, I had best get serious about losing what I've gained since September!) I think your goal of breaking the obese line is within your grasp, and I want you to let me know what I can do to help you achieve it. I hesitated to nag when I noticed you weren't here as frequently because the last thing I ever want to do is contribute to your own sense of despair, etc. So let me know (no pressure). *hugs*

Re: 2021

[oldtoadwoman]

Feel free to nag!

I mean, obviously not the "Why are you failing?" kind of nagging. I can't imagine anyone responds well to that.

But the, "Hey, how's it going? poke" kind of thing is actually helpful. It's like I fall into a time tunnel and don't even realize that three weeks have slipped by without a weigh-in. And I really, really need to be honest with myself about where I stand.

(In the interest of honesty, I am currently halfway through a box of chocolate covered caramels and my friend is coming over soon to celebrate New Year's with the plan of baking brownies. But AFTER this celebratory hurrah, I'm going to attempt the first six weeks of the year sugar free.)

Re: 2021

[sylvanwitch]

And I'm eating a giant frosted cut-out cookie, having just finished half a small (vegan) pizza and some vegan chicken wings. NYE is traditionally eat-all-the-things in our house, and I'm not giving that up, even if it does mean busting my ass in January. Anyway, all of this is to say I am SO with you! And I promise I won't nag in a negative way but just try to poke you if you stop showing up regularly. :-)

[aien_hime]

Good job on the exercise! I feel you in the weight department, I am much the same. I'd love to join next year, do I need to do anything special? :)

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you for the supportive words and the commiseration about weight.

I’m so excited that you’re joining us! You do not need to do anything but comment to the weekly check-in posts when/ if you feel like it. I will post the explanation and goals post on 1 January, so our check-in day will be Saturday this year. You do not need to check in every week if you don’t want to, but I post weekly to help my own accountability, and I know that some folks find it helpful to check in. Welcome!