Fitness Fellowship 2023: Week 7 Check-in
Feb. 19th, 2023 05:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sylvanwitchHow have you all been this past week? Good? Bad? Indifferent?
Please share your fitness progress (however you define both fitness and progress) with us. Let us know how your plans have been going so far and what plans you're making for the week ahead.
My weight is right about where it was last week. Midweek, I was down a pound, but then my winter break began and I started eating stuff I "shouldn't."
I put that word in quotes because I've been thinking a lot about what "shouldn't" means in the context of food that makes me happy, brings me comfort, and/or offers me a respite from whatever stress I'm experiencing. I've been struggling to find the line between an unhealthy relationship with food-as-comfort and my very real (and historic) love of food.
I know there are folks out there who can eat a little bit of something they like and be satisfied. And I can sometimes find the willpower to do that, too. But I often resent having to limit myself to just a "little," whatever that word is intended to signify.
Also, a lot of foods that are actually healthy technically fall under the "shouldn't" category for me because of the plan I follow. Then, I get even MORE resentful because I shouldn't feel like Caribbean beans and rice with pineapple (the beans and rice from a kit, the pineapple fresh and fried in a little bit of olive oil cooking spray with spices) is a bad choice. It's NOT. The sodium isn't ideal (about 33% of the day's allowance thanks to the kit's seasoning), but otherwise, that's a *healthy* meal. The kit has healthy ingredients, I cut the pineapple myself. The oat milk "ice cream" I'm having for dessert with homemade strawberry compote is also not that unhealthy and certainly not compared to the Standard American Diet, but the ice "cream" is processed, so I'm not supposed to have it.
So, what does all this wonder and worry about food get me? Ugh, I sound whiny, right? I do, I know. But lately, I'm starting to wonder if I can just...exercise as I have been and eat what I like (because that's mostly good for me anyway, by most reasonable standards) and not care about my weight.
Then the old fear rears its head that I'm making excuses so I can get very obese again, which leads to all kinds of very real health issues for me. (Already, the acid reflux is creeping back if I'm not careful.)
UGH.
Sorry...I'm just ruminating on all of this stuff related to the way I was raised as it pertains to food and the way I survive my life in the cold months, which are many in this part of the world, and I don't know.
Anyway, I had a LOVELY 3.54 mile walk today with almost NO ankle pain! And I've gotten in several walks this past week because the weather has somewhat moderated (Fool's Spring). We're about to have icy rain/sleet/slush, however, just in time for my week off for winter break. Ah, well.
I'm hydrating as best I can, which is better when I'm home than when I'm at work (for many reasons, mostly logistical-biological, having to do with where the ladies' room is and how long it takes me to get there from my classroom). I haven't meditated this week, but I've done a lot of deep breathing and pondering on my many walks. I've been going to bed at 2:00am for the past two nights because I am on break and am a night owl by nature, but I know that's going to bite me in the ass come next Sunday. *sighs* That said, I am getting GLORIOUS sleep right now because my brain recognizes that going to bed at an hour more natural to me means I don't have to get up at 6:00am for work, so I fall right asleep, and I sleep deep and long and have crazy, ridiculous dreams about office products and scheduling (I wish I were kidding).
Plans for the week include more walking and/or using the bike and maybe even the elliptical, if my ankle continues to improve; sleep; meditation/tarot-reading; and trying not to eat ALL the King Cake we bought yesterday to celebrate Mardi Gras, even though I'm a pagan. I mean, it's KING CAKE. I also think I'm going to enjoy being home a lot to prepare fresh meals, and I'll see how that works out in terms of what I "should" eat versus what I AM eating, understanding that I will still be mostly plants-based (i.e. vegan) and when not strictly plants-based (looking at you, King Cake), still vegetarian. (I haven't had meat since 2000, so even the thought of eating it makes me queasy.)
In other words, I'm going to experiment with that line I mentioned above between eating what I'd like and eating what the plan says I should and see what happens at the end of it.
May the week ahead be a good one for you, my friends. You deserve it!
Please share your fitness progress (however you define both fitness and progress) with us. Let us know how your plans have been going so far and what plans you're making for the week ahead.
My weight is right about where it was last week. Midweek, I was down a pound, but then my winter break began and I started eating stuff I "shouldn't."
I put that word in quotes because I've been thinking a lot about what "shouldn't" means in the context of food that makes me happy, brings me comfort, and/or offers me a respite from whatever stress I'm experiencing. I've been struggling to find the line between an unhealthy relationship with food-as-comfort and my very real (and historic) love of food.
I know there are folks out there who can eat a little bit of something they like and be satisfied. And I can sometimes find the willpower to do that, too. But I often resent having to limit myself to just a "little," whatever that word is intended to signify.
Also, a lot of foods that are actually healthy technically fall under the "shouldn't" category for me because of the plan I follow. Then, I get even MORE resentful because I shouldn't feel like Caribbean beans and rice with pineapple (the beans and rice from a kit, the pineapple fresh and fried in a little bit of olive oil cooking spray with spices) is a bad choice. It's NOT. The sodium isn't ideal (about 33% of the day's allowance thanks to the kit's seasoning), but otherwise, that's a *healthy* meal. The kit has healthy ingredients, I cut the pineapple myself. The oat milk "ice cream" I'm having for dessert with homemade strawberry compote is also not that unhealthy and certainly not compared to the Standard American Diet, but the ice "cream" is processed, so I'm not supposed to have it.
So, what does all this wonder and worry about food get me? Ugh, I sound whiny, right? I do, I know. But lately, I'm starting to wonder if I can just...exercise as I have been and eat what I like (because that's mostly good for me anyway, by most reasonable standards) and not care about my weight.
Then the old fear rears its head that I'm making excuses so I can get very obese again, which leads to all kinds of very real health issues for me. (Already, the acid reflux is creeping back if I'm not careful.)
UGH.
Sorry...I'm just ruminating on all of this stuff related to the way I was raised as it pertains to food and the way I survive my life in the cold months, which are many in this part of the world, and I don't know.
Anyway, I had a LOVELY 3.54 mile walk today with almost NO ankle pain! And I've gotten in several walks this past week because the weather has somewhat moderated (Fool's Spring). We're about to have icy rain/sleet/slush, however, just in time for my week off for winter break. Ah, well.
I'm hydrating as best I can, which is better when I'm home than when I'm at work (for many reasons, mostly logistical-biological, having to do with where the ladies' room is and how long it takes me to get there from my classroom). I haven't meditated this week, but I've done a lot of deep breathing and pondering on my many walks. I've been going to bed at 2:00am for the past two nights because I am on break and am a night owl by nature, but I know that's going to bite me in the ass come next Sunday. *sighs* That said, I am getting GLORIOUS sleep right now because my brain recognizes that going to bed at an hour more natural to me means I don't have to get up at 6:00am for work, so I fall right asleep, and I sleep deep and long and have crazy, ridiculous dreams about office products and scheduling (I wish I were kidding).
Plans for the week include more walking and/or using the bike and maybe even the elliptical, if my ankle continues to improve; sleep; meditation/tarot-reading; and trying not to eat ALL the King Cake we bought yesterday to celebrate Mardi Gras, even though I'm a pagan. I mean, it's KING CAKE. I also think I'm going to enjoy being home a lot to prepare fresh meals, and I'll see how that works out in terms of what I "should" eat versus what I AM eating, understanding that I will still be mostly plants-based (i.e. vegan) and when not strictly plants-based (looking at you, King Cake), still vegetarian. (I haven't had meat since 2000, so even the thought of eating it makes me queasy.)
In other words, I'm going to experiment with that line I mentioned above between eating what I'd like and eating what the plan says I should and see what happens at the end of it.
May the week ahead be a good one for you, my friends. You deserve it!
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 03:49 am (UTC)I walked w/ weights 4 times last week, and did my "alibi exercises" the other three days.
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 04:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 05:21 pm (UTC)On the other fronts things aren’t goin as well. Other than a whole rant I already posted I asked for anyone locally that could help me do something (and I know there are people that CAN) to message me because I needed assistance. And crickets. So I’m really having a bad time mental health and stress wise.
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 07:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:22 pm (UTC)SPEAKING of rambling, sorry for that long one! Lol!
YAY for walking with weights! And I *LOVE* "alibi exercises"! That's a fantastic way to put it. I'm so glad you're getting your exercise in. :-)
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:25 pm (UTC)On the other hand, I'm so sorry there's no one local to you willing to help you. That sucks, big time. (I was also sorry to see your message, re: that other thing we were talking about. I wish I could help.)
Please hang in there, though I know it's difficult. *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:26 pm (UTC)I hope you had a good week and that you're hanging in there with all the craziness for you at work. *hugs* Thanks again for being a friend.
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:35 pm (UTC)I carved out time to go hiking on two days last week, and after the longer hike I could definitely feel it in my legs! haven't gone hiking since the fall--but it was still great. Today unfortunately I have done something painful with my back, possibly lumbago. : (( I guess I can't say until I've slept on it and see how I feel tomorrow. So running and working out is on hold, depending on my back…
Goals for last week:
- Go to bed and turn out the light at 11 pm every day.
Didn't keep track exactly, but it went well.
- Keep to my food goals.
Hmm. I had two extravagant dinners where I was very full, but they were special occasions?
- Go out in the woods every day except Monday, even if just a short walk.
Yes, except for Friday. I went for a long hike on Thursday, so I gave myself Friday to rest. Also went hiking on Saturday.
- Go running three times.
Only once, as the two hiking days replaced the running.
- Do a workout every day except Monday (I might go hiking one day, if so I don't aim to work out that day).
Only worked out three days, because two hiking days and one rest day.
- Most workouts should be other than my ordinary one, preferably longer ones than 10 minutes.
Yes, all of them!
Goals for this week:
- Go to bed and turn out the light at 11 pm every day.
- Focus a little more on my food goals.
- Go out in the woods every day except Monday and Tuesday, even if just a short walk.
- Go running if/when my back allows.
- Do workouts if/when my back allows.
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:56 pm (UTC)I'm sorry to hear about your back and hope it eases up and goes away pronto!
Your overall approach to fitness is so practical and thoughtful, particularly for the way you take into account the need for rest after a more strenuous workout. I love that you are so specific with your goals but also reasonable with flexibility when life throws you a curveball or whatnot. You're doing SO well!
YAY! *\o/*
(no subject)
Date: Monday, 20 February 2023 09:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2023 01:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2023 02:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2023 03:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2023 08:21 pm (UTC)