Fitness Fellowship 2023: Week 21 Check-in (Day late)

[sylvanwitch]

In my part of the world, it's a long weekend, and in my professional life, I have only three more work days before I'm done for the summer. To say that I'm thrilled both for today's reprieve and the week's shortness would be egregious understatement.

I know not everyone has a "free" summer ahead, so I won't go on and on about it. What I will note is the challenge that comes with summer for me. I'm more active than at work though get in fewer steps because, for example, gardening is strenuous but doesn't include as much walking. I get better sleep because I get to revert to my natural night-owl rhythms. I sweat more, but I also hydrate more. And I eat healthier because all the fresh fruits and veggies my region is known for are finally in season.

But, I'm also home...a lot...where the food lives. And even when I do stock up on good-for-me stuff, I tend to eat more in a sitting, though I eat less often in the day. For example, I usually elide breakfast and lunch, since I get up later, but that means I eat dinner later and also tend to snack in those middle-of-the-night hours when I'm reading in my chair. So...summer is healthier eating but also not the weight-loss win one might expect, at least not for me. The school year means a built-in structure that summer does not have.

So, I'm wondering if the change in seasons (whatever season you're coming into in your part of the world) brings challenges for you. If you'd like to share, I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Otherwise, as usual, please do let us know how the week we've had has been and what your plans are for the week to come.



This past Friday, I was at the same weight I'd been last Friday, which I use as my weigh-in because I splurge on the weekends. This (Monday) morning, I was .2 HIGHER than my previous highest for the year. That's because I've been splurging like a madwoman. *sighs* But, I have also been getting plenty of exercise of the yardwork and gardening variety and, at least last night, a lot of good, deep sleep.

I also got in some meditation this past week! I had a couple of deeper prayer sessions, some breathing, and some visualization. Go, me! Nothing formal, you understand, but still useful.

I've been good about hydrating because it's getting warm around here. I usually am good about fluids when I'm sweating so much.

Sleep has been iffy--there's been a lot of stress this past week. But I'm looking forward to the lower-stress expectations of three days of exam proctoring (and grading handwritten essays *sighs*). I should be done for good on Friday, and that will mean better sleep. I can hardly wait!

The plan for the week ahead does not include today. (Today, I made a big batch of vegan potato salad, which is not low-cal, lol! And we're having vegan Italian sausage on the grill, ditto.) After today's extravaganza, it'll be salads, fruits and veggies, and, when I'm finally free, SMOOTHIES! Smoothies are a little clean-up intensive, so I don't make them for breakfasts during the school year, but come summer, when handwashing the Ninja is easier because I have more time at home, I love making all sorts of combinations with frozen and fresh fruits, greens, a little vegan protein powder, soymilk, etc. Mmmmm.

So, in short--salads and smoothies ahead, gardening and walking and biking, oh my!



As always, my friends, I am sending you lots of good vibes for the week ahead.

Comments

[batdina]

hi you. felicitations on the end of another school year. I so understand how that feels.

Me? I'm now working on losing the prednisone weight. I put on ten pounds, mostly water, and now I'm down four of them. Working slowly, exercising a bit more. Other BS is getting me down, but my health, for once, isn't one of those things.

[sylvanwitch]

Hi! It's always a delight to hear from you. I'm sorry you're struggling with other BS (and I definitely empathize as well as sympathize here), but I'm glad you're getting more exercise because I know how important that is to you, and I hope you continue to feel better and stronger, my friend. You deserve to be free in so many ways--free of worry, free of the parts of you keeping you from you, if you know what I mean--just free, baby! *hugs*

[oschun]

Yay, for summer and better sleep and smoothies! I've got a week off for half-term, then back into it for another seven weeks *sigh* but at least the two exam groups will be done by the end of that first week back, which means I get about 6 additional hours in the week to start working on stuff for next year. For various reasons, we actually have a lot of work to do for next academic year *more sighing*.

I went to a Pilates class today at the gym! Go me! I forget how much I really enjoy doing a class. It's annoying because most of the Pilates classes are during the daytime, but there is one every Tuesday at 5pm, so I've signed up for next week too. I'm actually a bit stiff because there was a lot of muscle work with rubber bands. Jeez, I've really lost strength and flexibility. Anyway, we're off camping and hiking for a few days so I'll walk off the stiffness. The weather is glorious over here.

[ljm]

It's so awesome that you'll have the summer off soon! Hooray!

I've kept up with walks and alibi exercises pretty well, although yesterday was the first day this year that I *almost* forgot to exercise. (I went to bed, dozed, woke up, realized I hadn't done any kind of exercise that day, got up, did 30 push ups against the bay window, and went back to bed).

I've had costuming monomania lately, so it's been hard to focus on anything unrelated to preparations for the upcoming event. However, I made sure to go for a walk this evening, and I'm very glad I did, because it was lovely outside.

[luzula]

Go you with the meditating! \o/ Yes, like you the summertime is less structured for me, which has its upsides and its downsides. I feel that I have at least partly got through the block about running/working out while I'm at the summer place, though.

The past week:
- Do not do things related to my environmental organization (or to work) after 9 pm, or 8 pm if I can.
Yes.
- Turn off computer at 10 pm every day.
Hmm, a little backsliding here, but mostly okay.
- Go to bed and turn out the light at 11 pm every day.
Same with this one.
- Go running twice.
Only once, but that was not my fault--I got a sore throat on Wednesday. Luckily it never became anything more, and went away after four days.
- Do workouts (OR do sustained physical work such as sawing/chopping wood) on three days.
Same here--one workout and one day with physical work.

I got home from traveling late Monday night; an exhausting day. Today (Tuesday) I had a fair amount of work, but I am also back home and can feel how much it's making me relax and making it easier to keep to the habits I want. I let myself skip working out, though. I plan to possibly go hiking this weekend, hopefully camping out for two nights.

Goals for this week:
- Do not do things related to my environmental organization (or to work) after 9 pm, or 8 pm if I can.
- Turn off computer at 10 pm every day.
- Go to bed and turn out the light at 11 pm every day.
- Go running once (if I go hiking) or three times (if I don't go hiking).
- Hopefully go hiking.
- Do workouts on two days (if I go hiking) or five times (if I don't go hiking).

[sylvanwitch]

Go, you, for the Pilates class! That's fantastic that you enjoy it so much and that you signed up for next Tuesday as well! YAY!

Also, I had no idea how your terms worked, exactly, and for some reason thought you had more summer time off. I'm glad at least you'll have less on your plate when you return.

Enjoy hiking and camping! That sounds like SO much fun!

[sylvanwitch]

Wow! I am super impressed by your persistence in getting out of bed and doing those push-ups! Go, you! You're awesome!

I hope the event you're prepping for is a highlight for you and that you have a great time!

Keep up the good work with exercising! :-)

[sylvanwitch]

I'm glad the sore throat resolved itself without turning into anything more serious, and I'm also glad you're home and finding your habits restoring themselves once more. As always, I'm impressed by how flexible you are about changing your goals to meet your actual life experiences and needs but also that you stick to your weekly lists and make sure to *have* goals. In other words, your method seems like the one most likely to lead to long-term success with fitness, and I think it's marvelous! I really do need to get back to a much more specific list of goals; that's how I had success in 2020, and I think it's what I need for my own accountability.

Good luck this week! I hope you get to go hiking!