Fitness Fellowship 2023: Week 26 Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

Hi, friends: How's it going in your world these days, microcosmically, macrocosmically, both?

As always, this is the safe and supportive spot to drop your progress or lack thereof in the comments, if you're so inclined. Please do share how you've done on your fitness goals lately.



I have some progress to report. Since I began intermittent fasting (IF) on 6/15, I've lost 3.2 pounds, which is steady, appreciable progress, I think. I have had some difficulty with intestinal issues (gas and bloating, mostly, sorry for the TMI), which I've discovered are very common for people in my age group when they begin IF. I've taken steps to make it better, and those steps seem to be helping. I'm hopeful that my body will get over its crankiness soon because I'd prefer not to be experiencing these symptoms while on a 1300-mile road trip.

Exercise-wise, I've been hobbled by heel pain (right foot) and ankle pain (the chronic left ankle), so I haven't been getting 10K steps a day, which is my usual goal, but I have been exercising daily, including vigorous housecleaning chores and using the NordicTrack bike.

I've been purposefully paying more attention to my hydration for reasons mentioned in that first paragraph, re: intestinal issues. I'm better hydrated than ever, I think! Lol!

Sleep has been pretty good since the town work crew finished the (surprise!) drainage project and stopped parking their trucks in my driveway at 8:30 every morning. (If there is a sound that pierces my calm more than the back-up warning beep of a piece of heavy equipment, I have not yet heard it.) I'm back to my night owl sleep habits, and I think that helps too. (Honestly, I'm not physically cut out for working a job that requires me to get up at 6:00am. What was I thinking when I went into teaching? LoL!)

I have done some deep breathing techniques a few times this week, which I am counting for my spiritual/meditation/breathing goal.

I also tried some stretches today to work out the iliopsoas muscle group (the proper name of which I only just learned this morning), and I'm pleased to say they worked. I'd strained my very lower back cleaning the inside of the oven on Thursday, and I was still feeling the effects today, hence the exercises.

My plans for the week ahead include so much cleaning (SO MUCH), eating healthily and within my IF eating window, hydrating like woah, sleeping, and breathing/meditating/etc.


May the week ahead bring you the energy you need for whatever challenges it holds.

Comments

[oschun]

Congratulations on the weight loss! I'm glad the IF is working for you. I almost managed a day last week, skipped breakfast and lunch, but had to have a piece of toast at about 4pm because I was feeling decidedly out of sorts, just listless and grumpy. I think it was partly because of the heat and humidity and also because I hadn't drunk enough water during the day. I only had the one slice of toast though and then my normal evening meal so that's okay. I'd like to keep it going and build in one day of fasting each week where I just have dinner in the evening.

Sorry to hear that you've been in pain. I hope it eases up. It sounds like you're getting a lot of chores done!

I managed to do my Callanetics video this week as well as the Pilates class at the gym. I was pretty proud of myself. I'm so out of the routine of doing any exercise besides walking. Stretching exercises that used to be relatively easy for me are now so much harder. That's my other goal this week: Pilates class tomorrow and then Callanetics later in the week.

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you! And congrats right back at you for the Callanetics and Pilates and for fasting again. I don't blame you for that one piece of toast, hon; I had an evening last week when I had to have a little popcorn because the hunger was giving me a headache. I understand, believe me! And a friend of ours was saying just this morning that he does IF, but he sometimes has difficulty regulating his energy level, and he's a weightlifter and distance runner, so it can be tricky. That made me feel better about my own struggles with it--if Mr. Fitness also has some challenges, I feel like it's okay if I do as well. :-)

I think what matters is the effort and also, not to go all woo-woo, I think the mindfulness of it is very helpful. For example, last night, I sat down to do some late-night reading, and in the past that would've meant a snack (usually popcorn or sunflower seeds). I haven't had much of a craving for that in a bit, but last night I did, and I thought, well, why can't I have something? And then I remembered that I was doing IF, and it became a consideration of breaking my fast--breaking the program, so to speak--or just ignoring the craving--because I wasn't hungry, it was just *habit* rearing its stubborn head.

So, anyway, I hope that the new pattern of exercise (and I SO hear you on the stretching!) and the IF helps you develop that mindfulness in a new way. I think you're also just generally so mindful of what you put into your body, so this will just be adding to that.

Big *hugs* and tons of support for your plans, hon!