Fitness Fellowship: Week Two, Better Late Than Never Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

Friends, I apologize for the delay! I'm still unable to post if I'm using my usual browser, Chrome, but my laptop came with MS Edge, so I'm using that for this posting. I'm not the only one having issues with posting, and I've put in a help request, so we'll see what happens. In the meantime, I can post this way.

How was your last week (and this one so far), in terms of your goals for fitness (or in terms of anything else you'd like to share)? I hope it was a good one for you.




My weight is up a little this week, probably because I've been eating like it's a holiday. That's because we've had a snowstorm bad enough that not only has school been closed, but they've cancelled midterm exams. That is an enormous relief because I'd have had to grade handwritten exam essays in a truncated window of time, and now I do not have to worry about them. YAY!

I've been getting plenty of exercise each day (today, I did 60 minutes on the bike, for example), but I've also been eating more than usual. I'm still only eating within my window, however, so the intermittent fasting is in place. It's just that I've been making big, hearty breakfasts and such. (This morning it was whole wheat pancakes with pecans.)

I have been good about hydration, been getting lots of extra sleep (SO GOOD!), and I even spent some time praying and meditating while walking out in the snow in the far back yard. (It was wild and lovely out there!) If I had managed to rein in the amount of food I've been consuming, I'd likely have seen a drop on the scale. As it is, I'm up a bit, but c'est la vie. I've been enjoying the extra time to cook good things and consume them with the snow falling furiously outside. :-)



Have a great remainder of your week!

Comments

[delphi]

Congratulations, especially on the extra sleep! Being well-rested, having some time with your thoughts, and being able to cook good things and enjoy them is a wonderful state of being, in my opinion.

Last week wasn't quite as successful as the week prior, but so far this week's going better after some adjustments. The issues were mostly down to me having an apartment inspection last week. It was just routine, but after getting kicked out of my last place when the owner sold it, I realize I've got some lingering anxiety around housing security. I ended up skipping a couple of walks for cleaning (less relaxing, but at least it was active) and had some difficulty getting myself to bed on time.

I was aiming for:

Goal #1: Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
Result: 7/7, with some marked improvement on what qualified as a meal and how they were spaced out. I've been enjoying some really good oat bran porridge this week through the cold weather, made with coconut milk, with toasted coconut and nuts in it.

Goal #2: Take at least a 30-minute walk every day (weather and health permitting).
Result: 4/7, although I once again managed longer walks on the weekend.

Goal #3: Turn off electronics and start getting ready for bed by 10:30 every night.
Result: 4/7, this time with three weekday nights being the issue. I still managed to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, though, even if one of them was just squeaking by.

Goal #4: Cut out caffeinated drinks.
Result: 7/7. This one's not hard to stick to when I stay on top of it. I'm not attached to the effects of caffeine, I'm just partial to the taste of some drinks, and I need to keep remembering that I pay for the deliciousness with sleep issues.

[sylvanwitch]

I'm glad your inspection is done and over, and hopefully that has eased your anxiety on that count. Your porridge sounds delicious! I gave up breakfast for fasting, but the other day I was home, and it was late enough, so I made a big bowl of oatmeal with pecans and raisins and maple syrup and it was divine. I do *love* that kind of hearty, thick hot cereal in the winter. I'm so glad you had such a nutritious start to your days, as well.

Also, go you for the long walks on the weekends! It's been too snowy and slippery here to walk outdoors, but on Tuesday, before the storm moved in, we went to the local outlet mall and got in a couple of miles, and then I was able to walk in the backyard, which is about a half-mile for one lap. But I miss taking longer walks outside and am hoping for a thaw later next week, so maybe I can get a walk in.

I struggle on worknights sometimes with getting ready for bed on time because I feel so resentful that my precious free time has to come to an end for something sensible like getting enough rest, so the struggle is definitely real where that goal is concerned!

[delphi]

Crossing my fingers that you get that thaw! We're transitioning back into rain here this week, and I got out for a nice long walk-and-chat after work with a friend, which wasn't too impeded except for some slushy crossings and some bumpy-ice spots where people hadn't cleared their sidewalks.

I struggle on worknights sometimes with getting ready for bed on time because I feel so resentful that my precious free time has to come to an end for something sensible like getting enough rest

Oh, do I ever hear you. Obviously the real solution is a proper increase in free time, but barring that I've been noticing—and trying to remind myself—that the quality of my free time gets better on more sleep even if the quantity is reduced. I at least have more energy to chat with people and work on some creative projects, rather than just watching videos or doing other more passive things like when I'm tired.

hi

[oldtoadwoman]

I'm seeing a tiny bit of progress on the scale. Not enough to be really sure that the scales are actually moving or if I've just gotten lucky, but at least it's not going up.

I've hit the fitness center for the third day in a row. Today was the resistance machines. (The pool is closed this week. I asked when it would re-open and they said maybe Friday but apparently the weather delayed delivery of some parts they need. The sign said "cleaning in progress" but the "we're waiting for parts" makes me think something went wrong with the pump.)

I can't wait until I can get outside and go for a walk, but it looks like temperatures are dropping again tomorrow and by the time they predict above-freezing temps next week, they're also predicting rain. So, no outside for me for awhile.

But as long as the weather is like this, it also means I'm not going to the store so it's going to be a few more days of canned soup, which is significantly healthier than a lot of the things I'd be tempted to buy if I was willing to walk any distance.

Re: hi

[sylvanwitch]

I guess the weather is both good and bad for you--no outdoor walks, which I know are your preferred mode of exercise, but also no grocery shopping (so no temptation to buy a treat). Still, I do hope for your sake that you're able to get out soonish. (I hope that for my sake, too, as I get tired of working out indoors.)

Re: hi

[oldtoadwoman]

Yeah, I definitely have this habit of rewarding myself for walks with treats. Walking to the frozen custard shop. Walking to Aussie pie shop. Walking to the burger stand. Etc. In this weather, I haven't even wanted to walk to the corner deli.

[luzula]

Awww, that sounds like a pretty good week!

All my goals from last week have gone well:
Otherwise I still have my mild cold, plus a weird knee and shoulder, so actual exercise is still out. But this week I aim to:
- take walks every day and do mild exercise, which is going fine so far,
- get my sleep schedule back to where it should be in preparation for teaching,
- book a time with a physical therapist for next week to get some advice on the knee and shoulder.

This week so far I have been to the PT and got exercises for my knee and shoulder which I should do every other day. No running yet. I've also been to my massage therapist that I go to irregularly, to fix the stiffness in my back/neck. He is MAGICAL and does wonders in loosening up those knots. My cold is gone, which is nice. My teaching has started, and I've got over the initial hurdle of masking, so it'll be easier to just continue doing so.

Goals for (the rest of) this week:
- do PT on three days,
- go for a walk/be outside somehow every day,
- find ways of working out which I can do despite arm/shoulder, and do that on five days (I'm including the PT I did on Tuesday...)
- stick to my sleep schedule

[sylvanwitch]

I'm glad you're back in the swing of things with teaching, and I hope your plan for the week, particularly the PT and the getting outdoors goals, work out for you. I also hope the PT helps with your knee and shoulder. YAY for massage therapists with magic hands! :-)

[oschun]

I'm envious that you don't have mid-term exams to mark. I'm in the middle of that right now myself, but at least our A Level classes are a lot smaller than the other year groups lower down. What a bonus for you to have some extra time off and better sleep.

I'm having a good week in relation to food and fasting. I fasted for 17hrs on two days and the mostly plant-based, wholefood journey S and I are on is really working for us. Our shitake mushrooms should be ready to harvest this weekend. We're also brewing our own kombucha and I've found an online seller for beans and pulses. They're really good and have such variety, including homegrown and ancient varieties. Carlin peas are scrummy and I'm really looking forward to trying some eye-of-goat beans.

Exercising and trying to drink less is an ongoing journey - both were so-so this week.

[sylvanwitch]

There are no words to express how relieved I was when they emailed us to let us know the exams had been cancelled. And the days off have been a wonder of rest, reading, writing, and eating well. It makes me resentful of gainful employment, to be honest.

I am *so* thrilled for you that you and S are enjoying the plants-based lifestyle AND that you're getting to harvest your first mushroom crop soon! HOW EXCITING! I have a hydroponic garden kit that my husband gave me *last* Christmas, and do you think I've set it up yet? (I am the one who asked for it, which only makes this whole delay more shameful.) Your growing experiment has inspired me to FINALLY unbox it and get it started. Fresh lettuces in midwinter? Yes, please!

Good luck with exercising and drinking less. I am sending you ALL the good vibes for those goals! :-)