Fitness Fellowship 2024: Week Seven Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

Greetings and salutations!

We are past the halfway point in February, and I'm not honestly sure how the time went so swiftly. I am having premature spring pangs, like wanting to clean out the garden (I leave things standing for bugs and whatnot and don't cut anything down until we're well past the chance of snow/frost/freeze), which would have been foolish, since we had a snowstorm yesterday. But, despite the cold, I got outside for a ramble this afternoon and saw a belted kingfisher, bald eagle, and pileated woodpecker, so I guess I can wait a few more weeks for something like actual spring to arrive.

How has your week been? Any victories? Any challenges? Please do share, if you're so inclined.


I'm pleased to report that I'm down 1.6 from last week's weigh-in, and I credit that to NOT splurging every meal on the weekend. My rest has been pretty good, though I'm staying up much later on break than I do during a regular school week. I've been good about hydrating and have also done some breathing and mindfulness exercises occasionally. All in all, it was a good week.

I'm in my one-week winter break today and for the next four, and we're heading out for a few days of travel, so there will be challenges, but I have been sticking and will continue to stick to my intermittent fasting windows, keep drinking my ginger tisane, breathe and/or meditate, and get good rest. Of course, I will also make sure to keep getting plenty of exercise, which is the one aspect of my fitness quest that is consistent and consistently good.


I'm sending you good vibes for the week we're in, my friends! Be well!

Comments

[luzula]

Good for you, it sounds like you're doing well! \o/

Last week:
- do PT on three days (on these days I may or may not also do another workout),
Yes. My knee is improving!
- work out on two other days as well,
Three days!
- be outside in some way every day (this can be a very short walk),
Er, I think on some days this was just walking to the tram...
- keep to my sleep schedule (and hopefully actually sleep),
I did keep to my schedule, but had some mornings where I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep.
- continue to be mindful of what I eat.
Yes, this is going well! I'm down 1,5-2 kg from where I started.

This week:
- do PT on four days,
- work out on three days,
- go hiking on one day (not terribly long though, because of the knee)
- keep to my sleep schedule (and hopefully actually sleep),
- continue to be mindful of what I eat.

Since I'm still a little stressed over the whole house thing, I also plan to take care of myself by 1) reading things which are engaging and/or comforting, 2) talking with friends and family a lot (I'm visiting my sister this weekend). There's nothing practical to do with the house at the moment--I move out of my apartment at the end of May, and then I'll stay with my parents over the summer (and do some traveling), and then I move in in September.

[sylvanwitch]

YAY for such a great week! So much good news in your report. :-)

And here's to another great week ahead! I especially hope your self-care enables your mind to relax and let you sleep.

[luzula]

Thanks! <3

ETA: Also, I am envious of you for the kingfisher. : )

[sylvanwitch]

I always hear it before I see it--it's a "regular" at one of our local parks--but this time, it flew first right over my head and then, on my walk back, it passed under the bridge I was crossing. So cool!

[delphi]

I got outside for a ramble this afternoon and saw a belted kingfisher, bald eagle, and pileated woodpecker

Jealous!

Congratulations on the good week. It's been a challenging one here, but I'm reminding myself that habits take time to form. In a weird way, the slips were useful because it reminded me of how lousy I feel when I don't get enough sleep or eat regularly. Dear self: These are not arbitrary aims, I am trying to take care of you.

Goal #1: Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
Result: 5/7. Getting back on the horse here

Goal #2: Take at least a 30-minute walk every day (weather and health permitting).
Result: 7/7. Trickier to make up when I missed my morning opportunity, but I still managed it. Getting outside and moving is definitely a good thing.

Goal #3: Turn off electronics and start getting ready for bed by 10:30 every night.
Result: 4/7. I didn't even have the excuse of Someone Being Wrong on the Internet this time. I just had trouble shutting my brain down and then missed my sleepiness window. Not eating enough on two of those days probably contributed to throwing my body clock out of whack. Variety might be the spice of life, but routine is the main course that keeps body and soul together.

Goal #4: Cut out caffeinated drinks.
Result: 7/7. Still tempted now and again, mostly because what I actually want is just something cold and creamy and sweet and bitter at the same time, but having an unbroken streak is good motivation to keep on going.

[sylvanwitch]

First, I apologize for the late response, and I hope that this week has been better for you so far (and, of course, continues to be better).

Next, can I just say, "Ugh?" in commiseration with you? Like yours, my body has a way of reminding me of the interconnectedness of all the fine-tuned systems that require, say, uninterrupted sleep and a certain amount of sustenance and, and, and... Bodies are just such complex machines! So, I completely empathize with your struggles last week and, again, hope that this week has been better.

[delphi]

Oh no, don't apologize - I was late commenting in the first place. I've been working on making my week an easier one, and I hope yours has been good to you so far. <3