Fitness Fellowship 2024: Week 11 Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

Tomorrow is the start of spring in our part of the world, but tonight it is cold and snowy. So it goes!

I hope whatever the weather is doing where you are, it's conducive to some outdoor rambles if that's your exercise of choice. I do love a good stroll.

As usual, if you're so inclined, please share how the past week has been for you in terms of reaching your fitness goals.


I'm going to try to be a little less narrative in my review now, since I have so many goals altogether.

Weight: 206.8, about the same as last week.

Fasting: I had some snack attacks later in the evening three nights last week, which I satisfied with popcorn. I've been much better for the past four nights, however, and I think I've dodged the habit-forming bullet.

Hydration: I continue to brew my own ginger root tisane with lemon or lime juice and agave nectar, and I continue to drink it in large quantities during the work day. In the evenings, I mostly drink water.

Sleep: I had some difficulty with this last week, but it was largely the product of our time change (to Daylight Savings Time). I think my body is starting to adjust, thankfully. It was miserable going to bed on time and then just tossing and turning for hours.

Meditation/Breathing: Yes! This, I achieved while out for a walk one day last week.

Exercise: Yes, every day, walking and stair-climbing during the work week and walking for longer periods on the weekend. Also: Two sessions on the elliptical, incline 7/10, resistance 5/10, for a total of 35 minutes; two sessions of 10 minutes each lifting hand weights. (Note: The dip station is put together, but I haven't tried it yet. That's on my list for this week.)

For the week ahead: More of the same!


And, as always, I wish you all the very best for the week ahead!

Comments

[oschun]

I love a good stroll too. We're dog-sitting for a few days so I've been coming home and walking her, which I've really enjoyed. It was so silent and misty when I went out with her earlier.

I missed pilates today as I had to work late because of a deadline tomorrow, but I've booked a body balance class for Thurs in its place.

My main goal is to reach an average weekly score of 75 on Zoe this week, which would put me in the excellent range. My score was 72 last week and according to the app I managed to eat 42 different plants. I'm such an overachiever - the goal is 30 in a week :D. I've discovered legume pasta brands and they score so highly. The edamame and mung bean fettucine I had for dinner tonight scores 100 and tastes really good. I'm currently *obsessed* with the numbers but I'm okay with that because it's a temporary thing as I embed these changes in my diet.

[sylvanwitch]

This program sounds so interesting! I like the quantification; that seems like it makes it simple to know what you should eat more of and/or avoid eating? Also, YAY For 42 different plants! That's awesome! Dr. Greger's plan has the "Daily Dozen," and I don't think I've ever actually achieved even a single day that ticks all the many boxes because it seems like A Lot. It sounds like the Zoe program is more accessible in that way in particular.

Also, I hope you do get to your body balance class and that you continue to enjoy walking the dog! That sounds lovely!

(It's snowing like hell out there right now, and the robins are SO confused. Ugh.)

[batdina]

I had a rough week last week, but for whatever reason when I got on the scale Sunday morning, I had dropped almost four pounds. I'm sure it's a fluke, but since i only get on the scale once a month, I'll find out next month.

I have been exercising, and I have been taking care of my lungs (I'm horrible about that, but when I remember to do it my life is so much better!). I meditate and pray, and the rest of life just feels overwhelming.

Glad you're doing well. Sorry about the snow!

[sylvanwitch]

It's so good to hear from you, my friend, though I am sorry to hear that you are having a difficult go of things. Please know that you are in my prayers and sendings every day.

Congrats on the surprise weight loss and on remembering to take care of your lungs. Breathing is important, but I think we sometimes take it for granted because it's supposed to be involuntary. (I sometimes find myself holding my breath when I'm stressed, like I've somehow forgotten how to breathe without focusing on it?).

Thank you for the good wishes and the commiseration, re: the weather. We have a couple of inches on the ground, and there is more falling right now. *sighs*

I am sending you ALL the good vibes I can spare and some big, virtual *hugs* too!

[luzula]

I'm curious about the hydration! I usually just drink when I'm thirsty, without keeping track of what I drink, and I don't have any ill effects from that (at least that I know of)--except when I'm out working/hiking on hot sunny days, then I usually do have to make sure to drink enough, or I tend to get a headache. Do you notice any ill effects when you don't drink enough, even in the winter?

Last week's goals:
- do PT on two days,
Yes.
- go running on two days,
Yes.
- work out on three days,
Yes.
- go hiking on one day (just 7 km),
Yes, that was nice!
- keep to my sleep schedule,
Um, well, I did stay up reading a little late some evenings.
- continue to be mindful of what I eat,
Yes, I've been stable for a while at -2 kg from where I started, which is good. Would still like to lose 1 kg more.
- plan to call/meet up with some friend I haven't seen in a while (I'm counting the social stuff as I do think it contributes to mental well-being...)
Yes, that was nice!

Pretty much the same goals this week:
- do PT on two days,
- go running on two days,
- work out on three days,
- go hiking on one day (about 8 km),
- keep to my sleep schedule,
- continue to be mindful of what I eat,
- meet up with a friend

[sylvanwitch]

Your goals always make me smile because they are practical and measurable, and I’m glad you’re having success with them.

As for hydrating, I have noticed as I’ve gotten older (I turned 53 in November), if I don’t drink enough, I sometimes start to have a headache, and I already have issues with leg cramps in the evening if I don’t get enough magnesium in my diet, and being dehydrated makes those worse, so I try to drink water in the evenings.

[delphi]

In a swap, I am going to be more narrative in my review this week and skip the numbers to say: I'm coming off a couple of tough ones and just trying to get back into a good routine. Daylight savings threw off my sleep schedule, and work's continued to make it challenging for me to remember to feed myself or to take the time to take a walk. But I'm clawing my way back.

Congrats on your week! That sounds like great maintenance of good habits in the face of time changes and cravings.

[sylvanwitch]

I'm glad you're being gentle with yourself. It sounds like RL has been rough lately. For sure, I can relate to the DST thing. I am still not myself yet. I hate it. I hope the week we're in is a better one for you.

Thank you for your kind words of support. :-)