Fitness Fellowship 2024: Week 40 Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

These days, I am all about doing the best I can. That best is very basic, and sometimes it gives me a little twinge of guilt to not be trying harder, but then I remember how tired I am, and that guilt mostly fades. This is to say: Keep going, my friends, and go easy on yourselves. We are all, every day, just doing the best we can.



Weight: This morning, I was up quite a bit from my illness-induced low weight of 207.6, but the number on the scale was still down from the highest I've been recently, so I'll call it a win.

Exercise: I got very little exercise Monday through Friday of last week. Saturday, I did 20 minutes of gentle yoga and thought I was going to die. Later in that day, I took a VERY slow 23-minute walk in my backyard, and that also induced visions of mortality in me. Sunday, I did 20 minutes of yoga and that was all I could manage. Today, I'm back at work, and I am just managing to get to and from the various places I need to be in order to do my job. I am hoping to do yoga when I get home, but we'll see. I may not have the energy for it.

Eating plan: I have been on the eat whatever plan this week. When I was really sick, I had no appetite and had to force down food. Now, I get hungry, but I have very specific desires for my diet, like lots of carbs and spicy foods. That second trait is because I have anosmia. It is getting better each day, but I am still at the stage of kind of sort of knowing what something smells and tastes like but not entirely having the right sense of it. It is weird. When I *am* hungry, I eat what my body most craves. I've had lots of noodles and soups lately, and I don't see that changing in the near future. Until I'm well again, I'm not going to worry too much about what I eat. I am, however, still sticking to my eating window.

Sleep: I have been VERY good about getting to bed on time and being off-screen for at least a half-hour before bedtime. Sleeping itself, however, is a challenge because of the cough. Last night, I almost got through the night without being woken up. I have hope tonight will be even better, but we'll see.

Hydration: Herbal tea, water, juice, ginger soother, Gatorade, probiotic soda (in small quantities)--I have been consuming SO many fluids. Right now, I have a cup of tea AND a big bottle of juice on my desk.

The week ahead: I'm going to just keep doing what I can. We're going away for the long weekend coming up, and I have no plans to moderate my intake, but I am hoping to have the energy for at least a couple of walks, as my BFF, whom we are going to visit, is a big nature rambler like we are. If I don't have the energy for walks, though, that's okay too. Tea and cake and conversation are also fine.



I am sending you warm wishes for a week that meets your fondest expectations for it! We deserve good things.

Comments

[batdina]

I just have to make it through this weekend and I can collapse then. This is my current mantra.

I'm mostly eating okay, though the machine thingie says I'm not eating enough of whatever's okay. I give my last sermon Friday night, and then after I fast on Saturday, I can do what I will. This again is my current mantra.

Exercise? When I remember. I'm doing all the sleeping.

Good luck with your feeling better. Take it slow my friend.

[sylvanwitch]

If I had any energy to spare, I would totally send it your way! :-). I *am* keeping you and yours in my prayers, though, as always. Your mantras are eminently sensible, and I hope they help you power through.

*hugs*

take care of yourself!

[oldtoadwoman]

I am tired on your behalf and impressed you did that much.

I went swimming for an hour and a half with a friend on Saturday and have done a bit of walking. But ... I've also done too much eating. I'm far too skilled at rationalizing "just this one" treat when I've had a rough day. I'm hoping to get myself back in gear this week.

Re: take care of yourself!

[sylvanwitch]

I am trying to balance wanting to eat what my body wants to eat with NOT eating EVERYthing in that category. (I can have noodles. I can't have, like, a POUND of them--lol!). I guess the good thing about anosmia is that I'm mostly off sweets because I can't taste them anyway.

I appreciate so much everything you are saying and have said about the teaching experience. Believe me, I empathize on so many levels. Go, us, for doing what we can manage to do!

Re: take care of yourself!

[oldtoadwoman]

What is it about noodles? I rarely even crave pasta or noodles, but when I do eat them, I want an entire bucket of them. I have zero portion control when noodles are involved.

[oschun]

I'm glad to hear you're feeling a little better. I lost my sense of smell both times I got covid. It's super weird and disconcerting.

I only managed to fast one day last week for various reasons. One of which is I felt slightly weird and a unwell the one day. I think I need to be careful with not overdoing the fasting, especially when I'm feeling stressed and tired.

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you, hon. And do be gentle with yourself, as well. I know how in tune you are with your body, but I also know sometimes you get caught up in work and forget you haven't eaten. I hope you're able to find a balance that allows your stressed self to get some relief. Big, big *hugs* to you, hon!

[china_shop]

*hugs and hugs and hugs* Wishing you all the best, and a speedy but gentle recovery. <33333

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you so much, my friend! *smishes*

[delphi]

*hugs* I hope you can keep quashing that guilt, because taking things easy, sticking to the basics, and getting all the rest you need and then some is the best possible investment in your future health.

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you for the words of encouragement. This week has been a struggle, for sure, one of the busiest of the year during which I am overscheduled. I've done what I can where I can to mitigate that, including skipping yoga last evening, for example. I do wish I had my voice back because it is *exhausting* trying to force my voice out to teach. Anyway, I do appreciate your kindness and hugs. *hugs back*