Fitness Fellowship 2025: Check-in Eighteen

[sylvanwitch]

Here we are with another week under our belts. What were the highlights of your path to fitness this week? Where were your struggles?

As always, please share as much or as little with us as you'd like.



Weight: 209.6, which is 1.6 down from last week's latest high weight and still 3.4 higher than the year's lowest so far. That said, using non-numerical measures, I have noticed that my pants are definitely looser in places (waste, thighs, butt) than they were in January. I have also gained muscle definition in my arms, upper back, and legs, and my bras are fitting weird, which I attribute to chest and shoulder muscle development from all the lifting. Also, I am able to do more rigorous, sustained cardio and weight-lifting than I had expected I could, which I take as a sign that I'm doing something right, even if the scale doesn't reflect that.

Exercise: SO MUCH! I walked every day, did yoga four times, and lifted weights four times--two of those sessions were much longer than any before, and both workouts had cardio components too. I've been enjoying the variety of workouts available via Fiton, which I watch either on my iPad or on our big Smart TV. On Saturday, I did a 22-minute cardio-weights workout that should have kicked my butt and didn't--I was able to do all the sets and keep pace with the instructor. And it was a lot of fun!

Eating: I definitely watched my portions for meals and tried to eat smaller portions of dessert as well. I even made sure to exercise some moderation during my "splurge" meals this weekend.

Meditation: I did a little bit but not as much as I should.

Hydration: I've been good about this.

Sleep: Yes! My body is making me get enough rest--I've been going to bed early more often than usual--and my brain is cooperating, which is awesome. Here's hoping it continues. I suspect it has to do, at least in part, with the fact that I'm working out harder and longer.

The week ahead: I'm hoping to continue with the portion control of the past week and keep at the higher level of cardio-weights too.


I'm sending you groovy energy for the week we're in!

Comments

[celestialstuff]

I had that thing where you walk past a mirror and have to do a double-take because you look so different. It's been a good week!

[sylvanwitch]

Oh, that's fantastic! YAY! Go, you! :-)

[celestialstuff]

Thanks!

[luzula]

Yay exercise, go you! \o/

I did go running three times the last week, so I reached that goal. I aim to continue with that (must go running today! *reminds self*) I've been letting my bedtimes slide, though, so that's something to focus on this week. Must turn out the light att 11 pm!

[sylvanwitch]

YAY for reaching your running goal! Good luck with the sleep thing. It can be so difficult sometimes to get that light off on time, I know. I am sending you all the good appropriate-bedtime vibes! :-)

[oschun]

It's great that more exercise is also benefitting your sleep. And your clothes fitting differently is a good indicator that you're making progress at building muscle tone. Go you!

I'm working on gradually getting back into my routine. Yesterday, I made a vegetable and quinoa salad recipe with a miso & ginger dressing to take in for lunch over the next few days. It looks a bit Insta-worthy, but is also tasty and filling. Chopped salads are the way to go in the summer I think. I'm pretty sure I've eaten 15 different plants in one day today. So another 15 to make 30 for the week shouldn't be too hard. The Zoe idea is they are meant to be 30 different plants, but I start running out of ideas for plant-based meals as the week progresses, and I also don't want to waste the vegetables I already have in the fridge. A soup at the end of the week is good for that.

[sylvanwitch]

That recipe sounds fantastic! While I dread the hot season here, I do enjoy it for both the local fresh produce and my body's preference for cold salads instead of hot foods. It's almost smoothies-and-salad season, and you've inspired me to look into some cold, whole-grain/ancient-grain salad recipes. (I love miso and ginger! I'll have to see if there's a lower-sodium version of miso, since I'm concerned about my salt intake lately.)

I am, admittedly, lazy sometimes about cooking during the week and doing food prep on Sunday. That's when I fall back on pre-made things, which are not all that healthy, even if the ones I choose are much healthier than the average American's diet. (Given what actually makes up the Standard American Diet, eating healthier than it is a LOW bar indeed.)

T. and I are also very much focusing on buying fewer groceries and making them last longer. We aren't wasteful, but somehow we often end up with food waste b/c we're not both around at the same time to eat things (and T's a picky eater). So, I'm trying to make smaller portions of things (an individual stir-fry, for example). This, of course, means I have to cook more often, however, and that's not optimal for me, either. *sighs*. Why do I have to eat at all? Why can't I subsist on anxiety and despair? Lol!

Anyway, I am glad you're getting back into your eating routine and wish you joy of that amazing salad and the end-of-week soup!

[lenzes]

Congrats on all the exercise AND gaining muscle definition! That's awesome! And it's wonderful that you're getting restful sleep :)

Goal 1 – walking: I walked twice. It's not as often as I'd have liked, but still better than not walking at all.

Goal 2 – push-ups: Once again, two more incline push-ups! :D

[sylvanwitch]

You are always so encouraging--thank you! :-)

You are ROCKING those push-ups! YAY! Go, you! And you are maintaining your walking habit, which is definitely better than not walking at all. I hope you're finding the time and energy for steps and push-ups so far this week. :-)