Fitness Fellowship 2025: Check-in 22

[sylvanwitch]

Greetings from the first week of June! I'm not sure where the time has gone, but we've just cross the year's halfway mark.

How does your progress look from here? Can you look back to see how far you've come? Did you expect to be closer to your goal, or are you pleasantly surprised? What unexpected events changed the pace of your progress?

Please know that you're welcome to ignore all of those questions and simply check in for the week. I've just gotten philosophical in my middle age. ;-)



Weight: I'm about where I was last week, so I guess that's fine.

Exercise: Yoga four days out of four pledged; strength-training five days out of three pledged; walking every day. My biggest accomplishment this past week was walking in our local Pride parade yesterday. It was awesome, but my feet and legs definitely complained about all that pavement when we were done!

Eating plan: I've found a way to manage my dessert craving that seems to be working. I can't honestly remember how much of what I ate this past week, but I do recall a pizza extravaganza Friday night. Otherwise, I'm mostly being pretty good? If it sounds like I'm hedging, it's because I am *so* tired and can't be arsed to look things up. (I just finished grading 24 handwritten exams with multiple parts. This means I am DONE for the year, but it also means I'm cross-eyed with fatigue.)

Meditation: SO MUCH! Seriously, I think I used the app at least four times last week. I really enjoy it. I get these quick bursts of mindfulness and relaxation.

Hydration: Yes.

Sleep: I had major anxiety about Pride, so I didn't get much sleep between Saturday and Sunday. Otherwise, I've been good about getting to bed on time. (Last night, I went to bed early because I was totally wiped out.)

The week ahead: I've got exams to proctor, which means lots of walking up and down aisles, and then I'm done for the school year. I'm also behind on my gardening and yardwork, so I know what I'll be doing when I'm not at school for an exam. I am looking forward to Thursday, which is the last day I have to be in. Yay!



Here's hoping you have the weather that's best for your body wherever you are in the world this week!

Comments

[oschun]

In answer to your question, I'm happy that eating well has just become who I am and that I've been steadfast about the journey I started last year. I've been less focussed on specifics over the last six months (30 different plants a week, avoiding all ultra-processed foods, cooking everything from scratch) but that's mostly because those things are embedded now. I read the labels of most things that are not wholefoods, but it's not obsessive, just about being informed and understanding that Big Food doesn't give a shit about my health. I still eat unhealthy food, but only occasionally, and its's taken me 18 months to get to a place where I can say that. (I'm very excited that S and I are going on a Global Ferments course in July. A day of learning how to make kimchi, miso, veg pickles etc. Yay!)

Well done for almost making it to the end. I have another 6 weeks, but at least the Year 13s are done and the Year 11s will finally be done this Friday. It's felt like a very long academic year.

[sylvanwitch]

That fermenting course sounds interesting! It's been a vicarious joy for me to watch you discovering new foods and preparations and recipes and the like, and I'm thrilled for you that the series of changes you've made have had such a positive impact on your life and living. :-)

Good luck getting through the end of the year, my friend. I hope you have lovely rambles and long lie-ins and good books on the other side. *hugs*

[oschun]

Oh and well done for going on the pride parade!

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you so much! I was *so* anxious, less because of the crowds than because it was the first time I was being OUT in public, if that makes sense. There was zero friction and only one person asked me about my identity and that in a thoughtful, interested way, not in a prying or judgmental one.

[oschun]

I'm really glad to hear it was a positive experience!! I can imagine the climate over there might feel less tolerant at the moment.

Something I love about my school is we have an LGBTQ club that's run by two gay teachers. The deputy headteacher (who is straight) takes the kids to the big pride parade in a city near us every year in the school minibus. A lot of them are small-town/rural kids who don't get those kinds of opportunities. They all get dressed up in sequins and feather boas and have a great day out. It's a lovely thing.

[sylvanwitch]

This sounds fantastic for your students, hon! We have a club, but the queer folks on staff are not allowed to moderate or attend it. I can't go into more detail, but believe me, it's a very sore point for those of us who feel we'd be better fits for the club. *sighs*

💙

[oldtoadwoman]

I swear I'm going to get back on the wagon "soon".

Finals are next week. Once grades are finalized, I still have to babysit them for another week. Which feels ridiculous because the kids won't do ANYTHING those last few days when nothing they do affects their grade. Several people told me to just not tell the students that their grades are finalized before the end of school, but today I had a student tell me (correctly) what date grades are due so they already know and if one knows, they all know.

But on the other hand, I'll care less once finals are over so if they want to run wild, let them.

Re: 💙

[sylvanwitch]

You are going to feel much better when the job is done. Summer is good for walking, too, and frozen treats as rewards for said walking. I am very fond of giving myself permission to have a non-dairy ice cream treat if I've spent the day hiking, for example. Food rewards are a good thing, if we can manage them in moderation. Of course, that's a big IF for me. I've had to stop putting up pints of non-dairy ice cream because I can't be trusted not to eat the whole thing in one sitting. So, I've taken to getting what used to be called a half-gallon (I don't know what it is now) and measuring it out in a specific bowl, so I can't take more than I should. That has helped a lot.

Anyway, all I meant to say was that I know you can get back on the wagon--you've done it before, and you'll do it again! Go, you!

Re: 💙

[oldtoadwoman]

Two days of school to go! (Today starts with an "appreciation" lunch that requires me to go in early.)

[lenzes]

It's so awesome that you walked in the Pride parade! And doing all the other exercise and meditating so often and staying hydrated! You're doing great!

Goal 1 – walking: The same as last week – I was very busy and managed one walk. Honestly, I assumed I'd have made nice progress with the walking program at this point. Well … the reality looks a bit different :D I still hope I can get back to it soon, though.

Goal 2 – push-ups: One additional push-up, at least :D I'm making slow, but steady progress on this goal. Let's see what the rest of the year will bring.

I also wanted to say that I love this fellowship <3 I'm sure I'd have already completely given up on my goals without it, so thank you very much for organising/hosting it!

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you, as always, for your kindness and encouragement. It's especially nice to hear that you're finding this little community helpful: That's what matters the most to me, that we support each other in achieving our goals.

Go, you, for keeping up with the push-ups and for finding time for a walk when things are so, so busy for you! I am hoping the week ahead is kinder to you, time-wise, so you can get another walk or two in there, if you so desire.

You can do it! :-)