Fitness Fellowship 2025: Check-in 29 (LATE)

[sylvanwitch]

My apologies for being late in getting this up. We were returning home from vacation on Monday, and yesterday, we spent the day driving my BFF (and catsitter extraordinaire) back to her ancestral abode.

I hope everyone has had an excellent week and that you're making strides toward your individual fitness goals. As always, please share as much or as little as you'd like here.



Weight: I seem to have gained only about two pounds on vacation, which is awesome news because I typically gain at least five.

Exercise: We did a lot of walking, including two different hikes that had a LOT of stairs and/or steep inclines, and it was hot and very humid most days, so that exercise felt like a marathon. I also did yoga four times and lifted at least four times. The loft at the cabin we rented was a huge, airy, light-filled space perfect for morning yoga and for watching the natural world go by as I lifted.

Eating plan: The kitchen appliances in the cabin were extremely fancy and modern, and I wasn't comfortable using some of them; I managed, but I didn't do as much cooking as I'd expected to do, and I certainly didn't eat as many salads as I'd planned to make. I did eat some local fruit, but I also ate local baked goods, so... A couple of days, my snacking between meals/later at night was NOT good, and I indulged in too many sweets, but I wasn't as off-the-rails as I've been on past vacations, when I'd give myself permission to eat everything and all things. So, all in all, I think I balanced the indulgence with the healthy eating more than I usually do on vacation, and the heat helped to keep my appetite down, as well.

Hydration: I was good about this, largely because if I hadn't been, I think I'd have suffered heatstroke. It was seriously, uncomfortably hot and humid most days.

Meditation: Yes! In fact, I talked T. into meditating with me one day. I've started a new series on the same app I use for yoga. They're just quick little balancing/centering meditations, and I'm enjoying them.

Sleep: I have difficulty sleeping away from home, but given that caveat, I actually slept fairly well.

The week ahead: I'm going to lose those two vacation pounds by returning to my plants-based, whole foods diet and getting my usual exercise despite the temperatures spiking rapidly from today on. (I am so tired of the heat.)


Here's hoping the remaining days of this fitness week are good ones for you!

Comments

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yesterday we went to the Edgar County Fair, which was lovely. We got in some extra walking around the fairgrounds.

It's an exceptional county fair for food, only exceeded by state fairs we have seen. Most of the food booths were collected along a restaurant row that made it easy to see all the offerings before buying. There were boring fair options, pretty good fair options, and a good handful of excellent things mostly offered by local folks instead of chain food truck. So for instance, one place had covered a grill with onions, peppers, and Italian and Polish sausages. Another was doing smoothies with real fruit. It was nice to have options beyond junk.

Re: Well ...

[sylvanwitch]

Oh, that sounds like a fantastic fair food experience! We attended a very small county fair while on vacation, and I ended up with fries because there was literally nothing else on offer I could eat. *sighs* I envy you the delicious options!

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I ended up with fries because there was literally nothing else on offer I could eat. <<

I've had that kind of experience. :(

When I was little, the offerings were often more diverse, although there are some things now that are more recent, like smoothies. I miss the ag booths where farmers would offer either free samples or cheap snacks made of fruit and vegetables. Few things cut the summer heat better than a cold cup of melon balls or cherry tomatoes. One of my current favorite foods is the chop salad from Naf Naf, which is literally just chopped cucumber and tomato with cilantro. It's a very cooling dish and would be perfect for fairs.

Something from my fantasy setting Terramagne is a rule that the first food truck at an event has to offer food accessible to the widest possible dietary range. It's often a Fair For All truck, which offers classic fair foods that are allergy-friendly. But there are also HKV trucks offering halal-kosher-vegan foods, and Lightshades with foods free of nightshade ingredients. And so on. Yes, my readers prompt me to fantasize about accessible food options at public events! :D

Re: Well ...

[sylvanwitch]

Chilled melon balls? Sign me up! I could live on melon in season!

I love the Fair For All idea you've incorporated into your fantasy setting. If only that were a real-life thing! As a vegan, I find I can usually eat in large cities and their immediate suburbs and/or in big college/university towns. Rural America, on the other hand, is not always but often a real challenge. Ah, well. (This time of year, at least, I can usually get roasted corn on the cob and just ask them to hold the butter. Mmmmmmm!)

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Chilled melon balls? Sign me up! I could live on melon in season! <<

Yeah, I love melon. We made a watermelon smoothie earlier this summer. (Substitute your favorite plant-based yogurt for the cow yogurt; I'd use coconut, but cashew would also work.)

>> I love the Fair For All idea you've incorporated into your fantasy setting.<<

Here it is in "Tension and Release."

>> If only that were a real-life thing! <<

It could be if people choose to develop it. Certainly there would be a market for this or other versions supportive of special dietary needs. When I was little, I was the only person in our monkeysphere with food issues, not counting seniors whose bodies were breaking down; now almost everyone I know has things they can't eat safely. :/ We've either broken food, broken people, or both.

One of the most surprising and interesting things about Terramagne is how much of what makes it wonderful is actually replicable with extant resources instead of based on superpowers. So some of my readers like to replicate things. It can work. Heck, our favorite sandwich is a Hummus Buster that we always make from leftovers after eating at Naf Naf, and I copied that from a Syrian cook in T-America. (Falafel makes a vegan version.)

>> As a vegan, I find I can usually eat in large cities and their immediate suburbs and/or in big college/university towns. <<

That makes sense. Thank a hippie, it's where most of first vegetarian / vegan restaurants came from.

>> Rural America, on the other hand, is not always but often a real challenge. Ah, well.<<

Yeah. That's sad, because it's where produce is grown.

>> (This time of year, at least, I can usually get roasted corn on the cob and just ask them to hold the butter. Mmmmmmm!) <<

<3

Check for produce-themed fests. Just off the top of my head, around here there's a sweet corn festival, a strawberry festival, and an apple festival. If you can't find an event calendar for your locale online, check the nearest rest stop or tourist center, they'll have hardcopies. For produce fests in particular, look for an agriculture office -- they should have a list of events that highlight specific farm products. If you go to fairs, watch for displays there too. There was an Ag booth at the Edgar County Fair we just visited recently, who had wallpapered their background with posters about wildlife and different farm foods.

Huh, we could sure use a vegetarian / vegan food fair. Use the trick of making the most delicious and fragrant dishes you know, to hook new people. Our favorite lentil dal (from The Vegetarian Epicure) has a compelling aroma.

Re: Well ...

[sylvanwitch]

Thanks for all the great suggestions and links! I'll think on them and/or check them out! :-)

[oschun]

Our temperatures have dropped over here - which is what always happens as soon as we break up for summer. It rained today. I think I'm bored. I'm at that midway-point through the first week of the summer holidays when I don't know what to do with myself because my brain is still so busy. I went to a pilates class this morning. In the *morning* - what a pleasure! I also tried to read a serious novel and ignore my phone and laptop and avoid reading about the horror of Gaza. I baked bread. There are many hours in the day when they're not being eaten up by the insanity of work. I think I'm a workaholic. I need a hobby! :D Actually, I just need to get away. Leaving the country always re-sets my brain. We're flying out on Sunday.

I hope your kitties were happy to see you and the humidity eases. Also, well done for getting T to meditate with you

[sylvanwitch]

I used to have actual, full-on anxiety attacks during the first couple of weeks of summer break every year. I was built for work, absolutely a workaholic. In fact, I once took a survey for a workaholic support group and scored in the highest bracket of "Yes, you definitely have a serious problem." Lol!

So, I absolutely understand how restless the long stretch of free-time can make you feel. I still struggle with intrusive thoughts that don't otherwise gang up on me when I'm focused on the next thing I have to prep, read, present, or grade.

I hope that the restlessness eases and that you're able to relax and enjoy your break, especially the travel portion. *hugs*

[adore]

Wasn't able to exercise as usual because I was menstruating, and wasn't able to take walks either because it's raining dogs here. I need to do some kind of home workout or something because I'm getting quite restless and irritable.

[sylvanwitch]

I hope you find something for at-home exercise that you enjoy and that doesn't bore you quickly. That was my problem for a long time until I found apps that gave me variety and also "gamified" my exercise, which is to say that I am super shallow when it comes to motivation. Give me a digital badge, and I'm yours! Lol!

could be worse?

[oldtoadwoman]

I gained two pounds over the weekend. Frustrating but not surprising as I was hanging out with a friend who is always ordering pizza or offering me treats that I cannot resist. And then last night, I had a "healthy" dinner, but I ate enough for two or three people. I'm going to try and put more focus on portion control today.

Re: could be worse?

[sylvanwitch]

It's so hard to balance living and enjoying life with trying to eat well, I've found, largely because I am good at making excuses of the YOLO variety in order to justify excess. *sighs* So, this is to say that I hear you, especially about portion control!

Re: could be worse?

[oldtoadwoman]

Yeah, I was good yesterday. And was pretty good most of today and then ... decided that I really needed to try the Ecuadorian ice cream shop that I've been walking past for ages. I think the ice cream shop is still a slight improvement over getting ice cream from a store and bringing it home, because I'm limited to a reasonable quantity (two scoops) when eating in public as opposed to binge-eating at home.

I did discover that they have ice cream flavors I've never heard of, so I know I'll be going back. They must all be tasted! (Today's scoops were "mango" and "lulo" and they let me taste a spoonful of "soursop" before I decided on the "lulo".)

Re: could be worse?

[sylvanwitch]

I love mango, but I had to look lulo up. That sounds like a perfect summer flavor combination. :-) And I agree that it's *great* to go out for ice cream as opposed to bringing it in if it helps you with portion control.

My victory over ice cream yesterday was that I had limited plants-based options at the grocery store, so I ended up picking out two Ben & Jerry's non-dairy flavors. I'm not a big fan of B & J's non-dairy ice cream; there are cheaper brands around that do it better. But, it's what they had. Then, I remembered that there's a non-dairy vanilla variation in 1.5qts of another brand, and while it's been out of stock FORever at our little local grocery, they had some last night! Back went the B & J's and in went the other. When I can measure it out and add (measured) chocolate syrup, I eat less and enjoy it just as much. Plus, it was way cheaper than two pints of B & J's, so there's that.

Anyway, go us! We are making BETTER choices!

Re: could be worse?

[oldtoadwoman]

Yeah, I'd never heard of lulo or soursop before. I think some fruits just don't travel well, so if you don't live in the region you aren't likely to run across them. I'll definitely need to go back to try more flavors.

7-Eleven (at least the one near me) currently has one sugar free Slurpee flavor, so that's been my treat the last few two days during our little heat wave.

I'm not on the work schedule today or tomorrow so I'm back visiting the friend who encourages overeating, so we will see how this goes.

[lenzes]

Congrats on exercising despite being on vacation *and* the heat/humidity! Staying hydrated is really a must under those weather conditions. And yay for meditating regularly!

Goal 1 – walking: I walked once last week. Which is better than nothing, at least.

Goal 2 – push-ups: One additional incline push-up :D

[sylvanwitch]

Some weeks, "better than nothing" is absolutely my saving mantra! Go, you!

And GO YOU for adding another push-up! That's awesome!