Fitness Fellowship 2025: Check-in 40

[sylvanwitch]

It is still unseasonably warm here, but tomorrow is supposed to bring rain (at long last) and usher in cooler temperatures. I cannot wait!

Despite the unnatural heat, I did get out for a walk yesterday, though I waited until near sunset to do it and was rewarded for my choice with an amazing moonrise. The unexpected present--I wasn't thinking of the time when I took the walk--gave me one of those amazing moments of awesome, simple joy. I'm living for those these days.

What keeps you going, friends, when the going gets tough, as they say?

Feel free to skip that question, but please do share your progress or lack thereof where your fitness goals are concerned.

Weight: 206.8, down .8 from last week, for a total weight loss of 5.6 pounds since the first of September.

Exercise: I did yoga four times out of four pledged, strength-training three times out of three pledged (but for longer sessions than usual), and walked every day.

Eating plan: For the first time since 1 September, I caved in and got takeout--Chinese food from our favorite place. It was totally worth it, but I worried it would have an adverse effect on my weight loss. I ordered two entrees, both healthy, and no appetizers or soup, and I divided the food up over a couple of meals. It was delicious and filling, and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Otherwise, my food choices have been healthy and my portions reasonable. Yesterday, I spent some time in the morning making a big pot of veggies and bean chili for meals early in the week; it came out spicy and good, and I'm enjoying it with some miche sourdough from a local grocery store.

Sleep: I made it a point to be better about it this past week and have finally reset my sleep schedule.

Meditation: Yes!

Hydration: Also yes! :-)

The week ahead: We're going away for the long weekend, so there will doubtless be some tasty challenges, but I have also learned through experience that I have to make healthy choices when away or I end up having heartburn and/or indigestion, which is no fun at all. Thankfully, where we're heading has an amazing co-op with fresh-made vegan carry-out options, and between those options and the stuff we're bringing with us, I should be in good shape to eat mostly well. Also, we're visiting my BFF, who is a big rambler, and we have hikes planned for Saturday and Sunday, so there will be plenty of exercise.

May the week we're in bring you daily moments of simple joy!

Comments

[luzula]

In general good, but today I am a bit woozy: I got up at 5 am to go get my root canal and now my tooth hurts. Woe. (Not, however, that much woe: I live in a country with good healthcare coverage and the operation will hopefully fix the root (heh) problem.)

I'm glad you got some joy. : )

[sylvanwitch]

Oh, I'm sorry about the root canal but glad you have good care! (As you note, one could wish it were so for every person everywhere. *sighs*) I hope the pain ebbs away swiftly and that the healing is likewise swift!

And thank you! It was a good moment.

[oschun]

I hope the heat eases soon and that you enjoy your long weekend.

S and I watched a sunset together just yesterday. The sky was scarlet. I often stand outside the house and breathe deeply when I arrive home or as I leave in the morning. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by nature. Also, the sound of the tawny owl outside soothes me when I wake up at three in the morning and start processing my to-do list in my head.

I didn't have a meeting yesterday and have therefore managed to do pilates two days running. My body feels pleasurably exhausted. I love pilates.

[sylvanwitch]

Hello from the gloriously, seasonally appropriate coolness that is our region AT LAST! We had rain and then the temperatures plummeted, and last night there was a frost warning. I am in autumn-lover's heaven! :-)

I love the sunset and owls vibe you have going, and I hope your surroundings continue to bring you these beautiful moments of joy, my friend. You totally deserve as much natural beauty and calmness the world can provide you. *hugs*

YAY for pilates two days in a row! I hope you are recovering from the abuse! :-)

Done!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Missed this earlier, but looked it up today so I can claim 1 1/2 to 2 hours of assbusting effort harvesting seeds at the food forest and community garden. If I get the pictures up later I'll try and remember to share a link to them here. Today was supposed to be upper 60sF, wound up around 73F, so I actually maxed out my heat tolerance on the food forest side. We ran an errand, got a snack, gave me time to cool off, then went back so I could do the community garden side. I haven't even tallied my haul yet but I think I got seeds from a dozen or so things -- and someone had been digging up groundnuts so I rescued roots that were on the surface. Oh and three small yellow tomatoes. I am soooo tired. But saving seeds saves a ton of money. \o/

Re: Done!

[sylvanwitch]

Wow! That is an AWESOME amount of labor and for an excellent cause! Woooo-hooooo!

I always find gathering seeds a hopeful thing, banking future life against the dark season, so to speak. I haven't gathered seeds here yet, but I did indulge in buying some spring bulbs to plant later on, just to have the burst of life and color to look forward to.

Congratulations on both the physical activity AND the seed-saving! :-)

Re: Done!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Wow! That is an AWESOME amount of labor and for an excellent cause! Woooo-hooooo! <<

Yeah, I wore myself out. I still have more processing that needs to be done, like researching which need cold-stratification or not.

I did finish the Today's Adventures post and the two picture posts from the food forest, but not the second round at the community garden or the pictures of my haul.

>> I always find gathering seeds a hopeful thing, banking future life against the dark season, so to speak.<<

Me too. Last year I bought some plastic cases for seed saving, big ones for packets or bags and another with little bottles for small amounts of gathered seeds. I've gotten more into seed saving because so many nurseries have gone out of business and the remaining ones have jacked up their prices. :/

Also we desperately need landraces to survive climate change. I have one, the Shithouse Marigolds, that was deliberately made and fully developed. Some others are just things seeding themselves in the yard, like daffodils. I'm currently working on a landrace of zinnias and one of sunflowers.

>> I haven't gathered seeds here yet, <<

It's worth a try. It's fun and easy, and it doesn't cost anything but time. Also lots of exercise! You don't even have to do it with things you've grown yourself -- you can pick up acorns off the sidewalk or ask a friend if you could forage their flowerbed. Watching for opportunities is like a treasure hunt. :D Now is the perfect time of year, as many summer plants have already set seed or will do so soon.

>> but I did indulge in buying some spring bulbs to plant later on, just to have the burst of life and color to look forward to.<<

Go you!

I have bulbs all over. This fall has been an exercise in frustration though. I got a few things planted earlier, like irises, but I have 3 bags of things waiting to be planted and the big order isn't even here yet. It hasn't rained more than a dribble in over 2 months and the ground is rock-hard and bone-dry. I've had to keep watering the irises. >_< I miss the fall rains, which used to arrive in September and now rarely appear.

Re: Done!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I finally got all the pictures posted. \o/ Seeds is the last and has links to the others. It's quite a haul and should give you an idea how much work it was to gather all that stuff.

[lenzes]

Yay for reaching all of your goals last week! That's fantastic! *\o/* I hope you're enjoying the long weekend and the visit with your BFF :)

Goal 1 – walking: No walking. I'm still struggling to get back into a proper walking habit.

Goal 2 – push-ups: I took a break from the push-ups to rest my arms. I think it was the right decision because they're starting to feel better.

[sylvanwitch]

Thank you so much! The weekend was amazing and far too short. *sighs*

I absolutely understand the walking struggle, and I also admire you for listening to your body's vibes and easing off the push-ups until your arms felt better. I hope the week we're in now is proving better for you all around. :-)