This check-in is for December 30th, 2016 – January 5th, 2017.
I’ve decided to switch things up a bit this year. I’m walking to Mordor. That’s right, I’m committing to walking 1,779 miles in a year, which breaks down to just under 5 miles a day, or about 10,000 steps, which is the recommended amount of walking we should do every day.
In addition to the walking, I’m going to try to go to at least 1 yoga class a week. I hope I can fit in more, but I’m still trying to figure out how to get all the walking in, too.
I’ve also started the Full Plate Diet. My goal is to get up to 75% of each meal consisting of fiber-rich foods. I’m also going to continue to work on drinking at least 64 ounces of water each day.
Today is my last day of work until Jan. 9th, so I’m planning on doing a lot of walking and yoga.
This will be my last check-in for 2016, but I will definitely be sticking with FitReaders next year. I made my goal of at least $25 donated to Doctors Without Borders. My goal for 2017 will probably $30.
My car broke down so I haven’t been able to go to any yoga classes. Instead, I’ve been reliant on co-workers to get me back and forth to work. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I get my car back today.
My anti-anxiety meds are working so far, but it was rough going until a couple days ago, so I’ve taken it easy with myself about everything.
The Boyfriend added me to his yoga membership so I can now go to as many yoga classes as I want on my own. I went with him on Sunday, and I plan to start going after work at least 3 days a week.
I’ve been concentrating on getting enough water this week, and my efforts paid off. Five out of Seven days isn’t bad, and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to say I drank at least 64 ounces of water every day in next week’s check-in.
Image: Dominic Hartnett
For those of you who regularly read the posts I write here at Fortified By Books, you probably noticed that this past Friday I did not post my weekly Fit Readers check-in. It’s the first time I haven’t posted a check-in since I joined Fit Readers. I simply didn’t have the spoons to look at my FitBit stats and write about what has been going on. Instead, I chilled out on the couch with my cat and watched Parenthood.
As many of you know I have dealt with Anxiety and Depression for years. I’ve considered myself lucky to not have to be on any kind of medication for over a decade. That changed this week.
Until Tuesday afternoon, I was feeling pretty good. I’ve got a great boyfriend who’s family is amazing. I’ve got a job that, while it’s not my dream job, pays the bills. I’ve got friends, and this blog, and a hundred other things in my life that are either great or at least going well. So why did I have an anxiety attack at work? Why did the panicky feelings continue into the evening and then on into Wednesday? For the first time, I have no idea. Usually, my anxiety escalates during major life changes, not when my day to day life is stable.
For the first time since my first anxiety attack when I was a teenager, I was scared for myself. I knew I had lost control and needed help. I called my Doctor. I said “Yes” when I was asked if I was open to medication. I took my new meds for the first time on Thursday morning, and while I’m doing pretty well, SSRIs are not the kind of pills you just take and then everything is magically better. Hence the lack of spoons to write a simple weekly blog post.
While I can’t promise that I’ll definitely have a Fit Readers post up this Friday or any other post for that matter, I’m slowly adding back in all the activities I normally do as long as I feel I have the energy. I’m not going anywhere. This blog and the community of book bloggers I’m a part of means too much to me to shut it down. So, I’ll see you back here as soon as I can.
This check-in is for November 25th – December 1st.
I’m getting better about drinking enough water, and that’s pretty much my only accomplishment this week. I hope my groin muscle heals soon so I can get back to exercising.
I’m no longer tracking my food and the only reason why is because I’m not eating at restaurants or eating other easily trackable (i.e. pre-packaged) meals much anymore. Instead, I’m cooking at home and eating real food. Trying to figure up the nutrition information for everything takes up far too much of my time; time that could be used to sit and enjoy my food.
I won’t say that everything I eat is super healthy, but it’s full of flavor, which means I’m eating less because I’m more quickly satisfied. I’m also taking in fewer calories and less fat, sodium, and sugar, just from the fact that I have control over the ingredients. I’m also only eating when I’m hungry, and allowing myself to have a snack if I get hungry between meals. I’m much happier than I was when I was trying to track everything I put in my mouth.
I still need to improve on getting enough water, though.
The Texas Book Festival was over the weekend. I was only able to go on Saturday, but, WOW, did I get a lot of steps racked up! I walked over 12K steps, and I definitely felt it the next day.
I’m having a really difficult time getting my butt out of bed early enough to get a workout in, shower, and make it to work on time. If you have any ideas to help me get motivated, please share them in the comments.