I've been pretty down on myself lately and i've made the decision to not go back to Tai Chi or kickboxing until March. I don't know if this decision was made out of laziness or if it is actually explainable, but right now I don't care. I just don't want to go. I really need to devote myself to getting in some study time with my management courses, otherwise I can pretty much kiss a good grade goodbye. I only have a few weeks left until the first seminar, and I have a TON of work to do. I'll never understand why I always leave everything to the last minute and then stress out until it's half-a$$ed done and wonder why I do so poorly.
ANYHOW, holy I can sure complain! I think i'm going to take your advice and map out a plan for the remainder of February, except I need to remember to leave leg-room here and there so that I don't go crazy from too much structure!
Things to consider: gym time, work, dogs, family and friends, study course, writing, leg-room.
When you take away Tai Chi and Kickboxing, it almost looks do-able. I must be forgetting something...
Total exercise for February is i'm not going to tell you. You win, HoP! But in March it may be a different story!!! :)
Thanks for all the comments and advice - I think the moral of the story here is that I need to quit enabling myself to fail and really start trying instead of thinking everything will just fall into my lap.
Today i'm sick, and I know I always used to only venture on to this board and leave a message when I was sick, but it's not like that anymore, really!!!! I can't believe this week is already over and it's time to start thinking about going back to work on Tuesday. Ugh, i'm not looking forward to it, but I really like the money. What can you do? I have a problem, and maybe you can help:
I work Monday to Friday during the day and take exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays i've designated an hour's time to my management courses. This probably isn't enough time, so i'll have to up it to two hours and eventually get it to about eight hours a week. I clean, do laundry and visit friends and relatives on the weekends (this is where quality time with my puppies also comes into play). I really love to write, but i'm having so much trouble 'getting into it'. I also love to paint and draw, but I just don't have the time. My question is: How can I balance everything so that i'm not just doing the things I NEED to do, but also the things i'd like to do???? I really don't feel balanced and though it may not be a life-threatening thing, it matters to me, you know? I'd love to devote myself to art and creative writing, but money always gets in the way. How can I feel better about this?
Tai Chi and Kickboxing are definitely fun classes, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it feels more like a chore than a fun thing to do with friends. I know i'm supposed to suck it up, and I DO suck it up, but i'd really like to know when this business of loving life is supposed to start happening, 'cause i'm not there yet. And i'm getting older every day.
Total exercise for February - 3 hours. Yee. Haw. I think I made this same comment in January. Now i'm not only unfulfilled in life, but i'm also repeating myself as if I was drunk.
There are ways to balance the things you spend your time on. Get a big white board and lay out your week in advance. Put in your work hours, and reasonable sleep hours, then see what's left over. Schedule errands when you're already on your way past that place, so the stop isn't as time consuming as it would be to run across town just for that thing. Example: I try to make doctor's appointments on days when I don't have anything else on my schedule...then use the extra time in town to get the oil changed (you could have a notebook to do creative writing while your oil gets changed), or shop for this months' birthday cards, get groceries, mail packages, etc. Combine those into one day in town.
Also, I find it really easy to cook a whole week's worth of food in a couple of hours on the weekend, then package it to just reheat during the week. Example: it takes just as much heat and time in the oven to cook one roast, as it takes to cook a roast beef, a baked chicken, and a pork tenderloin. You can also prepare several servings of long-cooking rice, make some real mashed potatoes, etc. Package everything into serving sized containers and reheat as needed. All you need to "make" are your steamed veggies, which only take about 5 minutes. This REALLY frees up your weeknights for more enjoyable things.
I actually wrote you a really long comment when you got back from your holiday, but then I accidentally pressed the wrong key and closed my window and lost the whole thing, and was too pissed off to write it all out all over again. Oh well!
I kind of have a similar problem as you, except that I'm not quite as busy - more just lazy. I used to write a lot when I was younger but now it seems I never have time - I mean, you need some real alone time to write, not just a few minutes here and there. I'd suggest you try to put aside one or two hours on weekend mornings for your creative pursuits. (You could even use this time to do laundry - that seems like the kind of thing which might not interfere too much with your creative juices.) Turn your telephone ringer off and give your puppies some toys or something to distract them! If you feel guilty or distracted, tell yourself that you have the whole rest of the day to take care of whatever other commitments you have.
Good luck!
I made chicken fried rice yesterday for dinner and hit up my grandma's place for lunch - chicken, veggies and pie!! Oh well. Today I made eggs for lunch and croissants in the oven. Unfortunately, I ate about three too many. When you're on an all-inclusive holiday, all you have to do is walk down to the buffet tables and choose what you want. There is no cooking involved (heaven for me). Surprisingly, I didn't eat as much as I do at home. Now that i'm back, i'm finding myself slipping into the same routines of eating great amounts and then feeling guilty about it later.
I was in a bit of a mood yesterday, sad about being at home and wishing I was still in Mexico. I guess everyone goes through that, and i'll get over it sooner or later. Someone asked me if I was going to be the 'type' that goes on an all-inclusive vacation every year and I really had to sit and think about it. It was great, but i'm more of an 'experience it' type of person and all-inclusive is quite limiting in that regard, although you still could if you wanted to, it would just cost more. I have to say that I loved the feeling of security you get at a four star hotel - i'm a chicken when it comes to venturing out into unknown territory but I love the high you get when you've pushed through that fear. So, i'm still up on the wall about all-inclusives. If I go to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) again, I don't know that i'll do the all-inclusive again. You never know though...
I'm taking the dogs out to the farm for a run this afternoon. Tonight is Tai Chi and kickboxing. Wow, it'll be a kick in the butt to get back into this thing called exercise!
Total hours for February - zero; Goal - 25 hours
Hola!
If I recall correctly, my total exercise hours for January was 26.5 hours. That's okay I guess. Not great, but okay. Not much I can do about it now, right?!! February is going to be scary because there isn't much left of the month and i'm at zero hours because i've been on vacation for most of it so far! I still have another week off, but I fully intend on getting straight back into the thick of things...
My vacation was totally wonderful and lovely! I can't believe the week has already gone by and even though i'm glad to be home in my own bed, it's going to be a bit of a cultural shock for the next few days. You mean, I can't just walk around outside in my bathing suit and sarong???! It was below 50 degrees celsius last night when we came in on the plane and we decided to stay one night instead of driving home. So, I got home this morning just before lunch and now i'm going to work on getting my stinky clothes clean again and finding something to eat for dinner! Adios Amigos!
Total exercise for February - zippo, zilch, zero
Finally i'm feeling better - that flu stuck around far too long in my opinion and totally wiped me out for the week. We leave tomorrow though, rain or shine - whether i'm packed or not! Thankfully, I am. I think it's all under control, but I could be missing something. Oh well. Passport. Money. Hotel voucher. Camera. Those are the main things. Everything else is expendable and replacable.
Talk to you all when I return in one week! A lean, mean, suntanning machine! Okay, skip the lean part...
I'm living on crackers, gingerale and orange juice. Would you believe I got sick only one week before my big trip to Mexico?? And I got a nice whacking stomach flu too, not just your regular everyday kind of virus. Unfortunately, it's knocked me out to the point where I can't even figure out the number of socks I will need while i'm gone. Which is also why I haven't logged on here lately. I don't really have much to say besides that i'm sick. So, I will try to get on here again tomorrow and actually let you know how i've been doing for the past few days, but right now? I'm just going to go lay on the couch and rest.
I got to sleep in this morning until 9:00am, then got up and at it. I went into the city to visit my Dad today, as my birthday is coming up and he wanted to see me before I left on the trip. It's been a long day - I just returned home now. I only ate once today, my Dad took me out for lunch and I had a chicken and rice wrap with fries. I ate half the fries and half the wrap, and gave the rest to my Dad. I'm still full and we ate over 7 hours ago!
Anyways, not much to report as i've been very bad with exercise this past week and it wasn't any better today.
Tomorrow I tentatively signed up for a Belly Dancing class!!! I think I will take the half-day workshop instead of the full day, because my friend and I need to do some shopping in the afternoon for our upcoming trip. But still, that will be 2.5 hours of exercise. Finally, exercise! Yay! Then shopping, then packing and cleaning. Then back to work on Monday. Thankfully, I have this Friday off so I only work a four day week. I'm not counting down the days to the trip, just the days left of work!!! Four more!
Total exercise for January - 21 hours.
P.S. - sorry for my poutiness yesterday. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with everything I need to accomplish this next week. I just needed to vent, I guess. Thanks for your comments!
TGIF.
Need to walk dogs.
Still very tired.
Not much more to say.
Bad mood today.
I don't even want to add the stupid exercise hours part of my entry.
TGIF here, too. What a week...and it was only four days! I hope you have a good weekend and I know the feeling of being tired....we'll have better days tomorrow...both of us! :)
Have a good Saturday!
*Rowr*
I mean, *roar* or something equally impressive and intimidating. Not *rowr* like a cat's meow or something. No, *ROWR* like "Arg!", like "is this week over yet??".
I think i'm getting headaches because a)yes, i'm probably drinking too much coffee, but also b) I haven't been giving myself enough time to eat a proper lunch. For the last three days i've had two pieces of toast for lunch because it was all I could fit in due to meetings at work. I could stay at work and eat a much better lunch there, but then I would come home to dog-pee all over the house and probably have an even larger headache if that's possible. So I guess the positive here is that i've been eating under my caloric intake for the day. But again, alas, no exercise today. Can I move my butt and take the dogs for a walk? I probably won't, as I am having trouble keeping my eyes open long enough just to write this. I'm going to bed. Isn't that pathetic? I miss one night of exercise and it totally throws off the entire rest of the week! Okay, okay, so i'm working a lot and not getting enough sleep and things are stressful and I could just cry, but I could still try to fit something in. Why do I just not care? I should care, I mean, that's why i'm on this website right now, because I want to change and be healthy and be fit. Are you thinking that i'm a failure? Because that's what i'm thinking. Crappy crap crap. If ONLY...this and that and the other. Excuses, it's all just excuses for not forging ahead and claiming what's rightfully mine - my HEALTH.
Yes, I need some sleep. Goodnight all.
Total exercise for January - still 21 hours :(:(:(:(:(:(
Get some sleep and enjoy knowing that tomorrow is Friday!
Thanks for the motivation and support about me going to that second class on Tuesday, although I ended up not going anyways. I was too busy and decided to stop in and see the friend i'm going to be travelling with regarding our all-inclusive vacation. We finally booked our vacation package and will be leaving Feb 2 to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! It will be very much fun and I can't wait to hit the beach and stay there for a week straight. If anyone has been there before, give me some tips and hints on what to do/see/ where to go, etc. I would really appreciate the info!
It took a few hours tonight to book the trip, so that meant not getting in a workout. I'm two days in a row now without exercise and am drinking far too much coffee! I had planned to go with a friend after work, but again I worked late so had to cancel with her. I had a terrible headache by day's end as well. Tomorrow will not be much better. The faster the next two days pass the better, seriously. I will be so relieved when it's Friday. I never usually have the TGIF feelings, but this time it will be a great achievement to have made it to Friday without going bonkers!
Total exercise for January - 21 hours :(
The trip sounds amazing. Enjoy!!
You can do it...January is not done so you have time to get more exercise in! :)
Thanks for your comment. Yeah, I need a holiday! Well, guess where I'm going to run my half-marathon? In Luxembourg! It's a night race which I've wanted to do for a while. In fact I signed up for it (and paid the registration fee) last year and then ended up having to cancel my plans for some reason or the other. But it's not until May and I think I need a holiday before that...
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Sounds funny, but sometimes if you literally talk out loud to yourself (no witnesses)...." I CAN DO THIS!" sometimes over and over and over...It starts to sink in....as you are struggling/juggling life's challenges.....I have had to learn to turn my back on a couple of things to get this downsizing/healthier lifestyle underway and you know, those things (not people)will always be there, until I get around to them. Going to the thrift store Mon-Wed-Fri,etc... as I ALWAYS DID and don't now, so I can walk has been very hard, but well worth it..I frequent those stores, so I can sell on Ebay, but I have told myself the $$$$ is no replacement for my health..Hard pill to swallow!..Thank goodness for hubby's overtime and I tell him "thank you!" for it...Better to care for myself now, so I can take care of important things later.... Your schooling is different I know and I don't envy you....but tell yourself, what you can do and go to it!
I wish you all the luck and success in the World and hope you can get some peace of mind about your situation....
borntocry on 02/21/2008:
You know, if you don't want to go, don't go. No matter what the reason. I am the same way about running. Sometimes I just don't feel like it, and it could be 'cause I'm tired or stressed or coming down with something... or it could be that I've just had enough of it for a while. That's why I try to make sure I find the time for it when I do feel like doing it, because I never know how long the feeling will last.
Thanks for your comment! Yeah, I still haven't bought the half-marathon entry. I did find some on eBay but am waiting for it to get closer to the actual date in the hope that they will start going for cheaper. Right now I'd be paying more than I would have if I'd signed up under my own name. And that just doesn't seem right!
Do you remember I told you I was going to forget about the half-marathon in Paris and do one in Luxembourg instead? I actually could still sign up for that one officially, in my own name, but I've changed my mind. And guess why? Because my parents *might* be in London then and they *might* want me to spend that weekend with them. Sigh...
mmuraro on 02/21/2008:
Quitting Tai Chi and kickboxing for now it fine if it seems to you that you're over-committing, but you should try and find something that you can fit in more easily, like a rebounder for example. Something you can do at home, even if just 30 min a day and be done with. It's a good idea to plan your weeks, but good call on leaving some leg room to be spontaneous and shift things around when you want to. Good luck!
Horn_Of_Plenty on 02/21/2008:
My exercise is also the lowest it's been in months! oh well...there's really nothing i can do about the past. I'm having the same problem of wanting to exercise but having to study. arg! I think its good to leave leg room because i also sometimes plan to much and then i end up needed a few days to do just nothing!...and that's not a good plan!
MsKitty on 02/22/2008:
Just remeber "You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind." When you feel you are slugish one day. LOL when I was in college I became a complete insomniac so that I could get everything done that I needed too... I would not suggest that, I gained 20lbs in college alone just because of the stress eating.... Good luck to you.