Beating the Dark...
It's Winter here. Many of you may know that. It's cold. Very Cold. And Dark, most of the time. I get up in the Dark, come home in the Dark. Dark everywhere. Even the Friend I talk to most (mostly whining) is Dark, as in Joan of Dark.(oh, I could be VERY funny today)
(Note to self: Insert random Bengal pics in the post for the people who don't either find you funny or want to hear about your random FIT Plan)
I've been on the FIT Plan for 5 months now, I do believe I've mentioned this. And am STUCK on the Plateau. People who have done this FIT thing have told me this would happen. You lose 10% of your body weight and stay there for a while. But it is very time to move on, so, I've stepped up the game.I hurt (in a good way) I can hardly move post workouts, I'm so tired when I get home, I've been seriously considering Twittering for someone to come over and help me do things like, oh, un-dress and bathe me. It's so hard to drag myself to the gym sometimes, I want to scream. I don't EVER want to get up in the cold and Dark and generally spend the first half hour in my Cave of Covers emailing the (Joan of) Dark with interesting things like "COLD DARK HURT SUCKS DON'T WANT TO"
And I love it.
Two weeks into this new Stepped up Plan and it's working. Sometime this week, the Switch in my Brain will flip on, and I will start loving this. It may have been yesterday, actually. Had an amazing ride, then, tho I had to drag myself there kicking and screaming, kind of loved the horrible step class/core workout.
Felt the Power.
The week looks like this:Monday: AM Step/Zumba with Little Evil, PM TURBO
Tuesday: AM Ride, PM Zumba/ Personal Trainning w/ Little Evil
Wednesday: AM Zumba w/ Little Evil, PM Zumba-lite
Thursday: AM Ride PM Horrid Step/Core workout
Friday: PM Zumba/Weights with Little Evil
Saturday: Zumba w/ Little Evil
Sunday: Skating
LOTS of Little Evil, my trainer. I'll take any class she teaches, because I know there's no holding back and she will get more out of me than I know for certain that I can do.
It's a good Plan, every day is something different, all of it (mostly) is fun, which is important. If your Plan isn't fun, it's not going to work. Food is important too in any Plan, but trust me, if you are working out like this, the last thing you worry about is eating badly.First of all, you have no energy by the night to make much, and secondly, working that hard, you don't want to eat ANYTHING that is going to negate it. Fruit, veg, whole grains, fake meat. (Yes, went Veggie a while back, met this chicken who became my friend, long story and saw blood sausage in Ireland. Can't eat meat anymore) Lots of little meals. And lots of water.
My riding is getting better. I want to show this summer and not like last summers Trial By Fire, terrified and not knowing what I was doing (tho to give Poetry credit, she knew what she was about, get that one out of the way, step it UP, which led to NOW. Oh, it worked all right)I want to pursue Derby, so much joy these last few months has been getting to know so many Derby Girls, and their inspiration, watching their Bouts, and the encouragement I've gotten from them has tipped the scales. (So to speak, that scale is going DOWN)
Thanks for listening while I got this all straight in my head. It's hard. And anyone who wants to pursue this FIT needs to know that. There IS no Magic about it. It's sweat and bone and muscle and a will that grows stronger and determination like iron. It's falling, failing and getting back up, stronger. It's beating the Dark. (The real Dark, not beating the Joan of...)
You also need to know this:
It's worth it.
Very, very worth it.
Love and Strength,
Lorraine
111 Comments:
Yeah for FIT!
At some point in time, your body will start to hurt if you are not exercising.
Fit is good. Exercise is good.
Your schedule, though, may be just a wee bit insane...
holy cow! Your workout routine is awesome! Lots more than I'm doing lately! I think you've inspired me to kick it up a notch! :)
Your schedule is a bit scary! I agree, it should be fun (harder to force yourself to it if not!) and part of the fun is feeling great when you're FIT and having a body that supports you.
Having friends over to eat, drink and exchange Christmas presents tonight - why yes, my tree is still up!
Now if I could get rid of this sinus headache that is right behind and above my eye I'd feel much better :-) Taking antibiotics for it, should be going soon...
You need to be SUPERFIT to beat Joan Of Dark, I'm a-thinking.
Your perseverance is inspiring.
Welcome to the veg side.
Yep. Hit 10% and stalled out. Can't say plateaued, since it's a crisis of effort. Too sick too often. Not even sure I'll be able to do the Hancock Half-Climb now.
I know working out has to be part of the equation, but I look at an exersize schedule and think, "When do I get to live?" Not sure I can reach that place where I think of the exercize as living. All my favorite non-work/eat/sleep activities are sedentary.
Sorry to be so negative. I'm still inspired by your FIT journey, and applaud each new achievment you reach. I'm just not feeling it for myself right now.
that is one scary workout plan. methinx you need a day off in the week, studies have shown that not allowing your body the recovery time is actually bad for you and bad for fit.
I lost half a stone in 3 months just walking 15 min a day and eating a bit less food. No fit or anything.
One last thing - you lose weight when asleep and your body repairs yourself when asleep. Therefore, it's very important to schedule in a lot of sleep time.
Maybe buy some extra strong patience at the market? ;) what are you expecting of yourself? a bit too much too soon perchance?
You are doing great, don't kill yourself now and ruin it all :)
I have started working on my FIT, because of you inspiring me to do it.
There is one very specific thing you said that echoes in my head, "I would rather be the fat girl in the Zumba class, than the fat girl getting donuts." I guess it really speaks to me because donuts (and cake icing) are very often my downfall. I crave them way more than is healthy. Tomorrow I go pick up my gym passes and find classes I can take while the kids are at school.
Thank you.
also because it wouldn't be right if I wasn't a little dirty...
"I've been seriously considering Twittering for someone to come over and help me do things like, oh, un-dress and bathe me."
...*gives you sly grin* need to be closer...
OSS...I suggest trying lots of different types of classes and exercise...there is bound to be one that you find fun and really enjoy. If you can find a way to change it in your head from "*sigh* exercise" to "fun class!" then it will be part of living. Heck they even have stripper pole exercise classes!
Thanks! It IS insane, but it isn't too much, couple days are light, more just moving for an hour than working out.
And I sure do SLEEP. Like a rock. Instantly and deeply. And long.
Allie, skating with you in Madison was one of the BIGGEST inspiration things for me.
It IS really important for it to be fun. Classes are really fun, you make a lot of friends and in the gym, the cool kids are the ones who show up, day after day. No one cares where you are AT, if you are showing UP.
And all you have to do with the classes is SHOW UP. And stay for an hour.
It gets to the point where exercising IS one of the fun things you do in your life. And it doesn't feel good NOT doing it. It makes the down time bliss.
And I stress, this is what works for ME. Find what works for you. It might be walking with an ipod, it might be once or twice a week. It might be ten min a day. Start slow...It will grow.
I grew up an athlete, my body is happiest moving.
Yesterday, I realized that my hip-hop class is no longer enough of a workout, so afterwards, I lifted a little, then did half an hour on the elliptical. And then I thought I'd broken myself, but I feel good enough this morning that I'm looking forward to BodyCombat this afternoon. (It's cardio box/kickbox class.)
My husband and I have also been running in the evenings - just a mile, and I haven't learned to enjoy it yet, but I'm getting there.
Oh, Beez, I would have to be super fit to beat Joan of Dark, don't exactly WANT to, I want to wear her clothes, not get her out of them, mind you, just wear her extras....
It would so be easier commuting if I didn't have to bring anything down there.
And good going, all of you. You are my support, and hearing you are all working too makes me more determined.
I have some of Linda's problem (OSS) - all my favorite activities are sedentary. I do love yoga, but it's not the workout kind. Steve works out at a gym a few times a week - I don't even do that.
I'm not overweight but definitely out of shape. Cecily, your words are useful, too!
Yay! I like words, especially of the helpful variety.
Wow Lorraine! Impressive schedule! Impressive will! I agree w/ some others though that scheduling in a day off is important too...don't want to burn yourself out! (Plus I give you extra credit just for getting out of bed, let alone out of the house, on those freezing cold days you have up there.)
Working on eating better which can be difficult w/ no microwave (everything must be cooked.) Will get one, but in the meantime I'm perusing my vegetarian cookbook's soup section...that should give me something easy to warm up later on.
Stuck between a Winter or an Indian Bean soup...thinking...
It IS far better to be the fattest person in Zumba than the fat one in the donut asile.
And get this: I am not the fattest anymore. So many new people at the gym for New Years, sadly, most of them will drop out, but I try and talk to them, and be friendly.
That's what people did for me when I joined. I talked to all the fittest people there, asked them what they did, how long it took to get good at it, what ever.
Trying to pass that on..
Rock the fuck on Quiche! \m/
You are a real angel, Lorraine.
your schedule is scary! I'm impressed.
I've decided i'm gonna get a year's pass to the local community center's indoor pool and go at least twice a week, hopefully three times a week after work & swim for at least an hour to help my fitness level. I'm way not overweight but i do need some tone. I've somehow wrenched my shoulder and it just isn't improving. @_@ Swimming is something I love to do but haven't for years, and should be low impact enought to help the shoulder without killing me, so... wish me luck!
Of all the people I know, I think you are right at the top of my list of People Most Likely to Beat The Dark.
And your Fit routine is awesome & a tad scary.
Go You!!
It seems kind of ironic and cruel that while I am working on getting my FIT on, my sister-out-law is having a themed birthday party tonight. The theme you ask...pie. Yep that's right, everyone is to bring pie or some other tasty desert. There will be judging. I hope to win something, and not die of pie.
You went veggie??? Happy for you! I am veggie!
And happy for you for all kinds of other reasons. You are still doing beautifully.
I love the picture of the dark house!
How in the world do you FIT exercised into everything else you're doing? I'm struggling with SIT. I really need FIT.
reading your schedule made me very tired---oy!
heading to SD tomorrow, will be enjoying all that
brain power in one very pretty seaside city.
go Quiche go, the FIT is working!
That's awesome Lorraine!!
Just got up. Last full day in Sydney. We leave tomorrow afternoon :( I had a horrible dream that boss and AFP were fighting and separated!! It was horrible! Everyone was confused and couldn't figure out why. I was so glad to wake up and discover it wasn't real.
I also dreamt that I got to do my FoodPorn interview w/ AFP. Apparently she's on my mind. Probably because she'll be here in Sydney in 2 weeks but I won't!
Sneaky ticky box...evading me again.
" Start slow...It will grow."
The perfect message.
That is one scary schedule, but totally Quiche like, IMO.
Don't even need to say "You go girl" because you ARE.
I am going to keep looking at photo of frozen Spooky House today to cool down.
Wow Chantrelle, sounds like a yucky dream!
I would suggest shaking up your workout some. That is a lot of cardio and not a lot of weights, Muscle is what burns fat. More muscle..more burning.
And on your eating..make sure to get a healthy carbs/veggies/fruits and a lean protein every meal. As a vegetarian, if you want some advice, let me know. I too need to get FIT again, but I have done it before. I went to a personal trainer/nutritionist and learned a ton..just have not always followed it. L(
I don't know how I fit it in, sometimes like tonight, I have to go back to work afterwards.
But I am home now.
Thanks Isis for the advice, I do weights 3 days a week, and abs every day. Can't lift more than every other day, and riding? Trust me when I tell you it is building muscle. My trainer thinks it's a good schedule.
Home. And it is clean sheet night.
Bed. Me. Now.
Good night, inspirational one. Sleep deeply, dream peacefully...snug in your clean sheets and with warm cats.
I am watching Shutter Island.
It is very disturbing and brilliant.
Too hot to do anything else.
Scorching here too Sally. Just got out of the hotel pool. Wish this vacation didn't have to end!! I know our winter isnt as bad as midwest winter but i'm quite enjoying summer...even with the heat, while we're in a posh hotel it's not bad ;-)
Off to soba noodle dinner tonight. Fantastic place where they make their soba fresh every day!
I'm definitely all for building up slowly...considering I'm starting from nothing I'm working on one 20-30 minute walk a day (mainly because that's the length of time it takes me to get to work/town). It's exercise and it saves on bus fare! It hasn't gone too well so far this month - I had a bad case of the seasonal blahs, so making it out of bed and past the letterbox was cause for celebration - but I'm not giving up yet.
Fiends, you are all an inspiration. (That healthmonth website looks like it will be particularly helpful, and it taps into my competitive streak/addiction to computer games.) :)
enjoy your last day Robyn. I wish you were here for long enough for a trip down here! Next time.
Oh, and the coolish change haas come through, dropped 10C to a very nice 25C or so. Mmmm, just perfect.
I just posted an interview with our very own Jess Mersky about a Project near and dear to our hearts. Check it out on the IAF's web site Interview with Jess
That's great, Erin (&Jess, and Cynthia)!
I may cry. That's so cool. Erin, Jess. ALL of you. You make me weak.
Thank you, Erin! :D Oh, it's so freakin' cool. You guys are all so freakin' cool. Very exciting. I can't wait to see what we do next, either. Robyn and I have some Evil Plans in mind, but for now they are Sekrit. But they will be cool, we hope. :)
This is happening, people! It works! It works!! \o/
That's so cool!
I am still all wonderfully happy about this. The Bengals are happy. Janet, Director GLBR has been sending it out places and more Bengal publications are going to do pieces on it!
You guys are the BEST!!!
yay Night Garden evolution! thanks, Erin and IAF.
erm. my eyes just blurred and skimmed right over that FIT schedule.
mine "fit schedule" at the mo' consists entirely of shoveling snow and walking through snow, lots and lots of both, with intermittent bouts of yoga or chasing of monsters. oddly, i think i may be getting more exercise in winter than other times of the year. and i am craving veggies and fruit a great deal more. mebbe i'm accidentally doing something right.
Janet told me about that yesterday. Very exciting! :) I will pass on any info I get to you guys on the piece appears.
You're welcome. :-) The Night Garden is a terrific project.
I'm in a sharing mood today. Yesterday was my 40th birthday so my husband commissions the best birthday present ever. A handcrafted glass mosaic of Doctor Who's TARDIS. The pictures don't do it justice.
Happy belated firbday, Erin! Great Tardis.
That is way cool. :D
Happy belated Firbday Erin!
Cannot view Tardis for some reason, but what a great present. That husband is -thinking-!
Ohh... Maybe you need to be a Facebook friend. You can find me here. http://www.facebook.com/e.m.underwood
Also, by complete coincidence, I just found a contest for handmade TARDIS replicas. :-)
Thanks for all of the birthday wishes. I hope you're well.
Happy belated firbday, Erin!
I can't see your wonderful Tardis, either, but I'm not on Facebook. :)
Ms. Fabulous, your schedule looks insane to me, too; but if it works for you, all the power to ya!
The Tardis is beautiful!
I am so sick. Some sort of Death Plague. My chest hurts, my throat hurts. I shall do nothing today but whine about it.
From the couch.
So sorry Q.
You will make a Fabulous zombie.
(((long distance germ free cuddles)))
Rest! Drink lots of tea, eccinacea if you have any and watch a good movie. :-) I'm watching Footloose. :-)
AFP has the same thing in Melbourne, how'd you manage that? Rest up....Hope you feel better!!!
me too. came home after 2 hours of work where I ended up crying, I was feeling so out of sorts. Slept all afternoon, still feel totally out of sorts. Very annoyed.
We can all whine ( and wheeze) together.
Damn world-wide fiend-plague.
Feel better soon, Lorraine.
There is a nasty, nasty head/chest cold going around right now.
Whine away, Fearless Leader. As long as you sleep in between.
Get better soon! All of you!
I'm not sick but I am jetlagged and cold. Can I please go back to Sydney?
Come back to Oz Robyn, but here to Melbourne instead...
I hope all Fiendish lurgys disappear quickly.
I just had an encounter with a spider in my washing. Now I have that awful something is crawling all over me feeling. Probably not as bad as the Fiendish lurgy feeling though.
Seem to have missed this post. Not likely to catch up. Do see that Q is feeling death-plague-y. Feel better soon my dear and whine away.
My big adventure tonight was that I was sure there was a bat in my kitchen light fixture shade thingy. So sure I called animal control. Turns out it was a burned out light bulb. Feeling a bit crazy now.
Hey, do any fiends live in the San Diego area? Looking for some info on SD area middle schools.
I don't live in SD but my neighbor is from there and her family is still there. Email me what info/area you are looking for.
Thanks Chantrelle --I'll email you tomorrow!
Aleta, i have a number of friends down SD way, two of whom are teachers. if you like, i'm happy to make enquiries, too.
wishes for speedy recovery to all ailing peeps! i think i narrowly missed something plaguey last week - spent a day+ on the couch, feeling so tired that it took enormous mental effort to get up when i absolutely had to. :P
Many people at work yesterday had the plague...not sure why they were at work and not home! Really, we'll survive without you for a day or two but won't survive if you kill me with your plague!!!
Hope i don't get it.
Still recovering from jetlag but improving. Ben is unphased.
Hope you're all feeling better!!!
Sorry to hear you're sick. I had that thing a couple of weeks ago. It dragged on. So I would tell you to get well soon, but will instead tell you to be patient and get lots of rest. I hope your schedule will be easy for a week or so.
I am home from New Orleans. I am SICK from flying. Lots of delays because of the snow in Atlanta. I may catch up with the fiends eventually. But, tonight and tomorrow I will be working on my FIT plan.
My dear friend has just moved to El Paso. And it's her birthday next week (I've only just remembered - eeek)
Anyone know what would be a good prezzie to get to a new El Pasan?
PGrace: Did she move there from Britain? If so, get her a humidifier as El Paso is rather dry. It is built under and on a mountain, and near desert. Maybe a Spanish-English dictionary, though she would hear more slang/colloquialisms than proper Spanish.
My husband grew up in El Paso, but it's been 30 years since he was there for any amount of time.
ooh thanks, humidifier is an excellent idea! She's moved there from Hawaii which is stupidly humid so will find it extra difficult no doubt. Aww. I knew I should come to fiends for help! x
Happy Firbday, Chantrelle!
Finally finished transcribing my interview w/ Jason. Check it out...he was great!
It's gorgeous and sunny here today. So happy! I went on a little hike at ben's school. Clouds and rain will come back, but it's a nice and regenerative break in the weather.
Excuse me for plugging something, but we have quite a few writers here in Fienddom, and this will appeal as a way to help flood victims in Queensland
11 stories for Queensland
I've been MIA in action the last few days, glued to the news channel on TV watching what is happening in Qld and NSW.
Happy happy Firbday!!!!!
(((((Sally)))))))
Day One of FIT plan has gone okay. I did a lot of walking and worked out via a wii game. I'm cutting out a lot of the sugar I have been eating/ drinking lately, and I got slammed with a headache a few hours ago. A dark chocolate coffee drink seems to have fixed it.
My mantra right now is "Eat fantastic things that you love, but try not to overdo them, because they'll be more enjoyable in moderation."
I'm hoping to mostly eat gourmet cheeses, sweets, and the really rich stuff on the weekends and special occasions.
Oh, I also found out today that I've been scheduled for TWO classes to teach! That means I will be able to save some money and won't have to dip into my financial aid all that much this semester!
Wow! Very quiet here. Hope you are beginning to fell better, Q. and other ill Fiends. And Sally, thinking of you with the crazy flooding....
And ticky box
Everyone's so quiet here. I hope it's not because you're all still stricken with the plague.
Thinking of you all!
Anybody else getting slightly worried about our fearless leader? Quiche...? You out there...?
i's got winter blues and feel like i'm probably bad company. :P
in my world it is very cold out. the kind of cold that hurts any exposed skin. the kind of cold even my monsters don't want to be out in.
avoiding work and housework, i am finally, finally wrangling a manuscript for a peer-review article based on my Master's research. this is difficult at ten years' remove, on all sorts of levels.
is it time for hot chocolate? i don't think tea's gonna cut it today.
belated happy Firbday wishes, Chantrelle!
I bet she's roller derbying with bengals.
Healthy wishes to all plague victims. Spent one day on the couch myself...can't even blame internet, as sickness occurred separately.
Also blessed (if belated) natal day wishes to the inestimable Sally!!
Or was it Chantrelle? Havens...I've lost track--accept my apologies or just figure it will be all o' y'all's birthday sooner or later. Funny how that works. :)
Now, as to why I'm here:
Recently tripped over on FB--
You just gotta see Girls With Slingshots. Srsly.
http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/
Go there now. If no derby, hit previous...
Lys! Lovely to see you; I hope all is well.
I found out last night that two of my friends here are doing roller derby. One of them has never skated and is finding it quite the learning experience. :)
I am alive!!! Well, more or less, been sleeping and eating oranges and trying to kick this.
Really tired of my couch and trying to work with a head full of cold medicine, but I think the worst is over, just recovering now and wanting to get back to things...
She's alive!
Hi Quiche! Hope you are feeling semi-human!
Hooray
Very glad to see that you're recovering Venerated Leader.
I am up insanely early on a Saturday because Tysie.Demanded.To.Be.Fed.
My head keeps trying to fall off my shoulders though.
Inspiration for Dark Days is a good thing. Read this today and it ties in nicely with both getting motivated and no meat diets on the path to Fit. It reminded me of... I think it was Phiala?... calling a time-out on fiends saying Can't. Don't. Won't. ages ago, much better to say Kiss My Ass!
ChiaLynn - if you want running to to be the best fun ever, try reading "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall - engaging, informative, hilarious, and yes, inspirational. Highly recommended.
Dear Fiends. I just applied for a job I really would like to have. Please send good thoughts!
Glad you are on the mend Q.
Worried about flooding and volcanoes in the lands of fiends! And snow, of course. Take care fiends.
Huh, just now as I posted this Flash Girls comes on my Last.FM playlist. Spooky.
Happy Alive and/or Undead Day to Quiche!
I do want to do a new blog, but can't seem to think of one darn interesting thing to say. It's cold, dark, snowing and I've got this COLD thing.
I'm going to see Derby tomorrow night, perhaps that will inspire me.
Good luck there Aleta!!
Very best of luck, Aleta!
Fingers crossed and good job vibes for you Aleta
I'm rootin' for you, Aleta! I'll eat a piece of King Cake in your honor. If you want, I'll send you the baby Jesus.
Good luck Aleta!
Today is the first day i've felt not-completely-jetlagged. To counteract that I had a little too much wine with the neighbors. The fog continues.
Hubby comes home from Sydney on sunday. Yay!
And i'm glad our fearless leader has risen from cold-zombie-land.
Glad you're feeling better, Ms. Fabulous!
Hi, Lys! How's it goin'? That comic is funny!
Will keep fingers crossed, Aleta!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Which I meant to say... (but my brain is not in gear yet): Keeping you in my thoughts, ALETA. Not that I don't keep Phiala or the rest of you lots there too, but, hey.
I was wondering for a second if there was something I should know but didn't.
And of course we will think good thoughts for Aleta; that would be wonderful.
Good Morning FIends!
I made COFFEE for the first time in a week today, which I am taking as a sign that I wanted it, tasted horrible while I was so sick.
Can't find my red shirt for the Bout tonight, darn it. Am going to have to brave Wallmart and but another (or SIX) since I don't have a lot of red around, and need to wear red and black tonight, for Naptown.
Which is totally different from wearing a red shirt in Star Trek, we should add. Good morning!
I am on my way for more make-up Christmas. IT IS THE CHRISTMAS THAT WILL NOT DIE. Argh. Humbug.
What do the red shirts in Star Trek mean????
Cleaning off about 6 inches of "Up to an inch" off my car...
Lorraine,
Red shirts from Star Trek =the un-named crewman, or the one who buys it when they beam to some new, un-known place!
Oh! Good morning Fiends!
Or a Red Shirt in Thailand, which is another thing again.
Good morning Pi and friends.
I am glad you are improving and can now handle coffee Lorraine. What is it about coffee that makes it taste like mud if you are ailing?
Good evening FIENDS! Good evening Lorraine! I have been enjoying today!
I went to the city proper today and went bookstore hunting. I found treasures! There was a book on Victorian women poets that I used as a source for one of my research papers last semester and a cookbook written by one of the gay synagogues in San Francisco. I was supposed to venture into even more bookstores (I went to Crescent City Books and The Kitchen Witch) but I was sidetracked by the vampire store, lunch, and art galleries. I will venture on again some day soon. And, I really need to go hat shopping.
New little post is UP!!!!!
I did it!!! On the windows laptop!!! Took a longggggg time. Enjoy....
Hello? Get your minds out of the gutter! Naptown has some class. No one is nekkid! Even remotely.
On the calender.
IT is suitable for all ages.
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