The Running Man

Well, l the first time I tried Nerd Fitness didn't stick. Or the second. So this isn't my first time at the respawn point. It's a familiar and frustrating view as I'm sure many can relate to. What a waste - all the time and effort put into getting fitter and losing weight only to end up exactly where I started. I've made a commitment to try and focus on the positives in life. It might be said that I have (once again) failed in achieving my goals but I prefer to think I've simply learned more about what doesn't work for me. I have a tendency to take on too many changes too fast. So before the first change(s) have a chance to become firm new habits I'm up to something else. Things seem to tick along fine for a few months and then slowly I get lazy, old habits creep in. Giving up sugar, for example, is one of the most challenging things for me because it's so readily available all the time and I have such a sweet tooth. I very rarely drink, have never smoked or done drugs but I just can't get enough sugar - even though I've ruined my teeth with it and have a reasonably justified fear of getting diabetes. Let's face it - on the path I'm on it's really only a question of when rather than if. You would think this would be enough to motivate me to stay away from the chocolate, the candies and sodas but no - if its there I have to have it. I don't even have to buy it because even when I tell my OH I'm trying to lose weight and not to buy that stuff no matter how much I ask/beg/moan he'll buy it anyway (without me having to say a word). I realise I could and should throw it out but am pretty sure that'll just lead to a row. I've tried taking it out the fridge (I only like soda chilled and am far less likely to pick up room temperature drinks) and that's been quite successful, and moving chocolate out of sight so I forget about it. (I don't always forget about it. It calls to me.) I think what I really need to do is have another talk with the OH and try to get him to see how important this is to me and to get him seeing things my way because ultimately, the best way to give up sugar for me is to not have easy access to it. I'm really hoping to find an accountability buddy, either locally or online - I feel this would have a significant impact on my motivation and progress and would like to be able to help others in turn. (Let me know if interested btw). Anyway, if you've stuck with the post this long - thanks for reading. TL;DR I started 2018 with such a positive mindset - I decided that this was going to be my year and even applied for a new job I felt passionately about. I didn't get it but rather than let defeat drag me down, I want to keep working on being a better person, in terms of physical and mental health as well as in terms of being a better friend etc.

Awesome!

There's actually a few small things I am aiming for and I've assigned them to different goals. So if I end up not completing my challenge for healthy breakfasts but I nail the sleep I still get something for the success I did have. It feels a bit generous of me and maybe I'll be less generous in the future but I'm wanting to build up momentum so it surely won't hurt. So if I nail goals 1 and 2 I'll get a (kinda expensive but cool, nerdy) Christmas jumper I've been looking for. By the time the challenge ends it'll be a good time to buy such a thing. For goal 3 some new scented candles, which as awesome and relaxing and can encourage more win in the relaxation department. For 4 a yoga mat and 5 some resistance bands. For a month of hard work to get me started in the right direction and proving I can do this it doesn't seem outrageous. We have very little disposable income. My partner is very good at buying whatever he wants or needs on a whim but I don't tend to do that. Anything extra is usually spent on my daughter. I've wore the only 2 pairs of footwear I had for years to the point of having holes in the soles. I wore them in that condition for countless months before finally getting a single replacement pair. So these little things are things I've wanted a long time, that'll enhance the positive steps I'm trying to take and wouldn't otherwise ever quite get around to buying. Seems win win to me. I'll do some bigger rewards but It'll be for bigger goals. I have a bit of a list of 'loot ideas'. I've started 'early' - aka a couple of days ago - working on these goals and yet to have success with getting sleeping right (because I just can't sleep. I roll around in bed) and eating healthy breakfasts (I have my eggs ready for tomorrow though) and I'm not too worried if it takes a few days, a week or maybe a bit more to nail things. I can't MAKE myself fall asleep. I can do things to promote sleep but if it still won't come... So I won't beat myself up as long as I'm being responsible and trying. It'll fall into place. Things like drinking water/limiting soda I have complete direct control over - and so far I've been nailing it. I had to pop down to the convenience store tonight to buy some wholegrain bread and I was craving soda. I already had my one can today though so I had to resist the temptation. No 'I've been good so far'... or 'I'll put it in the fridge for tomorrow'. No! I don't need it. I got (another) glass of water when I got home instead. rambling now. lol

These are my first round of goals. Since I've just had major surgery I have to go easy on the exercise and can't do heavy lifting or stretching till mid-November at the very earliest I'm easing myself back in with walking. I'm focusing on eliminating some dietary bad habits and building better ones and trying to get a consistent, healthy sleep pattern. 1) Drink 1 one more glasses of water per day, every day for 4 weeks. ((I know this isn't a lot but up until now I haven't liked water so I never drank it at all. The 'new me' drinks one glass of water or more per day.)) 2) Drink a maximum of 1 soda per day for the next 4 weeks. ((I want to cut it down to zero sodas but up until now I've had zero restraint. If there is soda in the house that is almost exclusively what I'll drink. I don't buy soda, my partner does. I've asked him repeatedly not to buy it as I'm trying to give it up and sometimes he stops buying it for a while and I give it up for a while. Then he starts buying it again. So the fact is there are going to be times when it's in the house, so I need to develop the self-restraint not to drink it. I've tried cold-turkey a few times. I can give it up for a few weeks of a few months but inevitably backslide. Ross doesn't mind his soda room temperature, whereas I only drink it id it's chilled. So one barrier I'm trying is to only chill one drink at a time. If I go in the fridge and there's more than one in there, I take the extras out again. If I drink my 'one can' I don't get to refill the fridge till the end of the day at the earliest. This time things will be different. I will crack the sugar addiction.)) 3) Get 8 hours of sleep per night. ((Since the surgery and being off work my body clock has been off worse than ever. I've been trying a few days now - going to bed at the same time but I just roll around awake till 4am etc. So there are a few things I'm working on. I've installed f.lux on my computer so when I use it in the evening it's not punting out as much blue light. I'm coming away from the computer at least 30 mins but ideally an hour before I want to fall asleep and am reading. Last night it was my running magazine that had just arrived but other times I'll read a novel. I have my phone on silent at nights now. I receive a lot of emails 24/7 and if I hear my phone go off I inevitably want to check it. So it's on silent and/or flight mode so it can't disturb me the same. I also rearranged the extension cable in my room so I can charge my phone overnight and have installed sleep cycle to hopefully wake me up at a better point in my sleep cycle! So there's plans in place to try and help this along some.)) 4) Eat a healthy breakfast 3x per week or more for 4 weeks ((Up until now I am always skipping breakfast or eating something substantial. This morning it was a packet of beef monster munch crisps which I guess is arguably worse than nothing. However, this morning I did some research into healthy breakfast options and have 'pinned' 18 recipes. I'll choose 2 or three before I collect Jessica from school and shop for the ingredients today so I can have healthier breakfasts the rest of the week. It looks like there are many eggs in my future. This is something my daughter and I will both enjoy as we love egg.)) 5) Walk at least 30 mins every day for 4 weeks ((I already walk at least this much most days of the week - especially if schools are on because I walk to/from the school as I do the school run daily. I don't always get much exercise if any over the weekend though so the trick is going to be motivating myself to get up and do that. With Jessica, who will no doubt be more up for it than me - something I can use to my advantage I think. If she's excited to go out she'll nip my head to do it. Especially if there's a trip to the park involved.)) So there it is? What do you all think? Feedback welcome.

I noticed that too. I'm pretty new around here and not sure how the challenges work yet. Really hoping to see more scout activity and get involved in the upcoming 4 week challenge as well.

Yeah same here - hope things get better for you as well. If you wanna vent at someone am happy to listen.

These are great goals! I wish you all the best of luck in pursuing them - not that luck has anything to do with it so much as hard work I'm rooting for you all the same and look forward to reading about your progress!

@Koaladle What's the Hogwarts Running Club? Sounds awesome. Also - I hope the virtual walk goes well!

Welcome! I'm new here too. Also Trans. I wish I had your flat belly as opposed to my fat flabby, stretch mark ridden one but it's easy to compare. Basically, I relate to your feelings about body image and am rooting for you!!! I was fortunate enough to have top surgery at the beginning of the month because I was huge! I'm still healing but it feels great to finally have a flat chest. I really love the community here so far and I hope you will too.

Hey all! My name is James and I live near Edinburgh in Scotland. I'm a Transguy who had top surgery at the beginning of the month, so I'm pretty much still recovering from that. I'm not allowed to do any heavy lifting or stretching for 6 weeks (until mid November in other words) but have been given the all clear to start walking and jogging (gently) again and plan on working back up to going for runs. I have a 9 year old daughter and have been with my partner Ross for 12 years. My transition has been hard on him and ultimately I don't know whether we'll stay together into old age or if the whole thing is going to come crumbling down at some point. I sometimes feel I am more biromantic than bisexual. It's good to be here and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Hey Zero13 - me too, basically. I'm recovering from major chest surgery that I had at the beginning of the month. I've been given the all clear to start getting back into exercise - gently. Walking and gentle jogs for now, but I'll be able to build up to running again in time. The end of the month, which is coming around fast, seems like a great time to try my first 4 week challenge.

I love to use this App as well. I don't have any suggestions as I've just been listening to my regular pop/workout playlists but I really like the idea of getting something more theme relevant as I've listened to the same songs for numerous weeks and it's getting a little old. If I should get inspiration I'll share it here but otherwise I'm hoping to get some awesome suggestions from others as well.

I would have loved to come to this as well but I wasn't up to it as I'd just come out of the hospital after having a major operation.

This will be my first challenge and I'm excited to begin. I already walk at least 40 minutes on most days between work and/or the school run. The main benefit of this goal will be ensuring I also have a basic level of activity over the weekends as well. Diet Swap out one soda per day with water. Eat a vegetable with one meal every day. Fitness Walk every day for at least 30 minutes. Level Up Your Life Clean for 2 minutes each night before bed or first thing in the morning.

I'm so sorry that life is so super tough for you right now - even one of those things is a big enough handful for one person. You are a super human for even just keeping on going and keeping the wheels turning for yourself, your kids and still being there for your dying husband too. I think it's amazing you're here again, reintroducing yourself and I really wish you and your family all the best. I hope you can find a small victory each day - although saying that, I think what you're already doing is some champion stuff: continuing to get up every day, continuing to work, continuing to pay the bills, feed the kids. There's always room for improvement in all our lives, sure, and we're here to try and make those be it big or small but kudos to you. I hope things go up from here.