Echo: structure

[Echoceanic]

Hi guys!

 

 

I haven't been here for that long - about two years, with breaks. But I started here during a part of my life where I made a lot of changes and found out a lot about myself, and being here helped a lot. Funny enough most of the progress hasn't been fitness-related, it has been about my mindset. Less stress, less pressure, more confidence in myself, and awareness about why I fail. So let's do this. I have three points:

 

• Consistent routine

Three days a week, I'm working out (this changed to two in March). You might realise this is a huge change from the daily grind I've been on for a while. That just didn't work. And I am slowly learning what my goals are fitness-wise, so working on them is cool. Currently I have this as upper, lower and miscellaneous day, so I can test more exercises and structure better (and help improve my warm up and cool downs).

 

• Life happens

Exams, work, chores, friendships etc. I need to live my life, and my schedule needs to reflect my priorities at this time and help achieve them. This is the part I share the least about here, mostly because it's personal, but since I've realised lately that spoilers apparently can't be seen by non-members, I'll be making use of that function when I talk about this in more detail.

 

• Mindset

We do our best. We do not beat ourselves up if we didn't succeed, we just keep going and learn. My mind has been the biggest hurdle in my life and I will continue trying to work better with it  (not against it).

 

And that is it. Let's do this!

[TGP]

indeed I'm terrible at just "coming up with smart fitness goals"

I HAVE to work from where I'm at, or I'm just dreaming.

 

so I love that you are going to be more incremental with the factor goals.

 

and I'm following along.

 

[Echoceanic]

19 minutes ago, TGP said:

indeed I'm terrible at just "coming up with smart fitness goals"

I HAVE to work from where I'm at, or I'm just dreaming.

 

so I love that you are going to be more incremental with the factor goals.

 

and I'm following along.

 

I'm good at breaking things down so sometimes I forget to actually say I am breaking things down.

For me my biggest goal has been finding a routine I can do most of the time, and that I can get back to if I need to skip (because life will get in the way, that is a fact). If you can't do a thing while living your life it's not a long-term goal. I feel this helps me a lot in life, it points my perfectionist side in a useful direction.

Glad you're here.

 

Update:

 

Exercise for today - upper body without getting an inflamed tendon this time around. 20 sec between sets (no rest on plank) 1 min between exercises, 2 kg weights:

didn't warm up that much - it was waving my arms around basically

knee push ups (I did them with my lower legs lifted off the ground and basically resting on top of my thighs) due to me shrugging my shoulders with the regular push up - 10; 7; 5

30 sec plank - arm, elbow, arm

shoulder press - one set 15 two sets 10

bicep curl - 5 x 3 (cause this messed me up last time, gonna go slow)

cool down with light stretching and deodorant bottle rolling

Feel pretty good about this one. Muscles are tired and not hurting. Still confused as to how to stretch but gonna figure it out.

 

Spoiler

Life:

 

I have exams coming up really fast. In December I missed my bus for the one I need to take this time around, and that along with the 'need to sign up need to study, need to find the material, I have no time' freak out in my head right now, I'm trying to remain calm. Usually this is when I procrastinate a lot, and get even more stressed, and I want this to not happen again. So going to force myself to study this week. I paused my freelancing - that was non-negotiable, I can't do everything. 

 

In more fun news - I apparently have naturally wavy/curly hair? And it runs in my family? Explains a lot. It's just one of those 'duh' moments, you know, when you realise something incredibly obvious? It always makes me happy because things get easier, and incredibly dumb, because how did I not realise it sooner? But I'm comforted in the fact a lot of people wind up doing that.

 

[Salinger]

I have wavy hair but most of my fam have straight hair *confused* hahah 

 

Good job on the workout!!! xx

[RES]

1 hour ago, Echoceanic said:

If you can't do a thing while living your life it's not a long-term goal.

THIS!!!!

and following  

[shaar]

Totally here for this, toooo~

 

Nice job on those planks!  Those are HARD!

[Jupiter]

7 hours ago, Echoceanic said:

Exercise for today - upper body without getting an inflamed tendon this time around. 20 sec between sets (no rest on plank) 1 min between exercises, 2 kg weights:

didn't warm up that much - it was waving my arms around basically

knee push ups (I did them with my lower legs lifted off the ground and basically resting on top of my thighs) due to me shrugging my shoulders with the regular push up - 10; 7; 5

30 sec plank - arm, elbow, arm

shoulder press - one set 15 two sets 10

bicep curl - 5 x 3 (cause this messed me up last time, gonna go slow)

cool down with light stretching and deodorant bottle rolling

Feel pretty good about this one. Muscles are tired and not hurting.

 

Nice job! Following along.  

[Echoceanic]

19 hours ago, Salinger said:

I have wavy hair but most of my fam have straight hair *confused* hahah 

 

Genetics are weird.

 

19 hours ago, RES said:

and following  

 

Hi RES!

 

19 hours ago, loire said:

Nice job on those planks!  Those are HARD!

 

Is it weird I kinda love doing them? Especially when my wrists cooperate.

 

13 hours ago, Jupiter said:

Nice job! Following along.  

 

And I didn't have DOMS today, so that was neat. 

[Jupiter]

5 hours ago, Echoceanic said:

And I didn't have DOMS today, so that was neat. 

 

Nice! Always good when that can be avoided. 

[Echoceanic]

2 hours ago, Jupiter said:

Nice! Always good when that can be avoided. 

 

Funny enough, I don't really try to avoid them (when it's just DOMS) and I usually wind up with them, so this was extra odd.  

[Jupiter]

10 minutes ago, Echoceanic said:

 

Funny enough, I don't really try to avoid them (when it's just DOMS) and I usually wind up with them, so this was extra odd.  

 

Hmm maybe it's just extra delayed.  

[Echoceanic]

27 minutes ago, Jupiter said:

Hmm maybe it's just extra delayed.  

 

We'll see tomorrow when I do my lower body day.

[Echoceanic]

Update:

 

Exercise - lower body day - same rest as last time, 5 kg weights (10 on lunges)

squats - 10 body weight; 10 x 2 with weights - felt some pressure in the middle of my spine (used to have shittier posture and I have a slight bend there that is not really noticeable)

weighted lunges - 10 x 3 (5 each leg)

deadlift - 8 x 3 - I think I am getting better at this form-wise

cool down with hamstring stretching

 

Life:

 

I am battling procrastination. I literally am trying to pick up the book and study. Kinda sucks this is an issue, but I know it's a mental block. Working on it.

[Jupiter]

40 minutes ago, Echoceanic said:

I am battling procrastination. I literally am trying to pick up the book and study. Kinda sucks this is an issue, but I know it's a mental block. Working on it.

 

I hate the procrastination bug...Is there a way you can trick yourself into studying?

[Echoceanic]

6 minutes ago, Jupiter said:

I hate the procrastination bug...Is there a way you can trick yourself into studying?

 

I've had the most success when I just make myself do it - a five seconds of bravery type of thing.

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 2/10/2020 at 9:54 AM, Echoceanic said:

I haven't been here for that long - about two years, with breaks. But I started here during a part of my life where I made a lot of changes and found out a lot about myself, and being here helped a lot. Funny enough most of the progress hasn't been fitness-related, it has been about my mindset. Less stress, less pressure, more confidence in myself, and awareness about why I fail.

 

If there is one thing the forums excel at, it's allowing a safe environment for that same introspection and self-discovery.  It's a blessing of sorts.

 

Oh, plus the accountability.  Who doesn't love being hounded into compliance with our own goals?  😂

[Echoceanic]

9 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

If there is one thing the forums excel at, it's allowing a safe environment for that same introspection and self-discovery.  It's a blessing of sorts.

 

Oh, plus the accountability.  Who doesn't love being hounded into compliance with our own goals?  😂

 

It's kinda different when you see your criticism written down, and get other perspectives.

[Echoceanic]

I am tired but I progressed:

 

I am also really glad that I'm not exercising today, cause wow, all I can do is wash my hair and like open a book hopefully. I also think I scared some people by running in heels to catch my bus. So that was fun.

Spoiler

I am so pleased when everyone cooperates. And when it turns out my previous high school degree was actually useful for something - aka the classes I took count for this too, which means less hassle and less money spent. And April is shaping up to be a regular month now! I'm not going to have to rush and get everything done. Considering last time I went I only finished two of the five things I needed to finish this was very refreshing. It's still weird how much progress (and progress that is not even up to me mind you, this was going to get done Tuesday if the people had been there) influences my confidence and how I act. On one side, understandable, on the other, wow do I not like the fact I depend on other people for my mood like that.

 

[Rurik Harrgath]

4 hours ago, Echoceanic said:

It's kinda different when you see your criticism written down, and get other perspectives.

2 hours ago, Echoceanic said:

wow do I not like the fact I depend on other people for my mood like that.

 

I've come to observe that most folks' self-talk is inherently negative, or at least we learn to communicate inwardly in a very negative way.  Others can affect our self-talk just as much because we tend to internalize what we believe their dialogue to be.  With that in mind, I challenge you to keep another "goal" in mind for this challenge... listen to your self-talk over the next couple of weeks.  You don't need to track or share (although you could...), but my career in law enforcement really taught me about drawing out change-talk and listening to our internal dialogue.  Even if you can't initially redirect the negativity, if you can at least recognize the negativity up front maybe you'll notice triggers and learn how to communicate with yourself.

 

For example, I woke up moody today for no good reason.  Didn't want to go to the gym or work.  So I'm letting myself have a self-care day because I know it could be a depressive episode coming on; today I will treat myself kindly and leisurely clean my house to some podcasts to reduce anxiety and feel more comfortable.  I will make an effort to validate my moods and comfort myself, knowing "this too shall pass."  I won't argue with my negativity, but I will "smooth the riled tiger" through kind self-talk.

[Echoceanic]

17 minutes ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

With that in mind, I challenge you to keep another "goal" in mind for this challenge... listen to your self-talk over the next couple of weeks.  You don't need to track or share (although you could...), but my career in law enforcement really taught me about drawing out change-talk and listening to our internal dialogue.  Even if you can't initially redirect the negativity, if you can at least recognize the negativity up front maybe you'll notice triggers and learn how to communicate with yourself.

 

Oh yeah, I do this. I used to internalise this weird idea that there was an arbitrary set of accomplishments I needed to achieve (in my daily life - I actually think I have a challenge where I called it the Adult) in order to become the person I wanted to be, but also, that I couldn't do them, because I wasn't there yet. Once I got rid of the second idea, the roadblock to a lot of stuff I wanted to do was lifted, and I actually focus on progress a lot more now. Then I needed to figure out not only what I actually wanted to do and what was just an arbitrary goal because I thought I should be able to do it, but for reasons that actually made sense and motivated me instead of just beating myself up when not doing it. I am a lot kinder to myself than I was a few years ago. Overthinking has its good sides. 

I haven't had a random day of being moody for no good reason in a while, but situations do influence me a lot. I have a feeling that it has something to do with the fact I'm punctual and a perfectionist, so this type of stress takes a lot out of me.

[Echoceanic]

Update:

 

Whoa did I left you hanging here. I needed to leave from the computer for a while, both because of the busyness and because I needed a break I'll probably be back more fully next week, when I will have a bit to relax. 

I'm feeling a bit resistant to exercise, not sure if I'll just not do it or force it. We'll see.

[Echoceanic]

Update:

 

I haven't exercised since last time and I am not beating myself up about it. Gonna see if I can do something tomorrow, or if I'll be too busy for it. This is about long term goals. 

Yup, the pain in my shoulder is coming from my neck. The two muscles that connect on the side toward the back to be exact. Not sure what to do to fix this but I gotta do something. Any tips?

Spoiler

If there is one thing I hate about my body is this: no matter the weather or what I am wearing, it will find a way to sweat. And I don't even get nervous sweats, I just overheat and boom. It's freaking weird, especially since I was actually cold today.

 

Life:

Phew, this week was a lot. I was in that limbo where I was nervous but also not, and I am glad I realised I need to relax very early on, so now I can prioritise that while I get ahead of a few things (because of course I am). I do want to take a day and just relax, but in a different way than normal. Usually my 'relaxation is a way to make me more tired, but that sucks. I don't really live somewhere where I can just leave the house and go do something nice, so that makes it a bit difficult, but I to need to leave the damn house on something other than an errand.

 

I wanna share and article here. I love this article. it's how I approach writing in general. "Either you have a magic system which is inclusive of women, or exclusive of women, and in both instances, FEMALE CHARACTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THAT." You can apply that to so much. It also talks some history, btw.

https://www.tor.com/2012/12/06/historically-authentic-sexism-in-fantasy-lets-unpack-that/

[Salinger]

Hey Echo, just want to say thanks for your encouragement all the time ❤️

 

Hope you have a great evening

[Echoceanic]

1 hour ago, Salinger said:

Hey Echo, just want to say thanks for your encouragement all the time ❤️

 

Hope you have a great evening

 

Glad I'm helping honestly.

 

Wound up watching Overly Sarcastic Productions on youtube.  So, decent.

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 2/20/2020 at 3:14 PM, Echoceanic said:

Wound up watching Overly Sarcastic Productions on youtube.  So, decent.

 

I need to check this out from the title alone.