[Sylvaa] Now With Added Vitamins!

[Sylvaa]

Goodness. NF has been around 10 years! And it's been just over 5 years since I found the forums and started participating! So much excitement! 

 

So 5 year recap:

• I joined the forums because I found them while looking for ways to "level up" fitness
• I wanted to do a Spartan Race, but I was terrified of being horrible at them
• I generally have had the same goals every single challenge (or some variation of them). I do decently with some and not so great with others, but I like to pretend
• At some point, I got POWER! and the world has never been the same
• My kids got older and now I'm a grandma to the coolest little boy in the world. Seriously, when he gets tired, he plops in your lap with a book, snuggles in, and wants read to (granted, it's like the same book for an hour, but lets take what we can).

 

Recently, I've been struggling. I posted a link a while ago in someone else's challenge about how after a big race, many athletes sink into a depression of sorts (I don't like to call it depression, because while it is a listlessness, I feel it does a disservice to people who truly struggle with depression). The culmination of all their hard work and training resulted in the big day and now there is this slump to get out of. Added to this, I haven't figured out my race schedule for 2020 yet (I have three races planned so far), so I'm missing the pressure of a race season at the moment. 

 

I'm going back to my roots. What works for me best is a spreadsheet to update, simple goals, and interactions. 

 

Goal 1: Go to the Gym

 

I have a program to follow. I like the program I follow. I just need to do it. Being at home so often recently has enabled me to be more lazy, with the excuse that I need the time with my family. Except an hour at the gym a few times a week isn't going to break my family time. Goal is at least 3 x / week, get some exercise in. If I don't want to do my program, being active for at least 30 minutes will count.

 

Goal 2: Don't Eat Like a Child

 

Ironically, I looked for other memes to go here and got all these things about why we should eat like a child (because they pay attention to feelings of fullness, see food at energy instead of feelings, and don't use electronics while eating). But I'm still going with it. I'm not too crazy worried about actual calories because I do a decent job of keeping my food choices in a range that works for me without counting. Instead, my goal is to focus more on healthy, nutritious foods (i.e. veggies). Dessert no more than once per week, alcohol no more than twice. And water. lots of water.

 

Goal 3: Be Social

 

I struggle a lot with social interaction - even with my own family. It's not that I don't love them, it's that when faced with either doing something with anyone or doing my own thing, I will almost always choose my own thing. Also, particularly my girls are all about doing something (i.e. we can't hang out at the house and play a game, we have to go somewhere), which is just exhausting. That being said, I've been working on spending more meaningful time with the people important to me. Zero weekend has a D&D session and a nice family dinner for Valentine's Day. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along.

[Lara]

Following!

[annyshay]

Here for this!

[WolfDreamer]

Following! And you know you can always drop me a message if you want to talk or vent or talk about your grandson or whatever. 😁

 

[fleaball]

Here!

[Stronkey Kong]

 

Vitamins are great, but don't forget about your minerals.

[Sylvaa]

That feeling you get when you get to the gym and the treadmill doesn't incline, so you have to use an elliptical instead.

 

I think the ceiling in the hotel gym was too low, so they disabled the ability. Who does that? 

 

It's been interesting reading a lot of people's threads this time around. It seems like a lot of people are working through some different forms of apathy. We need some kind of collective challenge to remove this. Every workout, the coach I use does a video on different topics. Yesterday's was on finding the right accountability partners and it made me conscious of the fact that I have here to talk through my accountability, I don't know that I have anyone to push me when I start to slack. It's something I'm going to have to think through a bit more, but might be something I work towards in the next few challenges. 

[Sylvaa]

Unrelated: My newest favorite medley to listen to:

 

[nianjufe]

Following along!

 

[Sylvaa]

Update: I'm still struggling with the time zone thing. You wouldn't think it would be so bad, but I feel like my nights are so long when I don't have anyone to talk to after like 8 pm Mountain Time. Most of the people I interact with are Eastern Time, so it's getting to be bed time by the time I'm actually ready to just "hang out". Luckily, I'll be home tomorrow, but I might need to figure out a long-term solution based on what happens with my next project / where (if) I'll be traveling regularly. We are also going through a big leadership change at work with more on the horizon, so it'll be interesting to see where the dust settles.

 

I got yoga in yesterday. I started a YWA video, but then ended up getting some texts from a work friend, so I just did some sun salutation flows, which was nice. I definitely feel stronger through certain moves than I did previously, which is really nice. I did not get my steps in though, which is really weird because I spent part of the day touring a hospital. *Shrug*. 

[Aquarii]

On 2/10/2020 at 11:05 AM, Sylvaa said:

I struggle a lot with social interaction - even with my own family. It's not that I don't love them, it's that when faced with either doing something with anyone or doing my own thing, I will almost always choose my own thing. 

 

I relate to this so much. Social interaction is something I have been working on lately as well. It is just so easy to not be social, haha.

[Machete]

On 2/10/2020 at 11:05 AM, Sylvaa said:

Recently, I've been struggling. I posted a link a while ago in someone else's challenge about how after a big race, many athletes sink into a depression of sorts (I don't like to call it depression, because while it is a listlessness, I feel it does a disservice to people who truly struggle with depression). The culmination of all their hard work and training resulted in the big day and now there is this slump to get out of

 

I remember this feeling. When after reaching all of your goals you feel you should be at the top of the world, except you're not. You're just asking "now what?" That's why I like how that Gary V guy always talks about buying the New York Jets. Because he probably won't reach that goal in this lifetime, he'll keep working towards it--he finds joy in the hustle.

 

On 2/11/2020 at 12:20 PM, Sylvaa said:

Yesterday's was on finding the right accountability partners and it made me conscious of the fact that I have here to talk through my accountability, I don't know that I have anyone to push me when I start to slack. It's something I'm going to have to think through a bit more, but might be something I work towards in the next few challenges. 

 

This has been my issue for the longest time. I'm always blaming my depression, which is a bit of a fine line to walk, and it seems to have been kicking my ass extra-hard lately. But I'm really not doing myself any favors by skipping workouts, not eating, and drinking only CELSIUS Original energy drinks (which have no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame and are available in 10 different flavors--find it at your local 7-Eleven or Wallgreens). I'm with you on this.

 

[Sylvaa]

10 hours ago, Machete said:

This has been my issue for the longest time. I'm always blaming my depression, which is a bit of a fine line to walk, and it seems to have been kicking my ass extra-hard lately. But I'm really not doing myself any favors by skipping workouts, not eating, and drinking only CELSIUS Original energy drinks (which have no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame and are available in 10 different flavors--find it at your local 7-Eleven or Wallgreens). I'm with you on this.

 

I have ways to find you. Maybe we can team up for this. 

[Ann of Owlshire]

Following! I love that anecdote about your cute grandson. 

[Snarkyfishguts]

On 2/12/2020 at 4:26 PM, Aquarii said:

 

I relate to this so much. Social interaction is something I have been working on lately as well. It is just so easy to not be social, haha.

ME TOO!

 

I actually find I'm happier when I'm alone more. I value the time with others more, and then I get to go home and be ALONE AGAIN. You know my least favorite holiday is thanksgiving because everyone is here, and they chew and talk and it's TOO MUCH PEOPLE. I love the people, BUT TOO MUCH!!! I end up sitting alone on the staircase with a stiff drink until my sister in law finds me, sits next to me and says "You okay?" and I say "Just the usual" and she takes a swig of my drink and lets me know she's there for me. 

 

 

[RES]

On 2/12/2020 at 4:26 PM, Aquarii said:

It is just so easy to not be social

I feel this on a deeply personal level

 

[NeverThatBored]

Late, but here! 

 

*grooves to your medley* 

 

I feel you on the weird apathy! I haven't even made a challenge yet this time. 😕 

[Sciread77]

On 3/3/2020 at 2:46 PM, NeverThatBored said:

Late, but here! 

 

*grooves to your medley*

 

I feel you on the weird apathy! I haven't even made a challenge yet this time. 😕
 

 

 

 

Agreed with all of this. I just suffered a major setback/swing and a miss. I’ve been looking, hard, for a big change in our lives (especially careers) for years now. 
 

I’m all in on a challenge to fight apathy and depression. 

 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

You okay, Sylvaa?

[Sylvaa]

So I got a poke on FB about not being active, which is super appreciated. 

 

The short version is that I am fine, just .... introverting. 

 

The long version:

Spoiler

So my husband has been looking for a new job for a while. He's had a few interviews recently, and finally was offered a new job - pending some security / background checks. The same week he was offered the job (while he was waiting for everything to come back, so he couldn't give notice), he was let go from his current job (he worked as a contractor, so the company they were contracting with decided not to renew and no longer use the contractors for the remainder of the contract). So we had some touch and go time where he was in a job limbo. Luckily, the clearances all came back okay and he starts the new job on Monday).

 

But that's really an excuse. I'm not sure why I'm struggling, I'm not really depressed, I'm not really unhappy, I'm not really ... anything really. I'm having a lot of trouble interacting with anyone really. So it's really not you, it's me. 

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

I’m glad you popped back in.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

2 hours ago, Sylvaa said:

I'm not really ... anything really. I'm having a lot of trouble interacting with anyone really.

Forgive me, but isn't this a depression symptom?

[WolfDreamer]

It's good to see you again, and we appreciate it even more when you aren't feeling it but you still reach out to give us an update.

 

Also... sorry, not sorry, but...

 

 

 

[Sylvaa]

On 3/6/2020 at 6:18 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Forgive me, but isn't this a depression symptom?

 

Potentially, but no (at least not in my case). It's really more around not traveling for work. I actually was talking to my husband about this this past week. When I don't regularly travel, I introvert HARD. Like, I just don't want to leave the house or interact with anyone. Usually, I chalk it up to being a well-deserved break, but now I've been primarily at home for about 4 months, so I am not sure if it's a continuation of that initial break or if it's really something else. Add to that the cold and dark we've had on the East Coast (which, to be fair, hasn't been as bad as other years) and I'm just bleh. It's most likely a roll up of a million different things that hit all at once.

 

Luckily, I am back on the road this week - at least partially. I'm going to be in ABQ through Wednesday for some very exciting meetings, which I am honestly really looking forward to. We also had a very busy weekend gearing my husband up to start his new job (he initially was going to start next Monday, but with the chain of events that happened, he is starting today instead). This is super nice because he had to buy suits for work, so the extra paycheck will offset the extra spending. I also bought a new outfit for myself. I don't buy myself near enough things. We also had an event to attend at our local brewery, which got us out a little bit more. 

 

With my husband's new schedule, we are also thinking about starting to go to the gym in the morning. This way, it'll be done early and won't interfere with our evenings together.