h3r0 Practice

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

Shin Box with hip extensions 

2x2 Pullups 

4 Getups 

2x4 Pushups 

4x10 KB Swings 

 

Tired this morning and just went through the motions. Daughter joined me again and she can now do a getup cleanly. She is a quick learner and already has the hinge down too for deadlifts, may show her how to swing next. 

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

6 Getups 

4x10 KB Swings 

 

Tired and running around for the kids first day back to school. I did the bare minimum 

 

[KB Girl]

You’ve definitely got this all or something thing down, it’s awesome.

[h3r0]

1 hour ago, KB Girl said:

You’ve definitely got this all or something thing down, it’s awesome.

 

Thanks, but huh? Not sure what you mean 

 

[Scaly Freak]

On 8/11/2021 at 5:38 AM, h3r0 said:

Tired and running around for the kids first day back to school. I did the bare minimum 

 

Doing the bare minimum is a heck of a lot more than doing nothing. Anything at all is always better than doing nothing. 

[h3r0]

On 8/12/2021 at 10:07 AM, Scaly Freak said:

 

Doing the bare minimum is a heck of a lot more than doing nothing. Anything at all is always better than doing nothing. 

 

100% agree. Thanks for the support 

 

[h3r0]

So I watched a old movie that had been recorded in our DVR a few years ago. It was recorded on regular network TV so it had the usual commercials and something about them bothered me and a few made me vaguely uncomfortable but I just couldn't put my finger on what exactly it was. Until I realized that these were all from pre-covid times and no one was wearing a mask and several of them took place in large crowds with close contact.

 

It has been such background wallpaper thing that I haven't really noticed that most commercials now show only one or two people or have people in masks even if it is a commercial for a prescription rash cream. 

 

I really thought I had escaped any mental side effects of non-family isolation and general pandemic anxiety that the last year plus has brought to all of us. It made me realize that the few errands I have done I have been fine with the handful of people I see in the store but start getting anxious when that number increases or someone wants to linger in the isle next to me.

 

Is my brain completely broken now? Will I ever feel comfortable in a crowd of people ever again? My fears are not completely unreasonable since I live in a area where the infection rate is the highest in the state and the state is competitive in the top worst in the country right now but where is that line between reasonable and long term damage to my mental health? I am not sure and I am not running out right now to go crowd surfing at a concert any time soon. But now I am worried that one day when all this is over it is going to be a struggle to feel normal again if ever. 

 

[Scaly Freak]

3 hours ago, h3r0 said:

Is my brain completely broken now? Will I ever feel comfortable in a crowd of people ever again? My fears are not completely unreasonable since I live in a area where the infection rate is the highest in the state and the state is competitive in the top worst in the country right now but where is that line between reasonable and long term damage to my mental health? I am not sure and I am not running out right now to go crowd surfing at a concert any time soon. But now I am worried that one day when all this is over it is going to be a struggle to feel normal again if ever. 

 

We either live in the same state, or we live in very similar states. Sucks, doesn't it?

 

I can answer one of your questions with complete certainty: No, your brain is not broken.

 

Your brain is smart, and it has learned from information it has absorbed in the past 18+ months, that when there is an air-borne potentially fata illness in your community, large crowds are dangerous, because there is illness in the air in the crowd, and you are at risk of infection. The rationally thinking part of your brain is concerned for its continued survival and has underhandedly, but quite effectively, engaged the help of of the emotion center to try and convince you not to go into crowds. The best way the brain's emotion center knows of to make that happen, is to activate a fear response at the thought of going into a crowd.

 

This is the opposite of broken. Your brain is trying to keep you safe by keeping you away from super spreader situations. It has chosen an unpleasant way of doing it, but to the rational brain, that is a secondary concern compared to the fact the chosen method is effective. My brain has done the exact same thing to me, and has conned my anxiety into helping as well.

 

I don't know if we will ever work our way back to a point where we are perfectly comfortable in the mosh pit at a concert, cozying up to strangers at a sporting event, or even shaking the hand of a stranger in greeting. What I am working on and attempting to figure out and come to terms with for myself right now is: Is that such a bad thing? I enjoy having my personal space respected, and really, how gross is it to go and share multiple hands in a row, when you have no idea how long it's been since the owners of those hands washed them? I mean... ew.

 

I don't know that we as a society have a "normal" anymore, and considering our old normal is the reason the pandemic hit us as hard as it did, I'm all in favor of finding a new normal that works  better for me. I just don't know what that is and will be like. And yes, that makes my anxiety very anxious. 

[h3r0]

4 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

We either live in the same state, or we live in very similar states. Sucks, doesn't it?

 

 

The report for my zip code. Both Walmarts in town are closed because they didn't have enough workers to even stock shelves. Like a early warning system for the apocalypse. 

 

4 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

I don't know that we as a society have a "normal" anymore, and considering our old normal is the reason the pandemic hit us as hard as it did, I'm all in favor of finding a new normal that works  better for me. I just don't know what that is and will be like. And yes, that makes my anxiety very anxious. 

 

Thanks for that. I was feeling damaged and in a way I am, but just if compared to normal times which we are definitely not in right now. Reptile brain survival mode is not something that I had considered but it makes complete sense. Although as I said I am not certain if that mode will ever turn off now that it has activated. As you said maybe the path forward is the path forward. Figure out what now instead of being upset that our old normal is gone. Crying, spilled milk, etc. I will contemplate what can be instead of what was. Or something like that as long as I don't slide off into Howard Hughes weirdness. 

 

Thanks again Scaly. I was beating myself up for something that I shouldn't have. You always know how to add some perspective. 

 

 

[Scaly Freak]

2 hours ago, h3r0 said:

The report for my zip code. Both Walmarts in town are closed because they didn't have enough workers to even stock shelves. Like a early warning system for the apocalypse. 

 

Okay, we do not live in the same state. It's not that bad here.  Be careful! Wear a mask, and if you have to go near strangers, try not to!

 

2 hours ago, h3r0 said:

Thanks for that. I was feeling damaged and in a way I am, but just if compared to normal times which we are definitely not in right now. Reptile brain survival mode is not something that I had considered but it makes complete sense. Although as I said I am not certain if that mode will ever turn off now that it has activated. As you said maybe the path forward is the path forward. Figure out what now instead of being upset that our old normal is gone. Crying, spilled milk, etc. I will contemplate what can be instead of what was. Or something like that as long as I don't slide off into Howard Hughes weirdness. 

 

Sometimes the only way out really is to move forward until we get to the other side. And I do believe that our brains will stop making us afraid of crowds, when we get to the point that crowds no longer are unsafe for viral reasons. We just don't know when that is, or how long it will take for our brains to realize that it truly is safe again. Unclenching the mental panic muscles from active mode can take a while.

 

But it will happen, and we will go to concerts and basketball games again. Eventually. And when we do, we will never ever again take them for granted.  

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

Jump Rope 

6 singles Pullups 

6 Getups 

4x10 KB Swings 

 

Hip flexer stretch 

90 /90 

Pigeon pose 

Figure 4 

 

Good training session. 

 

Food 

 

I have been experimenting with intermittent fasting, which is what the younger people call skipping breakfast. My results have been meh. Easy to follow but clear thinking and alertness swing to the opposite if I go the full 16 hours. Seem to get the full benefit if I eat some light protein like eggs around the 14 hour mark then lunch as usual. Maybe I am not noticing much since it is not that different from what I typically do. Usually just a light breakfast midmorning of 2 eggs and a piece of toast. I'll keep playing around with it and see if it worth fooling with. 

 

But not today. I am splurging with bagals and lox. As I said I typically don't have a carb bomb first thing in the morning since it can mess with my blood sugar and give me a nice headache to start the day but I love bagals and lox and I really can't remember the last time I had it. So excited! 

 

 

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

Jump Rope 

Halos 

6 singles Pullups 

8 Getups 

5x10 KB Swings 

 

90/90

Pigeon pose 

Upward dog 

Figure 4 

 

Still taking it easy on the low back and so far it is doing great. No pain day to day and I haven't noticed any twinges when I bend over. I guess enough time has passed that it is finally healed up and so far the Swings are not bothering it. 

 

[KB Girl]

Sorry about the covid mess.. Walmart's closing does sound bad 😕 Glad Scaly was here to say all the good things with regards to mental health! 

 

On 8/12/2021 at 4:53 PM, h3r0 said:

 

Thanks, but huh? Not sure what you mean 

 

With 'all or something' I meant when you can't do it all (a full training session) to just do something instead, and you've really got that down. 

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

Jump Rope 

6 singles Pullups 

6 Getups 

5x10 KB Swings 

 

Sphinx stretch 

90 /90 

Pigeon pose 

 

Felt weak this morning. Having blood sugar issues, high when I woke up. 

 

 

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

8 Getups 16 kg 

6 singles Pullups 

6x10 Swings 16 kg

Sphinx Pose 2 min

 

Good workout. 

 

Jumped on the scales this morning and I am down 4 lbs to 191 lbs. The last time I weighed myself was 4-6 weeks ago. I think it is just body fat and hoping it is not muscle. I have not actively been trying to lose weight but I have been testing out IF for the last few weeks. Will make a effort to bump up protein intake on the off chance that I am losing muscle mass. 

 

[Harriet]

On 8/14/2021 at 2:34 PM, h3r0 said:

I have been experimenting with intermittent fasting, which is what the younger people call skipping breakfast. My results have been meh. Easy to follow but clear thinking and alertness swing to the opposite if I go the full 16 hours. Seem to get the full benefit if I eat some light protein like eggs around the 14 hour mark then lunch as usual. Maybe I am not noticing much since it is not that different from what I typically do. Usually just a light breakfast midmorning of 2 eggs and a piece of toast. I'll keep playing around with it and see if it worth fooling with.

 

Oh, yay! I'm also trying IF, and just starting with 16 hours since that seems to be the minimum for benefits. I gather than, if you're used to being fed all the time then you might not yet be good at burning fat and making ketones for energy, and therefore the transition can be hard because you have no glycogen but also not ketones. But I assume if you have diabetes that your body is very accustomed to making ketones and that this wouldn't apply to you? (Unless you are very responsible and never have hypos). Unsure.

 

On 8/13/2021 at 9:05 PM, h3r0 said:

Is my brain completely broken now? Will I ever feel comfortable in a crowd of people ever again? My fears are not completely unreasonable since I live in a area where the infection rate is the highest in the state and the state is competitive in the top worst in the country right now but where is that line between reasonable and long term damage to my mental health? I am not sure and I am not running out right now to go crowd surfing at a concert any time soon. But now I am worried that one day when all this is over it is going to be a struggle to feel normal again if ever.

 

Scaly said some sensible things. I will just add that your brain is not broken, it is a matter of associations. When the pandemic is over, that association will lessen, I hope.  Airborne viruses will probably remain "cognitively salient" to you for a long time, but that's how we work. For example, people fear terrorist attacks more than falling out of bed, even though your chance of dying from the former is probably less (don't quote me on that. It's just an example). The reason is that highly emotional disasters prime our memory and fears much more strongly than dry statistical risks. Everyone who suffers an acute tragedy, assault, or other devastating life event carries such fears around, I think. They get less over time (assuming the source of the distress is gone and you're now safe!) and you cope with what remains. I wouldn't be surprised if we are all at least a bit more aware of and afraid of viruses for life, but we'll manage.

[h3r0]

51 minutes ago, Harriet said:

 

Oh, yay! I'm also trying IF, and just starting with 16 hours since that seems to be the minimum for benefits. I gather than, if you're used to being fed all the time then you might not yet be good at burning fat and making ketones for energy, and therefore the transition can be hard because you have no glycogen but also not ketones. But I assume if you have diabetes that your body is very accustomed to making ketones and that this wouldn't apply to you? (Unless you are very responsible and never have hypos). Unsure.

 

 

I am very responsible (at least try to be) but I still get hypos. Unfortunately it comes with the territory. A bit more exercise than you intended, miscalculated carb load of a meal, or accidentally overlapping a previous correction. All you can do is catch it early and keep incidents to a minimum. 

 

I'm not sold on the theory that you can hit ketosis in 16 hours with IF. Maybe it does but your liver holds a lot of glucose and previous experience with Atkins back in the 90s showed it took 2-3 days. I don't know.

 

My blood sugar has been stable in the mornings, with no lows which is something I would have to watch for, but I haven't really seen any big advantages other than calorie restriction from missing a meal. That being said I almost always eat a low or no carb small breakfast and have for years so maybe I was already getting the benefits without realizing it. 

 

54 minutes ago, Harriet said:

Scaly said some sensible things. I will just add that your brain is not broken, it is a matter of associations. When the pandemic is over, that association will lessen, I hope.  Airborne viruses will probably remain "cognitively salient" to you for a long time, but that's how we work. For example, people fear terrorist attacks more than falling out of bed, even though your chance of dying from the former is probably less (don't quote me on that. It's just an example). The reason is that highly emotional disasters prime our memory and fears much more strongly than dry statistical risks. Everyone who suffers an acute tragedy, assault, or other devastating life event carries such fears around, I think. They get less over time (assuming the source of the distress is gone and you're now safe!) and you cope with what remains. I wouldn't be surprised if we are all at least a bit more aware of and afraid of viruses for life, but we'll manage.

 

I sure hope so. Historically the Spanish Flu pandemic lasted 3 years so by that measure we are halfway through. But the Black Death was 7 years and kept popping back up over the next 500 years periodically. Not sure what model we are following but I would expect our modern medical advances to squeeze that into a smaller window but we seem hell bent on dragging it out further as well as the speed we are seeing variants develop. 

 

[Harriet]

2 minutes ago, h3r0 said:

 

I am very responsible (at least try to be) but I still get hypos. Unfortunately it comes with the territory. A bit more exercise than you intended, miscalculated carb load of a meal, or accidentally overlapping a previous correction. All you can do is catch it early and keep incidents to a minimum. 

 

Sorry, I was being facetious because I was thinking of my brother who is not always careful. Hypos aren't your fault.

 

2 minutes ago, h3r0 said:

I'm not sold on the theory that you can hit ketosis in 16 hours with IF. Maybe it does but your liver holds a lot of glucose and previous experience with Atkins back in the 90s showed it took 2-3 days. I don't know.

 

I don't know, either. Maybe fasting for 16 hours keeps you in a crappy spot where you aren't adapted to burning fat for energy, but you don't have much sugar left, either. Hmm.

 

2 minutes ago, h3r0 said:

My blood sugar has been stable in the mornings, with no lows which is something I would have to watch for, but I haven't really seen any big advantages other than calorie restriction from missing a meal. That being said I almost always eat a low or no carb small breakfast and have for years so maybe I was already getting the benefits without realizing it. 

 

That's fantastic. My brother recently switched to low carb dinners because his sugar wakes him up every night and then is crazy in the morning, and he showed me his numbers recently: SO much better! If you've got a routine that keeps you stable, that's awesome.

 

2 minutes ago, h3r0 said:

I sure hope so. Historically the Spanish Flu pandemic lasted 3 years so by that measure we are halfway through. But the Black Death was 7 years and kept popping back up over the next 500 years periodically. Not sure what model we are following but I would expect our modern medical advances to squeeze that into a smaller window but we seem hell bent on dragging it out further as well as the speed we are seeing variants develop.

 

Hard to say. Might depend how fast we can get people in poor nations vaccinated. At the moment I'm thinking it could be a few years at least, and we may need to get boosters against new variants periodically. I'm trying to take some small risks so I can have a life that's okay for a few years. Obviously that's easier when numbers are low in one's area.. I feel good about going back to the gym, though, really good. It has health benefits, too.

[h3r0]

3 minutes ago, Harriet said:

 

Sorry, I was being facetious because I was thinking of my brother who is not always careful. Hypos aren't your fault.

 

 

No worries. I didn't take it as a accusation. Most people I encounter have no idea how diabetes works and stare at me blankly if I politely decline a food item at a gathering "even if it is fat free". This includes family members. So I typically over explain the disease to everyone out of habit. 

 

[Harriet]

19 minutes ago, h3r0 said:

 

No worries. I didn't take it as a accusation. Most people I encounter have no idea how diabetes works and stare at me blankly if I politely decline a food item at a gathering "even if it is fat free". This includes family members. So I typically over explain the disease to everyone out of habit. 

 

 

I have some gluten free, non-GMO, ethically harvested, fat free, cold centrifuged honey for you 😛

[h3r0]

 

Tonic Day

 

2 singles Pullups 

2 singles Chinups

2 Getups 16 kg

2x10 Single Hand KB Deadlift 16 kg

1x10 Goblet Squats 16 kg

 

Sphinx Pose 

Pigeon pose 

 

Today was supposed to be a planned off day but my daughter wanted to work out. So did a easy Tonic day. 

 

 

[h3r0]

 

So for my birthday I splurged and ordered myself a not cheap 24 KG kettlebell. I ordered it on the 14th and I check it every day but it still says waiting for fulfillment.

 

Ughhhh

 

Says that it can take 10-14 days to ship. 

 

Ugghhhh

 

I get everything is backed up now but I wanna wanna wanna! 

 

[h3r0]

 

Training 

 

5 singles Pullups 

10 Getups 16 kg 

1 Chinup 

 

Feeling weak this morning. Going to bump up my calories for the next two days and try to get to bed early tonight. 

 

[Scaly Freak]

2 hours ago, h3r0 said:

 

 

It's also the thing you do that keeps you good at what you're practising, let's not forget that critical part.

[h3r0]

 

My kettlebell got a new friend!