[darkfoxx]

 

 

I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again: something has got to change. That’s up to no one but me. As 2021 draws to a close, I find my body in a state that my back is starting to act up again in a big way (which happens when I hit a certain body fat percentage), 80% of my closet doesn’t fit, and I feel suuuuuuper heavy and unresponsive in my yoga classes. 

 

This is no bueno. 

 

 

The good news is, I 100% know how to fix it. 

 

 

Like, that exactly - minus probably the pasta, in my case. 

 

Nutrition

 

Thinking back to all the nutrition protocols over the years that have worked best for my body, paleo was the clear winner. I think what worked for me there was the protein consideration (making sure I at least hit that one metric before all else), the consistent working out (20-30 mins/ day 5-7x a week), the focus on getting enough greens, focus away from carbs, focus away from processed foods, and the lower amounts of alcohol (zero, actually). 

 

I haven’t had the desire to be but so strict with myself over the past couple years, so I’m going for a hybrid here. 

 

Protocol Guidelines

 

80g/day protein

When in doubt, more veggies 

Bread only when it’s going to be actually worth it - not just because it’s in front of me (killer fresh naan? Yes. Crappy sandwich because I’m bored, no). Rice at a restaurant: after the main and a few sips of water. 

Alcohol limited to 2-3 drinks per weekend 

 

If all goes to plan, this should naturally put my calorie consumption back down to where my body seems to like it (around 1200 calories), and if I’m focusing on protein first, carbs and fat should sort themselves out. If not, we will reassess. I may reassess to add green smoothies back into my life if I can hit my protein goals otherwise, but will be starting out at least with 20g-ish breakfasts. I’ll look for a good protein powder, too, because I do miss my green veg hit in the mornings. 

 

I’ve also got a new toy - an air fryer - and will be experimenting with that. I’ll be taking y’all along for the ride with pics and menus. 

 

Movement 

 

I’m still loving my 4x a week yoga classes with walks to and from, and will continue on with that. I’ll also be adding in simple kettlebell workouts on Thursdays at first but a day or two aside from that as the weeks go on. 

 

Edited to add: My schedule just had a little shake-up, and it looks like I’ll be able to block in a first(?) second(?) kettlebell session on Tuesdays on weeks I don’t meet up with my girlfriend in person. 

 

Other

 

Crochet projects

Crafter Box project

Closet clean-out 

Kitchen reorganization

 

Protein	_____
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
-
Movement
Yoga
Kettlebell
-
Other
Crafting
Organization
Closet Clean

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I know the feeling of lament that comes over one when most of the closet shrinks. Here to cheer you on.

[Heidi]

Here to cheer you on for all of it: nutrition, kettlebell and yoga and holy smokes a checklist -- I love checklists!!

2 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

I’ve also got a new toy - an air fryer - and will be experimenting with that. I’ll be taking y’all along for the ride with pics and menus. 

Woohoo!

[Rurik Harrgath]

3 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again: something has got to change. That’s up to no one but me. As 2021 draws to a close, I find my body in a state that my back is starting to act up again in a big way (which happens when I hit a certain body fat percentage), 80% of my closet doesn’t fit, and I feel suuuuuuper heavy and unresponsive in my yoga classes. 

 

This is no bueno.

 

I'm right there with you, so let's do something about it.  Accountibilibuddies!

[Scaly Freak]

Eating something "only when it's going to be worth it" has been a big difference maker for me. I have made changes to my diet first and foremost to try and reduce the amount of upset and distress my poor gastric system experiences on a daily basis, and stopping and asking myself, "is this worth the consequences I'll be hit with an hour from now?" is more effective for reducing junk food eating than I ever imagined it would be.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Seems like last year since you posted...

[darkfoxx]

On 12/30/2021 at 5:33 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I know the feeling of lament that comes over one when most of the closet shrinks. Here to cheer you on.

On 12/30/2021 at 7:17 PM, Heidi said:

Here to cheer you on for all of it: nutrition, kettlebell and yoga and holy smokes a checklist -- I love checklists!!

Woohoo!

I’ve got checklists and digital planning galore this challenge! 

 

On 12/30/2021 at 7:49 PM, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

I'm right there with you, so let's do something about it.  Accountibilibuddies!

 

On 12/31/2021 at 12:04 AM, Scaly Freak said:

Eating something "only when it's going to be worth it" has been a big difference maker for me. I have made changes to my diet first and foremost to try and reduce the amount of upset and distress my poor gastric system experiences on a daily basis, and stopping and asking myself, "is this worth the consequences I'll be hit with an hour from now?" is more effective for reducing junk food eating than I ever imagined it would be.

That’s a great tactic to take and has served me well in a lot of instances. Returning to ‘I’m making the more nutritionally dense choice to fuel my body’ I think will help even further. The former is good, but has led my ass down waaaaaaay too many 3-course business lunches with friends and fancy af wine lunches. 

13 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Seems like last year since you posted...

 

So it has been. Zero Week, man! 

 

That, and I’ve been over here recovering from way too many (or at least one too many) old fashioneds on NYE. 

[darkfoxx]

MOnday

 

Today was my first day ‘back at it’ in earnest and I spent a chunk of the day monkeying with meal planner apps. While some had some really great features, I just need something simple in my life to take the place of the shiny new notebook raccoon brain won’t shut up about existing. Somewhere. Maybe in liminal space. 

 

Actually, I suspect I’ve seen one at the fancy paper store - but it’s less practical than digital, portability being what I really need, so I’m trying out a simple spreadsheet thing in Evernote. 

 

Bonus points for giving me more of an excuse to migrate shit over to Evernote instead of having my ‘things’ strewn about my apps. 

 

Didn’t do too terribly much other than yoga, groceries & pup snuggles. 

 

Protein	86g
Breakfast	Almond yogurt, peanut butter, pepitas
Lunch	Air fryer tempeh, miracle noodle Tom yum packet
Dinner	Spice rub chicken breast chunks, green beans, onion, carrots - all air fried
-	Also had a leftover Thai meatball snack because I was still genuinely hungry and was under on protein. This is something I’m going to be keeping on hand because they’re fine cold and small enough to make a 1-ounce snack
Movement
Yoga	Slow flow class with walks to and from
Kettlebell
-
Other	None of these things
Crafting
Organization
Closet Clean

 

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Tuesday

 

Finally and begrudgingly relegated my holiday birch and fairy lights to the closet. Picked up the kettlebell and got through half of a 15-minute video before my form started tanking and I needed to quit. I think my 8kg bell - my light weight - is a might too heavy for the moment. Should have grabbed a 5kg backup. 

 

Yoga was some sort of flow and I did so-so. Still a bit weak but I made it through. 

 

Protein	80.4g
Breakfast	Almond yogurt, peanut butter, pepitas
Lunch	Leftovers from dinners
Dinner	Bulgogi style chicken bowl - choked the chicken down when all I really wanted was cucumber & kimchi
-
Movement
Yoga	Movement flow + walks to and from
Kettlebell	7 minutes
-
Other
Crafting
Organization	I put the holidays away and kind of organized that
Closet Clean

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Wednesday

 

Protein	80.5g
Breakfast	Almond yogurt, peanut butter, pepitas
Lunch	Hamburger patty, leftover broccolini & onion
Dinner	Steak, vegan cheddar, mushrooms, onion, peppers, miso mayo, sweet potato rounds - air fryered
-	3 Thai meatballs for an afternoon snack
Movement
Yoga	Class was decent - detox - I was so/so and we worked on another variation of pincha. Walked to and from.
Kettlebell
-
Other
Crafting	Started another crochet pouch
Organization
Closet Clean

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Thursday

 

Protein	93.5g
Breakfast	Almond yogurt, strawberry jam, peanut butter, collagen peptides, sprinkle pepitas
Lunch	Leftover slacker steak & cheese (minus the cheese because I forgot)
Dinner	An actual steak with smashed potatoes - you guessed it: air fried
-
Movement
Yoga	Planned off day
Kettlebell	Thought about dicking around with it but never got around to it
-
Other
Crafting	Lots of false starting with this next pouch
Organization
Closet Clean

[Heidi]

Looks like a solid start food wise. And I like the idea of flow yoga, especially with walking to and from. You’re doing it right if you are showing up and doing it. 

 

 

Onward!

[Terra]

Following!

 

Same thing for me.  Paleo worked best...  I'm pulling things together late this challenge but I'm checking out other challenges while I set up mine.   

[darkfoxx]

4 hours ago, Heidi said:

Looks like a solid start food wise. And I like the idea of flow yoga, especially with walking to and from. You’re doing it right if you are showing up and doing it. 

 

 

Onward!

I can’t remember what she called class - but it was a goodie. It’s one of my favorite teachers that pushes us to do fun things, but also to not take ourselves so seriously. 

 

And yes for the showing up points - though today I’m bailing. Hubby is home feeling like crap (Schrodingers ‘Rona), while rapid tests are theoretically in this country now I only think I saw one once (we’re in the middle of a PCR crisis; 35,000 people tested in 1 day last week). I elected to stay home with him because, while we can’t really social distance but so much in a small apartment, just thinking of going to class and being the Typhoid Mary who shuts the whole works down for quarantine I just couldn’t fathom. 

 

Today is unsettling with schedule, I’m going to attempt for it not to be a food train wreck. 

 

Also: bad but predictable former boss emailed out of the almost-blue again - apparently, that company she mentioned starting up a couple years ago? A year ago? Is finally off the ground enough to warrant copy. 

 

Am I able to be a more balanced human while doing work for her across the planet? 

3 hours ago, Terra said:

Following!

 

Same thing for me.  Paleo worked best...  I'm pulling things together late this challenge but I'm checking out other challenges while I set up mine.   

 

Better late than never. Happy to see you on the boards! 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

2 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Am I able to be a more balanced human while doing work for her across the planet? 

It's not a matter if how much you have grown, but rather trying the same thing again and expecting a different result. 

[Scaly Freak]

7 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

And yes for the showing up points - though today I’m bailing. Hubby is home feeling like crap (Schrodingers ‘Rona), while rapid tests are theoretically in this country now I only think I saw one once (we’re in the middle of a PCR crisis; 35,000 people tested in 1 day last week). I elected to stay home with him because, while we can’t really social distance but so much in a small apartment, just thinking of going to class and being the Typhoid Mary who shuts the whole works down for quarantine I just couldn’t fathom. 

 

Thank you for being considerate of your fellow human beings. Are you able to get your hands on a test, so you can get some piece of mind?

 

7 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Also: bad but predictable former boss emailed out of the almost-blue again - apparently, that company she mentioned starting up a couple years ago? A year ago? Is finally off the ground enough to warrant copy. 

 

Am I able to be a more balanced human while doing work for her across the planet? 

 

Well, that would depend on her, and how considerate and understanding she is able to be while you work for her. Has she grown into a decent human being since the last time she destroyed your work-life balance and suffocated your soul with micromanagement? 

 

Wait, Tank already made my point. Never mind  

[darkfoxx]

On 1/7/2022 at 2:30 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

It's not a matter if how much you have grown, but rather trying the same thing again and expecting a different result. 

#truth

On 1/7/2022 at 6:55 PM, Scaly Freak said:

 

Thank you for being considerate of your fellow human beings. Are you able to get your hands on a test, so you can get some piece of mind?

 

 

Well, that would depend on her, and how considerate and understanding she is able to be while you work for her. Has she grown into a decent human being since the last time she destroyed your work-life balance and suffocated your soul with micromanagement? 

 

Wait, Tank already made my point. Never mind  

😆 Who knows? 

 

I think I’ll at least email her back, and if she makes me crazy, I’ll bail. It might be nice to rejoin #worklife in a limited capacity. But, if I start second-guessing my shit, lose my ability to balance, or in general start down the anxiety path (in a way that’s ‘her’ and not ‘me’), I’ll be done. Some of my residual issues are things I need to work on myself - this may be a good thing and give an opportunity to do just that with zero actual consequence. 

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Friday, Saturday

 

Protein	72.5g
Breakfast	Almond yogurt, peanut butter, collagen, raspberry jelly, pepitas
Lunch	Mixed grill (shish tawook; meat and chicken koftas, 1/4 of the tomato-rubbed bread, 1/4c hummus, 5 fries
Dinner	Leftover veggies, cucumber, kimchi & miso mayo
-
Movement
Yoga	Bailed on yoga to self isolate
Kettlebell
-
Other
Crafting	Bag crochet
Organization
Closet Clean

 

Protein	69.6
Breakfast	2 eggs, 1 ounce bacon, 2 ounces turkey, sundried tomatoes
Lunch	Salmon roll topped with crab salad
Dinner	Mini kibbeh with tomato chutney
-
Movement
Yoga	Nope
Kettlebell	Nope
-
Other
Crafting	Crochet
Organization
Closet Clean

 

Also managed to get a PCR test, which was lucky. The country is shifting toward rapid tests (which have only recently been approved at all) for regular testing of healthy people under 50. The line for those was huge - I got shunted to the regular PCR group, which is fine with me - I can wait on results. It would also be nice if rapid tests were available anywhere in the country store-wise; they’re sold out. We also just got a drive through testing center back, but I don’t think I’m eligible for that. I think it’s traveler testing and for over-50s. It’s a rapidly-shifting situation. 

[Heidi]

On 1/7/2022 at 3:37 AM, darkfoxx said:

Am I able to be a more balanced human while doing work for her across the planet? 

I have a lot of thoughts on toxic work environments and especially toxic bosses inviting us to rejoin the Misery Carousel and . . . . 

On 1/7/2022 at 6:30 AM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

It's not a matter if how much you have grown, but rather trying the same thing again and expecting a different result. 

Never mind, Tank beat me to it.  

 

Thanks for staying home. This is hard for me, too, and when its something like yoga class, it’s not just missing out on the fun, but it comes at a real cost to our physical and mental heath. I don’t even know if we can reasonably expect social distancing to be effective at this point, but still. Thank. You.

<3 

[darkfoxx]

Sunday

 

Protein	?
Breakfast	2 eggs, 1.5 ounces bacon, sundried tomatoes, some leftover potatoes
Lunch	Delivery - mixed meat platter with roasted veg in tomato sauce. I ate half of my plate and stowed the rest
Dinner	More mini kibbeh
-
Movement	Nope
Yoga
Kettlebell
-
Other
Crafting	Crocheting
Organization
Closet Clean

 

Week recap on the blog: https://gastography.com/2022/01/09/did-you-get-your-protein-today/

 

Also got delivery groceries. DH is watching Cobra Kai and this damn show is a roller coaster - I’m continually surprised and annoyed by the ridiculousness that is this show. 

 

 

[Scaly Freak]

4 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

DH is watching Cobra Kai and this damn show is a roller coaster - I’m continually surprised and annoyed by the ridiculousness that is this show. 

 

Cobra Kai makes a lot more sense if you assume it's an 80's movie in multiple episodes. Because it is.  

[darkfoxx]

On 1/10/2022 at 6:29 PM, Scaly Freak said:

 

Cobra Kai makes a lot more sense if you assume it's an 80's movie in multiple episodes. Because it is.  

True, but it still drives me nuts. Just when things seem rooted in some semblance of reality …. Supercharged 80s ridiculousness. 

[darkfoxx]

M-F 

Hit my 4 yoga classes this week. 

Did not hit my kettlebell workout - but on the flip side, I felt strong in yoga pretty much all week. 

Am working on a chevron crochet bag; finished the outer body of the last one I was working on. 

Protein has been at least near target every day, some days have been over. 

We went back to working on walks a couple nights this week - with mixed success. We did 3 walks; 1 was utter disaster, 1 was decent, 1 I had Freya so I don’t know exactly how badly Odin did - DH says it was terrible. 

Haven’t organized.

Haven’t cleaned the closet. 

[Scaly Freak]

5 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

True, but it still drives me nuts. Just when things seem rooted in some semblance of reality …. Supercharged 80s ridiculousness. 

 

I forgot to mention that this is also why it is best enjoyed in small doses.

[darkfoxx]

Totally thought I updated a couple days ago … 

 

M-Th

 

Have had 3 out of 4 yoga classes so far for the week with walks to and from. Classes have gone good and I’ve felt strong. 

 

Did not feel like / completely forgot to do my kettlebells again this week.

 

Food has been good and I’ve worked smoothies in in the morning for a guaranteed veggie hit. 

 

Dogs have gone on 2 walks this week and one was even a great success, despite the drizzle(!!!!)

 

I’ve crocheted & ripped out hours worth of stitches a couple times this week. 

 

Have not gotten around to organizing.