CakeBanisher - Banishing Fear

[LittleTurtle]

...my brain just went "hahaha NO."

This made me giggle.  My brain does that to me too! 

 

Also, I wanted to tell you that a few years ago I tried working out in the mornings before I showered and went to work, but it only left me feeling very groggy and miserable for the remainder of the day.  However, I always heard so many things about how much better it was for you to workout in the morning, so I (quite blindly) went along with it despite how it made me feel.  After a while, I ending up going to the doctor because of some extreme fatigue I was dealing with, and when I explained that I exercised in the morning, he told me that I should try doing it shortly before going to bed because it would probably help me sleep better.  Apparently, the extreme fatigue that I was dealing with was due to what he described as "silent, non-wheezing, exercise induced" asthma.  (Or something along those lines...)

 

Anyways - long story short - you just have to do what works for you and your body.  Change it up and see if you respond better - if so...SUCCESS!  If not, change it up again until you find something that works for you.

 

Hang in there!  I think you are doing a great job! 

[CakeBanisher]

id say: definitly do your workouts at a time you can enjoy it. it matters more that its getting done....

 

fell in love with yoga on monday. my first try. looking foreward to my training tomorrow. might do hot yoga in winter....

 

Thanks Fearless  I'm thinking later in the day will be better for me.  At least, it ought to get me back to the "okay, I have to exercise now, but once I get started, I'll be fine and enjoy it" way it was before.  Now it's just "ug...exercise..."  

 

Yoga was kind of an instant love reaction for me, to  And it has helped me a ton, both physically and mentally.  I can't make up my mind if I would like hot yoga or hate it...someday I may give it a try

 

 

If working out in the morning is too tough, try it in the evening.  I know I have to warm up SLOOOWWLLY to work out in the morning.  For my first challenge, I started every workout with an 8 to 10 minute walk at a pretty leisurely pace.  I just could NOT run or lift after only 5 minutes to warm up.

 

Changing your goal so it's more workable is NOT a failure; it's called learning!

 

Even with my warm up, workout, and cool down, I still don't feel warmed up.  And I'm afraid I'm going to hurt myself because of it, plus it just makes me feel not great.  And, while part of me feels like I should stick to my guns, I'd rather change things up now I've experimented than keep going and hate it.  Because lets face it, what's the fun in that?  Besides, the whole point of trying new things is to see if they work or not.  And, if the answer is not, to change to something that does

 

 

This made me giggle.  My brain does that to me too! 

 

Also, I wanted to tell you that a few years ago I tried working out in the mornings before I showered and went to work, but it only left me feeling very groggy and miserable for the remainder of the day.  However, I always heard so many things about how much better it was for you to workout in the morning, so I (quite blindly) went along with it despite how it made me feel.  After a while, I ending up going to the doctor because of some extreme fatigue I was dealing with, and when I explained that I exercised in the morning, he told me that I should try doing it shortly before going to bed because it would probably help me sleep better.  Apparently, the extreme fatigue that I was dealing with was due to what he described as "silent, non-wheezing, exercise induced" asthma.  (Or something along those lines...)

 

Anyways - long story short - you just have to do what works for you and your body.  Change it up and see if you respond better - if so...SUCCESS!  If not, change it up again until you find something that works for you.

 

Hang in there!  I think you are doing a great job! 

 

My brain does it all the time.  When I'm really tired, it does it in the voice of Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters...not really sure why...

 

Thanks for sharing your story about morning workouts.  I doubt I am experiencing what you did, but I am a lot more tired this challenge than I was last time, and I'm not sleeping well at all.  The only thing I've really changed is the time I'm doing my workouts.  So, I think I am going to go back to what I was doing before, and do them later in the day.  Thanks for the encouragement!

[CakeBanisher]

So.  Having read what you lovely rebels have to say, and considered how I'm feeling, I am going to change my goal a bit.  I will continue working out, but will do so in the evenings instead of the mornings.  Now, my new goal is to go to bed by midnight and be up by 9:30.  Because lately I have been really tired, and therefore sleeping super late, then as a result being up late to finish all my stuff.  I do not want this pattern to continue.  Once school starts, obviously, I'll have to be up earlier than that (by about 45 minutes) but that won't be too hard of an adjustment.  So, that is my new goal  

[starbon]

i should say i tots agree with the going against whats supposedly 'good' for everybody if you see its not good for you - i used to get uber depressed that i couldn't be one of those guys who could straight jump out of bed and go workout and post stuff like "while you're still in bed I'm sweating under the bar" and all that. And THEN, the only time i did my strength training in the morning I massively injured my leg and back - to the extent that i was wincing during normal movements for upto 2 weeks after. Now I still get depressed I can;t keep pace with those morning folks, but I;ve come to learn that my body's not built that way, and I have to make peace with that. apparently I need upwards of 12 hours to actually loosen up. I have to tell those night gremlins to stop tightening my muscles so much

[The Borg Queen]

Cake, I hope your new workout time works better! I'm over here, rooting for you. Keep us updated!

 

Starbon: That injury sounds terrible! I guess it just goes to show that there can be hazards to working out too early in the morning...

[AverageJoe]

Switching to evening workouts is a great idea.  That's one of the great things about being a Nerd/Rebel we love using ourselves as guinea pigs.  You established a hypothesis (working out in the AM will give me more energy), tested your hypothesis, assessed the results and readjusted your thought process.  Yeah for scientific procedure!! 

[CakeBanisher]

starbon - yikes!  That sounds bad!  At least I haven't managed to injure myself...yet...

 

Prime - thanks for the encouragement!  Much appreciated!

 

Switching to evening workouts is a great idea.  That's one of the great things about being a Nerd/Rebel we love using ourselves as guinea pigs.  You established a hypothesis (working out in the AM will give me more energy), tested your hypothesis, assessed the results and readjusted your thought process.  Yeah for scientific procedure!! 

 

Lol, this is so me.  Other people think I'm weird...I am okay with that  Science, FTW!

[starbon]

lol stand back !  I can has SCIENCE !! xD

 

reminds me of the scientifically annotated Lord's prayer (at the risk of earning the wrath of devout Christians :/ ) ...perhaps Primeval would relate - 

 

Our P.I. in his office Forever published be your name. Your papers will come, and your will be done, in the lab, as it is in the editorial boards of journals. Give us this day our daily data, and forgive us our misinterpretations, as we also have forgiven reviewer # 3 for being a complete #&^%@&^. And lead us not into data manipulation, but deliver us from our servitude into a well paying position. AMEN     annyhoo..good job with the experimentation

[CakeBanisher]

starbon, that is hilarious!  I grew up homeschooled, so have a lot of Christian fundamentalist friends, and some of them would be amused by it.  I am certainly amused by it

 

It's like that t-shirt.  Stand Back!  I'm Going to Try Science!  I may need one of those at some point...

 

Anyway.  Goals are going well  I've successfully avoided wheat since my half-asleep slipup, managed to eek in my paleo meal and veggie the last few days, have been tracking everything, was in bed before midnight last night and up by 9:30 today, and have been tracking everything.  I'm over the bulk of my homework pile, which is nice, and have written over a thousand words today (likely will end up much more than that ).

[DrDidg]

It's like that t-shirt.  Stand Back!  I'm Going to Try Science!  I may need one of those at some point...

 

Think Geek has got your back already.

 

[CakeBanisher]

Gotta love Think Geek.  It's a magical place...

 

I had swing dance tonight, and didn't get home until after midnight.  So, I'll cut myself some slack on that goal, given I really had no choice in the matter.  I'm now taking the fifteen minutes I need to wind down before going to bed so I don't just lie there wide awake.  I made up my missed day in writing, plus some, which was nice.  The story feels like it's actually moving forward again

 

I will catch up with everyone tomorrow.

[peggysr]

You were a terrific guinea pig!  It's an achievement to figure out what works for YOU, and stick to your guns.  I'm glad you're writing is going well.  Every time you mention swing, I think, "I'd like to do that."  Maybe I'll look for swing lessons soon.

[L'irlandaise]

Hi Cake. I've just got caught up with your posts. I can face walking in the morning but that's about it: I work out between getting home from work and dinner as it helps me shut down from the work day and prepare for the evening. Even then there are days that my muscles are less happy with the workout than others.

 

You have all the right answers already: keep it playful, change it so it works for you and aim for better, not perfection. Keep going Cakedruid!

[I am Eve]

Hi CB!

Good thinking to change your goals if you feel that they are really not working for you :-)

We're all different and what works for me might not work for you. Then again some things just need time. It will be interesting to see if this new agenda makes it feel better.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

[starbon]

I think I might be a fellow evening workout person like you cake ...just completed my workout ( and its only the afternoon here ) and it was a  lesson in drudgery. BUT I still finished it . So YAYYY

 

I think we're both diesel engines..you have difficulty starting em up, but once you warm up (over a 12 hour period lol) we run smooth as glass

[MadScientist]

Swing dance and don't get home until midnight almost sounds like heaven to me.  When I was in grad school, we used to go out country western dancing (polka, waltz, lots of two-step) every Tuesday night (lady's night).  The band started at nine and quit at 2AM.  We stayed for all of it and danced continually.  Every week.  I can remember getting up for an 8AM class I had to teach on Wednesday.  Fun times, but worth it if you are having fun.

 

As you stick to your primal diet, the exercise will get a lot easier.  Your allergies should reduce quite a bit, as well.

 

Keep up the good work (almost went Dori on you ).

[gibnic]

Hey there,

Just catching up... I am totally doing nanowrimo this year! Do it with me!

 

(He he he, I said "do it with me!") 

 

I figured it out to be about 1650 words per day (oh wiat I forgot, I am in the nerd group, it is 1666.6666 and so forth) , which sounds like a lot, but it is actually like 6 or seven pages a day (double spaced) which I know I can do in an hour and a half at the most. I know I can do it, I just have to devote the time to it. I will have started my graduate program by then as well, so that can actually be helpful in this case! 

 

As for workouts, I am a total morning workout person. But it took me suffering through many, many, MANY after work and after dinner workouts to figure it out. I absolutely hate working out after dinner. I didn't know that until I started doing my workouts in the mid morning after one of my classes though. I am not an early morning workout type either. I don't mind getting up at 6, but I am not going to do anything strenuous until I have adjusted to being awake and that takes me a couple of hours, lol. I prefer to do my workouts sometime between 10am and 1pm. Sometimes if I have a big lunch I will put it off until 2 or 3, but past that I am useless. 

 

But everyone is different and your workouts need to fit with your lifestyle and your personality. It is awesome that you are figuring out what you like! 

 

Good to see you doing well here. =) 

[keliswicked]

Just wanted to stop by and see how everything was going! 

 

I hate morning workouts too.  I like sleeping too much to get up at 5:30am and workout.  So afternoon/evenings are best for me too!  It's like what they say about exercise... the best exercise is the one you'll stick too.  It's the same with when you do it.  The best time to workout is whenever you will consistently workout. 

 

I almost always change some of my challenge goals through the challenge >_< you're not alone!  As someone said above, it's all about learning!

[CakeBanisher]

Hey there,

Just catching up... I am totally doing nanowrimo this year! Do it with me!

 

(He he he, I said "do it with me!") 

 

I figured it out to be about 1650 words per day (oh wiat I forgot, I am in the nerd group, it is 1666.6666 and so forth) , which sounds like a lot, but it is actually like 6 or seven pages a day (double spaced) which I know I can do in an hour and a half at the most. I know I can do it, I just have to devote the time to it. I will have started my graduate program by then as well, so that can actually be helpful in this case! 

 

As for workouts, I am a total morning workout person. But it took me suffering through many, many, MANY after work and after dinner workouts to figure it out. I absolutely hate working out after dinner. I didn't know that until I started doing my workouts in the mid morning after one of my classes though. I am not an early morning workout type either. I don't mind getting up at 6, but I am not going to do anything strenuous until I have adjusted to being awake and that takes me a couple of hours, lol. I prefer to do my workouts sometime between 10am and 1pm. Sometimes if I have a big lunch I will put it off until 2 or 3, but past that I am useless. 

 

But everyone is different and your workouts need to fit with your lifestyle and your personality. It is awesome that you are figuring out what you like! 

 

Good to see you doing well here. =) 

 

I really want to do nanowrimo...I think it's doable.  I'm just not sure how much work school will be this year, which is why I keep hesitating.  And yes, it must be 1666.6666 words per day  When I'm on a writing streak, I can easily hit 5000 a day or more, so I know I could do it.  I'm just afraid of biting of more than I can chew...I may just have to commit and see how it goes

 

I kept trying to convince myself I was a morning workout person.  Clearly, that failed  But if it works for you, that's awesome!  Thanks for the support!

 

 

Just wanted to stop by and see how everything was going! 

 

I hate morning workouts too.  I like sleeping too much to get up at 5:30am and workout.  So afternoon/evenings are best for me too!  It's like what they say about exercise... the best exercise is the one you'll stick too.  It's the same with when you do it.  The best time to workout is whenever you will consistently workout. 

 

I almost always change some of my challenge goals through the challenge >_< you're not alone!  As someone said above, it's all about learning!

 

Yeah, there is no way I'm getting up at 5:30 to workout.  And learning is good.  We like learning  And if insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, and I don't want to be considered totally insane, I figure changing it up to see if it works better is a good idea.  Thanks for the support!

[CakeBanisher]

So.  I have been neglecting to update...because I have been somewhat neglecting this challenge.  I haven't totally lost it.  But I'm also not doing so hot.

 

As far as paleo eating, I've been getting in a paleo meal every day, but not always with a veggie.  I avoided wheat for the most part last week.  This week I don't eat wheat or sugar.  That failed today, because I didn't realize it was Monday and ate a big handful of cereal (contains no wheat, but does have sugar).  Whoops.  I'm counting it as part of my cheat allowance.  However, I am now at a time of month where...eating can get out of hand, shall we say.  Sometimes, I can coast through and not really feel any different at all.  Others...yeah, not so much.  This is shaping up to be one of those times.  I had some chocolate earlier, which helped a little.  But only a little.  Sometimes when I'm having these stubborn cravings, I make cookies, which is what I really want to do right now.  The actual act of baking seems to satisfy a good bit of the craving.  Not sure why, but it does.  So maybe if I make a single batch and then push them off on my cousin...the only reason this hasn't happened yet is we don't have all the ingredients in the house.  So, mostly, at this point I'm just trying not to go crazy.  I give myself a B overal for last week on this goal (week one was an A)

 

I'm still tracking things.  Took body stats today, and have been maintaining my food/general health/etc. log.  A on this goal.

 

My writing is going quite well, I'm happy to say.  I'm out of the part I don't enjoy writing as much, and now the words are flowing much better, and I like the results more.  It's just more satisfying to write interactions than single characters running around doing stuff.  I've missed a couple days, but made them up, and I'm overall okay with how I'm doing.  So, A on this goal so far.

 

Now, the wildcard goal.  At the time, going to bed by midnight and being up at 9:30 seemed like a good replacement goal.  HAHAHA NO.  For starters, my summer schedule is quite crazy, and I often have nights I don't get home until after midnight.  Whoops.  And, as a result, I need to be in bed later into the morning.  Whoops again.  Quickly decided that goal wasn't going to work.  So, instead, I am doing the goal I had originally planned before deciding to try the morning workout one - Meditation.  

 

I've wanted to really get meditation into my life for a long time now, and just haven't done it.  I want this to change.  So, I will start with three minutes, because that's about how long I normally like to go.  Two is too short, but if I go much over three, my mind starts getting jumpy.  Each week, I will add time.  I've found I like to meditate either lying on my yoga mat or on my bed...sitting static makes stuff hurt, so I always lie down.  

 

Anyway.  Sorry about the long, rambling post.  I will try to keep up better in the future.  My classes are almost over, so I don't really have any excuses.  As always, thanks so much for all the support!

[AverageJoe]

I think it looks like you're doing pretty well.  Diet goals are always tough and you were wise enough recognize that we're human and it's difficult to rewire our brains.  Just keep at it, as long as you're eating better than you would have before the challenge you've got a WIN.  Also, it sounds like your doing great with your writing and tracking goals.  Finally, don't stress too much about your fluctuating schedule.  That's life, it's messy, unpredictable and sometimes you have to adapt.  Keep it up!

[starbon]

looks like you're doing pretty much great in ...EVERYTHING !!

 

As for the unpredictable schedule, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's one of the trade-offs of being human you know, having an unpredictable schedule when things you want to do in 5 minutes take up 15 and then you walk through a doorway and go " emm....what was I coming here for again ? " LOL

 

Just a minor question though - this is your thread...who are you apologising to again ?

 

Good going mate !

[MadScientist]

Keeping logs, learning what does and does not work for you, tracking your stats...  Looks good to me.  Give yourself credit and keep trying.  You are doing great.

[CakeBanisher]

Thanks guys  I was really tired when I wrote that last post...everything looks worse when you're tired...I have actually been doing pretty well.  And, I am now fully back on the wagon as far as my goals go.  Although I realized yesterday I had eaten under 1000 calories again.  Whoops.  This is why I log stuff

 

 

I think it looks like you're doing pretty well.  Diet goals are always tough and you were wise enough recognize that we're human and it's difficult to rewire our brains.  Just keep at it, as long as you're eating better than you would have before the challenge you've got a WIN.  Also, it sounds like your doing great with your writing and tracking goals.  Finally, don't stress too much about your fluctuating schedule.  That's life, it's messy, unpredictable and sometimes you have to adapt.  Keep it up!

 

Thanks Joe.  And I am eating better than I might be otherwise, which is a good thing.  I'm not actually too fussed about my weird schedule, I just wasn't taking it into account when I came up with that goal, as not getting home until after midnight makes it a tad tricky to go to bed before midnight  

 

 

looks like you're doing pretty much great in ...EVERYTHING !!

 

As for the unpredictable schedule, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's one of the trade-offs of being human you know, having an unpredictable schedule when things you want to do in 5 minutes take up 15 and then you walk through a doorway and go " emm....what was I coming here for again ? " LOL

 

Just a minor question though - this is your thread...who are you apologising to again ?

 

Good going mate !

 

Why thank you  Glad to know I'm not the only one who walks into a room and can't figure out why.  We talked about that in my psych class a couple years ago, how we leave to get something, but the trigger is back at our desk (or wherever we were) and not in the new location.  Thus, we forget  

 

I feel the need to quote Gibbs.  "Don't apologize.  It's a sign of weakness."  And I'm frankly amazed I know enough about a popular tv show to quote it in any capacity...Anyway, thanks

 

 

Keeping logs, learning what does and does not work for you, tracking your stats...  Looks good to me.  Give yourself credit and keep trying.  You are doing great.

 

Thanks!  Overall, I'm doing pretty well.  I just have a tendency to not think so when I'm tired.  And the tracking stuff is clearly helping me even in the short term, so I count that as a win any day

[CakeBanisher]

I've had some chocolate lately, but otherwise avoided any other form of wheat and sugar.  But we're out of readily available veggies, which is making that part of the goal decidedly difficult...  One thing I've noticed is that I tend to not really feel full unless I've had some form of carb.  Thank you tracking  Even just a few gluten-free crackers or a couple bites of gluten-free cereal (my mom is trying to eat gluten free, so we have a lot of that stuff in the house) seem to do the trick.  So, I'm thinking I will, in the absence of high-carb veggies in the house, allow those two things if I eat something and am still hungry.  We'll see how it goes.

 

The tracking goal is still coming along nicely.  I occasionally miss writing something down, but then next time I pull out the notebook I add it anyway, so I'm still getting just about everything tracked.

 

I'm liking meditation.  I do a minimum of three minutes per day, but if the mood strikes me, I just do more

 

Writing has been going well, and I had one of the best writing days I've had in a long while yesterday, which makes me happy  And I may be able to convince my mom to do nanowrimo with me, which would be neat.  As a side note, I'm looking into getting a program called Scriviner (sort of an extremely advanced writing program - I have the trial version, and quite like it, although I'm still getting used to it).  Anyone ever used it?  Thoughts?