Katydid joins the Assassins! (And cleans up her diet)

[Katydid]

Today was exhausting, but pretty successful  I got a slow start in the morning and was definitely procrastinating on working out.  Finally I thought of a TV show I wanted to watch and used that to convince myself to put it on while I did my bodyweight circuit.  Being slow in the mornings is a luxury I won't have when classes start, so I need to stop doing that...

 

I took a long walk in the afternoon as well so I could contribute to the Assassins cardio mini challenge After that I went to the mall to find some new jeans...that was a strugglebus.  Eventually I found some I really liked, but not before trying on a bunch that I didn't. I just had to keep reminding myself that it was the clothes that were wrong, not my body.  Between frustration and walking up and down the mall, I was wiped out afterwards.  Came home and had a relaxing dinner with the fam, but then had to pack.  I bought a bunch of new clothes while I was home and I really needed them, but even though I got rid of some of my old ones too my suitcase is full to bursting!  Now I'm finally done for the night and will probably crash early.

 

Tomorrow is my last travel day for a couple of months, thank goodness!  I'll be in airports/airplanes most of the day, but I had good luck with airport eating last challenge, so fingers crossed!

[NightWatcher13]

7 hours/week should make the thesis so done by May that you won't even have to poke it with a stick anymore I'm on a pretty strict fooding quest right now, so if you need any support let me know! 

And welcome to the assassins!

[Ryoko]

Ooooh jean shopping is the worst! I hate shopping for jeans - it's always a problem. Actually, pants in general are a problem for me. Glad you actually found a pair! ^.^

[Elisha]

Today was exhausting, but pretty successful  I got a slow start in the morning and was definitely procrastinating on working out.  Finally I thought of a TV show I wanted to watch and used that to convince myself to put it on while I did my bodyweight circuit.  Being slow in the mornings is a luxury I won't have when classes start, so I need to stop doing that...

 

I took a long walk in the afternoon as well so I could contribute to the Assassins cardio mini challenge After that I went to the mall to find some new jeans...that was a strugglebus.  Eventually I found some I really liked, but not before trying on a bunch that I didn't. I just had to keep reminding myself that it was the clothes that were wrong, not my body.  Between frustration and walking up and down the mall, I was wiped out afterwards.  Came home and had a relaxing dinner with the fam, but then had to pack.  I bought a bunch of new clothes while I was home and I really needed them, but even though I got rid of some of my old ones too my suitcase is full to bursting!  Now I'm finally done for the night and will probably crash early.

 

Tomorrow is my last travel day for a couple of months, thank goodness!  I'll be in airports/airplanes most of the day, but I had good luck with airport eating last challenge, so fingers crossed!

That sounds like a bad ass day and you kicked the crap out of the bad shopping ninjas. Assassin indeed. 

Safe travels!

[Katydid]

7 hours/week should make the thesis so done by May that you won't even have to poke it with a stick anymore I'm on a pretty strict fooding quest right now, so if you need any support let me know! 

And welcome to the assassins!

 

Thank you!  That image makes me feel super badass for being an assassin.

 

Ooooh jean shopping is the worst! I hate shopping for jeans - it's always a problem. Actually, pants in general are a problem for me. Glad you actually found a pair! ^.^

 

I know, me too!  The silly thing is that the jeans I ended up buying were the exact same brand and style as the ones I already had, just in a different size.  So if I had checked the brand of my jeans earlier and known what store had them, I could have been done a lot sooner.

 

That sounds like a bad ass day and you kicked the crap out of the bad shopping ninjas. Assassin indeed. 

Safe travels!

 

Thanks!  Travels were long and exhausting, but safe.

[Katydid]

Well, after nine hours, three airplanes, and a lot of motion sickness, I have finally achieved California!  I won't have to get on a plane again for at least two months, and I'm so happy about it.  I'm sitting in a cafe right now on campus waiting for my friend whose apartment I'm crashing at tonight to pick me up.  I'm exhausted, but pretty pleased with how the day went.

I got up this morning and went for a run because I know I'm not going to have time to workout tomorrow.  The sun was just coming up while I was running, and it was cold but not too cold, and actually really pleasant.  I ran my first mile in 10:30, and I feel like I could have gone faster, plus my neighborhood at home is really hilly, so I'm feeling optimistic about hitting my 10-min mile in my next run.

 

I ate really well for a travel day, which I'm happy about.  Some of the food was more mediocre than I would like, but at least it was healthy.  I grabbed a spinach salad and apple for lunch.  For snacks on the plane I had a lemon poppy seed muffin that I bought with lunch, and some leftover roasted garbanzo beans that I made yesterday (new recipe under my belt, yay me!).  Grabbed half a turkey sandwich and some vegetable soup between flights, and got a Greek yogurt parfait and a banana at the cafe where I am now.  My sense of time and meals is all thrown off because of changing time zones, so I've just been eating when I'm hungry and able to get food.

 

I did choose to have my one sugary drink of the week, because I needed a pick-me-up before my last flight, so I got a mocha from Starbucks.  I'm pleased, though, because it wasn't a totally impulsive decision, in that I had been thinking since that morning, "I bet I'm going to be exhausted by the time I get to Denver; I bet today would be a good day to have my sugary drink for the week."  I was also mindful and savoring it while drinking it, because I knew it was my only one for the week.  I think those are good ways to cut down on junk without feeling deprived: be deliberate about when you choose to indulge, and then enjoy it, savoring it and being mindful.

[Ryoko]

I'm glad you had a safe flight!

 

Well done on the sugary drink - doesn't it feel great when it's not an impulsive decision, and YOU are the one who decides? That's what I felt like last challenge with my birthday brownie.

 

And crossing my fingers for your 10 minute mile!

[Ciara]

I second the praise on the sugary drink! I must learn from you *bows down*

 

Welcome to Cali! Your winter will be much nicer than mine Enjoy it!

[Hazard]

After that I went to the mall to find some new jeans...that was a strugglebus.

My favorite word for today is: strugglebus

[Katydid]

I'm glad you had a safe flight!

 

Well done on the sugary drink - doesn't it feel great when it's not an impulsive decision, and YOU are the one who decides? That's what I felt like last challenge with my birthday brownie.

 

And crossing my fingers for your 10 minute mile!

 

Yes, and having made one non-impulsive decision makes me excited to make more, and therefore motivated to not be impulsive.

 

I second the praise on the sugary drink! I must learn from you *bows down*

 

Welcome to Cali! Your winter will be much nicer than mine Enjoy it!

 

Oh yes it's quite warm here still.  Although it was a bit muggy today, which is unusual but hopefully means we'll get some rain. We really need it.

 

My favorite word for today is: strugglebus

 

It's a solid go-to word.  I employ it often.

[Katydid]

Whew!  I am exhausted (seems to be a theme with me).  Today Hart and I and a couple of friends spent all day moving each other into our new dorm rooms for the year.  I'm still surrounded by boxes, but at least my bed is made and my clothes are unpacked for the most part.  Technically it was an exercise rest day, but I definitely got a workout carrying things and climbing stairs!  My room is on the third floor of my building, but in the wing not accessible by elevator.  I will get ALL the stair climbs this year!

 

I ate pretty well today, I just didn't eat very much.  We were so busy running around that I only had time for two meals and no snacks, which is unusual for someone who usually eats three meals plus several snacks.  I'm surprised by how not-hungry I am despite that.  I think being distracted helped curb my appetite, which is useful to know for the future.

 

Although my thesis goal doesn't start until next Monday when classes begin, I did get about a half hour's work done on it this morning.  I'm trying to get ahead a bit because the first week of school will be extremely busy with auditions for my a cappella group.

[Balthazar]

I'm always surprised by how little a person eats when there mind is body and engaged with doing things and you don't even feel hungry

[Ciara]

I ate pretty well today, I just didn't eat very much.  We were so busy running around that I only had time for two meals and no snacks, which is unusual for someone who usually eats three meals plus several snacks.  I'm surprised by how not-hungry I am despite that.  I think being distracted helped curb my appetite, which is useful to know for the future.

I know right? It makes me wonder why I snack so much when I'm not running all over the place. Probably boredom. But it's hopeful- maybe we don't need snacks as often as we eat them...which means it might be possible to reduce how many we eat.

[GingaNinja]

Well done on navigating social situation!

 

I am glad you are doing well! Clothes shopping is so tiring!

[Katydid]

I know right? It makes me wonder why I snack so much when I'm not running all over the place. Probably boredom. But it's hopeful- maybe we don't need snacks as often as we eat them...which means it might be possible to reduce how many we eat.

 

Yeah, I also feel like I go through cycles every few weeks where for a while I'm not very hungry and don't eat very much, and then for another while I'm hungry all the time and eat everything in sight  I'm not sure why that is.

 

Well done on navigating social situation!

 

I am glad you are doing well! Clothes shopping is so tiring!

 

Thanks! I feel good about the clothes I eventually found, it was just a strugglebus for a while there

[Katydid]

Oof.  So my a cappella group (along with all the other a cappella groups at my school) is having auditions next week.  To try to get people to sign up we all go stand in this courtyard where a lot of people walk or bike past.  We play our recorded music and dance around and yell at people to try and get them to audition.  If you've ever seen the movie Pitch Perfect, it's pretty much exactly like that. xD  Additionally, on Monday night there's going to be a big show (which my group is partially in charge of planning this year) with performances from all the a cappella groups so the kiddies can hear us and decide which ones to audition for.  So basically the past two days have been spent trying to unpack in the morning, standing outside dancing and yelling at people in the afternoon, and then rehearsing in the evening.  I had forgotten how much of a cardio and core workout singing a cappella for three hours is...

 

Also my bike was in the shop for those two days because it had a flat tire and the bike shop is super crowded with freshmen trying to buy bikes, so it took them longer than usual to fix it.  So I also did a lot of walking Friday and Saturday just to get around campus.  So while I've only done two bodyweight circuits in the past three days, I've been extremely active  I also haven't been eating much this weekend, partly because I've been so busy and partly because I don't have any snacks in my dorm room yet.  I'm going to Trader Joe's today hopefully to get some healthy snacks.  

[Balthazar]

I'm surprised you've found time to post with how busy you are!!!

[jaex]

Sounds like you've had a busy last few days.  Good luck on Monday!  What are y'all performing?

[Phayze]

Boredom is totally an appetite stimulant. If I don't stay busy, I'm constantly in the fridge.

TJ's is great! They've got some super awesome trail mixes and dried fruit.

[starsapart]

Yeah I've looked into competitive, but what I really like about social is getting to improvise and interact with lots of different styles of partner, so I'm not a big fan of the choreography idea.  I also don't do it as much as I used to.

 

To be fair, you don't always fully choreograph for competitions, either... I've found it depends and sometimes you have to adjust for other dancers!  But since I came out of ballet prior to ballroom, choreography is like second nature.  I want to do more social, though.  One of these months, I'm going to go contra dancing.  ONE OF THESE MONTHS.

 

Oof.  So my a cappella group (along with all the other a cappella groups at my school) is having auditions next week.  To try to get people to sign up we all go stand in this courtyard where a lot of people walk or bike past.  We play our recorded music and dance around and yell at people to try and get them to audition.  If you've ever seen the movie Pitch Perfect, it's pretty much exactly like that. xD  Additionally, on Monday night there's going to be a big show (which my group is partially in charge of planning this year) with performances from all the a cappella groups so the kiddies can hear us and decide which ones to audition for.  So basically the past two days have been spent trying to unpack in the morning, standing outside dancing and yelling at people in the afternoon, and then rehearsing in the evening.  I had forgotten how much of a cardio and core workout singing a cappella for three hours is...

 

Also my bike was in the shop for those two days because it had a flat tire and the bike shop is super crowded with freshmen trying to buy bikes, so it took them longer than usual to fix it.  So I also did a lot of walking Friday and Saturday just to get around campus.  So while I've only done two bodyweight circuits in the past three days, I've been extremely active  I also haven't been eating much this weekend, partly because I've been so busy and partly because I don't have any snacks in my dorm room yet.  I'm going to Trader Joe's today hopefully to get some healthy snacks.  

 

Oho!  I used to conduct a group before I just didn't have time anymore and disbanded!  Didn't realize we had this in common, too!

[Figlet]

I *love* a cappella! I sang all through college and medical school and I miss it *so* much!

What did you get at TJs?

[Katydid]

Uhm.  Hi guys.

 

So, as you know, this week for me has been like this:

 

 

...which, during the whole process, means I see a whole lot of this:

 

 

...which in turn means I've been looking a lot like this:

 

 

 

...So yeah.  I have epically failed at all of my diet goals over the past several days.  I think there are a couple of reasons behind my epic failure:

 

1.  I tried to make several changes at once that were all pretty drastic deviations from my baseline of not paying much attention to the junk I eat.

 

2.  I tried to implement all these changes during the one most busy/stressful week of my entire year.

 

So the plan for now is:

 

Part A: for the next three days (until the auditions process is over), abandon my current goals and revert to maintaining my already established habits of prioritizing freggies and trying to hear and listen to my stomach's messages about what it wants to consume (which lately I haven't been).

Part B: starting Monday, start fresh with a modified set of goals that will be a less severe break from my baseline.

 

I felt pretty bad about all of this for a while, until I realized that the situation I had put myself in was extremely difficult in that I was expecting myself to exert a pretty large amount of willpower over my diet while at the same time using all my mental energy on auditions and other necessary things like going to class, and also operating on way too little sleep.  Also, I noticed that berating myself over failing and trying hard to stick to my goals was only throwing me into a cycle of guilt and stress eating.

 

I'll post again soon with my modified goals, and hopefully be able to start getting back on track!

[Katydid]

I'm surprised you've found time to post with how busy you are!!!

 

Haha I quickly lost that time once auditions got rolling - I just really wanted to come online today to make sure I didn't keep avoiding the boards because of my failure at my goals, lol. >.<

 

Sounds like you've had a busy last few days.  Good luck on Monday!  What are y'all performing?

 

Thanks, it was a really good show!  We're a Christian a cappella group, so we performed a couple of arrangements of contemporary Christian music.  One was a hip-hop type song and the other was rock.

 

Boredom is totally an appetite stimulant. If I don't stay busy, I'm constantly in the fridge.

TJ's is great! They've got some super awesome trail mixes and dried fruit.

 

Yep!  I got some great trail mix there although I haven't had time at home to try it yet.

 

 

To be fair, you don't always fully choreograph for competitions, either... I've found it depends and sometimes you have to adjust for other dancers!  But since I came out of ballet prior to ballroom, choreography is like second nature.  I want to do more social, though.  One of these months, I'm going to go contra dancing.  ONE OF THESE MONTHS.

 

 

Oho!  I used to conduct a group before I just didn't have time anymore and disbanded!  Didn't realize we had this in common, too!

 

 

I've heard of contra dancing but haven't tried it yet - it looks super fun!  Yeah luckily I don't have to conduct the group, my co-leader is the musical director so he's in charge of all that stuff.  I just do planning and logistics which is super ok with me.

 

I *love* a cappella! I sang all through college and medical school and I miss it *so* much!

What did you get at TJs?

 

Hmmm I got some fiber bars (which have been great for breakfasts on the go this week), some white cheddar popcorn (not the best, I know, but a marginally healthier alternative to other things I tend to want late at night), some trail mix, and some baby carrots  I wanted fruit as well but I'm trying to save money by taking fruit from the dining hall instead.

[jaex]

Yeah, when a new challenge starts, it is easy to be overly motivated and create goals that work for like a week or two but are unsustainable.  Typically that happens when we try and make sooo many healthy changes at once.  Instead we must remember the story of the tortoise and the hare - that slow and steady wins the race.  Make a few small changes for a couple months then once those changes are habits make some new changes.  

[starsapart]

I've heard of contra dancing but haven't tried it yet - it looks super fun!  Yeah luckily I don't have to conduct the group, my co-leader is the musical director so he's in charge of all that stuff.  I just do planning and logistics which is super ok with me.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I like to arrange and I'm kind of an OCD perfectionist, so needless to day I would have gone insane with someone else conducting... hahaha.

 

I am hoping to go to a contra the second weekend in October... I see my ortho on the 9th and hopefully he will clear me???  Anyway, if I do, I will share with you how it went!

 

Best of luck with auditions, kick butt, remember to breathe, see you back with modified goals when you finish!