[Varelse] Don't break the challenge

[Varelse]

I can't remember the last time I was on the forums, but I joined the rebellion, so I'm here for life. Let's see if I'm still able to finish one challenge. This challenge is about 30-days challenges (I'll finish this challenge during the Summer break, but it doesn't bother me).

 

(Health) Eat primal every day

 

One of the items of my Epic Quest was eating primal during three months: 30 days is the first step. I'm considering some indulgences: eat (good) rye bread sometimes, for example one or two times every month; drink a glass of wine some nights; and try to pick the best option when I'm eating outside (which is usual and eating primal is difficult).

 

(Health) Cold showers

 

I was used to take cold showers even in Winter, but it was long time ago. Now, Summer is coming, and I think it is the best time of the year to restart that habit.

 

(Fitness) Walk an hour every day

 

It's been years since the last time I did exercise regularly. I have to be realistic and realize that I cannot start running or lifting weights in my shape. Walk seems the only option.

 

(Life) Play piano every day (>2h.)

 

My life has dramatically changed during the last year. I get back to piano classes and decided that I was giving up the Thesis I was doing and be prepared to the auditions in order to resume my music studies at the conservatory. Those will be in a year, but I want to take this seriously.

 

Said this, I'm keeping track of the days achieved with don't break the chain.

[Severine]

Following! Challenge looks well-rounded and admirable. 

 

One thing I'm curious about: the cold showers. You have it listed under health - is it for a particular health benefit? I've never really thought of hot or cold showers of having any difference other than comfort relative to the temperature of the current season. 

 

Good luck with piano and preparing for auditions!

[Varelse]

13 hours ago, Severine said:

Following! Challenge looks well-rounded and admirable. 

 

One thing I'm curious about: the cold showers. You have it listed under health - is it for a particular health benefit? I've never really thought of hot or cold showers of having any difference other than comfort relative to the temperature of the current season. 

 

Good luck with piano and preparing for auditions!

 

Well, on the one hand I have it listed because the willpower that taking a cold shower implies. On the other hand, it has mental (mood increasing) and physical benefits (blood circulation improvement). Here are related those and other 13 benefits.

[Severine]

5 hours ago, Varelse said:

Well, on the one hand I have it listed because the willpower that taking a cold shower implies. On the other hand, it has mental (mood increasing) and physical benefits (blood circulation improvement). Here are related those and other 13 benefits.

 

The willpower thing definitely makes sense. Hadn't heard about those other things, though. Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

My partner D was born in the Soviet Union and cold showers were the only kind he'd ever experienced until he came to the US as a refugee at age 8. He still sometimes takes them (usually in the summer, or when he really needs to wake up quickly) so I'll have to mention this to him.

[juliebarkley]

Following! I have a walking goal, too, and your other goals are really interesting! How is your first week going?

[Varelse]

9 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

Following! I have a walking goal, too, and your other goals are really interesting! How is your first week going?

 

Quick update: my first week started yesterday and I managed to mark two squares (cold showers and piano). I was unable to find time to walk and have to dinner outside on an Italian restaurant (this is a lie, but I was offered to dinner there with some friends). Today seems to be similar as I wake up late (11 am) and have my mother-in-law birthday. I think I can manage to get better options at lunch, but I don't believe that they could be primal or paleo.

 

12 hours ago, Severine said:

 

The willpower thing definitely makes sense. Hadn't heard about those other things, though. Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

My partner D was born in the Soviet Union and cold showers were the only kind he'd ever experienced until he came to the US as a refugee at age 8. He still sometimes takes them (usually in the summer, or when he really needs to wake up quickly) so I'll have to mention this to him.

 

For me, the mood raising is essential. I think it's its best benefit.

[Lara]

Nice to have you back!

 

On 2017-6-2 at 11:17 PM, Varelse said:

I was used to take cold showers even in Winter, but it was long time ago. Now, Summer is coming, and I think it is the best time of the year to restart that habit.

Ugh. I did it once, also during winter. It was tough. I was severely depressed at that time, but I don't know how much that helped. I'm still amazed at such a feat. I have tried several times to come back to it, but I don't seem to find the courage. I mean, I do it in summer, obviously, but when cool weather comes it's a nope. However, I envy how I was the only one of my friends able to jump right in the cold north sea without a thought, while everyone else was still at the shore trying to go past their ankles. I remember it as some kind of freedom, not being scared of the cold water anymore.

Maybe it makes it difficult to try again that I think warm water is one of the greater pleasures of life...

 

On 2017-6-2 at 11:17 PM, Varelse said:

I get back to piano classes and decided that I was giving up the Thesis I was doing and be prepared to the auditions in order to resume my music studies at the conservatory. Those will be in a year, but I want to take this seriously.

Sorry about the thesis, but getting back to playing looks good to me. How are you preparing? Which level do you want achieve? What will you be playing for the exams?

[Varelse]

13 hours ago, zenLara said:

Sorry about the thesis, but getting back to playing looks good to me. How are you preparing? Which level do you want achieve? What will you be playing for the exams?

 

It is what I've always wanted to do, so it looks good to me, too. I'm preparing with a private teacher which finished her superior degree this year (she has interpretation and pedagogy) and I want to achieve the same degree (don't know the specialization yet). Last time I played piano consistently was three years ago, so I have a lot of work to do. Tomorrow I'll post some videos with my repertoire.

[Severine]

Looking forward to the videos

 

As a kid I really wanted to play piano, but I ended up playing another instrument instead (clarinet). The clarinet is lovely but it lacks the magic and power and drama of the piano.

 

Beethoven's 5th piano concerto is one of my all-time favourite pieces of music.

 

 

[Lara]

7 hours ago, Varelse said:

Last time I played piano consistently was three years ago, so I have a lot of work to do.

I went back to playing after a period of a few years (awful work harassment situation) and when I came back I was a mess. It is HARD to get back, to the discipline, and the detailed work, and to accept how much you lost. I had the feeling that I was only walking in circles with technique. Having a teacher of course helps (a lot!) but if I may give you an advice, it's all about planning: not only goals, but planning study sessions, keeping track of what you've actually done everyday. I keep a notebook where I take note of the workload and design a program for a few months, and then everyday I plan exactly what I'll do. If I don't, I end wasting precious time just playing beautiful music or things that I already can do well, or doing random desorganized work. It is also a great introspective tool about the quality of my practice.

Well, maybe you already do this and I'm sounding pretentious?

[fae713]

Your goals all sound so pleasant, even the cold showers. I used to shampoo and body scrub in warm-hot water then condition, wash my face, and relax in cold water but then I moved to a place with only a few cm difference between "fires of Mount Doom" and "frozen waste of the North", so once I find a comfortable temperature I don't budge it at all. It's a wonderful experience/routine, hope you continue to find it so.

 

Going from a haphazard routine like paleo or walking an hour a day to expecting it daily/for all meals is a bit rough. Hope you'll continue to give yourself some space to find what works for you each day, even if it doesn't necessarily match up to your goals here. It looks like you've been doing so well despite a few detours. Hope to see that you've continued to feel better about it as the challenge progresses.

[Varelse]

On 6/6/2017 at 2:21 PM, fae713 said:

Your goals all sound so pleasant, even the cold showers. I used to shampoo and body scrub in warm-hot water then condition, wash my face, and relax in cold water but then I moved to a place with only a few cm difference between "fires of Mount Doom" and "frozen waste of the North", so once I find a comfortable temperature I don't budge it at all. It's a wonderful experience/routine, hope you continue to find it so.

 

Going from a haphazard routine like paleo or walking an hour a day to expecting it daily/for all meals is a bit rough. Hope you'll continue to give yourself some space to find what works for you each day, even if it doesn't necessarily match up to your goals here. It looks like you've been doing so well despite a few detours. Hope to see that you've continued to feel better about it as the challenge progresses.

 

Thank you. I should post the evolution of this week, but I'm struggling with time. The only goal I could achieve the seven days of the week has been the cold showers, but I'm feeling well. Besides that, today I could have a walk after a long time. It's always a good new.

 

On 6/6/2017 at 9:22 AM, zenLara said:

I went back to playing after a period of a few years (awful work harassment situation) and when I came back I was a mess. It is HARD to get back, to the discipline, and the detailed work, and to accept how much you lost. I had the feeling that I was only walking in circles with technique. Having a teacher of course helps (a lot!) but if I may give you an advice, it's all about planning: not only goals, but planning study sessions, keeping track of what you've actually done everyday. I keep a notebook where I take note of the workload and design a program for a few months, and then everyday I plan exactly what I'll do. If I don't, I end wasting precious time just playing beautiful music or things that I already can do well, or doing random desorganized work. It is also a great introspective tool about the quality of my practice.

Well, maybe you already do this and I'm sounding pretentious?

 

Nah, you're sounding great. I've experienced most of the issues you're saying here. Luckily I'm organized (and a bit obsessed with organization), so I feel comfortable planning my sessions and keeping track about everything. Nevertheless, you gave me some ideas. Today I'm planning the whole year with my teacher and I think that keeping a notebook with space for everyday work will be very useful. Thanks!

 

On 6/6/2017 at 3:39 AM, Severine said:

Looking forward to the videos

 

As a kid I really wanted to play piano, but I ended up playing another instrument instead (clarinet). The clarinet is lovely but it lacks the magic and power and drama of the piano.

 

Beethoven's 5th piano concerto is one of my all-time favourite pieces of music.

 

 

 

But wind instruments like clarinet or flute (which is the instrument that @zenLara plays, if I remember well) have the magic of affination. After all this year of learning music I think I'm nearly deaf, haha.

 

About the repertory, here:

 

Johann Sebastian Bach - Toccata in E minor

 

Johannes Brahms - Rhapsody No. 2 in G minor

 

Joaquín Turina - Orgy

 

Joseph Haydn - Sonata in B minor

 

I almost have the Bach's toccata: this is going to be an intense year.

[Lara]

1 hour ago, Varelse said:

have the magic of affination

When you say magic you mean curse, right?

 

Nice repertoire! I love Turina's dances.

[Varelse]

Weekly update:

 

The only goal I'm able to achieve this challenge is, as expected, cold showers. Why? Last Tuesday, my girlfriend was hospitalized and nobody knows which happens with her. She cannot see well, but everything seems to be OK. That's it, I've been eating awfully half due to anxiety and half due to the routine of dinner sandwiches sat in a chair. Of course, no piano practice and the only walk I've done has been from the room to the bathroom.

 

That's the way the things are.

 

 

[Diadhuit]

@Varelse I am so sorry to hear that! I hope she will get better soon. You are very good to have had the time to write here and continue with the cold shower.

Things will get better

[Lara]

So sorry! Let's hope they find what's wrong with her sight. Ànim!

[WolfDreamer]

18 hours ago, Varelse said:

That's the way the things are.

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope they find out what is wrong. I will be praying for her and for you.

 

@Severine, plenty of health benefits to a cold shower: