This April I Will...
Replies
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katlinmariel wrote: »katlinmariel wrote: »katlinmariel wrote: »1. This April I will go to the gym at least 3x a week
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: signing up for classes at my gym, have my mom and boyfriend be my accountability partners
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: driving right by the gym everyday after work, I keep my clothes in my car so there is no reason not to stop
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible): ideally everyday, but so I dont set myself up for failure, Im starting small
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit: logging my workouts and seeing the calories I ate that day disappear
6. What help do you need from us: add me! interact with me! I thrive off of seeing other people succeeding, its so motivating and inspiring. I feel like I'm letting myself and others down if I don't put in the effort to commune and interact with those who put in the effort to do that for me.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of April: feeling more comfortable at the gym and finding at least one class I enjoy
April 1 - information about my company's corporate account at LA Fitness
April 2 - signing up for LA Fitness through work
April 3 - My first gym session! I used to be a runner, and when I got on the treadmill I realized how far I had fallen from where I was a couple of years ago.
April 4 - My mom and I have plans to go to the offered yoga class at 4:30 today. It'll be my second time ever doing yoga so I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm excited to try something new!
April 5 - I went out of town with my boyfriend to see his parents for the weekend, so I didn't really have access to a gym, but we did try to get moving and walked around town for an hour or so. I mean.. we were also sharing a large blizzard from Dairy Queen.. but at least we did something. Also the blizzard was delicious
April 6 - There wasn't much movement since we drove back home that day. We got home at 11pm and I was exhausted so I just went straight to bed.
April 7 - I meant to go to a spin class that morning, but I was just so exhausted from the drive the night before that I slept in a little and went to the gym to run later in the day. It was only about 30 minutes, but Im honestly so proud of myself for even going. It would've been so easy to just say "Im too tired" but I got off the couch, put my clothes on, and walked into the gym liked I owned the place. Walking through the gym gives me a weird confidence that I lack in other areas of my life.
Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement so far! It really means so much to me. You are all such wonderful people and appreciate everyone who reached out.
@MadisonMolly2017 @nebslp I loved yoga! I plan to go back at least once a week. I just love the energy of group classes. Its like everyone is there to help but also just minding their own business. Its a good balance.
@texasgardnr I am very lucky to have a mom with likeminded goals, and a gym that's so conveniently located right between work and home. If I didn't have those things, I'm not sure I would be able to do it.
April 8 - My mom and I went to the gym for some good old fashioned bodyweight works outs and Oh. My. God. My legs. My poor, poor legs. The only way I can sit down is to throw my body on the desired surface. Its so painful but also a weirdly nice feeling. It feels like progress. I did learn though that at some point I messed up my right knee, as it feels almost like damaged cartilage when I squat. Maybe I'll try a brace or compression sleeve and if it gets worse I'll go to a doctor or something and see what's up.
April 9 - Today I'm going to the gym for some running. I've started the C25K app and I really love it. I've had to ease up a bit on the running since I'm not as in shape as I used to be, so the practice of slow running has also come in handy. Almost like a jog, but more running-y motions. It feels a little silly running at 5mph at first because you feel like if you're running you should be RUNNING. But ya girl runs out of breath easily and slow running has really made a difference. I can go the whole run time or more just by slowing down a bit. I've come to realize its not really a race. Maybe I'll up my time when I complete the program!
April 10 - Well I had plans to go to the gym, but here I am, still at work. I have a date night planned with my boyfriend at 7 (to see The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, in theaters for one night only.. any fellow film buffs in here?), and I just don't see myself making it to the gym and back home in time to leave. I'm trying not to be disappointed in myself, because it was kind of out of my control. I guess I have already hit my goal of three times this week. But I'm very nervous that if I miss today, I'll push off tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.. you get the idea. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed going until today came and I couldn't make it. More importantly, of course it was the one day my best friend surprised me with a delicious, high/empty calorie lunch, so I can't even work those calories off. Tomorrow will be a better day.1 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »themedalist wrote: »We haven’t had Declutterfest in awhile. Anybody up for some spring cleaning?
YES, YES, YES!
I have so much to declutter, I don't even know where to start this time. It's been driving me crazy. I was just thinking this morning that i need to set my timer for 15 minutes and just focus on one pile of clutter at a time. Just 15 minutes a day until I finish it. I have about 3,472 magazines stacked up all over my house....okay, slight exaggeration, but I truly am a magazine hoarder and I need to do something with them! So that will be first. Oh, and the tupperware cupboard! How on earth do you keep the containers stacked neatly and where do all the lids go??? And....well, the bathroom cupboards and drawers.... *sigh*texasgardnr wrote: »PackerFanInGB wrote: »themedalist wrote: »We haven’t had Declutterfest in awhile. Anybody up for some spring cleaning?
YES, YES, YES!
I have so much to declutter, I don't even know where to start this time.... Oh, and the tupperware cupboard! How on earth do you keep the containers stacked neatly and where do all the lids go???... *sigh*
The last several weeks I was either reading Dana K White's first book that I had got from the library, or her blog or watching her on YouTube. Either way somewhere along the line she addressed the Tupperware cupboard! The last time my Tupperware cupboard looked really nice (not decluttered but really straightened out) was by my grand daughter a few years ago.
Anyway, Dana says that she learned to only keep the number of 'Tupperware/ plastic containers' that fit into the designated cupboard/ shelf when they were stored with their respective lids always ON. That was it! No more than that.
So I challenged myself to do just that. I took everything out including the colander and stacked mixing bowels, the little kids plastic cereal bowels and cups which have always lived in that cupboard, plus several other plastic things like an oldie goldie yellow Tupperware strainer that has been around forever, and often used even now. Plastic is obviously the theme in that cupboard. And it is a low cupboard so that my children could, now my grand children can, get things out for their own use.
I got rid of every container that did not have a lid/ every lid that did not have a matching container. Then I was forced to decide which containers I literally used all the time and put their lids on them. Then I could only keep how many would actually fit into the cupboard... after restoring the colander and mixing bowels (combination of plastic ones that I've had since the kids started playing with them as babies, and my mother's stainless steel set of mixing bowels all nested together, and the little kids bowels/ cups and so forth. (I also decluttered everything in the cupboard to what is actually used now)
The idea, Dana says, is to let the size of the cupboard determine how many or much of something we keep or use. The lids on all the time mean we won't junk up the cupboard searching for a lid and pushing everything around, and then not re-straightening it out right then because we are in the middle of cooking etc.
So far it has worked. The only thing she says is to make certain that the container/lid is perfectly dry before snapping on the lid and storing it again.
For about two weeks or so my Tupperware cupboard has looked exactly how I set it up and anything I want I can see and get out. I did buy several additional smaller round Pyrex glass storage containers that I like for somethings more than the plastic. Those are stored in their own cupboard, with their lids on. Interesting note here... for years I've stored my glass containers with their lids on, in an upper cupboard. That cupboard NEVER gets messy and I never loose a lid. Is there truly a correlation going on here....? Time will tell, but so far it is amazing.
:flowerforyou:
^ I did exactly this. One cupboard. We wash & recycle what doesn’t fit. Works great!themedalist wrote: »texasgardnr wrote: »themedalist wrote: »We haven’t had Declutterfest in awhile. Anybody up for some spring cleaning?
Finally!! I was so happy to see the possibility of another Declutterfest!! I've been slowly doing some indoors decluttering off and on over the last several months. I almost have a 'donate' box filled. Actually I always have a donate box available for my spontaneous or semi planned declutter moments.
But I would love a spring Declutterfest, for sure!! It is always so much more fun to do it together and to read what is being accomplished, as well as to encourage one another!
:flowerforyou:
Ok, Declutterfest 2019 is ON! Let’s start on Monday. I will put up a new thread for that this weekend. I’m glad people are excited. I am too!
@themedalist
Thank you! That will be fun!
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Update April 10
Went to morning art group. Used colored pencils over a black & white version of the flowers I painted yesterday. Cut it in 1/4’s. Nice greeting cards!
Then to a class to help figure/create out your Artistic path. I’ve already gotten some insights! We also did an exercise with lines that I continued this evening.4 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »themedalist wrote: »We haven’t had Declutterfest in awhile. Anybody up for some spring cleaning?
YES, YES, YES!
I have so much to declutter, I don't even know where to start this time. It's been driving me crazy. I was just thinking this morning that i need to set my timer for 15 minutes and just focus on one pile of clutter at a time. Just 15 minutes a day until I finish it. I have about 3,472 magazines stacked up all over my house....okay, slight exaggeration, but I truly am a magazine hoarder and I need to do something with them! So that will be first. Oh, and the tupperware cupboard! How on earth do you keep the containers stacked neatly and where do all the lids go??? And....well, the bathroom cupboards and drawers.... *sigh*
I had a big stack of magazines that I recycled about a year ago. I literally counted them so I could see my progress. I had over 50 to start with, but it felt like 3,472😂. I set 5 or so magazines at a time on the table next to my chair and went through them while watching the news or during commercials. When those 5 were gone to the recycling box, I would put more on the table. I ended up with only a handful of articles that I kept. It took months but I kept at it. It felt so good to know there was an end in sight, especially when I got to the final 5.
For food storage I use leftover plastic bowls from butter and such and have one drawer to keep them in. The drawer is fairly small. I keep a shoebox on one side in which all lids go into and I stack the bowls inside each other on the other side. 2 or 3 times a year or when I can’t get the drawer shut anymore I go through and make sure every bowl has a lid. Then I recycle the bowls that don’t fit and the extra lids. I also have a place for my larger bowls on a cupboard shelf since they will never fit in a smaller drawer. It works for me.3 -
My apologizes for being absent in the group. I have no good excuses...busy. With that said I have been doing well with sleep hours. I am averaging about 7.5 to 8 hours a night. I have been going to bed early since my grandson arrives at about 6:15 am. He spends the night once a week and we go to bed at the same time. He is an early riser.7
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So just when I said I had recycled all of my magazines, my friend gave me about 1/2 dozen Country Samplers today😁🙄5
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April 11
Worked on my watercolor line piece (a variety of lines made with watercolor, adding circles, small touches, outlines, dots etc with black pen... next: I’ll add more watercolor lines/shapes
Began a geometric Color-mixing exercise that also helps my brush handling...
Declutter wise (I know we’re beginning Monday) but spring seems to get me going:
Reorg of paper/pens stationery drawer
Declutter Ed plastic bag drawer/foil etc.
Quick Declutter & wipe down of a few 1/2 shelves in pantry
Reorg of my 5-6 of my art studio drawers, based on what I use most
Then I tried to get a handle (on paper) of my final category. Marie Kondo calls it Sentimental. I call it Memories. Got overwhelmed - even just using pen/paper.
I think I just really want to move forward! I’ll look at it again on Monday, and see if there is a sliver I can bite off!
Maddie 💕
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katlinmariel wrote: »katlinmariel wrote: »katlinmariel wrote: »katlinmariel wrote: »1. This April I will go to the gym at least 3x a week
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: signing up for classes at my gym, have my mom and boyfriend be my accountability partners
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: driving right by the gym everyday after work, I keep my clothes in my car so there is no reason not to stop
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible): ideally everyday, but so I dont set myself up for failure, Im starting small
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit: logging my workouts and seeing the calories I ate that day disappear
6. What help do you need from us: add me! interact with me! I thrive off of seeing other people succeeding, its so motivating and inspiring. I feel like I'm letting myself and others down if I don't put in the effort to commune and interact with those who put in the effort to do that for me.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of April: feeling more comfortable at the gym and finding at least one class I enjoy
April 1 - information about my company's corporate account at LA Fitness
April 2 - signing up for LA Fitness through work
April 3 - My first gym session! I used to be a runner, and when I got on the treadmill I realized how far I had fallen from where I was a couple of years ago.
April 4 - My mom and I have plans to go to the offered yoga class at 4:30 today. It'll be my second time ever doing yoga so I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm excited to try something new!
April 5 - I went out of town with my boyfriend to see his parents for the weekend, so I didn't really have access to a gym, but we did try to get moving and walked around town for an hour or so. I mean.. we were also sharing a large blizzard from Dairy Queen.. but at least we did something. Also the blizzard was delicious
April 6 - There wasn't much movement since we drove back home that day. We got home at 11pm and I was exhausted so I just went straight to bed.
April 7 - I meant to go to a spin class that morning, but I was just so exhausted from the drive the night before that I slept in a little and went to the gym to run later in the day. It was only about 30 minutes, but Im honestly so proud of myself for even going. It would've been so easy to just say "Im too tired" but I got off the couch, put my clothes on, and walked into the gym liked I owned the place. Walking through the gym gives me a weird confidence that I lack in other areas of my life.
Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement so far! It really means so much to me. You are all such wonderful people and appreciate everyone who reached out.
@MadisonMolly2017 @nebslp I loved yoga! I plan to go back at least once a week. I just love the energy of group classes. Its like everyone is there to help but also just minding their own business. Its a good balance.
@texasgardnr I am very lucky to have a mom with likeminded goals, and a gym that's so conveniently located right between work and home. If I didn't have those things, I'm not sure I would be able to do it.
April 8 - My mom and I went to the gym for some good old fashioned bodyweight works outs and Oh. My. God. My legs. My poor, poor legs. The only way I can sit down is to throw my body on the desired surface. Its so painful but also a weirdly nice feeling. It feels like progress. I did learn though that at some point I messed up my right knee, as it feels almost like damaged cartilage when I squat. Maybe I'll try a brace or compression sleeve and if it gets worse I'll go to a doctor or something and see what's up.
April 9 - Today I'm going to the gym for some running. I've started the C25K app and I really love it. I've had to ease up a bit on the running since I'm not as in shape as I used to be, so the practice of slow running has also come in handy. Almost like a jog, but more running-y motions. It feels a little silly running at 5mph at first because you feel like if you're running you should be RUNNING. But ya girl runs out of breath easily and slow running has really made a difference. I can go the whole run time or more just by slowing down a bit. I've come to realize its not really a race. Maybe I'll up my time when I complete the program!
April 10 - Well I had plans to go to the gym, but here I am, still at work. I have a date night planned with my boyfriend at 7 (to see The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, in theaters for one night only.. any fellow film buffs in here?), and I just don't see myself making it to the gym and back home in time to leave. I'm trying not to be disappointed in myself, because it was kind of out of my control. I guess I have already hit my goal of three times this week. But I'm very nervous that if I miss today, I'll push off tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.. you get the idea. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed going until today came and I couldn't make it. More importantly, of course it was the one day my best friend surprised me with a delicious, high/empty calorie lunch, so I can't even work those calories off. Tomorrow will be a better day.
April 11 - I finished week one of C25K! following this alone will be my three days at the gym. I have plans to go with my mom later today for more bodyweight exercises, hopefully they do not destroy my muscles like last week.6 -
9 hours sleep last night. I did not want to wake up so I am sure if I did not have to get up at 5 I would have slept longer. It was also the first night I slept with the window cracked open with fresh air flowing in.6
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PackerFanInGB wrote: »themedalist wrote: »We haven’t had Declutterfest in awhile. Anybody up for some spring cleaning?
YES, YES, YES!
I have so much to declutter, I don't even know where to start this time. It's been driving me crazy. I was just thinking this morning that i need to set my timer for 15 minutes and just focus on one pile of clutter at a time. Just 15 minutes a day until I finish it. I have about 3,472 magazines stacked up all over my house....okay, slight exaggeration, but I truly am a magazine hoarder and I need to do something with them! So that will be first. Oh, and the tupperware cupboard! How on earth do you keep the containers stacked neatly and where do all the lids go??? And....well, the bathroom cupboards and drawers.... *sigh*
15 minutes a day will get you to your goal, @PackerFanInGB!3 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »
The reason I’m posting & setting goals for my art is I’m at or very close to my final goal weight- I know I still need to focus on maintenance for the rest of my life, but I know there have to be other things I do that bring me joy the way food did more in the past. Decluttering worked for 2-3 years off & on, but now I just occasionally redo a drawer or a section which takes just a couple of minutes. Ie it’s mostly done.
Exercise does, being healthier does, but the creativity & color really make me happy. Seeing friends & making new friends also makes me happy- the art gives me an avenue to do that!
I LOVE this! It was such an eye opener to think of using "other things I do that bring me joy the way food did more in the past". That makes so much sense because creativity and fabric make me happy. And I have to add raking and weeding and wandering outside to that happy list. Thank you, @MadisonMolly2017
Yes, so much THIS! Though not an artist, nor a quilter, nor a sewer, my creative outlet is my guitar. From the moment I place my music stand in front of me, to the wonderful feeling of having my guitar on my lap, I am in my happy place! Whether that lasts 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or a full half hour, it doesn’t matter. Working through the music gives me an appreciation for the song and the composer that I don’t get when I just listen to music. I can take the original piece, play it back just as it is, or change it and modify it in anyway I choose.
For me, quitting the sitting has become more than just about sitting less. I don’t want to sit out my life! I want to be an active participant in my own life and not just watch it go by. I want to create more, contribute more, help more, and consume less and watch less. Listening to music, though enjoyable, is a passive activity. The music exists without me and I can’t change it one bit. But playing music is active living. The music doesn’t begin until I start playing and it’s a blank canvas how I proceed!
To me, one of the healthiest habits we can have to to set aside a small piece of each day, rope it off with yellow “do not cross” tape and dive into an activity that makes us deliriously happy and feeds our soul.5 -
I'd like to give an update on my goal: 45 minutes of aerobic exercise 6 days a week and keeping my heart rate in desired range based on Younger Next Year recommendations.
I have been getting 45-120 minutes of deliberate activity daily but I hit a snag when I tried to keep my heart rate at the cardio level according to my fitbit. I was feeling really discouraged and my success was tied to my fitbit reports of # of minutes in the cardio range. Then I saw my note to myself from YNY with the expected HRs and realized I was doing fine in spite of the fact that I wasn't always reaching 45 cardio minutes on my fitbit during my activities. I beat myself up when it would register only 30 or 40 minutes. Working to have a more active lifestyle shouldn't cause stress. I do things that I enjoy and if I'm walking along and my heart rate slows down below the "cardio range" I should embrace that because it means that I get to spend a couple minutes stopping to enjoy the view or examining a newly dug animal den, or taking a great photo of a new spring arrival (bird or flower). I guess the lesson for me in this is to not make my goal a source of stress. Tiny habits are the starting point and placing my expectations too high will lead to frustration and feelings of giving up. Remember the "brush one tooth" theory. I'm not going to lower my expectations, but I will enjoy my goals more when my expectations aren't so rigid. Tiny habits lead to bigger and better things without frustration and feelings of failure.
And this has been my random thought of the day:)
Love this update, @nebslp! New habits shouldn’t cause us stress. They should help us, not make us feel bad. Making expectations reasonable makes it more sustainable. And it’s the habits that we keep doing that change our lives.4 -
I wanted to give you an update on my seedling habit, getting more sleep. Overall, it’s going very well as I’m now averaging 6 1/2 hours of sleep according to my Fitbit. The breakthrough observation I’ve had over the last two weeks is that I feel so much better when I get 6 1/2 hours of sleep than when I get less than 6 hours. I’m happier, more productive, my memory and recall are improved and the day just plain goes better! I’ve had a couple days this week when I only got about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep and oh my… what a difference! It’s not that I can’t function on less sleep. But my day won’t be optimal.
The other thing that I’ve noticed is that I want and need my post work hours in the evening. Work is crazy right now as it’s our reporting season and it won’t settle down until mid June. Normally I don’t get home until after 7pm, but Wednesday I didn’t get home until closer to 8:30. I didn’t want to forgo my evening habits and routines which are relaxing, just to be in bed by 11. But I sure felt the difference the next day! So I need to keep my focus on getting to bed by 11, but allow for some flexibility when there are curveballs.
Please know I am reading your posts and cheering you on, but weekday posts are tough for me, especially right now. After 9+ hours of staring at a computer all day, when I get home I need a screen break. But you all are doing GREAT!
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I slept 8.5 hours last night.4
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I’m keeping up with my April goal of staying under my fat goal for 3 days per week, but the rest of the week isn’t so good. We see what Easter week brings. It will be busy with a concert to attend on Wednesday, Good Friday service, and Easter Sunday festivities. I LOVE @nebslp ‘s idea about finding other things to do besides eat. That’s what got me started dancing.
@nebslp, you are doing great! Sometimes our goals can be unrealistic. Keeping up a sustained heart rate is pretty tough. If you stop to cross the street or pick something up, your heart rate drops.
Glad you are getting better sleep @PinkyPan1 and @themedalist, it is so important and so hard to manage.
@katlinmariel , congratulations on a full week of C24K! That’s some real progress.3 -
April 12-14 added more details to Lines piece with black pen & circle template.
Took a photo of it & opened it in Repix art app & played. One of the tools took a section off-center back to white. Printed it & then enlarged to 8.5x11. (I wish it was still the larger size ~ 12x 14 or so.)
Looked at it, added greens & a touch of red to the leaves...made a copy.
Kept looking at it & decided to go with my first idea of adding a face.
Found one in my photos & printed it, enlarged. Drew it in new page. Held that under my leaf image, played with placement as I relaxed after walk & Ex Bike, decided on one. Moved to light tablet traced key lines of face with black pen.
Painted face. Copied.
Later on, darkened sone lines (eye lashes, eyebrows etc)
Played with 5x7 matted frame on it.
Now looking to see what needs changing.
Love it.
I also did a couple of unrelated little things. Texture rubbings over a mandarin orange red netted bag with a cluster of 5 yellow-orange-brown Inktense pencils.
Some colorful w/color doodles in 4 squares.
I purchased 7 used art books for $20 on Saturday. I’ve been reading & studying. Going to do some contour drawing this week!
Also watched 2 more lessons of a nature painting class!
I read in one of the books of an artist who begins randomly (like me) and then keeps working to make it into a painting. I always thought I should have a clear vision, but I realize my approach can lead me to that vision. So, I might actually do this leafy portrait again, now that I know where I want to go!
#DevelopingMyProcess
#Following/CreatingMyPath
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Maddie 💕4 -
@MadisonMolly2017 I love that you record your process and share it with us. You are indeed following/creating your path!
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@MadisonMolly2017 I love that you record your process and share it with us. You are indeed following/creating your path!
@77tes thank you for this! I’ve wondered if I should or not, but I’m building this daily habit & it keeps me focused on that!
Thank you so much!💕3 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017 I love that you record your process and share it with us. You are indeed following/creating your path!
@77tes thank you for this! I’ve wondered if I should or not, but I’m building this daily habit & it keeps me focused on that!
Thank you so much!💕
I absolutely agree with @77tes ! I read every single line of what you do. I even have it all envisioned in my mind...right down to picking up new-to-you used books on Saturday!
Please don't stop unless you decide you want to! 3 -
April has not been going well for me. I have gained almost 4 lbs. I was doing so awesome in March and felt so proud.
I found out almost 2 weeks ago that my stepdad has bladder cancer and has refused treatment. My mother is heartbroken. I am heartbroken for them both and myself, and I'm a "fixer" so want to help. But I live 7 hours away from them. So, I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.
I've been eating and only journaling part of the day. At night I have been mindlessly snacking on things that I know I should not be eating mindlessly.
I needed to tell you this because I need to be accountable. I know emotional eating is not going to help and has, in fact, hindered. I need to stop letting my emotions win all the time.
So, today, I have logged every single bite, and I will continue to do that until I go to bed.
Tomorrow, I will do the same thing.
One day at a time....one hour at a time....one bite at a time.
I love this group. You are all doing fantastic and inspire me in ways you probably don't even realize.
xoxo4 -
@MadisonMolly2017, I really enjoy your art updates, they make me smile. Thank you for sharing your creative times with us!
You also wrote:
The reason I’m posting & setting goals for my art is I’m at or very close to my final goal weight- I know I still need to focus on maintenance for the rest of my life, but I know there have to be other things I do that bring me joy the way food did more in the past. Decluttering worked for 2-3 years off & on, but now I just occasionally redo a drawer or a section which takes just a couple of minutes. Ie it’s mostly done.
Exercise does, being healthier does, but the creativity & color really make me happy. Seeing friends & making new friends also makes me happy- the art gives me an avenue to do that!
That is so beautiful and very insightful! That gives me things to think about also.
@prgirl39mfp, Way back in the day I used to work night on a rotating schedule and sometimes straight. It was very hard for me to get adequate sleep. But you sound more positive about it than I ever was. Good for you!
@nebslp, you wrote: "I beat myself up when it would register only 30 or 40 minutes. Working to have a more active lifestyle shouldn't cause stress. I do things that I enjoy and if I'm walking along and my heart rate slows down below the "cardio range" I should embrace that because it means that I get to spend a couple minutes stopping to enjoy the view or examining a newly dug animal den, or taking a great photo of a new spring arrival (bird or flower). I guess the lesson for me in this is to not make my goal a source of stress."
That is so very wise and insightful!! I also read and try to follow the YNY guidelines. But I don't have a wearable or heart monitor, so I decided that I'd increase my aerobic exercise to at least 60 minutes the majority of the time, and not worry about the exact heart rate range. I'm right there with you that I dare not add extra stress while trying to get more healthy and stronger. Counterproductive if we do that :noway:. I liked your post.
I also like how you use your one drawer for the plastics and their lids! And that you separate the lids and keep them contained!
@katlinmariel Awesome that you finished the first week of C25K! And also keeping up with your three days a week at the gym!! Well done
@PinkyPan1, that is excellent that you are averaging about 7.5 to 8 hours a night!
@themedalist, you wrote: "I wanted to give you an update on my seedling habit, getting more sleep." I just loved that you called it your seedling habit What a delightful word picture!! And a wonderful way to think about us nurturing our new habits.
@77tes, your are doing well with your April goal of staying under your fat goal for 3 days per week. That sure takes planning and determination! Enjoy your Easter Week celebrations and services.
@PackerFanInGB, you were so transparent in your post that I wanted to cry. But instead I'll send you hugs and virtual chocolate which is only made with love and no calories.
I am so proud of you for putting on the brakes and logging every bite. I'm an emotional eater also, as are probably more of us than we realize. It always feels very lonely when I am eating like that. That is why I am honored that you trust us to share everything that you did. Hugs and Blessings.
I treasure you all and being in this group. ,
:flowerforyou:
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1. My goal for this month (This April I will...") go to sleep earlier (starting first with before midnight) than I have been (have been... way after midnight for sure )
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: (I don't have this figured out yet)
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: (i also don't have this figured out yet either)
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible): 5-6 days a week to start with.
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? If it is early enough I'll read a bit, using my timer to know when stop. Maybe I ought to pick out a book that I only read at night before sleeping???
6. What help do you need from us? Your wonderful encouragement as individuals and as a group is always a blessing .
7. What does success look like to you at the end of April? To see improvements as a whole throughout this month. Eventually leading to a routine earlier bed time. And an establishment of a night time routine over the course of time.
So far: Last full week in March: 7/7 lights out before midnight
First week in April, including March 31: 4/7 lights out before midnight :yawn:
Second week in April: 6/7 lights out before midnight.
The one night I stayed up past midnight was when I was goofing off with my grand children who were sleeping over. We stayed up late laughing and talking. Then I had to get the kitchen cleaned up for Sunday morning. We had a pasta dinner and I couldn't leave it just sitting there. And with my goal being 5-6 days a week to start with it was worth the laughter and giggles.
I'm going to work towards it being by 11 pm since increasingly I've been to sleep by 11 o'clock. I'm tracking times in my calendar. It is interesting to look back on. I just found out that my daughter is working on doing the same. So we are texting about it.
Nighty night
:flowerforyou:2 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@MadisonMolly2017 I love that you record your process and share it with us. You are indeed following/creating your path!
@77tes thank you for this! I’ve wondered if I should or not, but I’m building this daily habit & it keeps me focused on that!
Thank you so much!💕
I absolutely agree with @77tes ! I read every single line of what you do. I even have it all envisioned in my mind...right down to picking up new-to-you used books on Saturday!
Please don't stop unless you decide you want to!
Big hugs. THANK YOU @PackerFanInGB !!)))))))) 2 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »April has not been going well for me. I have gained almost 4 lbs. I was doing so awesome in March and felt so proud.
I found out almost 2 weeks ago that my stepdad has bladder cancer and has refused treatment. My mother is heartbroken. I am heartbroken for them both and myself, and I'm a "fixer" so want to help. But I live 7 hours away from them. So, I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.
I've been eating and only journaling part of the day. At night I have been mindlessly snacking on things that I know I should not be eating mindlessly.
I needed to tell you this because I need to be accountable. I know emotional eating is not going to help and has, in fact, hindered. I need to stop letting my emotions win all the time.
So, today, I have logged every single bite, and I will continue to do that until I go to bed.
Tomorrow, I will do the same thing.
One day at a time....one hour at a time....one bite at a time.
I love this group. You are all doing fantastic and inspire me in ways you probably don't even realize.
xoxo
@PackerFanInGB
I am so sorry he’s had this diagnosis & for the pain & grief that you are all feeling at this time. Truly.
I’m really proud of you for continuing to journal part of the day & for deciding to log every single bite.
If it helps, when I was grieving over a multi family member tragedy, I used food, I now realize, almost like a drug. I needed solace; however, I gained weight, my lab numbers all went in the wrong direction, I got placed on new medications for bo & cholesterol AND my kidney function got worse.
Have I forgiven myself? Yes, I did the best I could at the time. “The past is past.”
Do I wish I’d sought help? I don’t know. I really didn’t want to talk about it, but I’ve told myself I will seek help if in a situation like that again (hopefully nothing like that will happen again.)
Did I realize grief is physical as much as emotional? No. Now I do. Sleep, healthy foods, walks, going out in nature, journaling, doodling, painting, & being kind to ourselves is crucial.
We’re here for you. Four pounds, with your new tracking commitment, is likely going to come off rapidly: partly water, partly more food in digestive track. 4 lbs in a month is an average of 467 more calories eaten and /or not burned through exercise daily. Since you are tracking, you can begin chipping away at that number slowly. Try lots of crunchy vegetable, yummy teas, & be sure to keep Your protein up & have it at every meal.
In partnership, wishing you the best always,
Maddie 💕4 -
The past 2 nights I have slept 8 hours both nights. So now the question is....why am I so tired. I get up and start my day...
Jonny arrives 6:15 am
We play or talk until I drop him off at school at 9
I golf 18 holes pushing my cart and averaging 7.5 miles between 9:30 and 1pm
I come home have lunch, freshen up and do chores until I pick Jonny up at 3:45 and he stays until about 5:30.
Fix dinner, do dishes and soak in tub. Bed by 8 most nights.
I feel really pooped after golfing and I am dragging butt until bedtime. I sure hope being another year older is not slowing me down. I did this last year and was not this tired. Maybe in a week or two after doing this routine weekly I will be accustomed to it again.2 -
Sleeping at least 6 hours but not enough. Work has been very hectic. Get home and at least spend another hour decompressing. Hoping to catch up today, my day off.2
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prgirl39mfp wrote: »Sleeping at least 6 hours but not enough. Work has been very hectic. Get home and at least spend another hour decompressing. Hoping to catch up today, my day off.
Same here @prgirl39mfp and I’d routinely been getting 7. Not sure what’s up!2 -
Hi Folks!
4/15- I took my art supplies to visit a friend who is recovering well from surgery, but she didn’t seem interested! I sketched a fashion idea I had upon awakening! Verry cool- original design!
4/16- busy day - I had taken all of my art supplies but the time I was going to spend doing art got taken up with an app unexpected meeting.
I did wander around a Michael’s (to avoid eating out) and bought an art journaling magazine that I read off & on during the night & the next day!
4/17 Sketched another idea I had upon awakening for an invention that could be used on fashion catwalks! Such fun!
Then went to art group, showed my Leaf Portrait. Not much feedback (they mostly do landscapes and still life’s from photos)... but one woman said it reminded her of wine labels from a ways back! One asked what type of art it was & I said some of the things I did. And she asked what’s that process called? And I said the MadisonMolly Creative Process! Another lady then asked: Will you teach it to us in a class?!! I enthusiastically agreed!
Then off to my art class. He’s such a great teacher! He listened about the same portrait & then said, “Oh I can see a concept for your Art Show already!” LoL Basically the transformations & then the final work!!
The upshot is all this time that I thought I was just fooling around, I was actually figuring out how *I* like to make art
We also painted, and then at his suggestion I made a print of mine. Then some fun with other pastels, pencils etc. it’ll be interesting to see where I take these two.
He asked really good questions like what triggers the next step in your process for each project? How much of it is decided in the van and how much is more spontaneous? or when you know when it’s really done? And do you take them to completion or do you leave them unfinished?
Then he said you certainly are a fountain of continuous creative ideas which of course made me so happy!
4/18 3 hour art making/social event!! TOO EXCITED!5 -
Thank 4/18 evening event was fun.
A 2nd friend surprised us & brought an article she’d printed about the winery she’d mentioned. WOW!!
And she also brought an old watercolor artist magazine from 2017 with an article about an artist “whose art reminded me of your’s”!!! Today I read the article & saw she was combining watercolor with reflections from stained glass (another love of mine.
Ideas are zinging & popping in my brain!! One event leads to another lead to a webpage to another idea. I love the “snowballing” effect of one’s passion. Very fun.
4/19 copied some watercolors from Wed & played with folding them into books. Mostly tho, I fell into a decluttering vortex 3 -
PackerFanInGB wrote: »@texasgardnr Thank you for the Tupperware cupboard tip. I think that is a GREAT idea! I think I declutter this cupboard at least once a year when I get really angry with it (literally angry...I throw stuff on the floor like a toddler throwing a tantrum when it all starts falling out as I open the door). I'm going to go through it again and get rid of anything that doesn't fit in there with a cover, just like you suggest. I think my biggest struggle is that my husband, who is retired so is home all day, saves every single jar and every single plastic container we empty. Not even exaggerating. Every cottage cheese container, Yogurt, soft butter, olive or pickle jar...everything! And it all gets put in that cupboard, stacked inside each other with lids thrown only God knows where.
Maybe I need to attack it from another angle by asking him to go through it with me and decide which ones he actually uses and which ones I can toss. Maybe he'd be more mindful if he sees how much JUNK we actually have in that cupboard!?
It's kind of funny how our roles have reversed since he retired. He is now the hoarder around the house, and I come home from work and want to throw it all out. Dynamics are definitely different since he retired.
Thank you again for the tip! It's a great idea and I'm going to put it to use this weekend.
Also, thank you for the encouragement about my "bad" weekend! I still feel terrible about it because now I'm struggling to get back into that mindful place. But I never give up.... xoxo
I like @texasgardnr’s Tupperware tip too. Containers without covers are of limited value. @PackerFanInGB, I feel for you and your challenge with your husband’s container collection. Does he know how much it bothers you? Does he know how stressful it is for you to open the cabinet and see all of these plastic containers tumble out? Do you know what’s behind his collecting? Most of these containers aren't recyclable and so sometimes ardent recyclers keep them on hand because they don’t want to throw them away. “I’ll find a use for it“ kind of thing. Wasn’t your birthday last month? If your husband understands how distressing this is to you, maybe a belated birthday present for you could be his throwing away these containers and finding something else to collect? It would make you so happy! My sense is either he has no appreciation for how much this bothers you and might be up for changing this habit (which you could definitely help him with!) or there is something behind this habit that might be addressable.1
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