it has indeed been a crazy year..... I was starting to walk outside more as I live next to a forest.... BUT my cough got worse and in May I was diagnosed with allergic asthma... so all that forest walking was actually making me worse as it was high pollen season.... at least now I know why I was wheezing so much and I'm not just unfit after all. I have a rowing machine and a bosu ball so I'm working out more inside the house now and catching up on TV shows at the same time... I haven't gained any weight so thtas a plus I guess....

BBee5064 wrote: »

So here we are in August our 8th month of 2020
It’s been a crazy year so far for all of us. How have we coped? How have you kept yourselves cheerful? What about your fitness had it improved or had it gone in the opposite direction? Are we happy with what we have achieved?
Please feel free to share any tips etc that you have found useful.

Have a great August everyone

Stay well

I feel grateful, now, to be a natural introvert, and to have been raised as an only child and in the country. That gave me some resources to draw on - well, that, and a stockpile of probably 3 lifetimes of craft supplies! 😆 I'd prefer more "social" in my "social life", but as far as I can tell, my mood and attitude are on an even keel.

I'm staying in touch with friends by phone/text/social network, and the very occasional outdoor, distant meet-up. I have been doing grocery shopping in person, but strategizing to only need to go every couple of weeks. I have been hitting the outdoor farmers market a little more often than that recently, though. Mostly, I'm at home all day, every day, by myself, unless you count houseplants.

I'd say my fitness is close to normal, maybe *a little* depleted. My usual summer would be on-water rowing 4 days a week, spin class 2 days, and neither of those are happening right now. I was a grump about it for a while, but have now settled into a shortish steady-state machine row 6 days a week, and kind of lackadaisical strength training 3 days. (I'm lucky to have a rowing machine and weights at home.) Right now, I'm thinking whether I have the self-discipline to do Concept 2's (rowing machine manufacturer) Dog Days of Summer challenge: 10K total anytime during the first week, 20K the second, then 30K, 40K. The routine I was in delivered the 10K and 20K automatically, and the 30K is an easy add; I'll have to act like a grown-up in week 4, and overcome my annoyance with machine rowing in summer (it's just. not. a. boat.). That's really not a lot of volume, compared to serious indoor rowers, but . . . well, it's not my first love, OK? 😉

Though I consider myself to be in weight maintenance, I've continued my earlier trend of ultra-slow weight loss (pound a month or less), which got a little easier without so many social, restaurant, and brewpub temptations. It makes me happy that that's worked out. (Sitting just under 130 most of the time recently.) There was a little "whaa?" moment when I restarted strength training, because the water weight I always add when I resume was pretty misleading against that very slow loss. Even my trending app thought I was gaining, for a bit. Gotta trust the process, though, right? 🙂

I was already retired, but still had a delusion, at the start of "shelter at home" that I'd achieve many more things around home, when not going out at all. It turns out that I actually am just pretty lazy, not busy or distracted by activities. Oh, well. 😆

I feel like my whole job, right now, is just to stay sane, and mostly positive as an influence on others (social media, call people who I think might need a reach-out, contribute $ within my limited ability, etc.) I'm working at it. 😉

Wishing everyone a good course and good outcomes, continuing good health to you and your families, and a smoother future soon for those who are struggling right now - sending strength, virtual hugs!