sirdle - 2023

[sirdle]

Previous journal from 2019

The five pillars of a healthy lifestyle:

1. Don't smoke
2. Severely reduce, or eliminate, alcohol
3. Eat a healthy diet
4. Maintain a healthy BMI
5. Get some exercise

My reason for starting this journal is the same as in 2019: "I feel like I've got the first four under control. Now it's time to pay more attention to exercise" and meditation. I stopped in 2019 because a bout of pericarditis knocked me flat. By the time I had recovered, the pandemic was in full swing and my life was completely unhinged.

I think this journal might get pretty boring, pretty fast, but I also think I want to keep track of everything until all the different pieces become habits... just like I used Cronometer to track food until I got my food choices under control.

I like the format that Geo used, so I'll be using that format.

I've been walking for the past 8 months, averaging about 2-4 hours per week, but I suffer from periodic, acute, lower back pain, most likely due to tight muscles and poor posture. So my plan is to add some stretching & flexibility & balance exercises along with some meditation. Strength training will come later.

Cheers,

Day 1, Wed

Food
==============================
B: oatmeal, blueberries, flaxseed
L: salad w/ mustard-lime dressing
S: Clif bar
D: potatoes w/ marinara sauce
S: cherries

Exercise
==============================
Activity - walking (0 min, intermittent)
Cardio - hiking (0 hr)
Strength - none
Balance - Taiji stepping drills (0 min)
Flexibility - static stretching (0 min)

Rest
==============================
Sleep - 8 hr, fitful
Meditation - Qigong (0 min)
Stress - extremely high
Reading - "First Test", Tamora Pierce

Notes
==============================
Walking is done at work in increments of 5-7 minutes, mostly as an excuse to get up and move about from my (mostly) desk job. Otherwise, I can sit and work on a thorny problem for 4-6 hours without moving.

Sleep, as usual, was interrupted by rising to use the bathroom.

Taiji stepping drills are drills to learn the basic taiji steps prior to learning any routines.

Stretching is done before rising, throughout the day, and after rowing, weight training, or hiking.

Stress - extremely stressful, with a complete meltdown. I took the day off work so I could drive about 3 hours to meet a friend I haven't seen since before the pandemic. With every mile, my stress, anxiety and PTSD grew until I couldn't manage it and I had to turn around, full of adreneline. Exercise and meditation helps me manage this. That's one of the reasons for starting this journal back up.

Reading - Tamora Pierce is my all-time favourite author for when I'm stressed or grumpy. She writes fantasy novels for teens and young adults. Her main characters are usually girls/women between the ages of 10-24 who show grit, compassion, and determination and whose lives are filled with adventure, humour, and passion. Their stories ease my mind as I fall asleep.

Links
==============================
Death of a Friend, 2019-09-09
Chest Pain, 2019-09-12
Contra Dancing, 2019-09-16
Recipe - Tortilla Soup, 2019-09-21
Relapse, 2019-09-24
Mad Magazine, 2019-09-27
Elephant Seals, 2019-09-30
Sandhill Cranes, 2019-10-01
Reflections on Happiness, 2019-10-02
Recipe - Lentil Stew, 2019-10-06
Recipe - Pineapple Stir-Fry, 2019-10-06
Monarch Butterflies, 2019-10-06
What I Eat, 2019-10-11
Clarence Bass: Take Charge, 2019-10-15
Recipe - Smoky Apple Baked Beans, 2019-10-26
RIP Mom, 2019-10-31

[Starflower]

Hi Sirdle!

Good luck on your exercise journey! I hope you find what works for you, and peace along the way. I’m looking forward to following your journal.

[sirdle]

Thanks Starflower!

Day 2, Thu

Food
==============================
B: oatmeal, blueberries, flaxseed
L: roasted garbanzo beans
S: oranges, cherries
D: pasta w/ marinara sauce, corn, 1/4t salt
S: blueberries

Exercise
==============================
Activity - hiking (6.5 hr)
Cardio - none
Strength - none
Balance - none
Flexibility - static stretching (15 min)

Rest
==============================
Sleep - 7+2 hr, fitful
Meditation - none
Stress - low
Reading - "First Test", Tamora Pierce

Notes
==============================

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi Sirdle!

LOVE your journal!!! I hope you don't get bored --- and keep it up!!!

Haven't read through all of your links yet, but will catch up. You had me at "monarch butterflies"...

Fellow reader here --- haven't ever read Tamora Pierce, but put this book in my "Libby" queue as I also enjoy YA...

Wishing you well with your exercise journey!!

Cheers,
Stephanie

[sirdle]

Hi Sirdle!

LOVE your journal!!! I hope you don't get bored --- and keep it up!!!

Haven't read through all of your links yet, but will catch up. You had me at "monarch butterflies"...

Fellow reader here --- haven't ever read Tamora Pierce, but put this book in my "Libby" queue as I also enjoy YA...

Wishing you well with your exercise journey!!

Thanks!

I ... don’t like to argue with anyone, BUT --- I am renowned (since as a small child) as consistently only doing what I choose --- not succumbing to peer pressure, not following the crowd, not blindly obeying orders, etc.

You'll like Keladry (from "First Test"). She's fiercely independent, too.

Cheers,
sirdle

[sirdle]

Day 3, Fri

Food
==============================
B: oatmeal, blueberries, flaxseed
L: baked potato w/ marinara sauce
L: cabbage salad w/ mustard-lime dressing
S: sumo oranges
D: sweet potato stew, sourdough bread
S: blueberries

Exercise
==============================
Activity - none
Cardio - none
Strength - none
Balance - none
Flexibility - none

Rest
==============================
Sleep - 10 hr, restful
Meditation - none
Stress - low
Reading - "First Test", Tamora Pierce

Notes
==============================
No activity: I was channeling my inner elephant seal today. But when I wasn't sleeping I was marketing and cooking. A very relaxing day.

[SilverMtns]

Sleep - none

Uh-oh. Are you okay?

[sirdle]

Sleep - none

Uh-oh. Are you okay?

LOL. Missed that one when I was updating my template. It should read 10 hrs and very restful. Fixed.

But thanks for checking up on me!

Cheers,

[sirdle]

Day 4, Sat

Food
==============================
B: oatmeal, blueberries, flaxseed
S: sumo orange
L: salad w/ mustard-lime dressing
L: sweet potato stew, sourdough bread
S: pineapple
D: potatoes w/ salsa
S: broccoli & cauliflower

Exercise
==============================
Activity - none
Cardio - none
Strength - none
Balance - Taiji stepping drills (30 min)
Flexibility - static stretching (15 min); Qigong, "8 Pieces of Brocade" (15 min)

Rest
==============================
Sleep - 8 hr, restful
Meditation - meditation (5 min)
Stress - very low
Reading - "First Test", Tamora Pierce

Notes
==============================
Reviewed videos on technique for Taiji stepping drills, Qigong (8 Pieces of Brocade), and Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation). It's been a long time since I've done any of these, but when I did I found them relaxing.

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi Sirdle!

LOVE your journal!!! I hope you don't get bored --- and keep it up!!!

Haven't read through all of your links yet, but will catch up. You had me at "monarch butterflies"...

Fellow reader here --- haven't ever read Tamora Pierce, but put this book in my "Libby" queue as I also enjoy YA...

Wishing you well with your exercise journey!!

Thanks!

I ... don’t like to argue with anyone, BUT --- I am renowned (since as a small child) as consistently only doing what I choose --- not succumbing to peer pressure, not following the crowd, not blindly obeying orders, etc.

You'll like Keladry (from "First Test"). She's fiercely independent, too.

Cheers,
sirdle

Hey Sirdle!!

OK, going to read this one --- love what you said about it!!! Have a few hours left in "My Year of Running Dangerously" --- and then on to this audiobook... Thanks for the recommend!!

You are doing awesome with your exercise!!! Love it!!!

Stephanie

[sirdle]

Thanks Stephanie!

Day 5, Sun

Food
==============================
B: oatmeal, blueberries, flaxseed
S: sumo orange
L: salad w/ mustard-lime dressing
L: sweet potato stew, sourdough bread
S: cherries
D: potatoes w/ salsa
S: broccoli & cauliflower

Exercise
==============================
Activity - none
Cardio - none
Strength - none
Balance - none
Flexibility - none

Rest
==============================
Sleep - 8 hr, restful
Meditation - none
Stress - very low
Reading - "First Test", Tamora Pierce

Notes
==============================
Pouring over maps of hiking trails and backcountry camping sites.

[Starflower]

Hey Sirdle! How are you doing? I hope 2023 is treating you well so far!