Lots of thinking.

[lithera]

I do my best thinking while I'm asleep. I do my second best thinking in the shower. This has always been true.

Things are percolating in my brain. Spurred on, a lot, by bloolark's comments and some others I've read this morning. My brain was very active in my sleep last night. My dreams were very vivid and a little confusing but it all sort of points one way.

Topic the first: The gym. I have noticed improvement in my physical self, though I've got to stop looking at the scale or it will drive me mad. I've regained some fo my flexibility, though I'm not back to where I once was. My breathing is better. San Diego didn't wipe me out until Saturday this year. So, yeah, I'm getting improvement. I hate going but, to be honest, there is a sort of catharsis I go through there that I haven't found in much else. It has been a long time since I've been able to channel this much emotion into physical activity and it is something I've missed. Most of my entries here come when I've just gotten home and I'm at an energy low.

Also, there isn't much else that I can have found that I can keep doing. I don't know what it is with me but most of these sorts of activities are just things I'll stop doing. Self sabotage? Sure. I'm very good at it and I'm also very good at hiding it from myself as being such. Holding myself to this schedule is something I seem to be able to do and I'm not going to let it go just yet. That and I am very glad to be doing this with Kris. It feels important to be doing this together.

Topic the second: Supplimental activities. I want to add something else to this. There are a few options that I have in mind, all of them with issues with them and some such. (Not sure how much of that is self-sabotage and how much is just what it is. Hard to see some times.) It has been recommended that I need to be going to the gym four times a week. This is an ideal number. I have a hard time with that. So, instead, I'd like to add something else. I have some ideas.

1 - Swimming. I used to love the water. I know what is holding me back on this one and it sounds ridiculous in my head but I can point right at it. I don't own a swimming suit and I am terrified of going shopping for one and more terrified of actually being seen in public in one. There are a few places I can go but I have to get over that first bit before I can even try.

2 - Martial Arts. I used to love karate. When there was a place to go close to where I was living, I would go two or three times a week. Then I moved and the commute pretty much killed it for me. So, for this one, there is a location issue, as well as a style issue and a bit of a money issue. Lots of research to be done here.

3 - Something I have not tried. I have tried a lot of things. Most of them have not become a habit and that's what I need. I need something that will become a habit. I, preferably, want something that I will do with someone else. If it is something that someone is doing /with/ me, I will be much less likely to flake out, make excuses and such and such. So, anyone want to try something new? Rock Climbing? Curling? Ice skating? (I'm running out of ideas after that, so not sure what else...)

Topic the Third: My rut. I like my rut. I have tried to break it up this year and have mostly been successful. I've added a streak of volunteerism to my life, which is something I needed. Thanks to my mom for the inspiration on that one. None of it is exactly the Peace Corps but I feel more involved. I'm still looking for a place to connect. I've been looking for a long time, really. Since I graduated college. I'm getting closer but I don't think I've found it yet. I miss the feeling I got out of the SCA but I don't think that can be recaptured - being what it was at the time in my life that it was. I'm also looking for suggestions of a group activity that will get me involved with other people doing something. I know. Could I vague that up for you some more? I just want to go out and get more connected with people doing something I enjoy. Sure, volunteering at conventions is fun but they are only so many times a year, you know? Any suggestions?

Comments

[arian1.livejournal.com]

Swimming is a good idea. Look for some water resistance courses to do. It's much easier on the joints and shizz than running or what not.

I'd also look into maybe a cardio boxing course. Something to help the metabolic rate get up. I've been putting on some weight in the last few years and the cardio I get from taiko is finally beginning to pay off again.

Also, I was talking to a trainer friend of mine, and she was saying that four times a week is what you have to do to get your body to really force itself to adjust and change gears. I thought it odd, but interesting so I figured I'd share :)

I'm glad you are seeing some progress, it's slow and painful at times but it will happen.

Oh...throw the scale out the window for the next six months. It will do no good.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I know I'm not going to get to the gym four times a week. I just isn't going to happen. So maybe I can do something else twice a week. Or two something else's once a week.

Taiko. *ponders* Hrm. That would be cool.

What do you get..

[echoeversky.livejournal.com]

when you dont have a rut?

E.

Re: What do you get..

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Change. Different experiences.

[fixerbard.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly Julz is/was part of a choir up on cap hill.. I can't remember their new name though.

I'm glad to read that things are getting sorted out.

Random Additions

[trilliumgrl.livejournal.com]

Swimming would be good. I think you may just need to take a deep breath and get the shopping done so that you can move onto the good stuff. Julz has started back up in martial arts, since she lives on the hill, you might want to talk to her.

FYI - your nearest ice rinks are in Shoreline and Kent.

Group activity - I know Sean has been looking at the Mountaineers, they have hikes for all levels, so you could start easy and build up.

Okay, out of brain cells now.

Re: Random Additions

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Ice rinks are not common nor close, alas. I'm thinking swimming might be the winner here, though I am tempted by martial arts. Schools are a hard thing, though. You have to find one you really like.

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

We've started in on Rock Climbing, but that is due to proximity. When the rock gym is ~5 mins from the house, it's easy to go.

Skating is still a good call, but only if you have some regular incentive to go (like a kid dragging you out to it)

Chris (Megu) does a lot of martial arts - you could look into his schools and such. And he's good at gently pushing you... usually on the "C'mon, man up!" level.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Heh. I have l ooked into his school and they're too far away for me to be sure that I'll actually go with regularity.

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

fair nuff