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Fitness, health, and well-being...reviewing 2020, and planning for 2021

Runcarla

Veteran

Well, if you are still around to read this post, I would consider your 2020 to be a success! Dark humour aside, how was your 2020 for fitness, health, and well-bing? Did you keep up your practices? Start any new ones? Have you made plans for 2021?

2020 was not one of my better years for units of formal exercise that I chart in my fitness journal and therefore ‘count’. I started 2020 with a messed up elbow, so was focusing on lower body work in January and February. Just as I reintroduced upper body weight training, Covid hit and everything got shut down. I failed with a home based training regime, and didn’t resume a structured program until pool time became available in early July. From July to present I swam 3 x per week without missing a single workout. There was some sporadic bike riding and running, including a ‘virtual 5k’ in October. I missed the gym terribly, but just did not feel the environment would be safe for me.

I’m a mad baker with a ‘hectic’ sweet tooth, and retired - so the pandemic didn’t affect cooking or food habits much. I did get off caffeine (I do drink decaf coffee) and reduced alcohol - goals I had in mind going into 2020.

Oh! I also celebrated turning 60 yo! So, though not a stellar year - I kept my sanity through 2020 and emerged in reasonably good health.

I don’t make resolutions for the new year (no exercise on January 1st and a decadent brunch that includes Mimosa’s! ) but I do set goals and make plans to ensure some type of regime that will support fitness, health, and well being appropriate for my age and stage in life, and the world we live in. I am going to make a concerted effort to (1) get some fresh air everyday. I can get put off by inclement weather, especially cold - but I’ve got the right gear for most conditions. Since I like to ‘count’, I’m going to make a chart to keep me accountable. I will (2) resume swimming when the pool opens up after the newest lockdown (December 26 - January 25). I will (3) ride my bike more in 2021 - once it warms up. I will return to (4) weight training at the gym, but only if it is safe to do so (in the fall?) No changes to food/nutrition - I’m in a good place.

My biggest goal is to (#5) get the Covid vaccine as soon as I am eligible!

Be gentle with yourself when your review the past year, and set realistic, tangible goals for 2021. Consider fitness, nutrition, physical therapy, meditation, sleep, self care, beauty routines, or anything else that supports your mental health and well-being for a happy and healthy new year.

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Latest reply was from anne

Echo

Veteran

Dh and I started a low carb lifestyle in late July. His cholesterol numbers were terrible, with bad triglycerides and he was developing fatty liver. He is 6'8", but was over 300 lb. I, too, was carrying far too much weight for what is healthy for me. I originally started low carb to support him, but continued because I felt so much better. Without the energy ups and downs of spiking and crashing blood sugar, my energy has been far more consistent and I don't get tired as easily.

So he has lost 64 lb and all of his numbers are now in the normal range; I have lost 40 lb, or 18+ kilos (and 3 dress sizes). Neither of us gained during the holidays, and we both hope to lose more in the New Year. But in 2021, I need to increase my fitness level. I typically bike about 15 - 20 miles daily in the summer, but struggle to remain as active during the colder months. Since I teach, I walk the school building each day after the bell rings in order to get my steps in. I started with 10K, and have been increasing my goal steadily.

So my goals are to get the vaccine and be able to see my mum again, to continue with the low carb habits and lose 30 more pounds, and to improve my fitness in the New Year.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Echo, that is crazy impressive!! Congratulations to you and your husband. What great progress you have made. I think the key is when it starts feeling like its own reward (either diet changes or exercise, or both). When you get to that point, usually you are committed. Brava!

Carla, you are a mensch! I love your organized and realistic approach and your honesty. It wasn't a usual year and we shouldn't beat ourselves up if we didn't meet the goals we set in January, before we knew any of this was going to happen. It sounds as if you did really well under the circumstances and are well prepared to meet your goals for 2021.

2020 was my year to *move* after a few less active or possibly just over-indulgent years, where I'd put on some unwanted pounds and lost strength. Despite the weird situation, overall, I'm pleased with my progress. I joined an in-person kettlebells class in January and when Covid hit, it went online. I participated regularly enough that it made a difference in strength, mobility, energy, and metabolism. I stepped up my already considerable walking and hiking (haha!) and I also did a little bit of jogging (alas, enough to get myself injured, but that's another story!) I bought a bike and started using it.

For the last 6 weeks I've been off kettlebells due to my torn meniscus. But I've increased biking and am doing core exercises and physio at home.

I eat pretty well overall. My dietary weakness is wine with dinner, but that is not something I'm willing to give up during COVID. The ritual of it is soothing and reassuring.

For 2021, I aim first to heal from my injury, and then to continue to bike, lift weights, hike, walk. I might add some yoga. I'm also looking forward to my vaccination. A close friend of mine (in health care) is getting hers tomorrow!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!

Carla, if I had one piece of advice on the matter of getting outdoors in less than clement weather, I'd say, buy the clothing that makes it bearable. That's what I did for the biking -- and so far, there have only been 2 days that I haven't gone out due to weather. Once -- ice and snow. The other time -- major rain and flooding.

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elpgal

Veteran

It was a good year for me - I got a handle on my messed up sleep habits, got off anti-depressants and figured out a reasonable strength-training routine that I enjoy doing a few times a week.

I am nervous about things going back to normal post-vaccine because the ‘normal’ was never conducive to fitness. My goals for 2021 are to retain the good habits I picked up this year.

kkards

Veteran

Let’s just say it was a year of mixed results. In 2019 I’d found my exercise groove with Pilates, and then 2020 shut that down. But on the flip side, in an attempt to do something, I’m walking everyday. So my cardio is way up, but the all important weight baring exercises and stretching is now back to zero. And i know myself well enough to know that i will not follow thru with you tube/video workout....
I’m one of those people who lose weight during times of high stress, and this year was no different. But I’m eating well, probably better than i have in years, because i have time and well, no other choice but as prepare and cook most of my meals. At the start of the pandemic i made a conscious decision not to have wine in the house. I live alone, and do enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner, but somehow, it felt like something I shouldn’t do during a pandemic.
My goals for 2021...add some new easy to make dinner recipes to my repertoire, keep up the daily walking even if/when l return to the office, and just keep on keeping on.....

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m not happy with what I’m doing right now, but looking back, I see I’m 8 kilos lighter than I was a year ago, and I seem to be over the depression that had hung around for years. So altogether, things are looking up. Thanks for the prompt to look back.

Like others, I’ve been frustrated by Covid measures. I had started enjoying 50 m pools for the first time ever, found a good gym to lift weights close to home, was rocking & rolling. Besides closing those things, they’ve also cut down bars at the parks that were my first resort.

Working out at home, sigh. I have a good upper body program for light weights and occasional trips to the park for pull-ups, dips, etc. Need to make myself go even when temps are in the 30s. Lower body is harder. I’m doing reps like Jane Fonda, lol. I just don’t have heavy enough weights to work out the way I want to. I haven’t been doing it like I should—too wimpy to do pull-ups when it’s freezing out and I hate all the leg lifts, etc—really miss being able to lift heavy.

After I broke my foot, my PT was supposed to strengthen my legs. Sounds good to me! I want to put on muscles on my glutes and quads—if you aren’t gifted with curves, the only way to get them is to build them. So I was ready. PTs have the equipment. They agreed with my goals. Said yes, I was doing the exercises correctly and had good at-home programs. They were so agreeable, but the end result was always that they treated me like a weak old lady who doesn’t know the first thing about physiology or working out. Our sessions never went anywhere. I never left feeling like I’d done anything. So frustrating!

I stopped those sessions and have appointments coming up with the PT my son used to see. Early in shut-down, he let me use equipment in the room where he was working with my son. He was hesitant at first but quickly said he was fine with it because he could tell I knew what I was doing. He promises to push me hard. I’m looking forward to it!

So the plan now is serious lower-body workouts once a week and the core/glutes program from Redefining Strength. (It really is a good program, and I will need it once I start working at a desk job 8 hours a day, to keep my lower back from hurting.) I hope that will motivate me to do my upper body. It will get easier once the weather warms up. If pools don’t open up, I might try open-water swimming.

@kkards, I like a glass of wine with dinner too, but generally don’t do it at home—opening up a bottle means I have to have a glass every night or two until it’s finished, and that’s too much of a commitment for me, lol.

Suz, have you spoken with your KB instructor about the meniscus tear? You probably can’t do moves like swings, but there are lots and lots of moves you can do, not just for your arms but for your whole upper body & core. Cori Levkowith at RedefiningStrength.com is fantastic at adjusting moves and routines to fit what ever you need. But beware, if you work with her—she accepts absolutely no excuses. Whatever you think is an obstacle that prevents you from working out she sees as just another bump to steer around.

Echo, echoing the others here—that’s great! I bet you and your husband feel the difference every day.

ETA walks happen all the time. Sometimes under a mile to the grocery store & back, sometimes an hour or two just walking along the river and through the city. I have no plans to stop those, but want to add in moves for my glutes along the way. Warrior 3, pistol squats, whatever.

Minaminu

Veteran

Wow Echo, what an amazing result! Most importantly, it's a great benefit for your health!

It's inspiring to read how well organized and realistic you are, RunCarla! I like the idea to get daily fresh air, I recently started going out for a quick morning walk and it's amazing how lifting it is! I will continue in the new year. This year, I lost 6 kilos and have improved my nutrition, I learnt few interesting low card veggie recipes to cook from scratch (shaksuka tonight!) and would like to add some more next year!

I am trying to build a workout routine that I enjoy, yoga and walking are great but something is amiss, I am still testing some and would like to establish a routine by Spring and loose more weight to reach a healthy BMI. It's not easy during a Pandemic.

Mentally, I would like to start meditation or thai chi as I know that the first quarter of 2021 will be a challenge, even if I manage to get the vaccine on the first quarter. I still have a flight booked to see my family in April and I am hoping that it won't be cancelled as I haven't seen my family for a year.

Anonymous

I had to rethink everything, since I was such a gym rat BC19! But since I took any of the classes at the gym 5:30pm or earlier, plus have karate and dance backgrounds, it's easy enough to adapt it all for home.

I was full time WFH for about 6 months, so was biking in summer and have been hiking daily. I lowered my cold tolerance, so will hike as low as the 30s. Lots of SUP too, since I didn't work weekends (festivals cancelled). And I took up archery this year. I really appreciate my home and land, and made local friends since I'm not travelling. My area is rural, and I rarely go into town, so I feel safe.

I had lots of fresh local food in season, daily salads since I was home to make them. But I reverted to processed foods during my busy work time (over now).
About a month ago, DH decided to take charge of his health, so now he does cardio, strength, yoga with me 6 days a week. I started cooking more so we'd cut back the sodium and sugar. I'm having fun experimenting with food.

For 2021: get the vaccine as soon as I can! Dry January- I only drink a few oz of beer a couple times a week, but the brewery is in a higher Covid area and people aren't wearing masks. Plus it's cold and I should drink tea instead. Continue the daily exercize with DH and hiking, bike and SUP and archery when warm. Try running again if my lungs are any better. I'd love to swim again, if safe. Continue with cooking and keeping processed food minimal.

Helena

Veteran

Great thread Carla - lots of inspiration here! I just started my 2020 review yesterday, so this is timely. My biggest learning is that I am way too hard on myself! I was feeling so frustrated that I am "not eating properly or exercising consistently", but I realized:

I've done 2- 3 Zumba workouts every week since lockdown started in replacement of my gym cardio classes; additionally I do some yoga, walking, swimming (in the summer) and/or weights almost every other day, too. That's plenty (and necessary for my sanity) - even though it doesn't always follow the "perfect" schedule
Ditto eating - no, I haven't been perfect - especially with baked goods and prosecco! But overall, I've been fine - eating reasonably, course-correcting when needed. My weight is consistent and I'm pretty good at intuitive eating - if I eat junk one day, I balance it out the next day or I feel off - so I don't need to keep looking for the perfect system.

So for 2021, my goal is to ease off myself and focus on what I'm doing right ... actually I need to do this in most areas of my life! Keep doing what I enjoy physically, eating what I like and what makes me feel good, which always averages out to fairly healthy intuitively (maybe tracking for a week here and there if I feel 'off'), and relax a little. A meditation practice does me good, but I never stick with it and it ends up being a source of stress ... so this year, I think I am going to see how I can use my workouts as meditation ... perhaps mindful walking and yoga will be the things.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Carla, you lead a balanced, happy and full life. Your body, mind and spirit are at peace and it shows. You are awfully level-headed and sensible. Thanks for being an inspiration ...and I'm high fiving your hectic sweet tooth.

WOW, Echo. Congrats to you and hubs! What a tremendous achievement.

Getting the vaccine asap. Looks like the Summer for me and Greg, but very grateful for hope and light at the end of the tunnel! We have doctor and healthcare worker friends who have received their first dose of the vaccine!!! BRILLIANT!!! If all goes according to plan, my Dad in the Netherlands will receive his first vaccine in January.

After a year of PT (after falling on my back), I am FINALLY back to an intermediate level #1 full yoga practice - vinyasa and hatha - 4 times a week. I hope to get to intermediate level #2 soon.

I LOVE martial arts, and have a thing for karate, so might look into that.......

I lead an organically active life because I walk everywhere (no driving), hauling groceries too.....a bit like natural weight training. Lots of hills in Seattle! You walk a lot when you live in a loft in the city and have a doggie to take out. So clocking 11,000 to 17,000 steps daily is normal. My weight does not fluctuate and I'm thankfully in very good health. I cook a lot from scratch, and my diet works well for me. I am boringly consistent. So like Torontogirl, I'm focussing on what I do right! Let's hope no more skin irritations too....

ETA: when I shop with clients again after vaccinations, it’s back to 20,000 steps a day. My life is active despite also WFH.

anchie

Veteran

I had big plans for 2020, after accomplishing major goals in 2019 - loosing 20kg, quitting alcohol and practicing Pilates 3x weekly. But it all went down the drain when I hurt my back end of last year and was in awful pain and not able to walk for few months. But I still have to be grateful - I managed to recover without surgery, I stayed away from alcohol for another year, and my weight finally stabilized. I started ritual of daily walks with my daughter, that are highlight of my day and great bonding experience.
I haven’t decided yet about goals for the next year, but I am thinking about it. I hope that I will finally be able to add more exercise and continue with my recovery but I am still going to take it easy - I am afraid of relapse. I would like to establish some healthy routines and eliminate some bad habits. That is my usual recipe for new year’s resolutions - add one good thing and eliminate one bad. There are plenty to choose from LoL

Anonymous

I walk everywhere as well as I no longer own a car. Groceries, post office, errands and city hiking are regular pursuits. I clock between 4,000 and 8,000 steps daily. Floor exercises complete my fitness regimen. I continuously adjust meals for a balanced diet. My goals for 2021 are to increase daily steps and flights and expand exercises. I would like to simplify meals with less ingredients. Also, continue YLF for mental health Thanks for the post.

MsMaven

Veteran

I had a good year until I sprained my ankle almost a month ago. It's a lot better now, but I've only done a couple of short walks--how quickly I lost conditioning! Next year I will be happy to get back where I was ASAP.

This year we weren't tempted by all the wonderful goodies we enjoy visiting friends and family, but we have indulged a bit. DH wants to lose a few more pounds, and I want to lose the 5--6 I regained the last few months.

I put off getting PT for my upper mid-back pains. Once I stopped doing the ones the doctor gave me the pain mostly went away. Clearly I need to find out what's going on.

Overall there were advantages to the long Covid restrictions. We don't eat out except to get a cheeseburger (3 times in the last 9 months) and we work on cooking healthy meals that are delicious.

I tend to get a little down during these dark cold days, but after reading up on SAD, I don't have the symptoms that some people get. This January will be different in that I planted so many seeds and bulbs, and have more seeds ready to go, so have a lot to look forward too. Trouble with gardening is that I can overdo it.

So 2020 was a pretty good year fitness and health wise. 2021 goals are to get back to the fitness levels I had and get back to healthier eating.

I should mention another positive about being home so much: my feet are much happier. Either I'm wearing my walking shoes or most of the time, sandals and slides. No pedicure, but my calluses have gone away, and my toes seem to like to have the nails longer as long as I keep them neat and smooth. Never would have guessed!

DonnaF

Veteran

Since 2005, I've walked the dirt track at the college near me. But at the beginning of COVID, the school and track closed down. For a few weeks I stopped exercising altogether, then started walking to and from the college which reduced my exercise by about 1/3. At the same time, I started to drink more wine and join my husband as he ate chips and Cheetos. Needless to say, I gained three or four pounds. Doesn't sound like much, does it?

It's taken until a bit into this month to take that weight off!!!!

I would rather than exercise than radically change my eating, but I want to get back into some jeans that have become too snug. I also want to eat the Frango mints that DD gave me for Christmas. Love that candy!!!

So I've taken to walking up and down a super steep hill near me. By my second or third round trip, I've worked up a thick sweat -- which has had HUGE implications on what I wear for exercise. No excuses about it being too cold for this California wimp. I've been doing really well until a week or so ago when my knees and hips started to hurt. I may need more stability so I ordered new shoes, but they changed the model so I'm a bit worried. The platform Crocs DD gave me for Christmas took away the hip pain immediately. And this morning, I also tried a topical analgesic on my knees -- what a difference!!!

I currently do six round trips on my hill; my goal is to do eight by my birthday on May 1, do ten or 11 by the end of the year, and do 14 by May 1, 2023 when I turn 70 -- without becoming some type of exercise bulimic and spending way too much time on this. I'm trying to reduce my time before I increase to seven laps since door-to-door I'm already spending 1:20; need to get that down to 1:15 or less.

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JAileen

Veteran

Donna, I could have written your opening paragraph. I’m usually busy, but with everything cancelled, I lay on the couch reading and drawing for weeks. And then our nightly cocktail on top of that, well, I gained more than three or four pounds. More like 10 to 15. Finally, I got off the couch and we started bike riding. At first I was really huffing and puffing, but gradually I got in better shape. Now that it’s cold, I’ve been going on long walks, with dogs, or dog. But no weight loss.

rachylou

Veteran

I’m hoping my brother got me the Miranda Esmonde videos I put on my list. I lead a pretty active life I feel, altho not an athletic one, but I rather believe I fall into the trap where I exercise some muscles too much and others not at all and without enough variety of motion. I think I need to work on preserving my range of motion into the far future.

Synne

Veteran

This year I quit caffeine, started reading more books again and quit watching the news (for my own sanity) and horror movies (same). Diet and exercise hit an all time low..

Next year I want to rediscover the joy of moving my body again. I also want to focus on "mewing" and tongue-posture (it is a thing!), for aesthetic reasons. I also would like to learn more about Christianity, and deepen my relationships with family and friends.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Well, like so many of us in 2020, in many ways I started off strong and fell off the cliff.

My husband and I began the year training for a 10k that ended up getting cancelled. I signed up for a big bike ride that ended up getting cancelled. Then, on top of covid and all the craziness in the world this year has brought, a series of sad and challenging events this year sent me as far down the path to depression as I’ve been since my mom passed away. I have walked in the woods a lot this year, but I’ve also eaten a lot. I was doing pretty well keeping it fairly in balance until we took our Airstream trip — my husband is not as big of a hiker as I am, and our eating habits on the road were not stellar. I’m paying the price now. I don’t own a scale but I’m probably at my highest weight ever, I can feel it in my clothes.

External sources of motivation are big for me — if I’m not actively training for an event, it’s too hard to blow off the harder workouts. And in a time when I’m already feeling isolated and deprived of so much, it’s really hard for me to deprive myself of food that I enjoy, so... dieting sounds about as appealing now as a punch in the head.

But I know that my current normal is not sustainable. When the round of treats in our house is gone, I’m taking steps to limit those foods. And I’m running a bit again, so that’s good. I need to get back on the Peloton habit on nasty weather days.

Kudos to all of you who are doing so well. I wish I could say I am too, but clearly I’m not. I am glad and fortunate that my health is ok and I’m able to be active.

May 2021 be a better year!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Janet, sorry to hear you’re having such a rough time! Suz made a great point when she said I think the key is when it starts feeling like its own reward (either diet changes or exercise, or both). When you get to that point, usually you are committed.
Not sure how you switch modes when you’ve always been motivated by the big race coming up. Maybe set goals of completing a total of x miles by a certain date, or of having your regular workout be y? Then every time you work out, you are “winning “ and directly achieving your goal.
Wishing you—and all of us—well in 2021.

slim cat

Veteran

When the shutdown have started I was feeling exhausted from my new full time job and was almost glad to stay at home for a while. I was doing stretching and walking every day ( at least 2-2,5 hours ).
In mid June we were called back to work and started doing 40 hours a week right away which did a number on my knees that got swollen and occasionally painful. I was wearing knee support sleeves for 2,5 months while waiting for the next doctor appointment at the end of August
( plus Advil when absolutely necessary ).
The whole story of going to doctors during coronavirus is not that interesting - they didn't find anything seriously wrong with me ( it was like "something a bit more narrow than standard" ). In the end the PT was recommended and not recommended because of covid 19.

Now I'm still doing stretches ( a bit differently though ) and using the same topical anti-inflamatory gel that I've started in spring. The pain returns occasionally but less so. I'm not wearing knee support sleeves anymore and able to go hiking at a less difficult trails.
I'm glad I still have a job that pays for medical insurance ( which still just an average ins that takes too much of your money ) and I'm hoping to get better next year when I'll up my exercises or maybe get that PT.

The separate difficult story is related to my dental problem - doing a implant on a front tooth is kinda requires wearing mask anyway - lol.

Bijou

Veteran

You made me laugh out loud with your first sentence. Staying Alive is a good thing!

MsMary

Veteran

Seems like everyone has made the best of a challenging year! I achieved my goal of losing 15 pounds this year, mostly by changing my diet to pescatarian. Unfortunately I have slacked off in the last couple of months and put back five pounds so I need to buckle down again. My husband wants to do a Whole 30 in January so we will be doing that even though it's not my favorite. Still, I'm down net 10 pounds for the year so I'm calling that a win. My clothes fit again, at least.

Exercise has been challenging. My beloved gym of 10 years closed for good this year, which was heartbreaking. I had started tap and ballet classes in February but barely got started when the dance studio closed, too. After swearing I was done with cycling I got an e-bike, which I love, but for now we have cycling on hold because we don't want to take the chance of ending up in an over-crowded emergency room. (My husband had a bad cycling accident a couple of years ago that really put the fear of God into both of us!) I was doing an outdoor fitness class for a while, but that is shut down and more to the point, I developed a shoulder injury that it was exacerbating so that's out. Ugh. Was taking long walks but that's out now with the short days (too dark in my neighborhood and no sidewalks, so walking not safe after dark!). I'm thinking about resorting to exercise videos even though I hate them.

I am an essential worker so am in the third group in line for vaccinations so I'm very much looking forward to that!

Onward...

Style Fan

Veteran

I have kept up with my Yoga practice, thanks to Zoom. We were able to join one of our favourite Yoga studios through the world of Zoom, and that has kept me motivated to do Yoga 4 or 5 times a week. Mr. SF does at least one class a day.
I also go for a long walk daily. We are fortunate to live on a challenging hiking trail. The whole trail loop is 90 minutes.

Bijou

Veteran

2020 was a year where I relaxed a bit in terms of exercising after training very hard at my karate in 2019. In 2021 I have set my sights on getting my Second Dan black belt - so once the dojo opens in 2 weeks, my 11 month training program begins.

Jane

Veteran

I have kept up with the walking and completed a long walk by the River Thames in the summer, up to 20 miles a day over 6 days, on my own. Hot and hard work but really good to walk out the stresses of the first half of the year. Photos below!

Just started on a couch to 5k challenge. Week 3. With Porridge our dog, who is learning to run on pavements off lead. She’s doing well - I’m doing okay!

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Ledonna N.

Veteran

Such an encouraging thread.

I don’t make resolutions but I do pray into the new year and I clean my home because I have to ensure that is done. It has become a thing over the years.

I want to be kinder to myself this year and drink more water

Gretchen

Veteran

Congrats to everyone, regardless of where you are on your journey. You made it through 2020 and that's an achievement!

This was a year of lifestyle adjustments for me. After some not great health news in February, I decided to focus on some changes... and then covid hit... so I flipped to changes that would specifically support managing my anxiety.

I committed to a target of 6K steps/day - double what I was doing in 2019. And I made it! I'll never love exercising, but I do love the feeling of using my muscles, and realizing that the hills are easier and my pace is improving.

I also added CBD to my medicine cabinet. I find it helps me with the anxiety that hits at night, and I'm sleeping more deeply. For me, it's more effective than melatonin.

And, I committed to a health plan that starts next week. While I'm happy with meeting the walking goal, I've not seen changes in my body as I had hoped. So I'm going to do a 6 week program to kick off 2021 with some new habits.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Gretchen, thanks for mentioning the CBD. Santa brought some for my son, but he hasn’t tried it yet.

Laurie

Veteran

I received an email from my deployed son on New Year's Eve which started, "I know this will be a better year for all of us as a family. We really need to stop judging [2020] based on covid and politics, and focus on what was good for all of us. You were in a great routine of working out at home. You and Dad got outside a lot and went camping which is great, and I hope we can all do more of it...." It's so gratifying when our kids acknowledge and appreciate the good things we practice.

As I had already been doing at-home strengthening workouts, it was not a difficult transition in 2020. This app-based, resistance band/block/myofascial release ball- centered routine has traveled easily in the past 2 years, and is super effective at home. Shifting early-morning yoga from studio to home was one of the highlights of the pandemic. Not going back to the studio.

100% attendance for everything - 3 hard workouts a week, 3 livestream yoga classes a week, followed by short recorded workouts focused on areas like hips, or hamstrings on yoga days.

I walked so much in 2020. Many, many miles through neighborhoods, and on trails. My husband and I walked a lot together, which is new. We've not done well at this in the past as I'm out there for the aerobic burn with limited time, and he likes to stroll, stop, muse, wonder....it's a little like walking a puppy! Last year he learned to pick up the pace, and I learned to slow it down. We enjoyed our no-commitment weekends tremendously, and rediscovered beautiful places close to home, including downtown DC, almost tourist-free.

After a great start to 2020 - no alcohol for the first 5 weeks, and then the month of Feb watching and recording my diet, and eating very mindfully, things went to heck in March. I consumed more wine in 2020 than in any year of my life. We ate healthfully, but all that cooking and cooking and cooking meant more-than-needed calorie intake in general. Recipes like casseroles added cream, butter, and other unneeded calories to daily intake.

I did not cook a single meal between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve...that's a long story for another time. Even though I did not cook, we still ate, of course- salads, pre-cooked grilled chicken, apples, carrots. Whole foods, most not cooked. Peanut butter from a spoon. Stuff like that. Not really planned. But, those few extra pounds everyone is talking about - the ones that make our clothes uncomfortable even if they fit - finally budged. Zero baking - not a single thing - for the holidays. But, still the wine...

For 2021, I plan to continue with exercise as I am doing it, inspired mainly by pain management but enjoying the side benefit of being fit. Maybe I'll add some trail/path cycling in the spring - I really miss the bike, but like @MsMary, have the fear of God in me from an accident. I am definitely, absolutely cutting my alcohol intake by at least half by limiting to the weekends- starting 4 days ago. Not sure what I'm going to do about the food thing. It's a constant battle. I just know that I've lost all interest in efforts to shop, cook, and clean up, unless there is a social benefit to the meal. I guess I'll cook again when it is safe to feed friends and family. My husband is sad about this, but understands. I am going to try to get more sleep - that mainly means less NetFlix during the week!

It's not safe to suggest I give up caffeine, so we won't go there.

Happy, healthy new year to everyone.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Gretchen, what CBD have you been using?

Laurie, great point from your son; there have been a lot of 'silver linings' for people this last year on a personal level, even while the pandemic has been a tragedy and an adjustment.

I signed up for a year of Precision Nutrition coaching starting last January and then ignored it most of the year because of COVID. Some of the habits must have sunk in, though, as I'm down 10-15 pounds from my high weight in 2019. I attribute most of that to changing hormones due to perimenopause - in the past I'd always coped with anxiety and stress by eating and now it just doesn't appeal as much as it used to (and the lockdown and not going to the grocery store whenever I wanted might have served as a good reset too). It's an odd adjustment since always been someone who loved food and losing the desire to eat is such a foreign experience.

I don't have my plans set for this year yet; I'm considering another year of PN or doing a Kenzai program instead. Last year I'd done the Zombies Run 5k training program partway but without an in-person race to train for it seems unexciting. For the month of January I've committed to doing Yoga with Adriene's new 30 day series each day. Downward dog is still my nemesis but I'm pleasantly surprised at how much of each day's video I've been able to get through.

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