It's 9:02, I'm using the only free way to access the Internet available to me (which is the university WI-FI), and it's time for a non-week update.
I did not expect PE class in the university to be this rough. In short, it's one long proper exercise involving multiple types of running, jumping and pull-ups, and it's exhausting. I still haven't recovered from it, partly because I overstretched my back the day following the class, which is why I stopped all the challenges temporarely. Wanted to do a run this morning; my back still won't let me: it's not terrible, but uncomfortable.
The reason I haven't updated the workout table is that I haven't had any stretch of proper Internet access lately. The apartment I rent probably has it (given that it has an optical cable), but I most likely won't use it; therefore, the only safe option for me is the morning university WI-FI - and even then, I only have time to make a post and download some videos today because I got here two hours before my first class. I keep offline track of it, and when I get reliable access in my apartment, whichever that would be, I'll fill it out.
University days are tiring, too, which so far has often been a reason good enough for me to postpone exercise (which as often turned out to not have been completed). I'm still figuring out how to manage my energy during to day and, ideally, to keep it up until the evening; so far, I believe that midday food consumption is important, and I haven't still got to that (which would involve cooking something that won't spill or mess up the containter much or my hands, and I haven't got to that yet). I've been thinking about going for coffee daily, but it sounds like a terrible, last-resort option because of how it works and how my body will produce "antimatter" for coffee with time and some sort of a schedule. How good is it, really, for sport and exercise?
Still, I'm looking forward to any sort of exercise. Even though my body is reluctant - it is tiring, after all - I find it a good spending of time, given how it will benefit me in the future with endurance and strength. All I have to do is figure out how to stay up for the task and manage other, important aspects of life.
Well, it's 9:21. Thanks for cheering me up so far; it means a lot to me. Have a good... however long, and be healthy.
Good to see you're still gung-ho into it. Mixing it in with everything else in life, Uni etc can be a real struggle but it is absolutely doable. For meals, I found a tupperware container with my pre-cooked meal of chicken/beef, rice and mixed vegies gets me through the day pretty well, along with a banana and a carrot or two for snacking on. Pre-cooking my meals was the final step towards being consistent with eating what I needed and avoiding what I didn't - I discovered I would take any excuse I could to eat crap and run with it, so eliminating my choices helped a lot in that respect. Of course your preferences for food, and your environment might make that more difficult. I have an office job so I have plenty of space and time to eat, a Uni schedule (from recollection) might not be so accommodating. Anyway, it's good to see you update again! Kia Kaha.
As I go through my first Uni month, I find myself less and less determined to pursue exercises. It all depends heavily on whether I feel successful - that is, whether I reliably achieve goals I set to myself. Getting into the rhythm of university is difficult: I still lag a step behind my peers in homework in one particular subject, and even though it all comes easily to me - partly because I've already studied it - I still feel like I'm underachieving, which makes me perform poorly in other areas of my life. That being said, I understand very well both that physical exercise is good for me and that I want to achieve it. It's going to be difficult to get back to for a while - I have to step up my academics game first, as it's more important - and then, it's going to be difficult to get back on the same horse I rode before, but I hope that, after all that, it's going to go as good as it was or better. One thought that keeps me going is the idea of loving myself. It's something I didn't grow up with - respecting myself, accepting myself, loving myself - and this trinity turns out to do wonders once you apply it. I found out that the things I can't achieve aren't because they're somewhere in the Unachivia - I can't because I don't care enough about them, and I don't because I don't care about myself, about what I am and what I want. Once I start to do those three things, it becomes surprisingly simple: I figure out whether it's something I really want, and if I do, often enough, I go do it. Granted, there's a whole road ahead of me on the matter, but it gets easier once the right values are applied to the process. Thanks for cheering me up, Fov. "Kia kaha" is a very powerful phrase; it made an impression on me. Is the whole of Maori culture as cheerful?
It's fascinating that we can understand the need for loving and accepting yourself - even go as far to apply it to situations in the future when that does eventually occur, but still struggle to act on it in the now. I totally get where you're coming from there. It takes a long time, and much like any positive physical changes to your body, it comes in small tidbits that you won't notice yourself. I'm very impressed that you have allocated your priorities in such a good manner too, when I was at University I was caught up in the party and the sports that academics fell behind - and it took me a few terrible grades to accept that the academics is literally the reason I was there int he first place. I don't know how old you are, but doing it at all speaks of maturity and a willingness to sacrifice. I also agree in your plan, settle yourself in your main priorities; be it work or study, and let the others fall into place when you have the time. Getting on the horse sucks but you've done it once, and you'll do it again. On the Maori culture, I think I can say yes - New Zealander's as a whole are known for being extremely laid-back, but also unerringly optimistic (especially in the rural areas where I hail from). We often get confused for being nonchalant to the point of apathy but we just operate under an overall feeling that things are going to be fine. At the very least, you'll have some people on this forum wondering "What's TFG doing with his workouts?" And I reckon that'll get you back on the horse in no time; not because you require validation, but because you know we want to see you succeed.
There's even a well-known phrase to capture this sentiment, and every Kiwi knows it well - "She'll be right, mate". Always applies.we just operate under an overall feeling that things are going to be fine.
Thank you for your kind words, as well as for reminding me that it will take time. I grew up believing that stuff ought to happen as soon as I wish it to; paradoxically, it applies even to growing patience so far. I was once in a higher education venue, a year or two ago. Back then, I mostly considered the university to be an area of social contact more than it was educational. I still learned some very valuable stuff, but it wasn't academics, which is why I failed my first year - partly a reason why I quit that time. Eventually, I came to realize that since I'm here by choice, I better apply myself - or what am I doing here? I wonder, too, why don't other young people realize that to begin with. We must be missing something about our higher education all around the world, at least in the first and second worlds. What bothers me right now is how I seem to lose energy quickly in the university. I'm an introvert and I feel quiet discomfort around crowds of people, which is all you can see around here. Given that I spend most of my time in crowds nowadays, I'm afraid I won't encounter any comfort soon unless I spend all the rest of my time at home alone, which isn't a viable strategy. Both extremes are unsettling. Do you have an advice on how to juggle it?
Sadly I don't have much experience with being a n introvert. I tend to be energized by social interaction and time alone is a chore I put up with until I find something else to do! I did however find a lack of passion emerging after a few solid months workouts out. I decided that it could no longer be simply about passion, it had to be discipline to get up and do my time in the gym despite not really wanting to. In that note, I achieved that by seeing the gym as a place I could control, and sort of be at peace. I'd have my headphones, do my routine and mentally unwind. It's not an aggressive iron orgy for me - it's how I take stock of the week that's been and what's to come. Perhaps this mindset might be of benefit for you when you're feeling overwhelmed by the crowds, the pressures of academics etc. It'd be two birds with one stone, attending workouts and allocating some time to establish mental acuity. Just a thought!
Well I fell down the stairs, and landed on my tailbone. I didn't know how it would be possible to go into work, I was so sore. The cream melts muscle soreness. I was able to get over the injury in a few months, without pain killers. It was pretty bad, but I really don't like to mess with pain medication. It is just a topical cream, just don't get it in your eyes, and it won't affect anything negatively. I don't know what name they sell it as in Russia. If you were here, I would tell you were to find a massage chair at a mall, or something. Also for packing lunches, I took a bunch of noon exercise classes, and did not think through what I would eat. I have been bringing chicken salad and crackers snack kits. I also have been taking Greek yogurt in a cooler. I will put a few scoops of protein powder, in a bottle and buy milk at my school, to mix in. Nuts and Trail mixes are great to take with you. Ask away if you have more questions about cooking. It is hard to be on your own for the first time to gather and prepare food.
Thanks for the good stuff. I always had a problem with US-centric recipes because they rely on a much greater food availability and much higher buying power than I can see or afford to have. In the US, it might be very cheap to buy stuff I can't even find here. Maybe Moscow or Saint-Petersburg, the two biggest Russian cities, have something like what the recipes ask of me, but here doesn't. I have to figure out how to thrive from what an American might consider scarcity. It's a good challenge. Any ideas how to make chicken taste something? Chicken breasts seem to be among the most popular dishes one serves themselves to gain energy - due to its protein content, I presume - but they have no taste whatsoever.
Do you have a regular stove-top and oven. If you don't I would recommend a table top grill press, and a rice cooker. You can cook hard boiled eggs in a rice cooker. Hmm, chicken. Well there are lots of things you can make marinades out of. The main rule with marinades is to not add oil. Oil does not mix in with the fat of the meat. For marinades you want to use acidic things. Vinegar, or different citrus juices work well. You also want to add to the umami taste, by adding something, like Worcestershire, soy, or fish sauce. Some marinades have a lot of sugar that caramelizes like barbecue sauce. It is hard to change the flavor if you just season it as you are cooking. Just go to the spice section, and try to figure out what you like. Lemon pepper chicken is pretty easy. Thyme lemon chicken is good, you could use a white cooking wine and lemon juice to soak it in for a few hours. You could use some tomato paste, orange juice, and molasses to make a barbecue sauce. You could let it sit in the fridge with some white vinegar and garlic. http://www.alwaysorderdessert.com/2011/04/fiery-asian-chicken-cutlets.html That one is pretty fancy, but would be worth finding the ingredients. There are a hundred recipes to make anything, look at a few and pick ones that sound like you can find all the ingredients.
Diving head-first into the world of cooking seems terrifying. I love good food and I enjoy cooking if it's something interesting, and so I'm afraid to fail at it, especially now that I'm stretching for cash and don't have enough to waste even on a bitter lemonade. If you could, I could use some guidance or at least a few advices on what not to do.
You might want to use something like pinerest to organize easy healthy meal recipes. Look at the blogs, and find someone writing for your tastes and skill level. http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2014/06/15-freezer-burrito-hacks-for-nourishing-cooks-goat-cheese-green-chile-breakfast-burrito-recipe.html#_a5y_p=2504985 http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/High-Protein-Snacks-Under-150-Calories-8098874