Season 2: Chapter 3
(Weeks 9 through 12)
Welp, SOC Season 2 ended with a thud. The first two weeks of this last chapter went well and I was about to wrap up the Season nicely, but all of that unraveled in the last two weeks. I’d be lying if I said I was too tired or didn’t have the time, as neither would be true. It was more I just didn’t want to do much, in particular, I didn’t want to do the workouts.
I’ve noticed that I’m slowly beginning to dread the scheduled workouts. I still want to exercise, but I don’t want to strength train the same routine or do the same cardio, so much so, that instead of some of my regular workouts, I did an hour-long YT video that mixed HIIT and lifting and a separate HIIT workout on another day during these last weeks. I think I’m just a little bored.
Randomly and thankfully though, I came across the Tracy Anderson Method (TAM) and the Hamelin D’abell Method via YouTubers recommendations. Both methods offer a different way of working out in low-impact routines that differ significantly from the traditional lift/cardio routine I’ve been doing so I gave both a try this week and really enjoyed the switch. Because of the workout changes, I only did one full upper workout and a half lower workout on the last week of this chapter.
Maybe I’m not the type of person who can do the same routine week in and week out. I understand it’s imperative to remain consistent in working out to reach goals and see change, but I’ve been going with the lift/cardio duo for many months now and I’m definitely lifting heavier and noticing some minor physical changes, but I think I need to add some variation so I don’t make excuses for avoiding the gym and maybe I can get the physical goals I’m aiming for. Since the YT algorithm favored me with the happy coincidence of introducing me to the two methods above, I am thinking of developing a new weekly routine that will incorporate either of the methods, HIIT, walking, and some sessions of traditional weight lifting to keep it interesting and touch on some of the many exercises recommended by the professionals for staying healthy and fit, especially as I’m now in my 40s.
Other than the change in the workouts, much of this last chapter was completed. No surprise here though, is that stretching took a considerable nosedive and I did zero stretching this last week. I’ve accepted stretching and splits is something I desire, but not something I’m willing to work hard enough towards so it won’t be making any appearances on the next SOC. Maybe I’ll circle back to it at a later date.
Going back to my original blueprint for SOC, I did always allow myself room to alter what wasn’t working and make necessary adjustments throughout the Season (which is what I did with the workouts), but I am happy those changes came at the end of the Season so I can start fresh with new goals soon. Overall, except for the funk I got into these last two weeks, these SOC was easier to complete than the previous one. My theory is that my ability to complete tasks I don’t feel like doing at the time is getting easier and the internal voice telling me “no” is getting softer.
For the Season overall, I performed extremely well with the Studies and Arts & Crafts tasks as I never missed any of the weekly goals and I managed to complete two out of the three essay/book wrap-ups before the Season ended (second book report not yet published on JR). It’s the Health & Physical goals that I’m struggling with and it’s obvious in the lack of visible progress noticed in my figure. I don’t know if I need to switch gears and try something new or really need to dial in my diet (maybe both). All I know is that it’s frustrating to be consistently lifting weights (and increasing strength so I know I’m continually pushing myself) and performing cardio exercises and not seeing results after so many months. At this point, I know I’ve got to focus on my diet. I eat healthy overall, with lots of fruits and veggies, but I probably need to up the protein and cut the sugar. Without the visible progress, it’s disheartening to continue even though I must for my overall health.
Health & Physical:
- Increase my strength,
lower body fat, and increase physical fitness and health - Strength train 4 times a week
- Cardio for at least 150 minutes a week
- At least 15 minutes of daily physical activity
- No missed workouts
- B
e able to perform side splits- Stretch and do splits for a minimum of 10 minutes 5 times a week
Eat a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) diet for 80% of my daily calories- Implement the recommendations from How Not to AgeTrack my daily fruit and vegetable intake
- Allow myself one “cheat” day a week
Studies:
- Study Etiquette
- Devote 50 minutes 3 times a week to study (college semester equivalency)
- Read at least 3 books on Etiquette
- Write a summary/report of what I’ve learned at the end of the season
- Study languages
- Continue my Duolingo practice in Spanish
- Start Duolingo in French and Music
- Watch 30 minutes of Spanish-language show 4 times a week
Arts and Crafts:
- Continue to practice crocheting
- Crochet a minimum of 20 minutes 3 times a week
- Crochet a blanket (blanket still in work)
Traits:
- Be more patient with others- this is definitely still a work in progress with some days better than others and it’s mostly an issue in my work environment
Take a breath before responding
Stops:
Stop wasting so much time. No media outside of working hours until after 7pm on weekdays and a max of 3 hours of weekends– I needed a better system to monitor myself on it and did not perform well on most days
Other:
- Build in time for God:
- Goal to memorize one of my favorite passages of the Bible each week
- Read Biblical study guides and non-fiction texts 20 minutes a day
Bonus:
Spend 17 minutes daily on the piano– I started learning piano on Duolingo but I’ve yet to touch the actual piano in over a yearLearn to play Greensleeves
