ianuk | See that icon, back in the saddle...well, the gym at least

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So yesterday was the 2nd day this week I've made it back to the gym. I know small victories but a bad day at the gym beats not going at all. I did a similar routine to Monday though I probably pushed it a bit too hard on the bench but meh, I need to work. A treadmill was not open so I hit a weird elliptical hybrid for cardio. I made it 12 minutes before I was jelly so I think that is good. Again, not trying to kill myself this week. I usually avoid ellipticals because they make my hips hurt something fierce but this one did not...the only thing it did do was turn my feet numb so meh.

Got done and headed to knit night where it was a good time. A gal had finished a "raw edge" quilt that was faboo. Its very shabby chic and will fray on the edges as its washed. I also like how she didn't do the block border on the top edge and well the block border is just neat too.

I worked on the afghan.....I seriously am sick of it. I realized I have more baby stuff to make for Dana and others and I'm going to do things versus blankies I think. The last two blankets have not worked well for me in timeline and I hate being frustrated when working on a gift. Its working out well but yeah, I craft for pleasure, not for pain in my ass.

I am to heel flaps on my purple sock and my MIL's crazy sock. I have the undying urge to cast on 2 shawls and need to finish the projects on the needles. I think I also need to get another set of Signatures so I can do my socks 2 at a time. But I must do what I have on first and then start new things. Which means I'm going to push through said current things and get them done. I'm 4 months late on my MIL's socks and yeah.

But on things I am actually accomplishing is eating better, not drinking alcohol during the week (this has been hard due to the work stress) and maintaining high protein/lower carb ratios. My breakfasts have been toast with a 2 egg omelet with spinach/spices/feta. I'm doing smaller portions and I'm not drinking as much coffee. That one is hard...its my go to comfort food. So yesterday I had a cup of green tea to tied me over until the gym. Small steps towards good rewards.

This weekend will involve gaming, sewing, housework and tax prep. Exciting but should be good.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From: (Anonymous)

I'm super proud of you! Your posts indicate happier times. :)

Mary

From:

dezertsky.livejournal.com

Pretty color choices in that quilt. I like the floral-shaped ones better than just squares. I notice a lot of quilters also knit, though knitting escapes my brain, while crochet does not. Good luck on the gym habit and eating healthy! Tax prep - ugh. I need to make an appointment, or do my own soon!

From:

raventhourne.livejournal.com

I do not quilt (yet) but have always admired them. I have a quilt my g-ma made that I need to restore. I loved the mix of standard quilting and not with the one above. I have a "textiles" board on Pinterest that I just post neato quilts and fabric stuff to. Eventually I will learn to quilt.

I started out crocheting and then wanted socks and learned to knit. Knitting is efficient for yarn but slow IMHO. I know folks who knit blankets and that is not my thing right now. I'd also say, pick up knitting again and just try to make a tube that you can bind off and just have a hat. A lot of people start with a scarf and that is too much investment of time and brain power and monotony. Or, don't worry about it and keep on crocheting. I like being bi-craftual.

Yeah, gym /food is working well.....just need to do it.

Taxes...lots my accountant and need to find another.

From:

xilan.livejournal.com

1. AWESOME on getting to the gym. You're so right that a bad day there, beats a day of not going. I look forward to being more active and I hope to remember that mantra. :)

2. The quilt looks great. My MIL is a big quilter (all hand done) and I have a possible upcoming project that I would like to quilt - and I really like those unfinished seams.

3. Good point on knitting. I have never really progressed much with it, but I do like it when I do it. My MIL also knits and she's made some beautiful things but I just can't seem to get the patience and attention span. I think it's probably easier for her because she only works seasonal jobs, and those aren't really stressful things so she's got a lot of downtime on her hands. I think I'm going to try crocheting and see if that might be the trick to finally making use of my needles and yarns!

From:

raventhourne.livejournal.com

Crochet is usually, for me, instant gratification. Seriously, but the last two blankets (1 for Loise (Brenda's daughter) and 1 for Ruslan (Anya's Boy) have been long suffering and I can't seem to get the hang of the pattern and rip back half of what I accomplish. Sighs.

If you want to knit a cute little thing I suggest Bunny Nuggets (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bunny-nuggets). They are cute, go quick and are fun to just hand out.

So, as I said in your post. I'm going to make a stuffy or some things small. It will be easier on my head.

Quilting....I love the outcome, I'm sure I would enjoy the process but I have enough hobbies right now.

Yes, gym is important. For you to think about too...you time and physical you time is important after baby gets here. Its hard to balance (or it was for me) with breastfeeding etc but try to keep up on something and don't do what I did.

Edited Date: 2015-03-16 06:58 pm (UTC)

From:

xilan.livejournal.com

OMG. I've seen those bunny nuggets before, and they are adorable! I will definitely check them out because they would be perfect and an adorable little project to work on. Thanks for reminding and suggesting them!

A stuffy or some little something would be just perfect! I have a couple of the handmade blankets on the chair for quick use, and a basket filled with others to grab as we need them. Granted, this area can be quite cool but I had to laugh a bit when I saw the stash. I'm actually slightly amazed that the cat hasn't decided to start sleeping among them...

I understand on the hobbies. I don't really want to get into quilting so much at this point, but I am thinking that perhaps I can get my MIL's help to make a quilt of things from my uncle - a kind of token that maybe will help my aunt. Sewing isn't really her thing, but I think after 45 years and now looking at a significant change in living, that it might be a great way for her to keep things close that meant a lot to him. My uncle, you see, used to be quite the clothing horse - which is saying a lot because my aunt used to buy one complete outfit per week (from shoes to hat) when they started dating, and he put her to shame.

I'm not sure what you did? Were you unable to get away or felt guilty?

Ben and I have been talking about the personal time after the baby, and so far we are on the same page about how important it is for both of us. I need time away, as does he. I think getting back to whitewater kayaking will be really hard for us both, but I am making the argument that we have a port in our town where I can do standup paddleboarding (which I just adore), and I think that may be one of the avenues I may pursue this spring/summer that will be close by, and help maintain my physical and mental sanity. I've been looking into the Hike It Baby options around, too because I know that I need to take care of myself to be the best at taking care of the baby...but it's definitely going to take work to make the leap from knowing it in my head to *doing* it.

From:

raventhourne.livejournal.com

For a "remember" quilt I've seen lots using the person's shirts, pants etc as squares or the pockets...there are a variety of quilts like that.

The nuggets are addicting, I just need to put the tools in my basket this week to work on them at knit night. A few girls at work don't have them. Grin.

After Ben, well, I quickly realized that I'm not stay at home material. I was having panic attacks (now that I look back at it) for being stuck with the baby. And then when I got back to work I could not find the right medium between being active for my health and not getting sick. And then when I stopped breast feeding I really did not put the effort into cutting back on food to keep the weight from piling back on and my motivation was shot for the gym, etc, etc. I knew what I needed to do and just didn't want to cause grumble...and well, the last year or so have been very, very hard. Plus I think I've been dealing with a large hormonal shift and yeah, depression, weight gain, stress, alcohol, stress, weight gain spiral.

Just keep things in perspective and realize that things may not be as easy physically due to hormone shifting than before. I know I'm having a lot harder time loosing weight, gaining muscle than before. Plus my willpower is shot (again hormone/mental crap). So this is my issue. Just beaware things change. I hope its all smooth for you and you get the body you like in an easy time.

Yeah, mental leaps, I finally had to sit myself down and say "stop the insanity" cause your kid is almost 4 and you weigh then same as when he was born. That was my wakeup call.

From:

xilan.livejournal.com

I was thinking of the same thing for a "remember" quilt. The funny thing was that my aunt discovered a drawer full of tshirts he had collected from different events, but had never worn. He wasn't really a tshirt kind of guy, so we couldn't figure out why he even had them.

I already know I'm not stay at home mom material. Certainly no condemnation of moms for whom that is their dream but it's just not mine and it doesn't mean I am not going to absolutely love my child. I have already been trying to find ways to get active and have that personal time because I don't want this weight to stay on and kind of send me on a spiral of depression, either. I could see how easily it can happen and I just hope I can find ways to keep it at bay. People keep telling me that the weight is okay and I don't need to worry...but I do, because I know my body is not what it was even a few years ago, and I want to be fit and active again for many reasons.