Movement memo: June 18th, 2018

This week, the heat in Minneapolis has been relatively unbearable. It was nearly 100 degrees with 90% humidity over the weekend. Just standing meant sweat dripping from every available pore. 

I sought some refuge in the gym where I belong. The industrial air conditioning was a nice touch. I jogged, swung heavier kettlebells, lunged, squatted, and stretched. For the first time ever, I tried the pull up assist machine. I can barely do them even with 100lbs as an assist, but I was able to do 2 sets of 3 pull-ups, and then 1 more most of the way. I could tell my form was suffering so I stopped. 

On Saturday, I worked out harder than I have in a long time, for longer than I have in a long time. The next day I could barely walk, which was a somewhat welcome feeling. I went to my restorative stretch class to remedy this and was distracted and antsy the whole time. 

I'm in a period of wanting to move ALL THE TIME. 

I am getting ready to take a true vacation for the first time in 6 years, and I am anxious. I am stircrazy and full of wanderlust. I want to walk in a new place and climb the mountains and see everything. 

My body is yearning to move move move move move move. 

I'm doing my best to let it. 

As I return to the office today, I commit to taking many rounds to check in with co-workers. I am going to bring a smaller water bottle so that I need to walk to fill it more often. When I take breaks, I will walk outside to my current favorite walking playlist, and if I have energy, I will take myself to social dance night tonight and continue moving in joyful ways. 

What are your favorite ways to move? The kind that make you feel happy when you're doing it and after. 

Reframe.

I have used this blog in the past as an outlet to discuss the joys and frustrations of losing weight, trying to lose weight, not losing weight, trying and not losing weight, and what can really only be classified as disordered or obsessive eating.

I'm a lot older now.

I've also gained a significant amount of weight, and learned a lot more about my body, myself, and how while they're intrinsically tied. I've learned to listen to what all parts of me might need, even when they're in conflict. 

I am worth so much more than the societal messages I hear about one or the other, and so are you.

So now I want this to be a space of acceptance.

Where I am now. Where I might go. And of course, letting go of the ridiculous idea that there is any sort of ideal body type.

I will be keeping tabs on my weight and measurements on MFP and sometimes on this site for quantitative and qualitative data reasons. I want to track my moods and sense of adventure, goal drive, ranger of emotion, and other important factors that make me me as I fluctuate - as I tend to do.

I want to see if there's a correlation there. My hunch is NOPE, but I do love data projects so it's all for the greater good.

So let's go.