Neila's Journal

[neilarey]

I love your Christmas tree!

Thank you so much!!!

I too am happy that you finally have a home where you are happy and safe.

Thank you!!!! I love reading about you settling into yours

I love this for you. I am so glad that you have a home that makes you happy and safe.

Thank you!!!

 

[neilarey]

Is all your apartment totally white?

Yeeeeep. The whole thing. The living room is pretty much it. The photo is taken from the kitchen (it's open plan). There is also a bedroom (a bed and a wardrobe, it's tiny) and a bathroom. I have RGB led-strips everywhere so I can change the mood at will. In summer when it's hot I usually go with cool white. In winter, I use more yellow-ish light, like now:





It's a very small place but it's pretty, comfy and it's MINE

I have lots of balcony space, mind you

 

[Deadoks]

Yeeeeep. The whole thing. The living room is pretty much it. The photo is taken from the kitchen (it's open plan). There is also a bedroom (a bed and a wardrobe, it's tiny) and a bathroom. I have RGB led-strips everywhere so I can change the mood at will. In summer when it's hot I usually go with cool white. In winter, I use more yellow-ish light, like now:

View attachment 5290

View attachment 5292

It's a very small place but it's pretty, comfy and it's MINE

I have lots of balcony space, mind you

Terasse space looks amazing indeed and you have more sun then me to enjoy it haha. In Belgium we have not much sun...
It's wonderful you get your place, it's a gift! <3

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

I love that you have a balcony that is basically an extension of your kitchen! (Too many days when the weather would make cooking outside problematic here. I don't think I could get by without an indoor range. But to be able to cook outside so easily when the weather is nice must be sweet.)

 

[neilarey]

I love that you have a balcony that is basically an extension of your kitchen! (Too many days when the weather would make cooking outside problematic here. I don't think I could get by without an indoor range. But to be able to cook outside so easily when the weather is nice must be sweet.)

It is! I do use it when it's cold and raining, too. I don't have a cooktop (only an oven) because my kitchen is too small for one. I have a portable induction hob for when I need to boil something or quickly make a sauce but for my cast iron cookware I like to use gas. The only gas option is the BBQ on the balcony. I don't mind so much since it also means that the entire house won't smell of cooking afterwards. Before I moved the BBQ to the balcony I mostly relied on the oven for my daily meals - or the instant pot. The food was probably healthier before but now it tastes better.

 

[Saffity]

I'd have to dig out my BBQ to be able to get it right now, we got nearly 20 cm of snow in the last few days.

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

I'd have to dig out my BBQ to be able to get it right now, we got nearly 20 cm of snow in the last few days.

Same. (Well, I don't have a barbecue. They're not that awesome of a thing for a person with no car, living in rental housing to have to lug around, given their limited usefulness to people in situations like mine. But yeah: it's definitely not the weather for one in southwestern Ontario this week!)

There are some people in Canada who do barbecue in the winter. But one has to be very dedicated.

 

[neilarey]

Thursday, December 5th:

Exercise Log
Morning Training: Exercise of the Day, 30 minutes stepper (hard mode)
5PM Workout: Battle Maiden Workout x 5 sets
Evening Training: 60 minutes walking on the treadmill
Pull-Ups Today: 10

Food Log
9AM Breakfast: creamy chia tofu with kiwifruit and pistachios
11AM Treat: coffee with a cinnamon roll at the local vegan bakery
2PM Lunch: sweet potatoes & lentils, salad with tahini dressing
6PM Dinner: roasted broccoli & peas, tofu fillets with mustard-yogurt sauce



We had a ton of things to plan and organize at the team meeting today. Aaand we've finalized the ornaments for this year's tree! Yay!

At 11-ish I went out for a coffee with @Damer. We went to the local vegan bakery that I love so much. The owner (and the baker) is such a lovely person! I spent a bit of time chatting with her. She makes the best croissants! I went for the chestnut cinnamon roll today, though, because 'tis the season On the way back I stopped by Oysho, my favorite clothing store, and bought myself a pair of new sweatpants. My old ones are developing holes already so I was so happy to find a pair that I actually liked. This clothing brand is great, it's so comfy and their brand labels are very discrete. I hope they keep that up because I need comfy clothes with no stupid brand names on them.

I did not want to do the Battle Maiden Workout today. I started feeling a bit off towards the evening, low energy and low mood. ....I did it anyway. I picked up a light kettlebell (8 kg) and went through the whole thing. I instantly felt better! It was like a switch going from OFF to ON. I know this but it's difficult to remember when you are feeling sorry for yourself: "Light exercise = cure-all". I am so glad I didn't just let myself spiral!


My day is almost over now (work-wise anyway). I just have my walk left and then I'll start winding-down. We have a new challenge going up tomorrow called "Just Walk". You set a timer and walk for 60 minutes non-stop every day for 30 days. It fits my current needs so I am going to officially start it today

I hope everyone had a good day today!
And thank you for stopping by

 

[Maegaranthelas]

My family did once have a christmas BBQ in 15cm of snow. My ex didn't believe me and thus had not dressed accordingly.
His face when he saw us in the snow and realised was an absolute picture.

But my current partner would actually have believed me and that's much better for a relationship

 

[neilarey]

My family did once have a christmas BBQ in 15cm of snow. My ex didn't believe me and thus had not dressed accordingly.

We don't get any snow in my town because it's right next to the sea. The rest of Greece gets covered in snow during winter. I can see the snow in the mountains, too, I am pretty sure it's snowing there right now judging by the cloud cover.



Here? Nope I don't mind it, though, I am not a big fan. I can live the rest of my life without seeing it again.

 

[Saffity]

As a somewhat central Canadian, snow is in my blood. Went to the west coast for a while and it just didn't feel right.

 

[wjs]

Your apartment would cost so much money a month in most areas of the US. It's ridiculous how expensive housing is of every sort throughout this country. "Oh, you live in a major city," or "oh, you live in a college town," or "oh, you live," or... Oh, wait. I think it's that last one.

 

[neilarey]

Friday, December 6th:

Exercise Log
Morning Training: Exercise of the Day, 30 minutes stepper (hard mode)
Evening Training: Just Walk Challenge: Day 2

Food Log
9AM Breakfast: creamy chia tofu with berries and sliced almonds
11AM Treat: coffee with 2 gingerbread cookies
2PM Lunch: seitan with yogurt sauce, sweet potato, giant beans, tortilla & salad
5PM Dinner: 200g popcorn, banana chips and nuts (Movie Night)

 

[neilarey]

Your apartment would cost so much money a month in most areas of the US.

I know exactly what you mean, I left Britain because I could no longer afford to live there. It's a very similar situation there. The rents have gone up in Greece recently too but it's still waaaay less than everywhere else, at least when it comes to rural areas. I live in a small town on the Peloponnese - Patras. It's a city by Greek standards but I can literally walk from one end to another in 30-40 minutes. Driving here is ridiculously inefficient, it's faster to walk everywhere. A one-bedroom apartment like mine, depending on where it is in the city, will go for about 250-400 euro per month. The condition it is will matter here, too, when I got this place it was a wreck despite being in a relatively new building.

Then you have the islands with population 55. I saw an article recently, they will pay YOU if you move there (housing and food included). I believe it goes like: "Location, location, location'?

 

[neilarey]

Saturday, December 7th:

Exercise Log
Morning Training: Exercise of the Day, 30 minutes stepper (hard mode)
Evening Training: Just Walk Challenge, Day 3

Food Log
9AM Breakfast: creamy chia tofu with persimmons & chocolate chips
11AM Treat: coffee with 2 gingerbread cookies
1PM Lunch: soy & chickpea fettuccine in spinach tofu sauce + salad
4PM Snack: popcorn & nuts
6PM Dinner: sweet potato, tortilla wraps with cheese with yogurt sauce


Sunday, December 8th:

Exercise Log
Morning Training: Exercise of the Day, 45 minutes DAREBEE workouts (recording), 30 minutes stepper (hard mode)
Evening Training: Just Walk Challenge, Day 4

Food Log
9AM Breakfast: strawberry yogurt oat cake (recipe test)
1PM Lunch: nori cauliflower tofu (recipe test), 4 cranberry pistachio cookies (recipe test)
4PM Snack: popcorn & nuts
6PM Dinner: fries & beans with yogurt sauce + N/A beer

The weekend was a bit of a blur I got a lot of work done but there was barely any time for anything else. I treated myself to a movie night yesterday (I am watching Yellowstone) and I watched a couple of episodes of the new series on Netflix "The Eminence in Shadow" today. I almost dropped it... but then it grew on me. I also tested a few new recipes for DAREBEETS today. We have three versions of a breakfast oat cake that is pretty cool. I'll need to test another two sometime next week. The new cranberry pistachio cookies were also nice but I think they can be even better.



We have finalized the ornaments for this year but today we have them all lined up. I am looking forward to the event on the 10th! Soon


I hope everyone had a good weekend
And thank you for stopping by

 

[wjs]

Those cookies sound amazing. I'm not much of a vegetarian/vegan, but I'd be willing to try those.

 

[Chimchar33]

It's been so long since I posted in my old log, I decided to start a new one. I find it difficult to keep up with my workout updates here since there is only so much I am allowed to share, being on the team and all. I do a lot of testing these days so it is especially tricky. I do miss having an anchor in here, where I can just check in and write my thoughts down. I figured, I'll share what I can. When I was more consistent with logging in summer it helped me a great deal despite the fact that it seemingly only added to my already hectic day. I'll try to keep this more casual this time around and see how it goes.

These days I just wake up at ~ 5:30AM and that's that. I am awake and alert so I try to take advantage of that. I walk the boys at 6AM and then get my day started. About a year ago, I hit perimenopause but it took me months to realize what happened and why I was so miserable and angry all the time. I started training 2-3 times a day, adjusted my nutrition a bit and started focusing more on rest. With my lifestyle interventions I managed to offset a lot of the symptoms and I feel like a whole new person. I am just, well, more balanced.

I started recording my meals in chronometer so I could keep track of my nutrition. It's been 6 years since I went plant-based and, although I feel great, I wanted to make sure I was getting all the nutrients I needed. And it's a good thing I did because I am consistently under-eating Zinc and vitamin E. A coupe of weeks ago I also bought a new fitness tracker (I didn't even know samsung had a new one out and it was exactly the design I always wanted! I am so happy!). I have a history with fitness trackers... but it's been some time since my last try - maybe this time it'll be ok? So far so good, no mental issues And I love it so much, it has all the features I always wanted, too: heart rate, exercise tracking, step counter, sleep and water tracking, and a stopwatch. And then I also realized it connects to chronometer...

Anyway, welcome to my new log! I'll try to updates it as often as I can because it really does help organize my thoughts and feelings

Hi @neilarey , hi Darebees!!

@neilarey
I've been reading your journal from last month, and... I have no words. I have seen that you train between 2 and 3 times a day.

For my part, and counting the days I have left until the end of the year without stopping training, I train as it appears in the training plans, as I remember that I could choose up to 4 exercises with their different levels of difficulty.

For now, and as my CPK does not continue to hold me back, in the few days left at the end of the year, I have added difficulty level workouts: 3 (normal), the hard ones (level 4) are saved in my box, until further notice; But that doesn't mean they will be there forever. I will make them again, in the new year.

It is annoying to have to lower the intensity, but (as athletes) you have to change your strategy so as not to lose all the work you have done.

I have more than learned overtraining. At least I won't forget the good last days of each month when I pushed my body (more than to the limit) to push the limits.

I'm still on a roll, although you see me not very active in the hive.

 

[neilarey]

I have seen that you train between 2 and 3 times a day.

I am in a recovery mode right now, it's my low load season. 90% of my training is elliptical or walking on the treadmill because that's all the activity I get during the day. I can also work while I am using the elliptical or the treadmill so it's time not strictly dedicated to exercise. The only real training I am doing is when I do DAREBEE workouts 3-4 times a week. I work a LOT and I work from home. If I didn't do low impact cardio like I do now my step count would be ~ 2000 steps a day. I do 30 minutes fasted cardio in the morning just to get my body working and then an hour before I go to bed to get my steps in. It's very far from ideal, I would rather just move throughout the day but right now it isn't possible. I'll start focusing more on strength past January and then spring/summer will be more circuits focused again.

We all do what we can depending on our circumstances and fitness needs. Right now I prefer level 1-2 workouts myself because right now that's what my body needs.

I have added difficulty level workouts: 3 (normal), the hard ones (level 4) are saved in my box, until further notice; But that doesn't mean they will be there forever. I will make them again, in the new year.

Excellent plan!

 

[neilarey]

Hi everyone!

I got so sick yesterday that I actually collapsed. And I mean, so bad that I couldn't move, listen to audiobooks or watch Netflix. I was just lying there under two blankets and two dogs thinking 1) I am dying, this feels so bad 2) oh look, the Universe is giving me a sign to look after myself more.

As I was lying in bed in the middle of the day struggling to breathe and feeling awful physically, in my mind I was celebrating. I have no idea why, I thought: "I am going to feel so good once I am better, I am going to be kinder to myself again". My fever broke towards 10PM last night so I could take painkillers (once the fever dropped, I felt like I was being skinned alive with my muscles trembling all over my body). Once the pain was gone, I could fall asleep after that. And today, although I am still ill, I feel on top of the world. Sort of

Yesterday morning started well, I did stepper for 30 minutes, had chia tofu with fresh raspberries (fresh berries, apart from strawberries, are a treat because it's not easy to get them here). I started feeling off towards lunchtime so I made miso soup with tofu and soba noodles (it was some kind of mix with regular wheat and buckwheat, it was surprisingly good). It went downhill from there. Since my fewer was so bad I had to skip dinner. I had a cup of herbal tea with honey instead (I do eat honey but usually when I am sick). Last time I was this ill was when I got my second Covid shot so it's been a few years. I forgot what it's like

Anyway, today I am much better. I walked the babies early morning, did my stepped and Exercise of the Day. For breakfast, I made cinnamon oats with apples and raisins (the recipe will go up on DAREBEETS later) and now I am back at work having some tea with honey and cookies



Sadly, I broke my streak for the Just Walk challenge at 7 days straight. It's what bugs me the most about the whole thing! I don't think I'll be restarting it today... I still need to see how I feel later in the day but I'll start it over once I am better

Have a wonderful day, everyone! And thank you for stopping by

 

[NightWolf714]

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better!

Those cookies look tasty!

And miso soup is sooo good.

 

[Matan]

Glad you're feeling better. Sending some healing vibes, just in case.

 

[Germanamazon]

I am so happy to hear you are doing better, but my mama soul wants to send you to bed because you are doing too much too soon in my mind.
I do hope you go slow cause my other part of me has Doctor G going off in her mind with working out will hurt your heart.
Please watch out. Sending you healing vibes and a tip. Carrot puree! Cook carrots until they fall apart but use organic carrots. It's a tick from my Oma, gives immun boosts.

 

[TopNotch]

Glad you're better.

 

[Maegaranthelas]

Oh dear, being so sick can be very scary! I'm glad you're on the mend.
I do echo @Germanamazon 's sentiments though, please take it easy!
As someone with chronic fatigue and otherwise the tendency to physically fall apart, I know the the allure of "I feel better so I am going to do all the things!".
And then crashing again
It's called 'pacing' and it's very frustrating, but sometimes you have to conserve your energy to make sure you have enough for the necessaries.

 

[FlowersandPetals]

I’m with @Germanamazon , since I’m also sick. You don’t want to push yourself too hard. Chances are you’ll regret it later. You’re not failing if you take your time to get better.

 

[Mamatigerj]

Please be gentle with yourself!

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Hope you really feel better soon, some bad bugs can really drag you down for a few days. Hugs, and herbal tea with lemon and honey! And mademoiselle Luna sends purrs of course!

 

[JCU]

I'm glad you're feeling better, but don't overdo it! Rest and plenty of liquids! Sending feline cuddles, purrs, and healing vibes!

 

[Anek]

I'm glad you're feeling better!

 

[neilarey]

Thank you ever so much, everyone Just a quick update: I am feeling a lot better today I am not training tonight because I still feel like crap but I am up and doing all the things ...except exercise for the rest of the day, ain't doing that

I had sweet potato with chickpeas and avocado for lunch then I did some baking to refill my Christmas cookie box (I question the wisdom of having one ) I made some gingerbread cookies, pistachio and cranberry cookies and chestnut cooking. The chestnut cookies ... did not impress. I mean, they are ok and tasty but would I make them again? Nope. So I had some cookies and 3 cups of herbal tea with, at this point, half a jar of honey. I still have high temperature but it's waaay lower than yesterday. I am skipping dinner today again just to kill this thing already. Yesterday my resting heart rate was 110. It's 80-90 today.

.

See you all tomorrow I don't comment much, I am highly introverted... but reading your logs is my favorite part of the day

 

[Fremen]

More healing vibes

 

[Syrius]

Feel better!!!

 

[NancyTree]

good to hear you're already at the mend. Hope you heal up soon!

 

[Laura Rainbow Dragon]

2) oh look, the Universe is giving me a sign to look after myself more.

"I am going to feel so good once I am better, I am going to be kinder to myself again".

Yes please Neila, do look after Neila better! Thank you!

 

[Mamatigerj]

I don't comment much, I am highly introverted... but reading your logs is my favorite part of the day

Same

 

[JCU]

 

[Germanamazon]

I am happy to read you are feeling better, take it easy until that Virus is all gone. Sending healing vibes

 

[Lady Celerity]

so I made miso soup with tofu and soba noodles (it was some kind of mix with regular wheat and buckwheat, it was surprisingly good).


So sorry you have been sick! Me too. It's funny that we both made miso soup with tofu and noodles while ill. I hope you are back to full strength soon. In the meantime, listen to your body and take it easy.