Welcome back to another week behind the Covid-19 Curtain, as the United States becomes the epicenter of the worst pandemic in 100 years. Which means it’s time for another of the greatest hits when it comes to my weight loss drama. When it comes to life-altering drama, nothing helps like a good old pandemic. This means everything becomes chaos and I try to look at things from a glass-half-full perspective instead of an “everyone will be dead by tomorrow” one. Regardless of my methodology and means of trying to gain perspective, I have to find it if I plan on getting back on track when it comes to my intermittent fasting regimen. And I better do it soon as I have reached Intermittent Fasting Week Six: Quarantined.
When it comes to intermittent fasting, it takes commitment, dedication, and perseverance. And for the better part of three and a half weeks, I could say I had that. I made sure to track all my meals, drink as much water as I needed, and not to eat a meal after 6:00 P.M. Everything went along swimmingly. And then it didn’t. The world went up in smoke. My world went up in smoke. And I had to find a way back to normal. Whatever that meant.
In the process this week has been a bit of a mess. I will admit to just trying to adjust to new schedules, working from home, figuring out when I should actually eat. And trying to make sure I do it and become consistent with it. It’s the consistency that drives me crazy right now. I’m trying to find how to make sure I do the same things, at the same time, for the same reason. But this just leads me all over the place without explaining. So let’s take a trip back to The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Intermittent Fasting Week Six: Quarantined.
Intermittent Fasting Week Six: Quarantined
The Good
Can I honestly say there was anything good this week? Really? I suppose I can come up with some minor good things this week. First of all, I didn’t totally collapse. I’m still keeping track of a few things. I still have in my mind what I should eat. And even though I may overeat at times, I do have in mind whether I eat good or bad things. This means I haven’t given up on eating properly. I still believe this works.
Also, and this is a little strange, I turned things around a bit. On Friday, I felt like things had made a bit of a turnaround. My energy level seemed to perk up. And I felt I got a bit of my concentration back. For the longest time, it seemed to be gone. Just to have it again feel like things are making a bit of a turnaround. May not have to deal with the intermittent fasting itself. But having it means the intermittent fasting will be coming back in the near future.
The Bad
Simply speaking? I gained two pounds. I hate that I gained two pounds. Not that I don’t understand about things going through cycles. But going backward always feels like a step in the wrong direction. And the wrong direction can lead to further wrong direction if I don’t turn things around. And quickly. That’s the key to weight loss. You can fall off the horse every now and again. But if you don’t get back quickly, the likelihood will be that you never get back at all. I am going to get back. But this last week is a reminder of what falling off the wagon looks like. I cannot promise to never fall off again. But I can get right back on track.
The Ugly
Nothing is uglier than having to deal with other extraneous issues when the world has turned upsidedown. You want as few crazy-making things to happen as possible. At the same time, I had to deal with the craziest of crazies. I had to deal with co-parenting issues at just the last time I wanted to deal with co-parenting issues. You don’t want to fight with someone else when things are difficult. At the same time, when other people put their own needs and desires first, you cannot help what that looks like. And so you have to deal with the fallout.
My fallout felt like someone had beaten me over the head time and time again. I could tell my energy level dropped. And I had to work with the various different things I was feeling about work, life, and having to stay home. It meant I had a bit of difficulty to work through. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time. I’m hoping me being healthy meant that the depression was brief and that once through the depression, things would get better. On Friday afternoon I felt things were getting better. With that release, it meant I could actually take a look at things from a different perspective. The ugly was bad. But I believe the ugly was briefer than it would have been if I had not begun this journey. Here’ to hoping my journey, no matter what’s going on personally, will bring more health and joy in the long run.
Wrapping Up Intermittent Fasting Week Six: Quarantined
While I went through some pretty bad things this week, must about this journey will depend on my ability to bounce back. That’s pretty much the same for any journey. We always face difficulties in life. It’s our ability to bounce right back which makes all the difference between success and failure. I’m happy I am feeling a lot better right now, despite a little weight gain. And I think I can get back to going in the right direction.
Of course, I feel like there are some things I will need to add to my regimen. I always knew I needed to add an exercise regimen to everything if I was going to be in a better place. This last week was a setback. But it makes me keep in mind what I need to do in the future. And so this week my goal is to add a little bit of exercise into the things I am doing each week. So we shall see what this week holds. But I am hopeful about the future.
What difficulties have you encountered this week? What are you going to do to bounce back? Have you considered your mental health to be as physical health in this difficult time? What are you doing to take care of your mental health?
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Until next time, be safe, wash your hands, and show love to everyone around you.
David Elliott, The Single Dad’s Guide to Life