A New Sense of Balance

The following is a ramble interlaced with various photos of food I?ve been enjoying recently. Finished off with none other than a beat-yourself-up chest/triceps workout. I do believe I break several of my writing rules in this post. But please, do indulge me ;)

When I started this blog over one year ago, I was at a loss for a name. I?d been blogging over at Trying For A Tri and didn?t know what I wanted my new blog to encapsulate.

I have Ellie to thank for The Great Balancing Act. She must have seen something in me that I didn?t at the time. Her suggestion of ?Balancing Act? struck a chord with me. I?ve always seen my life as this pendulum that swings back and forth. I?m always pushing it one way or another, trying to get it to stick in the center.

I in no way could have predicted how much my life would eventually reflect the blog name that chronicles it. Exactly seven months ago I wrote a post also named The Great Balancing Act. It was after Christmas, after my birthday. I was on my third job in just two months. I gained weight, was unhappy with my body, struggling and grasping at some sense of normalcy and balance.

Sound familiar?

Let it be known that I am a million times happier and more content where I am today than when I wrote that post seven months ago. Unfortunately, my current circumstances are eerily familiar. This time, I am in a new city, but still adjusting to a new work and life schedule.

Adjusting. Always. Adapting.

Trying to find a sense of balance between indulgence and having fun with doing what?s best for my mind and body.

I am not sure if perfect balance is something that can be achieved. In a balancing act, you are always teetering, ready to stumble to either side. The ?balancing act? is more the action of trying to get back to the center again. Even when you realize staying there for long is impossible.

So what does this all mean?

Let?s face it, I?ve partied hardy since stepping off my mother?s doorstep at the beginning of June. I?ve travelled, hiked, laughed, ATE, drank, disregarded sleep, and have had some of the most memorable months I?ve had in years.

But at the end of the day, I still feel out of whack. Off balance. I think it?s time to step away from my little pendulum and find a new sense of balance. What worked in the past won?t work anymore. Again, it?s all about adapting, finding new routines. Of course, routines where laughter is still welcome ;)

In terms of real life, this is what?s going through my head in a handy-dandy bullet-point list:

I am hungry all the time. Some of it is real hunger, some of it is emotional.
I?m bored with my workouts and don?t look forward to them like I used to.
I either sleep way too much or way too little.
I have a lot of responsibilities I am ignoring.
I?m still 5lbs over my happy weight and am less than happy about it. I wish I could pretend like this isn?t a big deal, but not fitting into jeans from last summer sucksbigtime.

What am I going to do about it?

Take some time away from exercise while coming up with a new workout plan. I hate plans, but maybe it?s what I need right now?
Cook more and try out meal planning. I?m not into planning my meals either, but it may be the food structure I need.
Get better at keeping a sleeping schedule. Some nights I?m in bed by 10pm, others I?m up till 4am. I need a little more consistency to feel well-rested!
Get the to-do lists out of my head and on to paper.

Anyone else feel like the summer is catching up with them? For the first time in my life, I am looking forward to autumn. I?m ready for the seasons to change.

As a side note, you can?t get this flavour Luna in Canada. I hear it?s a lot of people?s favourites. It?s good, but no Chocolate Raspberry ;)

 

Now that the food and rambles are in, here is that killer workout I promised. This is chest/triceps workout I designed for an advanced exerciser looking to put on some muscle. I?m contemplating starting a split routine myself?

Warm-up:
 
 
 
 


Treadmill
1 mile
10 min
6.0 mph
1.0 incline


Set Type
Set #
Exercise
Weight
Reps


Straight
1
Barbell bench press 
45 lbs
15


 
2
 
55 lbs
10


 
3
 
65 lbs
6


 
4
 
45 lbs
15


Straight
1
Incline chest fly 
10 lbs
15


 
2
 
15 lbs
10


 
3
 
20 lbs
6


 
4
 
10 lbs
15

 

Treadmill:
Time
Speed (mph)


1.0 incline
:00-:30
6.0


 
:30-1:00
7.0


 
1:00-1:30
8.0


 
1:30-2:00
6.0


 
2:00-2:30
7.0


 
2:30-3:00
8.0


 
3:00-3:30
6.0


 
3:30-4:00
7.0


 
4:00-4:30
8.0


 
4:30-5:00
6.0

 

Set Type
Sets
Exercise
Reps


Alternating
2
Push-up 
20


 
2
Narrow-grip push-up
10

**Followed by 5 minutes on the treadmill ? same interval routine as shown above.

Set Type
Sets
Exercise
Weight
Reps


Alternating
2
Bench dip
n/a
12


 
2
Skull crusher 
20-30 lbs
12

 

Total time = 60 minutes on the nose. Hey, I never said my programs were easy!

 

Thank you for indulging me this evening. I had to get that off my chest (pun only slightly intended).

I may actually workout tomorrow. But if I do, it will be so I can watch the Food Network on the treadmill ;)

 

Question of the Day: How would you rate your current state of balance? How do you get centred when you feel out of whack? I thrive on down-time. I get so worked up about experiencing everything I can, that I sometimes forget I need to experience peace and quiet too :)