Exercise Doesn't Actually Kill You

I keep accidentally following trends lately. I mean youtube has more or less been influencing me and I didn't even realize it. I did what pretty much everyone who's been stuck at home did. Baked, ate all the things, deep cleaned, made dalgona coffee. Two weeks ago I jumped on the fitness train, which out of all these trends was probably the most productive and had the most positive effect.

I don't really know what made me decide to suddenly quit sugar, dairy, and gluten. (Besides chronic food allergies and disgusting skin.)  And start a super difficult 2-week sherd challenge because I suddenly wanted abs not flab and my quarantine diet was not helping things. But here I am two weeks later, four pounds lighter with decent muscle definition and a completely new perspective.

For one, I'm a lot tougher than I give myself credit for and I can do push-ups and planks, albeit with a good deal of crying and screaming. Chloe Ting's workouts really do work and will also make you question how long 10 mins really is. You will also learn to hate the happy music that plays when you start a video. Just give it a day.

I didn't exactly follow the workout like I was supposed to, I didn't realize she had a schedule and I thought you were just supposed to do the one video for two weeks. Since it was only 10 mins I did end up doing more of her videos usually about two a day and I also did intervals on the treadmill. So even though I technically did do the two-week shred, I'm going to try it again, but this time "properly"

This is the link for it if anyone wants to join me, fair warning it's brutal. Two Week Shred

 Lifehack- never watch someone play a horror game while you're running on a treadmill with headphones in. Yes, you will run faster but a jumpscare might make you freak out and send your phone flying.

I think the weirdest part about my healthy diet is that I didn't get any cravings I haven't missed any of it, that never happens.  I usually struggle with diets because I want everything. But lately, I've had buckets of energy and I tend to crave smoothies. It's like I've been possessed by some fitness freak.

Whatever this stage of my life is I'm enjoying it. I feel strong, which is now my goal. I used to want to be thin, now I just want to be healthy and fit. Which is a much healthier mindset than I think I've ever had in regards to myself. The extra endorphins had made any depressive episodes pretty much nonexistent so that's been a plus too.

I've basically learnt that not all change is bad. I for one needed some. I also learned that you really do have to love yourself wherever you're at, because no positive change can come out of hating yourself.

That was deep... sorry again have no idea what's happening to me, but I like it.

 My Isolation Flicks

I don't know if anyone actually cares what I've been watching, but I thought I'd share a few, most were disappointing. So these aren't recommendations. (Also I'm not going to be covering content, I'm pretty sure you guys can judge that for yourself.)

Set It Up

 I actually really liked this one.  Harper and Charlie were super cute, and I just adore Zoey Duetch. Harper struggling to write was also super relatable.

This Is Where I Leave You 

 I basically watched this for the dysfunctional family dynamics and Adam Driver. He was definitely the best part.

Fighting With My Family

I think this one was my favorite. I love an underdog story, plus it's based on a true story. It was super inspiring and Florence Pugh is amazing. It also made me get emotional about wrestling.

Love good sibling rep

The Dead Don't Die

A zombie movie with Adam Driver, I had to watch it. I liked the majority of this film, but the last 20 mins were beyond weird and fever dreamy and made me kind of hate it. So mixed feelings I guess.

Suburban Gothic

This one was awful and low budget and I only sat through it because of Matthew Gray Gubler. Are we seeing a theme?  Cruder than I thought it was going to be. Him moving back with his parents was relatable though.

Lady Bird

So maybe Little Women started a Saoirse and Timothee obsession, maybe. I liked the aesthetics of this one. A few of the scenes with her mom were really good. But most of the characters were just awful. (hisses at Kyle and Christine) Left me in a bad mood for some reason.

The Gentlemen

Don't let the title fool you. I wanted this to be more like Man From Uncle and less like Guy Ritchie's earlier work. Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want. Hugh Grant was fantastic, as was Colin Farell oh and Charlie Hunnam. The cinematography was marvelous, but the content felt gratuitous. 

Still the king of bromances though

So we've learned that I watch movies for actors and directors over plot which in hindsight might not be such a good idea. There is also no rhyme or reason to any of it. 

I have been writing! Pretty consistently, things are happening! Many things. I've been digging into folklore and trying to imbed a sense of magic in all of it. I've been enjoying it again. Writing outside has been boosting my creativity. Here's a little snippet for anyone who made it this far.

Liam and I shared a mod podge history of memories. He'd been there when I gave myself bangs and cried into the cracked porcelain sink filled with flecks of my hair. He hadn't known what to say and neither did I. 

I've also been painting and I managed to make my current portrait's skin resemble a tomato and she has a lazy eye, I'm multi-talented apparently. I haven't drawn in ages and it shows.

I seem to only be able to focus on a couple things at once. Still learning how to balance everything. I tend to hyper-focus, but I'm working on it. For this first time in a long time, I've felt like I've caught my breath. 

It's a good feeling.