One of the reasons I haven't been on the Praxis is that I've been at the gym....The name Fortress of Solitude really is apt as I've focused my energies on my physical health and work over the past four weeks.  I missed SF0 but needed the rest.

2/1/2008
My eating and exercise habits have taken a severe turn for the worse over the past few weeks. My stress levels have been heightened since I returned from the winter holiday because of increasing work demands and upsets as well as hostessing duties. I finally committed to doing something about this as I've decided that I have a bit too much junk in my trunk on top of generally needing all the endorphin-flavoured goodness that exercise provides. For this task I have set the following two goals:

1) Get addicted to working out.

2) Kick an addiction to processed sugar.

Duration: the month of February
Process:


Goal 1) I am going to exercise a minimum of five days a week. A "workout" is to be defined as one hour at the gym (doing aerobic stuff and/or toning) or other consistent physical activity such as walking or dancing sustained for a minimum of one hour.

Goal 2) Consume no processed sugar. This means the peanut butter, the leftover Christmas chocolates, and the hot cocoa mix all have to go. Natural sugars found in fruits and wine shall be considered acceptable.

Feb.3rd: Already experiencing a setback. I have caught some sort of virus and in order to be physically comfortable and do my job (which requires a lot of speaking) I am consuming Halls "Candy" and Vitamin C drops. I will likely extend this to the first week of March. I did attempt to treat symptoms with tequila but, apparently, throat drops are a more generally effective solution.


Feb. 18th: I keep pushing back this "month". A visitor compounded losses by discovering and bringing home cream puffs that taste like the sugared clouds of heaven. The puffs and guest are gone and I have since managed to hit the gym every other day. One exception (to sugar) of peanut butter at work is now in place; because I don't eat meat it is the only thing they leave out for me at dinner (which is a must lest I go 10 hours without a meal because of my schedule) if there's no veggie option. Addiction to gym seems possible as the reason I only go every other day is that I can still feel the strain in my muscles a day after a workout. I genuinely wanted to go today but did not want to overwork myself and end up losing more time in the long run.

Feb. 28th: Well, after going 10 days w/o processed sugar I broke and had a piece of chocolate. I regretted it on several levels. I am inclined to believe that taking candy from children (offered, not stolen!) is worse than taking it from strangers. I have spent the entire week turning down such delights as chocolate covered macadamia nuts, donuts and ice cream cake. I am doing quite well with the gym and am only really missing workouts when I'm too sore from the previous one.
This week I added to the challenge by declaring my usual glass of red wine after work off limits and that has lasted a full week now (granted, I had enough to cover the week on Saturday night as well as some tequila* so that the wine didn't get lonely).

Mar. 10th: On the final week! So far going to the gym 5 times a week has proved difficult to maintain, however, 4 is no problem at all and keeps me quite happy. When a coworker asked if I was going tonight I actually said, "hells yeah". Regarding sugar: I continue to turn down temptation, including free cake at a tea shop and free goodies from the Starbucks that just metastasized into our neighborhood. Whenever food comes up my coworker, The Fetus, asks me if I know how much sugar is in it. As a means to expressing my dominance over the urge to consume sweets I have dared coworkers to bring ice cream cake for all four March birthdays at work. Just saying 'no' is not so hard.

Mar. 17th: The month is done.  The no sugar (save work sandwiches) was ended when, on the last day, the lovely Japanese owner of a Korean tea shop where I study gave me a slice of free chocolate cake with my coffee.  I had been there before with the Japanese student who introduced us and managed to beg off but this time I was alone and defenseless and felt it would be rude not to eat the cake.  I still debate whether I have broken myself off from sugar as part of what sustained me this past month was the reminder that I could have it at the end.  The true test will be when/if I say no to sweets in the future.  In the day since the month ended I have had only that slice of cake (and another sandwich because Monday is frackin' sammich day** at work) and I have not indulged in the bag of chocolate gelt a student gave me for White Day.  As with any addiction, only time will tell.  More importantly, I am convinced I am addicted to going to the gym.  Even after working 11 hours and studying Korean I went to the gym without a second thought today.  I just started watching my BSG DVDs and have rekindled my desire to be built like Starbuck.


*Having looked through this I realize that it looks as though I drink a lot of tequila and/or tequila on a regular basis but I swear to you this is not true.

**True sammiches are not an option as Asia does not fully comprehend the nature and art of either cheese or sammiches.