I hope everyone had a festive fourth of July. Living in a historic town tends to take this holiday VERY seriously. Fireworks ablaze, parades, and a riverboat parade, too. Lots of fun for all, but I kind of hibernated because my pup hates the noise, and being such a good pet parent, I stayed with him to keep him calm. We retreated into our lower level until it got quiet around 11pm.
I can't believe another month flew by, and we are now ready for this month's IWSG post! Once again thanks to Alex and the AMAZING IWSG team for giving us the opportunity to voice our writing insecurities and offer advice to our colleagues who need it. If you would like to join, hop over to Alex's site and sign up!
This month, I have put writing on the back burner to concentrate on finishing up my gardens. I am almost there! But, it has given me the time to do a lot of thinking about future projects and where I would like to go next on my writing journey. This time taught me that it's OK to take time off from writing to do other things. It brings us a fresh perspective. So DON'T beat yourself up if you decide to take off a month or two to do something else you enjoy. It will only make you happier in the long run AND it may lead to a fantastic new idea!
Another tip I would like to share with you about taking time off is to work on getting healthier. Many of us over the cold winter has put on extra weight and may have become lethargic. Also, with COVID, I had gained a ton over the past few years. At the beginning of July, I decided to do something about it. GET OFF the couch and get outside and walk again. I also started intermittent fasting. For those of you who are not familiar with this eating plan, it is basically very easy. You pick an eating window of about 8-10 hours depending on how much weight you want to lose. I started with 8, and now I am down to a seven-hour window. In a month I dropped almost twenty pounds! I eat almost everything I want, so it really doesn't feel like dieting and depriving myself of CHOCOLATE. LOL. It truly isn't as difficult as you think. It is AMAZING how clear-headed I have become. I stay more focused, and I feel so much better. Staying focused is a GREAT feature of fasting. Imagine how much writing you can do when you stop focusing on food. The first few days can be a challenge, but after the first week, the food cravings stop and you really can feel so much better. I have thought of several new writing projects this past week. I am also brisk walking an hour a day. The best time to do this is at the end of your fast because the last hour or so can be difficult, especially if you have a family who is eating in front of you while you are fasting. Luckily, I don't have that problem. Try it for a few weeks and see how you feel! You will have only POSITIVE side effects from this program. One of mine... I cut out one of my blood pressure meds. YAY!
Well, that is it for this month! Enjoy your summer fun, and I will see you next month. Hugs to you all!
17 comments:
Hi Michael, I'm sure your garden will look amazing in a few months. Perhaps you can sit there and write more stories and novels. Intermittent fasting sounds difficult, but as you have lost 20 pounds I guess it has worked for you :)
I could certainly use more focus. I juggle a lot and get myself turned upside down quite often. Speaking of gardens, mine needs tended. My son told me to at least start doing ten push-ups periodically throughout a day. I've done ten today. If I do that before every meal, I'll have done thirty, which isn't a lot but it's more than I did yesterday, I suppose.
Good luck with it all. Hugs to your pooch!
Wow, that is great news, Michael. 20 pounds!!! I'm hoping your efforts can rub off on me. I'm raking and hauling rocks and I'm too scared to get on the scale. My clothes don't feel loose, so... Ah, what the heck, the weight will come off, right!?
Yes, taking a break can be good sometimes. And it's great that you're focusing on eating healthy and exercising. I feel better when I focus on them too.
That's awesome you are getting healthy again and losing weight! Keep it up.And tend to that garden. Something about working the earth that gives one a sense of accomplishment. It's not writing, but you are creating and that is great.
Thanks for the info- I have wondered about the intermittent fasting, but never really had it explained. I may look into it!
Working a garden will make you healthier, that's for sure. The fasting would be tough as time from getting up and eating breakfast to eating dinner is already over 10 hours.
20 pounds is really good. Keep going!
Your gardens are lovely (saw the pics on Facebook). Definitely a worthwhile pursuit, as much as writing! Congrats on the weight loss! Intermittent fasting seems like a painless way to do it, something I tried as well, along with NOOM. It does work.
Hi Michael - congratulations on the mental move to lose so much weight and get healthier ... good for you - bet the garden looks wonderful - cheers Hilary
Wow, congrats on your weight loss journey :D Hope you find your peace of mind :)
Glad you're working to health and writing goals. Hope you have a lovely garden to enjoy all year long with your pup.
For the IWSG July prompt asking which book world I would live in, I narrowed it down to three choices.
One is a short-story I published. One is from a popular series. And one is better known from television, but there are books. It's all on my blog.
"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
Over at Operation Awesome, our Pass or Pages query contest is open this week with July's family saga genre. Know any writers who might want to enter?
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
Way to go! I'm always saying I need to lose weight, but never actually try to do it. You're a man of purpose and get things done. I respect that!
Congrats on concentrating on your health. Your garden must be wonderful since you're spending so much time there. I wish my knees allowed me to work in mine. Mindless activity, like gardening, gives us time to let new ideas filter in. Hope you can get back to writing soon.
Thanks, Rachna! It is looking quite lovely. Some of the hydrangeas are blooming. I am waiting for the white daylilies to bloom before I take pics. Nice contrast between the white lilies and the mauve-colored hydrangeas.
It's definitely a start, Liz! Congrats. WE must applaud our victories no matter how small.
It will, Joylene... keep at it. For me, even twenty pounds don't loosen up my clothes. I have to lose another twenty before I can REALLY see a difference.
Taking care of yourself mentally and physically certainly helps in all aspects of our lives, Natalie.
Thanks, Alex! It is lovely to see all the beauty nature brings us...
You should, Miffie... it may really help you.
True, Diane... By 10 am, I am ready for my COFFEE...then, I gradually filter in healthy foods. It is a long haul at times and I feel it mostly from the moment I get up at 6am. By that time, I have already fasted for 13 hours...the last four are a killer...
Thanks, Debbie. I hope to post more pics soon as the hydrangeas are just starting to bloom...
Thanks, Hilary...it does. I am very proud of it..
I am starting to, Damyanti!
Thanks, Patricia...it is!
Thanks, Liz!
Writing is on the side burner. :) I'm also trying to get my garden in order. There's also been a bit of other work about that needs to get done before the cold weather returns. ;)
Your garden certainly looks beyond phenomenal! Congrats! and congrats on the healthier you too!
As far as I'm concerned, any time off writing is 'ideation and material-gathering time' so whatever I do is going to end up somewhere in my writing at some point and guise. :)
I hope one of the writing projects you will consider is the Aug challenge at WEP. It is particularly suited to the richness of your style. Would love to see your take on it!
You're so inspiring! I've been trying to incorporate more walking into my day, too, because it's too easy to get caught up in things and stay sedentary. I'd love to see photos of your gardens!
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