Before I get into all my personal stuff, I want to make sure you all know that my critique partner, Aldrea Alien, released a new book last week. It’s totally awesome (I did read it) and I had to dedicate a whole post to it, which you can find here.
Today is the first Wednesday of the month, meaning it’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! What makes me an insecure writer? It’d be the fact that I haven’t been writing.
About three months ago, I spiraled through stress and despair, trying to deal with saying goodbye to my dog and my son’s health and behavior issues. I ate and drank my feelings and the scale validated that it was finally time for me to snap out of my apathy and get back to it. It was time to change, so that’s exactly what I’m doing.
I have to say, resuming intermittent fasting (though, technically my 16:8 style is called time restricted feeding, but whatever) on the day where we fall back an hour seriously sucks. My body said, “LET’S EAT!” and my brain said, “Nope, you’ve still got an hour to go.” I’ve adjusted by now, but that isn’t the only way the time change has bitten me. My son wakes up naturally around the same time… only now, that’s an hour earlier and he’s deprived an hour of sleep because I still put him to bed at 7:30. This, of course, cuts into my morning routine and just adds unnecessary stress. (I’m pro no-more-time-change.) Today was a success with him waking up at 6:30 instead of 5:30 like yesterday (the goal is 7AM). Hopefully that means today will be a better day at school, and hopefully I’ll be able to claim a half hour in the morning to kickstart my writing again.
On top of my eating changes, I’ve increased my exercise: jump roping, kettle bell swings, push-ups, squats, dips, lunges, and planks. It’s fairly simple, and I don’t expect drastic changes, but just enough to get me back on track toward a waistline I’m not scowling at. I’ve also been doing pull-ups at work as a post-bathroom break ritual. Apparently I’ve got mild scoliosis, and the best way to treat it is by strengthening my back. Since I don’t have a rowing machine in my office, I’ll make do with the pull-up bar.
I will say, I’m feeling good, even though it’s just halfway into the first week. I’m hoping with the better physical and mental state, I’ll be able to get more words down.
IWSG Question of the Month – What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever Googled in researching a story?
Ha! I think the strangest thing that most certainly put me on a watch list somewhere is how to liquefy a human body (see Smokeless Flame in The Ancient anthology). The second weirdest thing would be the pros and cons of cannibalism.
Are you as disturbed as I am by my Google searches? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve looked up? How are you tackling life?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
When my kids were little, I was stunned on how the Fall back time change worked against me. They would get up early, of course and that would be so painful. Then the Spring forward change would not be as bad.
These days, we all enjoy the Fall back change, but I wouldn’t miss it if they did away with this business altogether. I’d also like to have Halloween set for the last Saturday in October. Trying to do pumpkin carving, homework, and trick-or-treating on a school night is such a mess.
Hope you get your groove back soon. I was trying to drop some weight, but Halloween threw me off track. Darn you, chocolate bars, darn you.
Yup, the time change always messes up kids. Not as much as the time when I was a kid and my province decided to a “double-daylight savings time” and jumped ahead TWO HOURS instead of one. That really messed me up, especially since I was only seven years old and didn’t have a clue why all my favourite shows suddenly came on after my bedtime.
I could really use a diet and exercise change myself, but I’ve been using my free time to write a lot more lately so it’s hard to give up. Kudos to you for trying a new plan!
I agree – no more time changes.
Glad you are back on the road to health.
I agree with no time change! Sounds like you’re on the right road. Good luck and hope the writing helps restore balance as well!
Glad to hear you’re restoring some balance. I’m with you on dumping the time change. It causes havoc with humans and pets alike every time.
Love your search examples! I’ve got cannibals in mine, too.
The weirdest thing was Googling “deaths by bear mauling”. Not so much because of what it was, but because it lead me to a video that was a Top Ten listing and (after having most of the clips being news reports) showed the actual death of a dude. Audio and all. It wasn’t gory, the bear bites his neck and the guy goes down, but yeah…
My friend had this issue with her kid. She tried slowly adjusting bedtime before the change, but the day of, it all went out the window due to life. LOL
Sounds like you’re on a good track again, Loni. Keep at it!
It doesn’t matter whether we spring ahead or fall back, I get all out of sorts with the time change. Although, I do like that it’s so light and bright in the morning now. 🙂
Sounds like you’ve been going through a lot. Exercise really helps me with my mood. Glad to see you taking care of yourself.
I exercise and keep my steps up, but I’d benefit more from your kind of workout. Time to get in control before the holidays hit.
Sounds like it’s been rough for you lately. Happy to hear that you’re finding your way back. I wonder if there really is a watch list for google searches. I think it would catch far too many mystery writers.
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better. Exercise makes me feel healthier and less moody, yet I fail to do it. Hmm.
You win for craziest things to google. Pros and cons of cannibalism? LOL. Glad I wasn’t eating when I read that.
I have to say that your search was one I’ll remember a very long time. But how do you liquify a human body? If you’ll tell me, I won’t have to risk my reputation on Googling it. 🙂
Sorry about the difficult times, but I’m really happy to hear you’re taking charge and doing something to make things better for yourself. Cheering you on.
I hate the time change every spring and fall. I hope it will stop soon.
I’m also trying to loose weight now, so I totally sympathize with your efforts. Keep going! I’ll cheer for you.
I am disturbed by your searches but I also love them.
Glad things are starting to look better.
I think things will just get better and better for you. Stick to it. And yeah, we look up some crazy stuff. hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
I have research magic, rituals, and death celebrations and some of those can be very weird, lol.
Pros and cons of cannibalism. Love it.
A while back, I was spending a lot of time googling things like ‘burning people alive’, but I swear it was for a story.
Wow! That is an interesting topic. And I am right there with you. I went through all the time change sleep issues with my son, the early bird. My daughter isn’t quite so routine as he was. Have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar? I just added it to my morning routine. I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂
Yeah, the time change is fun, huh? I’m sorry it’s causing such a headache for you, but it sounds like the worst may be behind you? And if not, hopefully your body will get back on track with the food and fasting. And I must say, I am extremely impressed with your workout! Pull ups at work? Dang girl. That’s awesome!
Hang in there! You are kicking more butt than you realize. 🙂
It is difficult to justify the time change. Hope things get back to normal and congrats on getting back into your exercise routine.
I’m glad things are starting to look brighter for you. Kudos to you on your workout routine. And I think I’m doing good dancing 🙂 Go you!
Elsie
Hi,
It is good to here that you’re stepping up to the plate and making changes that will make you feel good in the long run.
As for the change, I am not a big fan of it either.
Wishing you all the best and a lovely November.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Good luck with the diet & exercise regime. I completely get why you’d want to know how to liquefy a body – it’s just explaining that to the police… 😉
I don’t think I can top ‘cannibalism’ – even as a mystery writer. But that might be one way to dispose of a body – Sweeney Todd style.