# The Life Improvement Check-In Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 16, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073 "2017-06-16T00:04:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/41 "2017-06-21T13:46:58Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I don’t really know if any of you will ever hear from me again after July 12. A possibility to think about is asking the mods for a name change and coming back as a completely different persona. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/42 "2017-06-21T16:03:27Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Secret confession: I’m terrified once I have children that I will be so overwhelmed that I will become a failure at basically everything else. To be fair, my house was a shithole before Farticus was born. It’s true that I gained the weight after, though. Went to the pulmonologist this morning about some breathing trouble I’ve been having. If it’s not a clot, I’ve just gotten too fat. Might be the required kick in the pants. (It’s tough for me because I was always a really skinny kid, only gained weight when I hit 30 or so. And then I lost 30 pounds for my wedding and kept it off two years, it fell right off after I had the kid, but somehow it’s gone and snuck up since then and I’m heavier than I’ve ever been by 20 pounds. But it wasn’t something I ever had to THINK about before a few years ago, you know?) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/43 "2017-06-21T22:49:04Z")
Lol@ Farticus. I’ve been overweight my entire life, not quite enough to be teased mercilessly, but enough to affect my self-esteem. Honestly I think I get away with it because I am short and busty with hips, so I still look fairly proportional. But there’s always been a weight range where I feel fine, and once I tip over that I feel less fine. I’ve been in “less fine” range ever since my pregnancy and miscarriage in 2014. I had been in great shape prior to that, for two years, I believe I was 175 but very fit. I recently hit 200lbs, which is a place I’ve never been. That, combined with chronic back pain and mobility problems, prompted me to hire a personal trainer. Because shit, if I feel this bad at 34? And I don’t even have kids yet? I can’t even. So far, 3.5 weeks in, it’s been fantastic. I love the trainer and see marked improvements in strength even workout to workout. Nutrition is a bit of a challenge but I’m killing the workouts. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/44 "2017-06-21T23:54:05Z")
I was the skinniest kid around. My mother had the hardest time finding pants for me, especially when I started my growth spurt. I was OK until my mid 30s when I went from being a salesman in Tokyo, taking the subway everywhere, to an inside job. That added lots of pounds. Even so, it wasn’t too bad. I went up and down within a fairly reasonable range until four years ago when I moved to a small town in Taiwan where I have to take a scooter everywhere. Now in my 50s, it looks like the weight is slowing increasing. It’s time to do something about it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/45 "2017-06-22T12:07:19Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I do have a productive week ahead of me. I volunteered for a big public festival in Boston. Could be some 12-hour days. That’s one way to keep busy. 55 hours over 5 days, including 17 hours on Tuesday alone. But everything went mostly well; took care of my people and made some new friends. And the event looks like a big success. Felling good, but really, really tired. ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/46 "2017-06-22T12:27:25Z")
After a minor accident in April, I decided that enough was enough, and I needed to lose some weight and get more fit. My chronic pain was finally under control and had been for a year, so I had no excuses. My 6’ frame was carrying about 50 pounds too much, and I really had no upper body strength. It took me a month to really get a system going, but since I’ve gotten on track I’ve lost almost 10 pounds. I don’t want to be a hard core gym rat, I have other things I want to do with my time. Instead, I’ve turned 2-3 of my dog walks in the course of a week into “cardio dog walk”. Much faster pace and a minimum of 2.5 miles. I try to get to a Vinyassa yoga class once a week, and I’ve upped my daily step goal from 11k to 13k. I am not counting calories, but I am considering them when making choices. If there are two treats and one is 250 calories and the other is 310, I choose the 250. Sometimes I even skip the treat altogether. If I found more discipline, I could lose the weight faster, and get fit faster, but I think the lower key weigh is probably going to be the key to long term success. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/47 "2017-06-22T14:21:45Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > As I posted earlier this year, my single New Year’s Resolution was simple. I was going to become more positive. Forget it. That’ll never work. > [@](#): > > And so far, I’ve been less successful than I’d hoped. See, I told you!! 🙂 Seriously, that’s a good goal. Don’t give up, and keep your sense of humor-- that helps. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/48 "2017-06-22T15:08:13Z")
There always seems to be some excuse, and I don’t know who said you have to start getting in shape on a Monday, but I guess that’s what’s happening. I was always super-duper skinny, my metabolism was insane and I rode that bitch for ages. Well, now that I’m on the wrong side of 30, I’m beginning to see it’s slowing down. I’m not overweight, but I’m much heavier than I want to be (And honestly I’m heavier than I look), but I still don’t like how I look. Not to mention I’m a little under 4 months (!!!) til my wedding. So I want to be better. Ms. Cups is away on business next week, and we’re both restarting the workout regime when she gets back. But in the meantime, I’m gonna do it myself. Ideally I’d love to lose 15 pounds overall, hopefully a good 5-7 by the wedding. Let’s see how this goes… ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/49 "2017-06-22T15:57:27Z")
Took 'Beamer to the gym yesterday and joined up. We also took the dogs and went for a walk around the neighborhood. Now we just need to get on a regular schedule. Baby steps.[sup]TM[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/50 "2017-06-22T20:28:53Z")
Some of the things I’m dealing with right now are really taking an emotional toll, so I’ve decided to take a week off work. I have no deadlines coming up and everyone else is on vacation anyway. I view this as a positive step, acknowledging that yes, this is really really hard right now, and it’s okay, and I am allowed to take a break from life while I sort it all out. As I explained to my husband, ‘‘This isn’t so much having a nervous breakdown as trying to avoid one.’’ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/51 "2017-06-22T21:06:50Z")
Sorry to interrupt, but I read the thread title as “Life Imprisonment Check In”. That got my attention :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/52 "2017-06-22T21:26:09Z")
I’m trying to cut back on drinking and take better care of my teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Textual\_Innuendo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@Textual\_Innuendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Textual_Innuendo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/53 "2017-06-24T22:56:59Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > What?! > > You’re a very unusual person, making some drastic life choices. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how it all turns out. Seconded! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/54 "2017-06-26T19:16:21Z")
Oh, I think this counts. My husband passed his EPPP on Saturday (with flying colors!) He’s now fully licensed, which means more money in the bank and he doesn’t have to spend every second studying for that damned exam. Practically it means we get to start making life improvement plans together, including preparing for the adoption that could happen any day now but probably not for two years. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/55 "2017-06-26T19:44:02Z")
Woo-hoo! Congratulations to Dr. Weasel! ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/56 "2017-06-27T17:56:04Z")
I’m working out and watching what I eat more closely so I feel better…and I do! My husband also commented that I look tighter and more defined, which is a wonderful side effect. I’m also taking piano lessons with my daughter starting this week. I really want an engaging hobby, dammit, instead of spending the weekend cleaning the house and running kids around. I’m also bored and antsy at work, so I’m looking at other jobs both inside and outside my company and starting to plan what’s next. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/57 "2017-06-27T19:17:32Z")
For the first time in eight years I planted a veggie and flower garden; I used to love gardening, but following a hideous breakup with a partner who was an uber-gardener I was phobically avoidant about reclaiming my own interest. I’ve also stuck to my commitment to do at least one gardening task per day. One of my personal failings is beginning grand projects and then not keeping up with them (my basement is full of woodworking tools, rock collecting and fossil equipment, and kayak stuff; my enthusiasms rev up, I buy all the good stuff, do it for a while, then I lose interest). This sounds kind of odd, but it is related to improving my life: when left to its own devices, my natural clock works best when I go to bed at 2am and get up at 10am. Even though I have a schedule that is friendly to my night-owlness, I struggle with the puritanical impulse to be up at 7am no matter what time I go to sleep. This summer I’ve said “screw it” and am going with what my body naturally wants to do.\* \*I’m a college professor, have a lot of control over my schedule, and am very privileged to have a sleep schedule option. I worked in the 8am-5pm+ world for decades and was always tired because I couldn’t match my sleep rhythms with a rigid schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/58 "2017-06-27T19:26:05Z")
I am getting one of [these](https://www.nordwestlichgermanshepherds.com/puppies) on Thursday. I am becoming more fit and active and I want a buddy to keep me motivated and moving. Also, I find that on days when my disability has me down (physically and/or mentally) the dogs help. My current dog is a sweetheart, but he’s interested in being a rug. I want a more engaged dog. I’m very excited! ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/59 "2017-06-27T19:35:03Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I am getting one of [these](https://www.nordwestlichgermanshepherds.com/puppies) on Thursday. I am becoming more fit and active and I want a buddy to keep me motivated and moving. Also, I find that on days when my disability has me down (physically and/or mentally) the dogs help. My current dog is a sweetheart, but he’s interested in being a rug. I want a more engaged dog. I’m very excited! Now that is one CUTE pooch! Are you getting a baby pup? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073/60 "2017-06-27T19:44:04Z")
Yes. 8 week old German Shepherd. I am soooooooooooooooooooooo excited. I love puppies. I haven’t had a dog of my own since 2007 when my Akita boy died. We got a Newfie after that for the kids. (He’s the rug I mentioned.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-life-improvement-check-in-thread/789073.md?page=4)