Reflecting on 3 Weeks of Activity

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It’s been 3 weeks since I purchased an Apple Watch and started watching my activity levels closely. When I first got it, I was nowhere near achieving the 270 calorie Activity Goal it had suggested me. Since then, I lowered it and have been increasing it based on suggested levels each week and have been reaching them.

It might be a small (and probably mockable) goal, but it was a lot better than before I got the watch. In an effort to be beating them each day I’ve been going on more walks, standing up more every hour, using stairs instead of escalators and doing the occasional 7 minute workout.

Earlier this year, I had a scary episode of severe heartburn (or at least that’s what I think it was) where I felt like I couldn’t breathe and might not make it home from my commute. It had happened the month before too but not to the same severity. I made a small diet change: cook whatever I want to eat and limit buying pre-packaged (eating out at fancy restaurants will never go away) and bought the watch to encourage me to be more active in a less intimidating way than a Fitbit would.

It’s been less than a month but already I feel stronger, less tired all the time and mentally clear headed. Being more active takes away some of my anxious nervous energy and I’ve never felt better. I want to keep improving each week, with small goals, maybe eventually I’ll do something cool like climb the CN tower or something.

 

Keep a Positive Outlook

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There are some weeks (like this one) where I don’t know if I’ll make it through without having a panic attack. I become overwhelmed with all the things I have to do, people I need to see. I conquered it though and now am on the other side feeling pride. Part of my secret: pretend I can.

When I feel the stress coming, I take a big breath, write down lists and even go on long walks to get rid of any nervous energy. Keeping a positive mindset is important.

Now that it’s the weekend, I deserve to relax and have some fun with Teddy!

Create Your Own Community

Over the past 6 years, there’s something more rewarding about blogging than all the free festivals, food and stuff that I’ve experience. It’s the community that I discovered online.

I’ve gained valuable friendships with people who I never thought would ever speak to me if I approached them in real life. I become frequently inspired by people who show up at real life meet-ups. That first walk through a door is always hard, but I’m always glad I had the courage to attend them.

I’ve never felt more in my own skin than I do in the past few years. What you see online, is what you get in real life too. I talk very openly about things I like: music, food and bizarre things. I also talk openly about more challenging things like anxiety and mental health. I have never felt more accepted in my life. I thank all my followers for always supporting me, reading, sharing and responding to my thoughts and going to the new events I host.

New Order of Business Cards

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I ordered another batch of cards from Moo! They really won me over with their quality and presentation. Even the box it ships in is kind of cute.

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Check out the sealed box under that box! There’s such a delicate attention to detail that I appreciate.

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My cards are pretty much the same as last time but I realized I was missing my Twitter handle. I check that more than I do my own text messages or e-mail. Now I’m all ready for festival season!

I’m on a Podcast!

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I’m excited to be featured in the latest episode of the podcast Her Name Is… about women in Toronto who create content. It makes me anxious to hear myself talk, but I love opportunities if I can inspire others to want to create things, or take on new projects. This year, one of my goals was to be a little braver and speaking on a podcast is definitely within that goal.

Hear the entire thing below!

Movement Goals

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One of the biggest benefits personally from the Apple Watch is the Activity app which encourages me to move more each day.

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I set a modest goal, the app suggests readjustments when you beat/fail goals. Right now it’s at around 200 calories. That doesn’t seem like much but the watch does not measure the calories you burn by just living. They take into account your body, movement and heart rate to figure out active calories for the movement app. 220 is a modest amount because on days where I’m super lazy I embarrassingly don’t make it. It’s encouraged me to do more walking and taking stairs instead of escalators.

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Another part to it is this Exercise ring. It tracks any strenuous activity (again based on heart rate I think). I don’t always exercise but I do a lot of fast walking that happens to fill this ring. On days where I feel like I have some movement to catch up on I do the 7 minute workout.

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One thing we often don’t take into account is how much time we spent sitting each day. The activity app has goals for how many hours you’ve stood at least a minute. It seems like an easy goal to make but I often get reminded at the 50 minute mark that I’ve been siting for too long.

I don’t think these small changes will shed any visible weight (not that I need to) but it’s always healthy to find ways to encourage movement and I love that I have these little goals and reminders.

My Sibling

It was National Sibling Day over the weekend and I dug up a few old photos of me and my sister. We used to be put in a lot of strange matching outfits and colourful dresses. I look like I’m a watermelon in the photo above.

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Haha young jay fans #nationalsiblingday

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I remember in elementary school a Blue Jay player visited and we had an assembly and we all received hats. To this day, I have no idea if my parents even knew what the hats were for. I don’t think they knew what the Blue Jays were at the time of this photo (but they obviously do now because of last year’s success).

It’s strange how time flies and to look back at these old photos. I’m lucky to have had someone to share a lot of my life with. We might not always get a long but I don’t know where I’d be without her.

Snapchat is Fun

I’ve been enjoying my reunion with Snapchat recently! It’s much more fun than when I first joined and it was mostly just a place to chat back and forth. I love the Stories section which is a lot like vlogging your last 24 hours, but much easier. No video editing involved. You also get to see what you’re friends are up to in a less curated fashion than Instagram. It seems more personal and real.

Come snap me @tianafeng!

Weekend!

  
Having a busy day! Hanging out with friends one of my years priorities. Have a good Friday night and I will blog you tomorrow. 

I Met Pompomchewy!

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Yesterday, I met Toronto Instagram celeb @Pompomchewy! I totally didn’t realize his owner is one of my old roommates from university.

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He’s so tiny and adorably fluffy.

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And loves to wear his clothes! He jumps when you open his clothes cupboard and assists you in putting on his clothes.

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Funny outtake of him yawning.