Hello comrades and welcome to the second improvement megathread of June! 
As usual, some discussion ideas:
- Do you want to share something you've done in the previous week? Everything counts, nothing is too small.
- Do you have any plans or goals for next week?
- Do you have any streaks? For example, "sober for one day." Feel free to post your streak every day in this thread.
- If you don't have a continuous streak, did you manage to abstain from something for a day or more?
- Did you come across some useful information or resource that might help others?
Poster caption: Always together!
Be gay, do crime! 
Maintained my sobriety streak, I'm well over 40 days at this point. A wildly underrated benefit I've noticed is that my sinuses have largely speaking cleared up. I didn't notice it until just recently when I realized "oh shit, I can breathe through my nose consistently now"
Also, I got a motorcycle. I'm having so much fun it's ridiculous.
roll call:
@SeventyTwoTrillion@hexbear.net
@TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net
@LGOrcStreetSamurai@hexbear.net
If anybody else wants to be added to the roll call, just let me know
I’ve been feeling like complete ass for the past few weeks, but I have religiously avoided falling into the gaming/porn depression pit.
I might not have the energy for intense exercise several times a week, but I still go for walks instead. Trying to go to bed on time and mostly succeeding.
Slowly trying to piece together something resembling a social life is interfering with my sleep schedule, and I don’t really feel comfortable drinking, but so far, patriots are in control.
I might not have the energy for intense exercise several times a week, but I still go for walks instead.
I also go for walks at least once every day.
Life pro tip: if you don't have energy to do a full workout, try doing microexercises throughout the day. Even if it's just one or two incline push-ups per day, it's still better than zero. Over time you can start slowly adding reps and you can make a lot of progress that way. I'm also doing these exercises for my back which are also fairly easy.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
This week I finally recovered from my health issues so I was able to continue doing microexercises. I'm doing jumping jacks, incline push-ups and calf raises throughout the day. Let me know if you have some suggestions for microexercises that I can do every day.
It has already gotten too hot for running in the afternoon so I would like to go running early in the morning next week. It would be cool if I could go for a 10 minute morning run on a few days per week.
A nice ten-minute run (or jog, or even walk) in the morning before showering is so great. Even if the run itself isn't the best, the feeling of being ahead of schedule and energized for the rest of the morning almost feels like cheating.
Include me, actually.
I feel like I need to be a better student and a better son to my Mom.
Technique
Ankle Technique 2.5 x 4 @ 95,100,135,140 BPM.
French Grip Left Hand Stonekillers on Non-Rebound Surface. 2.5x4 85,90 BPM.
Trad Grip Left Hand Stonekillers on Non-Rebound Surface 2.5x2 85,90 BPM. Realized that Trad grips limitation is that it can't play big, fast and loud like german or american. Not for long anyway.
Brush Technique
Technique Sheet 20 mins.
Microtiming Studies
Click on Downbeat, play directly on beat. 80BPM. Play all the single note permutations across triplet grid.
Click on Middle beat of triplet 110-120BPM. Play KKLLKK while maintaining swing beat. play it off the upbeat too.
Play in three 80 BPM. Play the snare drum on all permutations. This will begin the process of learning how to play in three, no more being afraid of it.
Play swing beat with KKLK LLKL KKLK under it 80BPM, also play it off the upbeat and also play RRLR LLRL RRLR as a solo/fill idea.
Transcription
Roy Haynes transcription, take ideas and play with I dont know what to do with this i'm bored with it.
Listening
Play with recordings
Listen to Milestones album
Learn Tunes
Upper Manhattan Medical Group Learn the bridge.
ESP Learn the B? section.
Worked out 6 of the past 8 days and feeling
Took advantage of my PTO to get going again and I went on either a run or the gym as much as I could. Mostly doing cardio (jogging, treadmill, or stair machine), but also hit the rowing machine and some kettle bell exercises as well.
Biggest thing now that I'm back at work is that I've got to really find a way to be consistent. Planning on going on a run after work tomorrow since I get out pretty early. I'll probably hit the gym on my day off and then things get tricky. I want to be sure to get enough sleep, but I also want to get up early enough that I don't have to stress on time.
Thanks for making these threads! It's a great motivation to keep things going.
I've been successfully tracking everything I eat over the past week and fine-tuning my calorie goal. Averaging 1625 kCal per day, on track to burn ~1.5 lbs per week at this rate. I remember the first couple weeks of this process being the toughest, so... fingers crossed.
Some very stubborn shoulder and toe injuries have made hitting my modest daily workout goals difficult, but the three-week streak is still alive (barely)! A TENS device and stretches have been helping with the shoulder pain. If you are young and don't have some level of constant background pain, I am begging you to enjoy it while it lasts.
This week is gonna be about getting the kids moving their bodies outside in the mornings before it gets too hot. I want my oldest daughter to get enough stamina to bike over to her friends' places.
Thanks for making these threads! It's a great motivation to keep things going.
No problem, I'm glad that people are engaging with the threads and supporting each other!
Btw that sounds like a really steep calorie cut, how do you have energy to exercise?
I missed a reply last week but I actually went running twice this week. I downloaded an app for couch to 5k but I need to get a better one. Doing the alternate run/walking thing helped a lot and I could easily do it for almost an hour. In general I've been managing to avoid cookies in shit but sometimes I just end up drinking sugary stuff. I've been keeping good pace with music but I got sidetracked instead of finishing anything. I think I might get a new toy which might refuel my motivation for a bit. I have to remember to refrain from overdoing it to the point of injury or burnout though.
I also haven't found a great couch to 5k app so I just use this image to check the intervals:
Show
and track them on the deafult timer app. You can use the Strava app to track your distance and stuff
This week was pretty good. I had a pretty good. Keeping my room clean, keeping my diet on point, and staying active.
I'm FINALLY reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X", it's been on my "I'm a black dude and a leftist so I should read black leftist dude books" list forever. Trying to get more "theory" in my brain as well just reading more and listening to podcasts less. I'm trying to just read the books that shows, podcasts, and YouTube channels talk about rather than just hearing their sparknotes.
I also made sure to call some of my homies. Just to say what's up, tap in with them, make sure they are all good (even if they aren't).
I have very far to get to I do feel a building of forward momentum, I like that feeling.
I haven't read that book yet but it's on my list, I've heard it's good. Let us know your thoughts when you read it!
Checking up on homies is important, I try to do it regularly as well. Especially when you are a dude, we aren't taught how to have good friendships
Especially when you are a dude, we aren't taught how to have good friendships
I have been thinking about this a lot, particularly during the heights of COVID, but fellas aren't good at being good friends. We can certainly be good friends but I often feel like give each other too much space cause we all sort of figure "if something was up he'd talk to me". Which is often true, but you shouldn't need a reason to talk to your boyz, their your boyz. You like them and they like you so talk to them.
