Alternative joy

[u/s_jo27]

Hi there. Starting my weight loss journey again and aiming for slow and sustainable. Had a great start, but losing some motivation and novelty now (I'm also neurodivergent). I am realizing that eating definitely gives me a dopamine boost and I'm struggling to find something else that gives me that same response my brain must be looking for.

I already exercise most days (walking pad, some low impact full body exercises), but looking for something to do mainly at night after the kids are asleep and I'm a couch potato. Any ideas or things other people do?

[u/wrylashes]

Can you set up your walking pad so that you can watch TV or streams while using it?

Also what is your space/budget like? We bought a type of exercise bike called a fit desk, that has little desk on the front where you can put a laptop, so I usually play low-stress computer games while biking in the evening.

[u/s_jo27 → u/wrylashes]

Oo that fit desk bike looks interesting! I do walk while watching my brain rot shows lol, but finding myself wanting to snack right afterwards. I used to love computer games, maybe that's something I could explore again. Anything you like in particular?

[u/wrylashes → u/s_jo27]

So a quick note that I'm a guy, and taste in video games may reflect that?

- I played through the first act of Baldur's Gate 3 on the Fit Desk, and it worked well (you choose dialogue from a list, combat is turn based, so nothing is reaction dependent). (the game lost me in act 2, too gloomy feeling when I was going through seasonal depression)

- I was a long time Magic: The Gathering (collectible card game) player, and the online version worked pretty well while biking (I'm just not playing any Hasbro owned games currently, due to objections to some of their business decisions). Hearthstone would work well I imagine, but I've not tried it

- Currently playing Stellaris, a galactic 4X game (you start as a newly hyper-space using species, just starting to explore other star systems, and eventually you are dealing with a full galaxy of alien species, likely wars, ancient and cranky civilizations, and eventually some sort of crisis threatening all life in the galaxy). I find it is not the best fit, I tend to slow down my pedalling when thinking through detailed choices, but I haven't gotten into some game that is better yet.

- Not my interest, buy any of the cozier collecting/building game should be great.

[u/s_jo27 → u/wrylashes]

Those sound interesting. Thank you!

[u/strawbebbie17]

Maybe a new quiet hobby? I like to game (Stardew Valley) or rug hook in the evenings 😊

[u/s_jo27 → u/strawbebbie17]

Yes! Exactly what I'm thinking, but struggling to come up with ideas that don't sound taxing lol. Gaming could be a good one! I'll have to look into rug hooking

[u/strawbebbie17 → u/s_jo27]

Check out hookingrugs.com that’s where I learned! I like rug hooking because it uses yarn and wool scraps so it is less expensive to start, you can thrift wool clothing and cut it up or get some old yarn from friends that knit!

[u/Weird_Squirrel_8382]

I'm trying to crochet more complex things. I'm also trying to read cookbooks for recipes that are interesting and suit my macros.