joedog

Rugby has started happening and that is eating up some of my attention. I've sent soooo many emails and facebook messages this week. I hope some of them actually show up. 

Last week I got 0/2 on the gym. I'm thinking through what I want to do differently next month so I have a more attainable movement/fitness goal. 

Got 5/7 on vegetables. Lots of tomatoes and carrots. Again, thinking about what incremental change I want to do for next month. 

Also 5/7 on meds. I want to make some self deprecating remarks about why I'm at 5/7 instead of 7/7. Instead I'm reminding myself that for the last few years I rarely if ever hit 5/7 in a week. I'll get there. 

I'm also down about 8-9 pounds from the beginning of the challenge and 12 from my heaviest ever weight that I hit in December. That's a totally unintended consequence but its a direct result of the 2 goals I've been doing pretty well at this month. I made a microscopic change to my diet but it's made me a lot more conscious of what I am eating. I never had to feel guilty if I ate something silly because all I had to do was eat a vegetable of some kind to meet my goal. Taking my meds helps me think more clearly, make better decisions and be more forgiving to myself when I have gone off the path. 

This week I'm 3/4 on meds and 4/4 on vegetables so far. 

On 1/21/2019 at 4:56 PM, Starpuck said:

Oof, that pin business sounds prickly!    You seem to be handling it like a champ though.

 

Glad to see you check in.  I was about to harass on the faceplace.   That's how we roll here ya know.

 

The pin business was unpleasant. I'll be really glad when the last one is out. I sincerely hope you haven't frozen to death in the polar Chicago weather. 

On 1/29/2019 at 11:57 AM, Kishi said:

So, hey! Hope things have been good and that the pin is out!

Things have been good. Oddly enough this is the least I've ever posted on a challenge and yet somehow the best I've ever done. 

Week 2 update

Still here, even though I didn't post much last week. Week 2 was not quite the barn burning success that week 1 was but I'm ok with that. 

Gym 0/2 I'm having a hard time getting there. I drove through the parking lot one day last week. That's as close as I got. 

Vegetables 4/7 Still more than half the days and I ate some things I wouldn't normally that mission accomplished for me. 

Meds 3/7 Whoops...I felt it too. No sleep for me this weekend. I've already had them today and back on the path. 

The doc was only able to take 2 of the pins out of my thumb. He had trouble finding the end of the third one and then when he did, it wasn't ready to let go. I go back on Feb 12 unless it "works its way out". I don't have to wear my splint full time anymore which is awesome! He didn't give me any specific things to do since I still have a pin but I'm working on ROM and all that good stuff. I can type with both hands! 

Last week was pre shark week and I didn't have the massive crazy snack cravings. I ate a lot of apples but no candy bars. That is probably the best news I have. Unplanned sugar cutbacks are always happy news. 

On 1/14/2019 at 11:29 AM, Starpuck said:

So sorry to hear about the unexpected.   It has a way to really take all the wind out of sails, and there's no judging in accepting that.    Your cherry tomo plan is having a great effect though, so cling to those lil red beauties with all you've got.

 

Good luck on the thumb!  My foot ortho said my toe has one more 'clean up' surgery, and then after that it's fusion.   So I'm super curious to see how things go and if the loss of motion trumps the living with pain option of NOT doing it.   Follow those rehabbers plans to the T girl!  So so important.

 

You're doing just fine my friend!

  

I've been really happy with the fusion so far. Well...other than the mad fits over not being able to cut my own fingernails or tie my own shoes. It has been a very good lesson in asking for and accepting help when I need it. I still don't know exactly how much ROM I've lost since I still have a pin in it but I'll be able to deadlift and carry buckets of asphalt. The other surgical option would have been the end of deadlifting and carrying buckets so I had to go for the fusion since the 401k says we are too young to retire. 

I'm doing so far from perfect but that's ok because I'm still doing. 

On 1/15/2019 at 12:59 PM, Kishi said:

I'm sorry for your loss.  Cancer sucks. If you or she need anything, we're here.

 

 

That's very good! Watch yourself, though. If you're anything like me, seeing the scale shift because of a dietary change opens the door to the temptation to make more changes than are sustainable long term. It's a mind-weasel thing. Stay focused.

 

I'm glad to hear the pins are coming out! Hopefully the PT will yield promising results.

Weight loss is such a tangential goal right now that it didn't mess me up. But I've definitely experienced that before. Right now I just want to feel better. So far I've been successful with that. Weight loss will either happen as a result of other things or I will one day be ready to make that my main strict focus. For the sake of my knees, I hope I get there but I'm done trying to force myself into things. 

Week 1 recap:

Gym 0/2

Vegetables 6/7

Med compliance 5/7

Yesterday morning I was down a couple of pounds. That isn't really a goal right now but it's nice to see the veg quest having impact. My gym plans for the week are today (Monday), Thursday and/or Sunday. 

The best thing about this week is I get the pins out of my hand Friday! For those who didn't see on Facebook, I had surgery to fuse the joint at the base of my thumb due to an old injury and arthritis. Had surgery November 14. My hand feels weird but the constant pain in that joint is gone. The next step is rehab and seeing how much range of motion I lost. 

Challenge update:

Yesterday did not go according to plan. A young lady from my wife's community of friends passed away somewhat unexpectedly. She had fought a long battle with Stage 4 cancer so not totally unexpected but she was still fighting. She developed a blood clot and those kinds of things really don't care about our plans. I hate legitimate excuses because the open the door for my crap excuses but I will persevere. Hoping to make it up today and go again on Sunday contingent on the winter weather that is filtering in to the area. 

I'm still batting a thousand on vegetables. It is having the desired effect that I'm thinking more about my food intake without overthinking. 

I did miss my pills yesterday. It was a crazy day. I need to switch to taking them first thing in the morning before the day has a chance to blow me off course. I'm back on track for today. 

Hope everyone else is having a good challenge week! 

21 hours ago, Kishi said:

Yeah, the pressure to train is a head thing more than a body thing. Just focus on eating well and getting good rest. The field, the gym, all that stuff will still be there next time.

I struggle with making things way harder than they need to be. I've spent most of my life in a loop of I can't be perfect so why bother. I'm getting closer to breaking that. 

19 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Nice job chica!     That's a great way to approach the veggies.   Get your sure-win's going, and use that feeling of Yeaaah Veggie! to expand.    Keep it up lady!  You are wonderful!

 

It's really been working. I've got boxes of cherry tomatoes scattered around work and home so I can pop a few in my mouth at any time. 

15 hours ago, Teirin said:

Glad to see you back!

Good to see you too! 

Time for a challenge update. It's going really well so far. 

I haven't been to the gym yet this week. I wanted to get over my cold so I didn't share the wealth plus I've been really busy. Rugby board meeting Monday night. My Mom had surgery last Friday so I needed to do some things for her last night. My plan is Thursday evening and then once over the weekend. Mom is healing well. She just needs some help with some things. 

I have eaten what to me feels like ALL the veggies. I had fajitas with peppers and onions Monday, tomatoes on Tuesday and carrot sticks today. Those are all my favorite easy go to vegetables. Hoping to branch out a bit. 

I've taking my meds every day this week so far. That is definitely down to this challenge. 

I had my annual check up this morning. Doctor fussed about my weight and the scores on my depression assessment but when I told her about the challenge and my goals she was really happy. I also got blood drawn and 2 shots. 

On 1/7/2019 at 2:14 PM, Starpuck said:

Found the perfect gif for my BSG loving, monk friend!

 

 

Welcome home Joedog!  We are here for you chica!   SOOOOOOOO GLAD you are back!

 

 

That was such a great episode. I'm watching it again now. 

On 1/7/2019 at 3:14 PM, RisenPhoenix said:

 

Oh hai.  My veggie intake has been crap in comparison to my past habits.  We should harass one another.

 

With love, obviously.

Harassment is generally how I show affection. But carrot sticks count for me. 

On 1/8/2019 at 10:18 AM, Kishi said:

Aah, yes, there you are! Welcome back!

 

Bars are good for clearing - doesn't matter how high or low they are. Set it and get it!

No need to set a bar I can't reach. It is good to be back. 

Hi Friend! I came back this month too! Finishing the challenge is a brilliant goal and might become an unofficial goal in my challenge. I'm glad we're both back! 

Hi friend! I made it but honestly only because I told you I was going to. So thanks for the unintentional accountability! 

I was talking to my friend Starpuck about the new podcast Battlestar Galacticast which all BSG fans should check out. I told her that I was pretty much flailing my way through life. The net result of the conversation was me saying I would try another challenge. I've been lurking around the forums for the last week being shy and introverted. It's time to declare my intention for the next 4 weeks. 

I'm currently flirting with my heaviest weight and my fitness is poor. My depression has been pretty bad for the couple of years. This challenge is going to be something of a low bar because any structure in my life is going to be a vast improvement over where I've been. Honestly just saying I would do a challenge caused a pretty good lift for getting my sh*t together. 

Goal 1: Go to the gym twice a week. Starting with baby steps. 

Goal 2: Eat at least one serving of vegetables a day. Diet has always been the boss battle I just can't beat. Making one small change for this month. I realized how much I needed this after telling a friend the only vegetable I had eaten in 3 days was pizza sauce. For this goal pizza sauce, pasta sauce, etc don't count. 

Goal 3: Med compliance. For many years I was rock solid with med compliance. All of a sudden starting 2 years ago I couldn't seem to string 3 days together. Also 2 years ago my depression started to really be a problem again. It's almost like the 2 are related. Meds. Every day. No excuses. 

It's good to be back. I missed you guys. 

On 7/25/2017 at 10:48 AM, Starpuck said:

So much to love here!  Mostly the girl posting!  <3   Ha, I can has sappy! See?

 

Well done on the effort with the challenge.   I find sometimes that my better challenges are the ones I focus more on the doing, than the writing about the doing.  If it's working for you, keep it rolling!

 

Such a great pic!  You inspired me to have my friend come take pics at hockey this past weekend! 

I'm always down for sappy friend love! Glad you like the pics! Any time we play in Columbia that fellow comes out and takes pics. Every women's team in the Frontier League has Ralph's pics all over their social media. He does it for free, doesn't watermark the pics and makes us all look fantastic. It's always worth it to get pics of yourself playing. 

3 hours ago, Kishi said:

NICE. Way to go HAM, as the kids say. You picked up some wins after a lot of hard work; the payoff has got to be sweet. Well done!

Amy's new hobby is watching people play video games on YouTube so I actually did refer to myself as going HAM on the Jazz. It was fantastic. Seeing people succeed by applying what I've taught them might be the best thing I've ever felt. 

3 hours ago, Raxie said:

That picture is AMAZING!

Thanks! The poor gal tackling me had the best look on her face when she realized she was going to have to tackle me. That look of resignation is my favorite thing ever. 

1 hour ago, RisenPhoenix said:

Jaaaaaazz hands!

Literally. That's the Kansas City Jazz that we're playing. I also have a Jazz hand print on my chest from a really fantastic stiff arm. Still tackled her. 

33 minutes ago, karinajean said:

YOU. ARE. UNSTOPPABLE!!!!

If I didn't have a brain that let's me down with shitty thinking, I would probably run the world by now. 

Also, anyone who wants to send me a facebook friend request, feel free. It's all cats, hippoes and rugby. 

Hi friends! I've actually been doing pretty decent on my challenge, just not making time to check in.

I ended week 1 at:

0/2 strength

3/3 cardio

6/7 food

3/5 journaling

Week 2 ended with:

0/2 strength

2/3 cardio

4/7 food

1/5 journaling

Halfway through the challenge and I feel like I'm doing pretty good. I had a lot of nerves leading up to the rugby tournament this past weekend. Those are gone now and I have a few weeks to just focus on me before we start back up for the fall season. 

The tournament was amazeballs. My team is brand new. We hadn't won any games ever as a team. That all changed this weekend. We went 2-2. Lost to the 2 best teams in our league and beat the other 2 teams. Which means we came in as 3rd place. I had 3 brand new rookies out of 9 players. It was amazing to see the pay off for all the hard work this summer and I'm ecstatic to get my first wins as a coach. I also went full viking berserker in one match and got 8-10 tackles in a 14 minute game. 

For those of you who aren't facebook friends, here is the best picture ever taken of me. 

On 7/13/2017 at 7:03 PM, Raxie said:

Fashionably late on following but HAI!  :]  Sounds like you're making some progress already on the positive thoughts - that's awesome!

HI RAXIE!!! Hopefully positive thoughts can become the habit that negative thoughts have always been. 

On 7/14/2017 at 11:39 AM, RisenPhoenix said:

 

 

 

I do my best, brother. 

On 7/16/2017 at 0:01 AM, Toshimi said:

Even if they don't make it on paper the positive thoughts count! Hope your game today went well

 

Thanks!! 

I've been pretty busy at work but I've been doing well with food. I've made it all week with no major stuff ups on food. I even bought some cookies last night and managed to eat A cookie instead of a dozen cookies. Haven't really been able to work on the rest of my goals. 

After 4 days I'm at 

Strength 0/2

Cardio 1/3

Food 3/4

Positive Journaling 1/5 

I've got practice tonight which will make up a cardio day and I'm playing Saturday which will be lots of cardio. I've been working on maintaining positive thoughts even though I've been too brain dead after work to do much journaling. 

Days 1 & 2

Day 1 had nothing for goals 1 & 2. Food wasn't great, we were road tripping home from KC and I had some unfavorable snacks. I wrote almost 2 pages of positive things when I got home about our trip to KC. We went to the World War I museum which was really interesting although I didn't have enough time there. 

Day 2 I ran at rugby practice. Food was ok. No journaling. 

Strength 0/2

Running 1/3

Food 1/2 (good days out of total days)

Positive Journaling 1/5 

On 7/4/2017 at 11:09 AM, RisenPhoenix said:

*hugs*

I have really been Phoenix hug deficient lately. Thanks.

On 7/4/2017 at 11:39 AM, Kishi said:

Intentions noted, 'neesan.

 

Can't wait to see what you do.

For a change I've actually been doing so far this challenge instead of talking about doing, so there's a positive.

On 7/7/2017 at 5:34 PM, karinajean said:

hi!

Hi!!

22 hours ago, Starpuck said:

DO THE JULY THING

YES!

 

Your eye rouge is amazing.  

 

I stopped an elbow with my face. I hit the ground, covered it with my hands and someone asked if I was ok. My response was "No, but I will be in a few minutes." Then I hopped up and snapped a selfie to send to all my friends. Not the worst black eye I've had but it's been a long time. Then I had to get an x-ray on my hand to check the progress of the arthritis. I realized I'm sitting there with orders for a hand x-ray and a busted up face. Had to tell the tech right away that the hand and the eye were unrelated. From the lump that's in there, I anticipate being someone rouged up until fall season ends in November unless I don't play. 

13 hours ago, Teirin said:

*cheers*

Hi! 

Here I am, fashionably late. 

Goal 1) Strength Training  Right now I'm going to aim for 2x per week. Gym if possible, body weight if not. 

Goal 2) Endurance Training  I need to work on my endurance so I'm going to aim for running or other cardio type activity 3x per week.

Goal 3) Foods  When I try to be really stringent about food, I do really well for a maximum of 3 days, then I go off the rails again. So I'm just going to focus on a more intuitive eating style. I know what's good and what isn't so for this challenge I'm just going to try to have more good days than bad days. 

Goal 4) Positive Thinking  I got a brand new journal the other day. I immediately sat down and wrote a page about horrible everything is. It sort of hit me how self-perpetuating that is. By writing down all the things that are wrong, I'm reinforcing those bad brain patterns. So I'm going to aim to journal 5 times per week and focus on positive things that are happening. I'm still going to allow myself to chronicle the daily ups and downs but I'm not going to get locked into a litany of how stupid my brain is sometimes. 

The last 3 weeks have been an exercise in embracing the suck. I worked 12 days in a row, actually got the whole weekend off and now I'm working 6 days this week. My airport job didn't go well. Part of that was a lack of experience with a particular FAA spec and the statistical analysis that went into reaching their acceptance level. They haven't fully decided what is going to happen but no matter what they decide it's going to be a significant loss for the job. Over the course of dealing with it, I've been involved in a lot of conference calls and spent a lot of time around people which is a huge drain on my introvert batteries. It's also been a confidence boost because I was able to show off some skills that the management types in this company probably didn't realize I had. 

Food and exercise haven't really been planned. Work has been very active. Lots of carrying buckets of asphalt, climbing on stockpiles, shoveling, etc. We should have a new employee on board within a few weeks. This airport insanity should be wrapped up by next weekend so my life should be going back to a dull roar before long. 

On 5/9/2017 at 3:15 PM, Starpuck said:

Ya know what lady?    A challenge where all you do is show up, post a hey I'm here and thinking about things every once in a while, is still great!

 

We are here to help and encourage!  Whether things are going along swimmingly, or whether you're treading water and up to your nose.   We got this for you!

 

Ease back into things slowly, prioritizing safety, form and body happiness over intensity and burn.      

 

Hope you get some cook time soon.  Part of my weekend woes are lack of frig space/ability to cook at home, - so I know how much that can derail efforts.

 

 

I'm so easily derailed too. I use up all my limited resources or spoons if you're into that theory during the work day. It just doesn't leave enough for home. Work has just been hellish the last couple of weeks also. 

On 5/13/2017 at 8:44 PM, karinajean said:

WAIT DID SOMEONE SAY PR!?!?!?!

 

congratulations and well done on the PR!!!

 

 

It's been so long since I checked in that I was like "Did someone say PR?? Oh wait! That was me!" Hahaha...work has been so hard the last couple of weeks. The FAA has far more stringent specs than the local DOT. There were a lot of decisions that could have gone better but my personal foul up was not realizing that a 90 PWL (percent within limits) means you probably can't have any test results out of spec. I've taught myself a lot of statistics in the last week and a half. 

On 5/16/2017 at 3:53 PM, Kishi said:

Hey, no shame in a PR. PRs are PRs. Embrace it. It's yours.

 

Also, I've taken to putting carries into my work again and it's pretty sweet. I hope you get to continue doing that.

I love carries. I'm going to improvise some carry handles to use with weight plates so I can do the workout at home. I've got suitable kettlebells for waiter's walk and the front rack carry. Farmer's carry is probably one of my strongest areas. Kettlebells in that weight range are expensive. Or maybe I'll just get a couple of buckets. That's why my farmer's carry is so strong, carrying around buckets of asphalt. I have ridiculous traps for a woman and I love them. 

I got in 2 good workouts last week. I did some light squats to see how my back would do and then got a new PR on bench. PR was 85 for 5 reps. I have typed about 5 different follow up sentences making excuses for why I'm proud of such a low number. Sure, it's a low number for someone who has been lifting consistently for a while but for me it's PR and that's awesome regardless of the number. 

The second day I did a conditioning workout that is a carry medley. Still hits the aerobic conditioning marks but I get to play with weights at the same time. It's just a relay over 20m. First leg is farmer's carry, put those KBs down, get a single KB in the front rack position and walk back to your starting point. Put that KB down and grab a lighter one that you can comfortably do a waiter's walk with. Walk back to your farmer's carry KBs. First 10 minutes I thought the weights I picked were too light. Second 10 minutes started to suck and by minute 25, I was toast. HR never got much over 150. It was so much more fun than just running for 25 minutes, at least for me. I think I like strongman conditioning.

Food has not been great. Actually last week up to about Thursday it was kind of awful again. Then I got myself back in the groove. I had to work all weekend so I didn't get to do any meal prep. Currently I'm mostly living on PB & J sandwiches. Hopefully tonight I'll have time to cook some. 

On 5/3/2017 at 4:02 PM, karinajean said:

 

oh, you sweet goof. we will never get tired of you no matter WHAT happens, even if you sit on your couch for 4 weeks and say stuff like "yep! totally given up! only eating chocolate bars and beef jerky for the rest of my life!"

On 5/3/2017 at 6:40 PM, Teirin said:

^^^^^^ THIS!!!!

On 5/3/2017 at 8:07 PM, sarakingdom said:

 

Thirded.  Also, I have in fact done challenges like this, and it's fine.

On 5/4/2017 at 7:27 AM, Kishi said:

 

4'd.

On 5/4/2017 at 1:19 PM, PinkNinja said:

 

I feel that way, too.

It'd be rather hypocritical of me to say I was tired of you for doing it!

 

Yes!

 

The Mississippi is at flood stage. I know I've said it like 100x lately, but I'm really uncomfortable with being below sea level right now.

On 5/4/2017 at 3:43 PM, Starpuck said:

+5 on what everyone is saying.

 

Silly Joedog!

 

And heck yeah on that float trip!

 

On 5/4/2017 at 7:04 PM, sarakingdom said:

Also, some months, the challenge is just showing up, and that's fine.  If you're in a place where recovery is sapping all your energy to do stuff, even deal with recovery itself as a challenge, then maybe this month the challenge is just showing up.  Use the challenge to solve the next problem between you and your goals, and sometimes that's just coming back.

Thank you all so much. Last week was tough and all your kindness helped boost me through it. This whole challenge may end up just being about showing up here. I really meant it. Y'all may never know how much your kind words helped me out last week. 

On 4/28/2017 at 4:25 PM, PinkNinja said:

That sounds like it could be pleasantly painful. Like how massages hurt but feel good.

 

I hope your back is mending quickly.

That's kind of how it is but a massage would probably have been better for me than hot yoga. I'm doing better. The pain has migrated down into my hip muscles more now. I've got a hot date with a foam roller and some banded squats later today. 

On 4/29/2017 at 11:26 PM, Teirin said:

Finding the happy medium in things is a lot of trial and error.  You'll get there :-)

Sometimes I'm not sure I ever will find medium. But I get closer every year. I'm not sure I believe in reincarnation but there is something really nice about the idea that I will get more chances in future lifetimes to build on all the spiritual progress I've made in this one. Or maybe in the next one I will just be born with properly functioning brain chemistry. 

On 5/1/2017 at 1:45 PM, Starpuck said:

So glad to see ya round these parts.  It's just not the same without you.

 

And holy crow, way to start up a new challenge on NIGHTMARE mode.  

Seriously, if there is anything I can do, to help you getting back in the swing here, you tell me!   You have several places to get my attention from, so you just poke away at me!

 

I like having Joedog HERE.

I like being here but I'm afraid y'all will get tired of me being here and not really doing the work I say I'm going to do. But I'll try to be here more. I went to St Louis over the weekend. When we crossed the Meramec river I was thinking we need to talk more about that meet up float trip. If it keeps raining all the rivers in Missouri are just going to turn back into inland sea.