Anathema

Chiming in to say it totally works for me. This most recent challenge my injury & other health drama kinda sidelined me, but I do like the thing I introduced this time of getting a point (which for me = $1) for each Challenge item completed each day . . . but when I realized food was my biggest one, decided to give myself 2 points for getting my food goal right,. but deducting 2 for not. The reasons the whole monetary rewards thing works for me . . . Forces me to track every day or I don't get the $ I would have. I'm a pretty broke person, so hard to justify prizes for myself. This allows me to, at the end of 6 weeks, buy myself a prize that feels commesurate with how well I did. So, if I tell myself that the prize is a pretty dress, $200 for dresses is way more rewarding than $20. Helps keep me focussed.

Yay new Challenge soon. I've lost the plot on this one . . . had the injury, then had most of a week of being really sick, not tracking. Ah well, I'll close out my thread but I don't think I'll count this as a completed leveling-up type challenge. Good learning experience though . . . learned I don't actually hate swimming, learned that my "dice roll diet" is a good plan for next time even if I didn't exactly stick to it, and was booze-free for most of the 6 weeks. So, I can't really say I finihsed or achieved goals consistently, but I stayed somewhat in the game, and am well set up for success next time.

Friday Dec 12 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: Yes, swimming • $1 Food: 750 calorie deficit, yes • $2 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: yep • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $7 Total for Challenge: $95 Saturday, Dec 13 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: Yes, bike • $1 Food: 1,000 calorie deficit. Close, but no. • $-2 Computer time: Not relevant, weekend. • $0 Sober: yep • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $1 Total for Challenge: $96

Wow. Time apparently flies when you're on the Disabled List (I have the parking permit and everything!). I'm proud of myself for not dropping out, and for sticking with the Challenge goals that I could. Saw the doctor this Thursday, got the brace off (yay!!!!!). Now, the rules are: One month only cardio allowed is swimming or exercise bike. Allowed to walk w/out brace, but must be very careful. Also, no strength training that could stress knee--obvs squats are out, but so are things like bent-leg bench presses, cuz knee still takes some of the pressure. One month allowed to use elliptical, walk more, but still no real impact. Then, after those two months, I should be back to normal, able to run, snowboard, swing dance, etc. Three months of highly limited cardio (and limited fun--dancing and snowboarding are two of my great joys) suck, but it could have been so much worse--slightly different fall and it could have meant knee surgery, way longer recovery. Also, Syren will be proud of me . . . I have been swimming! I am terrible at it, but discovered that I don't hate it as much as when I was a kid. I think to some degree that was because pool chemicals used to be much harsher, and I have stupidly sensitive skin--like, sometimes my own sweat makes me break out in hives, let alone outside chemicals. But, I guess whatever they're using these days doesn't turn me bright red and itchy, so yay! I think I'll try to keep swimming at least once a week even now that I'm allowed to use the bike, because how quickly it exhausts me means obviously I'm using muscles in a whole new way, and that's gotta be good! Couple o' photos, just cuz . . .

Just had my one-month follow-up (already! Times flies when you're limping about, apparently). I get the brace off--yay! And for one month, I can swim or ride the exercise bike, but no other cardio. Then, the next month, can add elliptical and walking longer distances, but no running. After two months, I can run, snowboard (if there's any snow!), dance, and everything. Gonna hit the pool tonight, and then maybe bike tomorrow. I can do really, really long moderate-exertion sessions on the recumbent cuz I just watch old Babylon 5's on my ipad and churn away . . . So, here's the latest. The wonky math is partly due to my $2 penalty for not hitting food goals, to try and kick my own butt. Seems to be finally working (yay!). My husband (who is totally Mr. Science) pointed out that I'm an injured animal in the coldest days of winter. As far as my biological programming knows, I need to be chowing down on cheap, easy carbs to stay alive. And my mom reminded me that our Eastern European programming means we do tend to pack on weight easily as soon as it gets cold. So, I'm fighting evolution . . . and winning, but it's a fight. On the other hand, I probably won't be eaten by the wolves as I limp around the village, so there's that. Tuesday, Dec 9 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: Yes--longish careful walk • $1 Food: Paleo lite--did okay but then had Xmas cookie at end of day. :-( • -$2 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $0 $2 Total for Challenge: $81 Wednesday Dec 10 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: No • $0 Food: Calorie restriction--yes! • $2 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Sip of my friend's drink at his birthday party. Totaly didn't think, just said, oh that looks tasty what is it, he said vodka cranberry and ginger ale, I said that sounds interesting can I taste it? So, no much of a drink, and my first sip of alcohol in a month! So, still yay me but not award today. • $0 Housecleaning: No • $0 $3 Total for Challenge: $84 Thursday Dec 11 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: No • $0 Food: Super paleo • $2 Computer time: Not relevant, office closed due to storm • $0 Sober: yep • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $4 Total for Challenge: $88

Thanks, friends! Erick is always there to lift me up with words and pictures! (And yeah, Joe is a pretty darn good bunny rabbit. A big, slightly surly-looking tattooed redneck bunny, but a bunny nonetheless!) And Teri, wow, thanks for the long and thoughtful message. I really appreciate it. It is true that I tend to be really hard on myself (can anyone say "eldest Jewish child"? Not to stereotype, but . . . as there are no sons in my generation, I get all the "you could have been a doctor or a lawyer, 40 years we wandered in the desert for this?" kinda guilt that my people are so good at). But it's true--I've done some really good stuff this Challenge. In two days, I'll be alcohol-free for a month, which is a really big deal (I even went to my work holiday party last night and had virgin cocktails while everyone else got tipsy. It was a super swank bar, so the virgin cocktails were AWESOME, by the way!). And I've done almost this whole challenge in a leg brace, not allowed to do any kind of cardio except swimming (and not even really supposed to be walking much), and I've stuck with it. So, that is a big deal. And thanks for reminding me! I see the doctor Thursday and find out if I get to get the brace off this week. If so, I still have to be very careful for a month, and still no impact, but I'm going to ask him if I can do long, gentle walks, and/or maybe eliptical or bike? (not sure since those still put pressure on knee even if not impact). But hey, I'm sticking with it and that's big thing. And by next Challenge I'll be lagely back to normal activity, and it'll all be a lot easier . . . That said, I didn't go all crazy with food yesterday, but I gave myself a pass for the work party since it was all tiny little appetizers, and not a vast numbers, but fatty and tasty. Today my work will be full of Xmas cookies and luckily I rolled "full paleo" for food, so I can't have "just one" as I would have if I'd gotten one of the calorie restriction rolls. That's good, it'll get me back on track. And I'm bringing my tasty bag of apples and cooked chicken breasts . . . and thanks again guys for being there. It's awesome. So, here's yesterday: Monday, Dec 8 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: 750 calorie deficit no • -$2 Computer time: not really relevant cuz office shut down early for party, and there was a long meeting beforehand Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $1 Total for Challenge: $79

So, I had a really bad cold and got super cranky. Cold medicine always makes me feel icky, and I was just a cranky biscuit on Friday. I did well with food, then I got home and was being grouchy at Joe and he just held out his pizza with a "please don't kill me" facial expression. It was sweet. And I ate some pizza. And got less cranky, but blew my food goal. Friday Dec 5 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: No º $0 Food: No • -$2 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $o $1 Total for Challenge: $70 Saturday Dec 6 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: Yes, swimming • $1 Food: Yay! Yes, did the 750 calorie deicit. • $2 Computer time: Weekend Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $o $4 Total for Challenge: $74 Sunday Dec 7 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: 1,000 calorie deficit • $2 Computer time: Weekend Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $o $4 Total for Challenge: $78

Hey, thanks for the note! It's good to know there's scouts out there looking out for me! It's been a kinda challenging challenge with the injury and work stress and now I'm fighting off the Mother of All Colds. So, whine whine whine, basically! However, I've realized that making the computer time thing a "big casino" goal helped me focus on it and I feel like that's under control, so I think I'll swivel my turrets to the food goal and do the same thing . . . $2 for success, but debit $2 if I don't follow the plan. I'm really not sure why food has been s tough for me--I think with my workout abilities seriously curtailed, my drive to resist holiday treats has been lacking. But I really don't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself and eating cookies, so it's time to pull my socks up and feel better. And win cash prizes for doing so! So, that starts with today, since I'm not going to back-punish myself for yesterdays' cookies! But here's the catch-up from my last couple days of being sick and cranky and not checking in . . . Monday Dec 1 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: Yes--went swimming again • $1 Food: Yes • $1 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $6 Total for Challenge: $68 Tuesday Dec 2 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: Yes, got 10,000 steps • $1 Food:No • $0 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $4 Total for Challenge: $72 Wednesday Dec 3 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $3 Total for Challenge: $75 Thursday Dec 4 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: Yes, 10,000 steps • $1 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Yes • $1 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $o $3 Total for Challenge: $78

Yay, I actually made it to the gym and did some upper-body strength + flailed about a bit in the pool. I think I might even be sort of okay with the swimming thing if I had goggles. So i should get some cheap goggle & try that. But even a combo a half-assed swimming and some kind of "aqua jog" was better than no cardio . . . Sunday Nov. 30 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: Yes • $1 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Not relevant, holiday • $0 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $4 Total for Challenge: $62

Friday Nov. 28 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Not relevant, holiday • $0 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $0 $2 Total for Challenge: $55 Saturday Nov. 29 Check-ins: Yes • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Not relevant, holiday • $0 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yes • $1 $3 Total for Challenge: $58

Golly, you seem to be right. I'm going to guess that was bad cutting & pasting due to being too lazy to retype everything! Thank heavens I have someone checking my math! Yay! Thanks!

Wednesday Nov 27 Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: Yes, bit of careful swing dance • $1 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Not relevant, offsite • $0 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $4 • $51 for Challenge Thursday Nov. 28 Check-ins: No • $0 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Not relevant, holiday • $0 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: No • $1 $2 Total for Challenge: $53

Aaaaaaand, no gym yesterday because protesters were blocking the freeway, with police helicopters circling overhead (I live in Oakland). Hopefully by tonight the protests will be less dramatic. I really do get the rage and frustration, but I also worry about the mob mentality that comes out in protests, with the people who in every incident seem to make things worse (after all, San Francisco committed worse vandalism and uproar both times we won the World Series recently. Don't get that human instinct at all). But anyway, got home around 8:30 and just crashed out again. I really want to go ou the our Wednesday night club tonight--not to dance, but just to hang out, see friends. Since there' no work tomorrow for Turkey Day, hoping I can make that work . . . anyway, here's yesterday. Today's dice roll was "modifed paleo" which I can totally do. I have a business lunch, so it's a good match-up . . . forces me to be sensible at whatever restaurant the client chooses . . . and they're young groovy California types so I reckon it'll be a healthy spot anyway. Tuesday Nov 26 Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No--dang helicopters! • $0 Food: No--my roll was for 1,000 calorie defiict which is incredibly hard with no physical activity, but I tried. So at least ate less than I would have without the goal! • $0 Computer time: Yes! I love this new motivation! • $2 Sober: Clean & sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $5 total • $47 for Challenge

I've let any kind of meditation or mindfulness practice largely fall by the wayside except in sort of drastic situations--when I can't sleep, when 'm really stressed out. I do really need to bring that back into my life. Ironically, my mother teaches meditation courses and has written a book on mindfulness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, so really I have no excuse, it's not like I don't have resources to hand! (I have taken her class and read her book, I know what to do, I just fall into the "oh I'm too busy to meditate" trap which is, in fact, a trap. A thing to keep an eye on. A friend of mine was saying when she's really exhausted sometimes she goes to the gym and just sits in the sauna, to keep the gym habit going. I might try that, making it a time for brief, peaceful meditation. Anyway, I thought I did Sunday's rport but it looks like it didn't post. Odd. So, here's Sunday & yesterday: Sunday Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: Yes! Upper body & abs at gym • $1 Food: Yes, did intermittent fast • $1 Computer time: Weekend, so not relevant • $0 Sober: No booze • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $5 total • $47 for Challenge Monday Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: Yep . . . close enough. Goal was 40/30/30, did 35/43/23. More protein is always okay, esp. when not doing cardio • $1 Computer time: Yes! I think the new reward/punishment system is working! • $2 Sober: Totally sober! • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $6 total • $48 for Challenge Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Weekend, so not relevant • $0 Sober: No booze • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $3 total • $42 for Challenge

I think it's the broken bone saying "Hey! I'm healing here! Stop messing around!". My husband, who has had way more broken bones than me (former bike messenger in San Francisco and New York) says, and I quote, "A broken bone is no joke." He may be right . . . I actually am following doctors' orders, but maybe not resting quite as much as is optimal . . .

Saturday's roll was for a 1,000 calorie deficit. Didn't happen . . . also, had a bunch of errands I needed to do which really wore me out, so no gym. Ah well, I'll make it today. My weight did come down a fraction, so I'll take that as a good thing. Today's roll is intermittent fast, which was easy to achieve since exhausted me lay down for a nap at 6pm last night . . . and woke up at 6am this morning! Saturday: Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No • $0 Food: No • $0 Computer time: Weekend, so not relevant • $0 Sober: No booze • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $3 total • $42 for Challenge

Wow it's hard to get a solid calorie deficit when you can barely move at all! My FitBit awarded me ONE "very active" minute yesterday. I did order a proper swimsuit online and I should get it Monday, so I can start doing some swimming at least. And I'm going to the gym today and maybe tomorrow to get at least some strength & core work in. So, didn't make my 750 calorie deficit yesterday, which is usually pretty easy for me when I'm mobile. Rolled 1,000 deficit today so that's not seeming super doable, but I'll do my best! Here's yesterday's report: Friday: Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No, gotta start scheduling in either strength or swimming so I don't just shrivel up in this month of no cardio!• $0 Food: Close, but no cigar • $0 Computer time: Yay! Plan worked! • $2 Sober: No booze • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $5 total • $39 for Challenge

My dice roll was "16-hour intermittent fast," nailed that one largely due to having a late lunch and no dinner but hey, whatever works, right? Today's is 750-calorie deficit, the easiest of my goals (not to say it's easy, just the easiest!). I had a kind of crummy day yesterday--had to take my car in to the shop, which meant cab + train to get to work. Then after work I could not get a cab, and I have a moral objection to Uber, so I decided screw it, I'll just walk to the train. That was a mistake. It was raining and my knee hurt and I was mad that my husband didn't come get me (he was sick and it's a long drive, so that wasn't the most rational annoyance, but ya know, why not get annoyed anyway . . .). So I stopped halfway to the train station and got a slice of pizza. It wasn't exactly a wise food choice but it cheered me up a little. And then it was a nightmare getting a cab to my car (the first guy refused to take me because it's in a kind of crummy neighborhood, which I think is illegal, but whatever). But, ya know, onward and upward! And I will *not* be dumb enough to do a long walk again before I heal, because I'm really not a happy pirate this morning. Thursday: Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: No, too much commute stuff. :-( • $0 Food: Yay, did my fast! • $1 Computer time: I really need to be more mindful about this! • $0 Sober: Totally sober since I was out of pain pills. Would have taken one because ouch, but oh well! • $1 Housecleaning: Yay, actually did 10 mins. $1 $4 total • $34 for Challenge

So, my dice role was "paleo lite." Did well for much of the day, but then my coworker offered to take me out for Indian food and, well . .. cold rainy day, injured leg so can only go to close restaurant, free lunch . . . I didn't eat an insane amount of calories, but definitely not paleo with the cream sauces and the rice . . . but then it was a super late lunch and I didn't eat anything later, so the day was okay. Just not great. Today I rolled "16-hour fast" which works out perfectly since I had the late lunch and nothing after. I feel like I need more incentive to stick to my computer goal. I think I get $2 for achieving it, but *lose* $2 if I fail. Because it's a really ingrained habit and I need to break it. Writing this on Thursday, so that rule begins Friday. Wednesday: Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: Yay, went to gym, did careful upper body exercises. Woohoo! • $1 Food: Still not so good. • $0 Computer time: I really need to be more mindful about this! • $0 Sober: Took prescription meds, no booze! • $1 Housecleaning: Nope. Gotta get back to this, house is getting pretty cluttered. $0 $3 total • $30 for Challenge

Since I play an Invictus vampire in a long-running WoD RPG, I've been thinking about making a jacket back with that poem on it as part of my Convenant affiliation. And because it's a kind of awesome poem.

Still getting used to the knee brace. Yesterday was the last day of taking heavy pain meds, so I should be a lot more functional moving forwards! Going to try to go to the gym after work today, even if I just do like a few sets of some upper-body stuff, just to feel like I'm getting back on track . . . Tuesday: Check-ins: Yep • $1 Fitness: Not yet • $0 Food: Still not so good. • $0 Computer time: Not perfect but pretty good mindfulness. I think I'll give myself the point. • $1 Sober: Took pain meds as prescribed, no booze! • $1 Housecleaning: Nope. Gotta get back to this, house is getting pretty cluttered. $0 $3 total • $27 for Challenge

Consolidated check-in for Sunday & yesterday. Today, I'm back to my food plan (dice roll: modified paleo). I hop to get to the gym after work and do some sort of exercise even if really minor, just to get back in the swing. We'll see. Not going to beat myself up if I don't, but not going to keep slacking either because I know doing some exercise will be good for body and spirit. Sunday & Monday: Check-ins: Did check in every day, even if briefly: 2/2 Fitness: Nope. 0/2 Food: Still not so good. Better on Monday, but not so good. 0/2 Computer time: Not relevant Sunday, did pretty good yesterday, because so frantic about getting caught up after days out dealing w/ medical stuff. 1/2 Sober: Took pain meds as prescribed, no booze! 2/2 Housecleaning: Nope. Gotta get back to this, house is getting pretty cluttered. 0/2 $5 total • $24 for Challenge

So . . . turns out no physio for the first month, all I get to do is have my leg immobilized in a brace. Next month we can start rehab. I asked the doctor what I can do fitness-wise . . . theoretically I could swim except I don't swim and I don't think any pool wants me flailing around in a lane trying to remember 30-year-ago swim lessons. And I haven't found anywhere near me that has a shallow pool for water-jogging, aqua-Zumba, whatever. I can lift weights as long as the exercise can be done with my leg immobilized. So I figure I'll go to the gym and experiment with various seated lifting exercises. Maybe one of my gyms has some kind of upper-body cardio thing that doesn't stress the legs? (standard rowing machine is not on, and I know upper-body cycling and such exist for disabled folks, but also not necessarily standard issue at a gym). Not sure. And it's only a month, next month I actually get to start rehab and physio stuff, so this is more to keep me sane than about totally remaking my routine). He did very specifically say I'm not doing the marathon I'd hoped to in March. But I should be able to be back to running early next year, just carefully and not for serious distance for a while. So . . . anyone here had anything like this? What kind of exercise did you do when you were temporarily legless? (I have looked at some websites for temporarily disabled folks, and there's definitely resources out there. Just curious if any of the Scouts have personal insights . . .)

So . . . turns out no physio for the first month, all I get to do is have my leg immobilized in a brace. Next month we can start rehab. I asked the doctor what I can do fitness-wise . . . theoretically I could swim except I don't swim and I don't think any pool wants me flailing around in a lane trying to remember 30-year-ago swim lessons. And I haven't found anywhere near me that has a shallow pool for water-jogging, aqua-Zumba, whatever. I can lift weights as long as the exercise can be done with my leg immobilized. So I figure I'll go to the gym and experiment with various seated lifting exercises. Maybe one of my gyms has some kind of upper-body cardio thing that doesn't stress the legs? (standard rowing machine is not on, and I know upper-body cycling and such exist for disabled folks, but also not necessarily standard issue at a gym). Not sure. And it's only a month, next month I actually get to start rehab and physio stuff, so this is more to keep me sane than about totally remaking my routine). He did very specifically say I'm not doing the marathon I'd hoped to in March. But I should be able to be back to running early next year, just carefully and not for serious distance for a while. So . . . anyone here had anything like this? What kind of exercise did you do when you were temporarily legless? (I have looked at some websites for temporarily disabled folks, and there's definitely resources out there. Just curious if any of the Scouts have personal insights . . .)

Okay, so here's a consolidated check-in for the week. I'll be sort of back to real tomorrow, and then start Week 2 with my revised plan. I'll just have to figure out what kind of fitness I can do. And, the housecleaning is going to be a bit tricky given limited mobility but on the other hand, I can just do whatever I can do in 10 minutes. Because not to be all sexist but really. If I don't do any tidying for a month, Joe is not going to pick up the slack, and we're going to living in a trash heap. So, for the injured part of this week: Check-ins: Did check in every day, even if breifly: 4/4 Fitness: Did my run Weds, which is when the injury happened. Nothing after that. 1/4 Food: Really just wallowed in whatever. Getting back to healthy eating tomorrow. 0/4 Computer time: Not really relevant since not at work w/ all the medical stuff. 0/4 Sober: Took pain meds a few of the days, but that's okay given that i actually needed them. No booze! 4/4 Housecleaning: Did my 10 mins on Weds before the injury, nothing thereafter. 1/4 $10 total • $19 for Challenge