sammiejune29

Hi Elastigirl!! Its great to be back

Update on life:

Crazy things have been happening. Still in school. Taking 3 classes now, 3 classes next semester and then I graduate!!

I have been really bad about working out. I haven't been on a bike all summer, never went swimming or kayaking. In my busy schedule, working out has definitely been the thing that has been put on the back burner. But I need to change that for my physical and mental health.

On top of my 3 classes (all upper level)

• I have three part time jobs with startup companies (2 of which I've been working for over a year now)
• I am treasurer of my church (plus going to all the other functions that goes with that)
• I'm in the rotary club (and I'm very involved in both the scholarship committee and the membership committee)
• I also run trivia every Tuesday night at a local bar in town (I used to just go and play but now I'm the one in charge of making the questions and getting up with the microphone and announcing the questions and the answers)

You can probably see why I don't have a lot of free time. Lol. But I feel like I've turned into a "real" adult somewhere along the way because I get up early and go to bed early. All my classes are before noon and I LIKE it. Lol

Challenge #7 - Winter is Coming

Overall Goal: Reform the good habits and regain the strength that I have lost

Goal #1: Ramp up to doing 3 strength training workouts per week.

- Weeks 2-3: work out 1 time per week

- Weeks 4-5: work out 2 times per week

- Week 6: work out 3 times per week

Possible Points: 1 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA, 2 WIS

Goal #2: Get my strength back

- By the end of the 6 weeks I hope to be back where I was with my exercises when I stopped working out consistently. In other words, hit my PR on each exercise by the end of the challenge. I will post what my goal is for each exercise when I get home and have those numbers.

• Incline Push-Ups
• Wall-sits
• Weighted Lunges
• Dumbbell Rows
• Planks
• Side-Planks
• Glute Bridges
• Lying Abductions

Possible Points: 5 STR

Goal #3: Cook at least 3 meals from scratch each week.

They don't have to be super complicated, but they have to be from scratch.

Possible Points: 5 CON

So this challenge has not gone anywhere so far... Lol

The end of the semester was a decidedly poor time to start a new challenge. So my goal now is to slowly get back on the wagon so that next challenge I can attack it with a vengeance.

And we missed you It's good to have you back

 

You can always just make your challenge working up to some or all of these goals Maybe work up to 3 workouts a week to get yourself to a full push up?

We're here to support you whatever you decide!

I'm glad to (kinda) be back. I can't wait to fully be back Definitely want to work up to 3 workouts a week. And I realized a long time ago that trying to get to a push up in 6 weeks isn't a reasonable goal. But doing something like making sure I do push-ups 3 times per week regardless of whether or not I do full workouts.

Yay!  Sammiejune is back!  I can't wait to see what you come up with! 

 

I hate to send your challenge thread off on a tangent, but I'm really curious about your experiences with the Unitarian Church.  I really miss having the community aspect of a church, and Unitarianism seems to fit well with my worldview.  But, I wasn't sure what actually happens during any services.  I've really wanted to try out the local one, but my husband is resisting the idea, since he thinks the whole thing would somehow lack substance. 

I don't mind the tangent And I love the UU. We have quite a variety of services. We have 8 pagan services per year (solstices, equinoxes and the ones in between) For instance this sunday we are dancing around the May pole for may day. We have services about meditation, spiritual journeys, Easter from a the perspective of UU, flower communion, inequality, etc. Our congregation is lay led. We are in the process of hiring a quarter time minister (so one service per month) with the others being lay lead. But we get a good variety of services. What I really love is the community aspect of it. Its great to have that support system. Its more about spirituality and faith than religion. We have a huge variety of beliefs in our community and it all works. We also frequently have bonfires with beverages and fun

Yay, you're back! And hey, sometimes classes are more important than working out. I'd say goal 2 (work out 3x/week) will get you to goal 4 (full push-up), so combine those and go from there, maybe? Bike rides can be its own goal, ditto hosting dinner parties! Those sound great.

Sometimes classes do have to take precedence... Unfortunately :/ And I wish I could invite all of you to my dinner parties!!

Hey, glad to see you back!

 

I feel like easing your way back into this challenge thing is a good idea, maybe focus on working out 3x per week, biking when you can and getting new shoes. Since it sounds like you have dinner parties fairly often anyway, and the pushups will come with the regular workouts.

Obax!! Good to see you I still haven't gotten out on a bike ride. Gotta do that soon. Lol

Welcome back, Sammie!  Good to see you

Thanks!! Good to be back

SAMMIE!!!!! Missed you gurlie! We have a lot of catching up to do...

 

I'm glad to see ya back doing challenges as well!

 

Wolf

Missed you too!!

So its Thursday and I still don't have my goals actually figured out. Its been a rough few weeks. This winter was really bad for my depression with all the crazy weather. I was doing better cause it was getting warmer outside and getting involved with Rotary and the Fellowship made my social life a lot happier. But then the 5-year old nephew of one of my dear friends passed away and I'm still having trouble dealing with it. I didn't know him that well but seeing how much pain my friends are in, and knowing that his life was so short just makes me sad. This is something I haven't had to deal with before and I'm just not sure how to handle it. So much of how I control my depression is by learning how to handle different situations. When to push through it and when to step back and give myself a break, but in this situation I don't know what my body/brain needs to recover.

Mostly I just needed to get that stuff out there. Right now I'm sitting outside enjoying the sun and will hopefully work out before going to see West Side Story later. Hopefully goals will be finalized this weekend.

Goal 2: Control the kitchen

I'm an okay cook, meaning I have my handful of things that I can make without a problem.  But, I'm a pretty timid and boring cook.  I would love to reach a point where I have full control over my diet, meaning that if there's something I want to eat, I have the ability and confidence to look up a recipe and make it for myself.  To gain confidence in the kitchen, the goal is to try one new recipe each week.  Grade: #/6 (Thanks to Hatter for inspiring this one)

I did a similar goal lots and lots of challenges ago. And here I am months later and I cook more and am a much better cook. I started out by trying to follow recipes exactly and that wasn't going so well for me. So what I do now when I decide to cook something (some examples being lasagna, chili, fajitas) I look up a bunch of recipes and then make up my own from what I find. And it has actually worked quite fabulously. My beanless chili is Daniel's new favorite recipe rivaled by my ricotta cheese-less lasagna. I wish you luck!! And have plenty of "recipes" lol

Weird.  When I posted my last one, I got an error message about too many emoticons.  I guess I'll have to be less happy and more grouchy in the future, so I don't hit the limit on smileys. 

I used to get this error message a lot! Especially when replying to Chris_de_maas. Lol

Winter and I are not friends. And this winter was pretty atrocious. It was all I could do just to get through the day. I hate that working out ended up being the thing that fell through the cracks, but classes (and the three billion group projects) had to take precedence.

That being said I didn't let myself go completely. I've still been going to yoga about once a week. Get a strength workout in a couple times a month. Not great but enough that I haven't really lost much progress, even though I definitely didn't gain any (I may have gained a couple pounds of fat though)

New things in my life:

1) Started going to a Unitarian Universalist church

2) Became treasurer of said church

3) Joined the Rotary club

4) Daniel (the roommate) is moving in with his bf when our lease is up at the end of May

5) I'm taking over being in charge of trivia next year (this is the 5 round live trivia I play every week)

6) I've gotten much better at cooking and now host dinner parties fairly frequently (and people actually love my food, or so they tell me)

Loose goals (I know they need to be more specific at some point, but I need to get stuff out there):

1) Lose fat & gain muscle

2) Get back to working out 3x's per week

3) Go on some bike rides

4) Do a full push up

5) Host some more dinner parties

6) Buy minimalist footwear (I STILL have not done this)

Not sure how I want to translate these into a challenge. But I miss NF and its great to be back!! Also in February I hit my one year of NF except I'm not sure if it counts cause I missed a few months... but still, I've come a long way!!

Challenge #Never Happened (shh...)

So its been a while since I've done a real challenge. I tried the whole unchallenge thing and it didn't really do much for me, but at least I know that now.

**THIS IS A PLACE HOLDER FOR WHEN I FIGURE OUT MY CHALLENGE**

Chris!! Miss you much

Looks like things are going well even with the little hamstring snag. Yay!! Keep it up

Thanks Nuala!

Recently I've just been struggling with everything. I haven't been cooking as much or cleaning as much or keeping up with my homework as much as I should be. I think the weather has a lot to do with it. We've had two snow days in the past few weeks, and my University NEVER cancels class. Its too cold to wear dresses too

But I've still been doing some yoga. And trying to do some random pushups throughout the day. I was also sick for a week which didn't help matters. I don't think the unchallenge is working for me. It was worth a try, but I need real goals with rewards (even if the rewards are points that mean nothing in the grand scheme of things). So next challenge I will have real goals again. So I'm going to use the rest of this challenge to start figuring out what I should do next challenge to get myself back on track.

@sammiejune: I really wish I had gone through something like this before having kids, rather than while actively trying to parent them. It would be a lot easier, both physically and psychologically, if I truly felt that my only duty right now is to heal. I'd normally enjoy the extra reading and video game time, since I typically don't get much, if I didn't feel guilty about shirking my duty toward my kids.

I hope you know I wasn't suggesting you ignore your kids! I understand how much more difficult that would make it but I think all in all you are handling it really well

So glad to hear that the surgery went well!

When I was going through everything with my back surgery, I was definitely frustrated at not being able to do all the things that I wanted to do, but I like to find the silver linings in things. So for me the silver lining was that for two months, the only thing that was expected of me was to take care of myself and get better. I tend to push myself super hard at everything that I do and after pushing that hard for so many years, I took the break that life gave me and actually relaxed. Don't get me wrong, I was still frustrated a lot, but after all was said and done, I felt more at peace than I had been in years. I also took the opportunity to do things that I had been meaning to do for years and had never found the time to do.

Here's to the silver linings *cheers*

And this didn't post last night as I had intended. Oops. But I did work out after I typed it up so yay!!

Looking back my workout habit really got destroyed early last semester (neck problems, goat sitting and getting sick). Since Aug 31 I have only done full strength workouts 12 times. Granted I've had some yoga in there and other fairly active things but it still is disappointing. But I'm committed to doing better now!! So I'm going to work out right now I will be happy if I can get back to two times a week consistently at this point.

List of workouts (mostly I'm putting this here so I have it somewhere):

Aug 31

Sept 4

Oct 27

Nov 3

Nov 5

Nov 18

Dec 10

Dec 15

Dec 19

Dec 21

Dec 28

Jan 1

Just to clarify, I didn't move. I was home visiting my family for three weeks and now I'm back living in the same apartment that I've lived in for 6 or so months.

If you've been following me you know that last semester was stressful. Group projects out the wazoo, two part time jobs, plus trying to keep in shape and have a social life.

Unfortunately for me, break wasn't as relaxing as I wanted it to be. I spent three weeks home with my mom and grandparents. However, this turned into a lot of errand running and cooking though I did get some workouts in, more than I had in a while.

But its mid January now and I haven't worked out since Jan 1 I really wanted to participate in this challenge but it started right around the time I was trying to leave my family and get back to my own apartment. There were a million and one things to do and creating my challenge thread ended up at the bottom of the list.

I've also been struggling for inspiration as far as my challenge goals go. For the longest time the goal in the back of my head was to get back to my high school weight of 155. I've done that now and I look better than I did then. I'm in better shape and am stronger. I still can't do a pushup but somehow that hasn't been enough to really motivate me to workout.

But I know if I don't do this challenge at all its just going to get worse.

So roughly I want to be:

1) Working out 3 times a week by the end of the challenge. I will work up to this. And then next challenge will be setting the habit back in stone. Now is building that habit again.

2) Think about my future goals. Figure out what motivates me now. What do I want from working out?

Will never happen. I'm pretty frickin far from Paleo (and rather outspoken on that issue). Denied a guild leader spot a while back.

I think that you would make an absolutely fabulous guild leader! (my eyes just about popped out of my head when I read this)

Damn relativity.  This has me thinking about what practical teleportation would look like.  Since we can't transport matter quickly, we would probably have to transport information and have the matter available at the far end.  This would basically be duplication, not teleportation.  What do you do with the matter on the back side?  If someone says they have invented teleportation, do we need to keep a look out for the murder abattoirs on the back end?  Copy the information for a person.  Degenerate it into constituent parts.  Transmit data to far end.  Incorporate constituent parts into person?

Glad to see you here! And interesting thought on teleportation… And what resources does it take to assemble a human on the far end? If we can assemble a human, can we disassemble them just as easily? If you're dissasembled/reassembled simultaneously (or nearly, does that seem less like murder? Do all the components just get recycled - go from here to there, we store the molecules for the next person who comes from there to here… and what happens when we happen to be low on parts because everyone came one direction and hasn't gone back yet?

Following this train of thoughts on teleportation/duplication you guys might want to check out the Outer Limits episode "Think Like a Dinosaur" It looks at the ramifications of exactly this.

Here is a link to the full episode on hulu

And hang in there. <3 We are all rooting for  you. And even the little victories are victories. Remember that

I love the house projects Here's to another great challenge *cheers*

Even if you petered out near the holidays you still made progress!! Don't forget that

I actually do them off my bed frame, it's a sort of wooden box with slats in the bottom that the mattress sits in, so that the top of the mattress is a bit above the side of the box. I put my hands on just the side of the box so that my fingers are between the side of the mattress and the inside of the box. If that makes sense.... The short version is, the side of me bed is actually very stable.

That makes a lot of sense I'm finally getting good solid pushups on the third stair so I'm happy!

I'm up to the 'References' section, but they need the full mailing address for each of my character references, but don't require useful things like phone numbers or email addresses (I'm putting those things in anyway). So now I have to wait to hear back from my references about what their addresses are, in this digital age I never send mail to people...

I've run into this issue too. No one wants to be contacted by mail. Everyone uses phone or e-mail for everything. And yet I got yelled at by my teacher for putting the e-mail addresses and phone numbers of my references before their physical addresses.

2k in 10:35. A much better time, it was hard but still felt good, and also makes me feel good about where I am now vis-a-vis where I was before my test. Much less windy today, I was not overdressed in all my winter gear, so not running yesterday was probably the right choice since it was MUCH colder yesterday than today.
 
Geocaching this afternoon with my sis, then family dinner tonight. Woo holiday!

Yay better time!! And woo holidays

Bleh. So much for finishing strong. I had a climbing accident today and now have a fractured bone at the back of my knee and a sprained or torn mcl. I have to follow up Tuesday with an orthopedics specialist to find out whether everything will be healed after 3-4 weeks in a brace and on crutches, or whether it all looks significantly worse than that.

Sending much love your way           

I'm feeling a bit better. Surgery is scheduled for 2 weeks from now. I should be driving and walking unaided again by 1 month after surgery, but there will be a lot of rehab over the next 6 months.

I'm starting with some pre-surgical physical therapy on Friday, so at least I'll feel like I'm doing something. My brace also was unlocked to allow greater range of motion. I can only bend it about 45 degrees right now.

I will definitely create a daily battle log for the next few challenges

I'm glad you will at least be around. We will all be here to give you love and support 

Really happy with my challenge.The walk and lightbox goal paid off and gave me energy. I usually struggle more this time of year. I didn't have as much energy as I do during the summer. But enough energy I got stuff done.

 

Other accomplishments:

participated in min challenge

learned to roll into a pistol

learned to clean and press a 25lb kettlebell

broke my 30 second plateau on handstands, now at 55 second

have something like 45 days of handstand practice during challenge

Yay for having more energy than usual for this time of the year!!

But my favorite thing is the list of other accomplishments!! You did so much on top of your goals

Great challenge! I can't wait for the next one

I'm bookmarking it too, for when the time comes that I get a harness. And I agree with you about the colours, I have the same issue with shoes, especially running shoes. Just 'cuz I'm a girl doesn't mean I want neon pink all over my feet, or any pink for that matter, or pastel anything. Gimme good old navy blue any day (though I agree with you that a bright orange climbing harness would be cool).

I totally feel this way about tennis shoes. I like black tennis shoes with some kind of accent as opposed to white ones. The white ones always look dingy in no time. My favorite pair now is black with turquoise but I don't know what I'm gonna do when they die.

Btw, great challenge Aeryn!!

Challenge 6 Wrap-up

Overall: B-/C+

Not my best challenge. Not my worst either. Had finals in the middle of it all. Went home for thanksgiving and went home the week before christmas. Always shakes things up a little.

Goal 1 - 1.21 Gigawatts

- Strength workouts, yoga, jumping, got me varying amounts of Gigawatts

Possible Points: 3 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA

Total: 0.74 / 1.21 Gigawatts = 61%

Grade: C+

Awarded: 2 STR, 0.5 DEX, 0.5 STA

Goal 2 - 88 MPH

- Cooking, cleaning and earning Gigawatts 3+ days in a row got me MPH

Possible Points: 2 CON, 3 WIS

Total: 69/88 MPH = 78%

Grade: B

Awarded: 2 CON, 1.5 WIS

Goal 3 - "Enchantment Under the Sea Dance"

- Follow and comment on 5 people on the message boards

- Update my own thread

Possible Points: 4 CHA

Grading: 30+ points earns me "Johnny B. Goode" (A)

25-29 points earns me "Earth Angel" (

20-24 points earns me "Night Train" ©

15-19 points earns me a generic song by Marvin Berry and the Starlighters (D)

0-14 points = I got stood up for the dance   (F)

Total: 29 points

Grade: B+ "Earth Angel"

Awarded: 3.5 CHA

Side Goal - Power Lacing Shoes

- Buy minimalist footwear

Possible Points: 1 WIS

Grading: A or F

Grade: F

Awarded: 0 WIS

New Stats:

STR: 20.5 + 2 = 22.5 STR

DEX: 13.25 + 0.5 = 13.75 DEX

STA: 15.25 + 0.5 = 15.75 STA

CON: 16.5 + 2 = 18.5 CON

WIS: 15.5 + 1.5 = 17 WIS

CHA: 8.5 + 3.5 = 12 CHA

Level 7 Assassin!!

Challenge 6 Wrap-up

Overall: B-/C+

Not my best challenge. Not my worst either. Had finals in the middle of it all. Went home for thanksgiving and went home the week before christmas. Always shakes things up a little.

Goal 1 - 1.21 Gigawatts

- Strength workouts, yoga, jumping, got me varying amounts of Gigawatts

Possible Points: 3 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA

Total: 0.74 / 1.21 Gigawatts = 61%

Grade: C+

Awarded: 2 STR, 0.5 DEX, 0.5 STA

Goal 2 - 88 MPH

- Cooking, cleaning and earning Gigawatts 3+ days in a row got me MPH

Possible Points: 2 CON, 3 WIS

Total: 69/88 MPH = 78%

Grade: B

Awarded: 2 CON, 1.5 WIS

Goal 3 - "Enchantment Under the Sea Dance"

- Follow and comment on 5 people on the message boards

- Update my own thread

Possible Points: 4 CHA

Grading: 30+ points earns me "Johnny B. Goode" (A)

25-29 points earns me "Earth Angel" (

20-24 points earns me "Night Train" ©

15-19 points earns me a generic song by Marvin Berry and the Starlighters (D)

0-14 points = I got stood up for the dance (F)

Total: 29 points

Grade: B+ "Earth Angel"

Awarded: 3.5 CHA

Side Goal - Power Lacing Shoes

- Buy minimalist footwear

Possible Points: 1 WIS

Grading: A or F

Grade: F

Awarded: 0 WIS

New Stats:

STR: 20.5 + 2 = 22.5 STR

DEX: 13.25 + 0.5 = 13.75 DEX

STA: 15.25 + 0.5 = 15.75 STA

CON: 16.5 + 2 = 18.5 CON

WIS: 15.5 + 1.5 = 17 WIS

CHA: 8.5 + 3.5 = 12 CHA

Level 7 Assassin!!