artemiscuous

So awesome! Okay, so you seem awesome at overhangs. What's the biggest ingredient for improving on those? I suck at roofs (I want to type rooves, but that doesn't look right either - what's the correct plural of roof?) and I want to spend some time working on them, but it's kind of hard when I can't really even do one move. I've heard it's all core, but it seems like my arms are what give out, especially when transitioning over the lip from the overhang to the face above. Also, great video! And great workout. That sounds tough. Quite impressive. :-)

Well. I do concur with everyone's assessment of my Whole42 grading. Whole30 is even harsher, though - if you slip up, you have to start over! I guess I figured, since I'm 80-90% paleo already, it wouldn't be that bad. It is, though. It's pretty bad. I am thinking it might be even more of a pain in the butt than tracking. Sometimes I just don't plan well enough to have Paleo options, but I can still compensate with other meals that day. Can you even change a goal that drastically halfway through and still succeed in the challenge? What is the consensus on that, Rebels? This week has been good for exercise. I did miss Monday (Monday was not a healthy day - I didn't go outside once!), but Tuesday I did a great core-themed yoga video that I felt the next day, then yesterday I did a nice run through the park with a few hard sprints. My legs were shot last night. Today I feel fine, though, so I'm going climbing - I'm heading out for the gym shortly. I'm excited for next week - we are heading up to CT to see the in-laws, and there is a rad climbing gym there called Carabiner's that a few of my husband's friends and the two of us will be checking out while the grandparents watch our little gremlin. Carabiner's is huge, and there are lots of fun little training games there, too. My gym is pretty cool, but they just got around to adding a slackline, like, a month ago. Other than that, they have a few hangboards and a couple of campus boards. Not that I can actually walk a slackline. But that could be a fun goal for a later challenge, now that I think about it! Some ideas to fortify the self-care routine: I've been thinking of investing in one of those blue SAD lamps. But they are pricey, and I don't know if it's worth the money - anybody use one of those? Adding more fat into my diet has been helpful (last night: brisket with the fat on and brussels roasted in olive oil!), and I've been more attentive to making sure I eat enough, as well. For some reason I get really disinterested in food during the day and just want to eat a big meal at night, but I don't think it's good for my mood. Onward!

Oh my gosh, I never would have considered kicking off the shoes...I'm going to start removing the harness and shoes before doing my pull up attempts at the climbing gym! Haha.

Power move onto a crimpy hold - my nemesis! Bouldering, this is why we have such a rocky relationship. Oh, no, "rocky." PUN INTENDED, IN RETROSPECT. I have no shame. You'll get it before they change the wall! Way to hit it hard.

Great job! BTW, it's totally okay if your legs don't go straight in folds - just push until you feel the stretch and hold there, your flexibility will slowly increase. It tends to be a better stretch if you allow your legs to bend until you can touch and straighten them from there, as opposed to just folding over into straight legs. Gets more into your hammies and out of your back.

Great ideas! I think fat is probably what I am low on. When I was tracking more closely, I tended to be lower in the fat macro % compared to most Paleo recommendations. I think I have to get a little more used to the texture of animal fat; in the meantime, I can get behind coconut cream and avocado. The coconut cream sounds like a great idea, because I just use half-and-half in my coffee and the coconut milk "creamer" in the store has sugar in it. I don't know why I never thought of just the regular cream! Do it to get into better shape! :-) That's what I'm doing. It's so fun that you don't even realize it's good for you. I'm kind of a climbing evangelist, I guess, lol. It's funny, I give that same advice out - just give yourself a break, make the most of days when you feel good - and then I forget to take it sometimes :-) Anyway, the past few days have been super busy but good. I went climbing Thursday, which was fun. I ended up sore in my shins the next day, which was...unusual, for me, but I took advantage of the fresh feeling in my upper body to do a climbing-specific pulling and finger workout - slow lowering from the top of a pull-up, and dead hangs from slopers and crimps. Saturday I did a kickboxing class with my sister at the Y. We were both a bit disappointed that there was no actual hitting of punching bags, but we did get a good jumping-around workout and did approximately a gajillion squats. Today was my long walk day, which was good because I was beat and felt lazy. It was nice to just hang out at home with my family. I did have rice yesterday (it was my friend's engagement party at a sushi restaurant), so I am going to get a C for this past week. I'm starting to think Whole30 is a bit harsh for me. I may have to go back to tracking in future challenges. Was hoping to get away from it as it's so time-intensive, but it's a little more forgiving in situations like that, or in a couple of weeks at Thanksgiving. My weekly weight check-in showed that I am continuing to lose at about 1.5 lbs a week, which I'm comfortable with. Rock skillz goal - AEvery day workout goal - ANutrition goal - C Next week, here I come!

Ooh, link to your challenge thread! :-)

Today is just full of no. Ugh. Remember that scene in Fight Club where they blow up all the credit card companies? Who wants to do that with me? Just kidding. But seriously though. Anyway, I'm getting used to skipping the cream in my coffee, although it still gives me the sads, a little. Those Whole9 people are not messing around, though. They are pretty adamant that unless I've quit heroin, I don't get to complain about no cream in my coffee. How about getting sober from alcohol? Not hardcore enough? I have got to shake it off - I'm just getting really bummed lately. It's weird because until now I've felt really good, I was out of the PPD-risk woods (did not have to deal with that, thank gods - I actually felt better than I had in months after I had my bean), but I guess this is just regular sads. Or maybe SAD. I don't know. Whatever. I like my new haircut. And they gave me a head massage. That head massage is the highlight of my week. I feel like this is a picture where I'm not suffering from bitchy restingface and my hair looks pretty so I posted it. The end. ETA: I'm also going to the climbin' gym tonight with my sister. Yay!

Oh my god, how weird, I had roasted brussels for dinner too. And I just read someone else's post about them. Brussel sprouts! Everyone loves 'em! Sounds like your challenge is challenging - the perfect kind!

Oh co-workers! Didn't they hear? Studies show you're supposed to feel bad about standing people up for workouts. Or something. SCIENCE!

Oh my god, I am so sorry, Nymeria! That mother...unbelievable! Obviously unproductive in a conversation about her child not being violent, but she needs a thorough talking-to, for sure. Bullying is just the worst, and it seems so hard to address, especially if it's not happening in school. The Graveyard Book is definitely for older kids - probably 10 or so would be appropriate - but it is surprisingly not as spooky as you'd think. It's actually based on The Jungle Book, but instead of being raised by animals, the boy is raised by ghosts. There are definitely a couple of scary parts though. I loved it - a lot tamer than the usual Gaiman stuff, which for some reason really appeals to me right now. Anyway, I am so sorry to hear this about your daughter, and I hope you are able to figure it out. *SO MANY HUGS*

Haha thanks Nym. You are correct, of course. I do mean to be optimistic in general - just wait until I've got a few more challenges under my belt. That is my goal! Haha. I don't want to hurt his feels too much, though. I'll still let him win sometimes. Direct quote: "You almost got me that time, but I guess my male ego turned on or something." Anyway, tonight I'm doing a BW workout from the old BodyRock website, if anyone ever followed that stuff. I haven't visited in awhile since the Great Breakup Drama but it's 2 rounds of 6 exercises, 40 sec work/20 sec break, for a total of 12 minutes: Burpees Plie squats Reptile pushups Jump lunges Prisoner getups Pike presses Short but deadly.

Wow, cool! I totally hear the sound effects in my head when I see all your prizes. So much fun!

Almost wimped out on the run because of a slight stomachache and chilly temps. Also, because I don't really dig running. But I did it! I want to create a habit - working out every day - and I can't do that when I'm chickening out at every light breeze. Running is one of the few things I can do easily, even when I don't have a lot of time, so I need to incorporate it into my workout cycle. I did kind of enjoy racing the hubby - my first burst of speed totally dusted him, but I am pretty out of shape and he runs like four times a week, so he beat me by a long shot every time we raced. I totally took advantage - started my sprint while yelling "Race you to that lamp!" which made me feel about ten years old.

Great goals - and climbing has snared another victim! ;-) I always think that in order to get better at climbing, you have to continually get on routes you think are beyond your abilities (towards the middle of your workout, once you've warmed up). It can be so difficult, especially when you feel like everyone is watching (*cough* bouldering cave *cough*). Your play area life quest sounds cool, too. Random ideas: one of my friends made a little climbing wall for his kids on one of his walls and put bouncy mats underneath. Another one of my friends made a bouldering cave for himself in his living room!

Thanks for the good luck! So I just have to say, today I have eaten so many eggs. Why so many eggs? I must just be the laziest Paleo-er ever. Hardboiled eggs, eggs over easy, eggs for every meal, STOP WITH THE EGGS ARTIE JEEZ. Sorry, everyone, there are no more chickens, artemiscuous ate ALL THEIR BABIES. Today I will run with my husband, even though it is minus a thousand degrees (or 38 F - I was pretty close). He has been after me to run with him forever, so he's happy. I just want to do sprints, so maybe we can race a little in the park after we warm up. I'm not really an endurance runner. There's no faster way to get me to leave a conversation than to try to convince me to run a marathon/half-marathon/10K benefit run/for the hell of it run. How does me torturing myself help with the cure? Can I just give the foundation a hundred dollars? And do other people really need me to run a marathon in order to give money to cancer research? Seems like they should want cancer research to have their money regardless of whether I spend four hours gasping for air and wishing I were dead. I don't do masochism. Unless it entails mountains, I guess.

Love Children of the Mind and everything by Gaiman. You should check out The Graveyard Book if you haven't already. Depending on your kids' ages, it could be a good book for them, too.

4am? Evening workouts FTW!

You should be proud! Such a great feeling, to succeed at something you've been working at...it's what keeps me going!

Did "Happy Hamstrings" on doyogawithme (thanks quietmuse!). Was a great alternative to a yoga class, which I didn't get to do today because REASONS, i.e. my husband took my car keys by mistake and I had to walk to the store. Sigh. But I did it! So, yay.

I have said the exact same thing! I love it. I've got the same goal, because I want to be able to haul myself up the rock, and I'm finding it difficult to do so with 20-30 extra pounds and not enough strength to lift them. Strength-to-weight all the way! As you say, if I happen to look sexier, well...I'll have to take that risk. It's just not a good enough goal, on its own, to motivate me to work out, and there are so many better reasons.

Love your GIFs and your challenge.

Following! I love your art goal. So true that when you get home it's hard to get motivated to do your own work. I miss drawing.

A) As a Star Wars fanatic, I LOVE your storyline. Awesome. That is a hell of a lot going on - good on you for taking care of yourself in the meantime! And good luck to you! Whatever you contribute towards your goals will be better by far than what most grad students do.

I love your third one - such a joyful goal. Sounds like a great challenge - hope you enjoy! Ender's Game was one of my fave books as a kid - even better are Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, in my opinion. If you like the first, I recommend those as well! Looking forward to the movie.