courtneyc

Yeah, it should be interesting. And yay for fellow writers!

Thanks! Pass/fail made all the difference. Otherwise I just start playing percentage games. I've got some colors between me and that brown belt, but one day! You're free to use that for a future business start up. I'm picturing something in the frozen food section. It'll be huge, like bagel bites when we were kids. Just cut me in on a little of your profits when you hit it big in the taco tot biz, okay? Thanks for the infographic link. That's a good resource to have on hand.

Last month I unofficially took on the sit-up. Training six days a week took my sit-ups from strained with lots of pauses to smooth and controlled. With the increased core strength I'm ready to take on my next opponent: the full push-up. Two challenges in with pass/fail, and I'm convinced it is the most effective system for me. So once again all components will be pass/fail, allowing for modifications in the case of injury or illness (no passes for laziness though!). Fitness Push-Up Training (6 days/wk) - 5 reps, dropping as low as I can and holding for 1-3 seconds. Core Strength (6 days/wk) - Side Plank w/ dropped knee (30 sec per side), Shrimping (10 per side), Up-kicks (10 reps), 90 degree Turns on Back (5 per side) BJJ Training - Continue attending at least 4 classes/open mats per week. Create a master list of moves I know from bjj and from what position they can be executed. (Practice linking techniques will get built in in future weeks) Weight Loss Tracking - Continue to log food daily and don't exceed weekly caloric limit. Fruits & Veggies - Eat two servings of fruits/vegetables a day. Professional Weekly Word Count - Write 7,500 words per week. Revision Work - Log 4 hours of focused work on revisions by bedtime Wednesday night. It's time for me to improve my revision skills. I tend to procrastinate on this part of the writing process, because it is difficult to measure my effort. First drafts have those lovely word counts. The number keeps going up, and I feel happy knowing I've done my work for the day. To bring a little structure to the revision process I'll approach them as deep work problem solving sessions, putting the hours at the start of my week to combat my tendency to procrastinate. Rewards Still firming this part up. I'll update in the next day or so. So that's that! I'm stepping things up a bit this time around. I might be up for a belt promotion at the end of the month, and I really want to give competition grappling a try in the next few months, which means the time to get focused is now.

Week 4 Summary Core Exercises: 5/5 Training: 3/3 Tracking: 5/5 Meditation: 5/5 Weekly Word Count: 7,776 Take that week 4! Not much to say about this week that hasn't already been said. I was tired and still recovering, but I made things work, adapting a training session for home when class wasn't feasible. I'm back at the studio now, about 90% recovered, and happy as can be. Challenge Summary Holy Taco Tots, Batman! I destroyed this challenge! I think I found my challenge sweet spot by making consistent, small changes the focus. The pass/fail system worked really well for keeping me accountable, and the prizes gave me a little kick of motivation when things got tough. At the start I had a contingency plan in place for dealing with injury, but I hadn't considered illness. I'd like to come up with a more official light training plan to address the colds that pop up every month or two. With a 5 year old in kindergarten it's going to happen, so I should be prepared with a plan. Aside from that hiccup, this was my most successful challenge yet! ::Rakes in prizes like a dragon hoarding gold::

That sounds like a rough week. You'll pull it back together though, one thing at a time. And if you need to complain while you do it, that's part of what this board is here for.

That's wonderful that your professor is so supportive and enthusiastic about your progress. That kind of support can make a huge difference when times are tough. Hope things continue to go in a positive direction with the knee!

Week 4 Day 4 Core Exercises: 4/5 Training: 2/3 Tracking: 4/5 Meditation: 4/5 Weekly Word Count: 6,711 Finally made it back to class, but man did it wipe me out. Everything else is going well though. Kind of crazy that tomorrow is the last day of the challenge. I'm already mulling over the details for March's challenge. Decisions, decisions...

So jealous that you have a live in rolling partner! I keep trying to get my husband to go to a class, but he's worried about getting injured. Sorry to hear about the knee. Hopefully, the MRI comes back with something manageable. Knees though...seems like a difficult recovery process no matter what the problem is. Each lesson can kind of stand alone, but the good instructors do make a point to link the information. Sometimes I'm annoyed by the forced time between testing--you're looking at a 5 month minimum between lower level belts, assuming you don't have to take time off for an injury--but it does encourage consistent attendance. Thanks! I want to try traditional publishing starting out.

Thanks! They do have belt tests. I'm not sure when the next one is, but one is probably in the works in the next couple of months. For the first two belt levels you work in a 42 class series they call Practical Fight Combatives, which covers the basics of self defense, chokes, and locks. After going through that series twice and demonstrating proficiency you move into a blue belt and above class. My studio doesn't have any strict rules about lower belts and upper belts grappling though, so once open mat begins after class you can roll with whoever you like. The getting started is taxing. I often find the first 500 words are the most difficult, which is why I try to make them move quickly. I too try to think about my writing process in layers. I'm getting a lot better at writing the shitty first draft (as Anne Lamott calls it). I'm getting to have stacks of those actually. So 2016 is beginning to look like the year I work on my revision skills.

Week 4 Core Exercises: 1/5 Training: 0/3 Tracking: 1/5 Meditation: 1/5 Weekly Word Count: 3,430 Did anyone else assume week 4 was a full 7 days? Because I was under that impression prior to actually checking the challenge dates. Friday is the end, though. So, I'm adjusting the goals for the final week slightly to account for lost time. The weekly word count stays at 7,500, but everything else is shortened to reflect the 5 day week, including taking out one training session. As of today I'm still not comfortable hacking my way through an official class. *fingers crossed* I'll go to the evening class tomorrow. I'm pretty exhausted today, but I plan on doing some stretching and light body weight work to see how my lungs manage and keep things loose. It's amazing how much tighter my hips and back have felt without the regular rolls. Meditation has been a little more difficult while sick. I do guided sessions with Headspace, and all that focus on the breath is actually distracting when I'm stuffy and coughing. I think I need something else to focus on, like the universe or the random pattern of sprinkles on a donut. Also, I fixed the potential for future errors with my word count by making a spread sheet that adds them for me automatically. I am officially a dork.

I haven't been able to attend class for the last week with this cold, so I switched it up to light activity for last week's "training". Even if I'm no longer contagious I'd rather not cough all over my rolling partner and take nose blowing breaks every couple minutes. I'm hoping to be in decent enough shape to go back tomorrow, possibly with some modifications on warm up exercises as needed. I think the writing is going well, because I am challenging myself to keep up a certain pace instead of letting the word count fill up whatever block of time I have. It's sort of like timing legs of a run to see if your speed is sneaking down. I was getting too precious with my story before, afraid of not getting everything right when really I just need is a finished first draft as a starting point. Thanks for checking in!

Sorry to hear about the anxiety/depression stuff. Having suffered from both longer and shorter bouts over the last decade I understand how much it can drain you both mentally and physically. What's great though is that you're working on some key things that can help make the days a little easier. The sleep, the healthy eating, the meditation. Those are the types of things I categorize as 'little wins' when life feels especially heavy. Do you have anyone you can talk to? A counselor or friend who is able to just listen without trying to "fix" or compare? Congratulations on the weight loss! It's an awesome feeling seeing all the little choices over a week add up to progress on the scale. Keep it up, and you'll see the 170's in no time!

Week 3 Summary Core Exercises: 6/6 Training: 4/4 Tracking: 7/7 Meditation: 7/7 Weekly Word Count: 7,497 <=== ?!?! How did I screw up the math on my word count so that I was 3 flipping words short? (I'm looking at you cold!) This is really going to chap my ass, but I'm all meditate-y now. So, I can handle this. (Maybe) The cold is very slowly getting better. I think in the next day or two I'll be good to return to training. I'm staying on top of the tracking, too. I stepped on the scale and was down another 2 pounds, bringing me solidly into a new weight decade. Writing is coming a little easier these days. I'm learning that it doesn't take long to knock out 500-1,000 words on a first draft if I set a timer and commit to getting it done. This is great for my weekend/cancelled school day mindset. In the past I'd give myself a pass when the stars didn't align for perfect writing time. But that thinking is ridiculous. I can find 30 minutes or an hour in my evening to chip away at that word count once my daughter is asleep. And working on my story almost daily keeps everything fresh in my mind, which in turn makes the writing go faster. It's all linked, my friends, in a big word-wheel-chain-linky-thing. (Be amazed at my powers of description!) That's about all for week 3. Time to bring this challenge to a close with a solid week 4.

Hey! How's it going?

Week 3 Day 6 Core Exercises: 6/6 Training: 3/4 Tracking: 6/7 Meditation: 6/7 Weekly Word Count: 6,465 Managing to keep up with my goals (with the modification on training) despite this cold shifting into a lung/sinus issue. If it keeps up as it is, I'll probably go to the doctor on Monday. I do my best not to jump for antibiotics as soon as I get sick, but I keep getting dizzy from sinus pressure...so it might be time. On a less germy note, discussions were had today about a summer adventure. I'm pushing for a semi-cross country road trip. I want to head SW as far as Denver (maybe even the Grand Canyon?) and loop up on our way back to the east coast. It would be a lot of fun to see how much the geography varies across the country and visit family and friends along the way. Any recommendations of places to visit between Denver and Maryland are welcome.

Week 3 Day 3 Core Exercises: 3/6 Training: 0/4 Tracking: 3/7 Meditation: 3/7 Weekly Word Count: 3,185 Still sick, but I think I'm approaching the end of this cold as long as it doesn't move into my lungs. The inhaler was busted out last night, so 50/50 chance for how the next couple days go. Since I'm still too sick to train with other people, I'm going to take Kishi's advice and incorporate some non-strenuous exercise into my week. I'll sub those activity sessions in for my normal training sessions for week 3. It's not my ideal scenario, but sometimes you've got to adapt. Made some good progress on the word count yesterday. I didn't get any editing in as my focus was gone after writing 2k words. Today I'll try to save some focus for a plot pass on the short story.

Do tissue curls count as gentle exercise?

Good luck with the car! Glad to hear you were able to get out and enjoy some good weather.

How are your goals for February coming along?

Thanks! I've never been one to keep my nails in good shape. Even before bjj I was to rough on them to bother letting them grow. The eating motivation can come and go. Honestly, at times the pass/fail component of my challenge sometimes is the only thing that keeps me from going off and eating everything I can find.

Week 3 Day 2 Core Exercises: 2/6 Training: 0/4 Tracking: 2/7 Meditation: 2/7 Weekly Word Count: 1,519 Well...I did not in fact manage to escape the cold germs. It hit me yesterday and is hanging around today still, putting a serious damper on my training schedule. The studio was closed on Monday due to nasty weather, and I don't think I'll be a non-contagious training partner until tomorrow. So that eats up about half my week. I really hate to lose my training streak to things beyond my control. Maybe I can get creative to still hit that number? Sick or not, the wee one is back in school as of today, which means it's time to boost that word count. I have some short story revisions to work on today, too. Leaving revisions until the last minute was how I lost major progress on the word count in week 1. Time to learn from my mistakes and not let that happen this time around.

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress. I'm glad to see you owning your successes a little more this time around, too. Perfect weeks are great, but life doesn't always allow for perfect. So keep chipping away at your goals, and you'll make week 3 even better than week 2!

Thanks to you both! She's doing better, and I think we've managed to escape her cold. Grip training is most certainly in my future!

Week 2 Wrap Up Core Exercises: 6/6 Training: 4/4 Tracking: 7/7 Meditation: 7/7 Weekly Word Count: ~7,700 Another good week under my (white) belt. I stepped on the scale this morning, and I'm down 4 pounds since starting this challenge. All that diligent tracking is paying off! So far I'm not finding it too burdensome to balance going over a little one day by cutting back on another, but I try not to have that happen more than once or twice a week. The weight loss is exciting though, because I'm getting into numbers I haven't seen in a few years. The meditation is also going well. My big reason for starting it was to train myself to be more aware of my mood in the moment. I've been able to catch myself when family stress is mounting...everyone is being loud at once and my mental space feels like its been constricted to a square inch. Usually, that's when I'd get loud, too. But lately I'm beginning to recognize that pressed in feeling and observe it without automatically reacting. That little bit of distance gives me space to see the situation differently than I would have a few weeks ago. It's a really nice shift in thinking and great motivation to stick with meditation. I met my word count this week without the need to break any daily word count PR's. I noticed this week that I'm getting too precious with this first draft. I'm overthinking as I write, which slows things down, and my desire when I started this new novel was to not allow the first draft to drag out for close to a year like my last one did. To counteract my leisurely pace I keep challenging myself to hit 500 words or better during 25 minute pomodoros. Once I hit the first one I'm usually good to go for the rest of the writing that day, but if I slow down again I'll set the timer and get those words flowing. As long as I have a loose framework for what comes next in the story this method seems to be working well. Before I officially move on to Week 3, let us partake in a little Week 2 victory dance!

Week 2 Day 6 Core Exercises: 6/6 Training: 4/4 Tracking: 6/7 Meditation: 6/7 Weekly Word Count: 6,055 So grateful for the rest day. My knuckles are feeling it after focusing on grips during rolling yesterday. I love the possibilities added by having fabric to grip with the gi, but it is a lot tougher on the fingers and wrists. The tiny human had a cold yesterday, which meant tissues and toilet paper everywhere and lots of melt downs. The original plan was that she'd spend Saturday night with grandparents, but obviously we weren't going to send her over literally dripping with germs. She's doing better today and was going to spend the night with them tonight...then we saw the winter weather warning. So, some other weekend I guess. I was really looking forward to the child-free time though. School is out on Monday and Tuesday, and that means I'll be fighting to squeeze writing time in to avoid getting behind on the weekly word count for week 3. Speaking of word count, I've got 1,500 words to write today. Better get to it!