Aminarra

It's bitter cold here I can't wait for spring. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

thanks! Looking forward to the challenge Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Challenge Goals: Cross stitch 15 minutes daily Pack lunches 3x weekly Attend OTF 1x weekly Complete physical therapy 4x weekly Ranger Mini Strength: PT Daily Speed: Pack lunches daily ( Distance: 10k steps/day Combat: OTF 3x Rangerly/Outdoors : Park furthest away from the entrance daily Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

*enters guild hall, waddling from the many layers of outdoor gear. Steam escapes from behind the goggles as she peels them off her face. She might be grumbling but for the scarf wound tight around her face. She peels off layers and layers of coats, mitts, gloves, jackets, vests, snow pants, sweat pants, and even a pair of jeans until she stands free of her cold weather vestments. She is wearing leggings and a comfy tunic looking a fraction of the size she was when she came in.* "Oh. Um.." *gathers up the garb in a giant bear hug* "Is there a coat check?" Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I'm in! My feats are amplified versions of my goals. Strength: physical therapy daily Speed: pack lunches daily Distance: 10k steps daily Combat: HIIT 3x Ranger: Park furthest from the office Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I need to respawn.. fail forward.. however we'd like to think about it. My job cut the fitness center, ramped up the stress levels, I had a miscarriage, and lo, I'm now in the absolute worst shape of my life. I know how to do it right, I know that life will always be too (something) for exercise.. but I also know that I'm the only one who will ever put me first. I just finished reading "Thud!" by Terry Pratchett and one of the characters is absolutely NEVER late to read his son's bed time story. No matter if there's a riot about to break out, he's there at 6pm sharp. The reasoning is that if you do it for a good reason, you'll do it for a bad reason (in this case, being late.) Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I've heard the same saying before and I really like it. Often times it gets me over whatever might be in my way. When I signed up for the gym, I chickened out without doing a work-out because poor Elfkin was swarmed by the toddlers that were in the class. A little girl--and I don't know if I'm imagining the dirt on her face or sticky hands--went right up to touch my Elfkin in the face and and it *bothered* me so so much. I want to work out, but I don't want to put her health at risk in order to do so. I've got a home gym I could and should be using--even if I have to battle spiders first. Affording the gym is a good thing, though. I ate breakfast with HH in the kitchen this morning and sent him to work with a healthy lunch--ground beef with onions, peppers, and tomatoes with a little bit of cheese for his entree and red pepper, carrots, and mandarin oranges for sides. I think he snuck a bag of chips and a soda as well, but in the grand scheme of things it's a whole heck of a lot better than if he were to go out and buy lunch. I've got the same for myself. And it's true--getting to the gym bright and early in the morning hasn't been a priority for me because I've been using that time to take care of business at home. My little elfkin takes her longest nap in the morning and so I make phone calls to follow up on my salary (which has been missing), medical bills (which are overwhelming), insurance (which doesn't have Elfkin listed yet), and immigration (who extended HH's conditional residency rather than removing it). =/ Speaking of which, it's 7:06am, Eflkin is asleep and phone lines are open. I should go..

I had a post written up but my phone ate it.... I did not finish strong with this challenge =/ I did join a gym recently, though, so I'm looking forward to starting that... I just have to find the time. The kids klub where I can bring the Elfkin isn't open until 8am and they're only open until 12 noon, so it's a little challenging--I just can't seem to get out the door between those hours. The other segment of time that would work is between 4pm-8pm, so I think that'll be better. I need to look at the closer option, too, as this one is 20 minutes away. Therein lies part of the problem, because the Elfkin works on a 2 hr schedule so to speak.. so 20 minutes is a lot of time [excuses excuses...] The next 6 week challenge starts on the same day that I go back to work, so it should coincide nicely with the other changes that will be happening in my life. I'm not going to wait for the new year to make resolutions, though--who has the time? I'm just going to shake-it-so (haha) and keep going with small steps.

I'm STILL sore from the body weight work out... @_@

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? I did really well for myself--only eating until I was content and nowhere near over-stuffing myself. My mom made polish firecrackers which have 4-5 shots of alcohol and a lot of juice in them--and I drank a full one. I've been waiting over a year to try one! It. Was. Delicious. It's a good thing that I have no idea how to make them... I weighed in at 236 today, which is pretty awesome. Starting weight was 240, so that's 4/5 pounds that I intended to lose. My husband was browsing Imgur this morning while we were in bed. I was laughing along with him when he went to click the link that said "load 102 more images," I realized it was a trap and sprung out of bed and into work out gear. I've shoveled food into my face, and now I'm going to run away to work out before the Elfkin finds me... I can hear her starting up again. (Don't worry, her daddy is up there...)

How could I have not replied?? I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. You're absolutely right, and I'll be finishing up this challenge, then really preparing for the next one. I think that's why I've lost every boss battle to date. Lack of planning. I'm used to being able to do what I want, when I want, without having to think about the logistics of when it makes sense to do it. Like yesterday, we had a birthday party and D&D on the same day. It went *alright* but because the upkeep for the Elfkin took so long, I ran out of time to do my work out and prep the veggies I was supposed to bring with. I've been spending the last 4 weeks trying to do the challenge like I used to, instead of accounting for my little one. I need to figure out how to use my village to make time to work out, prep meals, and plan ahead--or this whole thing will be a wash.

(Found this mini-challenge a little late, but I think this list of questions may be helpful, so here goes nothing...) Week 1 Mini-ChallengeIs your overall quest achievable (over a short or long period of time)? Is it reasonable? My overall quest is to lose 5 lbs. I think this is reasonable because it's <1lb/week of the challenge. Do your 3 quests all build towards your main quest in little ways, or are you taking on too much? Do your quests have sub-quests or is it just one thing to focus on? My 3 quests are an arm work out 3x/week, walking 3x/week for 30 minutes each, and doing leg exercises throughout the day. I think, after 2 weeks and my knees killing me that I need to revisit the leg exercises. I also have daily achievements to track food (22 day streak!), read 30 minutes daily, and clean 10 minutes/day. Life being hectic is usually what knocks me off track, so I feel like these 'dailies' will help me avoid the 'hectic' status where I just want to throw in the towel. Are your main goals realistic? Can you scale them to smaller steps to fit your life better, even if it will make it take a little longer to achieve them? Lunges/squats with *every* diaper change, I'm learning, is a bit unrealistic. I'm scaling that back. The other goals I discussed, though, just for this mini challenge, I think are attainable. The BIG overarching goal that I have with nerd fitness is to lose 60 lbs--this 5lb goal will get me 8% of the way there Are your goals able to be measured and tracked? What will you use to track them? I'm making a sticker chart today to track my goals This helped me a lot during the last challenge to see visually whether I was consistently meeting my goals or if there was an area that I was struggling. A lot of my goals are daily yes/no's, so it should be pretty straightforward to track. How are you grading your goals? Are they pass/fail (“every dayâ€, “not even once over the six weeksâ€)? Is there a reward for the effort, or are you only grading yourself on whether or not you “lose the weight†or “run the distanceâ€? The grading for my goals is pass/fail on a daily basis, and then at the end of the challenge, my rewards are based on a scale of A-C based on percentage of completion. My rewards are *not* based on whether I reach my overall goal of Lose 5 Lbs, but in building consistency in healthy habits that will help me get to 60 lbs lost. What is your plan for continuing/altering/grading those goals if you become ill or injured? I don't have one. O____O Unless I'm *really* knocked out, I'll continue my work outs. If it's really that bad, I'll take the time to recuperate, but there's not much that could make me sick or injure me at this point. Did you take into consideration any special occasions (Labour Day, Independence Day, birthdays, anniversaries, etc) that may occur during the challenge? What modifications do you need to build into your goals for those? Yes. This is why my goals are generally 3x/week and why my dailies are so attainable--even on Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas, I'll be able to track my food, read, and clean. Do any of your main goals conflict with each other? Will one goal make it hard to do another? Maybe a little. I have my main goal as 'lose weight' but two of my mini goals are all about muscles. I doubt it'll make a huge impact right now though--food is my bigger struggle. Do you already have the time in your schedule to actually complete the goals you’ve set? If not, what are you planning to do to make time for them? Time I've got. It's the motivation and gumption to follow through that I'm missing. That should've been addressed in my "big why," but I feel like the fire needs to be re-lit every other day and it's difficult to do that, even with such compelling reasons as I've given myself. They're too big, too far in the future--they're Future-Aminarra's problems, not Present-Aminarra's problems. I think I need to revisit the idea of motivation and see what I can do to keep it fresh. 20-seconds of beast mode! My elfkin woke up and I didn't want to do much of anything today--I'm thrashed from losing my boss battle lastnight--but I scooped her up and walked out the door. We got a 20 minute walk in because I took 20 seconds and decided (without preamble) to just go for it instead of whining or making up excuses. Note to self: Wear shoes indoors so that you can walk outside on a whim

Hi Brian - I'm not stretchy, but I do need an accountabili-buddy. What motivates you the most? Megs ("Aminarra")

I really should've followed this thread earlier. The advice that was being offered to @Rab397 is really helpful, and hopefully can be applied to my on-going Boss Battle. I'm going to spend this week saying 'I don't eat chips/chocolate/drink soda on game nights' and see if the next attempt goes any better. The last resort for me is going to be skipping game nights altogether, but I really don't want to have to do that

So, the bad news is that I lost my boss fight again last night--to the tune of over 1600 calories, even though it was at my house and I was the one hosting it (I know, right?) The good news is that I read your comment, @Koaladle and took your advice! I went for a walk with the Elfkin to the end of the neighborhood and back (15 minutes, but 15 minutes carrying a squirmy 11+ pounds). I also did the overhead press with the same wiggly baby, and some squats. Today I'm making a new chart to track my challenge progress. I know that the challenge only runs for 6 weeks on the forum, but I think I'll tack a couple extra weeks onto the end of mine because these first two have been so lackluster. The last 6 week challenge that I did, I had happy face stickers to chart my progress and i did *so good* with that. I want to apply the same strategy this time so that I can be more successful.

The week is almost over already Where is time going!?? I have good meals here and there (sweet potato + spinach) but mostly I juggle the elfkin. Part of me thinks that it'll be easier once I go back to work because I can work out *AT* work, but then the other part of me remembers that she *sleeps* for at least an hour at a time during the day... Time when I'm doing laundry, dishes, working on immigration stuff.... or, like for the past 45 minutes.. snuggling a baby and getting lost on the internet. *sigh* Priorities, right? Snuggle babies while they're still snuggle-able. Lose weight as I can. I'm off to switch over the laundry (again) and fold up what's clean. Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,Hang out the washing and butter the bread,Sew on a button and make up a bed.Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).Dishes are waiting and bills are past due(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stewAnd out in the yard there’s a hullabalooBut I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo). The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.--Song for a Fifth Child, by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Rough day was rough.. I met my water goal, flossed my teeth, cleaned my kitchen, and read 30 minutes (part of a mental health goal). I also finished sweeping the garage out. Elfkin was very clingy today--no arm work outs aside from snuggling her after her appointment with the pediatrician. Now, it's only 9pm, but I'm zonked. Time to hit the sack for tomorrow.

Aminarra and the Elfkin are gearing up for a quest to the far-off land of MNPeds where they will face off against the dreaded Twomonthshots. This fearsome creature deals 1d8 damage over time with 1d4 bleed for 5 minutes.Can they do it? Can they face this newest challenge and come out alive? Find out now in the Adventures of Aminarra and the Elfkin! ------------- T-1.5 hours to the battle Aminarra uses Pump and adds 3 ounces of elixir to their cache of supplies. Elfkin vocalizes, oohs and aahs to remind Aminarra to bring sturdy cloth, rags, traveller's clothes, and rations. T-1 hour to the battle Aminarra has Elfkin strapped into the carriage, when suddenly Elfkin is beset by an episode of Grunts. Her face goes blank and the squishy sound of a wet deposit in the sturdy cloth can be heard. Aminarra knows that there will be a change available in the land of MNPeds and debates delaying the start of their journey. With a decisive grunt, Elfkin demands a delayed start. Grumpkin starts to emerge and Aminarra gives up and begins the extraction process. Grumpkin wails in protest and strikes Aminarra with blow-out. Roll for hit, Grumpkin. 18 Blow-out hits Aminarra; roll for damage. 7 Blow-out hits Aminarra for 6, as she's equipped with resistant armor. The rest of the damage, however, rolls to the carriage, causing 1 damage to the seat. Aminarra finishes the extraction process and begins weaving a prestidigitation spell for the seat. She then soothes the Grumpkin back into Elfkin by providing a change of sturdy cloth and traveller's clothes. The Elfkin is all smiles and they can commence the journey. T-40 minutes to the battle Aminarra and The Elfkin travel 45 minutes to MNPeds. They meet with the mayor of MNPeds, Doc Andy, who asks for their help against Twomonthshots that have been lurking around the village for far too long. Twomonthshots strike fear into the heart of the townspeople, make infants scream and try, and wreak general mayhem. The Twomonthshots are far preferable to the other menaces that have plagued the village in the past, though, monsters so vile that Doc will not even discuss it at this time. The only problem is that Twomonthshots are impervious to attacks from humans and can only be defeated by Elfkins. The Elfkin heads to battle alone, with Aminarra only available in a supporting role... Roll for initiation Aminarra - 18 Elfkin - 4 Twomonthshots lashes out with prep, landing unknown materials within range of Aminarra and the Elfkin. Aminarra prepares a defensive cantrip: hold. Elfkin surveys the scene, making special note of the materials but taking no further action. Twomonthshots leaps out at Elfkin, stabbing her quickly in the leg. This deals 1d8 damage (5) and Elfkin screams in pain. Aminarra uses hold, fortifying the Elfkin against further attacks. Elfkin uses Wail, attempting to send Twomonthshots to the furthest distance away possible. Twomonthshots throws a saving roll (17) and uses a bonus action to stab Elfkin two more times. Elfkin uses Wail again, and kick; Twomonthshots is banished. Aminarra is braced against the lingering impacts of Wail and uses the healing elixir on the Elfkin. Elfkin's face is red and contorted from the Twomonthshots attacks, but the elixir takes effect immediately. Elfkin recovers, and Aminarra is relieved from the effects of Wail. Post-Battle Elfkin is suffering from battle-induced sleep. She wakes screeching in phantom pain from where Twomonthshots landed successful blows, only to fade into a fitful slumber again. Aminarra visits the shopkeep at MNPeds to buy a more potent healing elixir to administer to Elfkin. The rest of the day is spent in this alternating pattern--Elfkin sleeping, screaming, waking, screeching, then falling back into a fitfull sleep. Aminarra nurses Elfkin and comforts her until she is her usual smiling self. Twomonthshots were banished, and the party earned massive EXP for it. Elfkin leveled up.

So much support here!! I'm going to siphon some off the top :-P Hope your second week is going great!

The Elfkin is coming down from full on Grumpkin mode... Fitness-wise, I got the recruit work out done yesterday, which I'm counting towards the first week challenge. I cleaned my garage out today, including hauling water softener salt out of the way, so I'm counting the cleaning as a work out. Food-wise, I know for sure that today was not as healthy as it could be. I'll be tracking it, but I already know that sugar and cheese have made up too many of the calories consumed.

I recruited the hubby to help next week. He's been my food police in the past and he's pretty good at it. :-)

I crashed abd burned within a couple hours...it's better than last time, *maybe* but certainly not victory. I've got 5 more attempts to beat this boss. Aww, thanks. I'm her world right now, so I've got to build get into mine. It's really not so bad. :-)

*rocks slowly back and forth* MILs...oh goodness. Hang in there! Booo..... But the gratitude is refreshing. I really hope you're feeling better by now! I have to take my multi with food otherwise I get a really upset stomach. Best wishes on figuring that out! I'd hate for it to be the multi and not know it for a few days..

Just watch an episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive and you'll suddenly feel better Yeah--never think of it like a substitute or you'll hate it. Same thing with "Zoodles"--no. It's Zucchini. Oh my goodness.. Pasta night and no carbs? I'd host a rebellion of my own.. As mentioned above, squash is squash and =/= pasta. It's the same shape and that's about it. The flavor, texture, color, etc. is completely different and disappointing if it were to be used as a direct replacement. That's like reaching for a glass of Dr. Pepper and getting Milk. One time, I tried to like brussels sprouts. I HATE them, but people keep raving about how good they are when they're roasted so I did... BLECH! I gagged, I teared up, I chewed slowly and choked one bite down. THEN, I somehow thought that sriracha would make it better--because who doesn't like a little hot sauce?? NOPE! OMG. The gagging intensified and then turned into spitting, coughing, and nearly throwing up. I hate Brussels Sprouts and there's nothing I can do to change it. Best to know your veggie strengths and weaknesses, I say