positivelypuzzled

Thanks, peelout! I'm glad to be here. ! I don't have to teach summer school. It's something I COULD do, but I won't. I'm telling myself I'm going to go spend time at our local animal shelter instead and do some volunteering there. Two months of relative freedom and then it's back to the grind in August. @starsapart TONIGHT WAS FUN! and painful. :') Next class we learn how to climb! I'm so excited!! We did the last bit in our knot routine today. It was difficult for me but by the end I at least got the last move. I wish I could describe what I was doing, but I have no idea what any of the terminology is. All I know is that silk was knotted at my back, there was silk between my legs, and I was in some sort of standing position-- and then we tipped over to grab our leg? idk... All sorts of burns on my feet and hands and other places lolol. Good times. Can't wait for next week!!

Weeks 4-5 were challenging. I didn't meet all my diet goals and have become complacent in that... Going to make sure I finish strong this week.

Hey guys!! sorry for the absence- you hit it on the head, peelout. I'm slowly losing my sanity in the blackhole that is the last few weeks of school. XD We are ALL ready for summer, kids and teachers alike. I am pleased by the video tribute you have left me. ;P Ankles are doing fine! I don't know that they were abrasions... I had those this week after my silks class and the thing going on with my ankles was different. Omg I love silks though. It's so much fun. This past class was WORK. I was actually out of breath by the end- and felt accomplished and ready for more. Today I made a circle skirt for our school's Sock Hop on may 29th. Turned out pretty great. I love it. My last weigh in put me at 140.8! I may not hit the 137lb mark this challenge (which would be 10 lbs from starting point) but good golly am I happy with what I've gotten to so far! All that being said, lemme do my summaries for the week. Calorie goals have been not met all the time... but... I can live with that. Day 26- May 8th 1. Calorie Count: 1,580 (Went to dinner at Red Robin + Teacher Appreciation Luncheon put on by PTA = too many sweet treats. I was weak! but I didn't go overboard all things considered) 2. Physical Activity: 20 minute walk 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.34 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes for my walk! Day 27- May 9th 1. Calorie Count: 1,322 2. Physical Activity: 93 minutes walking, darebee hero workout day 8 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 6.66 miles (AHHHHH XDDD) 5. Did I go outside today? For the walk and for shopping with my cousin. We went and bought groceries to make our paleo tiramisu. Mine melted tragically. I did learn how to make some amazing raw cookies today though. Day 28- May 10th- Mother's Day 1. Calorie Count: 1,712 (While I would like to blame my treats for going over my goal on the calorie intake, it really was the cheese pizza that I agreed to eat and regretted instantly after when my stomach rebelled and made me pay dearly... when will I learn?) 2. Physical Activity: 81 minutes walk/jog. GUYS I set a record for myself. In the time that it took me to do 4 miles originally I did 5. darebee hero workout day 9 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 6.53 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside and outside for mother's day stuff Day 29- May 11th 1. Calorie Count: 1,403 2. Physical Activity: 41 minute walk, darebee hero workout day 10 3. Meditation class? 4. Walk to Mordor update- 6.18 miles (I did a lot of walking around the school today!) 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 30- May 12th 1. Calorie Count: 1,397 2. Physical Activity: 1hr15 min silks class. So. Much. Fun. 3. Meditation class? Soon. 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.43 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 31- May 13th 1. Calorie Count: 1,469 (still going to count this as a win. it's IN the 1400s. ) 2. Physical Activity: 30 minute walk, darebee hero workout day 11 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 4.18 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 32- May 14th 1. Calorie Count: 1,356 2. Physical Activity: 22 min walk, darebee hero workout day 12 3. Meditation class? ... 4. Walk to Mordor update- 4.82 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 33- May 15th 1. Calorie Count: 1,391 2. Physical Activity: 40 minute walk, darebee hero workout day 13 3. Meditation class? 4. Walk to Mordor update- 4.42 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 34- May 16th 1. Calorie Count: 1,156 2. Physical Activity: 105 min walk, darebee hero workout day 14 3. Meditation class? I need to do this... 4. Walk to Mordor update- 7.07 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walk outside Day 35- May 17th 1. Calorie Count: Oops, went over again! 1,528 2. Physical Activity: 5miles on the elliptical, darebee hero workout day 15. Had to use my dragon egg today for some extra rest between sets. The elliptical workout left me drained! 3. Meditation class? May be doing this solo sometime this week. Going to ask a friend tomorrow to see if they are interested in going... and then I'll go before next Monday. 4. Walk to Mordor update- 7.57 miles ***updating up to this point in all data areas** 5. Did I go outside today? Woke up to the sound of nothing but the rain... investigated to find out that the day promised lightning and storms and flooding. Decided it was best not to go out this morning for a walk... so I ended up doing my exercise on the elliptical instead. Went outside to go to the movies though. Saw Pitch Perfect 2. They replicated the formula of the first movie, so it was good. Not great.. but good fun. Also the Alamo Drafthouse's new menu item- the fried green beans- were my downfall today. Guys, check out this weather forecast for this week. I kid you not it's been like this for the past 3 weeks. This is so unusual for May .... What did I hear and what will I continue to hear?

I'll play! This is Sweet Potato Hash and Eggs - from a paleo cookbook I've been exploring. 4 oz pancetta (in fine pieces) 1 large sweet potato (skinned and diced) 1/2 yellow onion (diced) Sun dried tomato Eggs (optional) Basil for garnish Salt and pepper to taste Brown the pancetta in a cast iron skillet, then add the diced sweet potato, flipping to coat it in the fat from the pancetta. Cover skillet for 5 minutes to let the sweet potato cook. Then uncover and proceed to turn the sweet potato to brown on all sides (it says 10 more minutes, but I think it's all personal preference on how brown you want them). Next add in the onions and sauté until translucent- add the sun dried tomatoes too. Then create wells in the hash and crack your eggs. I covered again to let it cook with heat. I think thats poaching? but I really don't know lol. It was good. Serve with basil as garnish I did not like the sun dried tomato, fyi. I ate it with pineapple too! Delicious

@peelout. Hah. Thanks! I might need a mediation class if the school year doesn't end soon!! I'll go edit. :PPP As for the circles, I agree with you. I keep it simple for the kids though and say it has a curved sides and we push poor circle aside and focus on the polygons instead. Ugh geometry... but at least it's not measurement. Teaching measurement is hell! Now Brace yourself- the long catch-up post is here. Or just skip to the end… Day 17- Apr 29 1. Calorie Count: 1,205 2. Physical Activity: 30 min walk + Darebee Hero Challenge Day 3 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.42 Miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes Day 18- Apr 30 1. Calorie Count: 1,379 2. Physical Activity: 30 min walk + Darebee Hero Challenge Day 4 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.32 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes Day 19- May 1 —- the avengers was freaking awesome…. JARVIS!!!! 1. Calorie Count: 1,373- We ate before the movie at BJs and I was initially worried that I was going to end up overeating and using my last cheat day… but I found these awesome pita sandwich things on their light menu and they were delicious!! I passed on the alcohol and the candy/popcorn at the movies… 2. Physical Activity: 30 min walk + Darebee Hero Challenge Day 5 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 4.93 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes Day 20- May 2 1. Calorie Count: 1,377 2. Physical Activity: 2 hr25min walk - met up with an old friend from elementary school. By chance. It was crazy. Her 3yr old son came and told me he had lost his Millenuim Falcon and I just about died from the cute. She told him that I was the one she had been telling him about- the one who loved Star Wars as much as he did. It felt really cool to know that I’d been remembered and thought of. We’ve been out of touch since high school. 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 6.21 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes and I ran around all day doing errands like a chicken with my head cut off. So much school work to do before the end of the year! I spent several hours at Starbucks drinking unsweet iced green tea and clacking away reports on my laptop. Also visited my local comic shop for Free Comic Book Day. It was nice. Day 21- May 3 1. Calorie Count: 1,356 2. Physical Activity: 30 min walk, Darebee Hero Challenge Day 6 - I got a dragon egg, you guys!! I’m going to call him Ragas. 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 5.42 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes! Day 22 - May the 4th be with you! (My kids didn’t get it.) 1. Calorie Count: 1,377 2. Physical Activity: Darebee Hero Day 7 + walk 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.71 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes. Day 23- The Day I Sold my heart the the Circus. 1. Calorie Count: 1,377 2. Physical Activity: 1hr15min Silks Class!!!! 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 2.46 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Went to work, was outside briefly. I got dressed today so that’s how I decide if I win or not. No more strictly pajama days- or at least restricted to once a month Day 24 1. Calorie Count: 1,316 2. Physical Activity: Very little… 50 crunches and 10 push ups from knees (ankles in pain and swollen ) 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.07miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes, at school Weighed myself this morning— 142.2lbs!! I’ve lost over 10lbs from when I started this journey in mid March. My pants fit great again and I’m really noticing that my clothes are sitting different… also I’m not ashamed of my arms anymore- while not toned, they aren’t exactly flab either! Day 25- May 7th 1. Calorie Count: 1,320 2. Physical Activity: 20 min walk (still giving my ankles time to rest. Swelling has gone done, but still sore and puffy looking) I’m looking forward to getting back into the Hero Challenge but don’t want to make things worse 3. Meditation class? Nope 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.10 miles. Wore my awesome new tank top for the walk today! Check it out!: Walking to Mordor tank (logged- Mordor Walk total: 146.10) 5. Did I go outside today? At recess and for my leisurely walk after school. THERE! Done. Now I should just keep up with it. : P Also, holy crap you guys! It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. Look what I had to battle in the teachers’ lounge!! It’s the Dunkin Hydra… those strawberry frosted donuts looked so good…… and there was cake. Candy is everywhere. Got offered chocolate strawberries… Just say no. Just say no. I don’t eat that. :’D……. but the donuts… THE DONUTS. I was good. It helped that I had weighed in that morning and seen my progress. I think I was the only hold out on my team. Buuuut I did take the Milky Way that was left in my box. I cut it in half last night and only had that piece. I’ll save the rest for later this week. Mmm… love my Mars Bars (if only they were really Mars Bars…) Also I’ve injured myself. My ankles took a nasty turn on Wednesday evening. I had noticed soreness after the silks class, but wrote it off to just stretching them beyond what I was used to. On my drive home was in a lot of pain because my feet and ankles were throbbing. I looked down and saw they were swollen. My inner ankles have a red spot over it… it’s improved a bit, but I’m taking it easy and avoiding the high impact stuff for a bit.

Done. Mini 4. These are our 10 points for this round, right? We don't receive another 10 at the end? Or do we level up to 2?... I'm confused, haha.

For mini challenge 4: 1. Goal allocation: Q1: Track food intake in MFP and stay around 1400 cal= 1 CON Q2: Get moving (20 min of activity a day) = 2 CHA, 1 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA Q3: Attend a meditation class = 2WIS LQ: Go outside each day= 1 CON, 1 CHA 2. Mid Challenge Summary: Q1: Track food intake in MFP and stay around 1400 cal= A (100%) Q2: Get moving (20 min of activity a day) = A (95.8%) 23/24 days Q3: Attend a meditation class = F (0%) LQ: Go outside each day= A (100%) 3. Challenge allocation: Q1: A (100%) = 1 CON Q2: A (95.8%) = 1.9 CHA, 1STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA Q3: A (0%) = 0 WIS LQ: A (100%) = 1 CON, 1 CHA 4. Signature: Updated 5. Points Allocated? Yes?... Ok, so we get 10 total this round, right? We won't get another ten at the end of the challenge, so basically these points I've allocated could shift based on final percentages? Just checking. : ) Still a little confused on this piece. **thanks peelout. No mediations classes for me this challenge!!!

Ahhhh!!! Silks was so much fun!!!! :DDDD I really enjoyed it! My favorite thing was this L shape we made by walking up(?) the one strand(?) and ended up in a sitting L shape... Idk. It was so different than anything I've done before! They kept it simple of course, but my ankles feel crazy sore after the stretches we did. I am not so flexible. Still... can't wait until next Tuesday!!! and.... i will eventually get back to logging my stuff here. I've been good though!

It has! I have been logging data in the various apps in my phone and am still keeping to my goals. week 4!!! I was witness to my progress yesterday when I put on my dreaded too-small work pants and found that not only did they fit, they were loose! I'll post my data stuff later tonight. These last few weeks before summer are kicking my butt at school with regard to my work load. @starsapart yessssss!!!! The class is tonight and I am SO excited

@peelout Haha, yes. My kids know I love all the fandom things. I tried hiding it for awhile. But then one of my students last year (second grade!! 8 yrs old!) comes in one morning, stares at me, and says "Do you know Doctor Who?" and well... it went downhill from there. She had apparently binge watched on netflix over the weekend and became obsessed. Vashta Narada shadow tag became a thing. She built me a TARDIS out of construction paper. This year i'm like "I'm a Hufflepuff walking to Mordor and I love dragons" and they're like "k" I love my kids. I also get to be a big kid for the most part... and you know... teach. haha

@starsapart Yeah- I don't know what happened on day 13. I will make sure that doesn't happen again. Nutrition and getting the right amount of food is important! I start silks next Tuesday. I'm so excited. @raptron C25k sounds like a plan. I really like the idea of running. It seems like it would be a stress-reliever, which is what I really want out of it. The walking has been great though as an alternative. I am really enjoying it. any suggestions on how else to ensure I'm running in the right form? the article from Steve was really good, but I keep getting mixed messages about barefoot vs running with good shoes. I like my minimalist sneakers right now.... but are those alright? Day 16 1. Calorie Count: 1361. Paleo recipe was a success- only I warped it into not paleo by eating it with tortillas and rice and beans, lol. Tomorrow I will eat it with lettuce as a wrap instead haha- no rice and beans. Discovered that tortillas are a major weakness. 2. Physical Activity: 40 min walk, Darebee.com's Hero's Journey 60 Day program- Day 2. 3. Meditation class? No. 4. Walk to Mordor update- 5.23 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Walked outside and did my workout there too. It was in the 60s which is really unusual and was awesome. I was actually cold.

Mini Quest 3 completed here. I've done parts 1&2 completely and am working on the implementation part.

Day 15 1. Calorie Count: 1,360-- and looking forward to tomorrow's dinner. It will be the first one from the paleo recipe book that I bought. Slow cooker shredded chicken and tomatillos with some sort of carrot to go with it, lol. 2. Physical Activity: 20 min walk, Darebee.com's Hero's Journey 60 Day program- Day 1. 100 squats... just... ugh. But I did them. 3. Meditation class? No. 4. Walk to Mordor update- 3.37 miles 5. Did I go outside today? Yes! and what a lovely warm day it was. Tomorrow should be nice and cool for a longer walk. Mini quest 3- 1. I think that I have been most interested in starting to run during some of my walks, but every time I try I end up hurting my knee and having to slow down my workouts to give it time to heal. I'll be listening to some great music and I just want to run! The trouble is I have bad form (I think?) and I don't know how to start so that I build up distance/time. 2. I found two helpful pieces in my search. The first was a thread that gave ideas on what programs might help get started- Couch to 5K and the jeff galloway method. The thread is here. Another was an article by Steve called A Beginner's Guide to Running that discussed some of the steps to get started. It suggested taking my running away from sidewalks and asphalt to a track. 3. I will start out by downloading Couch to 5K to explore this as an option and also look at the Jeff Galloway website to see what that's about... then I will work on finding some place to run that will help with the whole impact issue. Maybe. I feel like I am collecting underpants at the moment- so I will only give myself that point WHEN I utilize this research. It's all good stuff.

Keep it up, Hiram!! My vote is with you for mayor and I am rooting for you!! Positivity is everything and remember to be kind to yourself. You've got this.

@raptron- Sorry! my weekends always get away from me. I made a chocolate cake from a recipe that's been in my family for awhile. Passed down from my great grandma. Maybe that's not too long... but it's special to us. I had a piece on Friday. It was delightful. I also have no idea how many calories it was and I don't plan on figuring it out lol. I never figured out the watermelon thing, but I decided to give it up for now. I'll ask my nutritionist at my next visit. maybe she can give me some insight. Day 12: 1. Calorie count: 1,262 + cake (pass day- mom's birthday. I did really well except I had a slice of cake at the end and I don't know how many calories it was... but I ordered healthy at Olive Garden. They had a chicken that was delicious and I skipped the pasta. I DID eat two breadsticks though... it's a weakness lol) 2. 30 minute walk + Make me a Sandwich workout from darebee. 3. Not yet 4. Epic Quest Update: 3.59 miles added on 5. Life Quest: Outside for the walk and for some shopping Day 13: 1. Calorie count: 837. Such a busy day. I didn't eat right at all and I had a major deficit that I was not proud of... even MyFitnessPal was scolding me for being so far below my goal lol.... Bought some books on paleo though. Going to make 3-5 of the recipes this week to try them out. I'm looking forward to that and toying with the idea of making a quest for my next challenge to make my breakfasts meet the paleo standard. I'll be on summer break and have time to get creative in prep for next year. 2. 2 hrs, 11 min walking. 3. Not yet 4. Epic Quest Update: 6.51 miles. There was a magical moment walking next to some bushes when a cloud of butterflies erupted from it and I was walking through all "ahhhh!" and with this huge grin on my face. 5. Life Quest: Outside for the walk and MORE SHOPPING ...i got paid friday. this is a bad habit of mine. Day 14: 1. Calorie count: 1,388 2. 1 hr 52 min walk. I walked with my grandpa up and down hills on this one, and then with my grandma for 4 miles or so. I was so proud of her! We ended up walking to Sonic of all places, but my iced tea tasted good... and it might have been a nice experience minus the waspish thing that kept landing on us while we waited for the breakfast burrito we were going to share. It sucked the joy right out of it. Went shopping for the paleo recipes. Good lord, produce and meat are expensive... I miss the aisles of the grocery store lol. OHH and more good news on this front. Found that pool last week and today they were having an ice cream social (I didn't partake in that goodness) but they were signing on new members. I joined! I now have a place to swim this summer. I can get some laps in. 3. Not yet 4. Epic Quest Update: 5.53 miles.I saw a woodpecker. TOTAL for now: 101.9 miles. I'm nearly to Bree! 5. Life Quest: Outside for the walk.

How are the quests going, my friend?

That's great! I bought a book on paleo and plan to digest it slowly over the next couple of weeks and get used to the idea. I want to finish off some of the things I already bought though. I do like my greek yogurt too. It can make for a delicious breakfast! I think it's just important that you are being health conscious and making good decisions about what you feed your body. And if the greek yogurt isn't bothering your stomach, then it should be fine, right? That's the point of paleo?... Not sure, haha. Awesome about your name. I love Mists of Avalon. It's one of my favorite books! I love Arthurian legends.

Day 11: 1. Calorie count: 1,102 (also watermelon, my beloved watermelon, has turned against me. I get a consistent stomach ache every time I eat it now. this makes me so sad. Any suggestions? Anyone dealt with this before?) 2. 30 minute walk. Wesley's vet visit ate into my after school time. And I had to bake a cake. DUH DUH DUH... tomorrow is a pass day for my mom's birthday. 3. Not yet 4. Epic Quest Update: 3.44 miles today. 5. Life Quest: Outside for recess and walk.

@cat in the rack- second graders. 7-8yr olds

Mini #2 complete! - Updated my signature. Currently following: Mourgause, Swatches, Abaddon, Luthien, stupendous me

Heya! I see you also have a Disney quote in your signature. Love your goals! Let me know how paleo goes... I'm flirting with the idea of trying it sometime soon but I'm worried about it, lol. Does your username have anything to do with Arthurian legends, by chance?

Hey fellow Texan! Just wanted to say I'm rooting for you and you are doing great!! Keep it up. We're almost done with our first two weeks!! Almost halfway there!

I don't know how to quote, so...XD @swatches Yeah- I've got a limit at 1400, but I end up eating about 1200-1300 a day... I stop myself from eating after 8pm completely though. My nutritionist said I should try the intermittent diet but I really cannot fathom doing it with a teacher schedule. My kids would hate me because I get really grouchy when I'm hungry lol. I'll give it a shot during the summer maybe and see how I feel on it. I'm sure it's not so terrible... but this 1400 thing is working for me so far. Groupons can be amazing. Haven't seen any that have struck my fancy lately though. And yay for more teachers! Bless you for doing kinder, lol. I'd loose my mind. ... I may have already. @AllTheTexans :'D San Antonio, here. Viva Fiesta! I have off tomorrow. Currently looking for some place with a pool to do some swimming this summer to beat the heat. Planning on walks and outside activities being early early or really late.. Can't it just stay spring?

Also I'm doing the closed fist push ups too! Like eleanorsbee was suggesting. It really helps. I can usually manage just fine that way.

I'm in the same boat with you. I've just gotten a referral to see a physical therapist about it, so I'll let you know if I learn anything that could be helpful!