ixaera

I settled on this for this week's lootbox https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/wade-logan-burrage-end-table-wdln3903.html It also nullifies the need for one of those couch arm drink trays, cuz it can do double duty with its convenient C-shape. Two birds, stylishly rendered flightless with one purchase.

4/6 - 4/12 I think this is only getting harder, but I super need this to keep sane y'all preening, but just for me Strength Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun Focusing on push up form is maybe tweaking my left elbow a bit. Not sure. But when I did one arm db shoulder presses my left elbow was having a tendon click just shy of painfully. I don't like this development. But, I did the thing in thing's entirety. Score: A+ Cardio Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat I combined some of my training with cardio again, which has freed up a little time on work nights. I will likely continue this trend. Score: A Stayed the Intake Course Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Sat, Sun Overall Avg: In Range So close to the target in its exactitude, it's almost hilarious. (within 6 calories y'all) Since I'm home all the time, I cook more now, almost as much as I was prior to this job, which means in general the quality of food is pretty dang good. Last week I had a ground beef/ veggie/rotini blend that was high in veg and pretty good, and some chicken curry that was low cal and made with lots of cauliflower and light on the creamy sauce. I made way too much of the chicken though and got SICK of it after the 4th or 5th bowl. There was still so much left. I felt horrible but there was no way I was gonna eat the rest - it got garbo'd. I also made a lean ground beef pasta dish that's on the heavier side but so tasty. This coming week is looking good too - doing sandwiches for lunch and tonight I made a chicken stir fry that was SO tasty. Got some eggs and pico, some guac, gonna be a solid one. Training I did my 1.5 hours, without counting the actual training session I attended (I won't count that anyway, my gosh I had so much trouble paying attention that I probably didn't learn much anyway). I almost did more, but I watched twitch on the stepper that day instead. (I don't have a playstation, I'm holding out for PS5, but I'm desperate to see that FF7 action y'all) Lootbox I have money to spend on a PRIZE, but what? I decided that standing up to eat is the most annoying thing in my life right now, so my prize will be a fancy tv tray (or set, depending on what I settle on). Next week might be one of those couch arm things to hold cups. A plan is forming. Like, maybe these? I'm so undecided https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/zipcode-design-riceboro-5-piece-tray-table-set-w001503262.html Struggles This Week I'll be honest. I'm SO SO struggling. I'm getting it done but it's not without a lot lot lot lot of pushing myself. And I don't want to let up because if I just let myself do whatever, I will probably get actually depressed and stuff will start coming apart. I definitely am surviving via routine and to-do lists at the moment. No changes for the coming week, I think these goals are strong and do me good. I think adding to it would be a Bad Plan right now. I am kind of eyeing JustCallMeAmber's water goal though >.> I definitely drink too much diet soda these days and would benefit...........

it is so far from exactly what I want to be doing lol BUT we do what we can because we must

J/k weekends happen! Like, this one is over. How??

Has it really only been one week? March 30 - April 5 Strength Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun Not too different from last week, programmatically. I'm focusing on push up form, because I think I was flaring my elbows too much before. Score: A+ Cardio Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sun For super hax extraordinaire, I watched trainings while doing the stepper. That's right, I COMBINED two goals. Score: A Stayed the Intake Course Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Sun Overall Avg: In Range A little over this time, but still technically within range (I'm doing -/+ 5%). The end goal is within sight. I could be there in 2 months y'all, back to where I felt my best ever Training Two hours is too many. I don't have that in me. 1.5 was perfectly reasonable though, and I knocked it out early this week. Lootbox So, I'm awarding myself a lootbox each week if I do well at all 4 goals. This week I ended up kind doing two things that evened out into what I was gonna spend (though I'm eyeballing my budget right now, so I might scale this guy back, I might do a financial thing at some point). I chose 2 jackbox party packs on steam (for remote-hanging with friends on video chat), and I did a treat-mahself dinner of filet mignon delivered from a fairly nice grill nearby. Struggles This Week I'm still strugglebussing with motivation to get out of bed and do a workout I just don't like as much in the morning. But, I'm doing it. And, the results are clear. I'm honestly ready for Doc Brown and Marty to fix this broken timeline already. Anyone else obsessed with Animal Crossing about now?

Why yes! Projections are good for success this week (I'm already at an hour with 3 days AND tonight to go), so I'm trying to choose between some stuff. I'm kind of wanting to pick something that will be useful during home isolation, so something for my apartment, a game, maybe. I need a lot of stuff for my apartment and the ring fit adventure game looks fun, so it's a tough loot choice. Furniture that needs to be delivered is OUT right now so my first choice of a nightstand or coffee table or balcony swing chair isn't going to work... (plus even if they were still doing deliveries like that I wouldn't feel okay doing that right now) So it's gotta be something I can download or that can be mailed that I can handle myself. What a pickle! That actually opens up assembly type furniture that can be shipped though. Anyway the answer is I haven't decided but I have MULTIPLE things in mind at the moment. I hope you enjoyed this stream-of-consciousness journey through my decision-making process XD

omg noted DUALLY

Mmmmm blueberries. So hard not to mindlessly shovel During the summer it's fun to freeze them before consuming!

An update for March 23 - 29 Just putting some structure into these unfortunate times. Strength Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun Doing minimum equipment / bodyweight focused workouts courtesy of my Stronger By The Day subscription. These aren't wimpy, so I still feel challenged. I definitely don't enjoy this type of workout as much as barbells and cable machines and lever machines at a good gym, for sure, but I need the sanity (and it's focusing some stuff I never hit so it's not all bad) Score: A+ Cardio Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun Been watching tv while using the pedal stepper thing. I gave up on jumping jacks after my back made threatening gestures at me. Score: A Stayed the Intake Course Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun Overall Avg: In Range Not my best effort honestly. I came in under the mark (barely), but there was some compensating for a bottle of wine that I wasn't too proud of. At one point I DID manage to have 2/3rds of a pint of Blue Bell, though, and that my friends is worth it. Vegetables Yeah, I had veggies every day but Monday. I'm not struggling with this and barely have to think about it, so I'm going to swap it with something that's a challenge. NAMELY: Professional development! Our favorite friend! The Plan is to read from a book my boss recommended, mixed up with watching stuff while steppin' for cardio. The initial goal this coming week is at least a total of 1.5 hours of study. 2+ hours = a retail therapy sort of prize. Struggles This Week Honestly, the struggle has been doing the bodyweight workouts. I'm very determined to do these, so there's no real plan to adjust this. I don't have room for a gym in a one-bedroom apartment, so, we do what we can. The stepper is less of a problem because I can just drag it out and use it while watching other stuff. I do miss a real elliptical, though. I'll be very grateful for open gyms when they exist again. Intake is a struggle. As long as I keep the input generally healthy (and for me, lighter on carbs or at least make sure the carbs I get are complex), it's not a hardship to stay in cut range. That's old news, though. Being homebound has made work and friend happy hours so much easier. They're virtual, so there's a lot less pressure to talk (it's hard for multiple conversation threads to flow on a video chat), and so a lot less pressure to get tipsy enough to talk. This has REALLY helped the cut not tank from alcohol calories. Anyway, I did so well this week and I'm proud enough of this that my gold star is basically online shopping. I hope everyone is doing well and able to find everything they need ❤️

As promised, an update for Mon-Sun Mar 16 - Mar 22 Strength Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun (4 workouts, ah, ah, ah) Tues: bench press AMRAP plus upper accessories Thurs: squat plus leg accessories (gym was still open at this point). Went light on squats, working up to 4s at only 115, because my back was griping about the unfamiliarity of my home work station floor mat (I've discovered that shoes offset this?) Sat: at home full body stuff, focus seemed to be on presses and triceps (so kind of a bench press repeat, but I didn't feel like finagling with the swap over for it to make sense) Sun: focus seemed to be push ups and bodyweight hip thrust variations. Really tough! Score: A+ Cardio Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat Cardio is usually elliptical when the world isn't ending. At home I have a little stepper guy that I sub in, or do a darebee cardio workout. Jumping jacks hurt my back though so I usually stick to the stepper. Score: A Stayed the Intake Course Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri Overall Avg: In Range (only a LITTLE over Sat/Sun, so this didn't hurt the effort really) Vegetables I am reconstructing this this week because my tracker doesn't have this yet (but boy I need it) Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sun ^ Not nearly as bad as I thought! I'm counting the day if I had any meal with a respectable veg count. If this stays higher than expected I'll replace it with some other goal like studying.

Hiii!! Yes! I still have to take GOOD CARE of it (it is a very sensitive thing) but all the trial and error has got me in a solid spot with that. No sitting for too long, no pushing heavy low back work (I am trap bar only again, sumo just was too much to be frank), got a special bed which is absolutely making a world of difference too. I've been trying to pop into instagram more often as well (I neglect social media on the reg, a blessing AND a curse). I hope you're doing great

I am doing the OKAYEST right now all things considering. SBTD is really great! The price isn't bad at all ($8/mo) and I don't have to spend any time thinking about programming. It's flexible and there's enough variety to keep me engaged.

So uh hey folks! How are you in these crazy times? I'll just roll into an update. A little summary on 10/18 onward: Work was a little too crazy busy honestly to post up til October in the first place. I'm astounded I made time for it for that long! Things have changed a whoooooole bunch in a year and a half (is it really ONLY a year and a half??). Item 1: Gained about 20 lbs by accident. I tried bulking and it totally wrecked my good maintenance habits. I'm currently about 2/3rds of the way through a cut to get back where I was in January 2018. Item 2: I switched programs somewhere in there and I now do Stronger By The Day (megsquats). For a while I had to cut it to 3 days which was tricky (this is a 4 day split program) because I was so stressed and busy that I just wasn't recovering doing all 4 days. Item 3: My back has not gone out even once since Feb. 2018, though it's gotten iffy a few times. This is something I consider Big Gains in the staying healthy column. Item 4: I also haven't gotten a ton stronger, but my focus has shifted from trying to push big numbers on a bar to aesthetics and general health. (This still includes the big 4, however.) And by aesthetics I mean pleasing to MY eye in particular, I'm not interested in trying to shape to bodybuilding comps or anything like that, I just wanna look great naked (to myself). Item 5: I'm still at the same company, but I've moved from application support into software development. I have been a baby developer for EXACTLY 5 months today. I have no idea if I'm going to be any good at it. Boss & team lead say I'm killing it and think I can get promoted next year if I keep up the good work, but I literally will not believe this until actually promoted or given a raise that beats industry average increases, so... everyday I fight the brain gremlins. Item 6: I did FINALLY get married to my 10-year boyfriend in April 2019. However, (no specifics) that is not a thing anymore as of a few months ago and I'm working through that mess. HI, I'M IXAERA, I AM A GIANT FLESHY PILE OF NEUROSES! NICE TO MEET YOU! I still work strength 2-4 times per week (usually at least 3) and haven't really taken much in the way of breaks from that in all this time. A week off here and there (would estimate no more than 5-6 of those in the last 18 months). I do LISS cardio 2-5x per week (more lately because of the fat loss goals). So my current goal is to update this once a week with how many strength workouts I did, how many cardio, whether I was within calorie limits for the week and % range, a ratio of days I ate actual vegetables. This is probably simple enough to not overwhelm. (I'm also SUPER busy because I'm constantly trying to learn more so I don't suck at my job.) Side project: I've been working on a Stardew Valley mod off and on as a way to learn. It's currently broken - it broke with 3.3.0 of SMAPI and I just discovered this yesterday, so I'm working on getting it fixed up. I'm so glad I got into home fitness long enough to have a strong collection of resistance bands and adjustable dumbbells right now.

The chaos monster is paying dividends in the form of a rare coveted work award! Yay effort I'm doing a week of 12s and as such I did a 3x12 at 100 lbs on sumo deadlift (wow tired lowback, but no booms) and there wasn't a good 40 lb bar to do 12s on OHP so I did a 2x8 on the empty bar then an AMRAP (11, matching my previous AMRAP PR). Some accessory things then skedaddled. Tomorrow is 12s on bench. Might as well be doing cardio yall

:S hopefully you have successfully merged back into just one person by now

Bank people do Many of them, anyway.

Snagged some low hanging squat PR fruit this morning for 3x12 at 90 lbs I don't do 12 reps too often so BOOM LOL PR Was gonna do 12s on the bench too but it was occupied so I did close grip on the crappy bench instead, and some accessory work. Gym was REALLY crowded for 10 AM on a Monday, even if it is Columbus day. And got the package lists for my top two venue choices and HOLY HAND GRENADE BATMAN

I have begun the venue hunt, and I need a WEDDING NOTEBOOK stat In my head it's a swank ass party with blue and violet lighting and karaoke and snacks and free booze (well obviously not free to ME) with a dance floor and I'd have the karaoke DJ take breaks every hour to do one of those stupid line dance songs I hate (no offense if you like 'em more power to ya but I can't dance and to me it's just lost prime karaoke real estate, but I'll be inviting a lot of family who loves that stuff) I just want to make a lot of good memories and have everyone celebrate the big event with us Thinking 6 months currently. I'm avoiding the summer entirely though so worst case, a year out. The first venue got back to me today so I'll be scheduling a TOUR and being all like "i have no idea what I'm doing just show me options and what stuff I do myself" aaa I got side bangs I love them I did lifts this week, just didn't post them I got into a funk in the middle of the week and just wasn't in the mood to internet much. But we're BACK baby Also I karaoke'd at work bravery level up

I saw your pics of Apple Farm wow so fantastic and charming!!! I am so jealous of your geographical location and I am so glad you are adjusting well to all these changes! So stressful and you are handling it like a bad ass

When life... doesn't??... give you lemons

Noooooted! That sounds really really good

I'm giving in to the sweeping current of life and doing simple updates for an unknown amount of time. The main goal is Do Not Fall Apart which translates roughly to "don't eat everything you see just because it's free" "keep lifting" and "keep ellipticalling" Today's update includes a vague pass-ish with food (pass will be maintenance or lower with a halfway decent amount of vegetables/real food) I lifted a 3x5 at 112 lbs for squats and 3x5 for 82 lbs for bench, and some face pulls Then I visited Mom & fam and had only 2 light beers instead of lots of momsnacks. Food included vegetables, eggs, and yeah some fried stuff and a flour tortilla but we didn't bust the maintenance cap so, pass. This week I anticipate more chaos. Cat MAY need the vet (and she gets upset enough and is old enough that I'm trying to make absolutely certain first... she was acting icky for a few days but seems okay now.) Work is doing things that will make life hard. Mr Ix is having a minor procedure done. I NEED to call a plumber, but I dunno how this is all gonna work idk I also have a doc appt too much lifing I also need to find time to call venues and stuff

Just as a rando update: I am still gaining instead of losing. SIGH. :/ Those stress loss pounds popped right back on. This week has been 5's on my program, so 3x5 at 109 on squats, 3x5 at 48 on OHP, 3x5 at 80 on bench and 3x5 at 119 on sumo deadlifts. I continue to gym as usual and I'll just leave the food things as my main goals here. since that's obviously hard enough as it is lol I've been testing reducing back-magic walking time from 15 min to 10 to see if it makes any difference AND so far after 2 weeks it does not appear to. Yay, that's 20 minutes saved per week! Too early to call but also so far adding back trap bar deadlifts on light deadlift day has not done any harm. Sleeps nao

AW SPANX I am reviewing my goals in light of life things for sure, more soon I think with the wedding it's going to be a small circle of close friends at a karaoke bar while my ordained-by-the-internet best friend signs our license with us, and then we take shots or something and do karaoke, cuz that's how I roll The stressful thing will be the giant reception party I plan that will happen a day or few after that for the combined families and friends. It's going to be like 250 people, is the thing. Maybe not that many. That's on the top 5 of things to tackle (figure out how many-ish) soon. I just know my family alone is at least 30ish. His isn't quite as hefty a number, but we both have quite a lot of friends we'd like to see as well. Family alone would probably be 60 just to be safe.