monsupee

Your playlist sounds fabulous, what else is on it? Circus pants huh, that your usual practice attire?

Must say, love all the cats, a definite check in the plus column here. My PT told me squats were definitely helpful, I should do more of them, though I try to sneak in some when I go to the bathroom. No one's watching you like you're crazy if they can't see you. What kind of injury did you have? I may have missed it in between all the posts, or maybe an earlier thread.

Ooh, shiny, I'm right there with you.

After a semi-successful first challenge, I'm returning for a second challenge with the ever awesome Assassins. I'm keeping my challenges simple again this round, partly to get back into some healthy habits and partly since I'll be on vacation for 10 days of the challenge. I had foot surgery back at the end of May and have only just started back to ballroom dancing, I took my first class last Tuesday and went to my first dance and danced on Saturday! I have class again tonight. I definitely still am sore and my muscles are so out of practice, but that will go away with time. Fitness/Activity Goal 1: Take 1 dance class a week (exception when I'm on vacation) and sadly practicing on my own isn't something I'm comfortable with yet since my balance isn't great, which leads me to goal two. Goal 2: Do a minimum of 5 minutes of balance/flexibility training each day Goal 3: Get a minimum of 10 active minutes on my fitbit at least 5 days of the week, 7 is better but I'm counting 5 as a win Diet Goal 1: Add at least one fruit and one veggie to my day, can with meals or a snack Goal 2: Cook at home at least 2x a week (exception to when I'm on vacation and that's not an option and then I need to pick a healthy meal option as a substitute for those 2x) Life Goal 1: Unpack at least 1 box/bag per week that is in my room (I moved in around a year ago and haven't unpacked everything) I think I'll have this as a success if I get through 4 boxes/bags total, rather than requiring one per week, though if that's how it works out, that's fine, but the week I'm on vacation will have to roll into a different one. Goal 2: Go through my clothes/shoes and weed out things that are old/don't fit/don't like. There you have it, reasonable goals and I should be able to work through them while I'm gone as well. You have permission to send me a message on here if I disappear for more than a few days (other than when I post I'm gone and may have limited ability to post). I tend to be on here primarily on week days, but occasionally on the weekend/evening, especially if I get a message.

I get a message in my personal email that I have a message on NF, so yes. That last message prompted the return here and the realization that it was multiple weeks that I was away. Time just sort of flew by the last couple of weeks.

Power yoga, I've mostly been doing relaxation type yoga/gentle yoga since I don't stand/hold positions while standing very well yet. But I think once I start moving more that I'll find that I can do more. My step count this past week+ has been really high for me, though not by choice and I am feeling it in the evenings. I'll have to think on the next challenge and see what might be a good way to ease back into the activity without overdoing it. Suppose I should actually see what kind of success I had and see how points would go. And definitely need to add in a component for checking in at least 1x per week even if things get busy.

And on again today, though not as early as planned, work actually wants me to do real work. So I'll have to settle for home in the evening to check in for now. Had my last day of petsitting and the last day of walking the dog, won't miss having to drive over there and the run, stop, run, stop of getting out with the dog, but it was definitely nice to be back walking. I've been given a clean bill of health and told that nothing I do will cause damage to my foot, which is great news. It's obviously no where near as strong or steady as it was so I can't just straight into everything I want full force, but it does mean I can start dancing again. Woot! Probably some low level classes to ease back in, see how it feels, build up the muscles, test out its boundaries and see about trying to unlearn the bad habits I picked up compensating for the bad foot. Since it's still sore and the cold makes it hurt, I can see compensating still but at a lower level the demands on it aren't as much so I can let it gradually get back into the habit. I'm hoping that the movement and motion will help loosen up muscles and start the strengthening. I didn't realize how many little muscles there were until I started using good frame, my poor arms whimpered after a class of waltz with them outstretched and held up. I had been doing consistent weight training at that point and it didn't help get them used to it, stronger sure, but basically time was the key. If you've ever seen ballroom dancing, you just hold them up and out to the side fairly consistently for a good 20-30 minutes straight and you find the muscles you didn't know about. Same with holding poses and getting into weird contortion type positions, I've accepted that I won't be able to join the dance team at all this season, so I'll pretty much just have to watch and cheer them on. But I have to admit it'll be nice to just dance for fun without any specific goals immediately. Joining midseason means learning the routine that others have had months to work on in a short time and I'm just not physically ready to put that kind of effort in. Next season though I see no reason I can't. There are some things I still need to work on for the next challenge, posting and checking in more consistently (even when all hell is breaking loose) even if it's short is needed. I'll likely be able to up my steps/walking goal and should have more time free since I'm only planning on one class next semester and that's assuming I decide I like the online class method. I don't in concept since it's hard to motivate myself to do the schoolwork or show up sometimes, but without the physical showing up, it might be hard to get everything done. Plus that means more time on a computer, which may not be the best idea. We'll see once classes start though what is expected. I don't want to repeat the class that pretty much sucked up all my free time for the past 5 weeks. Final, only the final. I will be ready with a big big glass of wine to celebrate, then deal with the craziness of Christmas.

I'm here. Can't believe it's been weeks since I was on. I usually post from work, but actually have been really busy at work. School has taken over my evenings and many weekends. Good news is I was fairly on for my goals, freggies may have had some unsuccessful days, but I track all my food and steps, so I can easily go back and see and report back on my missing weeks and play catch up. I'll try and pop in tomorrow for more, but wanted to wave before bed and thanks for posting, probably should say if I disappear anyone can send me a message since it'll show up in my email which I do check and I feel guilty if I don't reply to a message.

I haven't been home long enough in the evening or weekend to do anything remotely like cooking or food prep. I usually buy fruit and bring to work, I can probably do something like add prepped veggies. I was better yesterday and have a banana right next to me for my morning snack. If I have time to cook, or actually be at home, then it's not a problem, but when I leave home at 7:30am and get home between 9-10pm most of the week days then I just can't talk myself into doing more afterwards, pretty much just crawl into bed. If I'm home on the weekend, then I can do some prep, but I left Friday after work and got home Sunday around 9:45pm. Holiday next week, so it'll be a short work week, for which I am eternally grateful. Hopefully I can have some stuff prepped for when I go back after the holiday.

You seem to have some successes for this week. Definitely listen to the ankle and make some adjustments according to what it says. Walking versus running when it doesn't want to cooperate is absolutely the way to go. I pushed it more often than not, then had to stay off my feet for several weeks, then the routine would start again. Is there anything you can be doing to help your ankle? I don't remember what you said was wrong with it, injury that hasn't healed? Your dinners sound super tasty. I think grilling veggies or chicken or anything with teriyaki sauce is tasty, though when it rains then I can do it in the skillet more stir fry like.

Though keeping only the front end inside seems a good compromise.

One reason I am happy with my cats, this is not usually a problem. Though they would likely try to take control of said fort for their own comfort.

School is definitely taking up more time and as it gets closer to the end it's taking more time still, only 4 more weeks to go, but those are going to be 4 crazy weeks. I need to be better about working on the big projects now so that I'm not cramming the weekend before. Another day of meeting my step goal, veggies not so much, PT not at all. 1 out 3, that would be a good percentage for a batting average.

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/73677-new-recruit-monsupee-has-entered-the-building-and-reporting-for-duty/ I have had no luck using the link feature, at least from this computer. I suppose I should actually think about how I'm going to try and become more stretchy.

Finished is finished. Barely or not. Maybe next time it will be less barely.

I'm not really looking at Druid, but looking at improving flexibility and stretchiness. I'm game to join y'all if you are willing to take another.

I think exercise in general would be more fun if there was glow tape and sparkles to go with it. Ting Tings are a great choice. Sometimes it's the little things like eating and walking that make the big things happen. How goes the continuation of the applications and such? Those really are such a pain to fill out.

I have been pretty bad about getting on and updating or doing much posting this week. Let's see, how did the week go. PT = 0 days, I just couldn't get over there during lunch and after work I was either at school or writing papers. I haven't looked to see when my next paper is due, but I just got the assignment Tuesday. I have a project for the class due in December, so I need to be working on that as well. But I'll try and get at least some exercises in. 10 minute walks - sort of successful. I didn't always get out for walks, but I did force myself to take the longer routes to get to my car or the restroom so I had to move more, as a result my daily steps jumped around 500 steps a day over week 1. I reset my goal on my fitbit to 5000 (I hadn't changed it since surgery when it was 10,000). I've met goal the past 3 days and well over goal a couple days. Freggies - I met my minimum of two 6 days and got more than that on 1. So some successes, some less successes and some needs work to end week 2.

Valere, what's your go to song or two to get you moving? I know I have a playlist with stuff that I keep for when I exercise, or back when I was running. I try to add to it so there's lots of variety but there are always songs that make you smile and want to dance/move. I think right now I'm on a kick of Shut up and dance by Walk the Moon, Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, though Tom Cochrane's version is good too. Bon Jovi will also do it, You Give Love a Bad Name, It's My Life, Living on a Prayer and a few songs by Bryan Adams, Waking up the Neighbors, Summer of 69. All have good memories and are upbeat. Sunshine is always nice after days without it. I'm not sure how people live without seeing it for weeks on end. Do whatever needs doing seems like a great idea, forcing a deed a day seems difficult. My friends and I are discussing doing 40 deeds in a weekend sine we all turned 40 this year. But that's with multiple people, or I considered doing 40 on my own during the year, which is less than one a week. But sometimes just doing what needs to be done when you see it is enough. The last wafer video is Roxette, totally loved her when I was in high school (in the 90's).

I needed some cat gifs today, been a long couple of days. cat needs attention.JPG

Well now I want wafers too darn it.

Since I couldn't do any dance, I decided to take a couple classes at the local jr. college. One is an English literature class on mythology, that was Tuesday's paper. I had to write about a myth using one of the theories to explain it. After class on Tuesday, not sure I fully got the concept down, but it was turned in. Test was okay, but certainly nothing great, with luck I'll at least pass it. Some stuff I blanked on, others I remembered some, but not sure if it's enough for full credit and no clue on the essay. Took almost 2 hours to complete and my hand was tired. Paper two is one final read through away from being done and uploaded so I can't think about it any more. It surpassed the pages required, I think it was a bit over 8 1/2, maybe 9 of actual writing rather than the 5-7 page one. But without some of the data, it seemed weak and she said she didn't care if it went over. Just doing a quick history took a page out of the 5. Now on to getting ready for the weekend. Plus I should go for a walk, eat lunch, and so forth. It hasn't been a super successful couple of days, but I'll just aim to do better today and the rest of the week.

Amazing how schoolwork or work sucks you in and you have to do actual work rather than posting and updating. Week 2 is doing okay so far, breakfast has been consumed both days, I've got some short walks in, though no PT. I'm working on getting my papers done and that has pretty much eaten up my time. Add in a migraine or two and it's been a fun couple of days. Paper one is done, certainly not my best work, but at this point I'm happy to have it done. Midterm in that class tonight which I'm set on if it covers either of the myths I've been reviewing, if not, I may be in trouble. Tomorrow is a holiday but I'll be finishing paper two, but it's at least started though it'll need some serious editing, but we'll see how that goes. I'll probably do a final read through and edit on Thursday before I upload it for class. Once I get through those papers, then I'll probably have a little breathing room, until I have to get my project and presentations done, though I will start worrying about that next week. I'm waffling on whether I want to do my presentation the first class and then only have to worry about the final in my one class and can focus my attention on the other more work intensive one. Only 5 weeks to go after this one...

I'll also add that there is a huge difference in life between pre show and after show. All the lead up to the show means more rehearsal, more practice and more time at the studio, or at least it did for me. Plus ballroom dancing = contact sport, so if one person is sick you've been contaminated before you knew anyone was sick. So the week of show pretty much always meant I had some chest cold, sinus infection, asthma attack or combination of them. There's so much build up and anticipation before a show and once it's over there's this huge let down or maybe it's just that there's a release of pressure that you've been dealing with that's been building for some amount of time. You should absolutely have show goals and after show goals. The expectations on yourself should be different. After so much time leading up to a show, the need to lessen the activity is reasonable. I know the week before show it was not unusual for me to spend 1-4 hours a day the week before the show and that wasn't even dress rehearsal or physically being at the studio but practice time. So give yourself some leeway and reevaluate your goals. You may not need to spend as much time practicing or biking to get there, but look at your schedule and pick some days to get some exercise and some days where you can have a bit of rest. You probably deserve it after all this chaos. After a week or so of calm, you can always readjust your schedule and increase your activity. I guess what I'm saying in a long drawn out way. You aren't alone. Set some smaller goals to give yourself some breathing room and be successful, then you will be ready to push yourself a bit more. I imagine you will have another show or reason for rehearsal so the dance time will build up again to a frenzied pace.

1. Is your overall quest achievable (over a short or long period of time)? Is it reasonable? - I think it is, it's a longer term goal, but since it's therapy and the goal is to regain strength and flexibility enough to participate in dance and other enjoyed activities, that's totally doable. 2.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? Yup, some a bit more directed than others. Walking, building up stamina and muscles that have had to be at rest for a while, plus doing the PT that will help me see improvement in the strength and flexibility I'm hoping for. The last is just a healthier eating habit that I really should be doing already but haven't. 3.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? I'm not sure how to make them smaller, they are pretty small to start with since I didn't want to overdo it to start. 4.Are your goals able to be measured and tracked? What will you use to track them? Yes. They have a time period and a number of days per week. It's not every day and they can be done any day and almost any time. 5.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€? I'm grading on a sliding scale. If I meet my goal, then it's full points, then fewer based on how I did, bonus points if I do more. No grades on weight or end results, just did I do the activities/quests that I set. Sometimes I'll be successful, other times, work and health may get in the way, but I'll be better off than where I was before the challenge started so it's still a victory. 6.What is your plan for continuing/altering/grading those goals if you become ill or injured? I'm open to making adjustments to it if there's a need for it, if I'm sick and don't leave my bed for 3 days, then I grade based on the 4 healthy ones, no big deal. You can't control things like that. 7.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? 10 minute walks can happen on those days regardless, or 2 5 minute walks if needed. I can add fruits/veggies in regardless of the holidays/birthdays whatever. PT is a little more difficult, I may not get as good a workout if I don't hit the PT office or the gym, but I have bands and can do a few exercises at home to make some effort towards my goal. 8.Do any of your main goals conflict with each other? Will one goal make it hard to do another? No, just have the one main goal at this point so nothing conflicts. 9.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? I'm hoping so, it will depend on the day and the week. I work and take classes, so if there's a big school crunch with papers, then that week may suffer some, but others I can usually hold my own. With work, I can usually find time to get out for a short walk, though other days it's harder or the weather conflicts and I have to make do with shorter indoor walks. 10.Are you trying to build multiple habits, or is all your energy focused on your main quest? I'm trying to build some habits, some I had pre surgery, others not.