LadyCapka

I haven't read this whole thing, but I'm already in love with your theme here. I'm currently re-reading the HP series (even though my husband makes fun of me for it), and I'm currently finishing the fourth book. It looks like you're doing a good job staying on track. I'm excited to follow along.

Welp, time for an update: Running is ok. I've been doing 5-10 miles/week. My favorite yoga teacher left the studio, but there are some other good ones that I think will challenge me in new ways. They're mostly super helpful people, so it shouldn't be too hard of an adjustment. I fell off the Whole30 track eating out twice this week. So I got my binging out of the way over a couple of days (the leftover easter chocolate wasn't even that rewarding honestly), and I restarted on April 7th. I was feeling really good before I stopped, so I know I can get there again. Back aboard the health train!

The yoga does help. I think the back injury really stems from muscle imbalance and overly tight hips, and I found a really great teacher who is nothing like other yoga teachers I've met. She has some training in physical therapy.I would love to do the yoga more often, but it would take more discipline to fit it into my schedule.

Hi all! I did a little rebels challenge two rounds ago. Being a runner at heart, I want to adventure with the Scouts this time. I signed up for a half marathon that isn't until October. I also want to focus on diet because I know I can do better (and I want to look good at all the weddings I'm attending this year). My main big goals for this goal period will be to build my running base back up (about 10 miles/week) and complete Whole30. I started Whole30 on Sunday, March, 27th because it was convenient for me. It mostly lines up with this challenge period. I'm excited to see what changes it brings. I'll narrow down more specific goals as we get going. For now, I just wanted to get this little introduction up. Running history: I've completed five half marathons between 2013 and November of 2014. Then I got a nasty back injury that put me out of commission for awhile. It still acts up sometimes. I've been doing yoga about once a week, and I got mega cushy shoes to lessen the impact on my back. I've also been trying to keep up the Beginner Bodyweight Workout to hopefully avoid future injuries. I look forward to joining along on this challenge! (Slowly, and one mile at a time)

I HAD THE BEST RUN EVER LAST NIGHT. Sun setting over the bay, perfect weather, and a great podcast on the phone. It's one of those runs that makes you feel emotional about the deep parts of life, so that I didn't even feel my legs or my lungs. I never realized how much I missed running consistently outside. I'm definitely going to have to put together a training plan. My back doesn't even hurt today! Diet is still a challenge. Big changes may be coming soon.

Last night's yoga sucked. I was sore and tired and the substitute teacher had a style that I was not mentally prepared for. I did it though. Whatever. I also ate a ton of spinach to make up for the brownie that I couldn't resist. That balances it out, right? Maybe I'll run/walk tonight. Goals this week include keeping diet relatively on track because it's my last week at my current job, which means lots of special food events. ugh. Ideas for the next challenge keep popping into my head. I'm really interested in Whole30, but may just ease myself in that direction with my diet depending on the new work schedule. Once the new job is established, I may be able to do an intense diet change like that.

Got all my step goals over the weekend and even did the BBWW! Woo! Yoga is on tonight's schedule. Flexibility will help me so much in building up my core strength and rebuilding my ability to run long distances injury-free. I'm very excited about my lifestyle right now. It's also my last week at my current job, so next week at the new job will be the start of cutting about 1.5 hours of commute time out of my life every day, and I will be able to focus even better on my health. This challenge is going great! I'm already dreaming up goals for the next challenge.

Did my yoga last night. It was a different teacher than normal so it definitely got me out of my comfort zone when I was already sore! <--- how I felt afterwards. I'm also on track to get a 5-day streak of meeting my fitbit goal as long as I can get that done tonight with the house guests. For breakfast, I caved and got a bagel and "green power smoothie" at panera even though I should have gone for a healthier option. I though the "green power smoothie" would be healthy with green-ness and fruit, and what-not. I drank half of it on my way to work, then looked up the nutrition facts. Yeah, it's only 200 calories, but it's like 50 grams of sugar. I promptly dumped the rest of it out. The bagel was damn tasty though.

Awesome goals! I think you can handle the first goal pretty easily once you get into the habit Find an apple or a banana, and bring it with you when you're out and about for the day. I always bring something like that to work, and it helps me to resist the tempting donuts by eating an apple instead. Good luck!

For those looking for good two-player games, check out Lost Cities and Star Realms. I'm obsessed with both. Star Realms is also available as an app that plays well on ipads. Five Tribes is another one that is good for 2-4 players. In the 2-player version, you go twice each round, and who goes first always changes. It gives the game an entirely different dynamic for just two players. Also, for anyone who has mentioned Suburbia (I saw it in an earlier picture, but didn't read everyone's posts), I give that a +1, actually make that +100. It takes a lot of set-up but it's totally worth it. We've gotten a bunch of our friends hooked on it.

Awesome GIFs! Someday I will learn how to spice up my posts with things like that.

I forgot to mention: I completed the "Level Up Your Life" portion of my challenge by finishing Lean In. It wasn't as ground-breaking as I thought, but it was a refreshing perspective since I work in a male-dominated industry (engineering).

Did anyone watch the newest Star Wars movie? I am now obsessed with Rey.

I agree with the thing under the skin! I would be so freaked out. Like I said before, I have paragard, but my spotting (including some heavy bleeding) went away after month 1. We are approaching period #2 so we will see how that goes. I still get nervous like every day though and rush to the bathroom to check. I believe after three months everything should pretty much level out for all IUDs.

Haven't posted recently. Oops. So I went to Mexico City for five days to make a super-long holiday weekend, and I actually lost three pounds there! That's the most progress I've made in months! I think it was all the fresh seafood dishes and tons of walking. I had no problem hitting my fitbit goals the whole trip. I'm trying to keep that up to finish off my Workweek Hustle fitbit challenge, but I have a friend visiting starting tonight, so I'll have to force some walking in while I can. I did the BBWW once last week before leaving for the trip and again last night. I also ran a bit on the treadmill last night because walking was too slow to hit that fitbit goal. Yoga is scheduled for tonight (plus fitbit goal walking). I've been pretty good with including veggies wherever possible. When I went shopping earlier this week, I tried really really hard to only buy fresh, real food. I ate a hard-boiled egg for a snack today instead of the weekly office donuts. I am making fish for dinner tonight. MORE PROTEEEEEEIN.

Yesterday I did the BBWF routine and it felt so good! I also got in about two miles of running on the treadmill. Yoga is on the agenda for tonight. Also, I'm digging overnight oats for breakfast. Love me some oats, almond milk, dried fruit, and chia seeds.

I weighed myself and am already down one pound! Woo! Now I have to be good all weekend so I don't ruin it. I did my yoga yesterday and even ate a large carrot beforehand! Today I had a healthy salad for lunch and protein muffin for breakfast (minus the butter because apparently I can't follow directions - so it's accidentally healthier!) Not sure if I'll workout tonight, but I set up a fitbit challenge for this weekend which I would really like to win!

My first challenge! Time to really stick to a routine. I'm all over the place with running sometimes, walking, binge-watching netflix (oh wait, that's not a workout), and sometimes attempting body weight fitness. I have big goals and little goals. Big Goals Build core strength to protect lower back and look better Run the Yosemite half marathon in October (I haven't run a half marathon since my back injury in late 2014) Improve flexibility to keep injury at bay Improve Diet Eventually lose 6 more pounds, but this will take time and lifestyle change. I've been stuck around the same weight for quite some time. Little Goals to help me get to the big goals Fitness - Yoga 1x a week Fitness - Run 1x a week Fitness - Body Weight Fitness 1x a week (hopefully more) Fitness - Always be in some sort of fitbit challenge for the extra motivation to move Diet - More protein in my diet AKA hard boiled eggs all the time Diet - At least one real vegetable a day, uncooked or steamed Level Up Your Life - read Lean In

I just wanted to revisit this topic since my last post. I got the Paragard since then - for the first month I continued my bc pill to keep bleeding at bay, but still basically had a period for three weeks straight. Some days were heavy and crampy, other days were just a slight annoyance with a light pad. My first period was shorter than my normal periods had been, but heavier. It only lasted like 2 days though. I was really surprised for the rest of the week with NO bleeding or spotting. I have had only a day or two of minimal spotting since then. Count me as a success story! I love not setting my alarm at 5 on weekends just to take a damn pill! I am excited to see how my body reacts to no hormones for the first time in years. It will also be super convenient when traveling in different time zones! Oh, and I worked out like two days after insertion. Nothing has prevented working out since then. IUDs are by far the most convenient thing ever.

Does anyone have any experience with a menstrual cup and an IUD? I hate taking a stupid pill every day so I'm leaning toward the paragard (non-hormonal). However, I couldn't imagine having to revert back to tampons and pads. the dryness - ugh.

Hi everyone, I'm a big fan of the idea of "leveling up" my life rather than just working out forever without goals. I used to be big into running and was getting decent at half marathons, but a slipped disc and a slightly bulging disc in my lower back last year stopped all that abruptly. The back is still an issue on some days, but I've found that working out actually makes it feel better. Sitting on the couch is the worst for it. I like to think that I'm 90% healed, but still need to make a conscious effort to keep good form and posture. I've found my clothes no longer fit as well since my running days. I haven't even gained five pounds, but my muscle mass has redistributed to fat. I want to be strong again. I am mostly interested in getting back to running but the back injury made me realize that there is more I need to do. My injury boiled down to muscle imbalance putting too much strain on the lower back. I'm only 25. I'm too young for this to be a problem. So now I'm on a journey to level up my flexibility and strength in order to become the best scout I can be. I joined a yoga studio to help with flexibility. I started the BBWW a couple of weeks ago, and I love it! I also recently got back to intermittent running on the treadmill and use a fitbit to count steps all day. Hope to see you along my journey.