Kvedulf

Good to hear surgery went well. *joins in dancing to the Dropkick Murphys' but secretly wishes it was Flogging Molly instead*

@Bookish Badger, @Vibrantella and @Guzzi You're not alone. He's another one who second guesses everything. And it is nice knowing you're not the only one. So good that you managed to beat the brain weasels. We all know how insidious and frustrating and horrible the brain weasels are. Awesome work! P.S Salmon cakes sound tasty.

Thanks @EternalJourno. Wish I could say I was doing well this week. Feel like it's been a complete failure. And these withdrawals are seriously not good. I feel like I've got the worst hangover of all time, get random hot flushes and cold sweats, my brain sometimes feels like it's got an electric current being run through it, my mood swings between feeling good and feeling like giving up (at one point I was seriously considering giving up on the Rebellion and not doing my diploma), I'm irritable 24/7, can't sleep and to top it all off I know I'm taking out my frustrations on Ms Kvedulf and getting angry at Kvedulf Jr for being a toddler. Which makes me feel like the worst father ever. The only way to describe this is like going through puberty again at the same time as what I imagine menopause must be like, all while hungover. As a result I've not done a single workout as I'm struggling to find the motivation to do so, can't focus enough to even meditate, haven't played colour games with the little man and haven't renewed my learners. I don't even feel like reading. So guess who feels like the biggest failure in world? On the plus side, about the only thing that does make me feel slightly human at the moment is physical work so we've managed to get the house pretty well all decluttered, cleaned and organised. I've also almost managed to finish clearing the backyard up for the vege garden. Chainsaws and mulchers are fun. Foodwise has been pretty good. I'm now cooking Japanese dinners three nights a week which is really tasty, healthy and surprisingly good for the bank balance. Sorry for that, I know everyone has their own issues and there's probably not a lot that you could do to help, but I really needed to vent.

I didn't mean for you to take it literally I know that feeling all too well. Except the bit about pokeballs...

Otters are awesome. However I fear they may be interfering with the goat:post ratio. So to fix that,

Couldn't agree more. I feel like I know many of my fellow NF folk more and that y'all know me better than people I considered friends, even though I've never met any of you. Glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better though.

How's things going this week Badger?

That does not sound at all pleasant. Sending happy vibes.

Hi all I hope everyone else is doing well with their own challenges and everyone is healthy and happy. Week two review time MORALITY: Definitely some good changes here. Mostly in the little things. I'm more consistent in doing things I say I will. Particularly when I tell Ms Kvedulf "I'm going to do xyz" as I think all of us do. Except instead of forgetting to do it, I'm more mindful of it and get it done. I'm also more mindful of cleaning up after myself. The big thing though is that I am (with doctor's approval) going off my meds. It's desvenlaxafine and I should never have been on it in the first place. I'm on my third day off and I really will need samurai courage to fight these withdrawals. I have things to say in a very angry voice to the medical industry but that's another story. COURAGE: Really happy with this. Finally got all my workouts done. And I've been clearing the yard and have definitely noticed a huge increase in both my strength and endurance. Super happy here. Score: 100% BENEVOLENCE: Colour games are fun. Kvedulf Jr has discovered he loves painting outside while Mummy and Daddy do work in the yard. His favourite colour to paint with could best be described as "mud" POLITENESS: Again, I'm doing my meditation. Having a little more trouble the past few days as my brain flatly refuses to obey and focus on breathing. Doesn't mean I'm giving up though and I'm trying to recognise that both the lack of concentration and the frustration are both withdrawal side effects. Still not able to meditate at a set time because of toddler. Score: 75% HONESTY: The reading part is easy. Have managed to get an extra hour of reading done this week. Have been reading the Hagakure, browsed some Osprey books on Japanese warfare, looked up Buddhism, researched Desvenlaxafine/pristiq and researched herbal remedies for the withdrawal symptoms. Japanese practice is still not as good but I've been able to get two practice sessions in instead of one. Which is an improvement. And I'm really happy with myself here because even if I'm falling a bit on trying to learn Japanese, I'm reading and learning again which is more important I think. Score: 78% HONOUR: Got a lesson in. A theory lesson with Ms Kvedulf while we were driving. Also, I'd completely forgotten my learner's had expired so renewing that is right up the top of my to do list for next week. Score: 100% LOYALTY: My enrolment has been processed. I go into their "campus" on Monday for an orientation and then I can start studying The work to put in the vegetable garden and chicken coop continues. Currently clearing out the various scrub that needed to be taken away. Turning it into mulch so it won't go to waste. Score: 75% Weekly score: 85% Hell of a lot better than last week. I honestly didn't think I'd done that well, but I think that's mostly because I feel like utter rubbish. Still, good things are happening and I'm happy with myself. Will post again soon but have to get to work for the day

@EternalJourno Stop being awesome, you're making me feel bad Seriously though, you're an inspiration. Keep up the good work

How long have you been doing yoga for? And how "hard" a workout is it? I'm thinking of taking up yoga for flexibility but I'm not sure where to start and I don't think there's any yoga classes near me.

What in the name of all that is holy and unholy is that?

Thank goodness the Horribles have left. They sounded...well...horrible... So good to hear that you're feeling a lot better and that the date went well. He doesn't sound like a douche canoe.

How's it going Kiki Dee?

WOOHOO! Running is good and fun. 62 is better than 72 And that is freaking awesome! Hope you enjoyed the drinks. How you feeling now?

Awesome work on the challenge. So good to see nice big numbers there. Don't sweat it too much if you're not seeing improvement in your back yet. These things take time Sorry, but I can't help with the shirataki noodles. Haven't cooked with them. I've eaten them though and I'm not a fan. It was like eating rubber. Except rubber at least has a flavour. I much prefer using udon noodles or rice, but I'm not following a paleo diet.

Sorry for the late update, it's been a crazy weekend. Went to the museum with my family to see an animatronic dinosaur exhibit. Little man absolutely loved it. He spent the whole time pointing at various dinosaurs and yelling "DIWEEEEETZ! GAWOT, GAWOT, GAWOOOOTZ!" Then spent a few days with my parents and caught up with an old friend I hadn't seen in about a year. So that was pretty huge for me. @Severine I didn't even realise it, but fiancee is using the konmari method as her inspiration. She told me after I said you suggested reading the book. Great minds I guess. And the flexibility workout I'm using at the moment is this one: http://darebee.com/images/workouts/tug-of-war-workout.jpg And on to the challenge update. Parts of my challenge took a back seat this week as Mrs Kvedulf and I spent the week cleaning and decluttering. We're about three quarters of the way done now and it's looking amazing. And we're both a lot happier, so I guess it works MORALITY: I have noticed some changes to my behaviour. I don't know if there changes so much as being aware of when I'm not following Bushido. I have certainly become more mindful of being polite. Not just to be polite but because it's how people should be treated. I think I'm doing better at keeping my word and living with courage. COURAGE: Kind of disappointed here. Because we put such a huge focus decluttering and cleaning my workouts took a bad seat. I only got one bodyweight workout done. Score: 33% BENEVOLENCE: I've been trying to work with the little man on colours. Not sure if it's working yet, but he's having lots of fun! POLITENESS: I have been able to practice zazen each day but haven't been able to practice first thing in the morning. Toddler happens Score: 75% HONESTY: The reading part has been pretty easy. Completed that. I've been reading the Hagakure. It's pretty good. Tsunetomo is kind of like the samurai equivalent of the grumpy but kind hearted uncle at a family reunion who keeps giving his opinion on everything. But each of his stories, even if it doesn't look like it at first glance, has a really good little moral to it. I've only been able to practice Japanese once this week. Score: 57% HONOUR: I flat out failed here. No driving lesson at all. Score: 0% LOYALTY: I'm super happy here. I've planned out the vege garden, we're buying a chicken coop and most importantly, I've enrolled in a Diploma of Horticulture. The theory work is all online, and there's a vocational prac work element of 120 hours. My enrolment is currently being processed. Should find out if everything is all ready for me to start later this week. End score: 58% End score: 44.6% Not the best overall, but I'm really happy with the progress I've made. And some parts of my challenge are impossible to track and are more about being mindful.

Wow. They must have been bad. It's a mother trick. They can all do it. I don't know how, but my mum still can do it and she's about a foot shorter than me.

I wouldn't worry so much about putting the challenge on hold while your nephew is there. The fact that you're exposing him to a different way of life to the one he's used to is brilliant. You might not be levelling up your life as much while he's there, but it sounds like you're giving him a chance to level up his life And that is a wonderful thing. Besides you are doing really well on your challenge goals anyway! I really want to know how you do the zero youtube video thing. I need help doing that

Hi. Been meaning to post, but haven't had the time. Looks like, for the most part, the challenge is going really well. This. All of this.

Get well soon. And here's some chicken poodle soup. It is chicken poodle soup that you eat when you're sick, right? Right..?

I think you're probably being a bit harsh on giving yourself an F there. Not saying you did perfectly, but I know that I often feel like I completely failed part of my challenge until I look back on it at the end of the week and realise that I may have slipped up a few times, but I achieved at least half of what I wanted to. In other news, awesome work on the workouts. Are they bodyweight exercises? I haven't looked at the academy stuff at all. And no alcohol at all? Holy shit, that is absolutely brilliant! I know that's been a sticking point for you since the first week of the first challenge. That's brilliant work

Yay for Vegas! Yay for more helpful family. Yay for resisting cake! And another artistic goat. May I present to you Vincent Van Goat:

Naaawww, thanks I think I'm going to have a look into the Deskbound stuff. Anything to help with posture is good. And salmon is quite possibly one of the tastiest things ever. How's things going?

Don't worry too much about slipping food wise. You've achieved so much and have made so many changes that you already know that you're not going to completely fall off the wagon. Like you said, you're already back on track. Nice article too. I'm a little disappointed though that you couldn't find anyone called Ash, Brock or Misty to interview