tinywonder

Ohp. This happened a year ago. I'll learn soon. Care to infodump on me before I go in a couple weeks?

Hi! I am going to lurk on this thread and read it all when I get a moment, but I am headed there in a couple weeks, I'll info-dump on your (in a somewhat organized fashion) when I return! You can order a Suica card or Passmo card in advance, but there's really no need, they are available at the airports. Make sure you book your Ghibli ticket before you go! And that's all I can think of for now! More soon!

I don't, not really. And by that I mean ever. I might try some when in Japan, because I'll try anything once, but for the most part I am a vegetarian that has no interest in meat. No stigma attached, just none for me, thanks. I appreciate the suggestions though!

@KalistaFauner Yay that's me! I did a thing! YOU'RE DOING A THING! And you're already better at the forums than I am. It took me ten minutes just to find you, and I was even tagged here! Yep, I just realized I put this on a post I thought you started, but infact, no. My god, I am terrible at forums!

Okay, I'll be out of town, living it up in NYC for Halloween on October 30, so I should line up my 4 Week Challenge now. It's pretty straight forward. I am starting Week 3 of the Zombie Run 5K program, and my goal is to continue that 3 workouts a week. I am also starting the Handstand course from Nerd Fitness, I've not had time to look it over but I intend to do Handstand work on my non-running days. Also I am headed to Japan in EXACTLY 2 MONTHS! So I am not reading any more books, or listening to anymore podcasts. Only my Japanese lessons so Ican get back to functional speaking (I took it in college, I was alright speaking, but never learned much kanji). I have little Japanese learning games I play on my phone rather than Facebook, etc. I can look at Facebook too, but I'd prefer after a round of Japanese quizzes. On top of this I want to keep meal prepping, and pill prepping (I feel SO OLD). I have new medications for anemia and asthma, I might lay off the iron pills a bit because they made me feel ick last night, and just iron-up my food (hello lentils, kale, etc), but I am now the little organized lady with an am/pm pill box with my meds and vitamins all laid out... and it's wonderfully convenient! I prep wonderful looking meals, but often when it's time to eat them I have no appetite... I need to figure out why this is, and what I can do about it. So working on light, clean food for lunches. I also started something I've been sharing with people from Camp nerdFitness, but should throw out to everyone! I've made up a game called "#WednesdayBridgeClub, which is just posting pictures of ourselves in backbends on social media. On Wednesdays. For fun! Everyone's invited to join. Okay, Oct 30, bring it.

Wow... I fell off there. But goal completed pretty much. I need to re-up pretty hard, got hit with a bunch of life destabilizing punches. Here's to making more goals and getting back up again!

I know! It's funny, I just got off the phone (nothing like explaining that I am exhausted and also prone to anger, then when they say come in next week, I'm all: "No. Your first Rx was completely arbitrary, this one can be too, only less hormones, please, also: don't test me, I don't have time next week." but, you know, politely) and they are changing the dose or the Rx, again it's Birth Control which is all a bit hit-or-miss trial-and-error chemical wise, and will check my chart and phone a new Rx into my pharmacy, and inform me when they do. I wanted to do a celebratory "hooray!" Jump and Punch the Air victory move, but really I am just too tired. This is good though, I get to embrace my laziness a few more days while this leaves my system, and hopefully I can feel myself waking up. Pharmaceuticals are weird, you guys. I'm not a fan. Meanwhile tonight is the last night of filming for the movie being shot in my town (I ran into Sam Rockwell last night and Peter Dinklage just walked by. Yup. Awesomesauce.) I am going to take a nap before they light the building on fire tonight, and coffee-willing, I'm gonna stay up super late, damn the exhaustion, this is not-to-be-missed!

Hey! I'm updating again! The other day I was starting a short 7 Minute Workout (I love that app, someone on another NF forum mentioned it, and it's a great "sure I can do that right now!" thing, and for reps, just do it over and over. Good stuff.) and I could barely finish it. I was weak and exhausted. Maybe I hadn't been sleeping enough? But I have? Eating right? Extra-so... I started taking a multi vitamin along with a B-complex sub-lingual (eye dropper under the tongue), the latter was suggested to me because of a new birth control pill I'm on. And then it clicked... and I researched: "birth control exhaustion fatigue" and whammo. I mean, I know Google is terrible for self diagnosis, but there it is anyway, this is the only new factor and I'm exhausted, and also I've been a lot angrier, which is weird, because I am not an angry person (note, I'm not angry-angry, just in sort of a "don't take no shit" mode, which I sort of enjoy, but I don't like being crazy frustrated) So anyway, it's Friday, my doctor's office is at lunch, but I will call them around 1:30 and at least explain my situation and see if I can get the pills changed. I so rarely take medication that it didn't occur to me that all my lazy feelings may be a side-effect. This is a long status update, and while I'm not "Killing it!" on my goals, I am still meeting them for the most part (I sort of psyched myself out and tell myself I need to do 3 workouts a week, but my goal is 2 and I am meeting that), but in a sort of lazy apathetic "I'm tired" way. If anything, I'm thrilled to have this thing here, because it's gotten me to track myself much closer, otherwise I'd just think I was tired, and take more naps, but I think this exhaustion is symptomatic, and if I can fix it, I'll be back to kicking butt again... or making bold attempts. Cheers! Hope you all are making your goals and kicking ass and taking names!

I love adding cardamon to coffee! And also I like black coffee, but only when it's really, really good. Other than that I will add a bit (to quite a bit) of unsweetened Vanilla almond milk, it's not sweet, but something about the vanilla hints at sweet? After a while of no sugar you can start to taste the sweetness in the bean, like some sort of crazed coffee sommelier. I will also add a touch of cream sometimes if it needs it, but I don't have dairy around the house, so that usually only happens in cafes, etc. I've not tried the bullet proof coffee, but adding a little bit of coconut oil to coffee is also excellent, but I hardly ever remember to do it.

Update the second! God I am tired. I am not sure why, been running about, and maybe that's it. I just completed one series of reps for my workout and realized I feel totally weak today. I was pretty weak yesterday too, but since it was the weekend, I could sleep in, and take it easy. Still, ack! I have been eating well, but I think I might need more protein, it's always an issue I look to if things are off, am I getting enough iron and protein... We'll see. If anyone has any brilliant suggestions for protein-rich vegetarian pick-me-up for now, or that i can make for dinner, I'd try it out. Other than that, I am meeting my goals for the most part, but really want to take a nap. Any tips, tricks, recipes, etc are welcome... I know the best thing for me is probably to take a nap then eat something high in iron an protein, but I am not sure that's forthcoming in the next few hours.

I just ended up here because I was about to make a similar post, but found this one instead. I too, just cut up a bunch of carrots and celery, filled two little snack baggies and went on my way, and they are lovely enough, but I am looking for more options. I love the idea of pickles! I might make a series of quick refrigerator pickles to bag up and take to work for snacking. I burned through the carrots pretty quickly, and I have an apple in reserve. I guess I am going to lurk here a bit and pick up more ideas for pocketable, nonprocessed snacks (I'd even go for a protein bar, but I'd like a recipe for one I make in advance, so I control the ingredients... hm, maybe that's what I'll look for next. I also snack on almonds when I have them, I read a bit about soaking them, which is nice and I do sometimes, but not religiously. Also oats in yoghurt with berries in little grabable mason jars is a snack I'm starting to get into (bonus added flax seeds, chia, et al), but it needs to be refrigerated, and is less of a snack-as-you-go item.

UPDATE! We update, yeah? Okay. I went to New York May 5-9 and it didn't screw up my goal, I was a little nervous it might. I walked around, socialized, went on adventures with my sweetheart. Even walked 12 miles in a day, without any particular intent. That's the great part of New York, you're engaging your feet without even thinking about it. Haven't added sugar to anything, and avoided things with sugar in them (with one exception of trying the amazing black sesame and matcha soft-serve icecream at a Japanese market... worth it, and I didn't have much) My hydration app (which is called Hydro Coach for Android) is as annoying as ever, but it's little messages of concern are also somehow hilarious. I am keeping up with it fairly well, less tracking, more drinking at least 8 oz of water when it starts to fret. Also I instituted "comics and cocktails" last night having walked to the bar down the street, they are shooting a movie in town so it's extra fun to visit "the strip" (we don't call it that, but that is all there is) and saw a few friends and read a graphic novel (the latest collection of BlackSad, oh my god, it's so well done) I got in New York. Tying to keep up the momentum, coming back from adventures can be a bit of a let-down. But I think in a day or so I'll have found my rhythm again.

Ooo! I'd love to hear more about that... I get into these weird patterns of "kale and sweet potatoes are good" and then eggs, tofu, or tempeh for protein. I used to brainstorm crazy meal ideas with my sweetheart before he moved away, but now I am trying to get back into new exciting recipes. My main holdout from paleo (besides meat) is sweet brown rice (sticky rice) which doesn't have sugar, it's just a sweeter grain. I make so much sushi out of that rice and onigiri (little rice balls with fun pickle-stuff in them wrapped in seaweed), and it's a great base for whatever else I am eating... like kale and sweet potatoes.... anyway... this challenge is in full swing and I'm sipping coffee when I should be downing water (I have that here as well, but coffee takes precedent in this moment.) If you have any near recipes, or sources for recipes, I'd love to share!

Okay! I am still not entirely sure this is correct, but I'll try it out, and let me know if I am missing something... (I already just posted this in the wrong spot so.... off to a brilliant start <3) I am doing the 4 week challenge for Rebels... (though I am pretty sure after this I'll throw in with the Assassin's lot, but I'm a newbie still, so we'll see.) Diet, yo! I actually eat fairly healthy already, but for the next four weeks I am going to try to drink 3 litres of water a day at least 5 days a week. To help with this, I've installed a little hydration app on my phone, it's obnoxious, but it's perfect for reminding me. Beyond that I am going to continue my Paleo-ish ness, I'm a vegetarian so I'll likely never go full Paleo, but for the next four weeks I am going to keep added sugar out of my diet. Fit'ness! I'm gonna keep doing that NF BodyWeight workout at least 2x a week. Life, the Universe, and everything else: I'm going to take walks 3 evenings a week (maybe on off days from the NF workout) and on these walks I will pass our local bar downtown and peek in to see who is there. I'm working on restructuring my social life, and in the tiny town I live in friends end up at the bar, but I don't (I'm not a drinker), still, I want to make a point to go visit, see who's there, and spend a few minutes saying hi, drinking seltzer, and keeping myself connected to my friends in town. Also, double bonus round, I am going to spend 5 minutes each evening cleaning something in my house, it can go on for longer, but 5 minutes a day. That's my challenge! I am travelling a bit this month and next, but diet and fitness I can keep up with while I'm on the road, and Life stuff I can make up for when I return. Wish me luck!

I cleared this post, but I don't know how to delete it. I misposted my challenge for May/June 2016 in the January 2016 section... How foolish of me! The correct(er) post is here: However... Here's a valentine I made of GONK from StarWars for you, for reading this post anyway.

OoO! regarding Banjo payoff- Do you perform with your banjo anywhere? I used to have a running tally of money made from gigs that I would then spend on instruments/gear/etc. Maybe you live in a city where you can busk? If you are still learning the banjo it may not work as well, but sometimes it's nice to try to manifest a banjo payment... "I'm going to go play here for 2 hours with a tip jar and all that goes to banjo-fund." It's sort of working in reverse from how I did it, but it's something. It's good practice either way, and sometimes comes with bonus money. I play accordion, the other super obnoxious instrument.

Hello! I am new as well, and still getting my bearings, but welcome all the same!

Thank you! I am getting into Emperor's Long Fist, but it's on a very noncommittal basis, the class happens every Tues and Thurs, but I can only make Thurs until my schedule can shift a bit, so I am learning, and working, but not working toward sashes, etc. I started taking it as a self-prescribed technique for handling PTSD (long story that happened years ago, and I'm mostly over with the exception of some PTSD buttons that get pushed now and again), which I have a few flare ups of maybe every 6 months or so, it depends. I'm not planning on fighting anyone, but just having technique in the back of my mind is calming if I get in a panicked situation. As for geographic separation, it's sad and horrible, but we just had out first Google hangout (he's rubbish with technology), and I'm visiting next week, so I try (and am succeeding) to be excited about things like that.

Haha, thank you! It does a great job of cutting through the ten minutes of me trying to explain what it is that I do or make, and if anyone would appreciate it, I would expect it to be the folks here!

Yes! I will be there, and this sounds like a great idea. I am super new at NF and the forum, but I will follow this and catch details I think, and if not I'll check in later, closer to Dragon Con. EDIT: Ohp... 2015. Just saw that. Oh well. I'll be there in 2016 too.

Hello! Well, I started this off with a bang and had my first post disappear (I think I was somehow logged out, no big deal), so I'll try it again. I'm new to NerdFitness, and it's been a hot minute (or 15 years) since I've used a forum. But dusting off some old skills (apparently not so well) and shining up some new ones! My name is Valerie, I live in a little town in the woods on a mountain. I am an "interdisciplinary artist", making illustrations/comics, puppets, and music. I have a "buffer" part time job that I am lucky to have, such that I don't worry about bills too, too much, but it has me rather sedentary most of the days that I work, and I've begun to feel it after a few years. I'm looking to get fighting fit and run around more. I am lucky to live in the outdoor jungle gym where I am (rocks, lakes, waterfalls into large pools, mountains, trails... all of it!), that I am not terribly interested in gyms (though I might seek one out for weight training on rainy days). I'm a long time (but not angry) vegetarian, so I give long sideward glances at Paleo diet, I am excited about being Paleo-ish though! My story? Eh, there's a lot to tell, and not much at the same time... I guess most recently what has spiked my interest in getting involved in NF after being interested in it for several months is: my long time sweetheart moved away. It's sad, but we knew it was coming, and we've got visits scheduled in the future, so it'll be okay, etc, but my daily routines have been upended. I am trying to reorder and reorganize my life, and NF has been a useful tool in that. Not to mention it's been proven exercise releases endorphins, and while I've not had much experience with that, I might need it every now and again. My plan is to work in the Assassin class, I'm all about bodyweight exercises and running around outside. I've just started Kung Fu and I am trying to get a yoga class or routine in my schedule. I've dealt with asthma for years and I am pushing back at it, we'll see how it goes. I am also trying to keep my little batcave clean and productive (building puppets is messy work, messy work that needs to be far away from any digital illustration setup). I'm cutting way back on sugar in my diet (though I eat mostly whole foods and don't ingest tons of it,), I'm making sure I don't add it to anything, and am reading the ingredients list of what I eat that I didn't make myself to get the low down. On and on and on... As for what I can offer? I don't know, what do you need? I'm a good supporter, and am up for giving pep talks if anyone needs one. And if there is anything else I can offer, let me know! That's about it... I'll end with this blurry photo of almost-not-me, rather it's of my Doctor Who Puppet ("#puppetcapaldi", it was named) that my friend took of me last year at Dragon Con... It's ridiculous, but it sums me up rather well. Cheers!