Chris-Tien Jinn

I'm starting a few things in the house .... and thinking about those cold frames. It's going to depend upon whether or not I get the garden allotment for the summer. Last week, I got hit with the flu that LTL had. It was pretty rough, and I spent a lot of time on the couch. But I also decided it was time to just start job hunting ... at the same time that a faculty position (temporary .... 1+ years) at my alma mater popped up. So, I put in my application packet today. Meanwhile, back at the challenge. I ate very lightly last week. On Saturday, I was tempted by a chocolate cake donut and decided that this sign was very appropriate: After all of the build up from family about how good these donuts are, I really thought it should taste like chocolate or sugar at least. All I got was oil .... as Prue Leigh says, it was not worth the calories. So, I'm back on my feet now. Went to CrossFit this morning after a week off. Coach noticed I was struggling and told me to cut down the number of burpees I was doing. She's a saint. She also (rightly) scolded me to being an idiot in how I was loading plates. I hope to be able to go again on Wednesday. Week 4 Week 5 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 10.5 6.5

And now, we have hit the warm weather .... very, very weird. I'm tempted to put up cold frames and start seeds just in case the warm weather continues. I went to CrossFit and had a good time. Arms are a little sore from 80 thrusters, but I think I'll be able to go again on Wednesday. We had fish tacos Monday night and switched cod for the tilapia for a change. It doesn't taste much more fishy, but it sure smells more fishy when cooking. Normally, I like fish, but I'm considering opening the windows for a bit ... yikes. Week 4 S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 7.5

For me, it's Facebook. I never got the hang of Discord.

Take it in baby steps. You got this.

Sunday was a day of average temps for the area. Hubby and I bundled up a bit because it was windy and went for a long hike in the local prairie restoration area. We saw robins already!!! Weird year. Week 4 S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 7

Yea for you!!! I'm also kinda feeling the need to stop with the constant data collection and just LIVE. Like when I was in college and just went out for a run. How far, how fast, what was my heart rate??? Who cares?!??!?!? Hum .... might be time to level up this rebellion.

Wow, that really is a culture shock, although I remember getting that vibe from some of the companies I tried to hire for my wedding. It's honestly one of the hardest things you'll do as a couple.

I ended the week pretty darn well. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11.5 11.5 LTL had his first bout of stomach flu (or ... possibly food poisoning at the daycare) and so he couldn't come over to play with us on Saturday. But we brought dinner to the (tired!) parents and had a chance to play with him a little, before he went down for a nap. Poor kid cannot catch a break!! But that meant that I had gyros for dinner (the alternative was pizza ....) and dropped a half point. Still, I am making good food choices and generally feeling pretty healthy. I gave myself credit for exercise snacks because I kneeded bread. 20 minutes of kneeding is a lot of work!!!

Thursday at the weekly Rotary meeting, another retired woman suggested that we start a weekly coffee group. She and I met yesterday, and it was nice .... so we picked a day (Wednesday) and are inviting other people to join us for coffee and chat at a local coffee house. My hubby and his friends meet the same day and place but earlier in the morning. LOL .... So, I am pulling together activities to get me out of the house: CrossFit (can be up to 6 days per week) Gardening club will get busy and involve getting out to plant and maintain several city gardens I joined the Rotary Literacy Committee, which has the potential to be very, very busy in working with schools and libraries. (It also happens to involve skills I developed during my doctoral work) I need to join the Friends of the Library, which also involves things like reading to kids and book sales and .... a lot of potential for getting books into the community. We're in a small town (20K) people. There's a sorta historical museum, but I could also check in with the two colleges to see if they use any volunteers (most likely, they use student workers ... but you never know). Keep ideas coming! Thursday, we got to see LTL for an hour before dinner!!! He was going to come over today, but he seems to have the flu. Poor kid. We may spend some time over at his house to give his parents a break. It's still beastly cold here. Our back door is frozen shut. 🤣 I did get tired of the really super cold wind chills for a couple of days, but I did CrossFit on Friday. The WoD only took me 12 1/2 minutes ... so it didn't count as cardio. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11.5 12 Weather is supposed to start warming up tomorrow, but I do note that we have very little wind today so that it only feels like -7F outside. Heatwave!!!!

Hubby's in-person interview went well. We went out to celebrate last night and are now settling in to wait for the final decision. I am really wrestling with what I want to do for a job or volunteer project. All of the current opportunities involve remote work and sitting in front of the computer for long periods, which I really don't want to do. That was my dissertation experience ... when I gained a lot of weight because I sat so much and had to bribe myself (usually with food) to meet writing goals each day. I am really looking forward to spring and gardening season!! Meanwhile .... food choices have been healthy. As the bitter cold eases, I will get out and do more social things .... With temps below zero, and windchills in the dangerous range, I have been reluctant to drive to the gym. I've been walking - well bundled up mostly. Yesterday, I went out of a walk without some of the heavy outer layers, and I was OK but not comfortable. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11.5 10.5

Hope you feel better soon!!! We had it when my daughter was in school and got a brush of it with grandson and the Petri dish they call daycare.

Good choice .... glad you didn't allow it to derail your plans.

Good recovery!

I'm assuming that the cold (!), dry air is causing the scratchy throat. Otherwise, I'm feeling good. I bundled up (windchills were -25F) and went for a 2-mile walk yesterday afternoon. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11.5 7 LTL's ear tube surgery went well this morning. Whew!! This week, I'll be embracing the cold and walking outside daily. But I might let myself do strength training in the basement.

I hear ya there and have been doing something similar. Or trying to. Absolutely going to miss you and your perspective and your support.

OMG. I am very sorry to hear the news and hope you have great, fulfilling adventures in your near future. I attended a workshop you gave at one of the NF Camps. You are a great (fitness) teacher and motivational speaker.

The week ended well. Despite the cold, I got a walk in the woods. And I've been eating veggies and beans. I have a good crop of microgreens ... now I have to toss them into smoothies. Week 1 Week 2 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11.5

Friday was a good day. Hubby got the call for an in-person interview. If he gets it, he won't need to travel to Iowa every month for meetings. He was on the fence about driving down this week on Monday ... I am so glad that he decided to stay home, since a "couple of inches" turned into a couple of feet of snow. Here .... well, let's say that I am glad I wasn't counting on sledding with LTL this weekend. He will get ear tubes on Monday, and I am really hoping it breaks the cycle of illnesses for him. But the dusting of snow we got will not be enough for even a baby sled. So far this week, the score stands thus: Week 1 Week 2 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 11 I went to the gym to do a scaled version of the benchmark Cindy workout. Since it is also a good 20-minute workout, I scored it as cardio too.

Hard to say. I've noticed lately that almost all of the Christmas stuff gets done in the two weeks after Thanksgiving. Mad rush early on ... and then it's crickets for two weeks before the holiday. Crossing fingers for you @Loveable_Bouncer. Have FUN!!!

The interview went OK, and I really don't know what to expect. I should hear a decision next week. Hubby is also waiting to hear about his most recent interview. Between the interview (and prepping) and working the hospitality table at Rotary, I skipped cardio again. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Week 1 Week 2 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio ? Social MINDful Eating 10.5 10 But I did spend some time thinking about how to restructure my thinking and my time management. It's becoming apparent that LTL will not be spending much time here. Which is a shame because that was a major reason for "retiring" early. So, I'm getting serious about organizing side gigs to work from home. But "exercise" will need to be a daily task on the task list.

Yesterday was low key. The dental cleaning left me with a scratchy throat. With all of the crud going around (people at CrossFit just admit that they come to class with colds and whatnot), I decided to not be that guy. So, I got a walk and some casual social conversation and bowed out of some volunteer activities as well as strength training. Week 1 Week 2 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 10.5 9 I'm feeling better today .... the usual level of winter congestion and scratchy throat. We're still waiting for some snow ... and the cold snap. I'm rounding up books to read over the long weekend. I have a job interview today for the very part-time position at the local food co-op. And, I have made progress on becoming a contract content writer. Although, if I'm not going to babysitting my grandson ... I'm just about to the point of applying for something more substantial.

I hear ya! Our grandson keeps bringing something new to us each week. Makes it difficult to have energy to push against old habits. So congrats on your progress!!!

Yum. We put this combination on toasted buns with a slice of American cheese.

Yesterday was thrown off by a dentist appointment. Somehow .... I forgot to even go for a walk. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Week 1 Week 2 S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 10.5 8.5 I started a pan of microgreens to help me bump up my intake of leafy greens. I just don't tend to eat salads in the winter.

Thank you. I "finished" the first draft of the Sidequest Trek, and it is linked in my signature. I was blanking on a theme (and hence ... storyline) for this challenge.