tonic

This was a good week and a tough one. The pinched nerve got worse before it got better. It totally messed with my mental health. Weekly Recap: Three Steps Forward: Lift 3 times a week. MWF - though friday was really really hard to get up for. Take a Short Rest when needed: Yoga Thursday after Dnd was a chore to do but I did it. Recover hit points: Keep track of food in LoseIt. The goal is to keep your average weekly calories in the range: 1600 to 1900: I am in the upper of the range this week but doing well. Self-care once a week: Book reading happened but not the bubble bath, pinched nerve made this a no go. I took measurements today and the biggest change was my chest is down by 2 inches - which is amazing. My weight isn’t doing what I want but that is okay with inches melting off slowly. I transplanted my tomato plants and the peppers are sprouting. Next week: Self-care item: Not sure. I might make a chocolate cake. I have a really good book that I am reading so that is awesome.

Great pictures of the hike! How is this week going?

Great job on kickboxing and trying to trouble shoot the snacking! The I got this days - are the best!

Woot Woot on getting a workout in on Monday! How were the resistance band pull ups? If you have more than one you can use more than one - I have looped a 3 incher and a 2 incher to give me enough lift so I would still work on the motion.

Sunday went well - I ended up not doing yoga. Monday - I got my lifting in, in the morning but I didn’t sleep well which made it a sluggish day. Today: Cario day 20 minutes on the recumbent bike at the gym. I slept awesome and rocked it out of the park today at work. Tonight is my self-care bubble bath and book. @Salinger I am going to read Mud Season - it is a memoir. I am looking forward to my bath - I have bath bombs ready to go! I had had some weird sensations over the last couple of days in my limbs and I am slightly worried I pinched a nerve. I hope it goes away on it own. *fingers crossed*

Okay so for me rest days are the FREAKING HARDEST. Like no yesterday was not a gym day. Take the day off from that, do work for most of the day, clean the kitchen make good food and RELAX. You can do it tonic! I did it but it is so hard for me to not be constantly doing #allthethings. Speaking of, I might do some yoga today. I am a little stiff in my shoulders and neck from my appointment with my chiropractor yesterday. Yoga is a rest day activity for me. I do an easy 22 minute session that I have so down I don’t need to really listen to it anymore. Weekly Recap: Three Steps Forward: Lift 3 times a week. The streak is continuing up to 14 days!. I hit MWF like I was supposed to. Take a Short Rest when needed: Yoga Thursday after Dnd felt really good. I will do a session today to keep loose. Recover hit points: Keep track of food in LoseIt. The goal is to keep your average weekly calories in the range: 1600 to 1900: 1,650 - In range but a bit lower than anticipated. Self-care once a week: Massage accomplished this week on Friday, I took the rest of Friday afternoon to relax. The trade off was I made up the hours on Saturday with a bit more. Next week: Self-care item: Bubble bath with a book on my kindle I got this!

Whiskey or a good bourbon and I am game - I love sipping on a good pour. Heck yeah with working out anyway! Great job on listening to what your body needed and still sticking to your plan.

Congrats on the climbing gym! I keep wanting to go to one but chicken out. I just got my tomatoes started indoors. I am also in the Seattle area but closer to Edmonds.

#seattleitessticktogether I tackled the multiple cocktails challenge with upgrading what I was drinking: When your drink is $18 you stop at one - well I do anyway and I drink it so slow.

@Rurik Harrgath That is the accountant part of me shining brightly. Oh we can add gifs?! This is awesome. @Maigs *nods* Yeah, we are an office of 6 total, 1 tax accountant, 1.5 bookkeepers, admin and me reviewing. Folks have to ask to be able to do overtime in our 'office'. We really focus on a work life balance even during tax season. Now I sound like a recruiter so I am gonna shut up about work. =P Today I had my massage at 1pm and I have the rest of the day off. This was my 'Saturday', tomorrow I will be working from 10 to 3pm. I am finding this sustainable especially compared to last year, plus it gives me time to focus on actual work instead of email. This weekend I get to focus on my long rest from the gym, two whole days or no lifting or cardio. If I want to I might go on a short hike, but given I took this afternoon off it isn't likely. I instead want to make sure I get my seeds started for my garden. My tomato plants are sprouting and this weekend I need to get my peppers in the little seed pods. #55daystogo

You got this! I remember the 12/14 hours days my first couple of years in the tax room. One thing you might want to try is take a 20 minute walk at 2pm, just around the block out of the office. It used to be enough that my feet wouldn't cramp up at night, and wake me up at 3am during my precious sleep. Remember that there are no accounting or tax emergencies - no one is going to die because of having to file an extension. You are doing amazing! #taxaccountantsforthewin #55daystogo

@MaigsTax Accountants Unite! I am on my 11 or 12 tax season this year - my 4th as a firm owner. Thing has gotten better as I manage capacity at our firm, plus we are a remote firm - taking the commute away has helped things. I also workout BEFORE my day begins at work, otherwise it doesn't happen. You doing a challenge this month? 55 days to go!

Your hair is rocking! It only took you 2 hours to sparking clean - woah that's amazing! When my place is clean and straighten up my mental health is more steady. You totally can rock that deadline! ❤️

Thanks @Salinger! 10 Year Recap: Holy smokes, I joined in 2012?! I can’t believe it has been that long. It has really been 8 years and my life has so drastically changed. In 2012, I lived in a different state was engaged and was soo young. Since then I have moved across the country, got married, started a company, got divorced, got engaged, then married again and bought some property to build on. I am at the best mentally than I have ever been. It also shows. I have stayed on track this year like no other. I am at the heaviest weight I have ever been at but I am making progress at lowering that. My word of the year is Sustainability and I am keeping it in the forefront of my mind. My 2020 overarching goal is to make sustainable changes. The more detailed goals are: Get to a healthier weight: 170 to 185lbs Keep lifting and gain my strength back Build a house Grow our family(knock on wood) This challenge is all about keeping my changes on track. This weeks update: Three Steps Forward: Lifting on Monday, Wednesday & Friday - Done Cardio on Tuesday - 20 minutes on a recumbent bike - Done Short Rest: Yoga on Thursday - Done Hit Points Recover: Been tracking food all week and I am on point Massage today for relaxation and recovery! This week, I have rocked it and stuck to all of my plans. It helps when I plan out my recovery in advanced and it makes it easier to go to the gym the rest of the time. I am in that weird zone where I am focusing on weight loss and strength gains. My current plan is working so far. My weight is slowly bouncing down around .5lbs a week and my lifts are increasing. A Day Workout 1/23/2020 1/29 2/3 2/10 2/14 2/19/20 Cardio - minutes 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Goblet Squat 10 20 25 25 30 35 40 Pushups 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Rows 10 25 25 35 35 35 40 Goblet Squat/Deadlift 10 25 25 25 30 35 40 Pushups 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Rows 10 25 35 35 35 35 40 Goblet Squat/Deadlift 10 25 25 Pushups 10 10 10 Rows 10 35 Snatches 10 30 30 B Day Workout 1/27/20 1/31 2/5 2/12 2/17/20 2/21/20 Cardio - minutes 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Deadlift/RDL 10 25 40 50 50 60 60 Pushups 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Rows 10 25 30 35 35 35 35 Deadlift/RDL 10 25 50 50 50 60 60 Pushups 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Rows 10 25 30 35 35 35 35 Deadlift/RDL 10 25 60 60 Pushups 10 10 10 10 Rows 10 25 35 40 Snatches 10 25 25 30 NA

Massive update for 2018 & 2019. Plus some new goals. @katosphere I know you!

On the last adventure, our hero was fighting the mighty tax season beast. It is a beast that comes back each year and she is fighting it yet again. Our hero has been on a very long detour over the last two years and has decided it was time to continue the journey, getting past this beast for the year. After that head towards another mountain. Goals for this challenge: Three Steps Forward: Lift 3 times a week. Keep the progress from the last 11 weeks going with Day A and Day B. Gym workout: Cardio Goblet Squat(A)/Deadlift(B) Pushups Rows Goblet Squat/Deadlift Pushups Rows Goblet Squat/Deadlift Pushups Rows Snatches Squats are A day Deadlifts are B Day. I can snatch instead of my last set if I am running out of time or I feel like it. Take a Short Rest when needed: Yoga Thursday. Recover hit points: Keep track of food in LoseIt. The goal is to keep your average weekly calories in the range: 1600 to 1900. Self-care once a week: Things like a massage, short walk, read a book, have fun(Don’t freaking work all the time) My overall goal of this challenge is to keep moving forward with my momentum this year. Stay on track and enjoy the journey.

MAIN QUEST To literally be smaller less than my starting year measurements. Final weigh-in was at 182.8lbs - my mind is like what??? Diet Goal: On point, perfect Fitness Goal: On point. SIDE QUESTS Life Side Quest: Survival: I survived. Overall wrap up: This quest was both easier and harder than I thought it would be. Having a plan in place was key. I did fantastic, especially considering the goal was just to keep to the pattern and I didn't need to see any results. I saw results and I am feeling really good. ENDING POINT Shapeshifting Adventurer Lvl: 4 STR: 11 DEX: 6 STA: 13 CON: 13 WIS: 7 CHA: 8

Lets check in on our hero to see how she is doing. You see a picture of our hero at a desk with a pen in her hand napping, a page of an unfinished update just sitting there. The three week of our hero shows her rocking it and following the plan perfectly. Meeting with her sensi, her coach and even getting to a small group class to train. Not to mention her food stuff was followed according to plan each day. Our hero has shown strength and resolve to stick to the plan. MAIN QUEST To literally be smaller less than my starting year measurements. Weight in is at 183.4, very happy with this. Can't wait to do measurements. Diet Goal: On point, perfect Fitness Goal: I trained with my sensi on Monday, Tuesday I trained with my coach one on one for strength training. My workout with my coach was a shorter workout since I was pretty tired. It still kicked my ass and he got my heart rate going. Friday I did make it to group class and totally pushed my core to the max. I was sore for the rest of the weekend. SIDE QUESTS Life Side Quest: Survival: Work is rough, but I am making it. LAst weekend, I worked most of it hence my late update. There is light at the end of the tunnel - as long as its not a train we are all good. PICTURE UPDATE:

Be careful with your knee. I have an old injury and it's just better for me to substitute a different workout and have it still count towards my goals. Good luck you got this!

We check in on our hero in training. Stress has been piling onto our poor hero as more and more papers need to be processed. The week started off strong with her training with her sensi, then training with her coach. A fever struck our hero and she couldn't infect her peers so instead she followed up with a long walk to keep in motion. A few incredible foes can after our hero like pizza and Chinese food. Both struck hard and we watched as our hero stumbled. The Stress has started to weigh on our hero. Will she make it through? MAIN QUEST To literally be smaller less than my starting year measurements. Weight in was near 184, then pizza and Chinese happened so we will see where it stays. Diet Goal: Two days I was over but not by much. Both days it was because of eating out. I know I am better than this. Fitness Goal: I trained with my sensi on Monday, Tuesday I trained with my coach one on one for strength training. I am feeling better during my sessions and my rolling has improved. I ended up walking on Friday instead of going to my group class. I had a fever and chills at one point so figured a walk was a better choice. SIDE QUESTS Life Side Quest: Survival: Work is beyond intense, every item that is complete 2 more take its place. I am making progress but these two weeks are going to last forever. PICTURE UPDATE:

Hi, I am Tonic, been here a long while ago. Got frozen in some ice and finally have defrosted. Sounds like there are a few of us who used to be on RF and have now come back. I used to be on and did several challenges. I am in the process of updating all my stuff on here to the current me. My life is crazy as heck at the moment, but I know I can stay on track.

Hi Phoenix, We have similar backstories it sounds like. You got this!

We check in on our hero in training. The detour has been rough, but knowing that the challenges on hero mountain were not to be underestimated, kept her on track.The week starts off with training with her Sensi, working on self-defense, doing lots of rolls to prepare for falls, and how to escape any terrors she might run into. The week progresses to her Coach who works to make her stronger, she doesn't know if she is going to have to climb up the side of mountains, cross rivers, or fight any monsters. It finishes with working on her endurance, rowing a great distance keeping at a steady pace to strengthen her lungs. Overall, her rations were good she only had one evening where her old nemesis the knee injury flared up and it pushed her rowing off a day. This week was great for our hero, she is slowly progressing to getting back on the roads to hero mountain. This time she is preparing, she is training and she has her goal in mind. MAIN QUEST To literally be smaller less than my starting year measurements. I am pretty sure my pants are getting bigger on me. Not time for a measurement, but pretty sure. Even after washing. I also weighed in and I am down to 185.8lbs. Starting weight was 196. Diet Goal: I stayed under my calories all but one day. Thursday I wouldn't have gone over but my knee was swollen and working out was a no-go. This is an old injury I am working with, and it is slowly getting better. I am not going to hold this against me since my goals per day are based on if I have a workout that day and I stayed under the rest of the week with. Fitness Goal: I trained with my sensi on Monday, Tuesday I trained with my coach one on one for strength training. I am doing a lot better with my swings and snatches. Friday I did my cardio on my rowing machine. SIDE QUESTS Life Side Quest: Survival: Still kicking, work is intense and we have 3 weeks left. I got this. PICTURE UPDATE: + + =

MAIN QUEST To literally be smaller less than my starting year measurements. Diet Goal: Track my food daily on myfitnesspal, staying under or hitting my calorie goals +3 CON +1 CHA, + 1 STA Fitness Goal: Work out 3 times a week, +3 STR +1 STA + 1 DEX SIDE QUESTS Life Side Quest: To survive the rest of tax season + 1 WIS Fitness Side Quest: Survival is more important STARTING POINT Shapeshifting Adventurer Lvl: 3 STR: 8 DEX: 5 STA: 11 CON: 10 WIS: 6 CHA: 7 ME I am a tax accountant who owns her own firm. This challenge is all about survival. I need to survive the last 4 weeks of tax season while still staying on track. This is my respawn on NF, I have been following the above all year and now it just has gotten harder to stay on track.

Massive Update to mark off all of the Quests that I have completed. I feel very accomplished the last 4 to 6 years I have done so much. Soon, I will update the Financial section with new goals.