athousandwords

Welcome back! I just respawned about 3 months ago after 3 years away, and was happy to find the challenge systems really helped me get back on track. I hope you find what you're looking for and can use the next challenge to help you succeed in your goals! I'll keep an eye out for you on the forums!

CHALLENGE WRAP UP! What Worked: C25k! I'm officially a C25k finisher and in the habit of running 3x a week now. WOW! That is completely wild to me as a lifelong non-runner. I have some thoughts on what to do next but I'll admit I'm a little nervous to exit the framework of the C25k and do my own thing. NF Bodyweight Workout. It's not the most exciting workout, but I do feel like I made some strength gains this challenge, coupled with the running. It was a great no-brainer way to build some muscle, and I'll probably continue to use it when I need a training program that doesn't require much thought. But I do think I'm looking to move to something with a little more variety and challenge. Paleo...ish. I wasn't fully paleo for this challenge, but I was grain- and legume- and HFC-syrup free and managed to do better than my goal of 4x a week! It was a little rough at the start, but I hit my groove toward week 4-5 and found it much easier to plan and execute paleo meals, and I didn't really feel like I was missing out. IF continues to be a very natural way of eating for me. I rarely miss out on eating breakfast, and when I found myself missing the occasional breakfast food, I would just make brinner or brunch. And limiting my snacking/drinking after 8pm helped a lot with reducing unnecessary calories. Having a list of things to declutter made it easier to just pick something and go (when I managed to work on it) What Didn't Work: I really didn't make the time to organize/declutter. Despite that being the theme of the challenge, I let this one fall to the wayside. I'm happy with what I got done, and probably made more progress with the challenge than I would have otherwise, but it's pretty clear this wasn't a real priority. It's hard to say which of the 4 food habits I broke most often, but I noticed that I really let my water intake slip whenever I knew I wasn't already hitting that goal. Like: oh, eating breakfast today? Might as well not drink any water! I'm getting better at water consumption than I used to be, but I still think this needs individual focus instead of lumping it in with other goals My habitica integration!! I'm sad to say the Habitica API makes sorting out "checked" days extremely difficult. My script stopped working once I started using it regularly and I never had time to go in and debug it. Instead I just used the spreadsheet to track. 😭 What's Next: All in all, I'm feeling great about how this challenge went. I feel like I accomplished my "theme" goal of minimizing distractions and roadblocks so that I could put healthy decisions on autopilot. I haven't checked measurements, but the scale agrees that what I'm doing is working - I lost about 5lbs during this challenge and am under 170lbs again! 🙌 For the next 2 weeks I'll be at the beach and I'm so excited for the time off of work and a fun trip with my family and friends. I was hoping to post my next challenge today, but it looks like the forums aren't up yet... so I'll try and sneak in some laptop time over the next week to post. Rest assured, I'm still planning to keep up with running and strength training and "paleoish" eating and that water intake. I think it'll be a good motivator not to go too wild on vacation!

Would something like this work while you wait for your CPAP? https://www.epbot.com/2019/08/our-5-diy-sleep-apnea-solution-to-keep.html My husband has scary sleep apnea as well and his sleeping as been so much better since he got his CPAP. I hope you're able to get one soon!

I stepped outside this morning to absolutely gorgeous crisp 65°F fall weather. 😍 Had my best run ever - 11'11" pace! 🙌 I'm actually a little off on my days because it was pouring rain yesterday on my usual run day and I didn't want to do an indoor run on the treadmill (yes, I know, winter is coming and I will have to eventually, but I'm holding out as long as possible). So I took yesterday off, ran today, bodyweight workout tomorrow, and a final run on Sunday before we go to the beach. Told Matt the plan so he could keep me accountable too. I'll still complete my exercise goal for the challenge and that Sunday run should help since I probably won't run until Wednesday of next week. Speaking of next week... BEACH VACATION! WEEK 0! SUCH EXCITE!! Am I the only one already planning out next challenge? Like, I’ve started my challenge in a google doc already since the forums aren’t available yet. 😅 I'll be at the beach for the first two weeks, so I'm going to do an extended Week 0/interlude, then get back and buckle down for the 4 remaining weeks. Not sure how much I'll be on during the first two weeks, but hoping to check in a few times!

I really need to watch Castle in the Sky and Kiki's, they've been on my list forever! I hadn't even heard of Nausicaa though! Ohhhh right! I totally forgot that existed! I even have one! 🙈 Love your list though, and now I feel inspired to go fill mine out too!

YAAAAS. I need to adopt this mindset! Have you shared this here? I'm so curious about what your EPIC quest entails!

Having just gotten back from semi-camping I can imagine that it's less restful than you needed! Hope you're having a good time and enjoy some better weather the rest of the week!

Week 4 Summary I was already halfway through week 4 when I updated last, so not too many surprises here. I will say, though — last week was exhausting. The kids were off school for 3 full days and 2 half days while hubs and I still attempted to work - it was like having 2 full time jobs. On Friday I woke up at 5am just to get a few hours of work done uninterrupted. My workout schedule was thrown off by camping last weekend, I was missing my normal morning walk to daycare, and I had the kids climbing all over me when I did my bodyweight workouts at home. So honestly I'm impressed that I hit all my targets here - I feel like I slid into Sunday needing a break. We went out for dinner on Sunday night and relaxing at a Mexican restaurant was just the perfect downtime. On the organizing front: I hung some new hooks in my kiddo's room and used that as an excuse to clear out his closet a bit. Oh, and organized the kids' school clothes because they started fall classes and are back in uniform now. Small progress, but progress nonetheless! This week I'll be packing for the beach (we leave in 6 days!) and will try to fit in some smaller spaces as I go. I feel like this is the one goal that I didn't get as much done as I wanted to, but a little is better than nothing at least. It's the final week of the challenge and my last week of C25k and I am so ready to hit the beach for two weeks at the end of all this! 🧉👙⛱

Aw, thanks for stopping in! I just started checking my stats using my fitbit once I got into the longer runs. Sometimes when I find myself slowing down it motivates me to pick it up a bit! But I'm very much still in the mindset that finishing is important - not the pace!

You're on! That's my bucket list goal, but who knows when...

Week 3 Summary Exercise: 5x a Week: Working out this last week has been consistent, but challenging. Of the last 7 workouts: 2 of my runs were in the rain, 2 of my bodyweight workouts were while watching the kids (extra weight during squats and pushups - yay?), and then my whole week got pushed back a day with camping. Still, getting them done and I'm happy with my progress on C25k! I'm up to 28 minutes and 2.4 miles, which feels super impressive from where I started. Paleo 4x a Week: Did well here this week - got all 4 paleo days done, and didn't even go that far off track on the non-paleo days. On Thursday we went out for wings and a beer, but the rest of the day was paleo, which I think is a much healthier/sustainable way of having some leeway. That way I don't tend to let the full day go off course. The weekend, as predicted, was a bit of a free for all, but honestly I feel like I didn't binge eat chips or go crazy drinking beer - I felt like I had pretty good moderation, while still enjoying myself. Healthy Food Habits: I managed 6/7 days last week, which was great! I even kept to my habits on the first day of camping and on Thursday when we went out for wings. I think 6/7 feels like a pretty good target to aim for this week and next as well. Minimise/Organize/Optimize: Not as much progress here - I cleaned out the kids' bathroom last week, but being gone for the weekend meant that I didn't get anything else done. Yesterday I cleaned out my dresser though, and I think I just need to get better about decluttering smaller spaces during the week instead of trying to tackle a large area over the weekend.

Quick update because we're on our way out of town to go "camping" - aka pitching a tent in my sister's backyard in the middle of farmland. Still, looking forward to it even if it's not real camping. There'll be a fire, s'mores, beer, grilled food, stars, hiking, and letting the kids run nuts. Today won't be paleo, but I am going to stick to my healthy habits. Tomorrow and Monday will probably be a free for all because #campsnacks 🤤. But we already did our meal planning and shopping for next week so that I can get back on track as soon as we get back. 💪

This week is going well so far! I've gotten all my workouts in, met all my healthy food habits, eaten paleo the whole week so far. Tonight I think we're ordering out so I may do a non-paleo day - or maybe just dinner. I find it better if I don't derail myself the whole day, and I still have paleo food I can eat for lunch. I did a little bit of organization on Tuesday, cleaning out the kids' bathroom. I don't have any pictures because honestly there wasn't a ton to do - rehomed a few things, wiped down the drawers, and straightened out the things that remained. I also cleared out the vanity cupboard that we had barely anything in and took off the door so I could keep the kids' stepstool inside - out of the way but still accessible. It doesn't look "pretty" but I was so tired of it just floating in the middle of the bathroom and constantly tripping on it. I also started dreaming about making over our laundry room - adding cabinets and wallpaper and a folding shelf... but that project probably isn't going to happen any time soon. 😭

They're so hard!! 😭 I find that doing them with shoes on instead of barefoot helps? But yeah, I feel like it's really tricky to get proper form. The weekly perspective definitely helps! ❤️

Yeah, it's definitely not easy teaching kids about money! We've let 4yo have some practice paying for things - ex, when he spends his $2 at the store, we make him put his things separate and pay the cashier himself. But we're sort of inventing ways for him to get money so that he can have those experiences. Currently, he doesn't have a ton of chores - he likes to do laundry, he can be convinced to help with dishes, and we ask that he clears his own plate from the table and help pick up his toys/room whenever it gets too messy. When he turns 5, we're going to start a regular allowance, but it won't be tied to chores - those are just household things that he's expected to do without the promise of money. Then when he gets a little older, we'll probably have some "jobs" he can do to earn more: mow the lawn, weed the garden, clean windows, etc. Things that we would consider hiring out or would normally do ourselves. Eventually I'd like to give him responsibility over his own spending - I read a great finance book where the parents gave their daughter the amount they would typically spend for back to school shopping or clothes or toiletries and let her make her own decisions/budget. That's pretty far down the line though! Awww poor love! I hope she recovers quickly! ❤️

Ohh I've been wanting to read that one. I'll have to bump it up on the reading list. Thanks!

Week 2 All things considered, this week wasn't actually bad? I hit 3/4 of my goals - including eating paleo 4x a week. I got so down on myself through the weekend that I forgot that I did really well at the beginning of the week. Anyway, I don't want to dedicate more brain space to negative thoughts about Thursday (or Sunday when I was at my in-laws and just took a pass on my goals) so let's focus on what went well this week! I'm really enjoying the C25k training! I'm up to 25 minutes as of this morning and felt pretty good about my pace last week. I've been running 11'30" miles and that feels impressive considering where I started. The bodyweight workouts are getting easier. Walking lunges just about killed me on week one, but this week my legs were barely sore. Our meal plans have gotten much more creative since doing more paleo! I've gotten to try some new recipes like braised cabbage and bring back some old favorites that I'd forgotten about. I've really, really cut back on alcohol this challenge. I was drinking 2-3 times a week before, compared to twice so far in two weeks. But also hubby and I split a bottle of wine on Saturday and whew was I feeling it. I organized our linen closet this weekend and cleared out a ton of old, mismatched towels and sheets that we've been holding on to for far too long. I'm so excited by how much room there is now. I really should have taken before pics, but enjoy a couple after pics! These are a little misleading, since a bunch of our beach towels and guest towels are in the wash, but imagine how stuffed it was before! I tried the instagrammy trick of wrapping the sheet sets inside the pillow cases, and I'm hoping it helps prevent the random mismatched sheets we had before. And I added some freebie labels using post-it notes and twisty-ties, because IMO if you don't label spaces, they'll just get taken over. But there's still lots of room to re-home things here - the baskets on the top are just empty containers I'm planning to use when I get to the laundry room and bathrooms. .

I love this rule. Also: "Never miss a Monday." Words to live by. Thanks for checking in! Weekend was not great, but I'm trying to move past it. It wasn't terrible in perspective, just not as good as I wanted to be. 😒 I mean, it sounds awfully sensible when you put it that way. I'm trying to get better at listening to my body and brain and break out of some of the unhealthy food relationships I've been in, but it's hard and it sneaks up on you sometimes. Thank you though, that's good perspective.

Your workout log is so pretty! 🤩 Sleep honestly does help a lot. It's amazing how much more you can focus on things like housework and projects when you have a full night's sleep. And you're training hard without getting a decent rest! Hopefully Sophie eases up on you and you're able to play catch up soon. Teething is such a pain for everyone. 😩

Way to go on week 2! Congrats on crushing that 5k!! I struggle with doing chores around the kids too, especially when we have busy weekends. Tonight the 4yo was surprisingly willing to clear the table and wipe it down, but it took a lot of prompting. Over the weekend we bribed him with a couple dollars to spend at a yard sale if he emptied the dishwasher and helped me fold laundry. I'd rather not pay money for chores, but at the same time I'm trying to teach him about money and earning it... It's a work in progress. I love that you're already thinking ahead to next challenge! I think you're doing great on this one so far - can't wait to find out what you're planning for the next one.

Executive dysfunction is so hard to push past. I do the same thing you mentioned with books - I can't start A because I need to read B for book club, and C&D are due back at the library soon, and E is for work. Buuut I'm only interested in reading A so instead I will read none of them. 🤦‍♀️. What's the part # on the bulb? Maybe we can do some google fu and find it on ebay or replacements or something? At least it would get one thing off your plate. And in the meantime, do the 2 things you said you would do: eye mask and organize my food. No need to prioritize the list, those two are already at the top. Ignore the rest of the list if you can.

Oh noo I'd be a total wimp without AC!! Good on you for recognizing that you needed to roll with the punches, and making a plan to get through the killer heat and work projects. I think your new goals sound great!

So after yesterday's empowerment post, I went down the shame-y rabbit hole of binge eating after dinner. 😫 It was a non-Paleo day for me because we had no dinner food in the house, so hubs went to pick up groceries at Costco and brought home a pizza. Not a huge deal, except I could not stop eating. Four slices and I kept eating Oreos until my stomach hurt (since I was already eating non-Paleo, so why not?). I could hear the rational side of my head saying: hey, this is straying into binge eating territory, shouldn't you stop now so you can still tick off that healthy habits checkbox?? While the id munched away thinking: tomorrow I'll be back to eating Paleo and I won't get to eat these cookies or leftover pizza. 🙃 This morning I went extra hard on my run, so that felt good. I did get to tick all my checkboxes for today at least. It was a blip, I'm back on track, but it's frustrating. It's one of the things I hate most about dieting - I only make progress if I'm being restrictive, but being restrictive makes me want to binge eat like there's no tomorrow. I know the "correct" answer is just eat in moderation, but my brain and my body don't work that way.

The heat and humidity this week are just killer. My "run" yesterday felt like jogging uphill in pea soup - it was also the first time I've remembered to put my fitbit in running mode so that I could see my pace. Currently at about a 12min mile. My goal is to get to a sub-30 5k, which honestly feels pretty optimistic, considering I have yet to run a 5k at any pace. But I figure it'll keep me motivated through fall. Last night I made pure paleo comfort food: bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and crispy brussels sprouts with spicy aioli. Felt nice to have something "cheaty" while still staying on track (unless you don't could white potatoes as paleo... but my paleo efforts are "lots of wiggle room" at best). On the bright side, even with wiggle room, I'm seeing some changes! I stepped on the scale today and was down several pounds, which is likely just water weight, but I'll take it as a win! Which reminds me, I found my tracking spreadsheet from the last time I was on NF and added my starting measurements from this time around. I spent a hot second feeling down about how much I've gained in the last 5 years, then added some new columns to remind myself that I gained so much more than weight. Also I'm pretty proud that I'm not back up to my heaviest weight. Sometimes I feel like I've fallen on and off the wagon so many times with my health. That incessant feeling of "well, if you hadn't quit, again and again, you'd be at your 'ideal weight' by now." 🙄 But right now I'm choosing to be proud of the fast that even if I do keep quitting, I also keep starting. And that all of those restarts and 1-month here, 3-months there attempts at being healthier have at least slowed the steady weight creep. Maybe this time will fail too - maybe I'll never get to that sub-30 5k, and 2 months from now I'll be feeling guilty about being right back where I started. But the last 6 weeks have made me healthier, even in the short term, and all these little bursts of motivation mean something.

This heat is zapping all the life out of me. I feel you. 🥵 Sounds like you did errands and went to the dentist? I mean, that might not fit your challenge goals, but it's definitely ticking off some boxes!