Ellywick

Final check in: Luckily I am much better at tracking the SMART goals and completing them than I am at posting in the forum Goal 1: Do a cardio workout 3x per week I completed 3 workouts each of the first 3 weeks but only 2 the last week. All total that is 11 of the 12 workouts, or 92%. Goal 2: Meditate for at least 5 minutes 3x per week. I did this 7x the first week, 4x the second week, 6x the third week, and 4x the fourth week. Some of these were for longer than 5 minutes, but most were 5 minutes. So 100% here. Goal 3: Make a complete menu and shopping list each week. This was like pulling teeth, and it got one day later every week. But I did it every single week, so 100%. Goal 4: Spend 10 minutes every day reading RPG blogs and establish 5 favorites. Week 2 and 4 I only did 6x per week. That makes a total of 26 out of 28, or 93%. My 5 favorite blogs were Failure Tolerated, A Blog Full of Demons, Indie RPG Shelf, Roleplaying Tips, and Dyson Logos blog. My overall score for the challenge was 96%! I am super pumped, and I think I will probably participate in the one starting on the 18th too

I just really don't ever want to do it. It seems tedious. I don't have any trouble finding recipes or anything. It is also a pain because I try to coordinate cooking times, crockpot vs traditional cooking and such around my kids' activities.

Quick check in and update. The menu planning still sucks. I've done it every week, but it has been a day later each week. Bonus benefit is that we have thrown out and wasted much less food. I have meditated nearly every day. Week 1 was 7 days, Week 2 was 4 days, and Week 3 was 6 days. I'm on Week 3 of Couch to 5k, but unfortunately back to you tube fitness videos this week because snow :/ Either way I've done 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week for the past 3 weeks. There was one day on week 2 where I missed the blog reading. Overall, I've read 23 different blogs since we started. I have favorites picked out, and I will probably have to narrow down further to get my 5 favorites.

Thanks Eira! No treadmill at home and I cant afford that or a gym membership. I've been alright though. I've been outside to jog 3 times since we started, and I've done fitness videos when the weather has been crappy. I am just so ready for spring

I have managed to meditate for 5 minutes every day for the past 5 days. I definitely feel better afterwards. The headspace app is growing on me. I've done 2/3 cardio workouts for the week. I reinstalled the couch to 5K app. We will see what the weather is like tomorrow. February in the Midwest is not usually ideal for existing outside. I've been sticking to my menu pretty well, but there was gooey butter cake at work today. Getting ready to do day 5 of RPG blogging right now.

Hello Eira! I hope your first day went well. I don't think two jobs per week is very little at all. I have been searching for a new job recently and found that with out a hard limit, I would just spend all day applying, checking emails, and stressing about it. Good luck with your challenge! --Elly--

Welcome! I hope your day 1 went well. I am in the weighing more than once per week camp too. The number doesn't upset me, but keeps me motivated to actually continue to eat right and exercise. If it works for you, stick with it. --Elly--

Welcome! That putting away laundry goal is brutal. Lol. I am a perpetual floor stacker. I've got better recently, but the clothes that need hung up always seem to lay about still. What kind of dog do you have? We have a great pyrenees. Large dogs are my absolute favorites, gentle giants. Hope Day 2 is going well for you!

Day 1 went really well. I did a 37 minute cardio workout from Fitness Blender on youtube. I had been doing the beginner body weight circuit last week, but my shoulder is super sore so I picked this to avoid the dumbbell rows. I substituted a lot of the jumping jacks and planks for jogging or dancing because of the arm. But I figure the goal was to get the heart rate pumping, so mission accomplished. I used the Headspace app for my 5 minute meditation. Not sure that I love the app, but I will give it until the rest of the week to see. Menu, shopping list, and actual shopping got done yesterday too. Everything even got put away I spent 10 minutes reading the Basic Red ttrpg blog. It was pretty good, but I am not sure it will make the top 5.

I agree 100%. I absolutely hate doing it. I actually got halfway through it yesterday, and then did my cardio workout just so I could stop doing it I did go back and finish it though, and I managed to go to the grocery store and buy everything. But at least now I don't have to do it for one whole week.

I bullet journal too! If I don't make my lists at the beginning of the day, I accomplish almost nothing. I wrote my stats right in the front, height, weight, and even took body measurements (just measuring tape, I have no calipers). When I went from working in the ER walking around all the time to mostly sitting and typing during school I felt the difference big time. Don't laugh, but I started doing a few small exercises every time I went to the bathroom, i.e. 10 squats or wall push-ups, things like that.

It sounds like you are doing great so far! I am often a bit of an "accountability slacker". I think this forum will help with that. I also make lists. I am much more likely to do something if I write it on the list in the morning. It's like self-nagging really. If you are especially concerned about the swim, you could add some exercises in to your body weight circuit that would be beneficial or modify the current exercises. Replace some of the squats with jump squats or plank with plank ups, and add in some flutter kicks. Keep up the good work!

Random question unrelated to fitness...Does this viking reenactment involve boats? Because that would be wicked cool. Also, great work on day one!

Sounds like you made some awesome progress the first time around. Welcome back and I am sure you will kick butt this time too! --Elly--

Great job on your first day! I work 12 hour shifts as a nurse, so when I pack my lunch I also pack a couple healthy emergency snacks. They are there if I need a little extra boost, and they help me avoid vending machines or sweets that people bring in to share. Love the singing bowls sounds you posted. Keep up the great work! --Elly--