Jié Xī

That sounds lovely. I am trying to drink more water too. What was the difference you noticed (other than not needing to pee as often, lol)?

I got in 10,000 steps again. I was at only 6,000 and so paced my house for an hour, lol. Eating was better. All heathy, but I didn't count my calories so probably am a little over. I googled tons of lower body exercises and tried tons of them to see which ones I liked (i.e., didn't hate so have half a change at doing, lol), and picked the following: Bulgarian Split Squat Wall Squat Hamstring Curls Single Leg Box Squat Eventually I add in Deadlifts again, but I'm going to get a set of squat wedges first because I didn't really enjoy them as much as I thought and I think it's because I have little angle mobility which the wedges are suppossed to help with. That will be a reward for meeting a goal. Oh, quick question for warriors out there. Some of my IRM was in the intermediate and others were barely novice. Is that normal, or does that mean I am out-of-balance? For instance, my Leg Press was 240 (245 = intermediate). But my Leg Curl was not quite 60 (61 = Novice). It it normal to have such a discrepancy between quads and hamstrings, or does this mean my quads over compensate for my weak hamstrings? Does this have anything to do with having zero flexibility in my hamstrings (me leaning forward to touch my toes is um, not leaning forward at all, there is NO bend in the back, lol)? TIA!

So I actually did my workout (upper body) and got in 10,087 steps (my average is 4000). Eating wasn't that great, but not horrid. I took some before pics for my wellness journal, but haven't taken my measurements yet.

Okay....so, my six-month wellness journal weight loss challenge was supposed to start Monday but that bombed. But I am starting today. I did get my base level figured out though. I compiled a list of 1MR from strengthlevel.com for beginner, novice, intermediate for various exercises and then went as a guest to Planet Fitness on a friend's black membership. I was pretty happy with my starting 1MR seeing as how I've spent my life on and off a diet and that always included lifting with dumbbells so most of my 1RM were just under intermediate if I remember correctly. I will make up a chart and post it here with whatever my 6 month goals will be. I also hiked up a mountain on my Saturday (4 miles with 2000 ft elevation gain). I used the Naismith’s Rule. Again, the point was to find my base (the time it took me determined where I was from very unfit to very fit). I was very happy to see that I was above average. My goal is to do it again in a few months and to have moved up 2 fitness levels (times). What shocked me was that I was only thinking of it in terms up up (4 miles) so it didn't occur to me that I had actually done 8 miles (since I hiked back down, lol), And it didn't occur to me that that was more than a 10k!!! I've never done anything more than a 5k and that was urban/level and I was in my early 30's. I cannot say that I enjoyed it, though I was ecstatic to have met my goal of finishing under 30 mins (29:50 something). But there is a run near me in October that is a 5k, 10K, or 25K up a mountain (roundtrip). I have not decided if I want to do this or not -- the 5 or 10k. And if I do decide, do I want to run (train) to win or just choose a personal time? Is it insane to compete against runners who do this all the time and think, Oh, well, I've worked out for 2 months, I can win, lol. I don't want to set an unrealistic goal. I want to enjoy my fitness journey. So yea, haven't decided on that one. The project that I have been working on (that has taken over my life for the last 4 years and encouraged the lack of working out, evening snacking, and weight gain) is finally over (June 30). It's kind of hard to explain, because it's an ongoing project, but the rather stressful creation stage is done. That I am sitting here typing on NFR instead of working is still so surreal to me. That I don't have to spend my evenings until 2 am working on it is surreal. It's almost like I don't want know what to do. I can read. I can workout. I can do yoga. I can do Tai Chi sword. I can do anything I want because I don't have to work on that stage of the project. Now it's fine tuning after the inspection is over. And then it will be marking. But I've already decided that I will work on those stages for a set period of time and then close the door to my office and be done with it. I will not let it take over my life, my health, or take me away from my family anymore. So, assuming that it passes inspection and doesn't need to go through the creation stage again, that phase of my life is complete. And I am thrilled. I don't want to ever go back to that type of stress again. So anyway...I did not get out of the 170's. So that is basically the goal for the rest of this challenge. I sort of started my eating well habits but not consistently, so that will be the goal for the rest of this challenge as well. And of course, I will start working out. Hahaha, the day after the hike, I couldn't walk (hips were inflamed). The day after that, I cleaned my house and the only thing that hurt was my calves. Then the day after that I didn't hurt at all, so I feel like that's not too bad...for being out-of-shape and at least 20 pounds overweight.

Oh definitely! I was a size 8/10 the last time I was 134 and that is what I am shooting for (fitting into my packed up "thin clothes" again). I could care less what the scale actually says. I mainly want to be strong. I want to run around an obstacle course and make good time and be strong enough to actually complete it. There is a ninja warrior obstacle course near me and I know at this point it would be a waste of money because I don't have the upper body strength I need let alone the upper body strength when I'm 20-40 pounds heavier than I should be. As to how it's going...not as great a start as I had hoped. It was hard with the holiday and my husband having off. So today is basically day one and I'm going to an escape room (Sacred Lotus) this Sunday for my birthday with friends. Food will probably be involved either before or after...but I will try to make it a "treat" meal and not let it turn into a "treat" weekend. That should actually be my goal for this week now that I think about it, lol. Thanks for asking!

So I bought myself a beautiful rose gold Clever Fox Wellness journal that last six months. Technically I'll start using the wellness journal in July which is also my birthday (I turn 45). But since the challenge started now, and since I am starting on Diet #456,872 today anyway, I'll consider theses last two weeks in June as prepping. The Wellness Journal has space for 5 goals to make over the 6 months. Weight: <134 (this requires a 40 pound weight loss). Flexibility: Touch Toes (with legs only slightly bend, chest against thighs). Strength: Intermediate 1RM (per strengthlevel.com) for my age and gender. Fitness: 3.5 mile hike with 2,000 elevation gain (drop my time by 1-2 fitness levels) Ying Yang: Achieve balance in other areas of my life (instead of focusing exclusively on things I want to do and neglecting things I need to do) NFR Part 1 Goals (first 2 weeks): 1) Get out of the 170's. Action Steps: a) Don't Snack in the Evenings b) Stick to Plan on Weekends c) Strength Train 4x a week Establish Habits: Drink 50oz water a day Drink Vega shake Drink Collagen Get 60+ grams protein A work project that's lasted the better part of the last 5 years should FINALLY be coming to a close at the end of next week as well, which will allow more time for me to actually devote health and wellness (and weight loss). NFR Part 1 Goals (final 3 weeks): 1) Get back to 162 (which is where I was the better part of Fall 2022) Action Steps: a) Don't Snack in the Evenings b) Stick to Plan on Weekends c) Strength Train 4x a week Establish Habits: Increase Steps (I seem to average 4,000) Yoga video (Hamstrings) Tai Chi Sword video (Mental Wellbeing/Balance)

So, I've not done very well logging in every day let alone every week. But I have worked out nearly every planned workout day. I have been working on my getting up from the floor, but I haven't googled ankle mobility exercises yet, nor have I designed a pull up routine yet. This week's WAM (Weekly Accountability Meeting): Follow Meal Plan. Weight Workout Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat Log in for Daily Huddle: State the day's goal and report on the success (or failure) of the previous day's goal. I will try to remember to do this.

Jié Xī ( the rebel formerly known as Magdalena Ravenclaw) attempts her first 12 Week Year (over the next 3 NFR challenges). Shortly before the New Year, I discovered the book, The 12 Week Year. While I am applying it mostly to business goals, I am also going to use it to attempt to achieve my fitness goals. I have to have a Week Accountability Meeting (which means log in here at least weekly and report on my progress). It is also suggested to have a Daily Huddle (which would be logging in daily just long enough to say if I accomplished the previous day's goals). Main 12 Week Quest : Zip My Coat(s). Not sure what weight/pounds that will be, but I am trying to focus on something less abstract and more profitable than seeing a number on the scale. I like coats the way many women like shoes. But I've gained weight after 2 kids (now 4 and 6) and though I lost 30 of the 60 gained during pregnancy, I'd like to get the rest off and get back into most of my nicer clothes. But, I recently realized why I have failed at my weight loss attempts for the past 4 years. It's because I am no longer fat / in the obese category as I was for 4 years. I'm not thin by any means (I'm in the overweight category), but I don't hate what I see anymore in the mirror, so the discomfort of not snacking or enjoying pizza does not outweigh the discomfort of not liking my reflection. So in other words my "long-term vision" (lose weight) which is suppossed to keep me motivated and focused on my goal (of not snacking) isn't working because my actual goal is "don't be fat" and I achieved it. With that in mind, my new goals are more fitness oriented. I will be 45 this year, and while writing my 5, 10, and 15 year vision (for 12 Week Year) of who and where I want to be, I realized my goal is to maintain (or up) my current level of fitness. We went to the zoo the other day, and while my mom and MiL went to the restroom, I ran up and down 3 flights of stairs. I want to be able to do that at 50, 55, and 60. I don't want age to stop me at anything fitness-wise. So, I need to get stronger and more flexible (which is part of this 12 week year goal) and then maintain that level of strength and flexibility. But working on that should by default help me achieve weight loss as well and so my goal is to be able to zip my puffer coat and button my 2 wool coats. Maybe, I will take pictures of how much they won't close. Side Quest/Warrior Goal: Do one complete pull up (or chin up). I've never done either one in my adult life (now in my 40's), and I have an old shoulder injury in the left and new shoulder injury I've only just recovered from in the right. So, in the event that a pull up is unrealistic to achieve in 12 weeks, I am leaving myself the chin up option. Also, I usually get up from the floor by doing split squat, putting both hands of my front knee, and pushing up with an old lady groan. No more. I watched a YouTube video on how to get up from the floor gracefully and have incorporated that into my lower body routine. The video pointed out that I have poor ankle mobility, so I will be incorporating an ankle mobility workout into my lower body routine. Side Quest/Druid Goal: Touch my toes. I've never done this in my adult life either. From sitting, my hands are about just past my knees (wrists over knees). From standing, my back is flat as a table (would like for my chest to touch my thighs). Again, I have no idea if this is a realistic goal or not. But there is bound to be flexibility improvements if I actually do yoga 3+ days a week (compared to 3x a year, which is about the norm for me). Any improvement would be nice. I have two yoga routines (one is a 10 minute full body, the other is a 12 minute leg and hip focus). I've also taken up Tai Chi Sword (I have two swords complete with tassels) and am really enjoying it. I tried a Tai Chi workout without the swords and it was boring / too slow. But put swords in my hands and I can do slow and deliberate like a boss, lol. But the TCS is not actually part of my goal. It's more a fun hobby that I took up that compliments my fitness goals.

I finally did a full upper body workout tonight. I only did one set of reps (instead of my normal two), but fear of injury and/or pain has been holding me back. But I did the reps and no pain. So assuming I don't fear horrible pain tomorrow, I should be able to resume my regular workouts. Yay!

Hahaha, I have no idea. I think that I'm just still adjusting to being a special needs mom, who is homeschooling, and still adjusting to allowing my 6 year old be the grade he is (pre-k with phonological weakness instead of first grade). I'm good now, but it was hard at first. We were doing kindergarten, and it just wasn't working, so I had to drop hold him back again, 2 years. It was hard. Hard for me, not him, lol. Once we dropped back to Pre-k instead of Kindergarten he went from "I hate to school" to "I love school" so I know we are in the right grade. And I have the best phonological curriculum on the market (was fortunate enough to find it on Ebay as it's expensive). It's just hard to watch him struggle. He cannot hear rhymes. Cat, rat . . . he just looks at me blankly, cuz he can't hear the similarities. And so he struggles. But he loves to play this rhyming Bingo game I found . . . even though he can't hear the rhymes, lol . . . it's almost funny. But his loving to learn is what's important. So that makes me happy.

Definitely just a beginner. And I'm sure I suck at drawing, lol. . . so that kinda sucks if I need to know how to draw in order to watercolor. Hahahaha. Loose watercoloring looks so easy. You just have to give the impression of a tree, lol, not actually know how to draw a tree. At least that's what one of the YouTube videos I watched implied, lol. But it all seriousness, yes, I would LOVE to troubleshoot together when I can give it the time it deserves. But for now, I am swamped with work projects. But it is high on my list of priorities for next quarter as a way to step back from work and relax. So I will def touch base with you then. Thanks!!! <3

My hubby is trying to limit time on the phone too. He is def addicted. Littles are so much fun aren't they? Mine are 4 and six. Both autistic so not quite reading yet, but they love to sit beside me and "read" make up stories about the pictures.

I took up watercoloring for a few weeks over the summer. I found it very relaxing. I was doing pretty good while following along with youtube videos, but then I decided on a style (loose) and tried to get better (rather than just relax and enjoy). I watched several videos by Sterling Edwards and others, but every one seemed to have a different techniques and I ended up disliking everything I painted, and having no idea what I was doing wrong. It stopped being relaxing and I gave up, lol. I love your fish. He's beautiful. It's making me wonder if I should give watercoloring a second chance.

So, family left and after 2 days of good eating, I dropped 4 of the 11 pounds I gained. I'm actually feel much more positive that I can get back to my pre-Thanksgiving weight by Christmas Eve. My shoulder is getting better every day, so I will probably resume weight lifting today or tomorrow. I also need to get back into Tai Chi which I had only just added to my routine when family came to visit for 6 weeks so of course it immediately fell by the wayside. After practically living between 166 and 172 for the last 5 years, entering January at 159 feels incredibly motivational and like 2023 will definitely be the year that I get back to goal.

I have very realistic prop swords (Tai Chi style even with tassels). This way I don't have to worry about my littles while I exercise. Don't want a Wheel of Time situation, lol. Barely got some sleep last night due to the shoulder pain. It is still VERY sore. But my back, ironically, is fine. Thanks!

Eating today went well. I was going to lift weights this afternoon but then forgot. Then this evening I took my littles roller skating for the first time. I haven't been on skates in forever. Of course I fell (trying to help the 4 year old back up after he fell) right on my tailbone at the beginning of the two hours. I then spent the rest of the evening bent over to stabilize the walker/trainer thing that my son was holding on to. Drove home (half an hour) by the time I got home my body was ridiculously stiff and in pain. I've taken an 800 ibuprofen and am now allowing my back massager to kneed my back. As I was closing the van door, my shoulder screamed in pain. I have no idea why. I didn't hurt my shoulder (that I know of). I can only assume that it was because that was the arm I used to help my son to his feet every time he fell. Point is, I would have lifted weights this evening but today is upper body. I feel like I shouldn't be in this much pain, lol. Must be getting old. Sigh.

Main Quest: Don't Gain Weight from now until January 10 (and lose the little I gained over this Thanksgiving weekend) Side Quest: Practice Tai Chi Sword (3x a week minimum) Side Quest: Lift Weights (4x a week minimum) Main Quest. I've been struggling to get out of the 160's for months. Months and months and months. (Technically about 2 years. But let's not go there.) I finally hit 159 mid November, then shot back up to 163. Then back to 159 right before thanksgiving. I'm sure I'm up again . . . but I refuse to get on the scale. Need a few more days between Thanksgiving and now. Once I'm back at 159, I am hoping to maintain that from now through the Christmas holiday. If I can actually lose some too, that would be cool. But if I can just enter 2023 in the 150's even if it's 159, I'll be stoked. Side Quests. Tai Chi Sword and Weight Lifting. Basically just trying to be consistent. I do both about 2-3x a week. I would like to get that to 4-6x a week. I would love for it to become so second nature that I actually notice when I don't workout (and miss it!) rather than, late at night, realizing, oh, man, I forgot to workout again. My life is a bit out of the norm right now (have family visiting), but I will have my house to myself again come next week (Dec 5th). At that time, it'll be much easier to get back into my normal routine (less food in the house, less junk food in the house, less eating out). So this week, I'm trying to get back to 159, but there's still several more "family eating events" between now and then. I've been upping my workouts to try and compensate. I'm glad my December social calendar is pretty empty after this coming weekend, lol.

I'm not sure why I gained that week, but I am losing 1-2 pounds now that I am doing 3:4, so that's much more motivating to stick to it. I was 159.8 this past Friday and tomorrow we leave for vacation, so I am sure there will be a bit of a gain. But I do think that I will be able to maintain on 5:2 but I much prefer 800 calories on fast day rather than 500. So yes, I think I can maintain my weight loss o 5:2 since I am losing so well on 3:4. I'm pretty happy overall as I think I will reach goal by Christmas.

So, I just checked a 2020 challenge to see what I weighed for vacation last year this time and I had made it out of the 160's. I got to 157, went on vacation, came back in the 160's and I don't think I've seen it since that point. This is so utterly frustrating. It makes me feel as though I am wasting my life and not enjoying food for nothing since I'm stuck in the 160's anyway. I'm glad I found the 5:2 diet, but I am not convinced that I will stick to it for life to maintain. I gained last week fasting 2x and eating maintenance 5x -- that doesn't really bode well. I've upped my fasting days and am losing better . . . I should be in the 150's just in time to go on vacation. I will meal plan but not going to fast. Ugh. Here is my weight from 2015 right before 2 back to back pregnancies through now. The red circle is when I joined NFR.

So far so good. It's def nice to not have off limit foods. I'm still holding my breath that it actually works. I feel I won't actually know until I get out of the 160's, since I've been stuck here for 2.5 years. If I in month on this diet, I'm in the 150's, yea, I will sing the praises of this diet for life, lol.

Only .4 this week, but considering I ate at maintenance calories levels (1900) and I didn't work out, I can't really complain, lol. Going to stick to 1400 this week and have already meal planned for the week including for a church cookout Sunday. Am hoping to see at least 1 if not 2 pound loss next week. If I do, then this diet works better than even Keto for me. Which would be absolutely amazing, because I can eat real food and all food groups. What a concept,

So it's only been a week and half on 5:2 and tonight's supper was my first meal without bread. In fact, I ate 2 rolls for breakfast and 2 more lunch. At one point, I was afraid that all 1400 of todays calories would be consumed by my bread addiction. But then, after saying no to free ice cream (but both boys enjoyed some), I came home and ate chicken, fruit and veggies for supper (along with some chips). In addition, I bought tons of Asian stir fry veggies because I bought some teriyaki chicken, orange chicken, and General Tso's chicken -- all things that would only have been for "off diet" days and would have been take away size portions. I'm hoping this 1) means less money spent on take away, 2) healthier portion sizes, 3) lots of veggies as the main dish with chicken as the side. My weight Friday morning was 164.2. Not bad, considering how much I hate eaten over the 10-day period. This was going to be the week that would determine if the diet worked for me to lose weight but now TOM so that might skew the results. *sigh* I am not a patient person, lol.

Hmm, I wasn't really looking at it as a success that at least I wasn't still there, but you are right. Thanks for that perspective!

Thank you! I'm feeling pretty positive thus far.

Because you're cheating on your diet by eating a sweet, chocolatey nut butter loaf? Hahaha, that's what I initially thought but kept reading and saw you were being serious about eating pate. I suppose if you like chocolatey nut butter loaf and pate is super healthy and low carb that would be an amazing discovery! You could probably become rich off that recipe!