Jié Xī

So, I discovered the Mordor challenge here at NFR and have signed up, but I'm cycling to Mordor not walking. Since I do absolutely no cardio (which is why I didn't even put it down as a goal for 2021), I was actually considering getting rid of my stationary bike. But I'm going to give this a go. Perhaps the necessity of destroying the one ring will motivate me! I forgot to mention an awesome thing that happened the first week of January (starting New Years day), minion #1 used the potty for a number two. He didn't exactly want to but was doing a very erratic hopping dance and so I kind of held him down on the potty and hugged him and told him it was okay and he went. He wasn't happy about it, but I praised him, gave him ice cream, etc. 2 days later, same thing. The day after that, he decided he wanted to go. And now he is practically obsessed. Meaning, he attempts a number two every time he sits on the potty. Ice cream has been swapped out for those tiny dum-dum suckers, lol. Minion #2, who had been using the potty intermittently (as he didn't have the autistic-fear of poo) is now also using it regularly to the point that neither of them are in diapers. Ever. Yay!!!! (I do still put them in a overnight pull-up since they aren't waking up dry yet, but other than that, I would say we are a potty trained household.) Scale went down .2 from Monday's weight. Have no idea what the story is there. First it goes up .2, then up another .8, and now it's down 1.2. Granted, I'm glad it's back down, but I worked very hard this week . . . I wanted to see at least 1 if not a 2 pound loss. Maybe tomorrow morning's weight will be better as Friday is official weigh in. 166.anything would be very nice. Goal #1: Musculation -- Took a day off yesterday since I was sore and haven't gotten to it today either. Goal #2: Le régimé -- On Target. Goal #3: Je fais du yoga -- Yesterday, I did yoga making that 2 days in a row, which has never happened. Ever. Didn't get to it today. Goal #4: D'eau -- Nope. No. (Ugh, why is it so hard to speak like an educated adult???) However, we will be replacing our fridge in the next week or so with one that has the automatic water dispenser, so am hoping that helps me drink regularly. Side Quest #1: La Toilette -- Yes, though I forgot that skin care was part of this and not just grooming. So yes to the clothes, so-so to remembering day & night cream. Side Quest #2: Le Maquillage -- Yes. Side Quest #3: Maîtresse de Maison -- Mostly good. Last night was the first I actually remembered to to a nightly sweep. Today not so much. Side Quest #4: L'art de table -- No. First night we ate in the kitchen. I was just too tired and ended up taking a very long nap after supper. Side Quest #5: L'auteur -- Still plugging away; attempting to finish my non-fic this weekend. Side Quest #6: Savior faire -- N/A (i.e. still haven't started those books yet)

Nice. I've been thinking of getting rid of my exercise bike because I never use it so I'll sign up and see if I can convince myself to get on it nearly every day. I'm going to shoot for Mordor by December, but if I make it by July, I'll shoot for getting back to the Shire by December.

I wasn't sure the into really meant that when it came to cycling, lol. Dividing by 3 would make cycling just as difficult as walking, so will probably just count all cycling miles. Already that will take me 2 years. I don't do ANY cardio at all, but I *think* if I was trying to destroy the one ring I could convince myself to go to Mordor in 2021 on my bike. Hahaha. Which means I would be doing at least some cardio, ya know.

I cut my carb grams down to about 50-70 and up my protein grams to around 80-90 and try to stay around 1200 calories. I fail a lot on that last part due to my chocolate addiction, lol.

Okay, that makes much more sense. Thanks! Not sure my ADHD brain can be motivated to do something that would take that long. I assume cycling doesn't count, lol?

So, I was all excited to do this, having never noticed it before now, until I calculated how much per day one has to walk Mon-Fri, 52 weeks a year to make it "there and back again" . . . unless my math is wrong it's 13 miles a day!?!?!? Is my math right? If so, has anyone ever successfully made it to Mordor and back in one year (other than Sam and Frodo)???

Yes, this helps a ton and I highly recommend it. My son was here visiting last week and on Wednesday he warned me not to go on Facebook. I bet him that I could and sure enough my newsfeed was full of friends posting pics of their kids, baking projects, and pets . . . just like any other day. And all that is because I don't "follow" people who are constantly posting political stuff. The irony is that the only political posts showing up on my newsfeeds were from Mr. Ravenclaw, who like Mr. Harriet (as @Harrietmentioned a few days ago), gets quite stressed over these things. Of course, I realize that some people use social media to share/support/advance their causes, and to each their own, but then there are people like me who want it to just be a relaxing way to keep in touch with people.

Trying not to get discouraged but the scale is going the wrong direction. Yesterday it was only up .2 so I figured it was a fluke. But now it's up an entire pound from Monday morning. Would love to convince myself it's water retention from sore muscles, but feel as though that is just wishful thinking.

Goal #1: Musculation -- On target, though not always as planned. For instance, because I've been trying different things in an attempt to work in some new stuff to my routine, I've ended up doing a lower body workout 3 days in a row now. Sunday I did abs and step ups. Yesterday I did squat and donkey kicks. And today I tried a ballet-inspired exercise DVD from the library that focused on bridge, and inner and outer thigh. Today was suppossed to be upper body day, so either I will take a rest day tomorrow so I can reset or do an upper body workout tomorrow and reset later in the week. Goal #2: Le régimé -- On target. Even picked up some low carb snacks for this weekend. Goal #3: Je fais du yoga -- YAY, I did yoga today!!! And, I even think that I can convince myself to do my lower body yoga every day (particularly if it doesn't hurt my lower back to do it first thing in the morning). If so, I'm wondering if I should challenge myself to do it every day (5x a week) and assess my flexibility after 2 weeks. Goal #4: D'eau -- 1 large wine goblet of water. Side Quest #1: La Toilette -- Went food shopping today. Tried on 6 different outfits trying to look really nice after binge watching What Not To Wear and nothing fits so ended up going in my black leggings, knee-high boots, and long burgundy sweater. A big improvement from my 4-year yoga pant and hoodie days, but not really the smart casual look I wanted. O well. It made me even more motivated to eat well and I even came home and rode my stationary bike for 200 calories to justify watching an episode of What Not to Wear. Side Quest #2: Le Maquillage -- N/A Side Quest #3: Maîtresse de Maison -- Still haven't really done the nightly ninja thing, but I do fully clean the kitchen every night after supper now (while watching a What Not To Wear, lol). Side Quest #4: L'art de table -- Yup. Yes. Side Quest #5: L'auteur -- Yes. Side Quest #6: Savior faire -- Picked up even more books from the library; these look much more interesting (The French Art of Home Making and Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life) but they aren't about social graces per se so not sure if they count as learning savior faire, lol.

Because I usually drink on weekends, my weight shoots up 2-4 pounds by Monday morning; it takes till about Wednesday or Thursday to drop that and then I cross my fingers and hope that Friday mornings weight went down from the previous Friday. Usually it will go down about .5-1 pound if I worked out. So the bulk of what I lose each week on my regular diet is water. Because I have somewhere to go next Friday, and because I'll be briefly speaking in public, it would be really nice if one of my nice outfits fit me again (159-162 lbs.), I am being more serious on my diet by attempting not to drink on the weekends, and cut out rolls, potatoes, and rice cakes, but serious enough to bother counting calories. If I don't make my goal, I don't make it. But having an outfit motivating me to not give in to the temptation to make potatoes, or drink, or snack on 3-5 rice cakes in the evening will at least help me lose more than my typical .5 lb a week. For instance, last weekend, even though I ended up drinking, I still made healthy, low-carb dinners instead of ordering pizza or getting Chinese (General Tso's) takeout precisely because I'm really motivated right now to fit back in my clothes and 5-7 pounds isn't that far away. Back to the water weight/retention due to carbs, sodium, alcohol, etc.: If 3 of those pounds I usually lose is water weight and I can lose 4 real pounds in 11 days (by cutting out carbs, not drinking, etc), then I'll have made my 7 pound goal. And even if only 2 pounds is water and I lose only 3 real pounds in 11 days, I'll still have made my 5 pound goal, and an outfit should fit. I hope that makes more sense. Point is, I don't think there is this enormous calorie deficit that's going to leave me feeling fatigued. All I did was cut out empty calories.

Ugh. I hate anything involving phone calls or emailing or customer service. It stresses me out and I put it off indefinitely. Good for you for getting it out of the way!

Goal #1: Musculation -- On target. Goal #2: Le régimé -- On target. Have cut out all carbs that aren't fruit/veggies, even my beloved evening snack of rice cakes. Goal #3: Je fais du yoga -- Have not added yoga to my routine yet. Goal #4: D'eau -- Eh. I may drink 1/2 a sipper a day. And only because I kept forgetting to put my carbonated flavor water in the fridge. Side Quest #1: La Toilette -- I've not left the house for 11 days, lol. Oh wait! I went to a leadership meeting at my church, and yes, I dressed up! I wore my new blazer, jeans, and high heels Side Quest #2: Le Maquillage -- And yes, that day, I wore makeup as well. Side Quest #3: Maîtresse de Maison -- Not bad. Side Quest #4: L'art de table -- Everyday! And even hand wash my gold plated silverware each night that had only been used on holidays. Side Quest #5: L'auteur -- I've been working on my non-fic project every day since my son left. Side Quest #6: Savior faire -- Haven't started on any of the how-to talk/converse books I borrowed from the library. In fact, they are probably going to be due back soon. *sigh*

Oh yes, that's why I reminded myself that even just 5 would get me back into my nicer clothes. It's just that if I give myself a goal of .5 pound a week, I'll let myself snack or do only a minimum workout. But if I give myself a goal of 2.5 a week, it'll motivate me to forgo the roll or the potato or do an extra set or two in my workout. _________________________________ I am sooooo motivated to workout right now due to binge watching What Not To Wear. I hit 159 back in September and bought some gorgeous clothes, then put 10+ pounds right back on in October so all the clothes are just sitting in my closet too snug to look good. My minimum workout is 40 reps 4x a week. But lately I've been doing 90+ reps and only taking 1 rest day instead of 2-3. Hahaha, perhaps I'll even actually do some cardio. I have to go to Walmart tomorrow for a bit of grocery shopping and I want to dress up so bad, lol. I realized today that I have not left the house once in 2021. 11 days, and I've not even run to the store. I know it's because my son was visiting and we just hung out here at the house all week, plus I just watched church online instead of going, but that's really abnormal of me to not have left the house for 11 days. Anyway, I'm suffering from some serious cabin-fever and want to wear something really classy. Even if it's just Walmart, lol.

Okay, so took my measurements this morning to track them as well as the scale. Probably will only do that monthly. Today's Stats: Weight: 167.6. Upper Arm: 13.75 Waist: 34 Hips: 42.25 Upper Thigh: 24.75 I don't particularly have any measurement goals though in my early 30's I was the thinnest I ever was in my adult life (129) was any my waist 28 inches/size 8. I would love to say that is my goal, but I only maintained that for about a year and a half (eating a very low carb diet) and I've had 2 kids since then, so not sure just how realistic that is. Mostly, I would just like all my size 10's to fit quite nicely again. So I'm taking my measurements mainly because sometimes they show a loss even when the scale doesn't. I'm hoping to lose 7.7 pounds by January 22nd which is the church's kickoff where we have an event that talks about what we are doing that semester (we have one in September and one in January). 7.7 pounds would put me at 159.9 and anything under 160 generally allows the bulk of my nice clothes to fit. Technically, I think they start fitting rather well around 162 (-5.6 pounds), so really anything between 162 and 159.9 is my goal. I could likely reach that if I don't drink this upcoming weekend, so hopefully I will have the self-discipline to forgo indulging. Oddly, I'm feeling rather confident about 2021. Perhaps not globally, but at least within my own circle of control -- my weight/clothing goals, my home, my family, my comportment, and to a degree this year's writing goals. I also read an article that said Israel will be the first country vaccinated--every willingly person over the age of 16 will be vaccinated by March 2021. I don't think I've shared this before, but the main horrible thing that happened to me in 2019 that caused the bulk of the weight regain was that the company I paid for a trip to Israel for went under the month of my trip. They/he had already delayed my trip due to "health" reasons (I was originally supposed to go in November 2018, and it kept getting pushed off every month until all the way to March 2019. And, yes, it had originally been a legitimate company, a friend of mine went (the irony, is that I told her about this company), but he evidently turned it into a Ponzi scheme or something. Anyway, I never got my money back (even though every few months I get an email saying they are working on it). EXACTLY one year later, March 2020, my mom and I had planned a trip to "The Holy Land" in Florida as a consolation trip (they had a full-size replica of the temple, etc.) and the weekend we were suppose to go everything closed due to Covid. Not that I had the money to pay a second time for a trip to Israel, but even if I had, they have been closed to tourism. Anyone coming into the country has to be quarantined for 14 days. Point is, I am hoping that their being fully quarantined by March (ironically, again a year later) means they will open for tourism. I have dreamed of going to Israel since I was 14 years old. I was absolutely crushed when that company went under and put on 10 pounds in one week emotionally eating. Then another 10 pounds over the rest of the year making a total of regaining 20 of the 40 I had lost in 2018. So anyway, I'm sick of the original company promising to repay and am going to submit a claim to the credit card company. I've already contacted them and they told me what proof I need and how/where to submit it. But whether they reimburse me or not, I should have enough money to pay for a trip again due to a refund I'm getting in a few weeks. So I'm going to set it aside in the savings account for a trip to Israel and hope that tourism does indeed open sometime this Spring/Summer. Just knowing that the money will be there is making me feel very hopeful that this year will be the year I can go.

Weekend went surprisingly well, even though I totally failed at my goal to not drink at all. I had decided to give it up because I wasn't drinking enough to even get a buzz but enough to stall weight loss, but decided to experiment this weekend to see how much I need to drink just to get a buzz and it put me in the heavy/high-risk (according to this website https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551). This makes me rather nervous as I'm now in my 40's and assume I should be mature enough to not do this. The irony is that after 4 drinks, when I finally felt a buzz, I walked the length of my dining room and living room perfectly on one of the wood planks (as though it was a balance beam). No idea why it takes so much to get me buzzed, but I assume that just because I don't feel it doesn't mean it's not damaging my liver. So . . . next weekend, I shall attempt to not drink at all. The plan is to only drink one weekend a month from here on out (rather than every weekend) for the sake of my waist and my liver health. Anyway . . . I worked on my non-fic project despite feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed by it and made some progress. I ate VERY well all weekend (not a treat food -- veggies and meat, and didn't even snack on rice cakes), plus I worked out every day, and despite drinking, I got on the scale this morning and it was actually DOWN from last week. I NEVER lose weight over the weekend; Monday's weight is always 2+ pounds up from the previous Friday's weight, so I am actually quite motivated to keep not eating rice cakes. When not doing homework or non-fic project, I've also been binge watching What Not to Wear with my free 7-day trial of Discovery Plus. It helps me stay motivated to stick with the diet so I can wear all my nice clothes. I find any excuse I can to watch (it has to be on my laptop as it won't cast to the TV), oh, laundry should be folded, I can watch What Not To Wear while folding clothes. Oh, it's time to cook dinner, clean the kitchen, etc., I'll set up the laptop and watch What Not To Wear. Oh, I should really do some step ups which I find rather boring, so I'll do them while watching What Not To Wear. Hahahaha, so the house is looking pretty clean and I've done longer workouts that usual. Tomorrow starts my first "official" Monday of 2021 as my older son was visiting all last week. Which means, Christmas break is over so homeschooling preschool resumes, minion #1's therapy resumes (Tues and Thurs morning), and an attempt at introducing light cardio and yoga to my lifting routine. This week's goal is also to finish up my non-fic project so I can be done with it once and for all. I'm going to miss my deadline, but I'm trying not to let that stress me or it will incapacitate my ability to work on it at all. Wishing everyone a great week!

You sound just like me on the very rare times I attempt fasting, lol. Oh my gosh, I was going to do this too but I already failed, hahaha. Good luck!!!

Hahaha, that's me and Mr. Ravenclaw as well.

I love that. Go you and Husband!!! Wishing you all the best in your goals for 2021!

So my 23-year-old son and his girlfriend are visiting this week, so it's been extremely difficult to maintain my workout schedule. I forgot the first day and didn't remember until everyone was in bed, and then yesterday, I completely forgot. This morning, they went for a walk, and I ran downstairs and did a minimum workout (40 reps). I think I worked out New Years Eve and New Years Day, and if so, it means that as long as I don't forget another day, I still haven't missed a workout because I do get up to 3 rest days a week. They leave on Thursday, so as long as I remember and get a chance tomorrow and the next day, I should be good. Eating has been mostly okay since they got here. My in-laws came over yesterday with pizza so of course I had some (even though I had a healthy menu planned for the entire week). And I did get munchy later and finished off the pretzels (small amount) left over from NYE and I also had a rice cake with peanut butter and fluff -- both things that if I didn't have guests wouldn't have even dawned on me to eat. I think I unconsciously slipped into people visiting = treat eating. But over all, it wasn't that bad (compared to a day on an intentional binge week). I hope everyone is doing well. School also started up this week and my non-fic writing project deadline is this week so I am pretty overwhelmed and just popped on here real quick to update. I will get to everyone's threads as soon as I can. Here's to 2021. Anything's got to be better than 2020, right? (Don't answer that!)

So Minion #1 woke me at 6:20 crying for his berries (a sprig of faux holly berries he started carrying around yesterday as I took down the Christmas decorations). They were 2 inches from him but he didn't see them. I don't know if crying for what he wants at 4 is normal or an AS (autism spectrum) thing. My 2-year old does not do that. He would just find something else to play with. Anyway, I couldn't fall back asleep so eventually just got up at 7:20. My back was surprisingly not stiff this morning (usually I can't bend over to get my coffee cup out of the bottom rack of the dishwasher . . . I have to do this awkward-looking squat), but even so, the Yoga Back video was uncomfortable. Sipping my morning coffee, I browsed Youtube and found a video on early morning lower back stretches for those with stiff backs and that one was quite nice and can be done in bed, so I think I will try that next times. I then attempted the Ballet HITT video, and got about 1/2 way through (maybe 10 minutes) when it became quite clear that my cardio-despising self will never love/enjoy cardio regardless of whether it is ballet inspired, and even if I could find the motivation to do it, it will not be first thing in the morning, even if I am not sore (and that was even only doing the low impact option). I should have tried to lift instead. But by that time it was somehow 9:00, so I got the boys up. So my next plan will be to do the lower back exercises in the morning, in bed, and then see if that loosens me up enough to lift. I also have a ballet workout on hold at the library, so I will give that one a try before I give up on cardio and/or revert to my standard 10-min HITT videos. But I've tried to incorporate those into a routine every challenge last year and failed so not really optimistic, lol.

Thanks! I will check them out on youtube and the library. I am REALLY tight, can't bend forward when sitting, can't touch toes, (fingers are barely past my knees and my back stays flat instead of bending, so most don't work for me. The only videos I've found that I enjoy (i.e. can actually do) is 12-min yoga emergency. Of course, I'm awkward as heck trying to move from one position to the next and often fall over during the poses (probably all reasons why it's hard to convince myself to do them), but I can actually get into most of the poses.

Ended up crashing on the couch, but on good note, my feet had stopped throbbing. I decided not to work out and spent the evening binge watching Miss Fisher and continuing to work on my lists. I've attempted a revamped workout that I'm slightly wary about only because I have added so much to it. The whole reason I've been successful is because the workouts have been so easy (i.e. short). I failed every challenge before this past one because I tried to add cardio, abs, and yoga. But, it can't hurt to try, right? And, I realized something. I'm doing a dual druid/warrior challenge because mostly I want to add yoga in. And yet the problem is finding the time because when I do have time (the morning) my lower back is too sore. Duh! I can do my back yoga FIRST. If that loosens me up enough to do my workouts, I can then end the workout with legs or arms yoga (depending on the workout). So, I will set my alarm for an hour earlier and see if 1) I actually get up, and 2) can I do back yoga with a stiff back and/or does it loosen my back enough to workout. Stay tuned for tomorrow morning's report. 😁

Yay, my abs are sore!!! They weren't at first so I was kinda disappointed, but as the day progressed, I could tell they'd been worked. I cleaned all day, including laundry, taking down the tree and all the other Christmas decorations, and started reorganizing the kitchen since my needs have changed quite a bit now that we are eating in the dining room. Now, my feet hurt so much they are throbbing nonstop. I shouldn't have cleaned in my slippers. But I didn't even think put on my sneakers with insoles. O well. Mr. Ravenclaw tried to tempt me with pizza but I persevered and made us lightly breaded chicken with steamed vegetables in a jalapeno cream cheese sauce. So very yummy. Now I'm sitting on the couch, exhausted, with hurting throbbing feet trying to convince myself to go work out. I REALLY need to start working out first thing, but so many new habits would have to be started for that to be realistic, including showering first thing to get my lower back loosened up. I do NOTHING until I've had my coffee. Then breakfast and preschool with the littles. So it likely means getting up earlier, in order to shower and workout. And I'm having a really hard time believing that would be at all likely considering Wednesdays I have to be out the door by 9 am for church related events, and 11:00 and 10:00 respectively on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Minion #1's therapy. I tend to wake up around 9:30 as it is. So I'm already having to get up earlier on Wed and Thurs than I like. To add in a shower and workout, it's just not realistically going to happen. But leaving my workouts till the last thing isn't going to continue working either. Oh my gosh, I'm falling asleep trying to think of what to write next. Gonna lay down on couch (sitting here with Minion #1 watching animated trucks get worked on in a garage by machinery, lol). Hopefully I'll be able to convince myself to workout. I can swap for a rest day if I need to, but don't like doing that so early in the week.

Hi and thanks for the follow! I borrowed several books from the library on how to make small talk. If any of them are any good, I will be sure to share the titles. Right now, I haven't even started them yet, lol.

Husband had the day off today. So my routine was completely off. Also, my son is coming to visit on Saturday and will be staying until Thursday. I haven't seen him in 2 years, and he's brining his girlfriend (not sure if that means an announcement). Point is, my routine is going to be messed up until the 8th so I'm giving myself grace until then in reagrd to my challenge goals and side quests. Not that I'm not trying, I already figured out the menu from now through January 9th. Was really down today too, really down, which is why I went to Goodwill for some retail therapy. Helped slightly, especially because I bought a coat and a really nice black blazer to dress up jeans. Anyway . . . Goal #1: Musculation -- ab workout Goal #2: Le régimé -- eh. eating wasn't horrid, but not good either. I'm having trouble cutting my chocolate down to 1/2 a bar and not the whole bar. Goal #3: Je fais du yoga -- husband was home, and I don't workout in front of ANYONE. I did stop at the library and pick up a book and a DVD on ballet-inspired yoga. Will try out the DVD tomorrow when husband is at work. Goal #4: D'eau -- epic fail (didn't even remember to fill my sipper let alone drink it) Side Quest #1: La Toilette -- did my hair and dressed casual but nice (black sweater, taupe leggings, black high boots) Side Quest #2: Le Maquillage -- n/a Side Quest #3: Maîtresse de Maison -- cleaned the kitchen after supper. that should be obvious, but it's not. Worked on some to-do lists for 2021, i.e. a weekly cleaning list, laundry list, wokout list (to add in yoga and abs, and even trying to squeeze in a ballet-inspired HITT workout), and key points to clean for my nightly ninja sweep of the house. Side Quest #4: L'art de table -- yes, we ate supper at the dining room table, and I even put extra effort into the meal so that it looked nice Side Quest #5: L'auteur -- Epic fail. I even have an upcoming deadline, but I'm really discouraged and overwhelmed and school resumes next week which is just stressing me out to no end. Side Quest #6: Savior faire -- n/a. (haven't started my how-to small talk books yet)