BombshellBanshee

Woot! Rivendell in my rearview, and 450 miles to Lothlorien or bust!

I'm also for real wearing his GAP windbreaker utility jacket today because I felt the macho mojo today. LOL

I'm just going to have to quote everything with Dean in it. He's not a "crush", he's my spirit animal. 😂 Absolutely hell yea! I will take muscle gain all day long! As long as my pants are fitting better, I'm a happy girl lmao

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY Last weigh-in: 189 lbs Today's weigh-in: 192 lbs Not even mad because muscles poppin' yo'. 😂

OMG be still my heart. LOL

OMG same here LOL I was one of the brainwashed that thought I would look like a female body builder if I touched a KB! LMAO Now, I'm like walking through the house and through stores picking up random things wondering "Can I lift this? Can I do reps with this lamp and candlestick?" LMAO But fr, KB's have totally changed my focus and mentality on weight loss and lean muscle building. OH absolutely. I use it still, like when I'm on my recumbent bike, I work with it a lot when I'm not feeling dumbbells, and I love to use it for like you said, presses, snatches, windmills, cleans too. Though, now, I might be approaching something more like a 12lb if that's a thing, that would be great too. I did decide to get the 18lb for now instead of the 22lb for my heavier one. I think that would be perfect to knock out 12 reps of swings and such in a set a few times and still have some room to grow. Thank you so much! It's been years of trial and error to figure it out, but I know it's only the beginning lol in a few months I'll be having to refigure it all up again to progress LOL. Now if I could stop looking at the scale while losing fat and building muscle that would be great haha. Also - LOVE meeting fellow KB gals!!!

Just under 80 miles to Rivendell! And good going everyone! Love seeing all those boxes filling up!!

UPDATE: Upgraded to an 8, and 10kg Kettlebell! Bye bye baby bell!

UPDATE: So, my 10lb kettlebell isn't cutting it anymore lol. I got it when I had just started working out, and it's great for using during a quick weighted flow, but way too light for me to do any real KB work. I tried out an 8kg and I turned out 10 swings easily. Much more easily than I'd expected. Tried a 10kg and it was perfect. Just enough struggle on the last few reps to know I have plenty of room to grow with it before getting a 12kg later on. It was a Rogue Competition Kettlebell, and loved the flats on the sides for your wrist. The handle was a much better width than what I tried with others. Some of the others I tried were a couple MM wider, and strange enough it made a huge difference in my tiny t-rex hands. This handle was a perfect width, and plenty of room for both hands as well without squishing fingers together. The powder coat seems like it will hold up well, but only time will tell. I love the size of it as well. My small 10lb one is more of the studio aerobics variety lol. Swinging this comp KB was boss af. Really made me have to work my hams and glutes more to swing in good form because of needing more space between my legs to swing it. I feel like just having a larger KB helps me keep my form much more consistent, and much more aware of my movements. After a month with a 10lb-er, it's like slinging a soda can now lol. It was way too light for me to have even bothered with probably, but it is still great for some less intense workouts, or something more aerobic. It was also the only one the store had at the time and I just wanted something to get started with because I'm impatient af. Can't wait to start with my new one! Really looking forward to it!

Go big, right? LOL To be fair, I was totally going to put it off for another few months until I got a bit more settled into so many lifestyle changes. But, every time I workout, it's both taking up my smoking time, and taking up what little oxygen I have left LOL So I kind of "accidentally" cut back lol. As crazy as it sounds, I quit more out of convenience, time, and lung capacity lol. Though, I guess as long as I quit, that's what counts! So I will totally accept any kudos I can get LOL. Thank you for your encouragement!

UPDATE Nutrition I've been doing great on hitting my macros, and nutrients goals for the last few days. At first, I was a little out of balance, hitting macros/nutrients, but being far too low on calorie goal. I was ending up with still 1200 cal left to be consumed, minus the deficit for fat loss. Now I'm hanging around at about an 800 caloric deficit daily, burning over 700 cal daily. Finally getting into a rhythm. It took me a couple of weeks to see what I need to eliminate or add to find my groove. I had too many trans fats happening at dinner, and too much sodium at lunch, and too much sugar from fruit and berries. I needed to add more vegetables to at least two meals a day, and make sure I was getting enough protein and fiber. I was surprised to find that before, I wasn't eating nearly enough. I feel like I eat constantly now, but much cleaner, and much more mindful of what sources I am getting my calories from. Also, it has really helped me making sure that all the carbs I have, are coming from complex carbohydrates, and not just empty calories. When I have carbs, I also make sure I pay attention to "when" I am having carbs, and that I have activity planned accordingly to use those carbs as fuel, and not store them away as fat. So definitely, no more late night carb snacking. Such simple things they are, but they have made all the difference. Fitness I already feel my 5lb dumbbells and 10kg kettlebell getting easier. It won't be long before I will be ready to level up my lifting poundage. The bag I carry to work daily used to feel like dragging rocks. Now it feels like nothing at all to carry. Little things like that have been a surprise to me as well. When I started strength training I was focused on the big picture - the visible ones. But being stronger, even though obvious, was not something I really thought about. Now I realize just how much easier life can be, and I've only just begun. I work at a cemetery, and that often involves helping our maintenance lower vault lids, which are typically made of concrete or 12 gauge steel, or lifting bronze and granite memorials and grave markers, up to 60" in length, 4" thick, and 20" in width. Honestly, so often, I've even felt sorry for them getting stuck with me for help lol. Yesterday, I lifted a bronze marker (no granite), alone. Totally by myself. And I even carried it gracefully! LOL At first I thought I had picked up the wrong box because I would usually have to scoot it across the floor, but surprised myself when I picked it up like it was nothing. I have to admit, I flexed in the mirror that night LOL. Overall I feel so new to this journey, and yet, feel like the results keep coming. Even the small victories feel huge to me. Less grocery trips are very nice lol. My overall health is already improving quickly. I feel like I have already been rewarded with benefits, ones I hadn't even thought about. These little things keep me going, and keep me motivated to not give up. Honestly, I don't even like seeing the words "give up" right now, because that is no longer an option. I've come further than I ever have, and will not turn back. This has given me so much joy. It gives me so much each day to look forward to. When I look in the mirror, I already see significant differences, and never thought some things would happen so fast. All that hard work paying off, feels fkn incredible.

Thank you! The smoking is definitely the next thing to be eliminated from my life, right into the trash bin with refined sugar and empty calories! The thing that has really helped, is when you are out of breath from a workout, the last thing it makes you want is a cigarette. Way more down for a cool shower instead of a smoke after! I think it's making me much more aware of respiratory functionality and health. I totally agree. Something is always better than nothing! Showing up is half the battle. Once I get my ass to the mat, I'm halfway there!

Thank you so much! I will definitely put those to good use! Thank you for sharing, and for your tips and encouragement! 😍

UPDATE So, this week has me feeling a bit sluggish. This past weekend was hell, and then this week at work has been busy AF and am feeling overwhelmed. BUT - that being said, workouts have become my sanctuary. I have also been trying to quit smoking, and my workouts have taken up majority of my free time I would normally have spent chain-smoking. It feels good to have a healthy addiction, and a healthy coping mechanism in fitness. My workout yesterday and today was slowed down by Aunt Flo coming for a visit (sorry fellas, TMI, just part of logging why miles were less, and workouts not as intense). So I've felt fatigued, haven't slept well, cramping, back pain, and just feel like a bag of sag. Usually this would have been where I have a totally legit excuse to skip workouts for a few days, but powered through them with what little energy I have. Trying not to guilt trip myself for not working out as hard, and know when I need to take it a little easier and slower. It's just being mindful of that being temporary and not getting into a habit of "taking it easy". Getting more iron, and protein in my diet during this time as well, and watching my sodium. No sugar cravings FTW. I didn't weigh in on Wednesday, because I weighed on Sunday. I will skip this week and weigh in next Wednesday on the 15th. Bloat City is my temporary address for 3 more days, and I don't need the water weight bringing down my motivation lol. I'm still hanging in there though folks!

Totally can. I actually do "pec bounces" even as part of my "chest workout" lol. When I first began, I couldn't, it was very difficult to do. But after I several chest days it was very easy. There's still a lot of muscle behind all that boobage for us ladies too! Just have to put it to work! We often forget, as women, to work those chest muscles out, because of the obvious reasons covering them up lol. I think a lot of chest exercises are more geared towards men, but the same ones are just as beneficial to women. It's part of basic breast health as well. Usually women have to look up "natural breast lift exercises" to find women focusing on chest muscles. I just use the men's ones anyways. But absolutely, we can do the same. Only with a bit more "bounce" to it LOL EDIT: Oh wow, I am so late to this.

Awww hun, I'm so sorry 2019 was not a great success. But in a way, must have been, because here you are in 2020 with that goal still a priority. That's still a victory to not give up and show up anyway. Supporting you 110%! You got this! Whatever works best for YOU is right for YOU. And only YOU can know that by listening to your body and practicing this awareness you have daily. 💖💖💖

No one is obligated or expected to actually read all of this lol. Just wanted to log everything for my daily workouts and basic plans. It changes often, so I'll be updating and revising here and there. The more I do a routine, the more I find gaps, or things I need to adjust and will do so as they come. Also, any outdoor activities or swimming, or other adventures that happen away from home gym I will share in thread to keep track of my activities with pics 💖 'MOON'DAY - ELEMENT OF WATER 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Monday's Meditations: Moon energy, healing, self love, focus on feminine energy, and water energy. Accompanied by: Moonstone, rose quartz, snow quartz, clear quartz, selenite 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - Core, obliques workout (Coincides with Monday - Moonday, Goddess energy) 8:00 AM - Shower, then quick breakfast. EGGS. ALL THE EGGS. 8:45 AM - Leave for work 9:00 AM - Arrive at work 12:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 12:30 PM - Back to work 3:00 PM - 5 minutes of jumping jacks and stretching in back office to perk up and get blood flowing again. 5:00 PM - Released from the land of the dead - I mean work. (It's a cemetery. Literally the land of the dead so it's actually legit af.) 5:15 PM - Home. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Core focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Moonstone, rose quartz, snow quartz, clear quartz, selenite 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something inspiring and uplifting, comforting, and familiar. 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Tuesday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime 🌊Bonus points today for taking a swim indoors or outdoors or just spending time with or by a natural body of water. +8 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with La Luna +5 WARRIOR TUESDAY - ELEMENT OF FIRE 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Tuesday's Meditations: Warrior energy, Mars, Masculine energy. Focus on strength, courage, empowerment, honor, loyalty, protection. Accompanied by: Smoky quartz, black tourmaline, obsidian, carnelian, pyrite 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - Shoulders, Back, Arms (Coincides with Tuesday - Mars Day - Warrior Energy!!! YEA!!!) 8:00 AM - Shower, then quick breakfast. EGGS. ALL THE EGGS. 8:45 AM - Leave for work 9:00 AM - Arrive at work 12:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 12:30 PM - Back to work 3:00 PM - 5 minutes of jumping jacks and stretching in back office to perk up and get blood flowing again. 5:00 PM - Off work. 5:15 PM - Home. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Arms, shoulders, back focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Smoky quartz, black tourmaline, obsidian, carnelian 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something empowering, heroic, courageous 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Wednesday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime 🔥Bonus points today for having a sacred fire and/or fire scrying, incense making, smoke scrying +5 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5 MERCURIAN WEDNESDAY (Weigh-In Wednesday) ELEMENT OF AIR 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Wednesday's Meditations: Messenger, Intellectual energy, Mercury, Masculine and Feminine energy. Focus on outward energy. Promoting positive thought patterns, banishing negative thought patterns, contemplate how I use words with myself and others and if I do that in the healthiest most positive way and how I can improve that today. Accompanied by: Ametrine, obsidian, pink botswana agate, lepidolite, clear quartz 6:00 AM - Weigh-In 6:05 AM - Log weight, set new goals, make any necessary changes to nutrition and fitness plan, make grocery list and write out meal plan. (Wednesday's Mercurian Energy is great for all the intellectual, mathy, tedious stuff. Here's to Gemini's and Virgos!) 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - All limbs lifting and resisting today, and breathing exercises. (Coincides with Wednesday- Mercury Day - lungs, hands, arms, legs, feet) 8:00 AM - Shower, then quick breakfast. EGGS. ALL THE EGGS. 8:45 AM - Leave for work 9:00 AM - Arrive at work 12:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 12:30 PM - Back to work 3:00 PM - 5 minutes of jumping jacks and stretching in back office to perk up and get blood flowing again. 5:00 PM - Off work. 5:15 PM - Home. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Arms, shoulders, back focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Ametrine, obsidian, pink botswana agate, lepidolite, clear quartz 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something witty, clever, intellectual, thought provoking, science related topics such as theoretical physics, astronomy, etc. 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Thursday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime 🌌Bonus points today for writing a short story or poem. +6 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5 JOVIAN THURSDAY - ELEMENT OF AIR/FIRE 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Thursday's Meditations: The day of the "Luck Planet" Jupiter. Philosopher energy. Divine wisdom. Abundance. Wealth. Luck. Accompanied by: Amethyst, smoky quartz, clear quartz, Preseli bluestone, carnelian, obsidian 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - Hams and Butt day (Coincides with Jupiter- Jovian Thursday - Thighs and butt. I have to admit that the biggest planet getting butt day is hilariously ironic) 8:00 AM - Shower, then quick breakfast. EGGS. ALL THE EGGS. 8:45 AM - Leave for work 9:00 AM - Arrive at work 12:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 12:30 PM - Back to work 3:00 PM - 5 minutes of jumping jacks and stretching in back office to perk up and get blood flowing again. 5:00 PM - Off work. 5:15 PM - Home. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Hamstrings and butt focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Amethyst, smoky quartz, clear quartz, Preseli bluestone, carnelian, obsidian 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something philosophical, financial and budget planning, entrepreneurial 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Friday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime ⚡Bonus points today for participating in any kind of arts for 1 hour. +6 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5 VENUSIAN FRIDAY - ELEMENT OF WATER/EARTH 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Friday's Meditations: The day of love. Love, compassion, self love, marriage, friendship, mother energy, healing from water energy, stability and growth from Earth energy. Accompanied by: Amazonite, rose quartz, clear quartz, snowflake obsidian 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - Chest, abs, leg day (Coincides with Venus- Venusian Friday - Chest, breasts, do I even need to add womb here lol, legs) 8:00 AM - Shower, then quick breakfast. EGGS. ALL THE EGGS. 8:45 AM - Leave for work 9:00 AM - Arrive at work 12:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 12:30 PM - Back to work 3:00 PM - 5 minutes of jumping jacks and stretching in back office to perk up and get blood flowing again. 5:00 PM - Off work. 5:15 PM - Home. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Chest, abs, legs focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Amazonite, rose quartz, clear quartz, snowflake obsidian 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something romantic, or about friendship, companionship, motherhood (even though I'm not a mom, I can't resist a Gilmore Girls - esque tale. I do happen to still be a daughter ) 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Saturday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime ♥️Bonus points today for taking a bubble bath with essential oils, candles, flowers, music. Treat yourself. +6 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5 SATURNIAN SATURDAY - ELEMENT OF EARTH 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Saturday's Meditations: Father Saturn, Capricornian energy, the teacher Accompanied by: Amethyst, citrine, or ametrine, smoky quartz, rainbow obsidian, black tourmaline 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - Light Full Body Workout 7:30 AM - Focus on mobility and joint health today as well as breathing exercises (Coincides with Saturn- Saturnian Saturday- joint health, flexibility, breathability) 8:00 AM - Shower 9:00 AM - Breakfast - Chia bowl with berries, a mini-chaffle size of palm(an egg waffle) with tomatoes, peppers, onions. 1:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Flexibility and low impact focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Amethyst, citrine, or ametrine, smoky quartz, rainbow obsidian, black tourmaline 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something insightful, educational, motivational, self improvement, even home improvement! (Do some Dad things. Done.) 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Sunday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime ☮️Bonus points today for learning a new trade, or for researching *opposing* political views. +8 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5 SOL SUNDAY - ELEMENT OF FIRE 5:00 AM - Wake 5:10 AM - Sunday's Meditations: God, Sol, Sun, Divine Masculine energy, Leo energy, Fire, self love, ego Accompanied by: Citrine, smoky quartz, clear quartz, pyrite, shungite, lemon quartz, carnelian 6:30 AM - Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes or 5 Miles +2 for additional minutes or miles 7:00 AM - Strength Training - 10,000HP Full Body Workout!!! GO HARD BISH. YOU A STAR. Literally, be a star. It is "Sun" day after all ) 7:30 AM - Focus on total body, calisthenics, then follow up with something light and calming such as stretching, slow flow yoga, Qi Gong (Coincides with Sol- Sunday- perfomance, endurance, stamina, and cool down, plus a bit of "ego check" ) Fuel the fire, then cool the fire. 8:00 AM - Shower 9:00 AM - BIG BREAKFAST TODAY YES. 10:00 AM - Go say hello to the sun. Take in that glorious fk'er. Get outside and get some D. Vitamin D. 1:00 PM - Lunch followed by 10 minutes of meditation. 6:00 PM - Head to the home dojo. Recumbent Bike for 20 minutes with 3lb weights, 5lbs, and 10lb kettlebell. Strength training with kettlebell and body weight exercises for 15 minutes. Flexibility and low impact focused exercises for 15 minutes. 6:30 PM - Cook dinner/Eat 7:30 PM - MCT Protein Blast with Collagen >Insert mundane $#!% here< 8:30 PM - Recumbent Bike for 20 to 30 minutes with highest resistance for the day. Yoga/Tai Chi/ Qi Gong/ Meditation Accompanied by: Amethyst, citrine, or ametrine, smoky quartz, rainbow obsidian, black tourmaline 9:30 PM - Read for 20 minutes, something insightful, educational, motivational, self improvement, even home improvement! (Do some Dad things. Done.) 10:00 PM - Set intentions for Monday manifestations, review planetary orbits, visualize my day, write keywords for how I would like to "feel", and how I can do something with that day to improve that. Journal for 10 minutes. 10:30 PM - Bedtime 🌄Bonus points today for going on a hike, going fishing, bird watching, boating +10 If it's raining and you still do it, +3 more cuz you rock and stuff. 👽✨Bonus points for taking telescope out and spending quality time with corresponding planet +5

Hi all! I am wanting to learn more about Qi Gong and Tai Chi and implement them in my daily practice and workout. I really love having a spiritual, disciplined aspect to my routine. I have practiced yoga for a few years, but it's just never really clicked for me spiritually. I'm thinking this could be refreshing for me and possibly better attuned to my nature than yoga has been in the past. Do any of you have any links, authors, youtube channels, etc that you could recommend for me as a complete beginner that includes basic principles as well? A lot of what I have found is very interesting, but lacks the foundations. Any help is greatly appreciated 🙏

I love your method of using the inspiration of the elements for your goals. I imagine it's very grounding and balancing! Very creative! This has inspired me to do something somewhat similar with organizing my routine in a spiritual sense! Thank you for sharing that! Wishing you the power of fire - for motivation and productivity🔥 Wishing you the power of earth - for groundedness and strength🌄 Wishing you the power of water - for fast recovery and healing🌊 Wishing you the power of air - for inspiration, wisdom, and perseverance🌌 Wishing you the power of spirit - to bring it all together in harmony 💞

First off, thank you all so much for your support. I'm a total noob, and y'all made it so welcoming and comfortable that it was nice to be able to just jump right in. I already feel like I've been here longer than I have! 💞 And while I'm here, just want to do a brief update. I know I said I will NOT weigh until Wednesdays, however, I did sneak a weigh-in. LOL BUT I am glad I did! So aside from the challenge, and the short time that I've been working out regularly, let me begin first by sharing where I began. 8 months ago I was 218 lbs. The most I've weighed in my life, but was steadily hanging around at for about 6 years. 6 months ago, I began Keto, lost 24lbs, to weight of 194lbs (give or take 2lbs). Began working out regularly two or three weeks ago and implemented more protein and less fat into diet and focusing on veggies and healthy carbs. I am now at 189LBS!!!!! HOLY COW BATMAN! I'm just going to be totally transparent about this right now that I have not seen a 1 as the first number on the scale in so long, and to get below 190 is another huge victory. I am already down almost a whole 1/4, almost 1/3 of my goal weight loss!!!! Fr though... Who just mathed that? 😂

It's a recumbent indoor bike, so it frees up my hands to multi-train lol.

For the last week I've been doing 15 miles per day on my indoor recumbent bike, 5 in morning before work, 5 late afternoon after work/before dinner, and 5 miles in the evening. I work at a cemetery, and when it's nice out I walk for 20, so I had a handful of miles down prior to getting the bike before I really set a schedule for it. So far I'm down 207.50 miles since 12/20. Would love to make it a lot more fun with this! I signed up on the sheet, and saved a copy of the log. Is there anything else at this moment that I should do to participate, or just start getting those miles behind me? I know it said to start logging in the "appropriate monthly tab", is that a different link? Please kindly hold my hand and show me 'round, I'm new af. 😌 With 207.50 total down prior to sign up, should I include that in this epic quest, or do I begin at 0? Because 250.5 to Rivendell would be kinda rad lol. UPDATE: I found it 😂 Such a noob. Logged and loaded! Looking forward to seeing where I'm at this time next year! Thanks for the motivation and support y'all!

OOOH! Is it too late to be "in" on this one? #NewbQuestions I love reading. Problem is, I've devoted so much of my free time to meal prep and fitness on top of a demanding job with long hours and rare days off, that I can't seem to find a moment to sit down with a favorite read or a new one. But that said - that means I am TOO DAMN BUSY if I can't spend at least 20 minutes a day with a good read. So yea, that's about to have to change. Can't go wide open all the time! Reading would be a great way to find a slow down to balance all that powerlifting and cardio crack. Maybe next I'll find a way to get back to crochet and knitting too lol. Warriors totally do that right?!😂 I will say that I've been trying to revisit Carl Sagan's Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot, but only a couple pages here and there because I never seem to find a moment to not be in a hurry or be interrupted. I think this just turned into a time management challenge for me. So... thanks for that too! LOL OK starting this weekend, 20 min a day to read, no fudgin'. This is now an important part of my schedule! Lift and read. Be a smart Hulk. OMG duh. Totally just found that 20 minutes lurking on my indoor recumbent bike that legit has a "book shelf" 🙈 Mystery: Solved ☑️ BTW, can't remember who said it, but love the Rory Gilmore reading list!!!

Hi Warriors! I'm new to NF, and posted my first challenge today. Just getting acquainted. According the the choice of memes and humor here, I can see I was accurately sorted. 😂 Good to be here, will be seeing y'all around!