Briar Fang

Thats awesome! Great job!

I'm thankful for everyone's contribution to this thread! I read it last year and developed a plan to try martial arts, but I suffered a significant injury before starting. A couple of weeks ago I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing and I'm loving it.

Tracking I haven't been doing mini workouts every time I get up - like I set out to. The nerve pain in my jaw looks to be a major nerve problem and not a dental problem - so I've been dealing with some tremendous pain. Fortunately, I have been doing body weight workouts every other day (per the NF app) and I started walking the dog at least once a day if not more. So, over all my activity level is way up. And I'm hitting or getting close to the basic step, activity, and calorie burn goals on my tracker - which I've only ever done a time or two before. All my med refills came in and I'm hoping things will start to level out. I've felt physically and mentally better this week, I'm sure from the activity, but also from some of the emergency medication they gave me to help with the inflammation and damaged nerve. I'm grateful for the relief, whichever way it came and how ever brief it may be. My sleep has been better this week as well, which I know factors in to all that. My eating and drinking has been severely strained from the nerve pain, so I'm just getting whatever room temp food and beverages I can manage to get down when I can - which is usually what was already meal prepped and fairly health. I honestly haven't bothered with tracking. I probably set out to do too much on week 1 as it was. I'm going to just have to accept that starting an activity regimen in the middle of the chaos of severe pain flair and being able to maintain was a gift from God and a win.

Its so neat the different way stories hit each of us. I loved uprooted all the way through. Spinning Silver felt different and it was a bit of a grind for most of it, but the extraordinary ending made me fall in love with it. I figure when I reread it, I'll love it even more.

Thank you so much for sharing! Personal recommendations are the best! It definitely just moved up in the pecking order.

Nope, but its been on my very long TBR. Tell me more!

I read the final book in the Scholomance series just a few weeks ago. I felt similarly about the subject matter. Overall I felt the series was mildly entertaining. With that being said, I was disappointed that it was *only* mildly entertaining. - as I loved her books Uprooted and Spinning Silver. She's already got her next project announced, so I hope itll feel more like those other two.

Tracking Monday, being day 1, I did "all the things" on the NF app including a short walk at lunch, a body weight workout and a walk with the dog. Apparently I wasn't cautious enough because I ended up with major inflammation in the evening and I could barely walk yesterday, today is still rough. I did a good job of staying active throughout the day, doing body weight reps and stretches. I logged my eating. Tuesday was a rest day (thank goodness), but I got in a walk at lunch and ended up doing double the stairs I normally do throughout the workday. Going down the stairs really showed me how much I over did it the day before. I'd have that gush of fear as my foot hit the step not knowing if my foot, leg, hip was going to all activate correctly and catch me from falling. Luckily there was no stair tumbling on my rest day. I did an okay job of staying active throughout the day - stretches only. I logged my eating up till dinner, where we were at a potluck type event, and I just dont know what to do with that. Today, I was doing my best to walk across the corporate foyer without looking like I'm from the west. When I had almost completed the jaunt and made it to the printer, I relaxed too soon and almost fell to my knees. I just had to laugh at how ridiculous I must have looked. Today is supposed to be a work out day, but I'm so obviously fried, so whatever I end up doing needs to be super lowkey. I'm shooting for a gentle walk after lunch. I'm having a hard time making myself stay active today, so much soreness and I had a killer toothache come on last night and my whole lower jaw is in pain. I'll be seeing the dentist on Friday. Also I'm out of some pretty substantial medications (hrt, migraine meds, pain meds to help sleeping), due to wonderful transition my insurance made to our policy and pharmacy. My sleep has been poor this week - so I need remember to give myself lots of grace and wiggle room, but that feels counterintuitive to what I've always known about the "be a hero" thing.

"I can cut across country easily enough..."

but there I go getting ahead of myself.. in reality, I'm about here in the story.

As a young bairn I was independent, fierce, and adventurous. However over the course of time, suffering (from trauma and chronic ailments like fibromyalgia, debilitating migraines, and hormone deficiencies), excessive weight gain, and sadness have worn me down and snuffed out my fire and stolen my joy. That must change! So today, I've dusted off my bow, sharpened my arrows, and am planning for my next great hunt! My primary goals for this first challenge are mobility and awareness. 🏹Every time I get up at work (sedentary job) to get a drink or go the bathroom, I'll be doing a set of body weight exercises or stretches. If I forget but remember afterwards, I'll do it two sets right then. 🏹Every night that I'm home before 8pm, I'll be training for 20 minutes, except Sundays (3-4 times a week). It doesn't matter what kind of movement - I can walk the dog or myself, body weight exercises, tai chi or yoga, or targeted pain management exercises. I'm also interested in trying some martial arts, but I'm very overweight so that may be tricky. 🏹I'll be tracking my food again in MFP and trying to stay within my previously established goals for percentages on Carb/Fat/Protein and hitting protein minimums and under on sugar maximums at least 80% of the time. I really struggle with this, since I'm not actively involved in food prep - my husband diligently does this for us. So, I'll set aside the time while he is meal prepping on the weekends to get our meals entered. BONUS ROUND! 🏹I'll take a 5-10 minute walk around the building 3 days a week after lunch.