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Bast Assassinates Holiday Horrors Well, it's that time of the year again...when we all go nuckin' futs trying to find, create and give the Holiday Spirit. But I can't help but be reminded of the filk "12 Pains of Christmas", especially after how the last few years have gone for us...all stress with no giving, just taking on the parts of others...it made us (me, especially) feel like everyone around us were taking advantage of our loving and generous natures. I would always end up over doing it...working too hard trying to make everything "perfect"...and end up not enjoying anything. But not this year! I plan to take the baby steps I need to so that I can have an enjoyable Holiday and destroy all the things that create havoc! Epic Quest: Stealing Christmas from Fibromyalgia This will be my first Holiday Season with the Rebellion. So I'm looking at what I can do to keep Fibro at bay instead of ruining what should be a happy and enjoyable time of year. Throughout this Quest (Main and Life) are little things that, if I do them, can help reduce my stress and allow me more time to enjoy the Season. I will continue to post in my updates a weekly Fibromyalgia inspiration, as well as when I feel I need a little extra motivation. I also hope that this helps others who also fight this (or similar) battles. I've contemplated adding scoring to this aspect of my progression, as it is present on each of my Quests for every 6WC...but I'm not sure how to score or award. So for now, beating Fibro is its own reward...it always is!! Main Quest: Baby, It's cold... Since I began with the Rebellion, I've worked on inch loss vs. weight loss. I do pretty well during each 6WC, loosing an average of about 7 inches, but severely falter during each break, regaining an average of 5 inches! And this round was no exception...I had gained back all but 1/2 a pound and 1 inch from my starting stats last 6WC!!! AAARRRGGGG!!!!! I need to work on breaking that cycle!! So this round, I'm going to focus on maintenance rather than loss, which if I'm successful, will come in quite handy during the Holiday Feasting! So I'm going to grant a point for maintaining my beginning inches, with only a +2" fluctuation from beginning stats. Bonus points will be awarded for any loss over 7" (since I tend to loose 7" per 6WC anyway). On an interesting side aspect of this, I'm going to try a little experiment...I read a blurb on Facebook a while back, about freezing fat cells and thinking it was a hoax, I did some research. I discovered that not only wasn't it a hoax (I found several scientific articles and research papers on the subject), there are also companies (mainly stateside) that do it as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. It's called "cryolipolysis", and there were a couple of the medical reference articles that suggested that similar results could be accomplished by using ice packs a few times a week. So I'm going to try it. Keeping in mind, it's an experiment, so points are for conducting the experiment, not the results! However, ending the experiment before the end of the 6WC due to any ill effects will still result in a success. Grading: 1 point = applying ice packs to "pooch" for 1 hour <3x / week> 1 point = maintain inches with only +2" fluctuation from beginning stat <1x / week> 1 point = bonus for each inch lost above 7" 4+ points possible per week --> 24+ possible total Reward: +1WIS, +1 CHA Beginning Stats: Weight - 124.5 # Ribs - 30" Waist - 30" Belly - 34" Quest 1: Reindeer Games So a few changes this go around...I didn't include yoga last round, and it really showed! I've lost a lot of my flexibility just in that short amount of time! So I'm going to do the Do You Yoga's 30-day Yoga Challenge. If I do it 5 days a week (Monday through Friday), then I'll complete the entire thing by the end of this 6WC. When trying out Parkour Training last round, I discovered one of my issues was endurance...especially in the area of running...but since I'm waaay out of practice, I'm going to take the advice of a Ranger (who's post I read on another's thread) and try the C25K program (couch to 5k), which builds you up slowly, with workouts 3 times a week. My other major problem was that I can't take a hit like I used to, so I'm going to also work on body conditioning...other wise known as "impact training" or "armor building". I'm going to do this twice a week, between the c25k days. I know I'll probably be starting small, so it'll be a do or don't thing, rather than a how much or how long...I don't want to over do it and end up flaring! My hubby wants for us to run together, but he's been running regularly (as part of his PT), and we are at totally different speeds and stamina levels...that and he wanted to do it in the evenings, but that's a bad time for me...my energy is best early in the day, and by the time he get's home, I'm busy cooking dinner and I definitely don't want to run after dinner and before bed!! So we compromised on doing evening walks three times a week. We've tried to do this before, but always peetered out pretty quickly...I'm going to add it for now as a regular point, but may make it a bonus point later (if we only do it once a week or so...). I've also been asked by some potential students for me to teach Belly Dance again...so I'm going to check out the possibility for that. If I do it, it may replace the Hubby walks or just get added to the system. But that'll be a wait and see. Last round, I totally failed on adding a new activity each week...so this time, I'm going to add it as a bonus point. My other bonus point will be the usual weekly mileage. I'm sticking with the 20 miles for one point grading, but that 20 miles will have to be non-workout mileage...between the runs and the walks, that'll be a couple extra miles each week alone! I will be tracking my mileage for each workout...just to see how much (and how far) I'm going! Grading: 1 point = Do You Yoga 30-day Challenge <5x / week> 1 point = Couch to 5k <3x / week> 1 point = armor building impact training <2x / week> 1 point = Hubby walks <3x / week> 1 point = Bonus for new activity/class attended 1 point = bonus for 20 cumulative non-workout pedometer mileage for the week 13+ points possible per week --> 78+ possible total Reward: +2 DEX, +2 STA, +2 STR Quest 2: Seasons Eatings So this will be somewhat of a repeat from last round. We have waaay too much food in this house that needs to be eaten...there's a PCS tradition among Military Families, that when it's time for a family to PCS, all their food gets given to their friends who are staying (movers won't pack the food). This is why we have a deep freezer and a regular freezer full and a pantry that's overflowing...we had several friends PCS during this past year!! It'll be out turn to PCS in about a year or so, and I don't want to continue this particular tradition. I've tried to give away the food that was given to us, some stuff went to others that we knew, but for the most part, it all stayed with us, but it now has to go!! So the challenge will be to cook healthy meals using primarily the current inventory. Shopping will be limited to regular use items (milk, coffee, cat food, toilet paper, etc) and recipe fillers (like onions or seasonings, etc) so long as the bulk of the recipe utilizes current inventory. Once certain aspects of the inventory get used up (like protein or veggies), then they can be purchased and a new inventory list created and kept so that we know what we have and how much of it! I realize that Thanksgiving is smack in the middle of this 6WC and the Holiday Baking Season will wrap it up, but that's OK. By that point, there should be enough of a dent that I will actually have somewhere to put a turkey!! Grading will be for each meal in which inventory is utilized, with the goal of using as much as possible! Hubby was concerned about possible failure here, so currently, the goal is for 5 meals a week...but this may get adjusted if we go way over regularly. A bonus point will be awarded for each area that is able to be cleared, organized and inventoried. Grading: 1 point = each meal utilizing current inventory <5x / week> 1 point = bonus for each area cleared, organized and inventoried 5+ points possible per week --> 30+ possible total Reward: +1 CON, +1 WIS Quest 3: Batteries not included... As slight adjustment on an old classic...Over my past few challenges, I've been really good about getting plenty of rest and relaxation...which is crucial for someone with Fibro...but I've noticed that my before bed routine is a bit lacking. I have on my daily task list as my before bed routine to clean the kitchen (now, I just put away leftovers), put things on the launch pad (get things ready that I need to go out the door with the next morning), wash face, brush teeth and lay out clothes. All of which, doesn't normally take very long, but I just don't seem to get it done... I also find myself getting a bit burned out from doing my self-guided meditations. I figured this would be a great time to do the Do You Yoga's 30-day Meditation Challenge again. And of course, I need to go to bed 8 hours before I need to get up. All three of these I will do 5 times a week (Sunday through Thursday) to get a jump start on the work day the next morning! I'm also going to grant a bonus point for pampering. This will include things like doing a hair treatment, facial, mani/pedi or even soaking in a hot bath. It will not include anything that would be considered maintenance or "special" care due to injury or illness. Grading: 1 point = Before Bed Routine <5x / week> 1 point = Do You Yoga 30-day Meditation Challenge <5x / week> 1 point = go to bed 8 hours before alarm <5x / week> 1 point = bonus for pampering 15+ possible per week --> 90+ possible total Reward: +1 CON, +1 CHA Life Quest 1: Harnessing Holiday Havoc I still haven't gotten these habits down, so this will be an almost complete redux from last round...with one exception...I'm adding the Flylady's Holiday Cruising Missions. Granted, they've already started, and will technically end before this challenge, but there will be a few final missions that will go up until Christmas, plus clean-up missions after. One thing I'm going to work on here (and in cooperation with LQ2) is doing things more timely. It may seem like a lot, but before this duty station, I was able to get up at 0600, do all these things, work 2 part time jobs, fix dinner, and was able to relax a few hours between dinner and bed at 2200! Now I just need to figure out how I did that! I'll probably run a timer during the first week to see how long it takes me to do all my tasking (without getting sidetracked) so I can assess where I need to focus on improving. Grading: 1 point = Weekly Home Blessing (WHB) <1x / week> 1 point = Daily Cleaning Routines <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Missions <5x / week> 1 point = Daily Zone Detail Cleaning <5x / week> 1 point = Holiday Cruising Missions <5x / week> 1 point = Area decluttered and organized <1x / week> 1 point = bonus per box cleared 1 point = bonus for 10 items sold 22+ points possible per week --> 132+ possible total Reward: +1 STA Life Quest 2: The Holiday Line Up... And here's another redux...I'm doing OK with the scheduling, and NF posts and updates, but the daily emails keep getting vastly overlooked. This round, I'm going to work harder on scheduling "a time for everything"...I seriously need to track my time and activities so that I know where my time is being spent and on what...since I'm not getting much accomplished that I would like, and my days aren't particularly any shorter than they were when I lived in Negishi and got all this stuff done and worked 2 part-time jobs!! Grading: 1 point = creating & maintaining schedule <5x / week> 1 point = daily emails <5x / week> 1 point = NF weekly update <1x / week> 1 point = NF minis, posts & ambassadoring <5x / week> 16+ possible per week --> 96+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS Life Quest 3: Deck the Halls with Holly or Money... In case you hadn't noticed, my Life Quests are all pretty much repeats from last round. It's not that I'm unimaginative...I mean, I kinda am (but that's not why), it's just that I still need to work on improving in these areas! For this one, I'm incorporating "practical applications" as bonuses for both Herbology and Finance. It hurt me when I was sick...I was using what I had already learned, but was too ill to actively study (spent an hour reading the same paragraph at one point). And I'll be assisting (possibly teaching or teaching the one who will be the instructor) with a class later this month on Holiday Budgeting, so there's a practical application in Finance. I still need a job, so the same bonuses for applications and interviews/follow-ups will apply. If I am able to procure a job, then this aspect of this quest will be completed and I'll adjust the figures accordingly. Grading: 1 point = Herbology unit completed with passed exam <1x / week> 1 point = Herbology homework / projects <1x / week> 1 point = Financial Continuing Education work <1x / week> 1 point = Financial study (read article, book, magazine, etc.) <1x / week> 1 point = research job opportunities <3x / week> 1 point = bonus for Herbology practical application 1 point = bonus for Finance practical application 1 point = bonus for each application submitted 1 point = bonus for each interview / follow-up 7+ possible per week --> 42+ possible total Reward: +1 WIS For the Guild: An Assassin for all Seasons... I don't think I'll have a choice in whether or not I participate in the minis again this round since it will be Hubby's first time as an Assassin, so this will be interesting. Since the minis always have us divided up, more or less at random, into team, we could be allies or competitors...but either way, we'll still have a lot of fun!! The theme this time is "Super Mario Assassin All-Stars", but only the sign up has been posted so far. Per usual, this will be a do or don't scenario. If I participate, I get a point and whatever the reward that gets allocated by the awesome Guild Leaders! I will be serving, once again, as an Assassin Ambassador, so I'll be doing my part, along with my fellow awesome Ambassadors, to help usher in the latest victims, er, I mean, Recruits! LOL! Grading: No grades, just a do or don't. Reward: TBD per mini Next Weeks Focus... Monday starts the Challenge, so I'll be working on posting my beginning stats and measuring a few things (like time for tasking and mileage staring stats for run, etc.) so I know where I started to accurately chart my progress. We've got a lot to do and only six weeks to do it, so let's get started! See ya'll in the Challenge!! Ready or not, here I come, Week 1...