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In the last challenge I chose to hover my progress on my KB workouts rather than have a stall forced upon me. It worked, and I started progressing again, but then consistency suffered. In the last two weeks of the challenge I only got one workout per week. While I'm not beating myself up for that, I am seeking consistent workouts. I have goals: 2-3 KB workouts per week. I do the NF Beginner Kettle Bell workout. I'm currently using a fifteen pound bell, and very slowly adding reps rather than racing to the top. I found two challenges ago this helps with consistency. 5 words. Something else I want consistency in is writing. I have a google doc set up, and the goal is to write at least five words a day in it. It's something specific, and I'll reveal what it is at a later date. Cook, and continue with intuitive eating. A word of warning, don't come here hungry. I tend to be...descriptive about the things I cook. Those are good, solid goals.

I spent the last part of last challenge with breathing issues due to Saharan Dust. I didn't get any fitnessing in due to that, but wasn't very consistent for some time before. Since having a child I've let fitness take a back seat. This isn't helpful. I'm going to rebuild, and completely let go of old expectations that held me back. Part of me thinks I should still be as flexible and strong as I was back when I was powerlifting and doing tons of Yoga. I'm not powerlifting anymore, and while I may pick it up again (ha) in the future, it's not on the radar and I'm ok with that. What I do want to stick with is Kettlebells, some flexibility work, and walking. Part of letting go means focusing on consistency of workouts rather than progression or results. To that end I'm going back to the smaller (15 pounds) of the two bells I have (the other is 20) to signify it's better to consistently do "beginner" workouts than to sporadically do more advanced ones. I'm still on the NF Beginner KB workout. I don't care if I move past it or not. What is a priority is consistent workouts. Ideally, a week consists of two or three Kettle Bell workouts, one or two stretching sessions, and one or two walks. That's not hard. That's ok. I don't need hard, I need consistency. I'll also cook and eat intuitively. For those not familiar, it is inadvisable to read my updates if you are hungry. Less this: More this:

Last challenge I realized I have compassion fatigue and early stage burnout. This is not surprising given my profession (Hospital Chaplain) and the state of the world (pandemic), and the fact that our team of chaplains at my facility was at 50% strength for some time. I have a session during zero week with a counselor to begin addressing the burnout and compassion fatigue, and one chaplain who was out on leave is coming back, and we are getting another chaplain transferring in to bring us up to full strength. I also have a week off from work during week 4 of the challenge. Those will help. Good news from last challenge is that I got my A1C back down out of the pre-diabetic range. What will help along with the counseling and week off is Not Giving Up (a title I also considered for the challenge) on fitness and nutrition. I will stick with walks, KB workouts, and Stretching. I will continue to cook healthy meals and eat intuitively. Also, as I write this, the leaves have finally finished coming off my red oaks and I can already see the buds of new leaves on the tree. We are in the waiting stage of winter (such as it is for South Texas) and The Vernal Equinox will happen right after the end of the challenge. So as the plants wait for spring to bud forth, I wait for the effects of continuing on with fitness and nutrition to become visible. This is a challenge of patience, of healing, and of hope. Always hope. P.S. I tend to write about what I cook in ways that induce hunger, so don't come here if you are hungry, and even if you aren't hungry, it's not a bad ide to have a snack to hand before checking on my thread. You have been warned.