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This Cycle may or may not see me home the entire time - I may end up following DH on a trip; we may end up taking an actual vacation - who knows? We may just be here the whole time. If I need to adjust, adjustment protocols will be enacted. Nutrition I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s time to shift some weight. I don’t want to buy a second round of new clothes. Cook paleo-ish meals (fake meats, soy and the occasional garbanzo bean are ok) with an emphasis on protein Go back to tracking macros. My scale had itself an electrical aneurysm and started muttering to itself all on its lonesome (it was seriously sad - poor little guy kept trying to weigh air, coming up with wildly different answers, until his batteries died). As it stands, I’m estimating my TDEE at 1541 based on my current weight and activity levels. I’ll start with reporting and tracking via MFP with an eye on coming in under calories and will strive to make protein a priority. We’ll see what that gets me re: fitting into some of my clothes again by the end of challenge and refocus from there. Movement Keep up with my 4x a week yoga with walks to and fro - hopefully in less than 115F temps, “windchill” of 125, and over 70% humidity. Fall, as it were, is coming - the news and the Ministry promised. As my schedule stands, and I hope it continues, I’ve got: Monday morning: Slow Flow (a mostly gentle class) Tuesday evening: Functional Flow (hella hard rehab style movements) Wednesday morning: Detox (a hard class with lots of twists and fun movements) Friday morning: Slow Flow (ha! I guess it’s slow? It’s usually hard and full of novel movement - same teacher as Wednesday’s class) With an 18-minute walk to and from. I also want to add more HIIT or Barre videos at home, but wasn’t quite meshing with that this past challenge. We shall see here and I’ll do what I can. I need to get on my ass about it a bit, but finding the balance between that and the don’t wannas has proven difficult without an actual tangible goal in sight. Enrichment I’m still playing both Stardew Valley and Cozy Grove and will pick Animal Crossing back up if they ever release an update. I’m currently working on an 18thc. shift & chemise set. After I finish that, I want to dye the rest of my medium weight linen with avocado pits, and jump to a modernized walking skirt/vest/petticoat project. I also have some crochet supplies on order - I want to do something with my hands again while watching tv at night. Sashiko sounded great, but is a bit fiddly for my hands at the moment. Hand sewing has been great, but I want to give crochet another go. It seems to hurt my hands less than knitting. I also want to keep up with my digital art practice, and still feel like I should be doing something actually useful instead of just killing time. It’ll ostensibly be cooler soon, so the pups would appreciate more evening enrichment. Although it’s going to suck mightily, walk practice and desensitization with Odin should go back on the docket. And that’s it. Nothing earth shattering, but without something big looming (like a mud run or series of 5ks), self-starting is not my strong suit.

I'm starting this challenge with some very basic goals that will be challenging yet attainable. Nutrition Quest: Oh no, not aGrain! Transition to paleo plus dairy and legumes. (I'm keeping the dairy for health reasons and the legumes because I love them and can't really see any harm in continuing to enjoy them.) Reasoning: I've been working on making the transition to a mostly paleo diet, but I haven't set a concrete expectation for myself as of yet. So far I have noticed that I am less tempted to buy grain products while shopping when I've crossed them off my list of options. Instead of fighting 20 different temptations as I shop, I can go in making one overarching decision at the start. I also feel much less deprived than during any of my many diets through the years, so the effort to make this change will be well worth it. At this point I have eliminated foods with added sugar, and I don't drink anything caloric aside from plain almond milk. My next step is to phase out grains, replacing them with better alternatives. Goal: Weeks 1 and 2: Replace grains with vegetables at one meal per day. Weeks 3 and 4: Replace grains with vegetables at two meals per day. Weeks 4 and 5: Eliminate remaining grains and replace with paleo approved options. A= Meeting my goal an average of at least 5 days per week. B= Meeting my goal at least 4 days per week. C= Meeting my goal 3 days per week. Fitness Quest:Revival of the Fitness: Work toward planned physical activity daily. Reasoning: I enjoy exercise when I do it, but would like to make it more of a priority. Over the 6 week challenge I am hoping that I will be able to make a habit of regular physical activity. Goal: I will walk, bike, row, do yoga, tai chi, or stretch. I will also attempt the recruit workout at least 8 times over these 6 weeks. A= Doing one of these activities for at least 10 minutes per day, missing 1 or no days per week. B= Doing one of these activities for at least 15 minutes per day, missing 1 or no days per week. C= Doing these activities 3 to 5 days per week, for at least 5 minutes. Life Quest: Xena's Warrior Cry: training my dog to come when called. Reasoning: I love my pup. She is incredibly intelligent, so much so that she has learned not to come when I call her because I have unintentionally taught her that this is an antecedent to me leaving the house. I would like to help her unlearn this behavior, shaping a new behavior through positive reinforcement. Goal: Train Xena in 15 minute sessions with an average of 5 sessions per week. A= Training Xena for 15 or more minutes each session, 5 or more times per week. B= Training Xena for less than 15 minutes in most sessions, or for fewer than 5 times per week. C= Training Xena for short sessions, only a few days per week. I will update at least 3 days per week. I'm really looking forward to being a part of a group of great people helping to support each other.

I am back to assassin. I know I know, I'm a distracted nomad class hopper. But I just love all the people! I have some other 'stuff' going on in my life that I'll discuss from time to time, but these are my main goals/focus for this challenge: BADASS WOMAN Part of my level 50 involves reducing my consumption. I have made good progress - I need to make more. Now that the weather is nicer, I need to work on my garage. Goal is to have the main area organized/cleaned out by the end of the challenge. I got a slap in the face with my last bodpod scan. I NEED to do resistance training to see body composition changes. I have started a new kettle bell routine that I am really enjoying. Goal is to do 3 KB or strength workouts a week. I have been focusing on increasing strength in a different ways with my eventual goal being handstands. I saw significant progress with headstands in my last challenge. I need to spend 5-mins a day working on handstand related things (wrist strength, headstands, wall planks). Goal is a freestanding headstand by the end of the challenge.SIDE QUESTS I need to spend time working with my dogs. Because my puppy is such a good girl, I don't work with them as much as I should. I must work on training my dogs 3x a week. This includes going for walks or working on basic command training. I need to get my customary BodPod scan. I am hoping that my elimination/anti-inflammatory diet along with restarting strength training will help me see a big jump this time. I have to have my forth BodPod scan completed. Cancelled due to life being too awesome to care MOTIVATION PROGRESS Week 1 Summary: Work on Garage: 2/3 Strength Workouts: 3/3 Headstand Work: Done. Dog Training: 2/3 Week 2 Summary: Work on Garage: 2/3 Strength Workouts: 3/3 Headstand Work: Done. Dog Training: 3/3 Week 3 Summary: Work on Garage: 1/3 Strength Workouts: 1/3 Headstand Work: Done. 3x free standing Dog Training: 3/3 Week 4 Summary: Work on Garage: 3/3 Strength Workouts: 2/3 Headstand Work: Done. 3x free standing Dog Training: 3/3 Week 5 Summary: Work on Garage: 3/3 Strength Workouts: 2/3 Headstand Work: Done. Dog Training: 3/3 Week 6 Summary: Work on Garage: 3/3 Strength Workouts: 3/3 Headstand Work: Done. Dog Training: 2/3 6 week challenge summary: Overall I wasn't feeling it this time. I'm not sure what my problem is. I have made strides in my self esteem and life, which is never a bad thing. Goal is to have the main area organized/cleaned out by the end of the challenge. Fail. Goal is to do 3 KB or strength workouts a week. Mostly Pass. Goal is a freestanding headstand by the end of the challenge. Nailed it. Nailed this so hard. And it feels fucking amazing. SIDE QUESTS I must work on training my dogs 3x a week. Mostly Pass. I need to get my customary BodPod scan. I am hoping that my elimination/anti-inflammatory diet along with restarting strength training will help me see a big jump this time. I have to have my forth BodPod scan completed. Cancelled due to life being too awesome to care