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Harriet’s Lifestyle Healing Magic: Quarter of Earth This is part four of a year that I am setting aside to try to heal from chronic exhaustion and demotivation. There are four aspects to lifestyle healing magic: food, stress, movement, and sleep. But I also want to include things in my life that make it meaningful: lifting, painting, writing, spirit work. I keep veering between demanding too much of myself, and too little. I need a schedule, but it needs to be tiny and achievable. I am going to put some things on hold while I get the workouts consistent again. In this Challenge I will organise the first quarter of my day. I will work out, get groceries, then walk in the park for forty minutes. This quarter of the day shall be dedicated to the spirits of earth, in the hopes of receiving strength, resilience, persistence and material health. Transfiguration (movement) Last challenge, non-walking exercise was optional and I didn’t do it. This time it isn’t optional. Ambulatory Ritual I will walk for forty minutes daily after my breakfast or grocery shopping (I shop three times per week). Hypertrophic Chant Alternating with cardio, I will do push, pull and lower body workouts at home with five exercises and five sets each, and one minute rest periods. It should not be exhausting, but rather gently remind my muscles to be strong. Miniature HIIT Spell All previous attempts to do cardio have resulted in non progression and failure. From what is known or hypothesised about CFS, I believe long lasting medium intensity work is out of the question. Unfortunately, everything above walking is medium intensity for me. So I will try very short intervals. Alternating with the strength workouts, I will do five all out ‘sprints’ on the cross trainer of only thirty seconds each, with thirty seconds rest. That is all for now. Potions (food) Lesson One: Do Not Ingest Poison: no sweets, caffeine, or alcohol I had some dried mangoes recently and not only could I not stop eating them, they upset my stomach. Sweets are out, except for fresh whole fruit. I also had two glasses of wine last night (first time in about five months) and I got a headache, disturbed sleep, upset guts, and I was sad when the wine ran out. Instead, I could have just been sad without side effects by not drinking in the first place. Good lesson, I suppose. Ale of Paleolithium I am now eating a slightly higher carb, lower fat paleo diet to see if I can keep the benefit of low anxiety while also treating the reflux and getting some more physical energy. No grains or legumes, and I may cut out dairy too, just to see if it changes anything. I may be pressured by family or questioned about the scientific justification, but no one can actually put grains in my mouth except me. Ketonics Module II My doctor said to keep eating keto, and instead prescribed me a medicine for the reflux. She also said we'll test my blood again in January to make sure the diet isn't killing me. Therefore, I should continue eating keto, not paleo. She didn't want me to give up dairy. I am happy to obey and drink cream. Defence Against the Dark Arts (stress) I stopped meditating last challenge to see if the massive reduction in anxiety was from meditation or diet. It was from diet. Meditation is on hold until I get some other habits sorted. Charms (sleep) Somnolence Ritual I will take melatonin as it is helping, and I will do 20 diaphragmatic breaths in bed because I heard they are both calming and good for reflux.