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Hello friends! I'm back after a short little break! I've taken the last 2 months or so away from focusing on health and fitness goals so I could prioritize other things and take some space to figure out some bigger picture life stuff for me, and that ended up working out really well and was exactly what I needed. So, two big focuses/realizations came from this break, described in (too much) detail below: 1) I'm doing too much 2) I'm a korok Background: #1 I'm doing too much A few big things going on: a) We discovered a low-level carbon monoxide leak. It's been fixed, but was likely going on for a long time and likely a big part in our health issues since we moved here. 1.5 years of carbon monoxide poisoning isn't something you just magically feel better the next day from, so the dr's rec has been to take it easy. I also have a *lot* of doctor's appointments coming up for unrelated things, so just a lot of health stuff taking up brainspace and time. b) I renegotiated my role at NF and instead of having a role in every single department, I'm now just a coach. (And, of course, these forums, but that's my own time :)) . We've been working on this transition and all the details around it slowly for the last few months, and it's finally complete. This is very exciting because it means I can focus on the thing I love the most (clients), without getting pulled in a million directions, and I really feel that the singular focus will allow me to grow and develop into a better coach (this was the result I asked for out of the renegotiating my role :)). For the last 12 years I've been trying to figure out how to keep up to date with programming, project management, product development, tech support, automations, running live sessions, content, etc., on top of coaching, which is just too much for one person to do, let alone in the time that was allocated for it. I also have complete freedom of schedule with this new role so that will make a huge difference. c) I've committed to 0 new projects for a while around the house or the farm, and we're going to focus on optimizing what we are doing/have/etc., as well as relaxing. #2: Spezzy is a Korok If we look back at the periods of time when I've been the happiest and healthiest, they're times when I'm spending significant time outside. I grew up on a small farm in the woods, and loved being outside, and then started struggling a lot more when I got a desk job and had to be inside from 9-6 every day. When I was spending hours in the gym, it was either in Texas where I was outside all the time *and* the gyms often had big windows/garage doors open, making them open air, or was doing strongman/crossfit outside. In Manitoba, in the winter I made a point to walk 2x a day because I knew it was a necessity and filled my office with as many plants as I could, and now that I'm back in the darkness of new england, I've been finding myself skipping workouts and other things just to optimize the amount of time I am able to just be outside during the day - and why would I want to be in the gym if I can be doing projects outside? So clearly, outside is a necessity for spezzy. This little 3 week challenge will be me attempting to build out this new life embracing the fact that I am not a magical humanoid race (Hylian) like I have wanted all along, but am, in fact, a child of the forest (Korok). My 2024 challenges will (likely)follow along this theme (Now of course, this doesn't mean I can't do things Hylians can do - Koroks are very versatile little creatures. But it means that I need to prioritize the things that make me the happiest, and for me, that's being outside and interacting with nature/animals/plants/etc. ) GOALS: Exercise: We've been having issues getting heat into the garage, so moved a small gym set up including the rower into the inside barn which is heated to 50 degrees, and won't worry about the garage until spring. Daily Walk - non negotiable. Bonus: a second walk, even if it is on the property. Daily row of any length - this is to push cardiovascular stuff, for now I just want to get on the rower and do it Strength 3x/week -just light and what we have in the barn for now, but the goal is to rebuild a baseline here. In the spring I can do strongman but also will have a lot more daylight to deal with so can spend more time in the gym without missing out on daylight. Spellbooks/Schedule: To focus on the "doing too much" thing - I'm going to be working on solidifying my schedule in this new role and figuring out the best schedule for me now that I have complete freedom. I'm also focusing on getting up at or before sunrise, as 7 hours of sun is not enough and sleeping through sunlight is just silly for me. Get up when I wake up or by the last call alarm time (if I wake up before alarm, just get up) Nightly spellbooks review + prep everything for next day (as a part of this challenge, make checklist of things that need to be prepped for next day) Follow schedule plan with work blocks (shifting schedule to do a large portion of work when it is dark out). at least 60 min before sundown outside or around the farm work when I'm supposed to be working, even though I have my own schedule. ADHD coping mechanisms - headphones, timers, do it up. Extra stuff: Finish a nutrition certification I'm working on - has to be done by end of year And that's it!

Hello friends! I bowed down to peer pressure (ok, I was easily convinced by a passing comment by @Cheetah on social media) and decided to do a challenge. Except it won't be a challenge. I have just one or two goals. So I am just going to exist here with you all, and cheer you all on, and hope for some 2024 inspo because next year is going to be wild. Our very own @DarK_RaideR (ok actually he's mine but I'll pretend to share him for the good of the Rebellion) is here with me for a little over five weeks for the festive period and he's utterly delightful to have around. I have been introducing him to British things/snacks (so if anyone has any suggestions they have to be better than my other internet community suggested last time he was here) and we've been having lots of fun. I'm also working for a lot of it so I am not going to bust my boobs with any hard goals, this is all about a nice fun chilled end of year before diving headfirst into the uncertainty of next year. Goal 1 - Have lots of fun. Goal 2 - Keep up my Greek lessons. I do these in secret because I get performance anxiety in front of D_R and fail terribly but I do want to retain my streak even if I just do the bare minimum of one lesson per day but I do want to get my head around my Greek. Goal 3 - Follow everyone else! I haven't been the best at keeping in touch with everyone else for a while as I have had my head up my ass for the last few months but I miss you all and I feel really disconnected with what's going on with your lives and I'd like to remedy that. And I think that's it, new not challenge, let's gooooooooooooooooooooooooo !

Hello just a short post to start because I PASSED MY PROPCAS LICENSING TEST. Which means I am Officially secured in my new job at State Farm! I don't have to worry about being fired for not passing the test 😭 so relieved I might frow up 😭

Darci here. Been around these parts since December 2021, though I really never kept up with much. I've been a part of Nerd Fitness Academy since August of 2017 and NF Prime since November 2021. And I've fallen of the wagon many times. I've been off the wagon far far far more often than I've been on it. So I decided wagons aren't my thing. Since I'm not on a wagon, I'm left with whatever is on hand. Which, honestly, is my own two feet. Fortunately my feet aren't located on my hands or I'd be in some real trouble here. I digress. Going on foot is slow, but it's movement and I've found slow is best. The reason I fell of the damn wagon is because it was simply going too fast. Why not slow it down a bit and get my bearings? Things I want to focus on in 2023: 1. Journaling I have 3 journals, each providing something different: A Mystic's Guide To 2023: This journal allows me to write one thing I'm grateful for, check in with my mood, check off (yes or no) on food, workout, sleep, water, and nutrition (food = calories, nutrition = was it healthy), a daily mantra, sleep journal, ritual/meditation time, scripting my day, 3-6-9 manifestation, and a check in for the day using "one thing did I do to move forward today" The Witches Planner 2023: A daily check in with a spot to write things out (I usually write down what's heavy on my mind to get it on paper and out of my head), notes, to-do, and something I'm happy about that day. It also has a spot to write out weekly goals, positive thoughts, notes, budget, and main focus of the week with a spot at the end of the week to reflect. This planner provides a spot to reflect on each of the seasonal "holidays" or sabbats (Imbolc/midwinter, Ostara/spring equinox, Beltane/May day, Litha/Summer Solstice, Lughnasadh/First harvest, Mabon/Autumn Equinox, Samhain/Halloween/New year, Yule/Winter Solstice). I like this to help me reconnect with the seasons The Sisters Enchanted Lunar Planner 2023: This is where I write my current mantra/lunar intention daily. It provides a spot for tarot/oracle pulls or just writing out lunar intentions and sun goals for each full and new moon. I've spent the money already. I need to get my money's worth by actually using these planners. I'm a little over one month in of using them and so it's time to put it out into the universe that I shall continue for the next 10+ months left of the year. 2. Nutrition I have MyFitnessPal and use it often. I need to keep checking in on calories to be sure I stay in deficit. I don't typically control my dinner options so I need to track those ASAP so I may adjust my lunches and occasional breakfasts accordingly. I also loved fasting. Having an intense (to me) workout before work in the morning but trying to fast until lunch, 4-5 hours later doesn't always work out. Again, dinner is not in my control and happens after I'm off work anyway. So the goal is to fast whenever possible and be kind to myself when I'm simply too hungry to keep fasting on. When I need to eat after a workout, I will focus on protein (my current go-to is hard boiled eggs) I also want to become re-aquainted with my body. Years of not listening to it has caused me to no longer understand what it is telling me. I need to learn my hunger cues vs cravings/boredom/emotions/stress. I need to eat slower so I can give my body a chance to tell me I'm satisfied, not full or overstuffed. I also need to be able to recognize that signal and not be confused or miss it entirely. 3. Workouts I need movement. I need to be consistent with getting my butt out of bed so I can get some type of workout in. Currently working on The FeelGood Plan by Dalton Wong & Kate Faithfull-Williams. I'm in the market for a kettlebell and have printed out the NF Kettlebell Workout. I have the NF Bodyweight Workout. I have a rowing machine and a stationary bike. I have 2 pups that love walks. I have a yoga mat and youtube at my disposal. I have more than enough resources to get in a decent workout one way or another. 3 days a week is my minimum goal though my current workout schedule from The FeelGood Plan has me doing 4 days a week of workouts with Saturday being a "fun activity". 4. PE Licensure I am due to take my PE Exam this year, pass it, and get licensed as a Professional Engineer. I cannot get promoted nor can I get a significant raise until I do so or I'll max out my current level's pay range. I also am not eligible for annual bonuses for the company until I get promoted at least 1 more level up so that's a pretty good motivator. In addition, my company is offering a nice little bonus for taking, passing, and getting licensed as a PE while employed with them. I'll take that! Many financial motivators. I have a copy of one of the practice tests. I have most of my college engineering books and notes to refer back to. I simply need to DO the thing. My goal is to spend about an hour each week studying. First, take the practice exam and grade myself. Then note down what concepts I need to re-learn and study. Then, create a study plan and actually follow it. Once I get to the study plan portion, I need to schedule the test (it is currently $375 to schedule so I don't want to set myself up for failure. Especially since I can only take it 4 times a year until I pass). One hour every week. That's it. Just do the thing. Take the thing. Pass the thing. License the self. 5. Finances I need to get my budget up to date and keep it up to date. I need to actually stick to my budget every month and not buy unnecessary items or think I have extra money to spend when that extra should be going towards a debt payment. I need to focus on paying off debt and maintain my debt payoff tracker to keep myself motivated on it. Simple as that. Budget. Don't spend what's not in budget (or update budget for unexpected, but necessary, expenses). Pay excess towards debt. To get started: 1. I've managed to journal for the month of January. One month down, 11 more to go. The habit has started, now I need to keep it. I also need to determine how I'm going to continue it when I'm traveling and don't want to pack 3 giant journals everywhere I go. I might just have to digitize them for those times. Look at that, already found a solution. 2. I've been fairly good about keeping to my one NF Prime "Resolution Rescue" resolution I made: check in with myself before eating to ensure I'm truly hungry and not just bored/stressed/emotional or it's a habit to eat at that time. I've also been mindful about what I'm eating for the most part. Moreso than normal and that's a small step, but a step in the right direction nonetheless. 3. I've only missed 1 workout prior to today due to just plain being a lazy bum. I've missed 2 overall, the second one being today (2/6/2023) as I did my scheduled workout Thursday and Friday followed by unscheduled "functional fitness" on Saturday and Sunday in the form of moving my friends from one house to another and all the heavy lifting that goes with moving. My schedule was to work out today and tomorrow but there's no way I could successfully do 5 days in a row at that intensity and not a) burn out and b) potentially injure myself. Tomorrow is cardio, which usually means the rower, and I'll likely knock that out before my scheduled rest day Wednesday. Overall, the longest I've been consistent with workouts. Ever. That's a win. 4. I bought the practice test and it's sitting on my work desk. I've made a step-by-step guide and set out a goal to do it. 5. I have a budget. I need to update it, but it's there. All my bills and debt are listed. Simply need to fill it in. Other random notes: I'm on a Lara Croft kick, as in I'm idolizing her and wanting to play Tomb Raider (though I don't have my PS4 hooked up and I need to be spending my time more wisely than becoming addicted to video games again). Yet, today I'm feeling a little less Adventurer/Lara and a little more Ranger. I bounce between them daily. Maybe I'm both? Maybe I'll finally discover which I lean more towards this year? For now, I claim both. I also have a bit of Druid in me. I'm slowly introducing homesteading into my life. I need to plan my garden and start getting things prepared for this year. I love the idea of learning Herbalism. Nature is my best therapy. Yoga is something I don't particularly like, but I always come back to like a calling. And I have done a tiny bit of Tai Chi in the past and loved it. Once my current 2023 goals become a lifestyle that takes absolutely no thought, I might re-introduce Tai Chi to my life. We shall see. Baby steps here. Yoga will suffice. I have a goal of 12 books in 12 months. I'm behind right now in February's reading but I plan to spend this evening catching up while the man watches his show. I'm trying to make reading a before bed routine. It, unfortunately, hasn't helped with my budget as I've been purchasing books to keep up this goal. It all started as a way to get back to reading when I wanted to read, but felt I didn't have time combined with the goal of getting off electronics before bed to help me sleep better. Win win, except for my wallet. I prefer tangible books to ebooks, but man, ebooks are GREAT for the wallet. I'm a stepmom to 3 kids. One lives with us permanently and he turns 18 in March, graduates (hopefully) in May then he's living with us while he works and saves up to move out on his own. The other two, who are younger, come during the summer. Memorial day weekend until the first weekend in August. Those are the tough months. I have 2 additional kids I want to get as much possible quality time with and we definitely travel or get out of the house every possible second we can. Doesn't bode well for many of my goals. So here's to that challenge. Hopefully between the month already completed and the next 4-ish months before they arrive I've made these goals more of a lifestyle thing and they come naturally and easily rather than the current to-do list that makes it challenging at times to complete. If you've read this far, congratulations. Your reward is to stop "listening" to me babble on endlessly. Sorry 'bout that. Let's hope this is finally the year I keep up with things. If not, it's the year I've managed to keep up with something, anything, for a month at least.

'Tis the Season! I'm not a Christmas-y festive person (it's too loud/much/overwhelming for me usually) but we get the kids for a week of Christmas break this year. This also means a tree, decorating it, getting out the stockings (and finding one for Smoke as he wasn't rescued by Christmas last year) and all the things. The tree is real, by preference of nearly everybody, so I'll have a delightful smell through the house AND I count it as one of my plants. I've been in a plant hoarding mood. I've been told no more plants - for good reason - but he'll allow a tree and that's a win for my little plant-loving self. Also, I purchased the Man a cute ornament when I went to Ann Arbor earlier in November and now he'll be able to hang that. Yippee! This also means I can bake 🙂 ALL THE GOODIES! Anyway, besides the above festive-y things I will be required to navigate around, there are some goals. They're pretty much the same as they have been all year but ever so slightly more advanced every challenge. No Spend: Keep finding and using frugal methods to limit spending and don’t spend on wants - focus on necessary items. All excess goes towards paying down debt. Caveat: I have a handful of e-books to purchase once step-daughter opens her Christmas gift (Kindle) and gets it set up to her account (or we get her an account setup if she doesn’t have one yet through her bio-mama). I also need to purchase a gift for the oldest and youngest kid still. May also need to come up with a couple stocking stuffers for the Man as he’ll fill the rest of ours if we put them out this year but that should be small things. Plus, the dogs will get a little stocking stuffer treat, each. Again, small expenses that will add up so I’ll simply need to be mindful and pay attention to my spending to ensure I don’t set myself up for failure. Nutrition: Focus on starting with smaller portions. Set utensils (or food, if finger food) down between each bite. Chew slowly and focus on the textures and flavors. Wait at least 10 minutes between finishing and getting seconds. Aim for vegetables daily, and, if possible, multiple meals. Workout: Stay active 5 days/week. Walk dogs daily, weather permitting. Keep active with running to set myself up for 10k training for next year’s Shiner Beer Run (typically the weekend before Thanksgiving). I’ve got time, but I’d rather not start from scratch and have to build up - why not maintain and then start building on that? Look at me logically planning things out….. Sprinkle in strength to maintain(/grow?) muscle as well. The Man bought resistance bands he hasn’t used and thus donated them to my workout corner so I now have those, a kettlebell, and my body - plenty enough to get a good workout! Water: 95oz daily. Can I do it? Spiritual: Stir intentions into coffee AND incorporate intentions into daily skin care routine. Actually improve that whole skin care thing, too - I’ve been slacking a lot with that. Especially important with the weather getting colder and therefore the drying heater - my poor skin will crack and bleed if I’m not diligent about caring for it during this time of year. Shadow work if possible. Any New Moon and Full Moon rituals. Also, at the very end of this challenge (Dec 21st), the Winter Solstice! Stepdaughter won't be here then (she'll be here the evening of the 23rd) so I will likely do my own personal Yule ritual and then a second with her once she's here (assuming she's still interested). Not sure what that is, yet, but I'll figure it out. Also, I'll have a working fireplace this year for Yule for my log! Self-love: Notice a positive thing about myself and really appreciate it, no matter how small/simple/insignificant it may seem OR do something for myself as an act of love (foot soak, hair mask, face mask, etc.) Something I don’t do often, but that shows love and care for myself when I need a little boost. This still hasn’t changed and I’m okay with that. I need to keep it until it becomes natural and that’s going to likely be a long while. I have ONE known party during this challenge and that's Dec 9th (also the Army-Navy game AKA stress eating followed by all the typical adult Christmas Party shenanigans including snacks and alcohol - all of which I'm trying to be mindful about) but otherwise, everything should be calm and normal. The week of the kids being here will likely be the biggest challenge other than Dec 9 simply due to squeezing in all their favorite dinners into a handful of days plus baking the things they've requested since they left (and subsequently eating it all). Any and all are welcomed to join me on this adventure - I'd love the company and accountability 💚

Last challenge of the year! Like most of you, I'm not wanting to take on anything too crazy during the holidays. I want to enjoy myself, eat delicious food, and not be overwhelmed by an even busier schedule. And yet.... I don't want to gain weight this month. It would even be lovely if I could lose a pound or two. Enter the Plan™️: 1. Continue to move more, particularly the kind that triggers Satiated Brain. 2. Experiment with keeping a Bullet Journal to manage my time and expectations. I hereby give myself permission to have a messy, undecorated, practical BuJo. Function over form, unless I have excess time to make it pretty. 3. Deploy Intermittent Fasting strategies so I can enjoy amazing foods and mitigate the impact. I am aiming for around 15/9 fasting ratio. I haven't tried IF in years, but I sort of intuitively ate that way before when I was thin, so hopefully it won't be too stressful.

So I know better than to expect a lot of the main goal to happen during the holidays, I enjoy food way too much and holiday baking is a thing in my house. My two main goals for this challenge will be trying to increase the number of nights I get over 7 hours of sleep, and working out first thing when I get up instead of waiting till 7am, because that hasn’t been working out well at ALL! Too often I find a reason to not do it. I’m going to be working on a modified 10k training plan, since I scheduled one on the 16th and haven’t really done anything to prepare for it. I've noticed as much as I enjoy them, it's a lot different when you don’t have someone to do them with, or even encouraging you. I need to move past this mindset and remember I’m doing them for me. After this challenge I’m going to take a week off for the holidays, then I’m going to start with the 5k training plan I did previously, after that I’ll do the full 10k plan, then, depending on how it’s going, I’ll move into the ½ marathon training plan. Some of you may remember I did the 5 and 10k plans back in 2019 and managed to lose 30lbs. Having a more active job at the time probably played a factor as well LOL. The Struggle... ( S )teps - ( T )rack - ( R )est - ( U )pdate - ( G )o - ( G )lance 5x week - ( L )ift 2x week - ( E )xercise (treadmill) 4x week - Done - 🌈 Not Done - ⛈️ My personal life is improving. I am doing my best to keep doing the same…therapy is a big part of this, journaling is another part. I'm going to continue doing this, as well as working on getting back to me and what I need in my life. Upcoming Items 12/16 - Reindeer Run 5k 12/17 - Candy Cane Course 5k 01/27 - Java Jog 15k 02/11 - Couple Shuffle 5k 03/09 - Time to Paddy 5k 06/22 - Hometown Half 10k 07/07 - Firecracker 4mi 08/10 - Summer Sizzler 15k 09/28 - Donot Stop 10k 10/20 - Spooky Sprint 10k 11/10 - Turkey Trails 10k

So, here we are. With a couple of interludes, I made it - a whole year of seasonal challenges! My aim was to align myself, my activities and thoughts with the seasons. It was harder than expected - and that in turns tells me alot about how aligned - or not - I am with them. But it has provided useful moments of pause. I have found joy in noticing the changes of the seasons this year. The leaves alongside a long stretch of road I take to work each day are wonderful and bursting in golden redness still, and I have found them a daily moment of happy. I have taken walks last spring with the main aim of finding the bluebells. I have wandered under the trees in summer and paid attention to the warmth of the sun on my shoulders. There have been moments, but no real alignment. It is something to think about going forward. That said, this will be my last seasonal challenge, and perhaps the last of the Chronicles, for now. I'm not entirely sure what the next year's challenges will hold, but I am looking forward to a little more flexibility. But for now, I am enbracing the long dark of winter. Part of me isn't ready to let Autumn go, and all its riot of colour and gentler weather turns. But Autumn is also the time that reminds me most that it not just okay to let go, it is necessary. They shed their leaves to better survive the tough months ahead. It reminds me that letting go isn't always for 'something better' or because something is holding me back. Sometimes weathering the storms means parting with baggage. Even if it looks nice and you feel bare without it. Enough rambling. I've been dealing with some changes lately that have me thinking alot. Some are work related, some are simply me realising that some things have to change, and I have to leave the comfort blankets behind me. The ones that are relevant here and related to my goals are those that will prepare me for the year ahead. I am using December - the whole month - as a moment of reflection, and re-alignment. My 'goals' start now, not on January 1st. Because life doesn't magically reset at a New Year, and my goals are merely the compass, not the path. So: The Year's End 👣Stay within Calorie Budget 5/7 days each week - This gives me a little bit of leeway and stops it being so restrictive I crack and go back to the bad habits, and still get to enjoy the festive season without it becoming a free-fall. I am on a 4 day streak so far and right from Day 1 I was finding myself with the tendency to 'beat the number'. That is, I get fixated on not going over and I don't quite know why - it's certainly not a conscious decision - but I am consistently at least 200 calories under budget. I have fallen foul of this pattern before. It means I inevitably cave because I am hungry and fixate on food, binge and heap on the guilt as well as stop tracking. Day 4 today and I am having cravings. The hunger isn't too bad, the cravings are a pain. To combat this, I chose LoseIt (the app's) Relaxed option - the higher calorie goal that has you on track to lose around 1/4 kilo per week I think. Either way, it's high enough that when I inevitably go under calories, I am still getting enough. So far, this work-around is working. 👣Eat 100g of Protein 5/7 days - My findings from my 4 days of tracking so far is that my protein intake is dismal. I need to be hitting more than 100g ideally, given that I am hoping to shed fat but also make strength gains at CrossFit. But I am tending to fall so short - 60 - 70g is my typical and that is WITH a protein shake on gym days. Today I am at 59g and it is 9pm and somehow 484 cals short of the budget. I am seriously, seriously tempted to drive to mcdonalds for a 6 pack of mcnuggets. 👣Update on here at least 1/7 days (once a week) and consistently check in on at least 5 threads - I wish I had time to check in on everybody because you are all amazing, but with my new job coming with a bucketload more actual work to do, I am mentally and physically exhausted most days. I am hoping this is simply the adjustment period. But for now 5 is going to be the goal. And the goal exists because otherwise I am tempted to be too lazy to update on here and stay present. Even though it is a wonderful place to be. 👣Set up Planner for the coming year: This includes the things like monthly/future log and my weekly spreads that seem to be working, but also things I want/need to track - things like a budget, my savings, a to-read list, my goals and loot lists, etc. 👣Finish re-reading the Return of the King - Now I've got my Masters (aside from minor corrections that I have 3 months to complete) I have time to read for pleasure again and I am dangerously close to not finishing my re-read through of all the LOTR books that I do every year. Aragorn has just taken the Paths of the Dead, and he can't go alone. Must finish this.

I'm stealing the idea from @TimovieMan and using colors to evaluate my progress this challenge. I think I need the feedback on ranges rather than simple yes/no checkboxes since there is a big difference between walking in the woods and a 5K run. Also, plan to use the color ranking as a guide also. When I'm having a challenging day, I'll look at the orange or red categories to remind me what I think I can accomplish. Strength? If LTL is here, then it's exercise snacks and hope that we can get a stroller walk in the daylight ... or biking in the basement. This is kinda minimal, and just focusing on exercise and nutrition, with a nudge to go see people (other than hubby and my daughter's immediate family). With the cold weather and dark nights, it's easy to decide to stay at home and watch holiday specials (or worse, scroll Facebook). General grading schema: Stellar Good OK Poor Minimum Frequency Notes Strength CrossFit partners CrossFit indiv effort Gym routine Basement routine Exercise snacks Daily Rest days are white Cardio OCR/5K training Run 2+ miles Cardio 30 min Cardio 20 min Walk in the woods Daily Social Friends Group Activity Drop in Casual encounters Immediate family Daily MINDful Eating >= 12.5 >= 10.5 >= 8.5 >= 8 >= 5 Weekly Since I'm often too worried that I'll slow down my team or partner at CrossFit, I've separated that from the more typical workout that is individual effort only. I'll go to those on the days when I'm feeling great and emotionally resilient. Cardio can be swimming, rowing, skierg, or bike. Walking in the woods is more of a stroll, especially with snow on the ground. For me, the MIND diet logging is less stressful than logging in WW. It encourages me to eat fruits and vegetables. And since I'm trying to increase my score, I don't get into the negative, budgeting stress of counting calories or points. The result is less rebellion and more creativity. For instance, what would be a festive salad for Christmas? I know that three weekends in December will be filled with family ... and serving festive (calorie-rich) food is just part of the culture. When I've tried serving lower-calorie variations, the response has been disappointment. So bring on the cookies, but in moderation! Looking at Week 0, I already see that I have room to improve this week. My sinus headache is slowing me down today, but I think I can pack up the water and go run on the treadmill. Week 0 S M T W Th F S Strength Cardio Social MINDful Eating 6.5 Good luck to us all!!!

Hello fellow Rebels. A lot has been going on in life, most of it good, all of it overwhelming. I'm going to be a grandpa (it's a boy) My family and I were in the local newspaper because we adopted out fourth and fifth children on November 1st (the first day of National Adoption Month) I'm hosting a poetry recitation competition at the school where I teach, as well as sponsoring the Drama Club I've signed up for (and completed) several 5k races and have remained a middle-of-the-pack runner without injury I grew out my mustache So yeah, life has been pretty great lately, just busy. I'm sticking to my past goal since they haven't yet been achieved (although I'm getting closer and closer to the sub-30 5k time). And of course I will be channeling movies and characters that inspire and motivate me along the way. I recently re-watched "Bullet Train," which is still amazing. Tangerine remains my favorite character. So... STRONGER: GOAL: By the end of this challenge, I will have increased my physical strength by at least 25% as measured by an increase in number of reps to failure of kettlebell single-arm overhead press. HOW: I will pick "heavy things" up and put them back down for at least 20 minutes, three days a week; this will include mostly kettlebell training with some "greasing the groove" using resistance bands, random heavy objects, and my kids. Training will look like this: Sunday: Benchmark (single arm overhead press to failure, count reps; 30 minute run, note distance) Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Strength training Tuesday/Thursday: 30 minute run + "grease the groove" Saturday: Long trail run FASTER: GOAL: By the end of this challenge, I will be able to run a sub-30 minute 5k as measured by a 5k run. HOW: I will run for 30 minutes at least two days a week, with a distance/endurance run at least one day a week and sprint/speed intervals at least one day a week. SMARTER: GOALS: By the end of the challenge, I will increase my daily use of Duolingo; I will increase my daily reading habit by at least 5 minutes a day; I will learn at least one new thing daily. HOW: I will set a reminder to complete at least the daily requirements to achieve a 30 day streak on Duolingo I will set aside at least 30 minutes of reading time daily I will use apps such as Humane and Kinnu to learn new information, as well as the NPR app and podcasts. CALMER: GOAL: By the end of the challenge, I will improve my mental health by reducing my angry reactions to stress. HOW: I will use a meditation app to increase my meditation/contemplative prayer practice from 10 minutes to 15 minutes. I will write down what I am grateful for and create daily affirmations using the 5 Minute Journal app. In moments of stress and frustration, I will apply a relaxing breathing technique (short inhale through nose, long exhale through mouth). I will listen to music that elevates my mood.

For those of you who didn't know, which is basically no one at this point, I have bipolar disorder. Feel free to ask questions. I am sliding into a depression cycle. I can tell when this is coming on because I lose interest in pretty much everything. There are other symptoms, but that's the first big clue. I have decided that this time I am actively fighting back by doing things that help my mood to stabilize, like getting exercise and writing and playing my ukulele. You know, good self care stuff. I will do my best to record my efforts here.

My last challenge fell apart at the seams. I was sick twice, I decided to change what I did for exercise, and I just generally struggled to focus on my health. What I’m going to be doing now is taking an inventory of what I want to be doing and what I am doing so I can figure out the difference between them. For example, I’m reading a LOT of books right now and, frankly, I don’t know if I need to be reading them all at once. Maybe backing off on that would be an idea. Another example is that I want to do a NaNoWriMo this year. I never have, but I’m excited about the idea of it. I’ll put my notes for that under the spoiler below if you’re curious about my inventory: Just in general, I want to be as successful as possible with my NaNoWriMo, and also just want to get my life a little bit more in hand. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew a bit, and I need to scale back. The reading doesn’t need to be quite so frantic either, I actually finished my Goodreads challenge this year! It was one of my overarching goals for the year and I’m very proud of myself. Last time I finished it I only did so because I cranked through like 20 volumes of the My Hero Academia & MHA Vigilantes manga over the course of a couple of weeks. But yeah, anyway, to my goals. No, I don’t know why I did it this way but it’s fine. Track Yo Food I have to track all of my food 5 days a week in Fatsecret. 7 days is ideal, but I’m trying to get back into the habit, so 5 days is a good start. I’ve been slacking on this so hopefully the challenge will help me get back into it. Work Yo Body Work out 3 times a week. I bought Just Dance so I had something fun to get me moving and I need to use it. Prep Yo Meals If I don’t meal prep breakfast and lunch I struggle for the entire rest of the day. So every weekend I meal prep 2 meals. Eat Yo Veggies Eat a serving of vegetables every day. Not fruit, veggies. I always ignore the veggies and it’s probably not ideal. Doesn’t have to be this massive thing, but I need the nutrition as far as the vegetables go. Do Yo Tasks Each of these tasks is one that I need to get done during this challenge. They’re little one off things that I need to take care of, preferably before NaNoWriMo but possibly after. Finish Quantic PreRequisite classes (I have like 1.5 left) Finish Parenting Book Finish Meditation book Load up my prewriting for my NaNoWriMo novel that I’ve already done into Bibisco So that’s it, that’s my simple bare bones challenge where I’m hopefully going to scale back and prioritize a bit. Plus Ultra and Happy NaNoWriMo everyone!

It has been a very long time but I am ready to commit here. Recently I hurt my back and after Xrays, MRI and CT scans it looks like I will not need surgery now. I will sometime in my life more than likely. Getting older sucks and I need to get on a better road to health. Setting up some base habits will be the key to this success. Dailies I must do Eat whole foods(homemade bread and rice/whole grains are ok), drink water/tea/coffee. No diet, no sugar. Lots of veggies and fruits. Walk every morning for at least 30 minutes. Do my PT exercises every day. Read Things I would very much like to do Duolingo Audible Post food pictures here I also have a bunch of stuff to get done around the house/garden/boat/garage I will likely share as well.

"If it's not broken, don't fix it." I'll keep my colour-coded logging yet again this challenge. BUT! There are some changes. Food tracking: - I'm adding the "calories spent" that my Fitbit indicates as something to track - I'm adding my daily calorie deficit (the difference between the calories in and out) as something to track Why? Because I've noticed that I tend to go for the highest range of a colour as soon as I reach that log colour. Dark green will have me grab a bunch of treats to get 1500 calories up to 1900 "because I can without changing the colour". Getting over 2000 is a freebie to add almost 400 more. Reaching 2400 give me a "free" 500 calories... That type of thinking is counterproductive, and I want the behaviour to stop without changing the way I log. Adding my "calories spent" and logging the difference between the two will hopefully provide the motivation to keep me from "exploiting" the colour-system. Workouts: - I'm adding the number of days where I'm doing a workout Why? Because I need to do more mini-workouts, and more workouts in general. Workouts suffered the most in previous weeks and were the sore point in the previous challenge. Logging the number of days that I work out will hopefully provide the motivation to actually do (mini-)workouts... Bad Poor Ok Good Excellent Frequency Notes Intermittent fasting < 14 hours ≥ 14 hours ≥ 16 hours ≥ 17 hours ≥ 20 hours Daily Calorie intake > 4000 cal > 3000 cal ≤ 3000 cal ≤ 2400 cal ≤ 2000 cal Daily Ballpark figures are good enough Calories spent < 2800 cal ≥ 2800 cal ≥ 3200 cal ≥ 3600 cal ≥ 4000 cal Daily Fitbit numbers Calories in/out deficit < 0 cal ≥ 0 cal ≥ 500 cal ≥ 1000 cal ≥ 1500 cal Daily Curfew ≥ 1.30 am ≥ 1.00 am < 1.00 am < 0.30 am < 0.00 am Daily Add 2 hours before non-working days Sleep < 5h 30m < 6 hours ≥ 6 hours ≥ 6h 30m ≥ 7 hours Daily Fitbit numbers - naps count for half Avg. sleep < 6 hours ≥ 6 hours ≥ 6h 15m ≥ 6h 30m ≥ 6h 45m Weekly Fitbit numbers - naps count for half Steps < 6.000 ≥ 6.000 ≥ 8.000 ≥ 10.000 ≥ 12.000 Daily Fitbit numbers Avg. steps < 9.000 ≥ 9.000 ≥ 10.000 ≥ 11.000 ≥ 12.000 Weekly Fitbit numbers Distance < 15 km ≥ 15 km ≥ 20 km ≥ 25 km ≥ 30 km Weekly Walk to Mordor distance Workouts ≤ 1 > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 Weekly Mini-workouts: 1/10 per exercise Days with (mini)-workouts ≤ 3 4 5 6 7 Weekly And why is a 500 calorie deficit just "okay", and is a deficit of less than 500 "poor"? Well, because my intake are ballpark figures, so I might be off there, and while the calories spent are calculated by my Fitbit based on my age, weight, fat/lean mass, heart rate and activity, I think the Fitbit *might* be inflating the numbers a little, especially on walks. A 500 calorie "margin of error" gives me some leeway to make sure that I continue my weight's downward trend...

Welcome to my challenge. As always, my challenges follow the roadmap laid out for the year in my battlelog. Each challenge focuses on some aspect that either helps support my roadmap journey or pushes me closer to the goal. I am only getting further from my goal at this point. This is the LAST CHALLENGE OF THE YEAR! Any more progress that is to be made on my roadmap needs to be made right here and now! I just got back from an 8 day vacation, which was just days after another, shorter vacation. My weight stayed fairly stable over my trips but overall I've gained 14 pounds over the course of the year. This isn't the only measure of my success (or lack thereof) this year but it's certainly the one I wanted to see some movement. This year, like many before, has been just one long list of EXCUSES! There's a party at work, I went on vacation, my kids are moving away!, I'm busy, let's celebrate getting married, Let's eat ALL the brunches before the kids move away, the state fair, more trips, more vacation!! OK, so do the things that work. Like All the time. I can still eat out but I don't have to eat it all. I can still eat pizza, I just don't need to eat too much. I can still have dessert; it's literally already in the meal plan. I won't die if I don't eat all the good food whenever it's in front of me. The goals... Daily goals: Start the day with water Fast 15 hours Eat a freggy Move Read Tidy Log food daily or stick to the prescribed meal plan. Weekly Goals: 150 minutes cardio modified to 2x a week 2 Strength workouts stretch 2x Batch cook Weekly Mean planning

Keeping it simple: I want to improve my morning productivity! How does a superheroine improve level up? She puts on her Supersuit. Every weekday morning I will put on my workout clothes (or clothes for the day) before I go into the kitchen. That will be my signal. I have battles to face, and I must be prepared. I've struggled with my updates the last couple months. I think the issue is, I've been levelling up for so long, that I actually have quite a few things I'm working on. And I write them down as goals, and feel like I need to write an essay every time I come on here. And I don't always have time, or energy. So, I will update whether or not I won my morning. If I want to report on other stuff, great, but it's fine if I don't. What is the other stuff? Hydrating, mindful eating, Bible reading, workout, sleeping, life😀 RIght now the workout I am doing is Strong Curves by Brett Contreras. And a rowing sprint once a week. Movement in there with rowing, walking, or gardening.

The last challenge was derailed by a train of illnesses that my grandson brought home from day care. I managed to power through most of them, but COVID really knocked me on my butt for three weeks. Not surprisingly, my cardio fitness took a hit. Strength gains pretty much stayed even. Coming into the next challenge, I have loose goals, but I want to stay flexible .... really a big part of the rest of the calendar year (2 challenges?) will be in looking for some new tools and strategies .... and recommitting some that have worked well in the past. I am not going to score these challenges. Daily narration is enough accountability. The murder mystery gets to continue and ties in with this theme. 😉 Goals: Lose fat and build muscle. I'm going to ease back into WW. The investigation focus here is on figuring out how to track without burning out on tracking. Success measures: weigh 150 by the end of the calendar year (151.5 by Thanksgiving) and be able to do a pullup with only 20 pounds of assistance (30 pounds by Thanksgiving). I also will probably be changing gyms again. Write a draft of a novel. Yes, I decided to try NaNoWriMo. I want to write a cozy mystery novel with an older female protagonist. I may warm up with the continuation of the Wolves of Langston .... fanfiction. Investigations: Exercise snacks. On the days that LTL is here, it's difficult to get much of a workout in. We can usually get a walk, but strength training ..... those end up being rest days. But, if I have a plan, I could fit in some bodyweight strength training and stretching. Functional fitness (aka CrossFit) without the box. CrossFit.com, WodWell.com, 50 North fitness classes? The social aspect is almost as important as the fitness, but getting hooked and sticking with it without getting injured ..... Join the "senior center" .... which really has much to offer. It has a gym and a pool (and sauna and hot tub ....) and fitness classes and volunteer and social opportunities. As Rebel One has written, it is really tough to make friends as an adult. This is a possible vector. How to inject some fun into logging food intake?? How to create changes that will become habits?

Had a blood draw last week. My A1C is up a point, from 5.7( in Feb) to 5.8. Pre-diabetes is 5.7 to 6.4. It was 5.9 in October of last year, and has been 5.9 once before that. I do NOT want diabetes, as I've seen the way it can kill people one toe at a time. And quite frankly, kidney dialysis scares me more than Chemo does, and a lot of patients who do not manage their diabetes blow out their kidneys. I have the appointment to discuss it on Wednesday (my doctor is part of a medical practice with a good app that lets you see your lab results once the doctor looks at it) and I do not anticipate a reaction as dramatic as my challenge title, but I'm taking this seriously. Therefore: Limit sweets: I'm doing this already, but I suspect my weight gain despite limited sweets is the cause of this. Even so, Sweets at Thanksgiving and Christmas (and only the day of) and that's it. Move: My exercise habits have been virtually nonexistent since getting the new job, and were minimal before that when I was on the summer of night shifts. That is something that will help. Eat good food: As much as possible.

I realized when putting this together this is the last full challenge of the year...anyone else not ready for that? So...the challenge, which hasn't changed a whole lot...My inconsistency is consistent My main goal is weight loss, for health reasons as well as I want to look good (to me) naked. I'm in a struggle with this goal because it doesn't get easier when you get older. I don’t want this to be a focus for the rest of my life, I want to build some habits/routines so it becomes second nature and I don’t have to think about it. I also want to be around to watch my grandkids grow up and be able to do things with them, as well as things I enjoy as I get older, and I enjoy a lot of things! I work from home as an accountant. I have a full time job and a few side gigs, making sure I have enough movement in my day is important because it's very easy to lose track of time and I feel better when I move more! The Struggle is real! I'm going to take the time to do what I need to do, also making sure I get enough off-time, put in the work and effort that hopefully will lead to lower numbers on the scale as well as other health markers that are important. So I needed another G word because Guitar was not, and likely will not in the foreseeable future, happen…I do enjoy reading, and journaling, and often don’t take the time to do that, so ‘glancing’ at a book or journaling will count towards that. The Struggle... ( S )teps - ( T )rack - ( R )est - ( U )pdate - ( G )o - ( G )lance 5x week - ( L )ift 2x week - ( E )xercise (treadmill) 3x week - Done - 🌈 Not Done - ⛈️ I want to get my granddaughter's item I've been crocheting since before Xmas, finished. Yes, I’m still working on it. I have zero week to get this done because I will be seeing them in Oklahoma week 1. I want to get my bicycle fixed (tires are flat, not a tough fix) and take advantage of the bike trails around this area at some point when I have time. Pool and paddleboarding will wait until next year when it warms back up. My personal life is improving. I am doing my best to keep doing the same…therapy is a big part of this, journaling is another part. I'm going to continue doing this, as well as working on getting back to me and what I need in my life. Upcoming Items 10/22 - WINE Stem 5k 10/23 - 10/26 going to see grandkids 10/27 - 10/29 birthday weekend ride 11/23 - Thanksgiving 5k 12/16 - Reindeer Run 10k

Returning to my original goals with the hope of sticking to them this challenge: STRONGER: GOAL: By the end of this challenge, I will have increased my physical strength by at least 25% as measured by an increase in number of reps to failure of kettlebell single-arm overhead press. HOW: I will pick "heavy things" up and put them back down for at least 20 minutes, three days a week; this will include mostly kettlebell training with some "greasing the groove" using resistance bands, random heavy objects, and my kids. Training will look like this: Sunday -- Benchmark (single arm overhead press to failure, count reps; 30 minute run, note distance) Monday -- Five rounds of: 200 meter run kettlebell clean and press x 2 each side goblet squat x 5 two-handed kettlebell swing x 20 rest 2 minutes Tuesday -- 30 minute run; record time Wednesday -- 5-10 rounds of: 25 double-arm kettlebell swings 30 seconds rest 25 alternating kettlebell swings 30 seconds rest 25 single-arm kettlebell swings L 30 seconds rest 25 single-arm kettlebell swings R 2 minutes rest Alternating kettlebell clean & press x 30 (15 per side) 2 minutes rest Alternating kettlebell dead snatch x 14 (7 per side) Straight leg singe-arm kettlebell deadlift x 30 (15 per side) Overhead triceps extension x 15 Thursday -- 30 minute run; improve previous distance Friday -- 15-45 minutes of: clean with left hand press with left hand one arm front squat with left hand one handed swing with left hand park the kettlebell, recover, repeat with right hand Saturday -- Distance run on trails; mark distance and pace FASTER: GOAL: By the end of this challenge, I will be able to run a sub-30 minute 5k as measured by a 5k run. HOW: I will run for 30 minutes at least two days a week, with a distance/endurance run at least one day a week and sprint/speed intervals at least one day a week (see 200 m run above). SMARTER: GOALS: By the end of the challenge, I will increase my daily use of Duolingo; I will increase my daily reading habit by at least 5 minutes a day; I will learn at least one new thing daily. HOW: I will set a reminder to complete at least the daily requirements to achieve a 30 day streak on Duolingo I will set aside at least 30 minutes of reading time daily I will use apps such as Humane and Kinnu to learn new information, as well as the NPR app and podcasts. CALMER: GOAL: By the end of the challenge, I will improve my mental health by reducing my angry reactions to stress. HOW: I will use a meditation app to increase my meditation/contemplative prayer practice from 10 minutes to 15 minutes. I will take 30 minute mindful walks to help clear my mind. I will write down what I am grateful for and create daily affirmations using the 5 Minute Journal app. I will practice a relaxing breathing technique (short inhale through nose, long exhale through mouth) and apply this technique in moments of stress and frustration. I will listen to music that elevates my mood.

So I've been in and out of here a lot. The "getting back to it after 2nd baby" schedule got detonated by several things up to and including major right wrist surgery for my husband. So it's time to go back to basics. To start over. To (sort of) respawn. I'm starting where I started 10 years ago with Stronglifts 5x5 roughly. (You will notice I increment weight in the middle of sets rather than each morning. And weights are a little TBD as I get in the swing of things. The main point is that this is a high volume program.) Last week was week 1. I will log it here for completeness. This week, week 2, I didn't make it to the gym Monday, but will go Wednesday and Friday. My goal is to get 2/3 of MWF for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks it will probably be time for me to switch things up from 5x5 and add in more calisthenics, more one-legged work, and got 531 or something for the bigger lifts. TBD. Biking, especially bike commuting will get worked in ASAP, but the baby mornings, one-handed husband, and pumping schedule are all things that need to settle down a bit first. Last week's log. Monday 10/9 - at work 1/2 time sort of. 4th gym trip in 4 months. Climbed 5.8 up and down, 5.10, 3 routes of 5.10- not all complete Back squat 45 5x, 65 5x, 75 5x3 (reps x sets) Kettlebell press (each arm) 18 lbs 5x5. Tried a few reps at 22 lbs, but too heavy Deadbugs and Pilates bridges 5 and 4 for 3 sets Wednesday 10/11 Climbed repeat 5.9 2x, Black 5.9 2x missed last move, 5.10-, 5.10 blue and crimpy, made it 2/3 up. Back squat 45 5x, 75 5x, 85 5x4 Bench 45 5x, 55 5x4, 65 5x Barbell row 65 5x2, 75 5x bad form, 70 5x2 Friday 10/13 Biked to the gym and back Back squat 45 5x, 85 5x2, 90 5x3 Hangs Kettlebell press 18 5x5 Deadlift 135 5x3, 155 3x2 Barbell OHP test 45 3x felt heavy We'll catch up with our protagonist as she gets moving again. Having dropped baby griffon off in some happy fishing grounds, it's time for further questing. (Although the winged friend will get frequent check-ins.)

Welcome everyone, to my second level of Cleric-ness. Level 1 was a bit of an experiment that all in all went very well, so I'm not changing much. Mostly, I am going to be more intentional about posting my plans for the week on here, and a bit stricter about taking damage for goals I don't make. For combat, I'm switching to a mace for my melee weapon, because blunt force trauma. Also, this shirt is my loot item for this challenge. If I make it to level 3 (900 points) I get to order this. So, challenge set up. Combat 10 points per workout, and I get an attack on my opponent. If I miss a workout, they get an attack on me. And the opponent for this challenge is... Zombie Kobolds! An AC of 11, 16 hit points, a claw attack of +2 to hit, and deal 1d4 slashing damage. Plus undead fortitude, which means they have a chance to come back to 1hp unless I kill them with a crit or radiant damage. A challenge rating of 1/4, worth 50xp each. Exploration 1 point per mile walked, run, or biked. Only count for intentional movement, not incidental movement. Did not get much here last challenge, so this weekend I'm going to set my bike trainer up in the basement to make this more likely. Social 20 points for social interactions with non-family members, or fun outings with family. Cantrips 1 point for each casting. Light - get up without hitting the snooze. Word of Radiance - Morning Prayer (also deals damage!). Mending - routine preventative maintenance on stuff. Spells 10 points per casting. I can prep 3 spells, plus I always have Bless and Cure Wounds prepared because I'm Life Domain. 3 spell slots per week. Channel Divinity This is new for level 2. I can use it once per long rest, which for challenge purposes is once per week. 10 points/use. Turn Undead - My mom is a bit of a hoarder, which includes stuffing the fridge with food she doesn't actually intend to eat. So on a fairly regular basis, I should go through things and feed the chickens. Preserve Life - Canning. Which, unfortunately, I think I'm pretty much done with for the year, as far as produce goes, but I also want to start canning my own soups, so we'll see how that goes. Hit Points I now have 17 hit points, and 2 hit dice, which I can use on a short rest, which is exactly what it is in the game - an hour of rest, where I can read or nap or what have you, but no screen time. Let's roll out!

Continuing on the path I've kept since January with a few alterations and additions as I go along - what's a good adventure if you don't acquire a few things along the way?! This is the season of the year when I'm the happiest. I feel more comfortable and confident with myself. I feel connected to my inner self and with nature. I feel free to be more openly authentic and true - maybe because it's Halloween and nobody but me really knows its truly me? I don't know exactly but I like it! It's sweater weather! Its soup eating/spooky/haunting season! It's the Witch's New Year! The veil is thin, the dead are honored, the goblins and gouls come out to play (I just heard a crow right outside my window. It approves). It's the best time of year (for me)! No Spend: Keep finding and using frugal methods to limit spending and don’t spend on wants - focus on the needs, not the wants. All excess goes towards paying down debt. Caveat: I have travel Nov 2-5 to my birthday trip. Then Thanksgiving trip with T, Kers, kids, and us out of state. I’m also going to likely replace my longer helix studs with something shorter to allow for further healing (long studs get caught on hair much easier and they should be healed enough during this challenge to change them - AKA I’ll need to buy some studs I’m alright with having for awhile). Nutrition: Focus on starting with smaller portions. Set utensils (or food, if finger food) down between each bite. Chew slowly and focus on the textures and flavors. Wait at least 10 minutes between finishing and getting seconds. Aim for vegetables daily, and, if possible, multiple meals. It's soup season - soups make for great lunches (hint hint nudge nudge, Future Darci) Workout: Stay active 5 days/week. Walk daily during workweek as weather allows with the pups and weekends where schedule allows. Train for 5k 3x/week (M-W-F schedule allowing) and finish the challenge with the actual 5k (it's on the 18th of Nov but we travel the next week so it's the end for me). Aim for daily 10k steps and movement every hour during work days to avoid sitting for long periods at a time. Daily Finch Microworkout (10s plank, 5 pushups, 5 squats). Water: 90oz daily. Can I do it? Only 5oz more than last challenge.... can't be too difficult, right? Plain herbal tea counts because we're always cold and tea makes me happy. Spiritual: Stir intentions into coffee AND incorporate intentions into daily skin care routine. Maybe a couple shadow work sessions? Definitely need to do some shadow work. Self-love: Notice a positive thing about myself and really appreciate it, no matter how small/simple/insignificant it may seem OR do something for myself as an act of love (foot soak, hair mask, face mask, etc.) Something I don’t do often, but that shows love and care for myself when I need a little boost. This still hasn’t changed and I’m okay with that. I need to keep it until it becomes natural and that’s going to likely be a long while. I've made progress, but improvements are always welcome.

The rising Hunter’s Moon (Oct 28) as seen from my balcony while on vacation. I chose the imagery of the Hunter’s Moon for this challenge partly because it was timely (and sounds awesome) and partly because this challenge – or what is left of it – will be about indulging my lizard dragon brain’s impulse to hunt, while simultaneously reducing my caloric intake. An oxymoron, you say? Hopefully not. Some of you may recall from last challenge that I made some personal discoveries about how scarcity in my childhood may be affecting my current eating habits. I decided to read a thought-provoking book entitled Scarcity Loop. It describes how hunting/seeking behaviors are survival strategies based on scarcity that haven’t received an update for modern times of abundance. Our brains are still hardwired to “quest”, and to even obsessively quest where the trifecta of the scarcity loop is present: opportunity, rapid repeatability, and unpredictable rewards. What this was supposed to look like was: I feel hungry, I travel over varied terrain to places I have previously (sometimes) found food, bring it back, prepare it and eat. The more abundant the food source, the more often I go out to the same spot to hunt/gather. However, in present times, the distance between I’m hungry (on the couch) and I find a reliable food source (the fridge) is so small and easily repeatable that my stoopid brain keeps sending me back for more even though I don’t need it. So, my reasoning is that if I engage in more simulated hunting behaviors, my brain will be quieter and not harass me as much about eating all the time. For example, I found it enormously rewarding this morning to build a small fire in my firepit. I kept it going for about 2.5 hours, simply wandering into the tree line to “hunt” more wood whenever the fire got low. I normally start obsessing about lunch around 10am. I was not inclined to eat lunch until 1pm today. My plan: Try to hunt every day, outdoors when possible. Hunts may include (but are not limited to): Finding wood for a fire Spotting deer sign (we found antler-shed in the yard recently) Identifying poisonous/invasive plants for removal Identifying desirable plants for reproduction/transplanting Finding interesting leaves/rocks/pinecones/etc for craft projects Exploring the attic space to see what can be tossed Checking out the walking trails at local parks I haven’t been to yet/haven’t been to in a long time

I've got a few half-baked ideas about what to do for this challenge, and at some point this week I plan to come back and flesh them out. Last challenge I very much disappeared for a couple of weeks. And because I wasn't reporting here I wasn't tracking my goals properly. Not that I was hitting my goals very consistently anyway, but lack of tracking and lack of consistency definitely feed into each other. So, for week 0, I only have 2 goals: Check in here every day Run a marathon on Saturday Ok, so goal 2 was already a goal that I've had for quite a while, but it's a big milestone and I'm looking forward to it. That's enough for now, I'll formulate my goals for the rest of the challenge and come back to them later. * * * Edit after zero week: Actual goals! Well, having hit 100% of my goals (and run a bleeding marathon in the process), it's time to write this challenge up properly. Usually, I start with my road map for the year. And let's have a quick recap of how last challenge went too: So, with an over-complicated and ultimately not very successful challenge last time, I'm going to be sticking to 3 simple goals: The documancer: update here daily [+2 SAN] The face: brush my teeth, twice daily [+2 SAN] The muscle: track food, every day [+3 CON] The plan for the rest of this year is to lose some weight - maybe 10-15lbs - and to get as strong as possible whilst doing it. I'll be cutting running down to 3 days per week (starting in week 3), and focusing on speed and power rather than distance. And I'll be increasing crossfit to 4 days per week, and settling in to 2 days per week of bouldering. All of that made me think of a concept that @Wild Wolf used to talk about of being wolflean, which conjures up a great image that really matches the getting stronger and leaning out that I'm planning to do, and that ultimately lead me to my challenge title, hungry like the wolf. I'll probably be rambling about various other things in my updates too: How to manage my time with my (still relatively) new Wednesdays off work How to balance managing calories so that I'm losing weight but still not compromising performance too much Maybe sharing some drawings - it's still Inktober after all I'll be keeping my Duolingo streak going Trying to work out why I'm so bad at being on time for stuff, and/or why I procrastinate I have one more race this year, Nuclear Fallout, which is in a couple of weeks How my new running plan (starting after that race) and my workouts are going