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Okay, okay, so "bang" is probably overstating it, but I wanted to be positive! I've been so complain-y lately, this sounded better hahaha. My 2 week winter break was desperately needed and I'm so thankful for it - honestly, I think the entire first week or so was legitimately just recovering from fall semester. I slept, ate, and existed as a lump for multiple days on end because that was all I had the mental and physical capacity for. But by the end, I was starting to exist as an actual human being again...just in time to go back to work! Yay! I still have about a week until my new grad school semester starts though, and this one should, theoretically, be better than the last one (though I still have at least 4 and a half sections of my thesis to write by the end of April...ugh) so I'm hoping to pick things up a bit more and really get some balls rolling for 2022. But I have a few too many things to do (ah, ranger brain...) so I'm going to try a 4-pronged challenge this time: Quest One: Get Moving So one of my major goals is going to be getting ready to start an archery team (or at least club) in August. One thing I very much want to do before that can happen is increase my draw weight at least slightly. I also need to just get my body going a bit in general! So my goal is going to be 5 workouts, theoretically one a week - admittedly a big jump from my last challenge but I think I can do it. Also I'm going with "can be short and small but needs to be an actual designated workout" as my definition this time, so no more "well I ran around with my kid a lot, that can count". Examples of things I might count include but of course are not limited to: -a yoga video -at least one set of dumbbell things I've been doing to help my draw weight (I think they're called tricep rows? I probably should learn that) -a walk or run -an actual shooting practice (though let's be honest, I'm a complete wuss about the cold, so this probably won't happen until at least the spring unless we get an unseasonable warm snap) Quest Two: Eat Better I'm still struggling to gain weight, though I have my GI appointment at the end of this month and hopefully that'll give us some more possibilities! But I also need to improve my nutrition anyway, because it's been pretty bad. I signed up for a weekly cooking challenge - basically, they give you a theme or inspiration every Saturday, and your job is to try to cook something that week to match that theme or inspiration. One meal a week shouldn't be too bad, and I really do miss cooking. Plus I'm making it even more complicated and saying that my challenge meal every week must include at least one "high priority" ingredient: -chicken, cheese, or potatoes (to slow down my guts and help me gain weight) -any red meat or spinach (for the high iron content because I'm becoming anemic again) -any "unusual" vegetable (not necessarily actually unusual, but at least unusual in our kitchen) Quest Three: Get the House Together I'm meaning this to be both literal (as in, our actual house) and a bit metaphorical (like, the semi-external structure around the family). It's not a perfect category, but I'm trying to differentiate this from my personal life goals below. We're hoping to move sometime between this summer and summer 2024 (preferably before fall 2023 but we'll see if that happens!) but our current house needs a lot of help before it can be shown. Also I'm sticking family-type goals in here. But I'm going to do this checklist style: I made a list of stuff I want to get done this year, and all the things below are the next "milestones" in getting those things done, so I think that will make more sense than focusing on frequency like my first two quests. 1. decluttering: clear out one bag of clothes I don't want anymore as well as clearing/putting away EVERYTHING on or under the sidetable in the playroom, including the sidetable itself since we probably don't want it anymore 2. start a 529 for my kid 3. institute Spanish time at dinner - likely starting at just 5 or 10 minutes, but holy bajesus my kid needs the input and practice. I will count this as "complete" if we do it for at least 14 days, since we've been trying to get this started for like two years now and haven't kicked ourselves enough in the butt to make it happen despite the fact my husband and I are both proficient speakers 4. complete at least through row 12 on my son's quilt - currently about halfway through row #9 Quest Four: Personal Life Goals This is my category for non-health related personal goals! It's also going to be checklist style, but it's much shorter: 1. read a book. Any book that is not related to grad school counts. Preferably two books, which should be do-able since I'm a super fast reader, but let's start small and go from there. Starting in English because the local library does a winter reading challenge where you can win a coffee mug if you read 5 books before March 15th and I collect coffee mugs, so I really want to win one, but I read much faster in English than any of my other languages. 2. use at least 3 "new" nail polishes. I have a stash of polishes that I have bought and never used, and I'm trying to make sure I use each one of them at least once. These can be manicures or pedicures and might even include using more than one color at a time - as long as I can move 3 bottles to my "I've used this at least once" cabinet, it counts. 3. I'm also trying to use up my makeup items since that pile was starting to grow bigger than I needed. Starting with eyeshadow, because I have a ton of it and lipstick still really isn't a thing with my mask. I'm going to wear eyeshadow at least 16 out of 24 work days (so 2/3 of days, counting from my return to work yesterday) 4. of course work on my thesis! Am I cheating by putting this here? I kinda think so, yeah. But oh well, if it helps get me motivated, it's a challenge goal now too! Let's see, by February 5th I need to have finished section 4 for sure(the one I'm on now) and let's go with...be halfway through section 5. Is this challenge arguably way too big and I've gone right back to biting off more than I can chew? Maybe! I really did try to make each one not too big so it'd stay as reasonable as possible, and a few of them I've already started since I had these goals in mind before I got around to typing this up (to be laid out in the next post)...so...never say never, right?

Hello and welcome to the 5th challenge~ Main Goals 1. Turn on the light when the alarm goes off - X/5 If you've been following my old challenges, I've been trying to make time to exercise everyday while also working on professional goals. That led me to trying to wake up at 5am with very little motivation (even ANTI motivation - running....). I'm still attempting to become a morning person, but I'm going to approach this EVEN MORE SIMPLY than I previously thought possible. So all I have to do is turn on the light. It's like a FOOT away from my arm when I wake up. That's it. That's all I'm asking! If THIS doesn't work out, I'll try a different strategy every week to wake up when the alarm goes off until one proves effective. But going through the effort, even if unsuccessful, counts towards this goal. 2. Floss every day - X/7 Again, this will make a regular appearance until it becomes second nature. 3. Finish grad school applications - 0% or 100% I'm applying for Fall 2017 matriculation, so I want to have my graduate school applications FINISHED by December. I'm applying to 3 schools, and I'm ready to make this a concerted effort to get 'em done. What I mean by "finish" is that all my materials are in (or out of my hands, as in recommendation letters) and I have solid drafts for all of the the written portions (personal statements, CVs) that would just need polishing up before submitting the complete package! Bonus Goals (+ 1% each time) Read a page of a book before bed (1% per night) *Exercise (1% per workout) *Work on research (1% per session) This challenge is finally featuring some LOOT! 100% (High) - Running Jacket; there's a jacket I've been eyeing but it's like, $50.... doing well on this challenge will justify the purchase. 80% (Med) - 2 pairs of tights ($16 each) OR Amazon gift card $20-$40 50% (Low) - $15 iTunes GC or 1 pair of tights <50% (Consolation) - $1 per % earned by a goal with a star. These are important to me to try to do consistently, so even if I don't reach my main goals, if I work on these, I still want to congratulate myself for keeping up that effort. LET'S DO THIS!

16-week Summer Strength Program (Challenge 1) I have decided that I will spend my extra time with unemployment regaining the strength I had before I started working and going to graduate school at the same time. Before this I had been lifting for a year and felt great. Changes will be made as I go and as I get a new job hopefully in the process. I am still going through graduate school so I will give myself 1 to 2 hours in the morning going to the at gym at my school. I will also be taking yoga and core strength classes to work on other important areas. The rest of the day I spend in the lab doing stem cell/cancer research. My schedule forces me to start the program on Fridays. However, due to my current schedule, I will be starting on Sunday (5/15). Main Goal Lose 30 lbs over the summer Regain the energy to juggle Graduate school and a full-time job at the same time Smart Goals Start Strength Training and Yoga Classes Go on jogs/walks through my local nature park Get a new job to be financially stable Pass MB Certification (So that I can get the job I truly want) Drink more water (85 oz/day) Workout Schedule Friday: Strength Day 1 - Squat: 3x12 - Press: 3x12 - Assistance: Chin-ups 3x?? -Yoga Class 1 hr Saturday: Rest - Core Workout Class 1 hour -Jog/Walk in the evening (weather permitting) Sunday: Strength Day 2 - Deadlift: 3x5 - Bench Press: 3x12 - Assistance: Chin-ups 3x?? - Jog/Walk in the evening (Weather permitting) Monday: Rest Tuesday: Strength Day 3 - Squat: 3x12 - Row: 3x12 - Assistance: Push-ups 3x?? (Graduate to Dips once I reach the ability to do 15 push-ups per set) Wednesday: Rest - Yoga Class 1 hr Thursday: Rest - Cycle (Spin) Class 1 hr Level 1 Rebel Challenge: 5/15 - 6/12 Diet: Substitute one sugary coffee drink per day for black coffee or tea. I already just use cream for my coffee but the cream my parents buy has flavoring/sugar already in it, therefore I will be starting black coffee. Drink at least 85 oz (3 refills of my water bottle) of water per day. Fitness: Start Strength Training program (link below) Level Up My Life Bring lunch and dinner from home 6 days a week for as long as I am unemployed. Can anyone help me figure out the best challenge to fit into this schedule? I hope I can find the motivation and support I need through this community.

Check out my current challenge here! And start reading about progress for that challenge here on my log! This is just a place for me to log my progress and for you all to come chat with me and keep me accountable! Also, I will post neat crossplay, cosplay, and fitness things I find or generate here. So, this is the start! Hi. I'm Dandy. I crossplay, I'm trying to get more fit, and I'm trying to get my degree in library science! I'm pretty friendly. I cycle a lot, I like doing strength training too! My idol is Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan and he is my fitness inspiration! Let's talk and keep tabs of my battle record here!