Severine's Ranger Debut

[Severine]

I'm Severine and this is my first challenge with the rangers. I was in the rebel guild for a long time and finally decided it's time I branched out a little. One of the reasons I stayed so long with the rebels was my difficulty in choosing a guild. I like bodyweight training and rock climbing, I like walking and hiking and exploring, I like barbell-based strength training and aspire to do more of it, and one of my goals is to condition for running and do a 5K sometime soon. Oh and I am doing a lot of work on mindset stuff and just recently started meditating. Plus I just got sucked into OCR stuff by @Sylvaa and @NeverThatBored and @fleaball...so a little bit of almost everything. Eventually I decided that if my problem was my inability to choose between a million different things, there is a decent chance I belong with the rangers. It helped that @Tanktimus the Encourager sweeps periodically through the forums, proclaiming the supreme friendliness and general excellence of his home guild to anyone who will listen

 

I'm in an interesting transition period of my life right now. This past winter, I shut down my small farm and since then I have been teaching ESL at a local community centre, trying to figure out what comes next for me. I was in farming for ~6 years and in law before that, but for various reasons neither of those professions feel like the right place for me right now. I do enjoy teaching ESL but am not completely sure if that's where I want to stay indefinitely. One thing I do know is that I really enjoyed running my own business, and am currently leaning toward starting starting my own little company, whether it be ESL tutoring or one of the other ideas I have. 

 

Transition times can be a great chance to establish new habits and re-evaluate priorities, so this is a great opportunity. However, times of unrest where I don't have a firm routine are also the times I am, historically, most likely to go off the rails and relapse into really unhealthy old patterns. So I want to be vigilant and make sure this is a time of progressive unrest rather than regressive. I struggle with anxiety, binge/disordered eating, and insomnia, and these are all things that are easier to manage if I have a solid foundation of healthy behaviour and self-care, so there's a lot of incentive.

 

Food is my biggest health challenge, both recently and throughout my entire life since I was a preteen. Heh. It's funny: that sentence is a bizarrely sanitary way to represent decades of tears and self-loathing and denial and dysfunction and food-based self harm. I don't want to go into the whole story but I feel like I need to signal it's there, underneath everything. Anyway. This challenge I'm going to focus pretty heavily on food and try some brave/scary new things in that area, as well as work to solidify and improve exercise and mental health habits for a well-rounded approach. My hope is that this challenge will get me on an even keel and prepare me to start some more ambitious training for the October challenge, so that I'm less unready when the Spartan Sprint rolls around in November.

 

THE GOALS!

 

FOOD

• Bright line ban on foods that I have repeatedly shown I cannot handle in moderation:
  • Chocolate, ice cream, fast food of any kind, soda of any kind including calorie-free
  • Note, this is the scary/hard part. But I also have good reason to think it's the right approach - I did this once before just with chocolate and it was shocking to me how much easier it was to cut it out than to try to moderate it. I felt awesome. So going to bring it back and expand it to all my binge trigger foods.
• No caffeine after noon
• Food tracking every day
• Minimum three servings of freggies a day
• Calorie deficit when averaged over the week

 

ACTIVITY

• Exercise for at least thirty minutes every day. Most days my basic exercise is a 30-minute walk in the morning.
• In addition, once per week find an interesting bit of nature to go walk around in for at least 45 minutes. This good for me both physically and mentally. The Japanese call it 'forest bathing'. Autumn is my favourite season so this is a delightful time to do this.
• Start the Elements training program from GMB and do a minimum of three sessions per week.

 

MINDSET AND LIFE

• Meditate using the Headspace app every day (preferably earlier in the day but not required)
• Update my Hobonichi
• Do at least one thing from my giant to-do list every day
• Spend at least ten minutes a day on foreign language learning
• Go to bed by 11:30
• Go to therapy every week

 

So there we have it. These goals represent a good picture of what balance looks like for me and if I can get all of these habits as a default mode of living it will be a powerful platform from which to launch myself into a dazzling array of ambitious and exciting new projects and adventures.

[fleaball]

2 minutes ago, Severine said:

Plus I just got sucked into OCR stuff by @Sylvaa and @NeverThatBored and @fleaball

Everything is entirely Sylvaa's fault and I will have no part of this blame, thank you.

[NeverThatBored]

1 minute ago, fleaball said:

Everything is entirely Sylvaa's fault and I will have no part of this blame, thank you.

 

^ Seconded. But while it's definitely her fault, I also think you're gonna have a great time!

[Plazmotic]

Following!! And I hear ya on being sucked into OCR stuff.

[NeverThatBored]

1 minute ago, Plazmotic said:

Following!! And I hear ya on being sucked into OCR stuff.

 

Remind me where you live again? Can we recruit you to join us for one of our races?

 

[Plazmotic]

4 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

Remind me where you live again? Can we recruit you to join us for one of our races?

 

Probably not... I'm in Toronto aka the 6ix *insert maple syrup and Drake jokes*

[zeroh13]

Following!

[Severine]

2 hours ago, Plazmotic said:

Probably not... I'm in Toronto aka the 6ix *insert maple syrup and Drake jokes*

 

Well, you asked....

 

 

Since I am also from Toronto, I have access to the secret stash of Drake/maple syrup gifs. They threatened to revoke my access when I moved to Boston but I was able to negotiate.

 

Also: I like your new avatar! Spaaaaaace.

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Welcome to the Ranger Corps! Don't forget you can change the guild badge under your avatar by editing your class in your profile.  

[Severine]

20 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Welcome to the Ranger Corps! Don't forget you can change the guild badge under your avatar by editing your class in your profile.  

 

Ooooh thanks, I had totally forgotten about that.

[durfette]

Hi Severine! 

 

Remember me? I was active on the forums about a year ago and loved following your threads! I'm back and I'm so happy to see you here too! And in the Ranger Forum! You brave lass. I'll be following along even though... I'm start back at newbie level and you're -gasp- like an established guild member now. And now "freggie" is a thing on the forums, which I assume is fruits / veggies? I feel like an old person trying to figure out Facebook. 

 

Anyway, you are in a different phase of life than you were a year ago! Last I read, you had been working like crazy 20 hour days on a farm with a crummy coworker and craziness. Now it still seems like you've got some hectic things in your life, but a very different sort of hectic. You're like a swiss army knife with all your skills and abilities and passions! Law, agriculture, now ESL. I am amazed by you! 

 

What is OCR? 

 

I hadn't heard of the Elements program until I jumped on the boards and there are a lot of users trying it out! Have you already tried the workouts? Do you like them? Is it worth the $75?

 

I think your goals are great and brave and you're going to dominate them! Your "bright line" ban on foods you know you have issues with. It's also scary and sounds hard. >_< And "forest bathing" is my new favorite thing. I love that there's a word for that. 

 

See you around, friend! I'm gonna slink back to the Rebel forums.

[Severine]

16 minutes ago, durfette said:

Hi Severine! 

 

Remember me? I was active on the forums about a year ago and loved following your threads! I'm back and I'm so happy to see you here too! And in the Ranger Forum! You brave lass. I'll be following along even though... I'm start back at newbie level and you're -gasp- like an established guild member now. And now "freggie" is a thing on the forums, which I assume is fruits / veggies? I feel like an old person trying to figure out Facebook. 

 

Anyway, you are in a different phase of life than you were a year ago! Last I read, you had been working like crazy 20 hour days on a farm with a crummy coworker and craziness. Now it still seems like you've got some hectic things in your life, but a very different sort of hectic. You're like a swiss army knife with all your skills and abilities and passions! Law, agriculture, now ESL. I am amazed by you! 

 

What is OCR? 

 

I hadn't heard of the Elements program until I jumped on the boards and there are a lot of users trying it out! Have you already tried the workouts? Do you like them? Is it worth the $75?

 

I think your goals are great and brave and you're going to dominate them! Your "bright line" ban on foods you know you have issues with. It's also scary and sounds hard. >_< And "forest bathing" is my new favorite thing. I love that there's a word for that. 

 

See you around, friend! I'm gonna slink back to the Rebel forums.

 

DURFETTE!! It's so good to have you back! Welcome! I wondered what happened to you. I can't wait to find your thread and figure out what you've been up to. 

 

Don't be at all fooled by my foray over into ranger-land...I am still the same bumbling Severine, in many ways working on all the same stuff as last year, but in a new context. I've learned a lot this year but made a lot less tangible progress on health/fitness stuff than I would have liked. Just trying to remind myself that if I needed to spend the time learning that stuff before I could progress, that's just the way it is and I should consider the time well spent.

 

OCR is obstacle course racing, like the Spartan races and the Warrior Dashes and such. The people I mentioned have run a few (with Sylvaa as the arch-organizer and CEO of roping people into fun things) and I am gearing up for my first. Terrified but excited. Oh and yes freggie is a term I stole from...I can't even remember who, but someone on NF. A nice way of saying any sort of produce   I have a thing for portmanteaus. 

 

I discovered Elements on the NF boards too. From what I've seen of the materials, and the feedback I've heard from people on here who have done it or are doing it, I think it's fair to say it's worth the $75. I was drawn to it because of its focus on fluidity and ease of movement - building up strength and coordination and flexibility in ways that make your body more usable and less prone to injury. Since I have a lot of unbalanced muscle development and various lingering injuries from my time farming, it seemed like a really good fit. I'll definitely post more once I get started.

 

The bright line ban on the foods is due to literally decades of trying and failing to moderate trigger foods. I've talked about it a bit in past challenges (when I did my no chocolate challenge) and I'm sure some of those issues will come up during this challenge, so I'll leave the details until then. 

 

And yeah, it's been a year of change. I miss the farm but shutting it down was the right decision, though sad. A long story. Excited for new challenges, though  

 

So great that you're back! Totally made my evening

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 hour ago, Severine said:

 

Ooooh thanks, I had totally forgotten about that.

And have you looked lately between the avatar and the username?

[Dagger]

Here and following, of course!

 

Elements... right, that thing I've only done the assessment for yet... oops...

[Sylvaa]

14 hours ago, fleaball said:

Everything is entirely Sylvaa's fault and I will have no part of this blame, thank you.

 

14 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

^ Seconded. But while it's definitely her fault, I also think you're gonna have a great time!

 

I would like to remind you all of my title again. Just saying. Did I inform you guys that the hubby and I are definitely coming up for a long weekend for the Spartan? (Also, Boston is only a 1 hr 45 min flight from Toronto).

[Wild Wolf]

I'm loving the energy here! The OCR bug is a real deal and once it bites, it's pretty infectious  I ran my first one back in 2015 and had a blast! I've even had the pleasure to accompany @Tanktimus the Encourager for his first OCR experience when we ran a Warrior Dash back in March of 2016! Exciting times and I'm excited to follow your progress. Welcome to the Rangers Corp!  

 

 

Wolf

[NeverThatBored]

5 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

Also, Boston is only a 1 hr 45 min flight from Toronto).

 

I was waiting for that! I half expected you to come back with info about a race halfway between Toronto and us and try to recruit everyone.

[zeroh13]

46 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

I was waiting for that! I half expected you to come back with info about a race halfway between Toronto and us and try to recruit everyone.

Like this one?

 

http://www.mudrunguide.com/event/upstate-new-york-spartan-race-spartan-winter-sprint-2018/

[Sylvaa]

2 minutes ago, zeroh13 said:

Like this one?

 

http://www.mudrunguide.com/event/upstate-new-york-spartan-race-spartan-winter-sprint-2018/

 

Nope. 

[NeverThatBored]

28 minutes ago, zeroh13 said:

Like this one?

 

http://www.mudrunguide.com/event/upstate-new-york-spartan-race-spartan-winter-sprint-2018/

 

25 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

 

Nope. 

 

Sylvaa and I did the winter sprint earlier this year and it was terrible. It involved a lot of sliding down rocky, icy hills on your butt and it was about -12 degrees out with windchill. Never again. 

[zeroh13]

29 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

 

Nope. 

 

4 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

Sylvaa and I did the winter sprint earlier this year and it was terrible. It involved a lot of sliding down rocky, icy hills on your butt and it was about -12 degrees out with windchill. Never again. 

You mean it's not supposed to be completely miserable?

[jonfirestar]

Woo another OCR challenge! Welcome onto the Rangers I hope we can live up to the reputation

[Severine]

10 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

And have you looked lately between the avatar and the username?

 

Hah! So it WAS you. I actually just noticed yesterday. Very devious to do it with no announcement or fanfare

 

For my first official act as Badge Distribution Engineer, I award you the Stealthy Distributor of Encouraging Nicknames badge.

[Elastigirl]

4 hours ago, Severine said:

 

Hah! So it WAS you. I actually just noticed yesterday. Very devious to do it with no announcement or fanfare

 

For my first official act as Badge Distribution Engineer, I award you the Stealthy Distributor of Encouraging Nicknames badge.

I think part of the reason he does it , is to sit back silently and see how long it takes people to notice.

[Elastigirl]

Also, I  thought I typed this in too, but somehow it got eaten up; Welcome to the Rangers!

Elements is great. I'm on week 5. We are doing an accountabilibuddy group for it. I have one for August, as soon as I post the September one, I will tag you.

Are you a member of the GMB posse? I ask because a person just joined who used to be a farmer, but now was doing something else, so I thought that could be you.

 

Edit: Found you over at GMB and posted on your intro thread there too.