suzyQlou, ranger for hire

[suzyQlou]

Life goal takes center stage for this challenge. 

 

Goal #1.  Exercise that brain.

I need to find a new job.  Ideally, I want to get back to more technical work, designing and programming computer systems.  So, I need to be smart.  And I need to be able to tell employers how smart I am.  To get credit for brain exercise, I will work 1-2 hours every week day on job search activities.

 

My background and degree are in math/computer science.  When I became a mom 12 years ago, I dropped my hours to part time.  I was fortunate to work from home, but I did less technical work.  Instead of writing my own code, I provided support.  I helped programmers and business folks understand each other.  I liked the flexibility of my job, but missed the challenges of solving problems and building things.

 

Part of me is looking at my severance package as a 32 week "vacation".  I will enjoy some me-time in the next few months.  I don't feel like I have to work 24/7 at finding a new job.  But, I do need to find one.  And it needs to be a good fit for me and my family.

 

Goal #2.  Anti-Stress Eating

Changing jobs is a life changing event.  I've been pretty stressed out.  Something I do when I'm stressed is eat.  Especially at night when I can't sleep.  This goal takes me back to an eating strategy that was helpful for me early in my NF journey.

 

When I journal my food for the day, I give myself a point for adhering to the suzyQlou healthy eating goals.  These are mostly focused on eating more fruits/veggies and on portion control.  I get a checkmark for each of the following items, and a point if everything is checked for the day.  1) Eating fruit with breakfast, 2) limiting morning snack to fruit/veggies, 3) eating reasonable portion for lunch, 4) including fruit/veggie with lunch, 5) limiting afternoon snack to fruit/veggies, 6) eating reasonable portion for dinner, 7) including salad/veggies with dinner, 8) limiting bedtime snack to fruit/veggies.

 

Another way for me to get a point is to bring home leftovers from a restaurant.  This worked well last challenge.

 

So, both kind of points will work towards earning the biking bling prizes that I started last challenge.  Five points earns me things like a new kickstand, bell, basket, ear warmers, etc. for my bike.

 

Goal #3.  Exercise

I will continue my exercise goals here, but am dropping the weekend workout.  It brought me guilt because I didn't actually fit one into my weekly routine.  Instead of trying to squeeze in a weekend workout every week, I will use it for extra credit.  If I miss a workout during the week, I can add one on the weekend for a perfect week.  Volleyball on Wednesday nights also counts as extra credit.  I love playing, but it has been hard to fit into my family schedule lately.

 

Cardio - MWF.  This is biking in nice weather, elliptical in bad weather.

Strength - Tues/Thurs.  This is bodyweight including pushups, dips, squats, lunges, and planks.

 

Extras

I'm also looking forward to this challenge's mini.  Not sure where Tank is taking us, but trust it will be to a good place!

[Salinger]

All sounds great Suzy, following along to cheer you on! I know you will do well. Good luck with it all x

[Terra]

I'm here and following!

 

[suzyQlou]

On 10/23/2017 at 2:02 PM, Salinger said:

All sounds great Suzy, following along to cheer you on! I know you will do well. Good luck with it all x

Thank you.  Wonderful to see you!

 

On 10/23/2017 at 2:10 PM, Terra said:

I'm here and following!

Great to see you.  I am totally relating to your challenge this time around.  We will ranger through!

 

My bike ride felt like I was floating on air.  I'm so happy with the tune up from the local bike shop.  It's funny that it took a challenge goal last month to get it done...but totally worth it!  I haven't managed to earn a healthy eating point yet...but I'm feeling good about today.  I'm off to a good start.  Job search is on track with a resume-writing webinar this morning.

 

[suzyQlou]

Overdid it a bit at volleyball, but NF Yoga Water B felt perfect.  I even made it up the stairs with a spring in my step that was missing earlier in the morning.

 

Feeling like I'm on a bit of a slippery slope.  Now that I'm not a runner anymore, I'm feeling less fit.  Wondering if I will ever be a jumper again at volleyball.  Playing ball with an old lady mindset is a lot different than it used to be.  I only hit the floor one time last night, and that was less of a dive and more of a recovery.  Maybe I'm just being melodramatic since my birthday is next week.  Maybe if I had better fitness progression goals instead of maintenance goals, I would have a better attitude.

[Terra]

I'm not sure how many candles will be on that cake, but age is just a number remember that!!!  

 

Is maintenance not a fitness goal?  You have a lot going on in your life right now and I would think that maintenance is a perfectly acceptable goal.  However, I understand that maintenance isn't a flashy goal and sometimes it isn't a very motivating goal.  But take stock of everything and ask yourself if it is enough...  If not change things up.  If it is enough for right now then embrace it and let the drama go...  You got this!!!  (And I'll even take my own advice to do the same!) 

[Salinger]

I agree with Terra, you are doing well Suzy, keep it up! Keep going, you are awesome. We love you!! x

[suzyQlou]

22 hours ago, Terra said:

I'm not sure how many candles will be on that cake, but age is just a number remember that!!!  

 

Is maintenance not a fitness goal?  You have a lot going on in your life right now and I would think that maintenance is a perfectly acceptable goal.  However, I understand that maintenance isn't a flashy goal and sometimes it isn't a very motivating goal.  But take stock of everything and ask yourself if it is enough...  If not change things up.  If it is enough for right now then embrace it and let the drama go...  You got this!!!  (And I'll even take my own advice to do the same!) 

You are right, of course!  Thank you for reminding me what I know...but sometimes forget.  Re-evaluate and embrace.  YES!  We will get it done!

 

22 hours ago, Salinger said:

I agree with Terra, you are doing well Suzy, keep it up! Keep going, you are awesome. We love you!! x

Thanks, Salinger.  Really needed some encouragement yesterday, and you made me smile.

 

Proud of myself for making it through trick or treat last night.  I had two pieces of candy...and that was enough.  I didn't even want more.  Had fun walking around the neighborhood with my 9 year old.  His older brother retired from trick or treat this year at age 12.  SuperBrainz is a lovely obscure video game hero from Plants vs Zombies, Garden Warfare 2.  I am reminded to enjoy the holiday while my kids are still kids!

 

 

 

[Elastigirl]

Yay for limiting your candy, and even bigger yay for realizing it was enough. Was this a pre- Halloween warm up?  My calendar says its not Halloween yet

[suzyQlou]

On 10/27/2017 at 10:30 PM, Elastigirl said:

Yay for limiting your candy, and even bigger yay for realizing it was enough. Was this a pre- Halloween warm up?  My calendar says its not Halloween yet

I think my part of the world is the only one who thinks it's a good idea to move the date of trick or treat.  A bunch of local townships/towns declare trick or treat night on the Thursday before Halloween.  It's silly.

 

Weekly roundup.

Unfortunately, it's a bit dismal last week according to my goals.  Guess that gives me room to do better next week!

 

Goal #1.  Exercise that brain.  Technically, I did work 1-2 hours a day on job search.  Honestly, most of it feels like busy work.  I rolled over my 401(k), did some financial planning for our family, attended two webinars by the career development company that my former employer hired for me, and started tweaking my resume to survive in 2017.  To make this goal better for this week, I'm defining specific things that need done by Friday:  1.  Finish polishing resume.  2.  Submit resume to the career development coach for feedback. and 3.  Update my Linked In profile with a better photo and connections to people at my former employer.

Goal #2.  Anti-Stress Eating.  This was a big fat zero.  I kept finding excuses to vary from my healthy eating plan.  Sure, one or two were valid variances (Thanks, Tank!  for that word).  I do not regret eating roasted pumpkin seeds when we carved jack o'lanterns or the two small pieces of trick or treat candy.  Other days I made flimsy excuses that I do regret.

Goal #3.  Exercise.  This was on track thanks to extra credit.  The volleyball night combined with yoga cover one day of strength training that I didn't feel up to.  Going forward, I am adding 10 minutes of stretching a day to this exercise goal.  My knees feel miserable, and I need to do something to help them every day.

Extras.  Mini challenge is going well.  I feel really good about burning up anger and resentment.  I even sent a humble email this morning to someone who was on my list.  It feels good to let go.

 

[suzyQlou]

Just emailed off my first job application.  Had to celebrate somewhere, so here I am!

 

 

 

[Salinger]

34 minutes ago, suzyQlou said:

Just emailed off my first job application.  Had to celebrate somewhere, so here I am!

 

 

 

 

 

YEAH GO SUZY!!!!!!!!

 

 

[Elastigirl]

1 hour ago, suzyQlou said:

Just emailed off my first job application.  Had to celebrate somewhere, so here I am!

 

 

 

Woot!

[suzyQlou]

Weekly wrap-up for me is more like a double-dose.  Guess I missed last week.  And lots of other days in between.  It is hard for me to come out here when I'm doing poorly.  I feel better gloating about successes when I'm actually meeting challenge goals.

 

So, I guess a good thing I can say is that YES, I did recognize that this would be a stressful time for me.  And YES, I did recognize that I eat when I'm stressed.  Unfortunately, I've been doing very little to stop that.  Over the past few weeks, I've gained eight pounds and stopped exercising.

 

BUT I'm going with new beginnings.  I have at least re-claimed my morning exercise time.  I did yoga Thursday and Friday mornings...will do one more session this afternoon.  This is key to me because I'm having issues with my knees (ha!  that's nothing new) and I need to be able to move to feel like I can get my health back on track.

 

Happily, the job search has some positives.  I got a call for an interview next Monday for that one application that I submitted.  Miraculously, there is an opening for a part time Youth Services Coordinator at my local library.  This is something I've always felt called to do.  I have spent countless hours at this library with my own children and would love to help make it a welcoming place to all kids.  This would be a career change, and less money than programming in the corporate world.  BUT it would keep me on a flexible schedule with my family, and I would love it.  It is funny that I met the qualifications - my degree in education was a LONG time ago, but volunteer work teaching preschoolers at church and a leadership position with the cub scouts filled out my resume.  Gotta keep the positive thinking flowing!

 

And since I'm staying positive, here's a happy picture of fall in my garden.

 

[Elastigirl]

Yay, garden pictures! Great job at  re-claiming morning exercise. That sounds like a cool job. Hope it works out for you.

[Terra]

That opportunity sounds wonderful.  Keeping you in my thoughts as you prepare and go to your interview next monday!  

[Salinger]

Great news about the job opportunity, i will keep my fingers crossed for you! ANd YAY garden photos!!! x

[suzyQlou]

Challenge wrap up is overdue...so here it is

 

Goal #1.  Exercise that brain. YES I have been working hard on job searching.  Yesterday was my first interview for a position as a children's librarian.  I learned that I need to practice answering interview questions!!!  I can't tell how well the interview went.  My tendency is to focus on the things I should have done better, but I did have a few good answers.  My 10 minute mock story time was a lot of fun, so hopefully the interviewers got a better sense of my personality and skills though that exercise.  I will update paperwork today, and then take off the rest of the week for the holiday.  I will be especially gleeful on Friday since my old employer had just taken that holiday away from its associates...and I don't have to work it!

 

Goal #2.  Anti-Stress Eating.  Well, I have four points for the challenge which averages out to one a week.  Lots of room for improvement...especially making good choices over the holidays.

 

Goal #3.  Exercise.  Yoga helped last week, and this week I'm back on track with a Monday morning bike ride.  It is hard for my knees to bend on the bike.  I took the easier route with fewer hills, and made it back home in one piece.  Progress!

 

I've got some ideas for the next challenge including finding a volleyball replacement until/if my knees recover.