Lil_Red_Devil Channels the inner Demon Monkey

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Hi folks,

 

I have been in and out of the NF community for several years.  Most recently, I hopped in to a challenge to shake me out of my lethargic state of self-loathing (see below), so if you want more details of how I reached this state of being and some of my ongoing battles, then feel free to check out my last challenge link.  It was difficult, but it definitely did the trick and I'm ready to move forward in my journey back toward being a full-fledged demon monkey.  Swinging through the trees with the greatest of ease is where I belong and where I am most happy, but winter weather in the UK means that there's only about half of the year that is suitable for climbing.  I'm also soft and cuddly at the moment, so I'm not in a fit state to be more than a few feet off the ground.  But, all journeys start with the first step, and with the cobwebs dusted off I'm ready to move forward.

 

 

I've chosen to start a daily battle log rather than keep up with the challenges as I find them a bit more stressful than is entirely healthy for me.  I want this to be more of a journal and reflection point for my progress, and if other folk want to follow along and contribute then Welcome!

 

 

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Here's a brief update of my current goals and activities, though these will likely change as my fitness improves:

 

1. Tracking my diet with My Fitness Pal - This will help me get back in touch with what I'm putting into my body and hopefully help with reducing my current levels of squidge

2. Walking in the footsteps of hobbits - I'm intrigued by the daily walking challenges I've seen about following the road to Mordor or the Lonely Mountain.  I'm starting with the latter of these, so I will be trailing after Bilbo and the dwarves to start building some basic fitness over the winter period.  My Garmin device will be tracking my steps and linking with My Fitness Pal, so hurray for technology!

3.  Attend at least 1 tango lesson each week - I love dancing, but haven't been partaking lately as my SO hates dancing.  But as I'm now a PhD student, I have access to all the student groups on campus, so I'm taking advantage of this and have joined the Argentine Tango Society.  They have lessons on Mondays and Thursdays, so with the exception of injury and illness, I will be pushing myself to go to at least one lesson each week and both when I have the time/spoons.

 

The biggest challenge will likely be to remember to log my progress here, but hopefully that habit will come with the walking if it is literally a brief update with mileage and calories.

 

[Hazard]

Subbing!

 

That poof ball puppy may be the poofiest poofball that ever has poofed.

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

6 minutes ago, Hazard said:

Subbing!

 

That poof ball puppy may be the poofiest poofball that ever has poofed.

 

 

I know right?

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Brief catch up from yesterday and today, along with starting data.

Weight = 162 lbs
Measurements = 38 - 32.5 - 40

This makes me a bit sad, because I have a long way to go to get my waist back under 30 inches, but everybody has to start somewhere.

Monday:

Distance = 3.44 miles
Calories = 1,449

Today:

Distance = 0 miles (raging headache)
Calories = 1,202

I'm currently legging it down the road trying to catch up with the party of dwarves, but developed a wicked stitch in my side, so I've paused to catch my breath.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Wednesday:

Distance = 4.56 miles
Calories = 1,632

I finally caught up with the dwarves at the Green Dragon in Bywater (thank goodness they stopped for a long breakfast), and I've now officially joined the company of Thorin Oakenshield. They've given me a pony to ride, which I'm not entirely sure is a good idea, but it's a bit late for cold feet now. We've reached the Great East Road and are heading away from the setting sun.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Thursday:

 

Calories = 2,120

Distance = 1.02 miles

 

Slowly trundling down the Great East Road, though my allergies to horse hair mean regular stops to blow my nose. Gutted I forgot my pocket handkerchief.

 

 

 

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Real life update: I had an appointment with a specialist surgeon on Thursday about my endometriosis, and he was very helpful in providing information about my options. I have elected to have the endometriosis removed and a full hysterectomy at the same time. This provides the greatest chance of preventing the problem from coming back, and as I have no desire to have children, it seemed pointless to put myself at greater risk to hold on to organs I wasn't otherwise going to use. There are, of course, other factors that went into the decision, but I'm sure no one wants to read the whole saga. I was, however, very glad to have a doctor allow me to make this decision without shouldering in the "But you might change your mind" argument, as if I were some silly girl who just wanted to get rid of her period.

To give my brain a break from adulting (I also had to deal with a plumber coming to the house to clear a blocked external drain) my SO took me out for dinner and then to see Thor: Ragnarok. I did well at dinner with a steak salad, but decided to allow myself a treat of salted popcorn at the movie. That pushed my calories up, but not terribly, so I'm OK with it. The movie was awesome!!

[Elastigirl]

Glad you found a doctor who was helpful. I hope that the surgery goes well, and that you no longer have to be in pain.

I'm excited to go see Thor:Ragnarok.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Glad you found a doctor who was helpful. I hope that the surgery goes well, and that you no longer have to be in pain.
I'm excited to go see Thor:Ragnarok.

Thanks hun [emoji4] The movie is hilarious; I was almost crying at one point I was laughing so hard!

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Weekend Round-up, because I'm just not that good at posting at weekends.

Friday:

Distance = 3.28 miles
Calories = 1,304

Saturday:

Distance = 1.95 miles
Calories = 1,497

Sunday:

Distance = 0
Calories = 1,451

We've made it passed the Three-Farthing Stone, and are well away from Hobbiton and Bagend. I miss my armchair.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Measurements Update:

 

Weight = 159 lbs

Inches = 38 - 32 - 39.5

 

Down 3 pounds and half an inch on 2 of my measurements. I know a lot of it will be water, but I'm still pleased.

 

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Monday:

My knee is better, so I made it to tango, hurray!

Distance = 4.5 miles
Calories = 1,271

Continuing slowly down the road. The dwarves complain about the regular stops, but meal times are sacred to us hobbits.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Tuesday:

Not sure, as we had a party to celebrate a colleague finishing their PhD viva (I did limit myself to 1 slice of cake and only half a glass of champagne). Also, my Halloween costume clashed with my Garmin and lacked a suitable pouch for my mobile phone, but hurray for chainmail [emoji3]

Sadly, most people in the UK do not seem to share my love of Halloween, but when you have the chance to wear your LARP kit in public without looking like the only weirdo on the street, you take it lol!

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Wednesday:

Quite proud of myself for doing well on a work night out for a gin masterclass. Did a lot of walking, though it was in a pair of heels so I now have a lovely matched set of blisters [emoji20]

Distance: 4.34 miles
Calories: 1,917

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Update: Hello folks!  Sorry for the week of radio silence, but Thursday was spent resting from the uber-blisters and Friday morning I got an email from my supervisor that started a total mental meltdown.  Then we had all-night fireworks for Guy Fawkes celebrations on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday which put me in charge of caring for 2 very stressed creatures (the cat and my SO) who were trying everything they could to hide from the possibility that our house was actually being shelled and would fall around their ears at any moment.  This delayed my mental recovery, but I'm finally back to feeling ok again.  

 

This doesn't mean I wasn't at least trying to stick to my goals, so here's what was happening behind the scenes:

 

Thursday - 

Distance: 2.1 miles (much ouch, but I did manage to go to tango since I could do that in my socks)

Calories: 1,842

 

Friday - 

 

 

 

Saturday -

Distance: Not sure, but went out for an hour long walk to try to clear my head, so probably around 3 miles

Calories: 1,545

 

Sunday -

Distance: 2.18 miles 

Calories: 1,648

 

Monday - 

Distance: 4.2 miles (made it to tango, hurray!)

Calories: 1,872

 

Tuesday - 

Distance: 3.37 miles (mostly spent walking around town trying to find dancing shoes)

Calories: 1,461

 

Wednesday - 

Distance: 0 (bumped up deadline = much work)

Calories: 2,354 (...and much stress eating)

 

Current measurements unchanged, but that's hardly surprising considering I've been eating at about maintenance levels.  To lose this pudge, I need to keep my calories around 1,200 - 1,500 per day

 

So, overall, not a great week but considering it involved a major mental meltdown for me and the most stressful event of the year for the rest of my household, it could have been a lot worse.

 

[Elastigirl]

Those blisters look sore! Lots of great walking in. You had a chainmail costume?! That is super cool. I think we need pictures.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Those blisters look sore! Lots of great walking in. You had a chainmail costume?! That is super cool. I think we need pictures.

Pictures will be coming once I'm on my laptop [emoji3]

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Time for the weekend round-up!

Thursday:
Distance = 4.22 miles
Calories = 2,036

A bit too much food, but lots of walking with some parallel bat work and box jumps

Friday:

Distance = approx. 2 miles (my Garmin died)
Calories = 1,620

Saturday:

Distance = none (spoon regeneration day)
Calories = 1,446

Sunday:

Distance = 0.25 miles (but was waging war on an ivy hedge in the garden)
Calories = 1,532

Overall, not too bad. I'll give an update on the party's location and my measurements when I get to my laptop.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Okie dokie, now that I am connected to something with a keyboard and my picture files, I can fill in a few of the blanks above.

 

First, Halloween armour!!  I also had a LARP sword on my belt, so that got a few looks

 

Second, the hair has undergone a bit of brightening and finally gotten long enough that I can tie it back.  Behold!!

 

And last but not least, my numbers update:

 

Weight = 157.5

Measurements = 37.5 - 31.5 - 39.5

 

Feeling chuffed about the weight and inches coming off in spite of the occasional stress eating, as it means that I'm doing well enough on my other days to compensate for the odd "whoops".

 

Total distance so far = 41.41 miles

 

We've had a slow time strolling down the Great East Road, and then Myrtle decided to throw a shoe.  We stayed at The Floating Log while the blacksmith saw to her, though the poor fellow looked quite flustered with 12 dwarves crammed cheek-to-jowl in his shop arguing over which nails to use.  But finally she was shod and we were on our way again, heading toward the Brandywine Bridge.

 

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Monday:

Distance = 4.78 miles
Calories = 1,459

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Tuesday:

Distance = 0.17 miles (did 45 minutes of yoga)
Calories = 1,523

We made it to the Bridge Inn, and decided to stay an extra day while Gandalf nursed a hangover.

[Hazard]

19 hours ago, Lil_Red_Devil said:

and decided to stay an extra day while Gandalf nursed a hangover.

 

 

[Lil_Red_Devil]

 

 

Hey, some people like the pain

In other news, Wednesday:

Distance = 2.43 miles
Calories = 1,295

Back in the saddle and heading on down the road. Today it was a belching contest, which I tried best to ignore but, with prodding from Ori, I managed a small squeak as my contribution.

[Lil_Red_Devil]

Thursday:

 

Distance = 1.76 miles (tango milonga as well)

Calories = 1,650

 

I made a friend!!! [emoji3]