Robotic Awkwardness

[Fluffy]

So I haven't posted a challenge in a long time.  I've kept up on almost all of my goals but had life things get in the way of internet time.  I'm finding myself in need of some motivation, so here I am.

This challenge is taking into account my bilateral elbow injuries (I look a bit robotic walking now keeping my elbows straight all the time!)  My co-workers found my re-creation of me on a treadmill hilarious.

Here are my basic goals:

• Wear bilateral elbow splints every night for the next four weeks no matter how good I feel or don't want to
• Start no-hand Yoga/very gentle yoga (Yoga has been my main exercise for several years now - being unable to bear weight or bend my elbows has given me almost 3 weeks off)
• Drink that water every day (helps prevent my migraines)
• Exercise 3x/week (have been off-ish because of injury)
• See the horse 2 times a week (literally just show up - you can do it!)
• Make final decision on Graduate program by the end of the challenge
• Do one kind thing for myself a day

 

That's my start - it addresses my stress, my lack of exercise/injury, prevention, and life.

Looking for any exercises/activities that don't involve arms (making me more robotic) and general "you can do-it-ness" if you'd to comment.

 

 

[Iceburner]

Coming back from an injury can be hard, but it looks like you made a good plan to get your workout going anyway. Just rock this challenge! Good luck!  

[Bookish Badger]

Welcome back! I'm sorry to hear about your injuries. It looks like you've got a solid plan for recovery.

 

Following!

[Fluffy]

Ahhhhhh - Badger!  Hi!!! (Waves excitedly)

So far I am wearing the splints nightly and will be ordering a second splint that is better than then one I’m using.

I did one morning of no hands Yoga (too much elbow bending) and one morning of gentle yoga (not much of a workout)

The plan is for gentle yoga again tomorrow evening, which would also be the third workout this week.

I did a field check on the horse this morning - she wanted to know why I was interrupting her breakfast.

I think I’m hitting  the kind things - it’s weird to be unsure.

I did good on water until today where I replaced water with sugar.....ugh!

 

still waiting on final financial info on grad school.

 

[Owlet]

Fluffy! Welcome back! Good luck with the challenge  

 

On 15/02/2018 at 9:12 AM, Fluffy said:

 

I did a field check on the horse this morning - she wanted to know why I was interrupting her breakfast.

XD

[Fluffy]

Hi Owlet!!!  Yay!

Okay, here's my first week update.  (I got all stressed earlier this week after starting to post an update - that was Thursday...so 3 stressed out days - boooooo)

I did get the second splint for night time, so I now wear two proper elbow immobilizers to bed - this results in me falling asleep for about 3 hours before waking up multiple times because I'm fighting with the braces.  I slept in this morning to make up for that!  I'm so used to sleeping with my arms completely bent in half and smooshed up under me, which puts a ton of pressure on the area where the ulnar nerve sits - this is one the reasons my arm is so bad.  So now my arms feel much, much better during the day but I'm still struggling to find a comfy way to sleep.  Goal 1 - 100%

I did one day of no hands Yoga and one day of gentle yoga as previously reported - I also did our "mostly-gentle" yoga on Thursday evening - turns out my arm probably wasn't quite ready for that, even though I skipped all the postures that included any type of elbow bend, I did some high planks.  Arm was pretty sore on Friday and still doesn't feel back to where it was before the class.  Goals 2 & 4 100%

Drank all my water - well, it was close one day.  Probably less than I should have drank in total.  Goal 3 86%

 

Saw the horse once - the morning I interrupted her breakfast.  Could not get my butt to leave the house Fri (work at home day) or Sat.  It was the stress of course, but the reason I made it a goal for the challenge, is because this is what I do when I get stressed, tired, etc.  I hole up at home and justify - meh, I saw her 2 days ago she's fine, it's not like I can do anything with her anyway because of how bad my arm is, what if I injure myself worse, I'm soooo comfy right now - don't I deserve to just relax - and on and on.  Goal 5 50%

 

So onto Grad school.  I have a new job, it is a requirement that I get another degree (a doctorate) in order to keep the job.  After much back and forth, it looks like I am starting classes Feb 26th.  I will know more Tuesday when I officially get signed up, but it looks like I'm starting down that road.  Grad school while working FT - frankly it's scaring me a little (maybe a lot).  I know I did it before (got my Master's while working FT as a department director) but I was almost 20 years younger!  I'm trying not to freak out and wait until Tuesday when I think everything will be official to see what I'm up against. 

 

 

 

 

[shy]

Hi Fluffy! Nice to meet ya!

 

 

I'm sorry about your "bilateral elbow injuries." Wow. What the heck happened?? I know, first hand, recovering from injuries is so joke. Wishing you the best of luck!!

I'm also curious about your horse. Don't suppose you'd tell a noob like me a little horsey backstory?  

 

[Fluffy]

@shy Yup!  I do have a horse.  It’s hard to find fellow equestrians on NF.  I have Appendix QH mare who will be 14 this Spring and insists she needs to be retired because it’s hard work standing in a field  all day and bossing other horses around!  She is getting the winter off due to the bad weather and my body being a mess.  I did a few weeks back and she did great, so I’m not worried about her training.

love the giraffe hello!

My injuries are due to bad genetics and overdoing some exercises AND poor sleep posture.  It’s bilateral ulnar nerve entrapment, but way worse on the left.

its already better, but I really need to build back slow.

[Fluffy]

Week 2 update:  Is it week two already?

• Wear bilateral elbow splints every night - DONE
• Start no-hand Yoga/very gentle yoga  - YUP
• Drink that water every day (helps prevent my migraines) - Little light 2 days
• Exercise 3x/week - COMPLETED
• See the horse 2 times a week - Tues/Sat
• Make final decision on Graduate program by the end of the challenge - Classes Start March 5th
• Do one kind thing for myself a day - doing this

 

Still sleeping with both splints, that's probably the easiest one on here.  Did light yoga 3x/week along with some stretches.  I need to add in rehab exercises now.

Saw the horse twice!  Stopped by early one day and for a couple hours on Sat.  She was very unimpressed with me trying to de-mudify her on Sat.   She was bratty but somehow still talked me into giving her extra peppermints!

 

Grad school.  I am enrolled in two classes that start March 5th.  Good news, this is an online program.  Scary news - how the hell am I going to do this?????  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  Ok, ok, sorry.  Anyway, I'm enrolled, books are on their way and I have mapped out all the due dates from both syllabi.

 

Kind things - I'm not beating myself up as much for small things - like not quite reaching the water goal.  Taking a little more time for myself that is not "escaping", which I'm happy about.

So all in all a good week!  It has been a very productive weekend so far with work, paying bills and finishing taxes!  I know how to live it up!!

[Fluffy]

And hubby and I got sick.  That's going to set us back on working out.  Super tired. zzzzzzz

[Fluffy]

Week 3 update: 

• Wear bilateral elbow splints every night - DONE
• Start no-hand Yoga/very gentle yoga  - did a little
• Drink that water every day (helps prevent my migraines) - Little light 2 days
• Exercise 3x/week - managed 2 light workouts due to a cold
• See the horse 2 times a week - ZERO
• Make final decision on Graduate program by the end of the challenge - Classes Start March 5th
• Do one kind thing for myself a day - trying

So a cold invaded the house.  I managed 2 light workouts and went to work every day, which exhausted me.  I did not see the horse at all due having all my energy sucked right out of me.  The decline in workouts and not seeing the pony led to decreased kind things but I am trying not to beat myself up.

Also stressed about this grad school thing.  My new job is taking up a lot of my time and I'm still learning a lot there.  I'm feeling overwhelmed, BUT that's why I set this challenge up the way I did - soooooooooooo, had a tough week 3 but hoping for a rebound in week 4.

[zeroh13]

You got a decent amount of stuff done despite the cold.

 

I find that when I feel overwhelmed with tasks (and studying back when I was in school), it helps to break everything down into little steps, and just follow the steps without looking at everything that needs to get done. (And then pick times to revisit and change your steps, like every morning or every evening or every Sunday, etc.)

 

Good luck with your classes tomorrow! 

[Fluffy]

Week 4 update: (a little late)

• Wear bilateral elbow splints every night - DONE
• Start no-hand Yoga/very gentle yoga  - YES
• Drink that water every day (helps prevent my migraines) - Got them all in week 4, light this week
• Exercise 3x/week - YES
• See the horse 2 times a week - YES
• Make final decision on Graduate program by the end of the challenge - Classes Start March 5th
• Do one kind thing for myself a day - trying

I did rebound a bit in week 4.  I even went back to my weekly Yoga class and it was great.  Work and Grad school are tiring though! 

I did pretty well on the challenge.  Still having issues with my left arm, but it is a lot better than it was 4 weeks ago.  Not sure what I will do for the next challenge.

 

Thanks, @zeroh13, that is a good idea to focus on the little steps.  I am getting overwhelmed looking at everything!  Maybe I I will make that part of my next challenge.