chickie.monkey: Into the Badlands!

[chickie.monkey]

 

After my last “No Challenge,” I’m feeling motivated for the first time in a long time to make the long list of changes in my life that I’ve been staring at for too long. The next few challenges (possibly more) I will focus on killing bad habits and building good ones.

 

Main Goal: Beat Down My Inner Quinn

 

There is something completely obnoxious inside of me that loses all sanity regularly. I know I should be eating well and excising, but when it's rearing its ugly head, I just don't want to and I don't care. It's super annoying and I need to beat it into submission. In my experience, the only way to do that, is to fight through it. The goal of this challenge is to build new habits so that when it does come up, I don't easily give in.

 

Goal 1: Move It

 

Move 3 Times a Week

• Interval training or
• Walking or
• Swimming
• Minimum of 20 minutes and/or 1 mile when applicable

 

 

Goal 2: Foods

 

Don't Eat like Crap

• Watch portion sizes
• Don't eat bad foods
  • Log bad foods - how much I ate/why I ate/how I was feeling at the time (did I eat my feelings/was I bored?)
• Remember my lunch

 

 

Goal 3: Get My House in Order (OMG, so overwhelming! I can't do this!)

Totally needed this pep talk.

 

Part 1- Daily Chores:

• Scoop poop (Clean cat boxes daily)
• Pick up living area before bed

 

 

Part 2- Get Rid of Stuff:

I will choose a room per challenge and clean it out/get rid of stuff I don't need. This is going to require the help of my wife, however, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get her to participate. On the bright side, my sister and her husband are staying with us at the moment, and I can always rope them into helping. 

 

Room this challenge: The Crap Room

Pictures for shame and accountability:

 

 

The closet is also full of crap. *sigh*

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I'll be following along.

[Elastigirl]

I like your plan of building new good habits.Sometimes I just figured out about myself is that when I start to rebel and lose my sanity and not want to do the things it's because I have been way too strict with myself. I like some guidelines for food, but if I make too many, it makes me want to rebel, so the trick is finding that happy balance for myself

[chickie.monkey]

On 5/24/2018 at 5:17 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I'll be following along.

Awesome! I can use all the encouragement I can get! Haha

 

On 5/25/2018 at 10:15 PM, Elastigirl said:

I like your plan of building new good habits.Sometimes I just figured out about myself is that when I start to rebel and lose my sanity and not want to do the things it's because I have been way too strict with myself. I like some guidelines for food, but if I make too many, it makes me want to rebel, so the trick is finding that happy balance for myself

Thanks! I've fallen into a dark abyss of terribleness. It's going to take a while to climb out, but I'm never going to get out if I don't start changing things. Even if it's just one thing. </end halmark moment>

[chickie.monkey]

Week 0 was meh. I have been sucked into a pit of laziness and am finding it hard to get out. I did manage to eat ok. Not well, but not terrible either. I didn't really track though, either.

No exercise, but...

Life goal saw some movement on Sunday

 - Deep cleaned the cat box

- Cleaned up the floor in the crap room

- Harped on my wife to clean her cat box (you can imagine how well that went for me  )

- Worked on cleaning up my pit of despair (picture to come for reference)

[chickie.monkey]

Week 1

 

Monday

 

Move It None

• I originally planning to hit the treadmill, but I was overcome with lazy. Between allergies and "I don't want to's," I didn't get it done.

Foods Good

• Good portions/foods
• Bad foods: Small piece of cake

Chores Sort of

     ☐ Scoop poop - forgot. Remembered after I was in bed. Totally not getting out of bed for that.

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed

 

Crap Room No progress

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

It takes a while to climb out of a pit of despair. One of the challenges is we think we should be able to get right back to where we were when we fell in. It takes time to get back to levels of proficiency we have lost, which in turn makes staying in the pit more attractive. Give yourself time and be patient with yourself.

[thekatisalie]

Hey! I hear you on the KNOWING we need to make a better choice but kind of ... not caring. Here for moral support!

[chickie.monkey]

Week 1

 

Tuesday

 

Move It Check

• Interval training
• Time: 28:19
• Distance 1.2 miles
• I discovered drinking water through a straw while running is bad and causes air bubbles and cramps. Will find a new drinking cup for activities. 
• Detailed notes and breakdown in my battle log.

Foods Check

• Foods good
• Portions good
• Remembered my lunch
• No bad foods (even though I want ice cream so bad right now)

Chores Check

 

     ☑ Scoop poop

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed

 

Quick note about living area: Living Area = Pit of Despair:

 

 

I don't have a coffee table or end table near me, so the end of the couch has become my catch-all. In the past, this has been covered up with piles of crap. It just so happens to be the cleanest it's been in a long time. Goal for the week is to get it completely cleared off, all while cleaning up anything that is put there daily (so as not to add to the disaster).

 

Crap Room No progress

[kcaleece]

Fighting through the apathy is a big challenge for sure. It's just so easy not to care, especially when the reward (like better fitness) can be so far away. The picture of the couch is definitely a familiar one too! I'm cheering along for you

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

47 minutes ago, chickie.monkey said:

 

 

I don't have a coffee table or end table near me, so the end of the couch has become my catch-all. In the past, this has been covered up with piles of crap. It just so happens to be the cleanest it's been in a long time. Goal for the week is to get it completely cleared off, all while cleaning up anything that is put there daily (so as not to add to the disaster).

 

May I suggest:

• Using one of those TV trays I see in the corner of the pic as an end table until you can buy one and set it there permanently?
• Getting a trash can right next to the couch?

[chickie.monkey]

22 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

It takes a while to climb out of a pit of despair. One of the challenges is we think we should be able to get right back to where we were when we fell in. It takes time to get back to levels of proficiency we have lost, which in turn makes staying in the pit more attractive. Give yourself time and be patient with yourself.

Ugh, it really does take so much time. I have to constantly remind myself that I didn't get this far into the pit overnight, so I'm not going to get out overnight. But, INSTANT GRATIFICATION! <Slow, deep breath>

 

18 hours ago, therealkat said:

Hey! I hear you on the KNOWING we need to make a better choice but kind of ... not caring. Here for moral support!

It's so hard. Why does it have to be so hard? Depression is such a pain in the arse!

 

11 hours ago, kcaleece said:

Fighting through the apathy is a big challenge for sure. It's just so easy not to care, especially when the reward (like better fitness) can be so far away. The picture of the couch is definitely a familiar one too! I'm cheering along for you

Thank you. It's amazing how much better I will feel if I get that cleaned up. Just have to do it.

 

10 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

May I suggest:

• Using one of those TV trays I see in the corner of the pic as an end table until you can buy one and set it there permanently?
• Getting a trash can right next to the couch?

So simple, yet hasn't even occurred to me. Sometimes I just wonder about myself.  

[starpuck]

Yay! Chickie!!  <3

 

So good to see you sticking 'round these parts.   Love it!    I also feel a bit like an internet voyeur in admitting this, but I love seeing peoples houses.   Like I feel like it gets me one step closer to being friend friends.  Like, I know internet friends are REAL friends.  But it's like 'oooh I can pretend I was sitting there and we had tea' or something.

I dunno.  <.<

Yes.  I'm aware I am weird.  >.>

 

Great plan on the goals.  Totally tackle things one bit at a time.   SO MUCH WISE!

 

[Raxie]

On ‎5‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 5:36 PM, chickie.monkey said:

 

Hah - I too have an abundance  of cat carriers (actually I have that exact same top loading one! What a game changer that was).  How else are you supposed to store them except piled on top of eachother in some precarious spot?!?! I don't understand.

[chickie.monkey]

18 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Yay! Chickie!!  <3

 

So good to see you sticking 'round these parts.   Love it!    I also feel a bit like an internet voyeur in admitting this, but I love seeing peoples houses.   Like I feel like it gets me one step closer to being friend friends.  Like, I know internet friends are REAL friends.  But it's like 'oooh I can pretend I was sitting there and we had tea' or something.

I dunno.  <.<

Yes.  I'm aware I am weird.  >.>

 

Great plan on the goals.  Totally tackle things one bit at a time.   SO MUCH WISE!

 

Aw, shucks! It is nice to be back. I forgot how much easier it is to go about this with some support. I'm such a loner/introvert and people (even online) are not my thing, but sometimes people just need people. Too smarmy? haha

 

I totally get it. And if I can shet my git together, and you're ever in Nashville, you can come visit and have actual tea in a clean and organized environment!  You can always follow me on the instas if you have it. There's lots of life there. Okay, mostly pictures of my animals, but well, that's my life. LOL

 

17 hours ago, Raxie said:

 

Hah - I too have an abundance  of cat carriers (actually I have that exact same top loading one! What a game changer that was).  How else are you supposed to store them except piled on top of eachother in some precarious spot?!?! I don't understand.

I know, right?! The top loader is for our big boy (20+ pounds). He is incredibly difficult to load into a carrier. In addition to loading him in from the top, I have to wrap him in a towel to keep him from spread eagle-ing. It's usually a two person, 30 minute job to get him loaded up and then he usually poops all over himself on the 5 minute drive to vet. We need to get rid of some of them as they are old and falling apart, but we need to have at least the same amount of carriers as cats incase we have to load everyone up at the same time for some odd reason (I hope that day never comes).

[chickie.monkey]

Week 1

 

Wednesday

 

Move It Nope

• When I got home and brought in the mail, I was drenched with hot, humid sweat and was like it's too hot to even treadmill. I bitched and whined, but decided I'd turn the temp down, get into my workout clothes, and stretch and then see how I felt. I finally got to the point where I was ready to suck it up, but then got notification my groceries were on the way. I didn't want to have to stop mid workout (read: didn't want them to see me looking pathetic on the treadmill as it's right in front of the window on the front porch), so I decided to wait. And then, yeah, it was over. But I did do something else productive (see below), so there's that.

Foods Check

• Foods good 
• Portions meh. Probably ate too much, but since the spaghetti noodles at dinner were whole grain, that's okay, right?
• Remembered my lunch
• No bad foods (even though the company bought lunch, I ate my leftovers because they were nummy)

Chores  Half Check

 

     ☐ Scoop poop - completely forgot. I think I'm going to have to set a reminder in my phone or something.

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed

 

Made exceptional progress on my pit of despair:

Tonight I will fold the blankets and this weekend I will put the bumper sticker on my car. Also this weekend I will try to get some of the stains out. Obviously no one really sits there except crap and food and drinks which spill and leave stains because that's not a good place to put drinks because it's a couch and not a coffee table).

[Raxie]

35 minutes ago, chickie.monkey said:

The top loader is for our big boy (20+ pounds).

 

That's what we have ours for too.  Mine's a Norwegian Forest Cat (VERY similar to Maine Coons).  He's... a lot to handle to say the least XD

 

36 minutes ago, chickie.monkey said:

we need to have at least the same amount of carriers as cats incase we have to load everyone up at the same time for some odd reason (I hope that day never comes).

 

I'm the same way.  I play out emergency situations in my brain of trying to get all 3 in their carriers in a hurry and I feel like I should practice because the way things are right now, it'd be near impossible. 

 

22 minutes ago, chickie.monkey said:

When I got home and brought in the mail, I was drenched with hot, humid sweat and was like it's too hot to even treadmill. I bitched and whined, but decided I'd turn the temp down, get into my workout clothes, and stretch and then see how I felt. I finally got to the point where I was ready to suck it up, but then got notification my groceries were on the way. I didn't want to have to stop mid workout (read: didn't want them to see me looking pathetic on the treadmill as it's right in front of the window on the front porch), so I decided to wait. And then, yeah, it was over. But I did do something else productive (see below), so there's that.

 

It sounds like you go stretching in though which is always a good thing!

[Elastigirl]

Nice progress on the couch!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

9 hours ago, chickie.monkey said:

We need to get rid of some of them as they are old and falling apart,

I was really panicked until I realized you were talking about the carriers and not the cats themselves.

[chickie.monkey]

11 hours ago, Raxie said:

Mine's a Norwegian Forest Cat (VERY similar to Maine Coons).  He's... a lot to handle to say the least XD

So, I just InstaStalked your cats and OMG so cute!! Your orange baby looks just like our Oscar that passed away. <3 <3 <3

[chickie.monkey]

10 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Nice progress on the couch!

Thanks! I feel like I can breathe now.

 

3 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I was really panicked until I realized you were talking about the carriers and not the cats themselves.

Well, actually, we do have a couple cats that are old and falling apart, but we are keeping them anyway. I swear I laughed for five minutes after reading this.

[chickie.monkey]

Week 1

 

Thursday

 

Move It None

• Today's excuse: When I got home, the power was out - so no treadmill. It was hot and nasty in the house, so me, my sister, brother-in-law, and the dogs piled into my e-tron (clown car) and headed for anywhere with cooler air. By the time the power was back on and we were home and settled it was almost bedtime, so...

Foods So-so

• Foods okay 
• Portions meh. Work bought BBQ for lunch. My plate was mostly meat with a wee bit of sauce (probably too much meat) and turnip greens. Dinner was a casserrole. Not the healthiest, not the worst, again ate too much. I was feeling guilty about not getting my moves in, so I, of course, ate all the food.
• No bad foods (even though the company bought lunch, I ate my leftovers because they were nummy)

Chores Check

 

     ☑ Scoop poop 

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed

 

Crap Room 

• Appointment made with the junk people to come get the sorted, to be tossed crap for Tuesday. 
• No, haven't really done anything yet, but now have a deadline.

[starpuck]

Nice work there girly!    Good job on the couches and old cats!  I mean carriers. HAHA  I too laughed at that and had to double take.

 

No AC is srs business, and you had to do what you had to do.   I think it was the wise choice!  

 

Also, every time I see your thread title, this MOST AMAZING SONG EVER pops into my head.  It's by a group called The Phantoms.  I found them via this fan-made trailer for Dragon Age Inquisition.    But here is the song in a GMV for the whole trilogy.  <3 Dragon Age so much.   But yes...

 

 

[chickie.monkey]

Week 1 Recap

 

Move It 1/3

• Saturday I went to get new running shoes. As I was trying on a pair, I threw my back out.  Like, seriously?! So, I'm on my butt now. Hopefully not too long. I'm SO annoyed!

Foods So-so

• All-in-all, I think I ate more bad food than good. There was stress eating and eating my feelings and poor planning eating. 

Chores Check

 

     ☑ Scoop poop 

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed

 

Crap Room 

• Appointment made with the junk people to come get the sorted, to be tossed crap for Tuesday. 
• Big pile of stuff sorted and ready to go. 

Some of what was in the crap room was stuff that belonged to my mom that I still had to go through. I found a box with FIVE laptops, 3 tablets, an external hard drive, and a bag with 23 USB drives. SMH, my mom was special. There was also a box of floppy disks. LOL I'm ditching most of it, but I'm considering keeping one of the laptops since the specs are somewhat decent. I haven't decided yet. Needless to say, my pit of despair is now a laptop graveyard as I have been going through them to see if they're useful and then wiping them if they're not.

[chickie.monkey]

Week 2

 

Monday

 

Move It None

• Still recovering from back pain. Getting better. Hopefully will be well in a couple days

Foods Well...

• Since it was my first day, I didn't bring a lunch. I ended up getting a packet of Combos from the cantine for lunch.
• Dinner: Tacos
  • I'll try to keep portion sized controlled, but I'm HUNGRY

Chores Check

 

     ☑ Scoop poop 

     ☑ Pick up living area before bed (it's not cleaned off, but it's organized and not full of trash)

 

Crap Room 

• Nothing tonight