RhiaWolfe Prepares for DragonCon

[RhiaWolfe]

Hello everyone. Perfect timing it seems. I return to NF just as the new challenge begins. No theme this time, just random gifs and stuffs. 

 

As some of you may know, I have been struggling over the past few months with mental health issues. I think I am finally coming out of that and feeling more like my old self. I feel much more stabilized. I'm on new medication and am seeing my psychiatrists and therapists to try and figure it all out. Through all of this though, I have pretty much gained back all the weight I lost with NF a couple of years ago. I'm feeling a little down on myself because of it. I'm lethargic and have trouble finding the energy to go to the grocery store or cook anything. Not only have my eating habits gone down the tube, but I've neglected my domestic rangering as well. So this challenge is going to be mostly focused on trying to get back that energy and finding the discipline to do something even when I don't feel like it. I know that if I start moving and do something, I'll get in the habit and I will feel better as I do so. So, here's to kicking the procrastination habit! 

 

Goal 1: Domestic Rangering 5x/week

My first goal is to help around the house and do some domestic rangering. This can be anything from cleaning my pet rat's cage, to doing laundry, to even just clearing off a table. Grocery Shopping and meal prepping also fall under this category. I have to do at least one act of domestic rangering 5 days out of the week. 

 

 

Goal 2: Eat 1 home cooked meal 5x/week

The second goal is to get into the habit of making food for myself. It doesn't matter if it's something as simple as a sandwich. As long as I'm eating it at home rather than going to the grocery store, I'm good. 

 

 

I'm only doing two goals this challenge. Baby steps. 

 

Goal 3: Work on cosplay 3x/week

Ok, I added this goal in because it's something I want to do. I want to finish my cosplay. I have the materials to start, and I only have a few weeks to finish it. I hope I can do it in time. So I will dedicate 3 days out of the week to doing SOME work on my cosplay. 

 

 

As the title of my challenge suggests, I will be going to Dragon Con this year in Atlanta, GA. I have done nothing to prepare except buy some supplies for my cosplay. I had planned on going to the gym and getting up stamina to be able to enjoy the con to the fullest, but that is not going to happen now. I do, however, plan to work on my cosplay and get it done in time. I will post pictures here on my progress. I am cosplaying as Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas. I just need to start working on it. So, technically this is another goal... maybe I should add... *added*

 

So, here we go! 

[Echoceanic]

Getting yourself on a path out of that hole is a big deal. And slowly, everything else will improve too. Following along to cheer. :)) 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along. I'm currently at my heaviest weight ever, so you're in good company.

[Maigs]

Rhia! I'm glad you're back. I'd been wondering how you were doing.

 

It's good to see that you're getting help and that it's actually helping.

[RhiaWolfe]

41 minutes ago, Echoceanic said:

Getting yourself on a path out of that hole is a big deal. And slowly, everything else will improve too. Following along to cheer. :)) 

 

Even the small things feel daunting right now. Glad for the support! 

 

39 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along. I'm currently at my heaviest weight ever, so you're in good company.

 

I'm almost at my heaviest weight ever... it's not good. It's weird... it's like the more pressure I put on myself to lose weight, the harder it becomes. I'm gaining weight and I'm frustrated because it's so hard to get back to where I was. I'm hoping to turn things around step by step. 

 

12 minutes ago, Maigahane said:

Rhia! I'm glad you're back. I'd been wondering how you were doing.

 

It's good to see that you're getting help and that it's actually helping.

 

Yes, I'm doing much better on the whole. I'm not quite out of the woods yet. Need to make some steps in the right direction. 

[starpuck]

Here to watch one of my padawans.    The weight struggle is in the water.  Or the air... er, uh pixels?    For me, I came to find out where I was going wrong at least.   Now I just need to act on that data.   Always the harder part.  We'll get there!

 

What is your cosplay, or is it a surprise?

[RhiaWolfe]

5 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

 

 

 

As the title of my challenge suggests, I will be going to Dragon Con this year in Atlanta, GA. I have done nothing to prepare except buy some supplies for my cosplay. I had planned on going to the gym and getting up stamina to be able to enjoy the con to the fullest, but that is not going to happen now. I do, however, plan to work on my cosplay and get it done in time. I will post pictures here on my progress. I am cosplaying as Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas. I just need to start working on it. So, technically this is another goal... maybe I should add... *added*

 

So, here we go! 

@Starpuck Not a secret at all. Hehe... 

 

7 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

Here to watch one of my padawans.    The weight struggle is in the water.  Or the air... er, uh pixels?    For me, I came to find out where I was going wrong at least.   Now I just need to act on that data.   Always the harder part.  We'll get there!

 

 

Might I ask what you found out about "where you were going wrong"? I"m still trying to figure that out. 

[Wild Wolf]

5 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

I will post pictures here on my progress.

 

YUSSS!! I'm excited about this, Rhia! 

 

5 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

I think I am finally coming out of that and feeling more like my old self. I feel much more stabilized

 

YUSSSS! I'm excited about this too! 

 

Wolf

[RhiaWolfe]

8 minutes ago, Wolfpool said:

 

YUSSS!! I'm excited about this, Rhia! 

 

 

YUSSSS! I'm excited about this too! 

 

Wolf

 

[starpuck]

54 minutes ago, RhiaWolfe said:

@Starpuck Not a secret at all. Hehe... 

Omg, I am a dweeb.  And apparently need pictures.    I just assume someone announcing Cosplay plans will post a picture of said character!

*face palm*

 

55 minutes ago, RhiaWolfe said:

Might I ask what you found out about "where you were going wrong"? I"m still trying to figure that out. 

 

Spoilered because it's long and filled with some brutal honesty for myself.

Spoiler

 

For me, it's my gaming nights/being away from my house/routine.   Which is a lame excuse, since my 'out days' have been the same routine for 4 years.  I was simply choosing to be carefree and wild on my game nights.   I realized I ate the junk because everyone else was - not because I was hungry, or even really craved it.   I was making a choice.   And looking into it further, it was almost more a choice of not choice...  ugh, I can't explain it.   Basically, I looked at my Mon, Tues, Wed nights at home (when dinner, water, and a single snack before bed TOTALLY satisfies me), and asked why that wasn't happening at game nights.   The answer was, "I didn't want it to happen at game nights."     When I tallied up the 'meals done well, vs meals badgered' my original assessment of 'I am doing so well, why is this so hard!?' became a  ' Oh geez louise, I am only doing well 60% of the time, I have been lying to myself. "   And if I am at a 60/40 split - well no wonder I've been stuck at the same 8lb spread for 2 years!   That's basically 50-50!   And 50-50 adding up to more or less maintenance, just ended up sounding like well grounded math.

 

Fixing that won't be easy -because I've created a validated ROUTINE with my game nights.    My plan is to do replacement first.    I have a cute little panda shaped stackable 'bento box'.   I am going to put my game night snacks in it, so that I have what I need to snack on.  I can eat it as fast or as slow as I like on game nights, but it's going to have some better options.   Once I get to the point of being more in control of that, then I'll start letting back in things like 'oh you like Oreos, but just have a single serving of them.'      Gonna see how that goes.   

 

I KNOW for a fact, if I put effort into my Thursday, Friday nights, and Sat/Sun - to not be a total eat out all meals, play the calorie game (like, oh I want to eat big later, so I will starve myself now [spoiler - that never works for me]) that I will see progress toward my goals start moving again.    Basically, it was a face your own lies epiphany.   It's ugly and painful.  But in the very bluntest of honesty with myself?  Well-  I am simply choosing to be careless on these game nights.  Choosing quick satisfaction and routine 'habits' in place of what will make me feel better and BE better for me.   So I need to start choosing differently.    (Or be content with where I am now physically and health wise.)

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

6 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

I'm almost at my heaviest weight ever... it's not good. It's weird... it's like the more pressure I put on myself to lose weight, the harder it becomes. I'm gaining weight and I'm frustrated because it's so hard to get back to where I was. I'm hoping to turn things around step by step. 

At the risk of oversimplifying, what if you stopped putting pressure on yourself?

[RhiaWolfe]

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

Omg, I am a dweeb.  And apparently need pictures.    I just assume someone announcing Cosplay plans will post a picture of said character!

*face palm*

 

 

Spoilered because it's long and filled with some brutal honesty for myself.

  Hide contents

 

For me, it's my gaming nights/being away from my house/routine.   Which is a lame excuse, since my 'out days' have been the same routine for 4 years.  I was simply choosing to be carefree and wild on my game nights.   I realized I ate the junk because everyone else was - not because I was hungry, or even really craved it.   I was making a choice.   And looking into it further, it was almost more a choice of not choice...  ugh, I can't explain it.   Basically, I looked at my Mon, Tues, Wed nights at home (when dinner, water, and a single snack before bed TOTALLY satisfies me), and asked why that wasn't happening at game nights.   The answer was, "I didn't want it to happen at game nights."     When I tallied up the 'meals done well, vs meals badgered' my original assessment of 'I am doing so well, why is this so hard!?' became a  ' Oh geez louise, I am only doing well 60% of the time, I have been lying to myself. "   And if I am at a 60/40 split - well no wonder I've been stuck at the same 8lb spread for 2 years!   That's basically 50-50!   And 50-50 adding up to more or less maintenance, just ended up sounding like well grounded math.

 

Fixing that won't be easy -because I've created a validated ROUTINE with my game nights.    My plan is to do replacement first.    I have a cute little panda shaped stackable 'bento box'.   I am going to put my game night snacks in it, so that I have what I need to snack on.  I can eat it as fast or as slow as I like on game nights, but it's going to have some better options.   Once I get to the point of being more in control of that, then I'll start letting back in things like 'oh you like Oreos, but just have a single serving of them.'      Gonna see how that goes.   

 

I KNOW for a fact, if I put effort into my Thursday, Friday nights, and Sat/Sun - to not be a total eat out all meals, play the calorie game (like, oh I want to eat big later, so I will starve myself now [spoiler - that never works for me]) that I will see progress toward my goals start moving again.    Basically, it was a face your own lies epiphany.   It's ugly and painful.  But in the very bluntest of honesty with myself?  Well-  I am simply choosing to be careless on these game nights.  Choosing quick satisfaction and routine 'habits' in place of what will make me feel better and BE better for me.   So I need to start choosing differently.    (Or be content with where I am now physically and health wise.)

 

 

 

Whoa!!!! What a discovery! So many kudos points for you on realizing this! It's so hard to catch ourselves in a lie sometimes. I think your plan of attack is awesome! Go get it! 

 

and here you go. 

 

 

25 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

At the risk of oversimplifying, what if you stopped putting pressure on yourself?

 

That's kinda what I'm trying to do. It's REALLY hard though. I hate looking at myself get bigger and bigger. I"m wanting to just do my all or nothing thing and just start eating healthy instead of taking it slow. However, that's why I'm trying to do a challenge that will hopefully be fairly easy for me to complete. It'll involve mindfulness, but not too much extra work from where I am now. Taking it one slow step at a time I hope will help improve my chances of being successful. 

 

I just have to remind myself that this challenge is all I have to focus on. I don't have to focus on losing weight, just focus on doing a little better each challenge and eventually I'll get there. 

[jonfirestar]

18 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

 

I'm almost at my heaviest weight ever... it's not good. It's weird... it's like the more pressure I put on myself to lose weight, the harder it becomes. I'm gaining weight and I'm frustrated because it's so hard to get back to where I was. I'm hoping to turn things around step by step. 

I really feel this  I'm in a similar kind of place. It's like all of the things I did to lose the weight to begin with are just out of reach and I can't seem to grasp them any more. The harder I try the more etherial they seem to be and the more frustrated and angry I get at myself over it. 

[RhiaWolfe]

3 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

I really feel this  I'm in a similar kind of place. It's like all of the things I did to lose the weight to begin with are just out of reach and I can't seem to grasp them any more. The harder I try the more etherial they seem to be and the more frustrated and angry I get at myself over it. 

^^^ This. Exactly. It's like, I remember how easy it became when I was in the midst of it. I keep asking myself why it's so hard now. 

 

Trying to focus more on that it's hard, no matter why, and just do the best I can. 

[RhiaWolfe]

Monday, 8/6/2018 Update:

 

So, yesterday I started my challenge and actually ended up doing really well for not waking up thinking I would be working on my challenge. lol! I think I'm going to start tracking a little bit of what I eat every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe if I see improvements that way it'll give me more motivation. 

 

 

Breakfast - 2 sausage egg mcmuffins & Orange Juice

Lunch - flatbread sandwich, chips, smoothie

Dinner - pasta with meat sauce and salad

 

Breakfast I got 2 sausage egg mcmuffins and an orange juice from McDonald's. This is the habit I'm most trying to break. I've gotten so used to doing that. So after I left my friend's house last night, I stopped by the store and got stuff to either make oatmeal or have a bowl of cereal in the morning before going to work. Hopefully this will break that habit. 

 

Lunch I went out to eat, but I got something from Tropical Smoothie Cafe (like, my new favorite restaurant). I got a flatbread sandwich, chips, and a smoothie. It was tasty and since it was fairly light I felt better in the afternoon than I did in the morning.

 

Dinner I managed to go over to my friend Matt's house and instead of picking up fast food on the way, I ate dinner at his place. He made something quick and simple, pasta and salad. I felt like I needed to eat something else. I stopped and did some self-analysis/awareness and realized that my stomach didn't hurt in a way that says I'm hungry, but more that I felt like something was missing... like what I ate wasn't enough. I'm thinking this is the craving for sugar and other heavy junk foods. I didn't eat anything else the rest of the evening. Feeling pretty good this morning overall. 

 

 

Goal 1: Domestic Rangering 5x/week - 1/5 Success!

When I got home from my friend's house, I did a load of laundry that I didn't finish the day before. I even put the clothes away! lol. So, this is a win. 

 

Goal 2: Eat 1 home cooked meal 5x/week - 1/5 Success!

Eating dinner at my friend's house totally counts. I didn't pick up something from a fast food restaurant on the way. 

 

Goal 3: Work on cosplay 3x/week - 0/3 Pending... 

I didn't work on my cosplay, but didn't really have time either. Was busy doing other stuff. 

 

While over at Matt's house, I watched him play Assassin's Creed Syndicate. I've played it before, and it was fun watching him play. It's been a while since I've played it though so I've forgotten a lot of the mechanics, especially when I'm used to Assassin's Creed Origins. There were a couple of glitches we found that were pretty funny. For example, we found a puddle that when you run over the right spot, the character dives into the puddle as if it were a large body of water then gets back up. Game glitches can be funny. 

 

 

 

After that I went home and did laundry then got a shower and went to bed. A good evening overall. 

[RhiaWolfe]

Tuesday, 8/7/2018 Update:

 

Yesterday I did good challenge-wise... but I had a rough evening. 

 

As some of you may know, I have two pet rats, Merlin and Nox. Well, a week and a half ago, I rescued two more rats. They were really skittish, but I was growing attached to them. I gave them names (Robin and Grayson) and was trying to introduce them to my two older boys. 

 

Well, last night when I went to get the new boys out, Robin was having a lot of trouble breathing. His breathing sounded like popcorn. I took him to the emergency vet and they basically said that it wasn't good and sounded chronic. They gave him antibiotics and suggested putting him on a nebulizer, which I don't have. I contacted the rescue and determined they were better able to take care of the rats than I was, so I took both of them back to the rescue. 

 

I'm heart broken. I'm missing those boys. I didn't get home until late last night and couldn't sleep well. I ended up getting to work late today. 

 

I'm going to try and not let this derail me too badly. I'm a stress-eater... but I'm going to focus on work. 

 

 

Breakfast - Oatmeal (homemade)

Lunch - Bacon Cheese Burger and fries (restaurant)

Dinner - chicken fried rice (homemade)

 

Breakfast I did good and made me some oatmeal. It was tasty. I have a pretty good recipe I found online. 

 

Lunch I went out to eat at S&B Burgers. 

 

Dinner I made chicken fried rice. The fried rice I made is actually fairly healthy. 

 

 

Goal 1: Domestic Rangering 5x/week - 2/5 Success!

I went shopping for new jeans and socks after work, went grocery shopping, and cooked dinner. I'm counting this. I had planned to finish more laundry, but then the stuff with my pet rats happened. 

 

Goal 2: Eat 1 home cooked meal 5x/week - 2/5 Success!

Made oatmeal for breakfast and cooked chicken fried rice for dinner for extra points! 

 

Goal 3: Work on cosplay 3x/week - 0/3 Pending... 

Didn't have time with taking care of the ratties. 

 

Now some cute gifs of ratties. Pet rats are adorable!!!!

 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

That's sad about the new rats  

[jonfirestar]

2 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

I gave them names (Robin and Grayson) and was trying to introduce them to my two older boys. 

I'm so sorry to hear about the Rats I  just adore those names! 

 

 

[Wild Wolf]

Echoing the sadness about Robin . We really enjoyed our pet rats when we had them a couple years ago. We had two females, Fury (short for Furiosa from Mad Max because of her coloring) and Ruby (albino). They are really cool and intelligent pets.

 

Way to go on your successes this week! Keep up the trend, Rhia! 

 

Wolf

[starpuck]

1 hour ago, Wolfpool said:

Fury (short for Furiosa from Mad Max

Not even kidding Wolf - almost went with Furiosa for the pull up PVP lol!!  Can you get out of my head please?  (It's dangerous there.)

 

 

4 hours ago, RhiaWolfe said:

I'm going to not let this derail me.   I'm a stress-eater... but I'm going to focus on work. 

FTFY

 

Remember, words, the ones we speak to ourselves especially.  Have power.   Keep practicing the art of positive word choice.  It may not give you a 100% win record just by doing it, but it will help over time.

 

 

[Maigs]

I'm sorry the ratties didn't work out but at least Robin is in a place where he can get the best care.

[RhiaWolfe]

2 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

That's sad about the new rats  

 

Yeah, I miss them already. 

 

2 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

I'm so sorry to hear about the Rats I  just adore those names! 

 

 

 

Thanks... Robin was a hooded rat (Robin Hood) and Grayson was a gray rat (aka my gray son). It's a coincidence that they had nerd significance. i didn't think about it until my husband came in and said "Really? Robin and Grayson? No Drake?" 

 

2 hours ago, Wolfpool said:

Echoing the sadness about Robin . We really enjoyed our pet rats when we had them a couple years ago. We had two females, Fury (short for Furiosa from Mad Max because of her coloring) and Ruby (albino). They are really cool and intelligent pets.

 

Way to go on your successes this week! Keep up the trend, Rhia! 

 

Wolf

 

Aww... yeah, rats are super cool and fun. I just wish they lived longer. 

 

I'm definitely going to keep on this trend. These are challenges I can manage. 

 

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

 

FTFY

 

Remember, words, the ones we speak to ourselves especially.  Have power.   Keep practicing the art of positive word choice.  It may not give you a 100% win record just by doing it, but it will help over time.

 

 

I'm really bad about this. lol. Something to work on. Thanks for fixing! 

 

1 hour ago, Maigahane said:

I'm sorry the ratties didn't work out but at least Robin is in a place where he can get the best care.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I'm really hoping the little guy pulls through.

 

Apparently there was a batch of rats they got from a shelter that now seem to be getting sick, so it's not just affecting my little Robin. It's also affecting other ratties. At first I questioned how the rescue was taking care of their rats, but now it sounds like it may be a problem from previous living conditions or breeding. 

 

 

Wow, that gif was bigger than I thought it would be. 

 

Anyways, work is stressful today. I have an employee that can't seem to understand that he is not authorized to make the decision and judgement calls he keeps trying to make. I keep trying to explain this to him but he just doesn't seem to get it. It's extremely frustrating. Not only that, but he keeps misinterpreting things I'm saying and keeps making mistakes on so much. It's driving me insane today. UGH! I really don't have the energy to deal with him right now. 

 

Tonight after work though I think some Assassin's creed is in order. I really want to play a game and chill. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

1 minute ago, RhiaWolfe said:

Wow, that gif was bigger than I thought it would be. 

If you right click on a gif (In apple systems Ctrl+Command+Click) you can resize a gif. Not sure how it works on mobile platforms, but it does work on keyboarded computers.

[RhiaWolfe]

19 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

If you right click on a gif (In apple systems Ctrl+Command+Click) you can resize a gif. Not sure how it works on mobile platforms, but it does work on keyboarded computers.

 

I don't see an option to resize when I right click a gif... 

[Elastigirl]

23 minutes ago, RhiaWolfe said:

 

I don't see an option to resize when I right click a gif... 

Didn't work for me either.