Darkfoxx 61: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

[darkfoxx]

Whew, made it! The last challenge of the year!

 

Ok, so no - not really - 2 more to go, but this year sure does feel like it’s winding down, and my non-counting self was excited for a minute there. [emoji38]

 

If this year has taught me nothing, it’s that the more things change, the more they stay the same. My schedule is still consistently inconsistent, and I’ve just got to (re and continually) make peace with that.

 

To that end, this year I’ve:

* Stopped eating like I have to get my moneys worth at every meal out (especially buffets - all you can eat is *not* a challenge)

* Continued to adapt to changing fitness class scheduling

* Have shifted my goals based on seasons (it’s not possible to be outside and as active in the summer months)

* Have a few gym-based routines in my pocket involving all manner of equipment availabilities for travel times

* Have drastically cut down on travel day bingeing (still not perfect here)

* Have cut the multiple multiple-course meals per week with friends

* Have come up with some semblance of workable scheduling for when DH is home vs when he’s traveling (Kinda - this still trends too much toward not leaving the house, but at least I’m consistently taking the dogs out)

* Have my core group(s) of friends but am always scouting for more

* Have picked up hobbies I can do while DH is home or not

* Have gotten pretty comfortable with exploring new cities on my own - mostly

 

On to the Goals

 

Goal 1: Nutrition

 

At the moment, I’m not counting macros, instead focusing on the *quantity* of food I’m eating so as to avoid the uncomfortable too-full feeling I’m no longer enjoying.

 

I’ll also be continuing this years’ ongoing photo project - a collage a day of what I’ve eaten.

 

I’m still tracking foods and symptoms in Cara, but have dropped My Fitness Pal.

 

While I still want better gut health, I’m not sure where I want to go with my current Dr., if anywhere.

 

Goal 2: Physical Fitness

 

Still focusing on 2 - 3 yoga classes a week, and should really add in a codicil for days I don’t leave the house - either a long walk with the pups if it’s cool enough, or a quick gym session.

 

At this moment, it looks like: Monday slow flow, Tuesday detox or slow and strong (depending on whether or not the dogs go to daycare), Wednesday nothing but steps, Thursday slow and strong, Friday ?, Saturday/Sunday striving for steps at least if I don’t go do something active with DH - if he’s gone, Saturday am athlete strength class, Sunday ?

 

Goal 3: Fulfillment

 

I need to continue to do some work here for my mental health.

 

Sewing project list:

* 7-gore Edwardian skirt in grey suiting material

* Pinafore dress in French Blue linen

* Redrafted kimono top in Navy blue linen

* Remake of my black dress in Georgette

* Copy of that dress with a boat neckline and shoulder ties in a fun jungle print in rayon

* Medieval kirtle in a light wool

* Dog jackets in teal couch fabric I already have

* 17th century corset

* Ninja-ish dress in charcoal linen

* Harem pants in black jersey

* Ninja-y trousers in black suiting

* Remake of my favorite travel dress in black ponte

* Land Army pants in charcoal suiting with teal accents

* Slopers in old sheet muslins

 

Other projects:

* Finance stuff when that rolls around

* Travel planning ?

* Start some sort of meaty class ?

* Work on painting something ?

* Holiday cards

* Some sort of holiday gift craft (maybe my soap?) + strawberry bread & Irish Creme for friends

* Continue to work with furry assholes on walking, barking and not being terrorists

* Getting out more because it’s not death hot

* Blog revamps ?

* Whole30 ebook to sell ?

 

 

 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following. Codicils don't get used enough in everyday life.

[Fonzico]

In like Flynn!

[JuiceeTarget]

13 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

all you can eat is *not* a challenge

I lol'd

[Jean]

18 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

this year sure does feel like it’s winding down

 

Right? And it's amazing, when you look back, how many things you've done in what appears so short a time. 2019 didn't exist but man, did it have a heck of an impact!

 

18 hours ago, darkfoxx said:

Sewing project list:

 

Looks awesome! Any chance you'll post pictures of your works when they're done?

[darkfoxx]

I lol'd

This has been a hard-fought victory!

[darkfoxx]

 
Looks awesome! Any chance you'll post pictures of your works when they're done?

Of course. Pics definitely!

[darkfoxx]

Ummmm, what day is this?

Thursday?

Travel day was Tuesday, Wednesday was breakfast + grocery shopping + pup snuggling. DH came home at bedtime - juuuuust in time for no one to get any damn sleep because poor Odin has the icky poos and had to get up a bunch in the middle of the night.

DH is a good hubby and dealt with it (while loudly bitching, of course) because he hates dealing with my smell sensitivity and gag reflex.

Fun stuff.

Bonus: I didn’t freeze my ass off last night like I did the night before, despite being snuggled within an inch of my life by sweaty dogs.


Monday: last day of Abu Dhabi


Tuesday: Travel day


Wednesday: Back to home and semi-normal

[Fonzico]

Welcome home!

[Mel The Hangry]

Your doing awesomely with your progress this year, wow! 

 

You may already know this but in regards to gut health I was told we need to eat 30 different foods a week to help create & keep a good gut microbiome e.g. different types of legumes count as different foods but different types of apples only half count as different foods. 

 

Love the goals and can't wait to see how they all unfold. 

[NeverThatBored]

Following along! 

[darkfoxx]

On 10/24/2019 at 4:20 PM, Fonzico said:

Welcome home!

Thanks! 

[darkfoxx]

On 10/25/2019 at 12:44 AM, Mel The Hangry said:

Your doing awesomely with your progress this year, wow! 

 

You may already know this but in regards to gut health I was told we need to eat 30 different foods a week to help create & keep a good gut microbiome e.g. different types of legumes count as different foods but different types of apples only half count as different foods. 

 

Love the goals and can't wait to see how they all unfold. 

Thanks! Some days it feels like I’ve made exactly zero progress; some days like I’ve done a bunch of deep work that may not look like before and after pictures but is setting myself up for future long-term successes. 
 

I had heard that (about the 30 foods) somewhere before, but damn that’s complicated and I could see arguing with myself and splitting hairs over what constitutes “different” or “food” becoming an all-consuming battle.

 

More power to people with brains that won’t make that a battlefield - I know mine would freakin relish in it and I don’t have the energy to wade in at the moment. 
 

having said that, I *am* making a conscious effort to go for more color in my meals at the moment and to opt for less meat. 

[darkfoxx]

Friday

 

i need to make myself a little cut & paste goals tracker - today is not that day.

 

had a bbq with friends. Shouldn’t have walked over with the pups first - 95 F and sunny - before standing outside in partial shade at 2pm, but such is life. Had to duck into the a/c for a few minutes or pass out, then had to stand in the pool with my pants legs rolled up for another few minutes so I wouldn’t pass out again.

 

oops.

 

black linen pants and a black knit shirt with tennis shoes probably wasn’t the way to go, outfit-wise.

 

had a good time with friends, ate some bbq foods but not too much, ended up drinking a touch too much wine.

 

woke up at 2am freaking out about forgetting to re-up the data on my phone and losing my 25G of accrued data .... turns out, they expire on midnight the night after the expiration date; not before. Whew. Not that it matters that much, but dammit that data is mine!

 

no working out - managed to Jack my shoulder/arm up from pulling the dog from between my legs to my chest during our morning couch snuggle.

 

whoo, fun. And this was my non-crappy side too. Oh, the joys of being a delicate little princess.

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Monday

 

Nutrition

 

What did I eat today?

 

Breakfast: Rice with egg and coconut aminos

Lunch: Salmon/cucumber/avocado sushi

Dinner: Fall harvest soup

 

Did I eat like an asshole?

 

Nope. Waited until I was hungry for breakfast, was mostly hungry for lunch, and dinner - while I wasn’t hungry hungry I didn’t eat until more full than I was when I started.

 

Physical Fitness

 

Did I get off my ass today?

 

Yep - Slow Flow this morning, walked home, then walked the pups. Haven’t yet closed my activity ring, but it’s close.

 

Fulfillment

 

What did I do today to enrich my life?

 

Dicked around and made a new recipe and began a crochet basket - I have zero idea what I’m doing so far.

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Pic from Sunday because I just jumped in with Monday 

 

[Terra]

A variety of color is always a good idea when it comes to food.  I'll add that to the things I need to plan when i actually sit my butt down and meal plan this week!  

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Have been crap again at updating, apparently.

 

Tuesday
 

Coffee group, yoga

 

Wednesday

 

Mall walking - picked up some storage things and items for this years’ Halloween makeup. Team dinner with DH’s coworkers after I got home and set up all the storage options.

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Thursday

 

halloween and the Postmodern Jukebox show! 
 

Did some quick pop art makeup, grabbed some red coral beads, a full circle skirt and collared black shirt and was off! 
 

if you don’t know who I’m talking about: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyFFkOUbrDLpigb56-3koEw

 

The show was fantastic and the venue was a lot of fun. I will definitely go back.

 

Also stayed out till 12:30 am. And danced. Drank a fair amount of whiskey & diet but not to the point of sloppiness - just dehydratedness.

 

 

[Mel The Hangry]

Love the halloween makeup, very awesome. 

[Jean]

I'm particularly fond of what you've done on your lips. Great makeup/hairdo and glad you had an awesome time.

[darkfoxx]

Thanks! 
 

and the weekend continued to be (mostly) good.

 

Friday, DH took the day off; friends came over for an impromptu mini game night and sandwiches.

 

Saturday, DH went out with the guys; a girlfriend and I got some shopping done. More plans were tentatively made for future weekends.

 

DH also lost his phone, so that’s been fun trying to figure out wtf is going on, if he’ll be getting his shit back, and if we need to go buy him another expensive phone now - before he has to turn around and travel again next week.

 

Also found out his mother is going to need surgery - maybe next week - luckily it’s likely to be a quick-ish recovery thing.

 

Today was spent running errands - ordered a retirement gift and accidentally(?) my birthday present; grabbed some sewing supplies so I can draft my skirt pattern, took DH out for a good lunch at a new hotel he hadn’t been to, picked a restaurant for the retirement dinner, and grabbed coffee at the Souq. Also got a replacement charger for DH’s watch - of course now, since he doesn’t have a phone, it does him zero good.

 

 

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Monday

 

yoga - a great class focusing on the transverse abdominus + a little talk about how jacked up menopause makes your body

 

grocery shopping 

 

out to dinner with the colleagues- Indian and the last dinner all together with this team structure.

 

supplies also came in for holiday gifts & soaps

 

Tuesday

 

DH took off again

 

Breakfast Group was good. Followed that with a stubborn walk halfway home in the heat - stopped off at a mall, downed a bottle of water, had a walk around, and grabbed some oat cookies to eat on the way home because I was scheduled to have dessert for dinner. 
 

that didn’t end up happening, so I had a sandwich - late - instead.

 

 

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Wednesday

 

knee was twingeing all day, so I needed to be a bit careful.

 

Wednesday breakfast, found out how to cross under the road to the mall where I bought a few supplies and walked a bit, home to snuggle with pups, had a late lunch and then joined the coworkers for dinner at a dessert restaurant.

 

which I may repeat tonight, because: retirement.

 

 

[darkfoxx]

Thursday

 

wqs supposed to go to dessert dinner again, so no yoga.

 

i did, however: get the retirement present from the jeweler (we got a gold-plated AAA battery made with the dates he served in Doha), walked to and found with great difficulty the fabric shop I like, got quasi-adopted by the old guy that works there because I’m a dumbass white girl (lol) who is abysmal with directions, walked to the Souq and had a camel meat kofta sandwich for lunch, and made dinner reservations at a nice restaurant.

 

DH came home - feeling sick.

 

Dessert for dinner got cancelled afterall.

 

Friday

 

was having a crap day and the dogs were behaving like assholes. Couldn’t fathom going to the dog extravaganza and fighting with them for hours. A girlfriend came over instead and we chatted and had lunch.

 

DH came home from work early because he was sick, cancelled the nice dinner, and we got chicken instead.

 

was still a good day.

 

Saturday

 

DH gamed all day and I went to a craft fair with a girlfriend to escape.

 

heave emotional turmoil in the pm and I’m NFing as an escape.