Asa Pond Returns from the Dead

[Asa Pond]

 

Hey all! I'm back and better than ever. Since I last did a challenge (at some point in the last three years ???) I: 1) Graduated law school; 2) Got back surgery to fix a 13 year long back injury; 3) Took the Bar; 4) Moved(-ish) to a new city (I'm in the process); 5) Got a cat (named Catticus Finch); and 6) (Almost) started a job (I start on the first day of the challenge!). 

 

During Covid (and let's be real - law school), I've also gained 20 pounds and due to stress and pain (from the previously mentioned injury that is now GONE!) I haven't really had any sort of physical fitness plan. Now that I have time and ability - I need to start up again. Let's see if I can remember how to get back on this bike.

 

 

Let's take it back to the basics for this one:

 

1) Veggies and/or fruit at every meal.

 

 

2) Water - all of it (okay 75 ounces).

 

 

(Yes it's coffee, I don't have a better option)

 

3) At least 15 minutes of activity a day (walking, yoga, stretching, body weight, etc). I *do* have access to a gym at my new apartment so I may have biking, elliptical, etc to this BUT I don't know how busy it is and I'm not about to risk getting or spreading covid for a workout.

 

*Note: This may or may not end up being Torchwood themed. I don't have an active fandom right now 😮 which means I needed to fall back on an old one. AKA: Please don't expect any organization. : |

 

[WhiteGhost]

Oh hey! Welcome back to the land of the living!

[RogueLibrarian]

Team Pond 4 Lyfe

[tei_]

 

HELLO, I am also attempting to make a return to here, OH MY GOD, TORCHWOOD, I haven't thought about Torchwood for so long and suddenly I'm being punched in the face with feelings?

[Asa Pond]

14 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Oh hey! Welcome back to the land of the living!

 

Oh hey back! Thank you!!!

 

1 hour ago, RogueLibrarian said:

Team Pond 4 Lyfe

 

You managed to find the perfect ass ass in gif and I'm not mad about it.

 

1 hour ago, tei_ said:

 

HELLO, I am also attempting to make a return to here, OH MY GOD, TORCHWOOD, I haven't thought about Torchwood for so long and suddenly I'm being punched in the face with feelings?

 

Yaaas. Welcome back!!! (and I know. I may have rebinged it during quarantine but I refuse to believe anyone in the og team is dead.)

[RogueLibrarian]

46 minutes ago, Asa Pond said:

You managed to find the perfect ass ass in gif and I'm not mad about it.

 

GET THAT ASS IN, ASSASSIN

[raptron]

Ahhh, congrats on ALL OF THE BIG life things that have happened.  Welcome back.

[Mad Hatter]

Hah I just rewatched Torchwood recently and SO MANY FEELS! Welcome back! 

[Asa Pond]

Oh hi! I'm still here!

 

It was my first full week in my apartment and at my job so it's been a crazy week!

 

I haven't been tracking my goals but I have been focusing on improving in all the areas so I've been drinking more water daily, I've done a few quick body weight workouts to get back on track, and have been focusing on eating more vegetables. I'm going to be a bit more specific on keeping track this week. 

 

[Asa Pond]

On 9/9/2020 at 1:18 PM, raptron said:

Ahhh, congrats on ALL OF THE BIG life things that have happened.  Welcome back.

 

On 9/9/2020 at 2:06 PM, Mad Hatter said:

Hah I just rewatched Torchwood recently and SO MANY FEELS! Welcome back! 

 

Thank youuuuuuu!!!!!

 

On 9/9/2020 at 11:37 AM, RogueLibrarian said:

 

GET THAT ASS IN, ASSASSIN

 

YOU KNOW IT

[Asa Pond]

Here we go - an actual tracking post:

 

Sunday: 1) I went home to pick up a few things and my mom hadn't gone shopping yet so no fruits or veggies for breakfast. Instead, she made Swedish pancakes and I'm not complaining. Did manage to eat a bunch of asparagus for dinner though.

 

I drank enough tea and water that I probably met my goal but I didn't actually pay attention so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

I'm starting the "Kick-start your weightloss" program in the Aaptiv App and it began with a 17 minute body weight circuit workout. This was my first real workout (I've done some yoga and walking but nothing that I can label "working out") in a yearish because of my back and surgery. YIKES. I am very out of shape. Good news though - I did it with 0 back pain and it has been so long since that's happened that I didn't realize it could. I felt simultaneously dead and thrilled. 😂 

 

Today I planned on waking up early enough to do a quick yoga session to start the day, but that didn't happen so I'll do one tonight. I also forgot my salad I had packed for lunch at home so we'll see what I can scrounge up for something healthy.

[raptron]

2 hours ago, Asa Pond said:

 Good news though - I did it with 0 back pain and it has been so long since that's happened that I didn't realize it could. I felt simultaneously dead and thrilled. 😂 

Very good news!!!

 

[RogueLibrarian]

I am so proud of you for doing that workout -- and what amazing news about your progress! I feel like you've been dealing with the back problems forever. That's fantastic that you can work out again.

[Mad Hatter]

Yay for no back pain - that's huge!

[Asa Pond]

I just had to come complain about the DOMS. It's been awhile and ow. Walking is hard but walking in heels is pain.

[Asa Pond]

I was one of the very last people to leave my office today and thank god because I swear it took me 2 minutes to get down the single flight of stairs and thank god for railings and hand sanitizer. 😂 I felt pathetic.

 

Came home and did some easy yoga and stretching. I still need to eat a fruit or veggie tonight (unless wine counts? Yes? oh NO? No. ok.)

 

 

 (OH! And I had a backup chicken noodle soup for lunch that I brought to my office for just an occasion but I was really hoping it would have lasted longer than the first day of my second week.😒)

[Asa Pond]

Here's a vague-goal for this challenge - every morning at my office I am so stiff and keep popping tylenol like it's my day job. So by the end of this challenge, I'd *like* to be waking up early enough to do a yoga or stretching session. It doesn't even have to be that long - just 15 minutes or so. 

[RogueLibrarian]

19 hours ago, Asa Pond said:

I just had to come complain about the DOMS. It's been awhile and ow.

 

[raptron]

Oh that pesky DOMS. It'll get ya. 

57 minutes ago, Asa Pond said:

Here's a vague-goal for this challenge - every morning at my office I am so stiff and keep popping tylenol like it's my day job. So by the end of this challenge, I'd *like* to be waking up early enough to do a yoga or stretching session. It doesn't even have to be that long - just 15 minutes or so. 

That does sound like a nice way to start the day. 

[Asa Pond]

Was planning on working out yesterday but emotionally and physically I was just drained after work. Nothing in particular happened but I'm still trying to adjust to working 5 days a week at an office from not doing anything, barely seeing anyone except my mom, and being able to nap every day whenever I wanted during quarantine. I'm sure I'll adjust soon enough - I actually really enjoy my job and being able to sit at my desk without any back pain is new and exciting too (one day I will stop talking about how much the surgery helped me but today is not that day). 

 

I sort of started with the "wake up early and stretch" goal today. I didn't actually leave my bed but I did stretch and feel a lot better this morning. I also made avocado toast with eggs and coffee in my french press (I haven't gotten a coffee maker for my apartment yet but I don't think I will). I was a little later to work than I would have liked, but the slower morning was SO worth it. I definitely need to start waking up earlier - which also means going to bed earlier. 😐

 

Today I have a happy hour with a few of the associates at my firm so I don't think a workout is going to happen but maybe some easy yoga? 

 

Lunch today is literally just whatever fruit and veggies I could round up from my kitchen because I was too lazy to throw something real together last night.

 

AND finally - I re-downloaded Plant Nanny on my phone which is helping me keep track of my water intake by requiring me to water little plants every time I drink water. 

 

I need to keep reminding myself that a slow transition back into a serious fitness routine is more than ok - it's necessary. 

 

[Asa Pond]

Wednesday happy hour went long and working out was not happening. 

 

But yesterday I killed it. Got home from working late and finishing up a few projects, talked myself into working out and then stretching after. Then I had homemade chicken salad and tea before finishing unpacking the last of my kitchen boxes and meditating before bed. Basically, it was just a really good day. 

 

Then this morning I accidentally set off my and my neighbor's fire alarms while making toast (It wasn't even that burnt - no smoke or anything!) and they wouldn't turn off, so that was fun. 

 

But it's Friday! And I'm going home to pick up my cat this weekend and I'm so happy because my apartment is lonely without him.

[raptron]

Aw yay! Glad you're getting your kitty. 😸

[tei_]

Kitty! Getting back to working out slooowwwly is great, congrats on your first couple post-surgery workouts

 

On 9/25/2020 at 7:47 AM, Asa Pond said:

Then this morning I accidentally set off my and my neighbor's fire alarms while making toast (It wasn't even that burnt - no smoke or anything!) and they wouldn't turn off, so that was fun. 

I may have, um, set my entire toaster on fire recently, so. *fist bump*

[Asa Pond]

On 9/26/2020 at 11:25 AM, tei_ said:

Kitty! Getting back to working out slooowwwly is great, congrats on your first couple post-surgery workouts

 

Thank you!! It's so tough though.

 

On 9/26/2020 at 11:25 AM, tei_ said:

 

I may have, um, set my entire toaster on fire recently, so. *fist bump*

 

Omg thank you - I may have done this to my mom's a few times and I'm so glad I'm not the only one. 😂

[Asa Pond]

Check in time:

 

I'm getting my feet back under me with working out a bit more. I met my goal of three workouts last week and worked out last night (cardio and barre) even though I really didn't want to. Water goal is going well and increasing veggies/fruit intake is improving as well. I don't know if I'm progressing in the weight/measurements area because I didn't record those but that's for later. 

 

Catticus is home and mostly doing well! He doesn't like when I leave in the mornings and I suspect he hides under the bed all day but that'll change. He was playing last night and purrs up a storm at bedtime so I'll say we are doing ok. I think he misses his brother though.

 

At this point, I think I'm dropping my goals and they are now just - "get healthier." 😂