[AlleyCat]

This is my second challenge, and I liked the simplicity of the first.  So I'm going to choose three goals again that I want to work on:

1. Nutrition: Track my meals.  This doesn't have to be "perfect" - just enough for me to see important information and trends.

2. Exercise: Walk at least 5 minutes a day.  This ties in nicely with the current mini-challenge, and it will help me develop the walking habit.

3. Mindset: Do one nice thing for myself every day.  This one will be hard and very subjective, so I expect to slack on it.  Prior to the challenge, I will need to come up with a list of go-to items that I can use.

 

I'm loving these challenges!

[Elastigirl]

I love the simplicity of this!

[Everstorm]

 

4 hours ago, AlleyCat said:

Do one nice thing for myself every day.  This one will be hard and very subjective, so I expect to slack on it.

 

Isn't it crazy how hard it is to be nice to ourselves?  Good for you for recognizing it and making a goal of it!

[AlleyCat]

Starting my self-care list so I'm prepared next week:

• 5 minutes of self-Reiki
• trim & file nails (it's sad how long they get because I never seem to have the time for this simple thing)
• foot bath
• take the more scenic route home from work
• spend 10 minutes in nature
• shop for something for myself (I don't do this much at all, so this is actually a treat)
• listen to nice music
• read a book just for fun (I'm a book reviewer, so I hardly ever do this)
• 10 minutes of sewing
• 5 minutes of journaling
• snuggle the kitties

I'm sure I will be adding more later, but this is a good start.

 

 

[Everstorm]

Sounds like a great list!!!

[Chesire]

Here for the progress, not perfect, simple challenge.  

[juliebarkley]

I love this! Looking forward to seeing all the nice things you do for yourself.

[AlleyCat]

Well, I'm off to a slow start.  My nasty sinus infection is finally improving, so most of my self-care was rest and fluids the past few days.  But today I'm feeling like I'm on the mend, and I think I can manage today's goals.

[AlleyCat]

Still recovering but definitely on the mend.  Today's goals:

1. Track everything.

2. Walk 5 minutes

3. 10 minutes of sewing

 

Yesterday I finally managed a full bodyweight workout after a week off.  I did it on a slightly lower level, but I was able to complete it.  My energy levels are definitely improving, and that walk might be more than five minutes.  We'll see.

[Elastigirl]

Looks like good goals for the day!

[Everstorm]

Glad to hear you are feeling better!

[AlleyCat]

I was successful at meeting my goals yesterday.  This morning I did my bodyweight exercise at full strength.  Other than the annoying persistent cough, I seem to be at just about full strength.

 

Today's goals:

1. Track everything.

2. Walk 5 minutes

3. 10 minutes of sewing

 

I'd love to take a real walk, but my hubby is still under the weather and isn't up to it.  So I'll just do the walk around the office again today.

[Elastigirl]

Way to go. I hate it when coughs linger and take a while to go away.

[Chesire]

16 hours ago, AlleyCat said:

. 10 minutes of sewing

Whatcha sewing? 

 

Woot!  getting back to it especially with a cough is 👏

[AlleyCat]

On 9/17/2022 at 7:24 AM, Chesire said:

Whatcha sewing? 

 

Woot!  getting back to it especially with a cough is 👏

 

I started a quilt many, many years ago with a group who was all using machines but I was hand sewing.  I never did finish the quilt, but I had five nice blocks.  So I decided to make a runner out of four and a pillow out of the fifth.  I sewed the four blocks together but never did finish it.  So now I'm quilting the runner so I can finally use it.

 

I have way too many works-in-progress and I've decided I want to finish them all.  It may take me the next three years, but I'm going to do it.

 

This past weekend - no tracking.  I was eating according to plan, and I didn't really have any need for it.  Hubby and I took a one mile walk on Sunday, which was encouraging, since he hasn't been feeling well either.  The only reason we turned around was our neighbor had let their dogs out and they were starting to chase us.  They're little ankle biters who don't leave the property, but walking by the house agitates them, so we beat a hasty retreat so they could get them back inside.  I clipped my toenails yesterday (self-care.)

 

 

Scale and non-scale victories:  I saw a number on the scale I haven't seen in two years, which made me very happy.  But also, the pants I bought when I gained some weight are now way too loose and I can only wear them with a belt.

[Chesire]

24 minutes ago, AlleyCat said:

I have way too many works-in-progress and I've decided I want to finish them all.  It may take me the next three years, but I'm going to do it.

Totally not meant to be rude, but 🤣 because that's always the plan, but somehow the pile doesn't shrink!  Even when I say I will finish one before I move on...  somehow it doesn't deplete the backlog.   I will definitely follow you just to vicariously live through this goal    Also, you are a maker after my own heart.  Make what you have work for you.  If you are comfortable with it, I'd love to see it sometime.  Show and tell is the best

 

Ride that wave of a good weekend into a hopefully nice week 🌊

[AlleyCat]

51 minutes ago, Chesire said:

Totally not meant to be rude, but 🤣 because that's always the plan, but somehow the pile doesn't shrink!  Even when I say I will finish one before I move on...  somehow it doesn't deplete the backlog.   I will definitely follow you just to vicariously live through this goal    Also, you are a maker after my own heart.  Make what you have work for you.  If you are comfortable with it, I'd love to see it sometime.  Show and tell is the best

 

Ride that wave of a good weekend into a hopefully nice week 🌊

 

LOL, yeah, I know what you mean.  But I haven't been inspired to start anything, knowing I have SO many unfinished things.  It's like I'm bogged down and can't move forward.  I will either finish them or completely abandon them.  But I need to clear at least SOME creative space first.  

 

I'll snap a pic of the current WIP when I have a chance.

[AlleyCat]

Completed yesterday's challenge goals.  I'll be sewing again at lunch today, as long as my finger holds out.  One of the hazards of quilting is poking holes in my finger.  Once I start bleeding, I have to stop. 🤪

[AlleyCat]

Still doing well.  I've been tracking everything and the new 30 day challenge has kept me on track with walking everyday.  I wish we could add a daily "to-do" to our Journey list every day, since this is one I'd like to keep on the list forever.  And here are some pics of the quilted runner.  The single square will be a pillow at some point.  The lighting isn't great, so I took one of the whole runner and then a couple of close-ups.

[AlleyCat]

Today I won't be tracking.  Fridays are weird days for us, since we don't eat meat.  I will probably go off plan, but it's okay.

I will get my five minute walk later today.

My self-care will be going to yard sales with hubby.  It's a fun thing we do several times over the course of the season.  I hope I find some cool bargains!

[Chesire]

Thanks for sharing your quilt top.  That will make a beautiful runner.  And your triangle points look great, all nice and even and crisp!  (I only notice these things since my quilty friends discuss such matters )

[AlleyCat]

1 minute ago, Chesire said:

Thanks for sharing your quilt top.  That will make a beautiful runner.  And your triangle points look great, all nice and even and crisp!  (I only notice these things since my quilty friends discuss such matters )

 

Thank you!!  I'm kinda anal about those points.  Whenever I see a quilt, that's the first thing I look for.  Even hubby knows what they should look like now.  😆

[AlleyCat]

I'm getting close to finishing the quilting on the runner.  I should be able to start the edges in the next day or so.  I've decided to make the single square into a wall-hanging rather than a pillow because I really don't need a pillow.  I can hang it behind the cabinet the runner is going to live on.

 

Still dealing with this stupid cough that makes me too tired to do much of anything, but I have managed to keep up on my bodyweight workouts.  This morning I did 2B.  I think I have another week plus to finish level 2.  I'm curious what the boss battle will look like.  Level 2 didn't seem much different from Level 1, except for the addition of a C.  I'm ready to move to something different/harder.

 

Tonight we bring the other dog to the groomer's, and we'll be taking a walk while we wait.  She lives on a country road, so it will be a pleasant walk.  Not that all our walks aren't pleasant - we live in the country, and we have so many nice places to walk near our home.  But it will be "different."

[Elastigirl]

That's a very pretty quilt!

[AlleyCat]

I've been doing the 30 day walking challenge, and it's been a struggle getting that pesky five minute walk done every day.  Yesterday we did the walk at the groomer's.  We took a different road this time, and it was all uphill one way.  I was surprised to find that I didn't really have a problem with it.  Not out of wind, not even all that tired.  Progress!

 

I also got on the scale this morning to find a nice surprise - another 2 lbs down.  I've been limiting my carbs, but really not much else.  I eat pretty much anything else (with extra protein) and as much as my body needs at the moment.  I'm stunned that I've lost 10 lbs so far over the past two months, with only this one change to my diet, bodyweight exercises, and occasional walks.

 

I'll probably take a break from the quilt today and take a walk at lunch today.  It's turning into beautiful fall weather here, and it will be perfect walking conditions.  I love walking more for the joy of it, and less for the exercise.