[spezzy]

Where did last challenge go? 

 

Over the last year of lyme recovery, moving countries, immigration, living out of the camper full time for a while, buying this property from my mom, working on all of the huge giant renovations, getting the farm set up, welcoming 43 new animals to the farm, getting a puppy, dealing with a super wet season and so many unexpected things with these animals already - fitness has really been kicked off the top tier for priorities.

 

I've kept up with a lot of the basics really well, like walks, scheduling, food, etc., and have been getting in a ton of movement just doing all this farm work, but it's definitely been a period of lower fitness for me all around. 

 

And it's time to change that.

 

I've found that it's very easy to feel like fitness should go on the backburner until all of these urgent issues are taken care of - but also that as soon as one urgent issue is solved 3 more pop up and put themselves as a higher priority than fitness. And you know what? There are very few of these projects that are actually an urgent priority over my longterm health and fitness. 

 

It's like putting myself on the backburner has become my new habit/default. 

 

 

So how do I stop? Well, first, I have to let go of a lot of things and accept that me going to the gym or doing goals for me are all more important than getting those projects done earlier. 

 

I'm going to be 40 in under 12 weeks now, and I won't lie that that hasn't had an influence on taking a hard look at how my life is going, and I'm realizing that I'm not where I want to be health and fitness wise, and that by putting it off, I'm wasting some pretty important years for muscle building and improving bone density - and for things I don't actually need or think are important (like the house renos). 

 

 

So while I'm totally fine with turning 40, and this isn't a panic thing - I WOULD like to enter my 40's on the right foot fitness wise, setting boundaries with myself and others, and feeling like an adult. 

 

 

Just kiddingggg I will never feel like an adult. But I wanna be strong and fit again. 

 

So when starting on any activity before I've completed my goals for the day, the question I have to ask myself is "is this priority over my fitness?"

 

Putting a few more details under spoiler just because it's probably more than anyone needs to read 😂 

Spoiler

I'm giving myself permission to let go of these projects for now:

• House renovations. All of the roofs have been re-shingled so there's no water getting inside of any building, All of our main appliances and utilities are now functional, and for the first time since we bought the house - there are no projects that can't wait right now (like replacing the roof had to take priority because there was grass growing inside from the hole in it) - so we can move at our own pace.
• Growing/raising as much of our own food as I wanted to. The land just needs too much work, and I can easily buy food from the farms around us while we're getting up and running here.  I had my hopes set on a fall garden in a new spot, but it's absolutely 100% worse than I thought so I decided to cut my losses this weekend. It's where my greenhouse will go anyway, so, might as well not plant on it 😂 
• The rabbits - I was hoping to start raising rabbits again this year, and I have just about everything I need to get them set up again, but not the time to build their enclosures. In a few months people will be looking to reduce their herds for winter, so that will be a better time to start then anyways.

So all of these are things I can work on slowly of course, but I'm not focusing on them. 

 

Things I will still focus on and consider priority: 

• The goats! Last challenge I got all of the chickens out of the basement and into their permanent enclosure, so now it's the goat's turn (their set up where they are COULD be permanent, but I'd prefer to not have goats in the house). For that we just need to finish a few things on the barn and put up the fence. 
• Huckleberry - teenage puppy needs training or I will regret my decision to get said teenage puppy 😂 
• The hugelkultur beds we're building to help with stormwater management. This I can work on slowly, enjoy, is very physical, and I'd prefer if our house didn't float away in one of these storms.

 

I also got set up with some new doctors in the last 2 challenges, and am hopeful that some of my medical stuff will start to work out and I can start to do a bit more, but if it doesn't? I'll just keep at this pace. 

 

 

 

 

GOAL NUMBER ONE:

 

TRAINING

 

 My week will look something like this, starting every morning with a 20+ (20-40 is average) walk up the mountain next to my house, and ending the night with some light bedtime yoga - whatever feels good, really. 

 

Those two anchor points have always been really good to me, so solidifying them here.

 

WEEK 2 EDIT: Totally changing this, instead of splitting out how many times I need to do each thing, I'm going to loosely follow along with kdubs programming at his gym + my own deadlift day, with the goal of also making it to work out with him in person 2x a month. It's just far enough away where it's difficult to get to regularly, but 2x a month sounds ACTUALLY realistic. I'm also running into the problem again where I love programming, but I program for a full time job... so programming for myself at the end of the day is exhausting. I can take these workouts and modify them for my abilities and it will take so much thinking off my plate, so I'm stoked. 

 

So:

Walking 7x

Yoga 7x

Training of some sort 6x

 

 

GOATS 

I did say this was still Spezzy and the goats, right? 

 

5) Get the goats out of the cellar and into their permanent barn with their new fencing set up. This means we have to finish the barn (finish the roof including shingling, gutters, water catchment, prime/paint, finish the doors, bring in another couple of tons of sand into the yard, and do a lot of land clearing (the space we have for them has a lot of plants that are toxic to goats, of course) - so this will be my main project for the entire challenge, and nothing else. 

 

 6) Train Huckleberry - 10 min in the morning, 10 min at night. Every single day. I know he's not a goat but he's eventually going to be spending a lot of time with the goats and be in charge of helping herd them, and we can't start that training until he learns to mind his little manners. 

 

WORK / PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

7) Spellbooks (Scheduling) - Check in with Rurik each night and plan the next day. Do a longer planning session each weekend for the upcoming week. 

 

This one is going to even more important than ever -  my secondary role at work is changing big time, and while I'm thrilled for it, it's going to require some weird schedules.  So it's going to be a lot of practicing boundaries and sticking to what I said I was going to do when, or I could easily just end up working 24/7. 

 

8 ) Work habits:

This is more of a reminder goal than anything. Headphones, door closed, treadmill (fix treadmill this week so treadmill can be a goal)

 

9) Certification - I'm working on a nutrition certification I need to do by the end of this year in order to keep my training certs (you have to do continued education every so often to keep them). I'd like to have started by the end of this challenge, even if it's only a chapter in.  

 

Alright, that's it!

 

I'll leave you with a few fun pictures of things going on here at the farm! 

 

I ordered a kettlebell and they sent me 2:

 

Last challenge we got the chickens set up completely outside, so now there are 2 sections of the coop, where one section is for the babies and one section is for the hens. This way they can live next to each other and when the babies are old enough, it should make flock integration easier. Most importantly, it saves me about 20-30 minutes in the morning and evening and is a safer set up for the birds (where they were previously was way more humid than we thought so it was growing mold overnight and I was changing bedding 2x a day 😳 ).  

 

 

My puppy has disappeared and a grown ass dog has appeared in his place (he's only 5 months 😭)

 

 

Felix is taking his job as big brother and farm dog very seriously 

 

And here is Rurik and one of our hens:

 

And our babies first cuddle puddle in their new coop

 

Yes I know the camera is upside down I am too lazy to flip it

 

 

Okay byeeeeeeeee 

 

PS bonus goal update here at least 4x a week

 

 

 

 

[Sovalis]

Here to cheer you on!! 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following.  You know I'll always support you taking care of yourself, I like the reprioritization you did. 

 

51 minutes ago, spezzy said:

And here is Rurik and one of our hens:

@Rurik Harrgath your beard game is still on point and don't think I don't see the muscle definition in those forearms.

[Everstorm]

Here for goat barn progress pix and teenage doggo wrangling!  

 

Nice score getting a twofer on the kettlebells!

[JuiceeTarget]

It's so hard when you want to do _All the Things!_ but somehow you don't have all oof the time. I feel this acutely. For me, it has helped to give myself grace and to allow myself to be disappointed by what I can't get to, while celebrating what I can get to. It's hard to do, but I think you've got a great attitude.

 

Don't let those goats baaaaa-oss you around.

[Grizzy]

How is the puppy SO BIG already???

[Severine]

I used to farm in New England (vegetables and cut flowers, with meat rabbits and laying chickens) and I am very much following all of the agricultural adventures. I am also 1000% enthusiastically cheering the idea of you prioritizing your health and safety over any particular project. I'm a cautionary tale, in a way, of what can happen if you don't put yourself high enough on the priority list. After years of pushing through pain I shouldn't have ignored and working way more hours than I should have, I ended up with nerve injuries and other issues I'm still rehabbing. I'm turning 42 in August, but I have injuries that sometimes make me feel a lot older. Many of my farmer friends have fallen into the same trap - don't be us! On a farm, there's always work you could be doing and almost always a few things that feel urgent, but you can't sacrifice your body or your mental well-being just to get a few more projects done. 

 

Very sorry to hear about the lyme. I've seen many people go through it, and it's such a burden. Wishing you a full recovery  ❤️ 

 

Your goals sound logical and balanced and exciting and I wish you a challenge that catapults you into your 40th birthday with feelings of joy and accomplishment! 

 

[shaar]

We have SO many awesome farm stands and CSAs around here that it is a blessing!!! I’m glad that you took a look at your priorities and had a mindful think about what is important - I always want to do Too Much too but as we get older (UGGHHHHHH) it absolutely leads to burnout hard.

 

Also omg HUCKLEBERRY is such a YOUNG ADULT now

 

Also also pls tell Rurik hello!!! And that we miss him here!!

[Emma]

 

[spezzy]

On 7/24/2023 at 9:20 PM, Sovalis said:

Here to cheer you on!! 

 

 

On 7/24/2023 at 9:27 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following.  You know I'll always support you taking care of yourself, I like the reprioritization you did. 

 

 

On 7/24/2023 at 10:03 PM, Everstorm said:

Here for goat barn progress pix and teenage doggo wrangling!  

 

Nice score getting a twofer on the kettlebells!

 

 

teenage doggo says he's excited you're here! 

 

 

On 7/24/2023 at 11:25 PM, JuiceeTarget said:

It's so hard when you want to do _All the Things!_ but somehow you don't have all oof the time. I feel this acutely. For me, it has helped to give myself grace and to allow myself to be disappointed by what I can't get to, while celebrating what I can get to. It's hard to do, but I think you've got a great attitude.

 

Don't let those goats baaaaa-oss you around.

 

 

Oh they are 100% in charge 😂 

 

Yeah, it's SO hard to do, and so easy to be like "oh, i'll just scrape the paint 20 minutes a time on breaks from work" but in reality, that's just exhausting if you do it long term. 

 

Just going and sitting with the chickens or goats on my breaks is way more productive for my brain! 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 12:10 AM, Grizzy said:

How is the puppy SO BIG already???

 

My theory is that he eats a lot of goat and chicken poo and that's basically just fertilizer, right?

 

 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 1:48 AM, Severine said:

I used to farm in New England (vegetables and cut flowers, with meat rabbits and laying chickens) and I am very much following all of the agricultural adventures. I am also 1000% enthusiastically cheering the idea of you prioritizing your health and safety over any particular project. I'm a cautionary tale, in a way, of what can happen if you don't put yourself high enough on the priority list. After years of pushing through pain I shouldn't have ignored and working way more hours than I should have, I ended up with nerve injuries and other issues I'm still rehabbing. I'm turning 42 in August, but I have injuries that sometimes make me feel a lot older. Many of my farmer friends have fallen into the same trap - don't be us! On a farm, there's always work you could be doing and almost always a few things that feel urgent, but you can't sacrifice your body or your mental well-being just to get a few more projects done. 

 

Very sorry to hear about the lyme. I've seen many people go through it, and it's such a burden. Wishing you a full recovery  ❤️ 

 

Your goals sound logical and balanced and exciting and I wish you a challenge that catapults you into your 40th birthday with feelings of joy and accomplishment! 

 

 

 

Thank you! Logical and balanced is 100% the goal here

 

It's crazy because projects ARE exercise, too, so you're like "I'm exercising!" and you are. But you're totally right on needing to take care of yourself and do all of the prehab/rehab/make sure things stay strong! I'm thankful to have the knowledge of at least what to do, now I just need the wisdom to go and do it 😂 

 

Also, if you had rabbits when you were a kid and were in New England and in 4-H or the show scene at all, we have probably crossed paths in the past (I was heavily involved in rabbits in Massachusetts from like 1992-2010)!  I only showed chickens at the local fairs but never took it seriously. I'm hoping to get involved a bit again once everything clears up, at least with volunteering at some fairs here and there again. Such a great way to meet people and talk about farm stuff! 

 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:04 AM, shaar said:

We have SO many awesome farm stands and CSAs around here that it is a blessing!!! I’m glad that you took a look at your priorities and had a mindful think about what is important - I always want to do Too Much too but as we get older (UGGHHHHHH) it absolutely leads to burnout hard.

 

 

There are SO many, and I've been meaning to actually stop in at some and say hello, especially the ones that are our neighbors. One of them who has the farm at the top of the hill actually called me out on my walk last week noting that I never make it to the top anymore so.... time for that to change 😂 

 

Last year one of them had a box out and you could just venmo them the money, so it'd be great to be able to pick up some veggies on my morning walk!

 

at least getting older is forcing me to find some clarity 😂 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:04 AM, shaar said:

 

Also omg HUCKLEBERRY is such a YOUNG ADULT now

 

where did my baby go 😭 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 9:04 AM, shaar said:

Also also pls tell Rurik hello!!! And that we miss him here!!

 

Maybe it's like beetlejuice that if we tag him 3 times he'll show up? 

 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 10:47 AM, Emma said:

 

 

@Rurik Harrgath does this remind you of anyone you know? 

[Rhovaniel]

Hey Staci! I am loving all the farm updates but super happy you are prioritising your health too! Huckleberry is so gorgeous! How are the feline residents handling the puppy?  

 

 

 

On 7/25/2023 at 2:04 PM, shaar said:

 

Also also pls tell Rurik hello!!! And that we miss him here!!

Seconded!

 

1 hour ago, spezzy said:

Maybe it's like beetlejuice that if we tag him 3 times he'll show up? 

Hey @Rurik Harrgath please come back! We need some #MomoaMonday motivation in here! 

 

[Rurik Harrgath]

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Hey @Rurik Harrgath please come back! We need some #MomoaMonday motivation in here! 

 

You rang?

 

[spezzy]

26 minutes ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

You rang?

 

 

Okay, but, it's Wednesday. And on Wednesdays, we wear pink. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rhovaniel]

25 minutes ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

You rang?

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, spezzy said:

 

Okay, but, it's Wednesday. And on Wednesdays, we wear pink. 

 

 

 

 

 

It IS Wednesday. Guess that means it's actually #MomoaMondayEveryday!

[Rurik Harrgath]

52 minutes ago, spezzy said:

Okay, but, it's Wednesday. And on Wednesdays, we wear pink. 

48 minutes ago, Rhovaniel said:

It IS Wednesday. Guess that means it's actually #MomoaMondayEveryday!

 

#MomoaHumpDay!!  

 

[Severine]

12 hours ago, spezzy said:

I'm thankful to have the knowledge of at least what to do, now I just need the wisdom to go and do it 😂 

 

I feel like this aptly summarizes the mission of a very large percentage of nerds hereabouts   

 

12 hours ago, spezzy said:

Also, if you had rabbits when you were a kid and were in New England and in 4-H or the show scene at all, we have probably crossed paths in the past (I was heavily involved in rabbits in Massachusetts from like 1992-2010)!  I only showed chickens at the local fairs but never took it seriously. I'm hoping to get involved a bit again once everything clears up, at least with volunteering at some fairs here and there again. Such a great way to meet people and talk about farm stuff!

 

As cool as it would have been to hang out with small spezzy, sadly I know it didn't happen because I'm originally from Canada and didn't move to MA until I was in my mid-20's (fall in love with an American and before you know it you're applying for a green card and learning how to pronounce weird MA town names). If your farm ever starts selling goat cheese or something like that, however, I will definitely swing by and purchase some the next time I'm in MA to visit my in-laws   

[Sepherina]

 

On 7/24/2023 at 8:35 PM, spezzy said:

I'm going to be 40 in under 12 weeks now, and I won't lie that that hasn't had an influence on taking a hard look at how my life is going, and I'm realizing that I'm not where I want to be health and fitness wise, and that by putting it off, I'm wasting some pretty important years for muscle building and improving bone density - and for things I don't actually need or think are important (like the house renos)

I turned 40 last year and totally can relate to this. Following for solidarity and to live the farm life vicariously through you lol..

 

[spezzy]

On 7/27/2023 at 1:23 AM, Severine said:

 

I feel like this aptly summarizes the mission of a very large percentage of nerds hereabouts   

 

 

As cool as it would have been to hang out with small spezzy, sadly I know it didn't happen because I'm originally from Canada and didn't move to MA until I was in my mid-20's (fall in love with an American and before you know it you're applying for a green card and learning how to pronounce weird MA town names). If your farm ever starts selling goat cheese or something like that, however, I will definitely swing by and purchase some the next time I'm in MA to visit my in-laws   

 

Right? Like, I know what to do, however making myself do it.... 😂  I just got back from Canada myself, 

 

 @Rurik Harrgath what about this one? does anything about this sound familiar at all? 

 

 

On 7/26/2023 at 2:37 PM, Rhovaniel said:

Hey Staci! I am loving all the farm updates but super happy you are prioritising your health too! Huckleberry is so gorgeous! How are the feline residents handling the puppy?  

 

 

 

Thank you ❤️ ❤️❤️ 

 

The feline residents are... not 😂  They're finally to the point where they aren't running from him, but there's a lot of hissing. Huck is pretty convinced all of the cats want to play with him and that is indeed not true.

 

Well, except for the bengal. they play, and sometimes I think it's consensual 😂  

 

Here's Jazz tolerating him!

 

And Felix and Meatball seemed to have formed an alliance finally after all of these years of hating each other - seems like a common enemy has united them! 

 

 

On 7/27/2023 at 7:41 AM, Sepherina said:

 

I turned 40 last year and totally can relate to this. Following for solidarity and to live the farm life vicariously through you lol..

 

 

 

yayyyy 40's ftw 🎉   Thanks for coming to the farm party  

 

 

[RES]

On 7/26/2023 at 1:18 PM, spezzy said:

It's crazy because projects ARE exercise, too, so you're like "I'm exercising!"

This is completely what I think! I read your thread and wonder how you do it all sometimes.

I would be like this

 

 

 

Here for goats, puppies, cats, chickens and Momoa

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 7/27/2023 at 1:23 AM, Severine said:

As cool as it would have been to hang out with small spezzy, sadly I know it didn't happen because I'm originally from Canada and didn't move to MA until I was in my mid-20's (fall in love with an American and before you know it you're applying for a green card and learning how to pronounce weird MA town names). If your farm ever starts selling goat cheese or something like that, however, I will definitely swing by and purchase some the next time I'm in MA to visit my in-laws   

On 7/28/2023 at 4:55 PM, spezzy said:

 @Rurik Harrgath what about this one? does anything about this sound familiar at all? 

 

That is straing-up terrifyingly familiar 🤪

[spezzy]

Alright, gonna try to update at least the fitness portion of my challenge every morning quick as a part of my start the day routine. 

 

For the non fitness updates, I'll update them less frequently or as I have updates there - want to make sure my fitness goals are number one here, too

 

🐐 = did it

☠️ = didn't do it

🧐 = haven't done yet, but not necessarily due yet- keep on list

 

W1D1 - Monday review 

 

We spent the entire weekend cleaning, organizing, and getting ready for the week, and that was exhausting but also really felt like it brought a ton of energy back, and my brain is so much clearer walking through the house now. We still have a lot to do on that front, but a lot of systems updates and changes that should really start to make a big impact as the week goes on.

 

We also spent a bunch of time outside playing with the goats sunday and that felt like a super worthwhile way to spend the day and actually relax. For some reason, I can relax around the animals where I can't relax as well anywhere else. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvXiPG7AXn9/

(I know insta embed is broken, but I'm too lazy to upload to youtube at this moment 😬 )

 

Walking - 🐐 (1/7)

Walked to our third checkpoint (we walk up a big hill every morning and always turn around at one of 4 points depending on how far we want to go, with the 4th being the very top, and that one taking about an hour. the 1st one takes around 15 minutes)

 

Strength Training - 🐐 (1/3)

Upper body push - did some overhead press. Worked up to a double at 95, triple at 90, 5 at 85, so good to know that's where I'm at right now to base some numbers off of!

And then some core work and some light chinups before I remembered I had pull day today

 

Yoga - 🐐 (1/7)

With my office totally clean from the weekend, there's plenty of room for a yoga mat in a cat free area. Success! Did 20 minutes before bed. 

 

🧐 = intervals, endurance

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I approve of Goatio.

[shaar]

Goatioooooooooo yes YES this is wholesome and also beneficial for all involved!!

[spezzy]

 

🐐 = did it

☠️ = didn't do it

🧐 = haven't done yet, but not necessarily due yet- keep on list

 

W1D2 - Tuesday review 

 

Good day all around - I had a good, productive work day, and had no major issues. Focus was decent.  I have a bunch of videos to film for work this week and next week so I trimmed my hair, I can get a real haircut next week but for now this will do!

 

I also found out that some of my favorite bands are playing in boston in a few weeks and was able to get tickets, so super pumped about that!! This is a really big thing for me - not only going out and doing something (my hermit tendencies and not wanting to deal with boston tend to win out on things like this), but also music was my life for a long time, and it's something that I lost the ability to process well with Lyme and the hearing issues that arose there. Now that my brain is coming back, I can actually hear music again, and it's brought so much joy and peace back into my life already, and I haven't been this excited about an event in a long time. It feels like moving forward life wise, with this step, too. 

 

So big win.

 

Walking - 🐐 (2/7)

Walked to 2nd checkpoint.

 

Huckleberry struggled walking by the guy mowing his lawn on the way up the hill, but barely noticed him on the way down, and when he saw the horses instead of barking at them he recognized they were there, yawned, and looked at me instead. So his training in the morning on these walks is going well!

 

Yoga - 🐐 (2/7)

about 15 min before bed.

 

🧐 = intervals, endurance, strength (2 more)

[Everstorm]

Ooh, what bands will you be seeing?