Finding balance in a keliswicked life

[keliswicked]

I think of myself as balancing on a beam.

 

Most of the time I'm comfortably upright.  I go about my day, make the same basic decisions, and generally stay on track.

 

Other times, I feel myself wavering from side to side, on the brink of falling.  Sometimes this is due to emotional stress over friends and family, or disappointment with myself because of physical feelings.  I get upset when I don't feel great. I freak out over minor things.

 

I want to change that, so this is my challenge to find my balance.  My main quest is about walking along a beam over a flowing river and working towards keeping myself composed and balanced.  

 

In order to find that balance, I've identified a few goals:

 

Goal #1: Use yoga to strengthen and balance my body.

          - Attend 25 yoga classes in the six week period

          - I already go really frequently and have a pass so money is no object

          - 25 classes for A, 20 classes for B, 15 classes for C, anything else F

          - Worth +3 STA, +1 DEX

 

Goal #2: Do a back bend.

          - Can already do a wheel/bridge comfortably, so getting up and down is the goal

          - Plan is to practice three times a week

          - Full back bend for A, getting down for B, three times a week for C, anything else F

          - Worth +2 DEX, +1 STR

 

Goal #3: Stick to a Paleo/Primal diet

          - Finished a Whole30 and want to keep the momentum going

          - Limit non-Paleo/Primal meals to three times a week

          - 5+ weeks for A, 4 weeks for B, 3 weeks for C, anything else F

          - Worth +2 CON, +1 WIS

 

 

Through these three goals, I intend to achieve bodily balance.

 

My life goal is right in keeping with balance.  Since I am working so hard on my body's balance, I need to also work on my mind

 

Life Goal: Keep my mind sharp and clear

         - There are two ways I am going to accomplish this:

         - A. Write my 750 words on 750words.com every day to keep my mind clear

             - This is my form of meditation

             - Worth +2 CHA, +1 CON

 

         - B. Finish and pass my Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health class on Coursera

             - Only four weeks once the challenge starts

             - Keeps my mind sharp and gives me new knowledge

             - Worth +2 WIS

 

 

I know I can add another fitness goal, but since I'm participating in a Burpee PvP this challenge, I'm not going to add my own additional fitness goal.

 

 

Here's to my goal to become a true yogi with a good mind and the ability to balance in a crazy world.

[LittleTurtle]

I, too, freak out over minor things.  I'm inspired that you are working to find balance.  I think improving mentally is very challenging, so I congratulate you on your quest to do so.  Good luck to you! 

[I am Eve]

Welcome to the challenge keliswicked! How well you phrased your quest, painting images in my mind. I think your description is something that many of us can recognize and relate to. I know I do.

You have formulated realistic goals and I look forward to follow your progress and also learning more about Whole 30-I don't really know what that is :-)

[joedog]

Hi! I started following you on Fitocracy so I thought I would follow you here too. (I'm jody75 over there.) Goals are looking good! 

[CakeBanisher]

Your balance-beam analogy is great!  Simple, yet describes that feeling perfectly.  And your goals all look like they will help you achieve the balance you want  

[keliswicked]

Thank you for the support everyone!

 

Welcome to the challenge keliswicked! How well you phrased your quest, painting images in my mind. I think your description is something that many of us can recognize and relate to. I know I do.
You have formulated realistic goals and I look forward to follow your progress and also learning more about Whole 30-I don't really know what that is :-)

 

The Whole 30 is a 30 day reset of your body away from unnatural foods.  They have specific rules on what you can and cannot eat during the thirty days - so you have tons of meats, seafood, veggies, fruits, nuts, etc.  It's meant to break the addiction to "bad" foods and let you feel how it is to run on natural foods.  It has honestly changed my life and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!

 

 

I edited my first goal to be only 25 days of yoga instead of 30.  I went ahead and looked at my calendar, and since I'll be in school the last two weeks of the challenge, there are automatically two days each of those weeks that I can't possibly attend yoga.  In addition to those 4 days, I will be on vacation for 5 days.  That's 9 days out of the possible 12 I could have skipped in the six weeks.  I'm lucky enough to recognize that this just wouldn't happen, so I think 25 days is a more reasonable and achievable goal for this particular 6 week challenge =)

[I am Eve]

Thank you for the info, it sounds really interesting. Would someone who doesn't eat meat

be able to follow it as well?

Very wise to adapt the goals to reality. That's what it's all about really:-)

[keliswicked]

Thank you for the info, it sounds really interesting. Would someone who doesn't eat meat

be able to follow it as well?

 

Possible? Yes.  But very difficult. I don't eat bread anymore, but I eat tons of meat.  So I would imagine your options would be seriously limited on a Whole 30.  I would only recommend it to people who aren't happy with the results of their diet, i.e. how they look and feel.

 

 

 

Update #1: FIRST DAY OF THE CHALLENGE!!

 

Goal #1: Went to yoga! 1/25 times completed

 

Goal #2: No back bend work today, 0/3 for the week

 

Goal #3: All my meals today were Paleo so 0/3 allowed for the week

 

Life Goal: Did my 750 words today, didn't do any Coursera work but Week 3 just started today

 

 

It was amazing to me how just a few days off from yoga seriously affected my practice.  My balances were quite good but I wasn't quite as strong as I had been in previous practices.  This is just more reason for me to keep up with my nearly daily practices! 

 

I also did my 30 burpees for today for my PvP.  I'm probably going to be a little miserable tomorrow haha 

 

Hope everyone had an awesome first day!!

[LittleTurtle]

30 Burpees?! You go! I tried those once...about died. LOL. Keep up the good work!

[keliswicked]

30 Burpees?! You go! I tried those once...about died. LOL. Keep up the good work!

 

Yeah... burpees are really really hard.  But I'm hoping that doing them every day will make me more fit and healthy!

 

 

 

 

Update #2: Day 3 (technically yesterday...)

 

Goal #1: Didn't get to yoga on day 3, but went on day 2 so 2/25 times for the whole

 

Goal #2: Haven't practiced any backbends yet =( this will probably be more of a weekend thing

 

Goal #3: Haven't had any non-Paleo meals yet, so still 0/3 used for the week

 

Life Goal: 3/42 days writing on 750words.com AND finished week 3 of my Coursera class!

 

 

I'm sooo glad I'm taking the couple minutes every few days to take that Coursera class.  I'm excited to take even more of them!

 

I'm planning to get to yoga today, I'm HOPING to get there tomorrow if I get out of work on time, and then I'll be going at least twice over the weekend!

 

I opted not to go to the gym today, so I'll probably go tomorrow and Saturday mornings.  I needed a little mental break I think.

[CakeBanisher]

Nice work!  You're definitely starting strong!  And you sound like you have a good plan for meeting all your goals this week.  Plans are good  Keep it up!

[fearlesscreek]

is 750 words the same thing as the so called morning pages??? just curious because i want to try the latter...

[livingroovy]

Welcome to the Druids! Love your challenge goals

 

Love 750Words... what a fabulous site. 

 

When you say backbend, do you mean a full drop-back from standing?

[keliswicked]

Nice work!  You're definitely starting strong!  And you sound like you have a good plan for meeting all your goals this week.  Plans are good  Keep it up!

Thanks !! I'm definitely having a good week =)

 

is 750 words the same thing as the so called morning pages??? just curious because i want to try the latter...

Yes, 750 words is based on the morning pages! I absolutely love it and I really think it's kept my brain more clear and less cluttered since I've started doing it! Plus my typing speed is going up up up

 

Welcome to the Druids! Love your challenge goals

 

Love 750Words... what a fabulous site. 

 

When you say backbend, do you mean a full drop-back from standing?

 

Yes, I want to be able to go from standing to a backbend and back to standing.

I can already do a comfortable, consistent backbend off the ground.  Any advice/suggestions you have would be totally awesome!

[keliswicked]

Update #3: Day 4

 

Goal #1: Went to yoga again today so 3/25 days for the challenge! I love how yoga feels when I only miss a day or two.  It just flows so much better.

 

Goal #2: I have to clean my house tonight, but I may try to get some backbend practice in, still 0/3 for the week

 

Goal #3: Still 100% Paleo so I'm going strong so far!

 

Life Goal: wrote over 2,000 words on 750words.com because I'm aiming to get the 50,000 words this month, I get a badge for it!  Also last night I finished up week three of my Nutrition and the Physical Activity for Health class so I'm halfway through that!  My next class starts soon, Introduction to Human Physiology

 

 

What a great week already!  And here's to the weekend!!

[keliswicked]

Wow I haven't updated in a while!

 

Update #4: Day 7

 

Goal #1: I went to yoga every day last week except for Wednesday, so in week 1 I got 6/25 yoga sessions for the challenge!

 

Goal #2: Didn't get any backbend practice in but did them at every yoga practice so this is still a work in progress

 

Goal #3: I ended up eating all three non-Paleo meals on Saturday and Sunday, but I didn't eat more so I was at 3/3 for the week, passed this week! 1/5 weeks for the challenge *

 

Life Goal: Wrote every day on 750words.com and finished week three of Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health so 1/6 weeks completed

 

This week starts another class on Coursera, Introduction to Human Physiology.  It's 12 weeks long *gulp* but I'm excited to learn!  I think it's a good step in the direction of getting nutrition and personal trainer certification.

 

*I'm only doing 5 weeks for this since the week I'm on vacation I know it'll be impossible to stay completely Paleo

 

That's it!  Oh, except that I held a crow pose for a few seconds in my Saturday yoga practice!! I was so excited I was on a high for the rest of the practice.

 

Successful first week!! Woot woot!

[I am Eve]

Woot indeed. Isn't it great when you're suddenly just doing it?!

I love crow pose...

[keliswicked]

Woot indeed. Isn't it great when you're suddenly just doing it?!

I love crow pose...

 YES. I love the feeling of improvement!

 

 

Update #5: Day 9

 

Goal #1: went to yoga yesterday so I'm at 7/25 classes for the challenge and probably going again tonight!

 

Goal #2: still haven't practiced this but nailed a beautiful backbend in yoga yesterday

 

Goal #3: haven't had any non-Paleo meals yet this week, so far so good

 

Life goal: wrote my words today and have every day, haven't started class yet this week but read lecture notes for another class I'm taking, Introductory Human Physiology, so I'm staying sharp

 

still going strong this challenge =)

[livingroovy]

Doing awesome so far!! Human Physiology is awesome!! Enjoy!

[CakeBanisher]

Nice work!  And physiology is really helpful  Keep up with all the win!  

[fearlesscreek]

well done! im leaving this thread inspired!

[keliswicked]

Thanks everyone!!

 

 

Update #6: Day 10 (as of yesterday)

 

Goal #1: been to yoga 8 times so far this challenge, tonight will be 9! feels so great, I love it

edit* 9 times as of tonight on day 11

 

Goal #2: still no update

 

Goal #3: no meals yet that weren't Paleo (they all come on the weekends usually)

 

Life Goal: my writing streak is still unbroken and I've done 1 1/2 lessons on Human Phsiology this week.  They have a lot.  It's a doozy.  I'm going to do one of the Nutrition modules tonight (I hope) so that will be halfway done for this week.  Again, the weekend is when I'm going to get most of this stuff done

 

 

Still going strong!

[I am Eve]

You're just swimming along in this challenge aren't you? Great achievements

Are you feeling more balanced?

[keliswicked]

Yes!  I am so much more balanced already =)

 

 

Update #7: Day 14

 

Goal #1: been to yoga 11 times in the last two weeks.  I would have been 12 but the class was cancelled on Friday when I went!  11/25 for the challenge

 

Goal #2: no update outside yoga practice

 

Goal #3: ate non-Paleo again three times this weekend, so stayed at my budget! Achieve 2/2 weeks so far this challenge!

 

Life Goal: still have my writing streak, need to do a module of Nutrition either tonight or tomorrow morning to round off week 4

EDIT: I did my module so 2/2 weeks done for my life goal!

 

Phew!  Been so busy this weekend!

Next week is going to be my planned week off from goal #3 since I'll be on vacation and not limiting my non-Paleo meals. 

[CakeBanisher]

Way to go!  You are nailing all your goals, and doing a pretty good job of inspiring me in the process, so thanks  Keep it up!