Emissary2Ornj's search for... monotony?

[Emissary2Ornj]

Main quest: the simplest, healthiest, most holistic daily routine for my vagabond life

 

Missions which will propel me toward my quest:

 

Work out 3 times/week in the morning before breakfast for at least 30 minutes. 2 STR

Do one stretch every night before bed. Just one, for now. It can be something different each night, it can be the same thing every night. Just stretch SOMEthing! Research stretch routines. Find specific ones for bad backs? Whatever. Just STRETCH. 3 DEX 2 STA

Use the oil cleansing method on my face 3 times a week before stretching. 3 CON 2 CHA

 

Fitness side mission:

 

Increase resistance band weights on squats and one-arm rows. Must buy extra bands to add weight. 3 STR

 

Written-out motivation pic to eventually follow.

[Kishi]

Hey, one stretch at a time, right? I'm using the same approach for my cool downs, adding a move at a time.

 

BTW, found you via tags. Hope you don't mind if I follow you in a totally non-creepy manner.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Hey, one stretch at a time, right? I'm using the same approach for my cool downs, adding a move at a time.

 

BTW, found you via tags. Hope you don't mind if I follow you in a totally non-creepy manner.

 

Absolutely not! Welcome aboard.  And, yeah - one at a time works for me. 

[Emissary2Ornj]

First week in: 3/3 workouts done, 3/3 nights I've stretched (since I started my challenge late), only implemented OCM once - and that not to my satisfaction. So 0/3 there. 

 

Workouts are feeling great. I'm looking forward to adding more resistance. Currently I'm only using bands when doing squats. My inverted body rows are feeling a bit... easy? Though I have to really work for the last 2 in each circuit. Should do a max rep session sometime and see where I am with all my exercises. Maybe it's time to start assisted pull ups or chin ups.... we'll see. I feel like my form is wacky on my incline pushups - I do a weird dip thing - my clavicle/shoulder feels uneven when I'm about halfway up. My elbows are both twinge-y so I slapped the KT tape on 'em today. Probably should raise the height of the incline (sigh!) and work on form for a few workouts. 

 

Stretch routines to try: 

 

•  this one from Livestrong.com
• Women's health mag - Looks good
• this a little bit complicated one? I'm not that bendy yet...
• Yoga Journal has some really neat tips

The aim of a nighttime routine for me is to be relaxed and just about ready to fall asleep when I get in bed. If that routine helps my face be clearer and my back be stretchier - it's all to the good, yo!

[Nuala]

If inverted rows seems easy, it's indeed time to upgrade your workout! Assisted and/or negative time!

[Kishi]

I respect how frustrating it is to keep holding back and holding back on workouts, but trust me. Form is everything. You want to have it absolutely crushed before you want to move on to the next thing.

[Emissary2Ornj]

If inverted rows seems easy, it's indeed time to upgrade your workout! Assisted and/or negative time!

 

Sweet! Will let you know what happens

 

I respect how frustrating it is to keep holding back and holding back on workouts, but trust me. Form is everything. You want to have it absolutely crushed before you want to move on to the next thing.

 

You're completely right. Thanks for the reinforcement, and I'll be updating on what happens this week.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Early-in-the-week update: 

 

Looking good so far for an A on all three goals; definitely an A for last week.

 

Stretch routines: I've tried all the routines I linked to last week. I'll probably be meshing the ones I liked (read: the ones that didn't make my back hurt the next day) most into a custom routine. I've also got a Myofascial Release therapy ball which I should include in my night stretches.

So far 3 or 4 different stretches are sufficient, and I don't feel overwhelmed. Favorite poses/exercises (in random sequence): Legs up the wall, fire log, victorious breath, rolling pose (modified to side-to-side rolling, usually), half happy baby, always ending with Savasana.

 

OCM: Killing it w/diligence!

 

Working out: 

First day of band-assisted pull ups. I like! Definitely challenging. My plan is to decrease resistance as soon as I can do 10 comfortably at this level, and keep using that as a gauge to keep challenging my arms. I'm also thinking of switching out incline push ups for overhead military presses. 

[Kishi]

Looking good over here. You're finding things you like to do and you're setting your own standards for progressions and the like. Good for you.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Looking good over here. You're finding things you like to do and you're setting your own standards for progressions and the like. Good for you.

 

Thanks, Kishi!

[Emissary2Ornj]

Still going strong though I haven't been able to give a thorough update. Really liking the way my assisted pull ups are coming along.

[Kishi]

Sounds monotonous. But that's what you were looking for, right?

[Emissary2Ornj]

Okay, major update needed!

 

11 workouts out of a possible 12. That's on track for an A.

Thoughts: 

With my lower back issues, I occasionally make decisions not to work out or do stretching instead. That's not an excuse; it's a for real deal if I want to keep working out and living life in general. I won't count such a decision against myself. Laziness, on the other hand; doesn't get rewarded.

 

Pull ups! I found out I like a wider grip today; I can bust out 7 and sometimes 8 good-form band-assisted pull ups pretty well. But shorten my grip a bit (as I had to do this morning at the latest playground's monkey bars) and I was lucky to get 5. Interesting. I eventually want to do an alternating grip and chin ups - and I see how a little change changes the motion - therefore the muscles that do the work - in a big way. Cool.

 

I haven't missed a bedtime stretch yet. Also an A

Thoughts:

I haven't done the same routine every night b/c I'm still exploring... though I want my focus to get back to meditation and relaxation rather than lengthening of muscles. So far my favorite exercises for that are legs-up-the-wall, Savasana, victorious breathing, and dragon pose. My hips are more burn-y and tight (a consequence of lots of driving/riding/sitting at table) and anything that stretches the hip flexors feels good. I'm still aiming for relaxation here, so when I develop my routine I'll be sure to end in child's pose then Savasana to cool down.

 

OCM: Ran out of my mix and didn't get to my extra supplies for about 5 days, oops. But as soon as I did, I mixed more and got back to work. On track for a B

Thoughts:

I'm currently using a 2:1 mix of 2 parts Castor oil and 1 part Grapeseed oil. *shrug* Works so far. I think it'll take a while to see any changes. 

 

Thoughts in general:

My vagabond lifestyle is busy, crazy, and weird. The challenge keeps happening. Updating, not so much - but that's not the point of the challenge. I keep reminding myself of that - I'm not in this for prizes. The motivation and positive energy and awesome people around here is übercool and a big reason I am an Assassin... but I have a self-talk session most weeks that goes something like this:

 

"You're not in it to get Most Wanted Assassin. You're not in it to be eligible for prizes. You're in this because you made a promise to yourself and you refuse to let you down. Walk the talk. And even when you don't talk much, make the walk so powerful that it leaves no room for questions - from inside or out."

 

 

Sounds monotonous. But that's what you were looking for, right?

 

Fo'shizzle! It's not as monotonous yet as I'd like... not quite automatic... but it'll come, right? Yeah.

[Kishi]

That's some good self-talk right there. Very powerful. I like that. I like that a lot.

 

And when you missed a thing, you worked to get back on top of it and get it done. Good! Very good. Sounds like things are going great over here.

[Harika]

Updating can be a bit challenging for various reasons, but you seem to be doing well without major set-backs!

 

This is your fourth challenge, correct? Have they all gone this well?

[Emissary2Ornj]

That's some good self-talk right there. Very powerful. I like that. I like that a lot.

 

And when you missed a thing, you worked to get back on top of it and get it done. Good! Very good. Sounds like things are going great over here.

 

*bows* Thank you, Kishi. 

 

Updating can be a bit challenging for various reasons, but you seem to be doing well without major set-backs!

 

This is your fourth challenge, correct? Have they all gone this well?

 

Thanks!

 

Yes, this is my 5th attempt and will be my 4th completed challenge (I withdrew from the 3rd partway through). Links to my challenge summaries follow:

 

I kept my introductory challenge pretty simple intentionally; I included one goal that's a bit of a no-brainer for me to make sure I got feel-good positivity from accomplishing at least one thing! I learned a lot about the NF challenge format/philosophy/my own goals and wants for future challenges.

 

Second challenge I was still gung-ho, but I tried to do way too many things at once! That meant I had too many mini-goals and too many things going on. I had back trouble pretty early on, too. Still I learned a lot, though I may have been too easy on myself grading, ha. 

 

3rd time around I was over-stressed and overwhelmed anyway; life was busy all by itself (April/May usually are for me; lots of extra traveling and spotty web access). So when I realized updating was going to be a challenge all by itself - and not in a good way! - I withdrew. I wasn't down about it; it was a conscious decision I HAD to make for myself. 

 

Last challenge was fun! Tried to keep my re-emergence simple but still hard enough I had to work for it. 

So have I done well? *shrug* I did well for the duration of the challenges I completed. As far as having built concrete new habits.... well, working out and breakfast are 2 things I'm committed to now, for sure. Meditation has NOT continued as a routine practice (It'll appear in a future challenge, I'm sure). I'm leery of injuring my back again and that's the one big thing that will keep me from working out - if my back's hurting or I'm starting to twist up again. I'm definitely a little clearer on what I'm working towards. I don't think my main quest will be changing for a while.

I prolly won't be taking part in the next couple challenges - I'll again be faster-pace traveling in Ontario during November and then doing the same thing back in the states for the rest of December. I'll take what I can get for workouts; not sure how that's going to go yet. 

Thanks for asking, Harika. I nerd-out on words, as you can read; sorry if there's too much to read through.

[Elastigirl]

Great thought on what works for you and your challenges. I love to hear what works/doesn't work for other people. Good steady monotonous challenge  

[Harika]

It is impressive, to me, that you know yourself and your schedule availability so well. I love that you are okay with knowing when to stop or pause - I learned that there needs to be a limit but have yet to learn how to be okay accepting it, or even setting it. Then I just get frustrated with myself and the cycle continues. ^.^:;

[Emissary2Ornj]

It is impressive, to me, that you know yourself and your schedule availability so well. I love that you are okay with knowing when to stop or pause - I learned that there needs to be a limit but have yet to learn how to be okay accepting it, or even setting it. Then I just get frustrated with myself and the cycle continues. ^.^:;

 

Thank you very much for your kind words.

 

Please realize I haven't figured it out yet, for sure! I'm still learning my limits, too. I'm more often than not impatient with myself, and really stubborn - especially with my lower back. I have a high pain tolerance on top of that - which is NOT always an asset. I've had to learn the hard way! The mental/emotional limits are a little easier for me to keep tabs on for some reason. 

 

So part of my philosophy has become - by necessity - to listen to my body and be aware of its limits. That'll be an ongoing endeavor; our limits aren't static! 

[Emissary2Ornj]

Final update:

It's been a blechy last 3 weeks. Back issues, hormones, laziness - all factors which are impermanent; I won't be staying in this funk long, you can be sure. 

 

I was able to work out and stretch routinely throughout the challenge until last Wednesday - by Thursday night I looked like this guy. Bah. (No worries - I have a doctor's appointment soon! And it's getting better every day.) I think every time I do impact-heavy stuff my lumbo/sacral/ileo area just says "Okay, we're done. Spasm time!" :-P I've been using the warm up from the NF Academy all month, which includes jumping rope  as well as the jumping jacks I've always done. I was actually getting better at it (haven't jumped rope since... elementary school? yikes!) but it may have contributed to my leaning tower of Emissary-ness. (Not sure it's possible to be a tower when you're only 5"2', but there it is.)

 

I'll be counting this challenge for only half points at the most. Half for exercising, because I did, and I loved it, of course. OCM will get less than half points, for sure. Haven't kept that up at all since 2 and a half weeks ago.

Thoughts:

Stretching: I found that the focus here waffled between my back and relaxation. If it's not an easy, quiet flow it probably won't shift me into sleepy mode. That's what I'll shoot for next time. 

 

General: Six weeks isn't long enough for me. Rather, it's long enough, but I hear this voice in the back of my head going "Okay, you can do this. It's only 6 weeks." No way! It's supposed to be the rest of my life! So I feel like I need more time to get into a rut. Or I need a paradigm shift to trick my brain out of thinking this is something temporary. I'm going to try the "don't break the chain" format for some of these things, and I'm going to take it even slower.

 

Going to Ontario next week for a month! Not sure what will be available for workouts but I'm hoping for a bit of outside time, anyway. Lots of traveling and visiting so not much extra-curricular time. I hope to focus on my nutrition while I'm away, making sure I'm getting plenty of protein and veggies while watching my portions. (I have gained weight! I'm not a scale-junky but I'm almost sure I have. Losing some of those gains I made this past year, and I know what's different is how much I've been eating. Whoops!)

Thanks for following along, everybody. See you down the road!

[Kishi]

Way to stick it out. Sorry the challenge didn't go quite according to plan, but hey. That happens sometimes. And you have a good long view of how this works, so good for you.

[Emissary2Ornj]

Way to stick it out. Sorry the challenge didn't go quite according to plan, but hey. That happens sometimes. And you have a good long view of how this works, so good for you.

 Thank you, sir - and thanks for your support this challenge. Come back anytime