Elsfaire prepares for the Top Secret Mission

[elsfaire]

If you have been following me for a few challenges, you may remember a few references to an upcoming Top Secret Mission (TSM). Well, it is getting down to the wire, and I need to have preparations more than 90% completed by the end of this challenge. The most logical thing for me to do is focus this challenge around preparing for the TSM!

 

Here is the catch: the TSM is  a surprise for hubby’s birthday – he is hitting one of the big round numbers this year. Even though he has not yet shown the inclination to come on Nerd Fitness (no matter how much I have encouraged him), I can’t post details in case he does. It is, after all, a Top Secret Mission. Not to worry, however, all will be revealed by the 7^th of November on this thread, so you just need to endure a bit of suspense, and a bit of torturous clue-dropping.  

 

Here is the training and preparation plan devised:

 

Goal 1: Agents Must Be Ready for Any Physical Challenge- Build greater fitness with well-rounded physical training. 

Parts of the TSM will be physically demanding, and I must be in the best shape I have been in for years to have the greatest success with the mission. I am going to devote a minimum of 20 minutes (30 minutes preferred), 6 days a week, to physical workouts. These will be at least 2 days of a bodyweight workout (a REAL BWW, not a mishmash of occasional sets throughout the day), 2 days of an aerobic workout, and 2 days of a long (at least 20 minutes) yoga routine. I will grade myself on frequency and duration of the workouts, keeping the appropriate types, and pushing myself. I have complete freedom to change the exact BWW, yoga routines, and kind of aerobic exercise. I am also free to change the days of the week on which I do different workouts, though I am going to try to stick with this routine:

 

Monday               Tuesday               Wednesday        Thursday             Friday                    Saturday              Sunday

Rest                       BWW                 Aerobic                Yoga                   BWW                     Aerobic                Yoga

 

Since one of my problems in past challenges has been muscle fatigue after pushing myself on bodyweight workouts, I think this will help me have enough time in between to fully recover, while not having so many recovery days or needing to do such light workouts that I make little improvement.

 

Possible Points: +2 STR, +2 STA, +2 DEX

 

Goal 2: Agents Must Be Mentally Strong – Improve mental outlook and calm

The demands of preparing for the TSM while still meeting the responsibilities of family, work, husband and friends, while ALSO keeping it all secret can be emotionally and mentally draining. I will continue the work I have been doing in positivity and meditation, with slight changes.

 

-Ask myself 3 positive-focus questions at least once a day (2 or 3 times is better). I do not need to write or post them, just think about them. (I will still try to post some whenever I do make an update J )

-Spend at least 3 minutes in meditation daily. May be all at once, or broken into shorter chunks.

 

Bonus: Complete the 7-day Positivity Challenge before the challenge ends. This means that for 7 consecutive days, I will have been successful at not engaging any negative thoughts. When a negative thought comes up, if I redirect my focus or attitude within 1 minute, that is still considered positive. (See the 16:30 minute mark in the video below)

 

 

Possible Points: +1 CON, +2 CHA

 

Goal 3: Defeat Enemies That Could Destroy the Mission- Weaken the evil Procrastinista & her Fear Machine

There is SO much that has to happen for the TSM to be successful, and so many other things that have to happen before the Mission occurs, that procrastination could cause major failure. It is not quite ALL the things that need to happen, but it is a lot. For this goal, I am undertaking the “Conquering Fear†challenge. I can not remember where I first saw it (I thought it was in an NF email…), and both a search of my inbox and the internet did not locate it again. Essentially, the idea is to do something that scares you or that you have been putting off every day for 30 days. I am altering it a little to make room for a bad day here and there, and to make it last 6 weeks.

 

My version: On at least 6 days each week during the challenge, I will do either something  that I have been putting off, or something that I am afraid of. Some of these things may repeat (for instance, I can call a friend I have not contacted for a long time on 3 separate days and count it three times), but I may not count the same thing for consecutive days. The things may be long or short. It is the habit that is important.

 

Possible Points: +1 CON, +1 CHA, +1 STA

 

Life Goal: Complete Top Secret Mission Plans

One cannot embark on a mission without plans – at least, not if one expects the mission to be successful. This goal will track the TSM plan progress on a progress bar in my sig file, with the goal being 90% completion or higher by the end of the challenge. I am in the process of making up a comprehensive list of everything left to do. As I check things off, I will update the progress bar and – if possible – give you a euphemistic (story-line) update on what I accomplished.

 

Possible Points: +3 WIS

 

 

Now, to launch this challenge:

 

[karinajean]

Wow! Wow wow wow! I'm excited. This is a big challenge - you are really buckling down! But you can TOTALLY do it.

Sent from my iPhone while riding a unicorn through the cosmos.

[Elastigirl]

This is going to be good!  

[Lara]

Sub'd!!

[elsfaire]

Thank you for joining me. It is great to have you ladies along for the journey again!

As if I did not have enough on my plate, my brain kept me awake for 2 hours in the middle of last night thinking about a new theme to use for my healthy pregnancy education website. Wahoo! Um, I mean, ugh.

[TourdeForce]

ooh how exciting! Daring! Intrigue! Secret parties! This appeals to the hobbit in me - good luck!

[Aminarra]

I can't help but think that this TSM is going to involve travel in some way  I'm envisioning a surprise beach vacation!

[Eirlys]

Hellooooo!

 

Cracking challenge goals... I'm particularly interested in the battle vs Procrastina and your TSM!

 

Good luck for the next 6 weeks

[Strickland5]

Ahh ... a good ole TSM ... I like it! 

 

We need more Mission Impossible! as a former band nerd myself it must be via an orchastra!

[elsfaire]

Ahh ... a good ole TSM ... I like it!

We need more Mission Impossible! as a former band nerd myself it must be via an orchastra!

Yay! I played the Mission Impossible theme in high school when the 90's movie was out. It is a fun piece- lots of good horn lines.

[KB Girl]

Haha so curious! Sorry I wasn't around much last challenge, i'll try to do better

I think it's really pretty great you're planning something so big for your husband. 

[Strickland5]

Yay! I played the Mission Impossible theme in high school when the 90's movie was out. It is a fun piece- lots of good horn lines.

It was a favorite for us in jazz and marching band ... we trombones liked to drop things an octave from time to time which scared the poor trumpets

[Batwoman]

You have me super curious and on the edge of my seat!

[Lara]

I can't help but think that this TSM is going to involve travel in some way  I'm envisioning a surprise beach vacation!

 

Hmmm. I am thinking big vacation too. But she says she needs to be fit... Maybe going to one of those places where you do lots of activities: kayaking, climbing, going down the zip-line.... That would be amazing!!!

How do you call those centers of activities in english?

[Aminarra]

Hmmm. I am thinking big vacation too. But she says she needs to be fit... Maybe going to one of those places where you do lots of activities: kayaking, climbing, going down the zip-line.... That would be amazing!!!

How do you call those centers of activities in english?

 

Maybe like a resort? I've never been on a vacation like that, so I'm not quite sure...

[Waanie]

I secretly subbed a few days ago .

 

Your goals look great as usual, I'm looking forward to your progress . I'm also quite curious what the TSM is .

[Leothil]

I couldn't possibly not follow you during this challenge! Already can't wait to hear more about the TSM.

Tapatalk has no idea what I'm doing.

[elsfaire]

Time for my first update!

 

Week 1, Days 1 & 2 Agent Report

 

1) Physical Fitness:     BWW: 1/2          Aerobic: 0/2            Long Yoga: 0/2

Monday was recovery (I am always too busy on Mondays to do much, so I set it that way)

Tuesday - Did a 3-circuit BWW and handstands between circuits. Hooray!

                 Also walked for 10 minutes in the store (it *is* movement, albeit a bit pathetic)

 

2) Mental Strength:    Positve Questions: 2/7        >3-min Meditation: 2/7      Positivity Challenge: 1/7

Monday I asked myself the positive focus questions while eating lunch, and did a long guided meditation in the middle of the day. Got hung up in some negativity, so had to start the Positivity Challenge over.

 

Tuesday I asked myself some positive focus questions while eating, one question while showering, and another while meditating. I have meditated about 2 minutes so far, and will do more at bedtime. I feel like today has been successful with the Positivity Challenge, as I have had a few negative thoughts, but was able to move on from them right away.

 

My positivity questions (there are 5, but I only need to use 3 of them in a day):

• What am I grateful for right now?
• What about myself do I appreciate right now?
• How am I making the future better/making progress on my goals/contributing to the family success today?
• How am I expressing love for my family today?
• How have people expressed love for me today?

3) Unstoppable Action 2/6

Monday I bought our DragonCon passes for next year while they are still cheap, which I had been planning to do since the Con, but was putting off. I also mailed my estimated taxes, and paid the business phone bill. They were all last minute, but I did them! Today, I spent a few more minutes cleaning off my desk, so I finally have clean working space again. I had cleaned my office a bit over the weekend, but what typically happens at this point is that I think, "oh, that is better than it was," and leave the remaining piles of paper alone. Today I actually FILED some more of those stacks. There is still more to do, but I am counting it.

 

Life Quest: The Top Secret Mission   20%

On Monday I spent some time making a list of everything that has happened and still needs to happen before the TSM. I came up with 43 things. *gulp*  Four of the most important, most time-consuming ones are already completed, so I am deciding to give myself a 20% completion for those things, and everything else after this will count for 2% (I am assuming at least 1 more thing with come up in the next 6 weeks). I also discovered that one of the ways I thought that I would get supplies to the mission location is going to be impractical, so I adjusted the action list accordingly.

 

Wahoo! A rocking start so far!

 

[elsfaire]

I almost forgot to post this - I am THRILLED that you are all joining me in this challenge journey. I am not ignoring your guesses - I am just not responding to avoid giving anything away. There will be clues, however... Muahahaha!

 

You will know the TSM on or before Nov. 7. At that point, you can compare your guesses to the actual mission. That is all I will say for now...  

[KB Girl]

Good going

I hate filing, but it's so nice to get it out of the way. I'll try to follow your example!

Note; there is a mission location. Gotta collect all the clues!

[TourdeForce]

awesome start to the challenge! Woot!

[bluecarfuffle]

I'm stealing those positivity questions. I'll also ask my husband from time to time. Thanks, Elsfaire!

[Strickland5]

Jealous of your getting DragonCon tickets ... as I don't foresee myself being able to go next year

[elsfaire]

Jealous of your getting DragonCon tickets ... as I don't foresee myself being able to go next year

It will be the first time we will have attended more than one day, so it is actually a bit if a risk. But, I am tired of sitting in the sidelines waiting for things to happen. I am MAKING things happen.

[Waanie]

You did great the first two days . I like the questions you ask yourself, since you really ask yourself what "good" you're doing today. Keep it up!