Sterre strikes a balance

[sterre]

Introduction

 

Last challenge, I managed to pull through in the end (after redefining one of my goals a bit due to injuries), but I don't think I was doing everything in the best way. I was still super tired a lot of the time and maybe wasn't taking care of myself as well as I could have. Then I got sick between challenges and have not exactly been up to doing much for the last week or so. In addition, November includes my birthday and my partner's thesis submission deadline (which means that I've been picking up some slack in the cleaning department and will probably continue to pick up some more slack as the month goes on) so I think I'm going to take it a little bit easy.

 

Thus, this challenge I'm going to focus on not only exercising, but eating well and sleeping enough... plus writing a novel because that was the best idea ever, obviously.

 

Main Quest: Lose the pudge!

 

Same as last time. The big goal is to get down to a 68 cm waist.

This time, I'm going for +1 CHA on maintenance or better because this month is crazy and fighting against the usual "put on pudge for the winter" issue will be an accomplishment on its own.

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

I'll be scaling the distance back to a manageable 20 km a week. I'll also be doing one speed training session a week again, because that was fun.

 

Distance goal: A = 96 - 120 km, B = 84 - 95.9 km, C = 72 - 83.9 km

Distance goal: A = 52 - 70 km, B = 42 - 51.9 km, C = 36 - 41.9 km

Reward: +2 STA

Speed training goal: A = 6 times, B = 5 times, C = 4 times.

Speed training goal: A = 3-4 times, B = 2 times, C = 1 time.

Reward: +2 DEX

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Where "other stuff" means some other kind of physical activity. This will include strength training and yoga mostly, but I want to do one of those at least 5 times a week. In the last two weeks, it will be 7 times a week.

 

Goal: A = 24 - 30 sessions, B = 21 - 23 sessions, 18 - 20 sessions

Goal: A = 27 - 34 sessions, B = 24 - 26 sessions, 20 - 23 sessions

Reward: +2 STR, +2 DEX, +1 CON

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

The aim here is to sleep enough and eat well, so I will aim for at least 7 hours of sleep a night (or until I wake up naturally) and I will keep a food diary, which will hopefully inspire me to make healthy choices, if only out of shame.

 

7+ hours of sleep (or natural waking) on: A = 34 - 42 nights, B = 29 - 33 nights, C = 25 - 28 nights.

Reward: +1 CON, +1 CHA

Food diary kept on: A = 34 - 42 days, B = 29 - 33 days, C = 25-28 days

Reward: +2 CON

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

Yes, I signed up for this, so I'm going to do it. Ideally, this goal will be done by the end of November, but I'll be evaluating at the end of the challenge for a bit of a buffer.

Goal: A = 40,000 - 50,000+ words, B = 35,000 - 39,999 words, C = 30,000 - 34,999 words

Reward: +1 WIS

 

Starting Measurements

 

Bust / Waist / Hips: 92.0 cm / 73.5 cm / 94.0 cm

Ribcage / Navel: 79.5 cm / 84.5 cm

Thigh Right / Left : 53.2 cm / 53.2 cm

 

(Measurements taken on Day 5)

[blkhole24601]

Hello fellow NaNo-er! I'm also doing a sort of modified writing goal for it considering busy lifestyle and such. Also love the "do other stuff" goal -- explore new ways to exercise instead of just running. Best of luck to you in your challenge!!

[sterre]

Hello fellow NaNo-er! I'm also doing a sort of modified writing goal for it considering busy lifestyle and such. Also love the "do other stuff" goal -- explore new ways to exercise instead of just running. Best of luck to you in your challenge!!

 

Thanks! I've been doing other stuff in my other challenges, but they were generally a bit more regimented, whereas this one allows me to be a bit more spontaneous: if I find something I want to try, I don't have to worry about try to cram in another workout in addition.

[Shukar]

Balance is a hard thing to find, good luck on your quest young sterre.

[sterre]

Balance is a hard thing to find, good luck on your quest young sterre.

 

Thanks!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Woot!!  It's a tough time of year, especially with the wonderful additions of writing goals!!  Just keep in mind that the small changes over the long run are more effective than short intense bursts!

 

Looking forward to the Candyland game with you!

[sterre]

Woot!!  It's a tough time of year, especially with the wonderful additions of writing goals!!  Just keep in mind that the small changes over the long run are more effective than short intense bursts!

 

Looking forward to the Candyland game with you!

 

Thanks! I will definitely keep that in mind and I look forward to the Candyland game too!

[Terinatum]

Hey Sterre! Nice decisions here. You know what's coming up and you're planning accordingly. Makes perfect sense.

 

There is a NaNoWriMo accountability group this challenge. If you haven't already found it. I'm writing as well, but not that much!

 

Best of luck!

[sterre]

Hey Sterre! Nice decisions here. You know what's coming up and you're planning accordingly. Makes perfect sense.

 

There is a NaNoWriMo accountability group this challenge. If you haven't already found it. I'm writing as well, but not that much!

 

Best of luck!

 

Thanks! I've found (and joined) the NaNoWriMo group. I was also keeping on top of the daily word count reasonably well until I got sick, but I did more than the minimum word count yesterday and if I manage a few more days like that (or like that, but better) I can hopefully catch up. 

[sterre]

Woo, bought a notebook so I can keep track of not only the foods I ate, but when I ate them. This way, I'm also much less likely to leave something out than if I try to remember what I ate at the end of the day. 

[sterre]

Day 1 Update

 

I was originally hoping to start the challenge with some work on both quests one and two, but my cough still lingers so I decided to postpone my run until tomorrow, which works out anyway because I don't work tomorrow so I can run during the day. I also didn't manage to take measurements before I went to work so that will also have to wait until tomorrow morning.

 

Other than all that, I had a pretty productive day.

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

First run of the challenge: tomorrow.

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Did some other stuff in the form of a body weight workout. Details are in my battle log. (1/30 sessions)

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

Slept 3 hours. (0/42 full night sleep)

I had a four hour nap from 6 until 10 pm yesterday evening so I didn't end up being especially tired until pretty late last night. Thankfully, the nap meant that I functioned basically like I'd had a full night sleep. Tonight, I'll get to sleep earlier and probably I'll sleep in no matter what because I'll be able to.

 

Food diary kept (1/42 food diaries)

The details are in my battle log as well as in my handy-dandy notebook. The battle log has fewer details than my notebook (the latter actually says approximately what time I did everything whereas the former divides everything into even more approximate meal times).

It did include such reasonable choices as drinking a giant pile of water and having a really large salad for lunch, so that's good.

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

Wrote 1824 words.

I might poke at it a bit more later since I was sort of aiming for 1850, but I might also enjoy what remains of my day. I tried my first word sprint and wrote almost 400 words in 12 minutes. That might not sound impressive, but it feels impressive to me. I'll try playing around with those some more tomorrow, when I work on playing catch up some more.

 

Candy Land Challenge

 

For the Candy Land Challenge, my list for advancing a square is as follows:

1. Exercise (run or other)
2. 1667+ words for NaNoWriMo
3. Food journal kept
4. 7+ hours of sleep
5. Water
6. Water
7. Water
8. Freggie
9. Freggie
10. Freggie

I figure my salad was probably at least three, possibly four servings of freggies (if we're using 1 handful = 1 serving type sizes) and I've consumed more than one litre of water, which is at least three glasses, so I've met 9/10 list conditions and can advance to the 9th space on the board. This is not a special square, so my first turn is over.

[Nianne]

While you're writing in that notebook, I would recommend also noting what time you're working on Nanowrimo, and any relevant circumstances like where you are, how caffeinated you are, how distracted, etc. It can be really revealing to look back at a month's worth of data and see what really improves or hinders your wordcount performance.

 

Also, Hi. Yay Nanowrimo!

[sterre]

While you're writing in that notebook, I would recommend also noting what time you're working on Nanowrimo, and any relevant circumstances like where you are, how caffeinated you are, how distracted, etc. It can be really revealing to look back at a month's worth of data and see what really improves or hinders your wordcount performance.

 

Also, Hi. Yay Nanowrimo!

 

Ah, thank you! I hadn't considered using it to gauge NaNoWriMo performance that way. I'd thought of using it for keeping track of writing sprints, but I can see how noting caffeine intake and distractions will be helpful later.

[sterre]

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

I'm still working on this, but I finished my fourth chapter and got 1030 words done. I tried more sprints. Well, two more sprints with some breaks in between. I think they're mostly helpful when I've got a scene set up and I'm just going with the flow and not so much when I'm winding down the chapter or starting a new one.

 

There are still issues where I don't have much of a plot going yet, but I'm thinking that after this is over, I might know the characters well enough that I can start thinking about making a webcomic with them. It would probably be a slice of life type thing set in the world I've established because apparently me and plots aren't good friends, but I like slice of life webcomics so that should work out, right?

 

Candy Land Challenge!

 

I decided to add my five activities so far for the day to my nine from yesterday. So I landed on square 14 and got to roll for an adventure.

 

This is my adventure list

1. Make a new recipe
2. Try a new food
3. Try a new restaurant
4. Read a new book
5. Visit Kawagoe
6. Visit a museum
7. Visit a new tall building
8. But art supplies and paint
9. Draw something outside
10. Practice poi

I rolled a 0, so I'll have to practice some poi later for an extra movement on the board.

[sterre]

Day 2 update!

 

Today I woke up feeling better than yesterday. I was still getting rid of some mucus, but I was well enough to go for a run and go about my business normally, which was super awesome. Yay for mostly not being sick!

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

Ran a 5.0 km Fartlek! (5.0/20 km for the week, 1/6 speed runs)

I have no idea how long it took because my watch got stopped at some point early on, but it was fun.

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Did some other stuff in the form of yoga. (2/30 sessions)

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

Slept 9 hours and woke up naturally. (1/42 full night sleep)

 

Food diary kept (2/42 food diaries)

Details in my battle log.

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

Wrote 1902 words.

Finished chapter 3 and started chapter 4. I found that word sprints were pretty good once I had a scene underway, but not as awesome when I was setting up a scene.

 

Candy Land Challenge

 

I did the remaining five things on my list and I practiced poi for 20 minutes, so that's six more spaces, which lands me on #20. This is a fear and avoidance square and since I'm about to bed, I'm hoping I can do this tomorrow... (I assume within a 24 hour period is good here).

 

My fear and avoidance list is:

1. Apply for a job.
2. Start a conversation with someone I've lost touch with.
3. Back up computer
4. Sign up for meetup.
5. Don't complain for a full day.
6. Say something nice.
7. Clean the apartment.
8. Vegan for a day.
9. No message boards (other than updating on NF) for a day.
10. Plan out webcomic

And getting out the ultra sparkly 10 sided die, I roll a 6... which ends up being easy to accomplish before going to bed since my partner is sitting across the table and can always use an "I love you". So that's an easy square forward for me.

 

In the spirit of why I put it there, I'll try complimenting someone tomorrow too.

[sterre]

Candy Land Challenge

 

I did a post-work update and moved 8 squares (7+ hours of sleep, 3 x freggies, 4 x waters), ending up on square 29, barely missing a quest.

 

I also realized that I did not pick a reward for finishing my fear and avoidance task... which was probably good since I hadn't finished making my rewards list.

 

My rewards list is as follows:

1. Play Gemstone!
2. Roll up a new bard.
3. Draw whatever for at least 20 minutes.
4. Make a hat for myself.
5. Daiso shopping spree!
6. Get some anpan.
7. Set 1000 yen aside for something nice.
8. Taco night!
9. Try a new (healthy) snack.
10. Movie night.

And I rolled a five, winning myself a Daiso shopping spree. Wee!

[Sabretooth-Kitty]

You're challenge is looking good so far

[sterre]

You're challenge is looking good so far

 

Thanks! Though I find it's always easy to get off to a good start... it's maintaining the momentum that's hard for me.

[sterre]

Day 3 update!

 

Today I overslept my alarm and ended up barely making it on time for work, then when I got home my partner didn't feel like having home cooked food and preferred to go out (he'd been cooped up all day writing his thesis). So we went to get pizza. Therefore, today ended up being a rest day, which is probably good because my legs are sore from my workout earlier in the week anyway.

On the plus side, I'm almost back to 100% and I still got stuff done.

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

Rest day. (5.0/20 km for the week, 1/6 speed runs)

Tomorrow I shoot for another 5 km run.

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Rest day. (2/30 sessions)

I'll try getting up early for some yoga or a body weight workout (depending which I feel like doing) tomorrow morning before work.

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

Slept almost 8 hours. (2/42 full night sleep)

 

Food diary kept. (3/42 food diaries)

This one hasn't been transferred to my battle log yet. I'll do that tomorrow at work though for full accountability.

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

Wrote 1876 words.

So I'm not really sure where I'm going with this chapter, to be honest. I'm mostly just writing an angsty twelve year old with social anxiety because that's basically the only kind of twelve year old I know well enough to write. I should probably find a way to wrap this up and move back to my adult characters since this has nothing to do with the rest of my story.

 

...I probably should have tried planning anything at all.

 

Candy Land Challenge

 

So I added some words to my novel, another freggie and another water which means I should move three more spaces to #32... which is another blank space so no new activities, which is nice because I've got to get to bed so I can get up in time to go to work tomorrow.

[Sabretooth-Kitty]

Thanks! Though I find it's always easy to get off to a good start... it's maintaining the momentum that's hard for me.

I know what you mean, the first week is all exciting and then it tapers off. Here's hoping we both stick with it though

[Kailer]

I had no idea we had so many budding authors in Scouts, how exciting!! All of your goals look wonderful, of course.

[sterre]

I know what you mean, the first week is all exciting and then it tapers off. Here's hoping we both stick with it though

 

I hope so too!

 

I had no idea we had so many budding authors in Scouts, how exciting!! All of your goals look wonderful, of course.

 

Thanks!

[sterre]

Candy Land Challenge

 

Mid-day update. I got 6 spaces (1 x sleep, 2 x water, 3 x freggies) so I land on square #38, which is Challenges and Roaming Monsters. My list for that is:

1. Wasted away again in Margaritaville
2. It's my party and I'll cry eat all the things if I want to!
3. Procrastination station.
4. Quit quitting while I'm ahead.
5. Caught in the clickhole
6. Just one quick thing before bed...

I used an online dice roller and rolled a 1 so I have to develop a strategy for drinking situations. Basically, I will henceforth make it a point to always alternate alcoholic beverages and water if I'm having more than one drink. I know this is something that's good for me and I should do it, but I usually don't. 

 

I'll also get to test this one out tonight probably... so hopefully I succeed.

[sterre]

Day 4 Update

 

Updating a bit late since it's now Day 5. A funny thing happened yesterday. I knew we'd be going out so I wasn't going to have time to write my words for NaNoWriMo in the evening so I packed my laptop into my backpack and migrated all my stuff there and took it along to work with me so I could write at work.

 

When I was coming home and about a block from my house, it occurred to me that I probably hadn't transferred my keys there and that this was one of the few days my partner would be working at his office instead of at home, so I began to suspect that I might have trouble getting into my house. My suspicion was confirmed when I got to the door and found that I did not have my keys and the door was locked. I sent my partner a gmail message and he came home to let me in, but then I didn't have time to both get dinner ready and run so I chose to make dinner and run during the sunshine today (which I will do when my coffee is done and water is drunk). So an impromptu rest day happened.

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

Rest day. (5.0/20 km for the week, 1/6 speed runs)

Today I aim for 10 km while it's still nice and sunny out.

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Rest day. (2/30 sessions)

I did not succeed in getting this done before work. I'll do some stuff after my run.

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

Slept about 7 hours. (3/42 full night sleep)

 

Food diary kept. (4/42 food diaries)

I still have to put it in my battle log.

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

I wrote 1941 words for my novel.

Still the same chapter, it's still coming along and dragging a little, but at least I introduced some of the plot elements I wanted to introduce before. I think I'll try planning what to do next and think of a way to end this chapter so I can move on, but I think I might have a good subplot going, at least. 

 

Candy Land Challenge

 

Since my midday update, I ate three more freggies, drank three more glasses of water, wrote words and finished my food journal. I've decided to cap the freggies and water intake that counts for movement to 4 each (so +1 over what I decided before), at least for now since I'm already ahead and I don't really want to just run away on the board. So that's +5 from regular board movements.

 

Then when I went out, I successfully alternated alcoholic beverages and water. I also didn't drink very much, which was probably also a good call. Anyway, that's another +1 on the board and a reward which I will roll for when I find the dice.

[sterre]

Day 5 Update

 

So day 5 I didn't have to work and I had planned on getting a lot of writing done, but apparently I did not really do much.

 

Quest 1: Run!

 

Ran 10 km! (15.0/20 km for the week, 1/6 speed runs)

I went for a nice long run. I don't know how long I took because I accidentally reset my stopwatch again. I don't know if it's because I put my stopwatch in my fleece pocket (I switched from shorts with pockets to yoga pants without pockets so my fleece sweater is where my pockets are now) or if it's because I keep going into the same pocket for my tissues because my nose likes to run at these temperatures and I accidentally hit it then.

Either way, it kinda sucks that this happens, but I don't necessarily mind right now. I'm still recovering from being sick a bit so I'm not exactly pushing myself.

 

Tomorrow will be another rest day and then I plan on doing another speed day on Sunday for this week's Side Challenge.

 

Quest 2: Do other stuff!

 

Did some yoga. (3/30 sessions)

I did yoga for strength because multitasking.

 

Quest 3: Eat and sleep!

 

Slept about 8 hours. (4/42 full night sleep)

 

Food diary kept. (5/42 food diaries)

I still have to put it in my battle log.

 

Life Quest: NaNoWriMo!

 

Uh... writer's block hit. :S

 

Candy Land Challenge

 

I got most of my tasks completed, I doubled up on the exercise and I defeated my roaming monster again by alternating my drinks with water again. So I get to move 13 (sleep, 2x exercise, 4x freggie, 4x water, food journal, 1x roaming monster) and I get to roll for another reward on the monster.

 

I also land on square 57, which is a quest to spread cheer square. My quest list is relatively underpopulated because I'm not really much of a Christmas person. It's still something I do in the gift giving, cookie decorating sense, but that's about it. So here's my list:

1. Buy a gift for someone.
2. Make some festive or otherwise fancy food.
3. Knit something for someone else.
4. Find a way to donate things to the needy or homeless in Tokyo.
5. Write my grandma an email.
6. Look out for opportunities to do a random act of kindness.

And I rolled a 1, so I should go shopping.

 

On my Rewards for vanquishing the monster, I rolled a 0 so that's a movie night. I also still have a Daiso shopping spree reward from doing my Fear and Avoidance and a "draw whatever" reward kicking around from Day 4's monster.