Spookyfoot: Baby Steps are the Only Steps

[spooky]

Hello Druids! This is my second challenge but my first as part of a guild. This is part two of my journey learning how to take care of myself and well... care about myself. I guess it's a journey in learning self compassion. I learned in my last challenge that happiness is built from the inside out so I'm focused on re-inforcing my interior scaffolding. 

 

I’m hesitating on grading some these because self care should be its own reward. I won’t put a time limit or value judgement on most of these. What matters is my consistent and persistent effort. Some of parts of the quests are maintenance goals from the last challenge. As ever my primary goal is to become the person I want to be, one baby step at a time.

 

I have listed some lesson objectives for each activity next to it, though of course there will be many more unplanned lessons throughout the challenge. Grading will be done as a percentage however the only failing grade is a zero, so if I do 50% that’s still a C because something is better than nothing. Going into this challenge I will shoot for 100% because it is possible but I do not expect myself to be perfect. Perfection is the enemy of progress.

 

Quest 1: Mind

 

Gratitude statements: letting of of the negative by focusing on the positive (New)

                                                                                                              

total possible points: 42

 

Daily Meditation:

 

total possible points: 42

 

Walk to Mordor: 

Miles from walking and running added weekly

 

total possible points: 6

 

Quest 2: Body

 

Overall Challenge Goals:

+Maintaining previous challenge exercise schedule +1 more weight training session per week

+Mindful Eating (Continued from last challenge)

+Water (Continued from last challenge)

+Daily Shower (New)

 

Exercise

activity every day

 

Water

Goal: 2L per day

 

Grading : X/84L

total points: 42 (fractional points awarded for this challenge)

 

Maintain mindful eating

Continue mindful eating, especially mindful of sugar. Using MFP to track my calories. Reporting food in my challenge thread every day. This was not an official part of the last challenge, but it helped a lot to clean up my diet. My diet is focused on whole foods, categories to be mindful are fruits, nuts and cheeses. I’m going with 1700 calories a day, revised based on my activity levels. So 11,900 for the week

 

Grading: X/71,400 minus one letter grade for every 500 calories over total goal (so I have a buffer) 

total points: 42 (fractional points awarded for this challenge, -.25 points for every 100 calories over goal)

 

Hygiene (New)

Shower daily. This is a symptom of my depression. Showering (sadly) needs to be part of my self-care routine. I have to make the time for myself. 

 

total possible points: 42  

 

Quest 3: Soul

 

Chocolate Bar Challenge:

One bar of my favorite chocolate bar (cadbury milk w/ caramel) spread over six weeks. I used to eat two of these in one sitting so one chocolate bar has to last the whole challenge. At a pace of approx. 3 squares per week 

 

total possible points: 6

 

Daily Inspiration:

This is very centering. I started it informally last challenge and I would like to continue.

 

total possible points: 42

 

No weed

It’s aggravating my anxiety (New)

 

total possible points: 42

 

Reading

every day 

 

total possible points: 42

 

Total possible points for challenge: 402

Actual points total: ?????

 

Life Quest:

-POSITIVITY WALL

-Creative Writing 3x per week, a sentence is fine. Progress is progress

-Get ready for school- 

letter of intent

Dr’s letters

Dr’s paperwork 

beanie’s harness 

Beanie’s carrier

[spooky]

Weight: 135.5

Waist: 28 in

Abdomen @ belly button: 33 in

Hips: 39 in 

Chest: 30 in

Right thigh: 22.5, Left thigh: 22.5

Right upper arm: 10.75 Left upper arm: 10.75

[spooky]

~Week 1 In Review~

Inspiration: 7/7

Meditation: 7/7

Gratitude: 7/7

Water: 14/14

Calories : 11,358/11,900

Exercise: 7/7

Miles: 33.8 miles total

Shower: 4/7

Weed: 4/7

Chocolate: 2/1

Reading: 5/7

Life Quest: Progress

Weight: 132.5

 

~Week 2 in Review~

Inspiration: 7/7

Meditation: 7/7

Gratitude: 7/7

Miles: 15 for the week, 48 total

Water: 13.5 of 14L

Calories: weekly total of 11696, weekly average of 1671, under weekly cap of 11900, I'll just call yesterday a re-feed

Shower: 4/7

Exercise: 7/7

 Weed: No Smoking   7/7 (very proud of this)

Reading: 6/7

Chocolate: 3/1

 Overall a very good week !  . Waist measured at 27 in yesterday, a .5 in loss, and weighed in at 132.5 today, probably a bit bloated from last night so I am good with those numbers

 

~Week 3 In Review~

Inspiration: 7/7

Meditation: 7/7

Gratitude: 7/7

Miles: 13.016 miles this week 

Water:13.5/14L this week

Calories: caloric average was 1467, caloric total was 10,269, way under the goal. I might actually have to focus on eating a little more this week.

Shower: 4/7

Exercise: 7/7, this is going great, over two months of daily movement and going strong

Weed: no smoking! 7/7, two weeks! awww yisssss. 

Reading: 4/7, this is something to focus on this week, I'll get it eventually 

Chocolate: 4/1 overload this week, but still better and where I was and no chocolate yesterday, heading into week 4 on the right note. 

Life quest: progress made, ramping up the return to school business this week, need to get the forms and all the info, still haven't heard back from the head of counseling even though I've sent her two emails. I will be on top of this this week. 

Weight: some days it as as low at 131, today it was 133, I think I've hit a plateau. I have had positive comments from my mom and my Pilates duet buddy so even if the scale isn't moving other people are noticing that I look slimmer which is definitely a win.

[SomeGuyFromScotland]

[Reserved for Stalking]

 

Great goals, like what you're doing here. Good luck!

[Heidi]

[i Am Not reserved! ]

I love the focus on self care and building your happiness and self esteem.

There are a lot of elements listed, but I like that you're kind of clearing out the inner closet, getting light into the corners.

Remember to breathe.

Best of luck, and I am looking forward to sharing your journey.

Sent from my KFAPWA using Tapatalk

[astormofsparkle]

I am making reservations to be a part of this journey!

[petefeet]

Following along since you've supported me!

[spooky]

Been hard at work on the Paper Beast, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel getting stronger every second! 

[Reserved for Stalking]

 

Great goals, like what you're doing here. Good luck!

Yay! You're here! 

[i Am Not reserved! ]
I love the focus on self care and building your happiness and self esteem.
There are a lot of elements listed, but I like that you're kind of clearing out the inner closet, getting light into the corners.

Remember to breathe.

Best of luck, and I am looking forward to sharing your journey.

Sent from my KFAPWA using Tapatalk

[i am trying to be less reserved  ]

 

Yeah there's a lot to think about so I am going to "Pull a Heidi" and do a Week Zero trial run to work out any kinks 

So glad to have you along for the ride! 

 

I am making reservations to be a part of this journey!

Welcome! [i am trying to think of something witty, have a gif instead] 

Following along since you've supported me!

Yay! Happy to have you here! 

 

[i really like Adventure Time....]

[Heidi]

Yay! I love bonus weeks to work the kinks out.

So what's your focus for Monday?

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[spooky]

Yay! I love bonus weeks to work the kinks out.

So what's your focus for Monday?

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Today's focus is balance! I'm delivering the finishing blows to the Paper Beast(!!!) I am so close to finishing these papers but that means it's even more important to make sure my self-care routine happens as well. It's great practice for balancing school work and self-care.

 

I have my annual physical this morning, Pilates in the afternoon, and overripe on the counter bananas begging to be made into banana bread. The rest of the day will be devoted to editing, with breaks for meditation or walking. It will be a nice day! 

[spooky]

Daily Inspiration (1/7)

 

64

 

What is rooted is easy to nourish.

What is recent is easy to correct.
What is brittle is easy to break.
What is small is easy to scatter.

Prevent trouble before it arises.
Put things in order before they exist.
The giant pine tree
grows from a tiny sprout.
The journey of a thousand miles
starts from beneath your feet.

Rushing into action, you fail.
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
Forcing a project to completion,
you ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action
by letting things take their course.
He remains as calm
at the end as at the beginning.
He has nothing,
thus has nothing to lose.
What he desires is non-desire;
what he learns is to unlearn.
He simply reminds people
of who they have always been.
He cares about nothing but the Tao.
Thus he can care for all things.

 

"My dear friend, clear your mind of can't."

-Samuel Johnson

 

[Heidi]

Daily Inspiration (1/7)

64

What is rooted is easy to nourish.

What is recent is easy to correct.

What is brittle is easy to break.

What is small is easy to scatter.

Prevent trouble before it arises.

Put things in order before they exist.

The giant pine tree

grows from a tiny sprout.

The journey of a thousand miles

starts from beneath your feet.

Rushing into action, you fail.

Trying to grasp things, you lose them.

Forcing a project to completion,

you ruin what was almost ripe.

Therefore the Master takes action

by letting things take their course.

He remains as calm

at the end as at the beginning.

He has nothing,

thus has nothing to lose.

What he desires is non-desire;

what he learns is to unlearn.

He simply reminds people

of who they have always been.

He cares about nothing but the Tao.

Thus he can care for all things.

"My dear friend, clear your mind of can't."

-Samuel Johnson

Wow, so perfect for me today (and most days!)

Thank you for this.

Sent from my KFAPWA using Tapatalk

[Gaming_Jeweler]

Good luck on your walk to Mordor. I'm taking baby steps too.

[Gaming_Jeweler]

Good luck on your walk to Mordor. I'm taking baby steps too.

[spooky]

Wow, so perfect for me today (and most days!)

Thank you for this.

Sent from my KFAPWA using Tapatalk

 

You're welcome! I love the sound of the Tao Te Ching in the morning.

Good luck on your walk to Mordor. I'm taking baby steps too.

Thanks!  I'm still working on the 1st mile haha. Baby steps are the best! Thanks for stopping by 

[spooky]

Such a good day so far! 

-20 minutes of walking (about 3/4 of a mile) 

-veggie scramble this morning (eggs, kale, spinach, chard, broccoli, cauliflower and asiago)

-finished the paper I was working on and got started on the last paper to revise (!!!)

-12 minutes of meditation

- went to the Doctor

-10 minutes of reading

-made a paleo banana bread (cooking time is so therapeutic for me)

-made a gorgeous salad for lunch! (pic incoming)

[spooky]

(kale, spinach, chard, spring greens, raw brussels sprouts, pomegranate seeds, sweet baby bell peppers, persian cumbers, chicken, homemade lemon vinaigrette) 

[Jett]

That looks fantastic!

[spooky]

That looks fantastic!

Thanks! I've noticed how much happier I am when I eat a lot of veggies, and salads are a great way to get them in. Plus there's so much variation! 

[spooky]

Bonus cat picture

[petefeet]

Great looking salad even though I'm not much of fan of kale (love all the other greens).

 

Also, (I assume you know) overripe bananas freeze really well until you have enough to cook with. They are also great mashed into pancakes imo.

[spooky]

Great looking salad even though I'm not much of fan of kale (love all the other greens).

 

Also, (I assume you know) overripe bananas freeze really well until you have enough to cook with. They are also great mashed into pancakes imo.

I don't know if I would eat the raw kale if it wasn't mixed with a bunch of other stuff. I may experiment with some other types of greens. 

 

Thank you for reminding me about freezing bananas. In theory I know I could freeze them but somehow I always just use them instead. Mmmmm banana pancakes sound great!

[spooky]

Oh and Pilates today was killer, I'm already sore which is good but I want to run tomorrow 

[spooky]

Gratitude:

I am grateful for pets

I am grateful for salads

I am grateful for endings and beginnings

I am grateful for myself

I am grateful for parents who love me and care about my emotional wellbeing

I am grateful for sore muscles from a good workout

I am grateful for bacon (yum!)

I am grateful for sunshine

I am grateful for books

I am grateful for forgiveness

I am grateful for the quiet 

[spooky]

Day In Review: 

Meditation: 1/7
Exercise: 20 minutes walking (1/2), 60 minutes Pilates (1/2)

Reading: 30 minutes (1/7)

Shower: no (0/7)

Gratitude: yes (1/7)

Water: 1.25L

Food: wayyyyy over calorie goal (1968). Still fine-tuning my diet....le sigh. I will get there, damn you honey sesame cashews! Dinner was 2 strips of bacon, greek yogurt w/ fresh berries, unsweetened coconut flakes, and honey. Hmm...the honey might have offset a sweets craving. Something to think about.