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In which Rowan Caldecott Embarks on a New Adventure


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My last challenge fell apart after the halfway point due to illness and stress and I debated whether to even post a challenge this time. In less than 2 weeks, I am moving from Austin, Texas back to northeast Ohio and an apartment I’ve never seen. I’m also in the midst of looking for a job and have 2 interviews scheduled for the week after our move. I decided to go ahead with my challenge to keep myself focused and stay connected to the NF community.

 

Main Quest: For the next few weeks, life is likely to be stressful and exhausting. I want to use my challenge to help me keep up with some good habits that will help me stay sane and not lose my focus.

 

Quest 1: I don’t know what I will have time and energy for during my move, or what kind of gym access I will have after I move. I’ve decided to simply make my training routine about moving my body for this challenge. Deliberate, planned movement 6 days a week – it could be a walk, a yoga session, some dancing, or some bodyweight movements. However much I get in, I’ll call it a win.

 

A = Move my body 6x/week for 5 weeks (+3 STR, +3 STA, +3 DEX)

B = 5x/week for 4 weeks (+2 STR, +2 STA, +2 DEX)

C = 4x/week for 4 weeks (+1 STR, +1 STA, +1 DEX)

 

Quest 2: Meditation – I’m currently up to 15 minutes per day, but I’ll count even 5 minutes as long as it’s intentional.

A = Meditate 6x/week for 5 weeks (+3 WIS)

B = 5x/week for 4 weeks (+2 WIS)

C = 4x/week for 4 weeks (+1 WIS)

 

Quest 3: Sleep is critical to my well-being at all times and never more so than during the next few weeks. For me, the best way to ensure I get enough quality sleep is to get up about the same time every day. I will get up by 8:30 a.m., 6 days a week.

 

A = Up by 8:30 a.m. 6x/week for 5 weeks (+2 CON)

B = 5x/week for 4 weeks (+1 CON)

C = Less than 5x/week for 4 weeks (No stats)

 

Life Quest: I will continue the life quest I started in my last challenge – spending 15 minutes a day clearing out my backlog of to-do items. This life quest made me really happy during my last challenge, so I’m going to keep it up until I have no more backlog.

 

Pass/Fail = At least 15 minutes/day, 5x/week for 5 weeks (+1 WIS)

 

Motivation: New challenges are coming my way after our move and I want to start them with my commitment to fitness and my sanity intact. I’m excited about the new opportunities ahead; I want to have the energy and stamina to enjoy them.

 

Edited: Changed my wake-up time to 8:30 a.m. It feels a bit easier and I'm all about easy wins this challenge.

  • Like 4

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

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DAY 1

 

Quest 1: Walked for 27 minutes today; also did a few minutes of yoga

Quest 2: Meditated for 15 minutes

Quest 3: Got up about 8:20 a.m.

Life Quest: Not today

 

Getting back up to my previous training levels continues to be challenging. I don't know what happened to my body after my vacation last month, but I am really struggling. I'm glad I did it anyway.

  • Like 1

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

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DAY 6

 

Quest 1: Started the Darebee Foundation Light 30 day program. I did day 1, level 1. It's easy, feels very doable right now, but I could feel it in my legs later, so it's working my muscles at least a bit. Right now the structure feels really good, with all the chaos going on around me.

Quest 2: Not today

Quest 3: Woke up at 7:26 a.m., but laid around being lazy until 8:44 a.m.

Life Quest: Not today

  • Like 2

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

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You're doing great, Rowan!

 

I've been looking at those Darebee workouts. A lot of them seem really interesting. I'm sticking with the BBWW for right now, but I think I'll do one of the 30 day Darebee programs at some point.

 

Thanks! I am really appreciating the structure of the Foundation Light program right now. The rest of my life feels so chaotic, it's nice to have a program tell me exactly what to do, and to know that I won't have any trouble completing it. It's like comfort food, only exercise. :)

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

Found you!

 

You're doing great so far, keep up the good work :D I've got a sleeping goal, too.  It's so hard to do sometimes but it sounds like you're doing an awesome job keeping track of this.

 

Hey, welcome back, Time Lady!

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

DAY 7

 

Quest 1: Did Day 2 of the Darebee Foundation Light program.

Quest 2: Meditated for 15 minutes

Quest 3: Got up at 8:28 a.m.

Life Quest: Not today

 

Sunday was rough because we had to pack all the things, but our air conditioner died. It was 100 degrees outside, so it got hot in our apartment fast. The maintenance people brought us a small portable air conditioner to use for the day, which prevented us from getting heat stroke, but it was still about 83 degrees in our apartment all afternoon. Ugh! We did as much as we could, as long as we could, but eventually all I could manage was sitting on the floor in my bedroom, with the ceiling fan on, reading a novel. I had no brains or energy left.

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

WEEK 1 RECAP

 

Quest 1: Moved my body 7/7 days!

Quest 2: Meditated 6/7 days

Quest 3: Got up by 8:30 6/7 days

Life Quest: Only worked on my backlog 4/7 days. Finished my book, though, which felt really good.

 

Mini Quest: Made one meal for the galley crew, using up stuff in the pantry. Hope to do another one this week. Also participated (very briefly!) in the Tribble hunt. I did three push-ups on Sunday, but that was all I could manage because then our apartment descended to the 7th level of Hell. I did 6 push-ups today, but forgot to log them and apparently the hunt is over? So I guess they don't count. But I still did them!

 

Things I Learned and Random Thoughts:

 

  • A structured exercise program has now become comfort food. When did that happen? I've always resisted both structure and exercise, so that is a big switch. But it feels really good to just go to the Darebee website every day and do my workout. No thought, planning, or decision making required. Just what I need right now.
  • I did a brief activity from a self-improvement book this past week, all about figuring out what my non-negotiables are. Those are the things that I absolutely can't do without and still be a happy me. I was surprised and pleased that exercise and healthy eating were both on the list, right up there with having pets and listening to music.
  • Stress takes a big toll on me, physically and psychologically. I knew that, but I really came face to face with it in these last few weeks. I need to put some contingency plans in place to help myself stay healthy during stressful times. It's part of being anti-fragile, for me.
  • Moving sucks.

1137832

  • Like 2

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

I love the idea of an exercise plan as comfort food! I definitely need to get there.

 

Moving does suck! Good luck with your packing and hopefully your move will go smoothly! When we moved into our current house, the former owners waited till the last minute to move out. When we pulled up with the moving van we found a firetruck in the driveway because they had damaged one of the gas lines trying to take out their dryer. They also still had about half their stuff in the house. We finally paid our moving guys extra to go in and move their stuff into their truck. Loads of fun!

  • Like 1

Battle Log

 

Challenges: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

 

Fitbit, Epic Quest Character

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I love the idea of an exercise plan as comfort food! I definitely need to get there.

 

Moving does suck! Good luck with your packing and hopefully your move will go smoothly! When we moved into our current house, the former owners waited till the last minute to move out. When we pulled up with the moving van we found a firetruck in the driveway because they had damaged one of the gas lines trying to take out their dryer. They also still had about half their stuff in the house. We finally paid our moving guys extra to go in and move their stuff into their truck. Loads of fun!

 

Ugh, now there's a horrible moving story! But even when moves go smoothly, they still suck. I keep telling my husband he needs to invent a transporter, like in Star Trek, so we could just beam ourselves and all our stuff to the new place.

  • Like 1

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

I keep telling my husband he needs to invent a transporter, like in Star Trek, so we could just beam ourselves and all our stuff to the new place.

 

My husband is always telling me I need to invent that too! He usually says that when we start the 12 hour drive to see my family at Christmas every year.

  • Like 1

Battle Log

 

Challenges: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

 

Fitbit, Epic Quest Character

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DAY 9

 

Quest 1: Did Day 4 of the Darebee Foundation Light program.

Quest 2: Meditated for 15 minutes

Quest 3: Got up at 7:10 a.m.

Life Quest: Not today

 

Okay, so the life quest is going to be on hold for a few more days, because moving is taking all the physical and mental space instead. I can live with that.

  • Like 3

Level 4 Slayer

STR 9 | DEX 7 | STA 6 | CON 9 | WIS 9 | CHA 5

Challenges: Current 4 3 2 1

Battle log

 

Mantra for 2015: I am here


"Riskless is hardly worth your effort." Seth Godin

Link to comment

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