karinajean just. shows. up.

[karinajean]

Quick intro!

I'm karinajean, 38, live in NY state, commute to NJ about an hour each way (so lots of time in the car). I practice tae kwon do several times a week, take weapons and boxing classes in addition, and am trying super hard to do really good form push- and pull-ups this year. I have a crazy mean (yet super sweet) cat and live with my husband full time and my stepdudes 1/2 time. I motorcycle, knit and spin, and am endlessly ignoring how messy the house is. I'm an assassin because I like doing all the things, and because I want to be able to do push-ups and pull-ups -- if I can do those and run and do martial arts I will feel totally strong and fit and capable.

 

I know I did it to myself, but I named my last challenge "karinajean over-commits," and I was right. I totally over-committed, and it was brutal by the end of the challenge because I didn't have any capacity for last minute changes or additions.

 

* GOAL 1: food tracking. I'm reaching a funny place where I need to figure out how hard I want to work on my diet to get more results. um. I don't know how to answer that, but hopefully I will by the end of this challenge. So part of this goal is to think about how much I am willing to give up or add in, or generally otherwise change.

ALSO, I've been getting interesting results from my charge hr, namely: I don't burn very many calories during a day where I don't exercise on purpose. that's super key to understand, and I guess I really do need to figure out how to do something every day.

which leads me to:
* GOAL 2: do something every day, but don't do EVERYTHING every day.
I'm in a really good place with running right now, and I'd like to continue hitting some good mileage. I think that if I can maintain a 3x a week running schedule (though - I haven't been doing that over the last 2 weeks, so I need to work on it a little better I guess) that would be pretty good. this running thing will be a mix of, like, a 3 mile | 2 mile | 4 mile or maybe more run.

BUT, I really am getting close to the wire for my "ups" in 2015. So, because Raptron is brilliant and amazing, I'm going to add in the pull-up challenge. And because it's good for me, I'm going to do really good form push-ups every morning - possibly in the bathroom next to the tub before i get into it, but I am going to DO THEM.

* GOAL 3: show up for your own life.

I was super over-committed last challenge and the end of that was a lot of being over-committed at things for other people. I need to work back in that stuff that I want to do for me. I'm great at fitting in the dojo stuff, but not so great at the crafting. so - I'm going to fit in stuff for my own life. I need to make sure I've got room in my schedule to breathe, and that I am working in my own fun as I go along.

 

that fun includes knitting and spinning, making a clean room and keeping it, possibly konmari cleaning the house... there's lot of stuff I could be doing. it doesn't all have to be running around to get boys to events and to make sure there's dinner to be had for husbands. make sure I'm doing things for ME and to make sure that *I* have an easy and comfortable life instead of making everyone else comfortable all the time.

To this end, well. I saw this really neat bullet journal idea. I'm going to steal it and use it. so far for columns; push-ups, pull-ups, running, filling in my new 5-year diary every night, and checking in with you all!  .... I don't know what else, but I'll get that sorted too.

[Mad Hatter]

 

* GOAL 2: do something every day, but don't do EVERYTHING every day.

 

I love how you phrased this!

[karinajean]

I love how you phrased this!

 

It's the Assassin's Condition to do all the things! I need to practice a little more balance.

 

 

****

 

OK WEEK 0 RECAP.

 

you may recall from such challenges as my last challenge that I was planning to run an 8K on September 12. Well! I did. and it was pretty amazing.

 

the week before was disaster cakes with a gigantic proposal, working labor day weekend, getting sorta urgent calls from clients on other jobs asking us to team with them to make sure everything goes ok next year, responding, doing my regular job... I was up late lots of nights working, and I HATE working after work.

 

that said, we got our big hairy proposal out and I wrote and mailed thank you cards out to the 2 marketers who were working on it because it didn't HAVE to be so hairy and horrible, but for some reason it was, and they were very helpful. also I like handwriting notes and cards.

 

Food was a disaster with birthday party for my husband on wednesday (homemade brownie sundaes! sorry not sorry. BUT, this brownie recipe is amazing, and super calorific. SO WORTH IT, but an "in moderation" food, I guess. ugh adulting). Also I had a lot of food on sat. (montgomery day, brunch, and parties) and sun. (lunch with my mom for her birthday and leftover party at a friends post montgomery day party). The food was sorta offset with the 8K run but I really ate a LOT, so I was over.

 

I saw my weight totally bump up over the weekend too, and I'm blaming foods I don't normally eat a lot of (cold cut sandwiches and baked ziti) and lots of alcohol (it turns out I am old enough that I can start drinking bloody mary's in the morning, have them through lunch, switch to beer in the afternoon -- and entirely skip inebriation, going straight to hung over, apparently. so what's the point even? OLD SELF, REMEMBER THIS FOR THE FUTURE.) I'm sure it'll shake out over the next few days.

 

 

So let's talk about the 8k and that whole day.

we were up early, and speedwalked the about-a-mile down to the start line, then ran, and then I stuck around afterwards for raffle prizes and then ran home again. what even. once home, I had to run up and down the hill in front of our house to get all the chairs and drinks and waffles and waffle irons and plates and forks out for our guests, and I stood for most of the 1 1/2 hour parade making waffles. after that we cleaned up, rested a little, and walked down to a friends house for more party. then walked home again. The fitbit says I burned 3950 calories (and I wasn't wearing it for the morning dash down pre-run, because it was nearly dead and I had to charge it up).

 

AND HERE'S THE BEST NEWS:

 

I did the 8K with an official time of 46:34!

and I walked for 2 minutes at about mile 4!

so my average mile time was about 9:20?!  HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

 

I'm super excited about it, and I knew I was running at about a 9:20 pace at the beginning but I thought I'd slowed down, not sped up.

so, this is really why I want to keep up the running. I'm getting pretty good at it, and I don't want to lose that over the winter.

PLUS I will probably do a turkey trot this year, which is a 10K, and so I need to keep at about this level so when I train for that, I get even more betterer.

 

So! week zero was a huge success, even though it was a huge PITA to get through (thanks work).

 

all in all, it's a great kick-off point for this challenge. YAY CHALLENGE.

[starpuck]

Hey lady!!!!     Hee, I love your challenges, always.  Because man they sound so familiar.      I love love love the do something every day, but don't do EVERYTHING every day approach.    I am trying to manage that too.   And, the Charge HR telling you how VERY little you burn on a total chill, do nothing day?  Yup.  I am right there with you.  (And I think I've decided that on THOSE days, I will 'eat to maintain' because um, hells no I am not eating only 1200 calories on a lazy day hehe.)

 

I'm hoping to be much more back in action here, so will be keeping up far better this time than the last few times.

[Twilight]

Cheering for you!

[Lara]

So many great things done! So many great things yet to happen!

Best of luck in this not over-committed challenge!

[sylph]

You mean you may possibly pause for a breath at some point this challenge? Amazing.

[joedog]

Great job on the 8k! I didn't get to do my 5k that day because of work. Ugh. 

 

I find my Fitbit is really good at letting me know just how much I sit at work. I would probably tell you I have an active job but turns out that's only true part of the time. 

I like that bullet journal idea! I always get so many great ideas for planning and tracking from you. 

[KB Girl]

Congrats on the 8k! What a day

[karinajean]

Great job on the 8k! I didn't get to do my 5k that day because of work. Ugh. 

 

I find my Fitbit is really good at letting me know just how much I sit at work. I would probably tell you I have an active job but turns out that's only true part of the time. 

I like that bullet journal idea! I always get so many great ideas for planning and tracking from you. 

Congrats on the 8k! What a day

 

thank you both!

 

and joedog, I have been thinking about how to use this journaling idea for, like, 3 days and I can't figure out a way that I will be able to stick with. I think for me the fun part is the research/procrasti-research of learning new ideas. I hope that it is helpful for you!

 

Hey lady!!!!     Hee, I love your challenges, always.  Because man they sound so familiar.      I love love love the do something every day, but don't do EVERYTHING every day approach.    I am trying to manage that too.   And, the Charge HR telling you how VERY little you burn on a total chill, do nothing day?  Yup.  I am right there with you.  (And I think I've decided that on THOSE days, I will 'eat to maintain' because um, hells no I am not eating only 1200 calories on a lazy day hehe.)

 

I'm hoping to be much more back in action here, so will be keeping up far better this time than the last few times.

OH HAI!

 

you are SO SMART, the idea of eating to maintain on the non-active days is brilliant! I'll incorporate that into my "thinking about what food means" goal.

 

I think you and I both had a simultaneous workload explosion over the last few weeks, I hope that yours is in better control!

 

Cheering for you!

You mean you may possibly pause for a breath at some point this challenge? Amazing.

 

hi friends! and thanks for the support!

confidential to sylph oh hush, you.

[karinajean]

I didn't do anything last night for exercise. mostly, I was tired and pretended like I needed the extra rest day.

I DID go to acupuncture, and told her that I was feeling like my digestion was "sluggish." mostly it's because I ate a bunch of crap over the weekend - but she spent some time on my digestion/stomach, and this morning I woke up 2 pounds lighter. I know it's just thermodynamics, but I'll take all the catalysts I can get.

 

good choices last night: drank lots of seltzer and no beers.

bad choices: nommed a couple of delicious brownies while I was deciding if I should eat on my own or wait for my late husband (I ate on my own anyway).

 

I woke up this morning and went out for a run - I was kind of late, and it was PITCH BLACK at 5:30 AM, so I strapped on my headlight and reflective vest (<-- highly recommended) and blinky light (<-- so bright) and my roadid and headed out. i talked myself into a 2.5 mile run but my headlight was giving me such a hassle, slipping down and not lighting my way, and then I started to hear a noise that might have been a coyote - it was kind of like a hawk screech, but in pre-dawn more likely it was a coyote - so I decided to do the full 3 mile loop through the village with streetlights instead of my out-and-back 2.5 miles on the dark no-streetlight street next to the fields. When I hit my turn point instead of turning around I turned left.

 

AND THAT WAS THE BEST IDEA EVER, because regardless of pitch black runs, possible coyotes, and annoying headlamps, I finished 3 miles in 27:13 | 9:03 pace. I am so excited. it was a HUGE deal to me when I ran those 2 miles in under 9 minutes each, and to be this close to doing that for 3 miles? meep! I'm super happy I went the farther distance this morning.

 

today I've got work, but not a million meetings which is a huge treat. then off to pick up luke at his dance class and whisk him over to tkd. we have the kids tonight so I think dinner will be something pasta-y, so I'm going to try and manage snacks / etc during the day to a minimum. BUT, that said, it's great to start a pasta day with a run first thing, and then 3 fried eggs for breakfast. I feel like I'm in good shape.

[KB Girl]

Excellent  

I had to look up how many km's are in 3 miles to be able to relate, but now that i know- that's a really nice pace!

[Lara]

Excellent time!

And not eaten by coyotes! Two for one!

[Twilight]

Nice!

[karinajean]

yesterday was kind of a lot of stuff. after work I picked up 12 from his dance class and we went right down the road to tkd. He had a headache and sat out the first half of class, but then joined and was totally punched in the mouth by our 9 year old and totally unfocused black belt during 3-step practice. the younger kid was being flashy, and it didn't work out for 12. ugh. so I felt bad b/c my kid was hurt (he's fine, his teeth are ok but they scraped the inside of his mouth - he was startled and sore, mostly), had to control my MAMA CAT response which is pretty much MY KITTENS DO NOT HURT THEM RAWR BITE SCRATCH, and also make it a learning opportunity for the 9-year old. I gave him a solid lecture about needing to have control, needing to have more focus, and needing to have more respect - for the other people at the dojo, but also for himself. he deserves to have a good hour-long class, and not to have to do lots of push-ups. UGH.

 

after that we went home and ate dinner (already cooked!) but I also had to clean off the table beforehand, and husband had to get 16 from work, and then we ate, and it was lovely, but there was also so much laundry (I did 3 loads last night). also the house needed cleaning so I picked up a bunch, then went to bed on-time.

.

SPEAKING OF LAUNDRY someone posted this article to the NFA FB group and it's kind of great:

https://www.nicoleantoinette.com/lets-stop-pretending/

Let’s Stop Pretending It’s “So Easy†To Be Healthy

my favorite bit is about 1/2 through:

 

And remember: it took me almost three full years to even get here. At the beginning it was so much harder, because every moment was overshadowed by uncertainty: “What time should I run? Does it really matter if I skip today’s workout? Will I have time to run after work? Which foods make me feel my best? Why bother meal planning when grabbing food to go is so much easier and saves so much time? Why does this muscle hurt? What’s the difference between bad pain and normal soreness? How hard should I push myself? Are other people having this much trouble with motivation? Why am I breaking out in weird places? Will I be able to stick with this for more than a week? WHO IS GOING TO DEAL WITH ALL THIS FREAKIN’ LAUNDRY??†and endlessly on and on.

 

so, today! I meant to get up and do the Age of Pandora workout, which I sorta love but haven't been able to get started on it really.

BUT this morning we had to get the house straight for the cleaners, but husband had to leave early for a class, so I stayed with 12 to make sure he was ready to go to school, and from about 6AM on I cleaned the kitchen, finished putting away stuff in the dining room, cleared up the cat stuff and put her away into our room so she won't murder the cleaners, wrote out checks and paid a couple of bills, ate breakfast, and did more laundry. no working out but am looking forward to getting home tonight to a nice clean house.

 

BUT I also spent 15 minutes cleaning up the pile of junk on my side of the bed in my room, and even got out the broom and swept the floor, and hung up my clothes. it looks amazing(er) and it's such a relief to have cleared out that mess.

 

tonight I have an alumni association meeting, so it'll be in nyc and home late. tomorrow I'm scheduled for a 2 mile run, and I'm going to do it NOMATTERWHAT. feeling a little stressed at work. eh. I'll make it through.

 

I DID get some yarn to knit, we are doing squares for a lap blanket for the mom of someone in our knitting group and I'll do that at the meeting tonight. so that's fun for me, at least. GOAL 3. also, I'm counting cleaning up my side of the room as GOAL 3, even though the rest of the cleaning was NOT fun for me.

[Elastigirl]

yesterday was kind of a lot of stuff. after work I picked up 12 from his dance class and we went right down the road to tkd. He had a headache and sat out the first half of class, but then joined and was totally punched in the mouth by our 9 year old and totally unfocused black belt during 3-step practice. the younger kid was being flashy, and it didn't work out for 12. ugh. so I felt bad b/c my kid was hurt (he's fine, his teeth are ok but they scraped the inside of his mouth - he was startled and sore, mostly), had to control my MAMA CAT response which is pretty much MY KITTENS DO NOT HURT THEM RAWR BITE SCRATCH, and also make it a learning opportunity for the 9-year old. I gave him a solid lecture about needing to have control, needing to have more focus, and needing to have more respect - for the other people at the dojo, but also for himself. he deserves to have a good hour-long class, and not to have to do lots of push-ups. UGH.

 

after that we went home and ate dinner (already cooked!) but I also had to clean off the table beforehand, and husband had to get 16 from work, and then we ate, and it was lovely, but there was also so much laundry (I did 3 loads last night). also the house needed cleaning so I picked up a bunch, then went to bed on-time.

.

SPEAKING OF LAUNDRY someone posted this article to the NFA FB group and it's kind of great:

https://www.nicoleantoinette.com/lets-stop-pretending/

Let’s Stop Pretending It’s “So Easy†To Be Healthy

my favorite bit is about 1/2 through:

 

so, today! I meant to get up and do the Age of Pandora workout, which I sorta love but haven't been able to get started on it really.

BUT this morning we had to get the house straight for the cleaners, but husband had to leave early for a class, so I stayed with 12 to make sure he was ready to go to school, and from about 6AM on I cleaned the kitchen, finished putting away stuff in the dining room, cleared up the cat stuff and put her away into our room so she won't murder the cleaners, wrote out checks and paid a couple of bills, ate breakfast, and did more laundry. no working out but am looking forward to getting home tonight to a nice clean house.

 

BUT I also spent 15 minutes cleaning up the pile of junk on my side of the bed in my room, and even got out the broom and swept the floor, and hung up my clothes. it looks amazing(er) and it's such a relief to have cleared out that mess.

 

tonight I have an alumni association meeting, so it'll be in nyc and home late. tomorrow I'm scheduled for a 2 mile run, and I'm going to do it NOMATTERWHAT. feeling a little stressed at work. eh. I'll make it through.

 

I DID get some yarn to knit, we are doing squares for a lap blanket for the mom of someone in our knitting group and I'll do that at the meeting tonight. so that's fun for me, at least. GOAL 3. also, I'm counting cleaning up my side of the room as GOAL 3, even though the rest of the cleaning was NOT fun for me.

Love that article-so true! 

[raptron]

WHY WASN'T I HERE ALREADY?!?!?! 

 

1) Your pace during your 8k! SWOON! And during your continued training runs! Work those long legs, girl!

2) KAF Fudge Brownies! YES! HAIL!

3) The workout clothes laundry struggle is real. What do you mean if you wear two different sets of clothes every day you are going to have to do twice as much laundry? That is fuckin' bullshit!

4) Mama cat response is strong, so good on you to keep your cool and turn it into productive lecture on control for that kid

5) Do your run tomorrow but don't get eaten by coyotes, kthx!

[annyshay]

BUT this morning we had to get the house straight for the cleaners, but husband had to leave early for a class, so I stayed with 12 to make sure he was ready to go to school, and from about 6AM on I cleaned the kitchen, finished putting away stuff in the dining room, cleared up the cat stuff and put her away into our room so she won't murder the cleaners, wrote out checks and paid a couple of bills, ate breakfast, and did more laundry. no working out but am looking forward to getting home tonight to a nice clean house.

 

BUT I also spent 15 minutes cleaning up the pile of junk on my side of the bed in my room, and even got out the broom and swept the floor, and hung up my clothes. it looks amazing(er) and it's such a relief to have cleared out that mess.

So much adulting!  Your run times are CRAY CRAY.  Also, I am glad you are knitting.  Things seem hectic for you still. *hugs*

[Lara]

I needed to read that article. Today. Thanks!

[Lou_be_Lou]

WOW - YAY for your 8K!!!!!

 

eeeekkkkk re coyotes!

 

aggggghhhhh re all of the adulting.

Cheering you on for all of the awesome - just brilliant.  And imagine- you could combine the journal with a sticker reward chart!  With your goals that would be about 100 stickers a day!!!!! Your inner 8 year old would be so happy with that.

 

Plus, I'm stealing your pushups before shower idea. That is genius.

[Lou_be_Lou]

"and even though the person doing the moves in the example video is incredibly precise and flexible and strong, most of my movements look like I’m a drunk baby deer on rollerskates – my limbs flailing around in all directions, every inch of me covered in sweat."

This!  So much, oh yes.

Massive thanks for the link.  https://www.nicoleantoinette.com/lets-stop-pretending/

[Mrs Van]

Wow, you hit the road running again - or as always

My youngest is also a bit more hectic than the oldest and every now and again needs to be reminded to pull his punches and to consider those around him when he plays. Your good if you only turn into a Mama CAT, I have been told if I really feel the kids are unfairly treated, I look and act like a Mama BEAR! Which almost happened last week, except the other child's parent wasn't there, so I kept it in.
So glad you have prioritised yourself this challenge, as that is very important. You need some "down" time for hobbies or, as you said, just yourself and other things you like/want to do.

[KB Girl]

Ahh the laundry problem... It made me get a dryer. No way am I hanging up that much laundry! Ofcourse then we discovered that most shirts don't really survive a dryer very well.. but still, no hanging up underwear ever again.

[Mad Hatter]

But late but those are some nice run times! Clearly the threat of coyotes chasing you must helps. [emoji14]

[starpuck]

Hey lady.   Busy busy, as per usual.    I'd have had a strong mama cat response too, and I don't even have kittens!    I often feel, as I read your updates, like I am getting a chance to glimpse some good old fashioned wisdom- and I love it.

 

I agree with your others about your crazy pace!    I'm just going tell myself it's because you've got 6 inches on me, and therefore your strides carry you further!  *nods sagely*   ((Yes I know that is total malarky, but I need to believe it ok??))