Courtney vs. The Funk

[courtneyc]

Yes, this is yet another grab bad challenge. What can I say? As soon as I saw stillskies' challenge last round I knew I wanted to get in on the grab bag fun. (Also, does "grab bag fun" sound kind of wrong to anyone else?)

 

Anyway, during the last challenge life kept throwing giant, stress-filled curve balls my way, and I kind of went into survival mode, which can work for a time but isn't anyway to operate long term. Coming out of that I'm feeling overwhelmed with life. It would be easy for me to slide into a minor depressive state right now, and the last week or two there have been days when I felt the shift happening. So the goal of this challenge is to give myself little wins everyday.

 

Goal: Earn 600 pts. over the course of the challenge by completing items on my list. Each item is worth 5 points and falls into one of three categories.

 

Health

• Take a walk (take dog for an extra 5 points)
• Workout (strength training, bjj, or kickboxing)
• Log food for the day
• Eat a plant
• Abstain from sweets for a day
• Schedule a long overdue doctor/dentist appt. 
• Drink a large water bottle of water before noon
• Plantar Fasciitis stretches
• Stretching/Foam Roller Session
• Lights out and kindle off by 11PM

Life

• 500 words or 1 undistracted hour writing
• Research panelist @ upcoming writing conference (Anyone else attending NerdCon:Stories?)
• Do something nice for someone (cards, phone calls, quality time, etc.)
• Spend 30 minutes unpacking
• Try a new quality time activity with John
• Update my address 
• Get dressed for the day before sitting down at computer
• Go on a social outing

That's it for now. I may come up with some bonus point challenges along the way depending on what's happening that week, but otherwise I'll check in every couple days to update my progress.

[roundoff]

Cool idea, courtneyc. I like the grab bag idea, even if it does sound dirty.

[Kishi]

This looks like an awesome way to do it. It's worked well for the Monks so far who have taken up this style of challenge, and I can't wait to see how it does for you.

 

I do remember that you were dealing with some stuff revolving around your family and moving and such. Did everything get shaken out eventually?

[courtneyc]

This looks like an awesome way to do it. It's worked well for the Monks so far who have taken up this style of challenge, and I can't wait to see how it does for you.

 

I do remember that you were dealing with some stuff revolving around your family and moving and such. Did everything get shaken out eventually?

 

Thankfully, all the big stress items have been sorted out. Now I need to establish a good routine in the new place and slowly work through the remaining boxes. I'm feeling optimistic that this challenge will give me the push I need to do that!

[courtneyc]

My first official day on the challenge went well. I collected 15 points by working on house stuff for 30 minutes and going to a bjj class followed by a kickboxing class. (I'm counting individual classes separately for this challenge.)

 

The house work was actually really encouraging. The house we're renting came partially furnished, which is great given that it is much bigger than what we're used to, but living in someone else's house with their stuff and all of their decorating decisions (I'm looking at you pumpkin orange dining room!) can feel a little like perpetual house sitting. So yesterday I dug out the couch that was buried underneath decorative pillow mountain and boxed them up carefully, replacing it all with a modest two pillows of my own. There was some additional cleaning done as well, but that little change made the living room feel a little more like "us." Knowing that it will end the on going pillow avalanches is an added bonus. 

[Kishi]

What? But pillow avalanches are the best avalanches.

[The Shogun]

Hey! How's this first week has ended for you? =) Keep us posted. 

[courtneyc]

Wow, so it's been 4 days since I last updated? I'll have to get better about that. I will say though that much of my absence has been as a result of not sitting on my butt browsing the internet all day. So that's something, right?

 

Onto point updates!

 

Friday 20 pts - double date night (both social and different form of quality time w/ John, so double points), writing, 30 minutes unpacking

Saturday 20 pts - water before noon, bodyweight workout, writing, 30 minutes unpacking, ate a plant (brussel sprouts!)

Sunday 15 pts - went for a walk with family, social outing (creative writing group), water before noon

Monday 20 pts - 2 hours writing (double points), social (writing critique group), ate a plant (an orange)

 

Total Current Points: 90/600

 

I'm missing easy points with my tracking. I manage to do it most days for breakfast and lunch, but by the time dinner rolls around I seem to get busy and forget. So must come up with a way to make that happen. The lights out by 11 is another one that I could do well at if it weren't for all the lovely, lovely books that practically beg me to read them when the house is dark and quiet at night. If I started reading earlier instead of watching whatever is on Netflix, I could probably start logging full nights' of sleep. TV can really become the junk food of entertainment that I sit and mindlessly consume, because its easy. Perhaps I should add skipping TV to the list of points-worthy actions to encourage the switch?

[The Shogun]

Hey, It doesn't matter how long it takes you to update while you're actually making progress! Often I don't even have the time to sit down and update my challenge because I'm too tired to even stand. 

 

Also, always skip TV. Unless it's Doctor Who.

[courtneyc]

Hey, It doesn't matter how long it takes you to update while you're actually making progress! Often I don't even have the time to sit down and update my challenge because I'm too tired to even stand. 

 

Also, always skip TV. Unless it's Doctor Who.

 

I just started watching Doctor Who, so that's actually what I'll be skipping. I started in season 5, because Rose and the girl who came after her were too obnoxious for me to handle. 

[The Shogun]

I just started watching Doctor Who, so that's actually what I'll be skipping. I started in season 5, because Rose and the girl who came after her were too obnoxious for me to handle.

Donna Noble is my favorite companion! Don't skip Doctor Who!

Sent disgracefully from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kishi]

Or do skip Doctor Who. Seriously, it's a fun show, but there's only so many ways to watch Cybermen and Daleks and British people being clever before it wears on you.

[courtneyc]

Another day done, another batch of points collected. I hit my daily best yesterday, earning 35 pts by going to back to back bjj and kickboxing classes, logging my food, eating a plant, doing some plantar fasciitis stretches, writing, and getting dressed before I sit down at the computer, and not watching tv. Alas, I still did not earn the lights out by 11 points. My book was just too good to leave. 

 

Total Current Points: 125/600

 

Now that I'm getting some momentum, I think now would be a good time to update the list of 5 pt-worthy activities.

 

Health

• Take a walk (take dog for an extra 5 points)
• Workout (strength training, bjj, or kickboxing)
• Log food for the day
• Eat a plant Eat two plants
• Abstain from sweets for a day
• Schedule a long overdue doctor/dentist appt. 
• Drink a large water bottle of water before noon
• Plantar Fasciitis stretches
• Stretching/Foam Roller Session
• Lights out and kindle off by 11PM **Temporarily worth double points as extra incentive**

Life

• 500 words or 1 undistracted hour writing
• Research panelist @ upcoming writing conference (Anyone else attending NerdCon:Stories?)
• Do something nice for someone (cards, phone calls, quality time, etc.)
• Spend 30 minutes unpacking
• Try a new quality time activity with John
• Update my address 
• Get dressed for the day before sitting down at computer
• Go on a social outing
• Leave the TV off for the day

[courtneyc]

Or do skip Doctor Who. Seriously, it's a fun show, but there's only so many ways to watch Cybermen and Daleks and British people being clever before it wears on you.

 

Have I perhaps found a second person on the planet who isn't enamored with the show? I've tried three times to get into it, because everyone raves about it. I'm beginning to think it just isn't my sci-fi cup of tea.

 

 

Donna Noble is my favorite companion! Don't skip Doctor Who!

Sent disgracefully from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I'll admit to not having given her a completely fair try. When the wedding got crashed by robots/daleks (can't remember which) I turned it off. What is it you like so much about her?

[Kishi]

I mean. I like it, and I like people who like it. I like the creativity of it, and I like how the Doctor is essentially the Trickster Hero. There's a lot to like.

 

But at the same time, I just don't really connect with it in a way that makes me want to go out of my way for it. Which is cool - there are a lot of things I'm a fan of that a lot of people aren't, so it's not like this doesn't go both ways, you know?

[courtneyc]

Week 2 is continuing to go well. I managed a trip to the county fair with the family and didn't leave hating myself for my food choices.    Tracking is going much better, and my hope is by the end of this challenge it will turn into a habit. Points rundown for the last two days is as follows.

 

Wednesday 35 pts - tracked food, family walk (w/ dog for bonus points), ate plants (apple and spinach), writing, dressed for day, water before noon

 

Thursday 40 pts - tracked, back to back bjj and kickboxing, foot stretches, conference prep (worked on elevator pitch for the book I'm revising), writing, dressed for day, water before noon

 

Total Current Points: 200/600

 

Training wise, kickboxing is going really well. Last night I was doing some pad work with my instructor and hit a point where everything was flowing smoothly. I was intensely focused, the combos became more fluid, and punches and kicks were landing harder than normal; it was a great feeling that I'm eager to chase after again. 

 

p.s. - A big thanks to whoever got rid of the repeat entries! It was driving me crazy seeing them taking up all that space.

[Kishi]

No problem! I didn't think you wanted the extra entries there, although if you had filled them with gifs and things, I might have left them.

 

Anyway, that flow-state though. The book I'm reading hit on some points about that, and I'm wondering if that's what the next thing is that I should chase for myself in the long term. It's fun, getting there.

 

The biggest thing I've taken away from it, though, is that flow has specific triggers. These can be psychological, environmental, social, what have you. So, it may be constructive for you to review that class and to be mindful of your classes going forward, to see what triggers you into going Super Saiyan.

[courtneyc]

No problem! I didn't think you wanted the extra entries there, although if you had filled them with gifs and things, I might have left them.

 

Anyway, that flow-state though. The book I'm reading hit on some points about that, and I'm wondering if that's what the next thing is that I should chase for myself in the long term. It's fun, getting there.

 

The biggest thing I've taken away from it, though, is that flow has specific triggers. These can be psychological, environmental, social, what have you. So, it may be constructive for you to review that class and to be mindful of your classes going forward, to see what triggers you into going Super Saiyan.

 

What book is this? I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting things to read.

 

I was definitely thinking about what helped me slip into that state yesterday. My instructor certainly saw something shift, and he went with it, telling me to pull back faster on the final strike in my combo and really go for a knock out. So very helpful having someone on hand that can register that.

[Kishi]

The book is called Bold. It's basically about how the world is changing from an entrepreneurial standpoint, and seeks to inspire people to jump in the game. I'm not sure I buy it myself - writing post-apocalypse has me watching everything and muttering, "Gee, wonder how that's gonna kill us" - but it's a fun read and it does touch on a lot of different subjects. Flow happens to be one of them.

[courtneyc]

Time for another update. I'll admit my memory of the last four days isn't great, so I've only included what I'm absolutely certain of in my points tally.

 

Friday 15 pts - Water, Foot Stretches, No TV

Saturday 15 pts - Eat 2 Plants, Social Time (w/ family), Log Food

Sunday 15 pts - Walk, 2 x 30 min Unpacking Boxes

Monday 30 pts - Eat 2 Plants, Walk, Writing x 2, Dressed for Day, Do Something Nice (called my Grandpa)

 

Total Current Points: 275/600

[Kishi]

Sounds like you're still up on points either way! That's awesome. You are right on track.

[courtneyc]

Fire the party cannon!

 

 

Lots of good things have been happening lately, so I wanted to take some time between point updates to celebrate. First off, it's been about 2 months since I started taking bjj and kickboxing classes, and I'm really beginning to see the pay off in my strength, endurance, and how I carry myself. My form is getting better, my strikes have more power, my instructors are helping me fine tune my movements, which I take as a sign that I'm progressing. Most importantly I love what I'm doing more than any other physical activity I've ever done.

 

I got a nice pair of boxing gloves to acknowledge to myself that I'm set on continuing with training. I wore them to class last night and was actually giddy putting them on for pad and light sparring work. I'd been using the old class gloves before that are worn out and soaked with other people's sweat, so big step up!

 

Celebratory boxing cats!

 

 

Yesterday, I stepped on the scale and saw that I've lost about 10 lbs since the end of the summer. Clothes that were too tight are fitting better. My arms are starting to look more toned. I'm finding it easier overall to keep my eating reasonable. It's like I found a couple key pieces, and the things that didn't fit right before are falling into place. 

 

Can't wait to see where the rest of the challenge takes me!

[courtneyc]

Week 4

 

Total Current Points: 380/600

 

No day by day points spread this time, but I will highlight a couple achievements. I finally managed to get myself to bed at a reasonable time (twice even!), earning the elusive bonus points for bed before 11. Last week I was having a lot of trouble staying on task at work and realized that it would only get more difficult if I didn't make sleep a priority. So I let myself get real rest and surprise surprise look who can focus once more!

 

This week will be a little bit different as I'm leaving for NerdCon:Stories on Thursday. My excitement is building...and maybe just a wee bit of fear. I've never gone on a real trip by myself. I won't know anyone there. There's a definite chance of me getting lost and missing my flight home or not talking to anyone the entire convention because I revert to middle school wallflower mode.

 

So I think some special convention points opportunities are needed. What those are yet, I'm not certain. I'll post them tonight or tomorrow.

[Kishi]

Ideas for con!points: training in the room, eating healthy when the opportunity presents itself, complimenting people.

[Vashet]

Do you know if there is going to be a nerd fitness meetup at nerdcon ?