Chris-Tien Gets Back on the Horse

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Ok ..... during the previous challenge, this happened ......

 

 

Not literally, thank God, although I have been tossed off a horse a time or two.  

 

No, this time, it was purely figurative.  I thought I had a handle on plans for moving and my daughter's wedding all while taking care of my nutrition and exercise .... but my Mom's health threw it all into a cocked hat.  

 

 

One wedding and one funeral later, I have managed not to gain weight and looked pretty darn good at the wedding (and not awful at the funeral), but the weeks of eating simple carbs - brought over by well-meaning friends, family, and neighbors - left me feeling like crap.  Tired and out-of-sorts, it is time to get back on the wagon, even if it is only for a couple of weeks.  

 

 

So, it is time for a MINI-challenge .....

 

#1 - Stick to LoseIt.com calorie limit (+1 CON)

I restarted a new plan on LoseIt.com to lose the next 40 pounds over about 18 months.  By then, my daughter will be graduating from grad school.  

 

#2 - Get back into strength training (+1 STR)

I unpacked my Simple and Sinister book .... and I have moved closer to a branch of Anytime Fitness.  Time to get back into strength training.  One thing I learned from watching my Mom's decline: build up muscles NOW!!

 

#3 - Take time for self-care (+1 WIS)

• Get in at least one massage
• Hit my 11K step goal daily

#4 - Sign up for Yoga Class (+1 DEX)

Heartwork Yoga downtown looks like they have some good classes and events to help me unkink.

 

#5 - Become a better Ingress Agent (+1 CHA)

Level up to Level 9 ... which is a big step, but it should be feasible if I just keep playing each day.

[DarK_RaideR]

Welcome back, CTJ. 

[Swampling]

We missed you!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Progress Report for 10/13 

 

Stick to calorie limit: 1/14

Strength training: 1/6

11+ K daily: 1/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet

Ingress level up: working on it!!

 

A bit rusty in getting restarted, but it felt good to run (1.8 miles) and do my gym workout today.  And I cleaned out almost all of Mom's food, bringing some home but most to the food bank to be donated out.  

 

[Elastigirl]

Good solid start!

[karinajean]

hi dear!

 

congrats and also my condolences. I'm glad to see you here, I've been wondering.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Report for 10/14

 

Cleaning out Mom's apartment is a daunting task in terms of emotions and sheer volume of STUFF crammed into one little apartment.  Culver's happened.  French fries happened. Alcohol did NOT happen - so I am making progress at not feeding my emotions.  

 

It's a tough test right now, I'll tell ya.  Hubby was whining that I haven't resumed making nice home-cooked meals ready for him when he walks in the door.  Ya right, as if I look like Mrs. Cleaver.  I haven't done that in nearly a decade, but in his mind that was what would happen now that we're living together again - and I have no job and no schedule.  But I just looked at him as the crazy man that he is.  I know that I need to get back to cooking so that I have more control over my nutrition, but it ain't going to be me chained to a stove and apron every evening, keeping things warmed until he gets home between 5:30 and 7.  More like, food is in the fridge and I'm at the gym.  

 

 BUT - I did get in a good, long walk after dropping stuff off at the Food Shelf and clothing "used a bit" store.  

 

And I'm on track to finish my next Ingress level before the end of the challenge.

 

Score sheet:

Stick to calorie limit: 1/14

Strength training: 1/6

11+ K daily: 2/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet

Ingress level up: working on it!!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

It was a better day.  Spent far more time in cleaning out the apartment than I had wanted.  I finally told my step-sisters that I was not going to agonize over every THING that had to be sold/donated in the next two weeks.  Seriously, we're on the clock here, and most of the items really mean nothing to me (they were given or purchased after my parents' divorce).  After some hurt looks, they pitched in and took away items that were "too good" to give away.  Progress.  

 

I did Subway for lunch and a reasonable breakfast and dinner.  No snacks save water.

 

And I DID KETTLEBELL S&S workout!!  Well, started.  I did the warmup and started on swings and the first stage of the TGU with the lightest weight KBs.  But, it's a start.  

 

Score sheet:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 2/6

11+ K daily: 3/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet

Ingress level up: working on it!!

[Sloth the Enduring]

I like S&S, it's a very efficient workout.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

I like S&S, it's a very efficient workout.

 

I can see that - it's really working the abs!!

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

It was a BEAUTIFUL day here, and we got started on having a normal weekend for the first time in a month.  Normal meaning gardening, housework, and puttery home-improvement.

 

I found nice cedar raised bed kits at Menards.  They smell wonderful and look great.  Assembly wasn't as completely "tool free" as advertised, but all we needed was a hammer and some patience to put up three raised beds.  I'll fill them with compost and grass clippings and let them age over the winter so that they are ready for spring veggie planting.  

 

AND we had a great time playing Ingress this morning.  Some of the opposing team came down from the Cities and captured Carleton College ... so a group of our friends teamed up to retake it this morning.  With the points, I am well set to level up before the end of the challenge.  

 

I did pretty well today although the power went out JUST as we were putting a quiche into the oven.  So, we went out for burgers.  And fries.  And I had part of hubby's shake.  Chocolate is the source of all calming, and I need all the calm I can get.  My step siblings have decided that they should get my mom's old car (and anything valuable ... not that there is much!) because they "let" my mom live in "their" house after her husband (their father) died.  Blended families are a mess after a death.  

 

Score sheet through 10/17:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 2/6

11+ K daily: 5/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet

Ingress level up: working on it!!

[Elastigirl]

It was a BEAUTIFUL day here, and we got started on having a normal weekend for the first time in a month.  Normal meaning gardening, housework, and puttery home-improvement.

 

I found nice cedar raised bed kits at Menards.  They smell wonderful and look great.  Assembly wasn't as completely "tool free" as advertised, but all we needed was a hammer and some patience to put up three raised beds.  I'll fill them with compost and grass clippings and let them age over the winter so that they are ready for spring veggie planting.  

 

AND we had a great time playing Ingress this morning.  Some of the opposing team came down from the Cities and captured Carleton College ... so a group of our friends teamed up to retake it this morning.  With the points, I am well set to level up before the end of the challenge.  

 

I did pretty well today although the power went out JUST as we were putting a quiche into the oven.  So, we went out for burgers.  And fries.  And I had part of hubby's shake.  Chocolate is the source of all calming, and I need all the calm I can get.  My step siblings have decided that they should get my mom's old car (and anything valuable ... not that there is much!) because they "let" my mom live in "their" house after her husband (their father) died.  Blended families are a mess after a death.  

 

Score sheet through 10/17:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 2/6

11+ K daily: 5/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet

Ingress level up: working on it!!

Those raised beds sound very cool.

Sorry you have to deal with annoying family .

[Swampling]

Those raised beds sound great! I would love to have something like that, but considering that we want to sell this house eventually (and rather sooner than later, as soon as we have a valid exit strategy), I don't want to invest more money or energy than I absolutely have to.

*sigh*

 

Congrats on your progess with Ingress! Sounds like your team had fun, undoing the "damage" the opposing team caused.  

 

Regaining your calm is good, even if it means that your hubby sacrificed part of his shake for this noble cause!

 

Seriously, though, not only blended families tend to be messes where it concerns inheritance etc. My cousins have not been on speaking terms with their oldest sister (and vice versa) since their mother died years ago.  

I only hope that my Sis and I will get our sh*t together better than that whenever that sad day comes for our family.  

 

Sending good thoughts your way!  

[karinajean]

I'm super sorry about the family drama, that is just the most horrible thing to have to deal with. Sadly it is super common.

 

I'm thinking about S&S and kettlebells too - do you have background with kettlebells or are you learning as you go?

[annyshay]

You're back!!!!!!  I will read later, but am sooooooooooo excited to see you.  *hugs*

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

We have a super, local Ingress team.  They are very friendly and helpful and supportive.  When Mom died, they went out and created a multi-layer "blanket field" that covered my house in the alternate reality.  When I got up the next morning and checked into the game (yes .... it is addicting), it felt like a big team hug.  So, Sunday, we had a team meet-up that included burgers and fries and not enough steps.  But it was worth it.  No alcohol and no dessert.  

 

Spurred on (ha ha) by the raised beds success, we put railings on part of the deck to prevent our dog (and, truth be told, ME!) from accidentally stepping over the sides to a 3-foot drop.  It makes the deck much more finished and safe.  I think I'm going to really enjoy it for another month - it faces south and catches a lot of sun.  We'd wanted to screen it in .... we miss the back porch from the Duluth house, but the contractor thought it would be really expensive and probably involve tearing off the current deck in order to do it right.  Not something we want to do now.  

 

I have done some kettlebell workouts in the past, and I'm working hard at using good form.  The S&S workout is deceptively efficient!!  And I'd strained my left forearm just a bit during my first workout.  So, I've been taking it easy.  Rest, ice, and massage.  I might be able to start up again tomorrow.

 

In the meantime, I jumped back into street running with the intention of doing a Turkey Trot 5K.  I pulled out the C25K app just to structure my runs again and am on week 2.  So a 5K by Thanksgiving should be feasible.  And part of the next challenge, I think.  

 

Score sheet through 10/19:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 2/6

11+ K daily: 6/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet - but I DO have a recommendation

Ingress level up: ahead of schedule!!

[annyshay]

Ok, I am caught up now.  Your Ingress team sounds awesome.  I'm glad that they were there for you in the midst of the chaos.  I have some gifs for you.  First off...

 

 

Re: family drama...

 

 

Re: Your triumphant return...

 

 

I am so glad you are back.  

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Thanks!!!  The Doctor's indifference is classic.  I also try to channel the Black Widow when dealing with step family and Mom's all too helpful (read "critical") friends ....

 

[Mrs Van]

Oh no! Only saw your back now. I'm still catching up with news as I've been on and off as well. But so glad to hear from you again. My condolences for your mom, and congratulations for your daughter?!

[annyshay]

Thanks!!!  The Doctor's indifference is classic.  I also try to channel the Black Widow when dealing with step family and Mom's all too helpful (read "critical") friends ....

 

Brilliant! More Black Widow for everyone.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

It was a long day ....  I'd planned to get my Mom's kitchen packed up and donated, but there's a previously homeless man moving into the complex.  SO ...... the building manager and the social worker had arranged for the man to come by and pick up the kitchen stuff.  No need to pack it ... he'd come by with a cart and move it all himself.  

 

Well, that didn't happen.  We waited 4 hours.  The time was spent on going through everything else to see what we wanted to keep.  Hubby loaded that up and hauled it to our garage.  But the kitchen remains full of dishes and flatware and all the STUFF that accumulates in kitchens.  Seriously, who needs a almond roll pan?  What IS an almond roll anyway????

 

By the end of the day, I was/am exhausted.  Too many decisions made.  Too much of my Mom's memories in boxes (I've found TWO HUGE bins of photographs and albums).  It's overwhelming.  

 

Ok, thanks for the pep talk, Natasha.  But you haven't seen the storage locker yet, Black Widow.  Bet that would scare even you!!

 

Still, I did accomplish a couple of things.  We got the music system and CDs moved to our house.  I found all of the Christmas decorations.  I packed a lot of knick knacks for the rummage sale. 

 

AND I LEVELED UP in Ingress.  

 

 

Score sheet through 10/21:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 3/6

11+ K daily: 7/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet - but I DO have a recommendation

Ingress level up: DING!!!!!  Level 9 

[Elastigirl]

Hugs, that is so hard going through your mom's stuff. Good for you for doing it even though it is hard.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Today, I shorted through DVDs - lots of commercial stuff that I could donate to the local rummage sale.  Some memories.  No sign that deserving people will come and take away items that we don't want to bring down to Goodwill.  Culver's happened again.

 

 

BUT .... I did my S&S Kettlebell workout and did 30 minutes on the elliptical .... plus walking and stair climbing to put me over 11K steps for the day.  

 

I know that I can't keep this up.  You can't outrun your fork, and I need to get back to healthy eating.  But after Halloween, and the apartment is cleaned out, I'm hoping that will be easier.  

 

Score sheet through 10/22:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 4/6

11+ K daily: 8/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet - but I DO have a recommendation

Ingress level up: DONE

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

My new home office!!

Sent via two swallows carrying a message in a coconut.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

We have a couple of rooms that are now box-free: my office and the KITCHEN!!  To celebrate, I made overnight oatmeal with raisins and am planning to make pot roast in the crock pot tonight.  

 

Score sheet through 10/24:

Stick to calorie limit: 2/14

Strength training: 5/6

11+ K daily: 10/14

Sign up for yoga class: Not yet

Massage: Not yet - but I DO have a recommendation

Ingress level up: DONE