Jayniana Jones and the Next Crusade

[Jayniana Jones]

Hey everyone,

I'm behind on posting my status. I'm attempting my 6 week challenge again. My last round fell apart towards the end because of family health emergencies. I found myself struggling to stay current on my workout, eat non-emotionally, and not sink into depression. I tend to be a major people pleaser and put myself last especially when other people need care. Looking back on what went wrong last time, I fell apart because I didn't have plans in place to take care of myself when my original schedule wasn't realistic to maintain.

 

My huge goal is to have enough strength and flexibility to do tricks on my slack line. I'm most excited by the Assassin's guild because the quests are more challenging for me. I want to go from weighing 178lbs to weighing 155lbs. (The end weight represents what I was before I tore my ACL and felt my best.) I'm not a huge fan of focusing on a number, but at the moment I think it is the most measurable.

 

For this six weeks I plan to do the following:

- Do the bodyweight workouts 3 times a week.

 

- Yoga at least one day a week. I'd like to shoot for twice a week, but I tend to take on too much and then struggle to stay afloat.

 

- Work on my art at least one hour a week. I'm taking a self-paced course on drawing with pen and would like to make time for this. The measurable item would be drawings when the six weeks are up. The objective is to teach me to make time for myself.

 

-As a mini-quest, I'd also like to post in the forums at least once a week. Just to build the habit.

 

That's the plan at the moment.

 

For week 1: I completed two workouts of the bodyweight brigade and walked my mini-Aussie 21 miles.

 

[Koaladle]

The best thing about this whole post is that you're back! The second best thing is that you identified what went wrong. In case of schedule changes (hopefully non-traumatic, should it occur at all--I hope everyone is okay) I hope you can forgive any failings and instead be flexible to life events. It's always okay to flex the quest in case of Life. :-) 

 

I think your goals are manageable and realistic. It's always go okay to do more if you find the desire to do so, but there is wisdom in low goals so you can start building the habits.

 

Good luck! I look forward to hearing about week 2!

[Artemis]

-As a mini-quest, I'd also like to post in the forums at least once a week. Just to build the habit.

 

 

Welcome back!  Your plan sounds great, and I definitely recommend this one.  I can't tell you how much the accountability, friends, etc helps people on NF succeed (myself included).  Post the successes, the failures, and anything in between.  No-one will judge, we'll just help you get your feet back under you.  Not trying to coerce you into posting more often or anything, but if you can't find enough support at home, you can find it here.

[Koaladle]

All Artemis says is true! This is the nicest community on the whole internet!

[Mr_Willes]

Welcome back!  Your plan sounds great, and I definitely recommend this one.  I can't tell you how much the accountability, friends, etc helps people on NF succeed (myself included).  Post the successes, the failures, and anything in between.  No-one will judge, we'll just help you get your feet back under you.  Not trying to coerce you into posting more often or anything, but if you can't find enough support at home, you can find it here.

 

 

 

So much of this!!!

 

I really hope your experience here is gonna be so good you want to spend some more time. Because the real strengths are is like Artemis said, the accountability, cheering on, and accomplishing stuff together. This can build such great momentum and get you to accomplish much more than you think you were capable of.

 

A very good example of that are the Gryffindarling ladies. Check out their thread, and specifically read this post.

 

So good luck on your challenge, and i will try to check in once in a while to see how it's going. 

 

Oow and be sure to follow your own topic using the red "follow this topic" button in the upper right section of a post. That way you will know when someone has come to cheer you on!

 

In case you haven’t noticed, i’m an Assassin Ambassador. The Assassin Guild is a guild made up of people who like to be masters of their own bodies. We like training anywhere, anytime with anything. For ourselves, in competition, in cooperation or just for plain fun! The whole world can be our playground!

 

We Ambassadors assist, support and encourage new recruits. So if you have any specific questions don’t hesitate to ask me or any of the other Ambassadors or Guild Leaders.

 

There is a thread specific for recruits who are thinking about becoming Assassins, you can find it here: Level 1 Assassin Initiates Q&A/Chat. It’s a place where you can meet other recruits who are also thinking about becoming Assassins after your first challenge as a recruit.

 

If during your first 6-week-challenge you want to know what is going on within the Assassin Guild this thread is a good one to follow. Assassin Guild Info & Announcements You can find some basic info and all announcements regarding the Assassin Guild.

 

If you are into just hanging out with some assassins there is the  Assassins' Den. There will be talk about all sorts of things over there. Feel free to roam around! If you want to know what it’s like to be an Assassin you can check out the thread with the Assassins which have been interviewed, its called Assassins Uncloaked. There is even a thread on Food: Assassins' Scullery.

As you can see there is plenty to explore in the world of the Assassin Guild. Good luck on your challenge and be sure to PM me if there is anything i can do for you.

[Jayniana Jones]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement.

 

I almost skipped today's workout (which originally was going to be yesterday's but I spent it mostly on the road), but I asked my son (he's 12) if he wanted to join me. Once he said yes, I couldn't back out. He's excited to build strength for being able to do video game stunts in real life and snowboard tricks. It was definitely more fun to workout together.

[Koaladle]

AWWW! Family workout time is my favorite thing to hear about! <3 Now that you have your strategy for not missing workouts, you'll never have to skip out again! Give your son a high five from me! WHOO!

[SaltyDragon]

Motivation from family like that makes such a huge difference. Great work, and keep posting your progress!

[Jayniana Jones]

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone.

 

AWWW! Family workout time is my favorite thing to hear about! <3 Now that you have your strategy for not missing workouts, you'll never have to skip out again! Give your son a high five from me! WHOO!

My son grinned when I gave him the high five.

 

Last week went well. I made my goal (including the drawing). It's not finished, but I hope to finish it up this week. I'll post it when I'm done.

 

I just finished up my first workout for this week with my son.  It's definitely helping to have a workout buddy. Our puppy got in the cheerleading mode and barked as we did our step-ups on the stairs.

 

This week, I plan to do a few of the mini quests.

 

I hope everyone is doing well.

[Koaladle]

Your puppy is in on the fun, too? CUTEST MENTAL IMAGE EVAR! XD

 

Well done this week! It's awesome you're feeling so great about your accomplishments!

[Jayniana Jones]

It's been a nutty week with me running all over. We're down to one car thanks to a deer and so I'm cramming more things into my day while I'm out. Yesterday, I missed my usual walk because I had to take my grandma (also my neighbor) to the ER. It was an all day affair. She's okay (sort of), but last night I collapsed mentally. I know it's okay, but in comparison to my month of October with family members this was nothing. I'm an emotional eater and before I thought things through, I made brownies (a recipe that only yields a bread pan amount instead of a 9x13) because it felt like a brownie day. In the past, brownie days were anytime I was depressed, upset, stressed, mad, angry, or happy. I haven't made brownies in forever and ended up overcooking them just enough that they were dry. Ironically, I didn't like them which is the first time that has ever happened. So, I in a round about way, I saved myself from eating the whole pan. Whew!

 

Today was another day of running. I had to do the errands I had planned to do yesterday today. I got home and found lots of reasons not to workout including updating my profile on NF. Then I poked around the forums a bit and realized that if I didn't do my workout today, I wouldn't be able to complete my goal this week. It felt wrong to sabotage myself like that, so I got it done.

 

I'm so glad I did too because I had a mini-quest in my logbook to do all ten push-ups for each round of the warm up and bodyweight workout A and I did it. I also held plank for 30 seconds. Two mini-quests in a day feels pretty good. Plus I'm still on track to make my goals this week.  

 

I think seeing all the posts of everyone else helped me suck it up and do it.

 

Thanks.

 

[SaltyDragon]

Good work talking yourself into it like that. I know I always feel better when I do that to myself ('cause it's so easy to talk myself out of it!).

 

Keep it up!

[Koaladle]

I'm a certified forum lurker; seeing other people manage to get their goals done despite work, health problems, families, personal setbacks and just overall long days gets me in just the mindset to make it happen before I get to sleep. My goals are pretty small this time around because I'm just getting in the swing of things, so if I can't even do one circuit of the BBWW I'd better be curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor. Otherwise, it's a whole 20 minutes out of my relatively stressless day.

 

POINT BEING

 

Forum lurking is a great way to get motivated. Also a great way to share cats.

 

[Jayniana Jones]

Haha. Cute kitty.

 

Last night I finished my first pen drawing for the challenge of making time for me and my art. This is my third drawing I've ever done using a pen. I'm pleased and a bit surprised with the results. Below is a small version of what I finished. The original size is 8" x 5".

 

 

I'm off to do yoga.

Enjoy the day.

[Jormungand]

Nicely done. It seems that you're making headway with your quests. I'm finding that the real skill is managing to find the time to complete them despite what life throws at us, but it sounds like you're doing well. Good luck, and I hope you finish strong.

[Chelsea0270516]

All Artemis says is true! This is the nicest community on the whole internet!

Totally true!!  I love logging on & seeing all the support  

 

And of course the kitties. 

 

[Jayniana Jones]

That's a cute pic and made me smile. Thanks.

[Koaladle]

Totally true!!  I love logging on & seeing all the support

 

And of course the kitties. 

 

I CAN'T STOP WATCHING.

[Mr_Willes]

Hope you are doing as great wiht thanksgiving as you have done with the pan of brownies. Seems like you are going strong. Keep it up!

[Jayniana Jones]

Hope you are doing as great wiht thanksgiving as you have done with the pan of brownies. Seems like you are going strong. Keep it up!

 

Thanks. Thanksgiving was great. My parents are on a eat healthier kick (my mom has cancer and needs every bit of good energy she can get) so it was a meal like any other day of the week with the exception of my grandma's apple pie.

 

I got my workout in before we left to visit family. I roped both my teens into joining me. They enjoyed it because we had mini-competitions. I'm working on building the strength to do the 10 second wall handstand. They are working on the strength to out do me in push-ups.

 

Earlier this week, I dug out my Zumba Xbox 360 game and let my kids watch as I attempted Latin dance moves. It's hilarious because I feel extremely awkward and seriously lacking in musicality. Of course, anyone who laughed at me had to try it too. My daughter joined me for a few. She was a good sport about it.

 

My hubby is into Crossfit and has a nice set of barbells in the garage. When I've watched him in the past I've felt intimidated by the size of the weights, especially when he lifts them above his head and lets them drop. He's been prodding me to give it a try for a few years. On Wednesday, I did my first dead lift. Then I did another and another. I lifted just over half my body weight. I think I could've done more, but his next set of plates went up over twenty pounds and I worried I'd overdo it. Maybe I should've tried, but I worried about injury because I've hurt myself in the past doing things that were beyond my ability. I'll table it for next time.

 

I met my goals for the week and plan to have a few bonus days of activity just because I'm enjoying doing different things.

 

Enjoy the day.

[Chelsea0270516]

Thanks. Thanksgiving was great. My parents are on a eat healthier kick (my mom has cancer and needs every bit of good energy she can get) so it was a meal like any other day of the week with the exception of my grandma's apple pie.

 

I got my workout in before we left to visit family. I roped both my teens into joining me. They enjoyed it because we had mini-competitions. I'm working on building the strength to do the 10 second wall handstand. They are working on the strength to out do me in push-ups.

 

Earlier this week, I dug out my Zumba Xbox 360 game and let my kids watch as I attempted Latin dance moves. It's hilarious because I feel extremely awkward and seriously lacking in musicality. Of course, anyone who laughed at me had to try it too. My daughter joined me for a few. She was a good sport about it.

 

My hubby is into Crossfit and has a nice set of barbells in the garage. When I've watched him in the past I've felt intimidated by the size of the weights, especially when he lifts them above his head and lets them drop. He's been prodding me to give it a try for a few years. On Wednesday, I did my first dead lift. Then I did another and another. I lifted just over half my body weight. I think I could've done more, but his next set of plates went up over twenty pounds and I worried I'd overdo it. Maybe I should've tried, but I worried about injury because I've hurt myself in the past doing things that were beyond my ability. I'll table it for next time.

 

I met my goals for the week and plan to have a few bonus days of activity just because I'm enjoying doing different things.

 

Enjoy the day.

I am sorry about your Mom!  That is hard.  My grandma went through it...  If you ever want to talk I have an affinity for listening.

 

It is crazy awesome that you had such a great Thanksgiving though!  I had 2 dinners to go to and both had a variety of delicious things that I had to try  

 

Congrats on the dead lift!  I say good call on not pushing it too far.  I tend to do the over doing thing too and then hurt myself & can't workout for a while...  

[Jayniana Jones]

I am sorry about your Mom!  That is hard.  My grandma went through it...  If you ever want to talk I have an affinity for listening.

 

Thanks. There are rough spots, but we've learned to take things one day at a time. Overall, if you didn't know she had cancer, you'd think she looks pretty healthy.

[Jayniana Jones]

Quick update:

I just got back from a walk through the magical forest with my aussie. The intention was to have a change of scenery from our usual route. It turned into an unexpected adventure when I tried to cross a creek. The ice is very thin, but I figure it wasn't too deep so I should be okay to cross with my boots. What I didn't count on is this is the first time my puppy has seen ice. He didn't want to cross and by the time I realized it, I was committed in my leap. I tried to make an adjustment and my leg slipped into the creek. Turns out it was a lot deeper than I expected. Thankfully, my boots are a bit higher than average so it didn't get filled with ice water. My puppy on the other hand wasn't impressed. He got pretty wet. Oops. 

 

My week had a rough start. I had a night of insomnia and the recovery of lost sleep messed up my routine.

 

As long as I don't skip Friday's workout, I'll still meet my goal. My teens continue to join me for most of my workouts. My son is progressing very quickly in his assassin's prowess. Today he leaped off a stump and did a parkour roll. The responsible mom in me had a heart attack. The normal mom in me smiled at his goofiness. I'm not sure I aspire for that sort of stunt because I've broken enough bones in my body and don't need to do anymore.

 

I hope everyone else is doing well. It's hard to believe the challenge is almost done.

[Mr_Willes]

Glad you are doing allright. Life happens, so just make the best out of the insomnia lost sleep. Hope you have a great 6th week. And we love seeing you at the assassins after this challenge is over!

[Koaladle]

Insomnia is awful. I've been struggling with that myself, and it just sucks. Way to power through!