Ever: I hate the fall.

[Merrin]

Here at La Maison de Anything, November has passed, and not without its usual catastrophes. An impatient woman ran a red light, striking Ifrit in his Smart car. He was lucky enough to escape with severe bruising to his shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ribs. The muscles in his back may have torn. (The clinic hasn't said so yet.) Ifrit also just started a new (full time, off schedule) job, so he needed a car, immediately. We spent a day shopping around, and found Red Sonja. She has heat seaters, good giddyup, and not bad mileage.

 

In the upcoming weeks, Ifrit will go to small claims in order to have his car and injuries covered. We obviously expect to walk away with millions.

 

Now, in an attempt to turn the corner on this month, I'm working on going back to keto almost full-time. I like the food. I like that it forces me to cook for myself, which is often more time devoted to any sort of self-care than I might do, normally.

 

One minor complication has been Ifrit's schedule. He currently works 45 minutes away, so even if his store closes at 9, I don't see him until nearly 10. This has not been good for my sleep schedule. If his shop changes, the sleep goal will also change.

 

Winter also means that my poor scooter has been put up for storage in the back corner of the garage. This means I'm often walking home from work, but I also lose the 'meditation' time that those daily rides gave me. So, on days where I'm not coming home from the bus stop, I'll commit treadmill/podcast time once I'm home.

 

Eat! Stay on Keto below 50g of carbs each work day. Aim for <100g carbs on days off. Cook at least once a day, even if it's just eggs for myself. NO MORE: chips, cookies, cereal, juice, canned tea/coffee.

 

Sleep! I will have a 'tea and quiet time' alarm for 2230. Ifrit is often home a half-hourish before this. If we are sitting and talking, that's fine. NO MORE SCREENS. No, Ever, not even TsumTsum. Hopefully bedtime will be 2330.

 

Walk! Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are my bus days. I walk approx 15 mins to the station, and another 10 home. This is enough time for a NightVale episode. Tuesday and Wednesday, whether I took the car or Ifrit picked me up, I will go walk on the treadmill for roughly the same amount of time. If this means I watch 2BrokeGirls as motivation, that's okay.

 

As this isn't a full challenge (but I will complete this for the month) I don't think I'll assign any points. This is mostly about getting back to a healthy routine.

[The Reel Godfather]

Better late than never, glad you are getting back in the swing of things.

[fiddle-on]

Nice, reasonable goals. Who cares if it's late in the challenge It still means we're getting into it.

[NeverThatBored]

Welcome back! Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. 

[Merrin]

First two days back on Keto went pretty well. Got the carb crashies late afternoon Wednesday. I was desperate for something sweet that evening, but determined to be good. So I made this weird...pudding....dessert...keto thing? 5-6 tablespoons cream cheese, 2 tbsp sugar free creamer, 1 scoop of chia and 1 scoop of coconut. It was really good and crazy low on carbs. I'd have to check my calorie tracker again, but after the coconut, it was maybe 7g carbs all told? I didn't even eat the whole thing, it was so fatty and rich.

 

Thursday, I was relatively good. Had a few handfuls of animal crackers throughout the day, but breakfast was salmon and eggs, so I cooked. Yay me.

 

Friday was a bit worse, I was consoling myself with sugar a bit more than I should and had marshmallow cereal for lunch. (I know, I know. It was already in the house, so the temptation was easy.)

 

Tuesday's walking was done at the grocery store and a bit around the back yard. Thursday was Walmart. Friday was the mall.

 

Sleep has been the easiest on this, by far. I actually logged twelve hours Thursday night. Just knocked out early, didn't wake up til I heard Ifrit getting ready for work.

 

As expected, his hours have fluctuated. He's on graves the next three nights, then normal weekdays off, then a re-assignment to a closer store. Hooray! He also has physical therapy and the dealership has to repair the car ALREADY. Boo.

 

Today, I was sorely tempted by a coworker with pumpkin donut holes. I only had 1. I'm pretty proud of my willpower on that one.

[Merrin]

First solid week of keto is done. Forgot to track food one or two days, but seeing as how breakfast and lunch never change, and dinner is always easy to stay in the keto range, I wasn't too stressed. I've lost the four pounds I put back on in November.

 

It seems really easy to go out somewhere for a walk, rather than get on the treadmill. I'm not sure why. Yesterday I walked around the Target for a while, getting supplies for the homeless care project. I like the walk home from the bus, even when it's getting dark. I do want to catch up on Night Vale.

 

Sleeping has been the easiest, in a weird way. When needed, my body has been KO'ing itself pretty early some nights. I'm now in the deepest part of a depressive swing that began last month. I'm doing my best.

[NeverThatBored]

It sounds like things are going really well. Nice work!

[Merrin]

Went home early yesterday to rest up more. Hung out with Ifrit and Rose and puppy all afternoon, wherein I was fed juice and animal crackers and lay on the floor feeling sorry for myself. Fell asleep for almost 3 hours. Got up and did some light house cleaning. Sweeping is weirdly a lot of work when all your back muscles don't want to function normally. Cooked for Not-Girlfriend, caught up for a few hours.

 

Had tea, went downstairs and played this silly balance game with Ifrit until I got tired.

 

I'm not totally bailing on keto, but when I'm sick, it's easier to eat really simple, no-prep food. I'll start again when I can get to the store for all the fresh stuff I need.

[Merrin]

Finally got to the store for lots of good healthy food. Will start up again tomorrow, wasn't prepared for today. Also today was the breakfast potluck and I feel bad if I don't take what's offered. So I'm being a little bad again today.

 

That said, I'm finally through my recent weight plateau. I might feel brave enough after the new year to try on all the clothes hiding in the back of my closet.

 

Went to Zoo Lights last night, didn't really enjoy myself.

 

Hockey game on Thursday was really good, I always end up talking with my dad a lot. They have Moscow Mules in a can, which is dangerous because they are so good.

[Merrin]

Walked from the bus stop yesterday morning. Normally it's a light, refreshing walk, but the anxiety means my back muscles are often in spasm or locked up, so the walk felt a bit rough. It actually seemed to help later in the day, when the stress seems to hit mass capacity in the early afternoon.

 

It's almost been warm enough lately to drag my Vespa back out. I'm hoping I'll have time for a ride Christmas Day, if the sunny weather holds.

 

Been eating well for most lunches and breakfasts. A few nights have called for easy/comfort food. Ifrit's on nights again for a bit, so I have to cook for myself, which is fine.