karinajean is trying. really. she's trying.

[karinajean]

I feel like all I got sometimes is showing up, and right now I can't even do that? but. I'm just going to keep trying. for serious. I need to bring this down an even further notch from my super not-a-lot-of-notches of last challenge. I'm really trying.

 

Goal 1: figure out if I'm sabotaging my progress by eating more and drinking beers.

This one sounds a little silly, but for real, I would like to increase my calories. End of last challenge I noticed my weight was up a tick. but I also wasn't exercising much. so, keep doing the more eating thing, but add in the more exercising thing. figure it out by the end of the challenge.

 

Goal 2: do things and tell you about them.

again, post here with things I am going to do, and have done.

 

Goal 3: don't get frustrated because I'm having a hard time showing up, and don't not show up even more out of a sense of ridiculous sulkiness.

this one, this is headspace crap. I'm feeling resentful and pissy about how I can't seem to get the most bare minimum of stuff done, and stay here as a valuable community member, and I KNOW it's mostly just because we're at end of winter and I have an itch for spring. the days are getting longer and I should be feeling better, I need to remember that my bare minimum of stuff is probably still more than the average american (but who wants to be average, anyway?!), and I just have to stick it out.

 

 

[karinajean]

ok so I freely admit I only made time to post this challenge so I can tell you all that I'm attending a hoopdancing class tonight! at a bowling alley! and I brought my sparkle hoop that I bought for myself after my knee surgery as a pick-me-up! I'm excited about that!

 

So Week 1 of TRYING REALLY I'M TRYING"

 

Monday - hula hoop class

 

Tuesday - run, pack for business trip.

 

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday - in LA for work. which is great, because I will get up at a reasonable east coast time and do exercises (running or AOP) and then cram in 3 hours of work before west coast time catches up with me. Not great because I will be staying up later b/c WEST COAST ergo burning candle at both ends.

 

Sat. - dojo sat., but I'm afraid it's black belt class. but then we're going to see Neko Case play, YAY.

 

Sunday - I don't know what we are doing after Neko Case, so I don't know where I'm going to be waking up on Sunday. If we make it home I'd like to run in the morning. Regardless, I need to be home by 1PM for spinning party.

[sylph]

Hooping at a bowling alley? This strikes me as hilarious and awesome, for some reason.

[raptron]

THAT SOUNDS GREAT. Are you traveling more than normal for work recently as well or is this about par for the course for you?

 

Also I feel you so much that I made this faux inspirational poster the other day.

[Mad Hatter]

this one, this is headspace crap. I'm feeling resentful and pissy about how I can't seem to get the most bare minimum of stuff done

 

Except that your bare minimum is like 10x what I get done...

 

Have fun hooping!

[Companion]

Dude, I'm right there with ya. My goals are as much about being kind to myself in event of failure, as about the goals themselves.

[Lightning]

  Spring can't come soon enough!

 

Sounds like a busy week to start the challenge.  At least you can enjoy some warmth in California!  Hoop in a bowling alley sounds hysterical.  Enjoy your sparkle!

[karinajean]

I just wrote out a check for my husband and I to participate in the local running club's "GRAND PRIX" event, which is 10 races throughout 2016. I'm excited, and nervous. this is commitment. the next one is a 5K on March 20, so that is a good reason for me to keep running 2ish times a week (at a minimum). long term - I'm excited for the fall 10Ks, there is a 10K in Pittsburgh that we love to run in mid-September, so we will try do do that for fun, and then early October is another 10K locally, and then mid-October is another one... 3-10Ks in a row! we will be so amazing at 10Ks!

 

HOOPING CLASS WAS SO FUN.

it is a short class with lots of new-to-hooping people, so by necessity she taught us a lot of passes and a cheat elevator and some other stuff because it's frankly pretty hard to learn to waist hoop in a short period of time (I had a challenge where I set my timer for 5 minutes a day to practice waist hooping, it's the only way I was able to get the knack of it). we left with a short routine. it was good! I think I will try and go another time (maybe with a couple of friends next time) and then inquire if she's got more advanced classes or something, or if I should just book her for my 39th birthday party. OH AND ALSO. she said to me "are you a hooper? because you totally look like one." hee! I had absolute esprit de elevator or whatever that is (L'esprit de l'escalier) and in hindsight wish badly I had said: NOT YET BUT I WANT TO BE!

 

This is assassin stuff, right? hooping and running? I also know sword forms and fighting skills? man, thank goodness this guild is here.

 

I'm trying to get 1/2 a work thing done tonight before bed. I absolutely was starving today and ate eggs over sauteed kale (healthy!) with a piece of baguette and an avocado mashed into the top (healthy!) for dinner, and then had more baguette and hummus (kind of healthy) and 2 beers and a klondike bar (SO HUNGRY). in other news, and this is not justification, but hula hooping today burnt 416 calories over 1 1/2 hours. not running-quality caloric burn, but not just sitting around eating klondike bars, either.

[karinajean]

Hooping at a bowling alley? This strikes me as hilarious and awesome, for some reason.

 

it was hilarious! it is also one of the local roller derby homes. I am so struck by shiny, on the drive home I was wondering if I could somehow fit roller derby into my life.

 

THAT SOUNDS GREAT. Are you traveling more than normal for work recently as well or is this about par for the course for you?

 

Also I feel you so much that I made this faux inspirational poster the other day.

 

THIS POSTER YES.

 

I'm not traveling more than usual, but for some reason work is really super busy. I think I'm successful? haaaaaa. mostly I'm trying to delegate more things, and that takes an excruciating amount of effort until it's working.

 

Except that your bare minimum is like 10x what I get done...

 

Have fun hooping!

 

wellll nope. you are SO CONSISTENT. consistently doing things! I know you have off-weeks, but yeah, you are consistently doing things these days.

Dude, I'm right there with ya. My goals are as much about being kind to myself in event of failure, as about the goals themselves.

 

well then, we should spend some time being nice to ourselves and reminding each other to be nice too. <3

 

 

  Spring can't come soon enough!

 

Sounds like a busy week to start the challenge.  At least you can enjoy some warmth in California!  Hoop in a bowling alley sounds hysterical.  Enjoy your sparkle!

 

I'm now struggling with the idea that maybe I want to bring sandals. WHAT!

[starpuck]

Hey awesome lady.

 

AKA emotional TWIN.     So. Right. There.

 

And I think you have a great idea and the idea to keep showing up, even if that's all you can do, is ... well, great!   Because I KNOW the feels of wanting to avoid even the showing up part because of the sulkiness.

 

Winter. Yes. End.  Deargodendnowplease.

 

And Raptron ... where was that pic taken?   I'm a super fanatical National Park travel bug person, and my first gut reaction was that it was part of Kolob Canyon in northern Zion.   But, then again, the whole Colorado Plateau has spots that look like that, so who knows!    You!  I'm hoping! 

[raptron]

@Starpuck -- I don't know, unfortunately! It was just a stock image available for my use on a poster-making page.

 

YAYYYY HOOPING. Glad you loved it.

[Kishi]

So, would you say that hooping is what you would do for a klondike bar?

[Nymeria]

I'm glad the hooping class was so much fun!  Maybe one of the things that would help you show up is having some new shiny thing to pursue.  

 

As far as activities go, I try to categorize things as routine bare-minimum stuff or as extras.  As long as you do your bare minimum, it's still a pass.  Extras are exactly that.  They're things you should do when your body feels up to it and when you have the free time and when there aren't other more important things to do.  You shouldn't be beating yourself up for not managing to do all of the extras.

 

 I think some of us have a problem where we view our normal routine as just a guaranteed thing, so it feels lame to have challenge goals around something you were planning on doing anyway.  But when all of your fitness goals are going to be extras and not the routine stuff, it's easy to get overloaded and burned out.  You also end up feeling like you're not doing anything and you're failing, when the reality is that you're still doing a full, normal exercise load.  

[Polaris]

Ooh, another TKD practitioner! Do you do WTF or ITF, or something entirely else? And what belt level are you at?

 

I can relate with the headspace crap. Like Nym said, all the fitness stuff that used to be super hard at the beginning becomes the new norm, and after a while, it feels like you're doing nothing, even if you're doing more than most people. And if you for one reason or another can't do all your routine stuff for a while, it feels like a major failure, but it's not. Learning to be merciful towards yourself can be really hard.

[karinajean]

HI FRIENDS

I'm in pasadena california right now. I'm burning the candle at both ends - I'm going to bed at 10 or 11PST and waking up at 4AM PST (which is 7AM eastern). it's not sustainable but I'm headed home tomorrow so WHATEVER!  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Tuesday was super hectic, I was in the office for, like, 3 hours, and had to get SO MUCH STUFF done, and then seriously RUN out of the office to get to the airport. I had a 6 hour 30 min flight to SF and then a quick puddle jump down to Burbank. I got into the hotel at about 10PM PST which is SUPER LATE EAST COAST TIME.

 

Also, I ate EVERYTHING on tuesday. but I didn't go over on calories? eating while traveling is so weird, especially when crossing timezones. I had eggs for breakfast and a big jar of yogurt on the way to the airport, and then I got a bahn mi from airport vending and ate it on the plane, and then I had a tapas snack box (so, crackers, cheese spread, olives, hummus, etc.) on the airplane, and then soba noodles in SF at the airport. I mean, maybe it wasn't that much. It FELT like I was constantly eating.

 

Wednesday was conferences, I got  up and did AOP workout in the hotel room and then sat still for hours. We did go out for group dinner, which was awesome. Didn't have a ridiculous amount of drinks, also well done, but possibly because I was likely to fall asleep with my head on the table if I did.

 

This morning! I got up and went down to the fitness center and did a 2.5 mile run on the treadmill in 23:15. Also of note - my fitbit logged my calories burned at 337, while the treadmill said 403. I just sat through a 2 hour meeting (regular thursday stuff) and I'm heading over to the conference now. Oy! so much dashing! catch up with you all soon, for reals!

[ixaera]

HELLO!

It sounds like you nailed keeping up your goals while traveling on business! VICTORY IS YOURS

 

[raptron]

SO DASHING, this KJ! 

 

Getting in workouts and runs like a BAHWS.

[raptron]

Double post gif penance:

[Mad Hatter]

You're not just really trying - you're kicking butt. 

[starpuck]

The amazing lady continues to be amazing.

 

Go with the Fitbit calorie reading.  It's more accurate.   Somewhere, once, I heard that 1 mile moved = 100 calories.   Whether you walk them or run them... just changes how FAST you burn them.    So 2.5 ~300 seems about on track.

 

And still so jellies of your running time.   There were like 4 runners at the indoor track today and every single one of them lapped me!    *flaaaaaiiiil*

[Kishi]

 

No but seriously hang in there. It's rough, but it's only a few days. Take it all one thing at a time.

[starpuck]

So often, I will have some music in the background, that turns NF forum reading into a work of art, with all the gifs moving in sync with it.

 

To prove the point, listen to this video, but then watch all the gifs in the thread.

[karinajean]

WOW I don't feel amazing, but I'm doing my best!

 

thursday I took the train from pasadena into downtown LA, and met a colleague to have dinner and chat. we ordered all kinds of crazy food and i ended up bringing the leftovers (chartucharie and tuna tartar) back for breakfast the next morning. plus a lot of candied bacon peanuts. so friday AM breakfast was nuts, and also I did an AOP workout in my hotel room that was essentially 10 minutes of shadow boxing plus 440 jumping jacks. WHICH I DID ALL IN A ROW WITH NO BREAKS, WHAT. I didn't know I could do so many in a row! so excited!

after the inevitable early morning conference calls (530AM Pacific) I walked to the LA office but went to the wrong building (thanks google!) and had to backtrack up a hill to the actual office.

 

sidebar: by the way I am so startled by the topography of the LA area. it's so much hillier than I expected, and then you remember it's all caused by seismic events - or maybe dragons sleeping under the earth, you know.

 

the airport/airplane thing was INTERMINABLE, there was rain in San Fran, apparently, and I was delayed getting home by about 3 hours. I actually arrived at LA and felt so pitiful and sat on the floor and leaked some tears while I tried to talk to my husband on the phone but my iphone was in a boot loop and his office has terrible service so I picked up my wobbly chin off the floor and hied myself to an actual airport restaurant and had a fish sandwich with a salad and a virgin bloody mary and ZOMG I felt so much better. honestly, i don't think that the time zone change was that terrible for me EXCEPT FOR THE FOOD THING. I was so tired, and did NOT have enough food on friday (having eaten peanuts and tuna tartar at 530 am pacific, and then arriving in SFO at 4PM). on my transcontinental flight I ate a bunch of protein bars and also an apple, which was genius to bring from home.

I arrivfed in newark nj at 130 and got to my car at 215ish and got home at 4am and oh hell was I tired.

 

Sat I slept in, but had promised to go to regular tkd class (I missed black belt class in the name of sleeping) because we were getting FIVE NEW STUDENTS and I did, and it was really good. after that we drove to alb for birthday dinner with my SIL at pizzaria uno's (um yuck) (at her request). AND THEN WE WENT TO SEE NEKO CASE WHO I LOVE WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND LOVING SUNS. the show was SO GOOD. after we drove north 45 min. to stay at my stepsis's house so we could see my ridiculous niece and nephew a ltitle more.

 

Sunday was a nice wake up with waffles with the kids, then a drive to spinning club (subsidiary of knitting club, not the workout spinning) with lots of eating, and then home for just snacky dinner and reading a book before bed. aaaah.

 

so! I have been ON THE GO for a whole week. today I had to get up early and drive to white plains (further and more traffic than anywhere else I go, generally) to coordinate a technical seminar (I got a HUGE discount and 7 professional development hours towards my professional engineering license maintenance) and feel like I've been on the run for EVER. I *just* cleared my inbox for work, I need to catch up on calorie logging, and do a week 1 summary. I am excited to have a slower more deliberate week at home than last week.

[karinajean]

So, would you say that hooping is what you would do for a klondike bar?

 

WELLLLLL pretty much I would get up and walk to the freezer for a klondike bar.

but the hooping was super fun!

 

I'm glad the hooping class was so much fun!  Maybe one of the things that would help you show up is having some new shiny thing to pursue.  

 

As far as activities go, I try to categorize things as routine bare-minimum stuff or as extras.  As long as you do your bare minimum, it's still a pass.  Extras are exactly that.  They're things you should do when your body feels up to it and when you have the free time and when there aren't other more important things to do.  You shouldn't be beating yourself up for not managing to do all of the extras.

 

 I think some of us have a problem where we view our normal routine as just a guaranteed thing, so it feels lame to have challenge goals around something you were planning on doing anyway.  But when all of your fitness goals are going to be extras and not the routine stuff, it's easy to get overloaded and burned out.  You also end up feeling like you're not doing anything and you're failing, when the reality is that you're still doing a full, normal exercise load.  

I find that I respond really well to new and shiny in the form of classes. I learn REALLY well in classes and don't often make much time on my own to figure stuff out, or to do the actual practice. and it bugs me that I don't have any room for new classes but honestly, I wouldn't give up any of the things that I am doing (as my wackadoo bare minimum) so there I am!

 

thank you for reinforcing that my bare minimum/normal routine is actually a full normal exercise load.

 

Ooh, another TKD practitioner! Do you do WTF or ITF, or something entirely else? And what belt level are you at?

 

I can relate with the headspace crap. Like Nym said, all the fitness stuff that used to be super hard at the beginning becomes the new norm, and after a while, it feels like you're doing nothing, even if you're doing more than most people. And if you for one reason or another can't do all your routine stuff for a while, it feels like a major failure, but it's not. Learning to be merciful towards yourself can be really hard.

 

hey! I practice chung do kwan, and my school isn't affiliated with any other schools, really, but we are super traditional in our basics and forms yet meld in a more mma/street-wise fighting style to our sparring. it's super fun. I'm at 3rd deg black belt but will be testing for 4th deg in may!

 

gotta check your thread out!

 

HELLO!

It sounds like you nailed keeping up your goals while traveling on business! VICTORY IS YOURS

 

 

you know I actually did do a victory lap at the conference I was attending but it was less because I had done so many jumping jacks and more because I FINISHED FILLING OUT MY TIMESHEET EARLY which for a consultant is a HUGE deal. there were high fives and everything.

 

SO DASHING, this KJ! 

 

Getting in workouts and runs like a BAHWS.

 

hey have you heard this song by lizzo, because it's one of my "on my way to work" anthems and she says BAHWS?

 

 

You're not just really trying - you're kicking butt. 

 

I am trying to kick butt! thank you!

 

 

And still so jellies of your running time.   There were like 4 runners at the indoor track today and every single one of them lapped me!    *flaaaaaiiiil*

 

hey so have you done any running programs? I was CERTAIN I would always be a 10:40 min miler until I started to do the running plans at halhigdon.com. it turns out that these running plans really work. for serious, I was shocked at how effective they are.

 

 

No but seriously hang in there. It's rough, but it's only a few days. Take it all one thing at a time.

 

thanks kishi. that lizard is .... a little close to home, but seems to be managing.

 

So often, I will have some music in the background, that turns NF forum reading into a work of art, with all the gifs moving in sync with it.

 

To prove the point, listen to this video, but then watch all the gifs in the thread.

 

THAT WAS AMAZING.

[raptron]

No, but I love it and it's going on my WERK workout playlist ASAP. 

 

I am sooooo jealous of the Neko Case show. I need to get my shit together and start seeing artists I love live again.