Jayniana Jones Learns Adaptability

[Jayniana Jones]

My hubby bust out laughing at my title which I guess tells alot about my adaptability-ness. Overall, I'm an extremely easy going person and will go with the flow for other people. However, when it comes to myself, the ability to adapt becomes much more challenging. 

 

This round, adaptability is critical because all of the things I can do right now get reset on Friday, April 8. This is because I have surgery to have my ACL rebuilt (for a second time) followed by 6-8 months of physical therapy. I've built some great habits that I want to maintain and recognize that because of the fragility of my ACL I have to modify lots and listen to my body on what I can and can't do. 

 

This weekend, I plan to jot down my current physical abilities and the max reps I can do for different body weight exercises. I'm thinking this will give me something to use for future goals to work towards as I regain abilities in my leg.

 

For this month, my adventures are going to be:

Continue my yoga streak.
As of today (March 31) I have done 89 days of yoga in a row without missing a single day. The yoga is mostly hatha yoga flows with a few restorative sessions every few days. My plan for after surgery is to utilize chair yoga. It isn't going to be as physically challenging, but I think the meditative aspects are going to help me cope with other messy things life is throwing at me. I don't remember the exact rehabilitation schedule, but I think I'm on crutches for at least two weeks before I can put my full weight on my leg. I plan to experiment with different balances and stretches (with a chair nearby to prevent any falls) as soon as I'm free of the crutches. Any poses on my knees are completely out because I remember it being painful for quite awhile.

 

Do Everything Asked of Me in PT

This wasn't a problem last round, but I figure it still counts as a goal. Whatever exercises my physical therapist assigns I do them for the reps and frequency requested. Last time, the only thing I didn't do with cheerfulness was the stepper machine. Stepper machines are the most awful thing ever invented. I'd rather climb a mountain or rock wall thanks.

 

Experiment with Free Weight Workouts. 
I'm hoping to maintain my upper strength that I've gained. Because of the risks involved in re-injuring my knee, bodyweight workouts have to be avoided (plus my first brace is frustrating to do workouts with). I don't know what to expect post-surgery, so I can't give an exact goal until I'm there. I plan to experiment with lifting weights while seated in a chair or maybe on my bench. I may seek out a gym later, but for this month, I can't drive until the 24th or there abouts.

 

Eat Well

My family loves to treat me with goodies. If I remember correctly, the pain from the surgery with leave me on the couch with lots of ice for at least a week, if not two. So I've put out the request not to shower me with excessive treats. I'm not sure it will be honored fully because they love to do it, but I figure it will be easier to say no when they are aware of my goals. I'll let two treats slip in a week in small servings.

 

Create Art Once a Week

I'm enjoying the Big Art Quest on youtube because I'm working on an art project every week. I don't need to complete the art piece within a week, but working on it for at least an hour if not more brings me joy. I won't be tinkering with acrylics while on the couch with my cryo-cuff, but I bought a lap easel yesterday that will store my drawing tools (pencils, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, and inktense pencils) so I can continue to create each week. I'm hoping to have more art for the week after my surgery because I'm not moving as much.

 

Get Myself Organized Slowly...

I'm a scatter brain because I have so many interests and things going on. I'm also very talented in the fact that I can hide my own Easter eggs and forget where I put them so I have my own Easter egg hunt. Since I have more reading time coming up, I found a book titled: "Time Management for the Creative Person" that may give me some tools I can use to slowly gain order in my crazy life. I plan to pick two techniques that resonate with me and test them out. The organization won't happen overnight or even in a month, but I figure if I can build it slowly it may actually stick.

 

Build My Nerd Fitness Character/Epic Quest

Being couchbound has it's advantages. I read "Level Up Your Life" and didn't do much with setting up my character on the website. I have chicken scratches on papers floating around here and figure I could get it setup so that it's capturing my dreams in one spot. So by the end of the month, I will have this setup (and -note to self- it doesn't have to be perfect).

 

That's probably more than enough to keep me busy for the month.

[Jayniana Jones]

I just read an inspiring article of a 78 year old woman deadlifting 225 lbs. I want to do that when I'm that age.

http://time.com/4275204/78-year-old-woman-deadlift-225-pounds/

[lullaby88]

9 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Build My Nerd Fitness Character/Epic Quest

Being couchbound has it's advantages. I read "Level Up Your Life" and didn't do much with setting up my character on the website. I have chicken scratches on papers floating around here and figure I could get it setup so that it's capturing my dreams in one spot. So by the end of the month, I will have this setup (and -note to self- it doesn't have to be perfect).

I've been meaning to do this as well. Probably should just write everything out and then figure out the order.

 

I hope your recovery goes well. 

 

For the whole family giving you goodies to help you recover, maybe ask for healthy freezer meals? That way, they still feel like they are helping you and not testing your willpower by having treats around.

 

Following along.

[Jayniana Jones]

2 hours ago, lullaby88 said:

I've been meaning to do this as well. Probably should just write everything out and then figure out the order.

 

I hope your recovery goes well. 

 

For the whole family giving you goodies to help you recover, maybe ask for healthy freezer meals? That way, they still feel like they are helping you and not testing your willpower by having treats around.

 

Following along.

 

Thanks. Freezer meals have been my project this week in between my usual chaos. I didn't think of making some healthy treats for standby. That way we're all eating better.

 

Thanks for following.

[SnowOwl]

I am looking forward to seeing your epic quest pieces coming together! I've read the book and made some notes and need to get on that too. Epic Quest support group? lol

I think this is going to be a great challenge, I hope you will share your art with us.

[Briniel]

Following along again. It sounds like you've done everything to prepare for what's ahead. Your challenge looks very welll rounded and I hope everything will turn out as planned.

[Schaengel]

How did I forgot to write here...following of course

 

5 hours ago, SnowOwl said:

I am looking forward to seeing your epic quest pieces coming together! I've read the book and made some notes and need to get on that too. Epic Quest support group? lol

I think this is going to be a great challenge, I hope you will share your art with us.

Epic Quest Group? Might I join because there's nothing that's more fun than making epic plans

[SnowOwl]

3 hours ago, Schaengel said:

Epic Quest Group? Might I join because there's nothing that's more fun than making epic plans

 

Perhaps we need an accountabilibuddies group? Or should we put it under PVP so that it is always there from challenge to challenge?

 

Jayniana will inspire us to epicness!

[Schaengel]

8 hours ago, SnowOwl said:

 

Perhaps we need an accountabilibuddies group? Or should we put it under PVP so that it is always there from challenge to challenge?

 

Jayniana will inspire us to epicness!

An accountabilibuddies group sounds awesome (that can be used for other group goals too :D)

[SnowOwl]

 

[Jayniana Jones]

22 minutes ago, SnowOwl said:

 

I like the name.

[SaltyDragon]

On 4/1/2016 at 7:37 PM, Jayniana Jones said:

This weekend, I plan to jot down my current physical abilities and the max reps I can do for different body weight exercises. I'm thinking this will give me something to use for future goals to work towards as I regain abilities in my leg.

 

This is a great idea. You might be more organized than you think!

 

--

 

This sounds like a great a challenge of exploration – testing your abilities and limitations in changing conditions. I've done a couple of those now, and enjoyed them. It definitely gave me incentive to push for things that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. It might even help you to make the goals really specific. I mean, you don't have to do something just because you put it in writing, but I definitely found that just having it out there is very motivational.

[Jayniana Jones]

21 hours ago, SaltyDragon said:

 

This is a great idea. You might be more organized than you think!

 

--

 

This sounds like a great a challenge of exploration – testing your abilities and limitations in changing conditions. I've done a couple of those now, and enjoyed them. It definitely gave me incentive to push for things that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. It might even help you to make the goals really specific. I mean, you don't have to do something just because you put it in writing, but I definitely found that just having it out there is very motivational.

 

Haha. If you saw my desks right now (I have one for work and one for art) there is just enough room for my keyboard and mouse on one and a 9x12 canvas on the other. A funny thing that happened last week, which prompted my organization quest is I had created an algebra worksheet for my daughter for extra practice (she's struggling with simplifying rational expressions when they are in fraction form with exponents). It was a lovely worksheet and I had even figured out the answers to make correcting go much faster. Unfortunately, I put it someplace clever and have yet to find it. I created a new one which meant I got extra algebra practice. *sigh*

 

I've found my goals written out have been really helpful when I make a point to re-read them. One thing handy with posting them on the forum is I can't lose them. 

[Jayniana Jones]

I've been working on my self portrait of and on all weekend. I have painted and repainted my face at least four different times. I'm struggling with getting the right shades. One thing I'm made a mental note of for future reference, is to make sure the head shot is either a straight ahead view or a profile. This one was in between and I can't get the dark side of my face to look darker without going gray or looking really creepy. I also learned that on a cotton canvas sheet I can wipe the paint off with a wet rag.  That's what the little white splotch is along the shirt. I think this would've been prevented had I thought to prime the canvas ahead of time. I'm setting this painting aside for awhile and will revisit it when I have a bit more portrait knowledge under my belt. Not bad for my first ever self-portrait painting.

 

 

 

 

[SnowOwl]

You did an awesome job! I like your teeth - I really struggled with my teeth.

 

Art spaces do seem to clutter up fast, at least mine is always a mess!

[karinajean]

so hi, I have been kind of hermitting in my own challenge for the last month or so and didn't realize that you were a fellow ACL rebel! I have had surgeries on each knee to replace the ACL - I had an allograft for each one. My 2nd ACL broke in my very first NF challenge (NOT because of NF) and I had it repaired in challenge #2. in because ACL peeps gotta stick together!

[Schaengel]

I like the self portrait

[Jayniana Jones]

I survived the first half of the week! Yeah!

 

Thanks for the comments on my art. I'm practicing the art of accepting my skill level for where it's at. 

 

I'm going to try posting short daily updates this week. The last few days I'm recognizing that I'm sabotaging myself. I'm eating crummy and  I'm overloading myself with tasks (yesterday my to do list had 22 items on it all of which took at least 30 minutes or longer - 6 took over an hour each - I got them all done by 11pm) to avoid worry and sadness. Yesterday, I actually voiced the thought that I was looking forward to my surgery just so I can sit and do what I want. I figure that's a signal I need to make a couple adjustments. I'm hoping posting my daily updates with help me stay accountable to my main goals for the month. I don't want to backslide into bad habits.

 

So despite sabotaging myself with comfort foods that sadly I didn't even enjoy, there were a good things that have happened.

• My mom's chemo seems to be working a little on decreasing the size of the tumor in her back and is greatly reducing her pain.
• My father in-law's back surgery went well. He feels almost new.
• My husband returned home late last night after being up with his parents to help out.
• I made enough meals to get us through April and possibly the first part of May (at least according to my daughter). While I love the idea of not having to cook for the month, I'm not sure I'm a fan of cooing for a week non-stop to build up freezer meals. Although, it appears to be extremely budget friendly.
• Today my to do list has five things on it. (Partly because most of my day is traveling to visit my spunky 83 year-old grandma.)

There's lots of good, I think I'm just fretting so much I'm losing focus.

 

[Schaengel]

3 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

I survived the first half of the week! Yeah!

 

Thanks for the comments on my art. I'm practicing the art of accepting my skill level for where it's at. 

 

I'm going to try posting short daily updates this week. The last few days I'm recognizing that I'm sabotaging myself. I'm eating crummy and  I'm overloading myself with tasks (yesterday my to do list had 22 items on it all of which took at least 30 minutes or longer - 6 took over an hour each - I got them all done by 11pm) to avoid worry and sadness. Yesterday, I actually voiced the thought that I was looking forward to my surgery just so I can sit and do what I want. I figure that's a signal I need to make a couple adjustments. I'm hoping posting my daily updates with help me stay accountable to my main goals for the month. I don't want to backslide into bad habits.

 

So despite sabotaging myself with comfort foods that sadly I didn't even enjoy, there were a good things that have happened.

• My mom's chemo seems to be working a little on decreasing the size of the tumor in her back and is greatly reducing her pain.
• My father in-law's back surgery went well. He feels almost new.
• My husband returned home late last night after being up with his parents to help out.
• I made enough meals to get us through April and possibly the first part of May (at least according to my daughter). While I love the idea of not having to cook for the month, I'm not sure I'm a fan of cooing for a week non-stop to build up freezer meals. Although, it appears to be extremely budget friendly.
• Today my to do list has five things on it. (Partly because most of my day is traveling to visit my spunky 83 year-old grandma.)

There's lots of good, I think I'm just fretting so much I'm losing focus.

 

Good that so many good things are happening at the moment. Also I think it's good that you realize and analyze why you sabotage yourself so that you can find a way to do better. On the other hand sometimes doing a lot to take your mind off of things isn't the worst...sometimes.

 

[Jayniana Jones]

6 hours ago, Schaengel said:

Good that so many good things are happening at the moment. Also I think it's good that you realize and analyze why you sabotage yourself so that you can find a way to do better. On the other hand sometimes doing a lot to take your mind off of things isn't the worst...sometimes.

 

 

True.

 

Today I'm on day 93 for my yoga streak. I think I miss counted for my beginning post so I'll have to correct that. A lot of time spent on the road chatting with the kids. I covered about 250 miles by car and 2.5 miles by foot. I ate okay and I'm super glad that I did my yoga and meditation stuff this morning because I'm exhausted at the moment. I go home about ten minutes ago.

[SnowOwl]

It has really helped me stick with my goals to do daily updates. I hope it helps you too! Does art take your mind off things? I always feel better after an art journal page - I like to do the Mission Inspiration ones from Facebook when I need to destress and get some feelings out.

[Jayniana Jones]

Today I took the day off of household responsibilities. My daughter, grandma (not the one I saw yesterday) and I went to whatever stores were on our minds. 

 

Continue my yoga streak. 
Day 94 today. My surgery is at 6am tomorrow (Friday). I have to leave the house at 5am and I'm debating doing my last non-chair yoga session before I go. 

 

Do Everything Asked of Me in PT

N/A until Monday

 

Experiment with Free Weight Workouts. 
I haven't implement this yet and have stayed with body weight at the moment. Managed to get 4.5 miles in walking today.

 

Eat Well

Sort of. Compared to earlier this week I cleaned up my eating. Still had a few treats, but didn't go overboard.

 

Create Art Once a Week

Not yet.

 

Get Myself Organized Slowly...

I'm testing out the idea of tying my to do to a board game. I dug out one of my old favorites, Empire Builder and set it up in my office. 

 

Build My Nerd Fitness Character/Epic Quest

I haven't entered anything yet, but found my notes and put them in a folder. 

[Jayniana Jones]

23 hours ago, SnowOwl said:

Does art take your mind off things? I always feel better after an art journal page - I like to do the Mission Inspiration ones from Facebook when I need to destress and get some feelings out.

 

Hmm. It depends. When I draw I get so focused that I can't speak or hear anything that anyone says to me. So that might be something I could do when I'm overwhelmed. I never thought to try it because usually I get hyper and feel the need to move. 

 

What's the Mission Inspiration?

[SnowOwl]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/missioninspiration/  He posts 10 steps you have to follow when creating your journal page. 

 

Good luck with your surgery tomorrow! 

[SaltyDragon]

Yoga before the surgery sounds like a great idea to me! Good luck with it. Check in when you feel up for it, and let us know how it went!