Aggievet2014 is Red-Necked Crake

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

highly, highly recommend this to dystopian and sci-fi fans

 

Crake saw the direction humanity was going, and took steps to change it. I can see the direction I would go in (if it wasn't for starting NF), and am taking steps to change it.  

No spoiler's ahead, just doing what Crake did- Keep What Works, Toss What Doesn't Work, and Make Necessary Changes. 

Part 1: Keep What Works

• Lift heavy things 3 times a week: Continue increasing working weight amounts and tracking it on my spreadsheet.
• Ride 2 times a week: Last day of this month's challenge is a local horse show, and both pony and I need to be ready for it. More jumping exercises, more bending exercises, and remembering to keep my elbows back! First day of next month's challenge is a hunter's pace, and I'd like to see him load up easier. Ideally, we'll go on another trail ride the first or second week of august to prep for this.
• Lights out by 11pm: this got fudged several times because I'd want to stay up later and read, and towards the end of last month we just ignored the bedtime alarm all together. MUST SLEEP.
• Read 5 times a week: was 4 times last month, and that was easily done. Now, the caveat is that if it is past 11, I can't say "well, I already missed bedtime so what is another 1/2 hour of reading". This is assisted by the muscle relaxers I've been (unfortunately) needing to take to knock the pain down enough to sleep. I usually pass out in 10-15 minutes of taking them. 

Part 2: Toss What Doesn't Work

• Cycling: I could not for the life of me get into cycling last month. Part of this is fibro-pain related, and part is not making it a priority. Well, newsflash, we have a 60 mile ride in less than 6 weeks. So I need to be ready. I am going to plan out some rides and times and stick to it, gosh darn it! However, it is not a part of this month's challenge specifically under cycling. See below: active for 20-30 minutes 
• Single serving of dinner: really quite a cake walk. leveling up in nutrition this month. See below: Veg with 2 and 50oz water.
• Sunscreen: I went about this one all wrong last month. Good-smelling non-greasy sunscreen is not a loot, it's an incentive to do the right thing. Since I wasn't cycling and riding outside, I wasn't putting it on. The biggest change is from listening to a Freakonomics podcast about childhood obesity.

• Quote

  Can I add just a twist to that which is I think kids are very, very aware of weight, obesity, and there’s all of that social stigma. But where I think they don’t perhaps have the sophistication of a 35-year-old adult is in understanding the mapping from what they’re eating to how over the next four or five years they’re going to become obese and how their exercise also maps into that. So even if they think obesity is terrible, I don’t want to be heavy, my peers who are obese are getting teased, they still need to understand how millions of actions translate into that outcome, and that is subtle. And I think it’s particularly problematic because of the delay between the action and the outcome. We know that organisms learn, humans other animals, learn really well when you do something and instantly you get feedback that’s clear; and learn terribly…when we talk about lots of animal studies where if the feedback comes four minutes later, the animal never learns.

  http://freakonomics.com/2013/03/27/100-ways-to-fight-obesity-full-transcript/

  Well, sunscreen now will help me avoid skin cancer in the future. Instant feedback be damned. I bought Hawaiian Tropic Sport today, and will set using it as bonus points.

Part 3: Make Necessary Changes 

• Active 20-30m 4 times a week: Instead of doing nothing on my non-lift days, I'd will do something (cycle, yoga, walk, etc). This is separate from horsebackriding. Also, I cannot triple up on a day off of work (i.e. ride, lift, and yoga; not that that is likely to happen cause after riding and lifting I am **tired** but ya know) and then sit on the couch after work. However, I am giving myself a little leeway for really painful and/or ehausting days. 

• Veg with 2 meals per day: 1 meal per day was easy last month. However, I only counted when it was a side of veg, and not a serving (i.e. a load of spinach and roasted red pepper on my burger). 

• Drink 50 oz water per day: I drink mostly water, but don't drink a lot when I am at work for some reason. Not this month!
• Dessert: Single serving of dessert was a snap. Changing point system for +2 if no dessert of healthy dessert, +1 for a single serving of dessert, 0 if extra.
• Meditate 4 times per week: Following along Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project, my hubs and I chose "themes" for each month. July is mindfullness. Also, I enjoyed meditating for the mini last month.

• Bonus- on time for work: I really like being on time for rounds. Even if they aren't that useful in and of themselves, I like not walking in just as the team is done talking. 

 

I'll also be tracking my pain levels, since I'm pseudo-journaling daily now, and since Rangerbrain is a very real thing. 

Other things to take into consideration this month: 

• Week zero will be used to get a head start on these habits, but points will not count.
• Week 1 will have be flying to NY for some CE, wrapped within a vacation. 2 days in NYC, 1 day touring the place I grew up, 2 days of CE, and meeting up with a friend who just moved to CT. Last night in NYC we may go to a Brazilian steakhouse. ::drools::
• Week 2 will NOT be awful because the office manager WILL let me take a day off. 5 days straight with 10 hour shifts and 1 hour drive each way is brutal. I will be a giant ball of pain. I am supposed to work 3 days a week. 5 days in a row should not happen. So it won't. Cause I said so.
• Last day week 4 is the horse show
• Last day of the next week 0 is the 60 mile ride

 

Quote

 

“The Adams and the Eves used to say, We are what we eat, but I prefer to say, we are what we wish. Because if you can't wish, why bother?”

― Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood

 

I'm wishing for a good challenge!

 

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

Point breakdown:

	Sun	M	Tu	W	Th	F	Sa	Total	Out Of
Pain level? 1-10
Weights 3x									3
Active 30m 4x									4
Ride 2x									2
Veg w 2 meals									14
Drink 50oz/day									7
Des: No=2, SgSv=1									14
Bed by 11pm									7
Read 5x									5
Meditate x4									4
Bonus: on time									-
Bonus: sunscreen									-
									60

 

Week One: 42 points out of 60, 70%

Week Two: 44.8 points, 75%

Week Three: 

Week Four:

 

Success: Over 192 points (80%)

Loot: Fall Fitness pass for the Rec Center. Classes from September through December. 

[Elastigirl]

Good plan of having week zero be a warm up

[bker1370]

Following along again.  Wishing you the best in the coming challenge.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following.

[Guzzi]

I'm in!  

 

Ps. stealing your bedtime goal  

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

23 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Good plan of having week zero be a warm up

I thought so!  

 

22 hours ago, bker1370 said:

Following along again.  Wishing you the best in the coming challenge.

Thank you!

 

14 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following.

Yay!

 

11 hours ago, Guzzi said:

I'm in!  

 

Ps. stealing your bedtime goal  

Oh bedtime, my nightly nemesis! Why is is sooo sooo hard?

[x Valkyrie x]

I'll be following you, also! Good luck on your cycling training (and all the rest, of course)! 

[skinNbones]

Good luck on your bike training, those 6 weeks will be over before you know it.

They are us.

[Mrs Van]

You are going to be so, so busy! Good luck with this challenge.

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

On 7/12/2016 at 11:26 PM, x Valkyrie x said:

I'll be following you, also! Good luck on your cycling training (and all the rest, of course)! 

I really need to get started with the cycling... Week 0 has had no cycling so far. 

 

On 7/13/2016 at 1:30 AM, skinNbones said:

Good luck on your bike training, those 6 weeks will be over before you know it.

They are us.

Thanks! I hope I'm ready by then!

 

On 7/13/2016 at 4:08 AM, elizevdmerwe said:

You are going to be so, so busy! Good luck with this challenge.

Oh, yes. All this plus work and CE has my mind spinning. Luckily, this week at work was incredibly busy but also incredibly rewarding  

[x Valkyrie x]

That's ok, the day is young (depending on where you live haha), and tomorrow is a fresh cycling start!

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

So.. I had this all typed up and then lost it. Try number 2...

 

Week 0 Recap:

• Tuesday was my long day at work (9-7) and we had (another) pointless meeting. When I got home, I needed to vent to hubs. We did not go to bed on time. This is not an excuse, just a fact.
• Wednesday was my surgery day, and man oh man. Veterinarian LIKE A BOSS. Routine surgeries went quickly. Did my first ever cystotomy (bladder surgery) and although I needed to fix the way I closed the bladder, everything ended up fantastic. Did my first and second leg amputations. The first one was an exotic, that I was pretty sure was going to die at some point, but on recheck this Friday he is doing fantastic. My second was a kitten, who I am currently fostering. It's amazing how quickly they adapt! Photo in the spoiler because I don't know how to make it smaller. Stayed late finishing patient care and medical records. 

Spoiler

If anyone is looking for a buddy, and lives in the Midwest US, let me know!

• Thursday we had a lunch and learn that was supposed to be Chik-Fil-A and salad, but instead being Noodle's and Co. They make pasta. Just pasta. Didn't bring my lunch cause I thought I was getting free salad and chicken. Proud of myself because I picked the chicken and steak out of the noodles.
• More last minute end of day appointments had me late at work...again.
• Realized Thursday night filling out my planner that I had eaten ice cream for dessert three days in a row. It's gone now, but we're not getting any more until after we get back from NY next week... or possibly later. 
• Friday was my fourth day of work in a row. With the travel, and the late days, I started feeling painful. Began to fall asleep on the drive in to work. I hate it when I do that. It's terrifying to think I could cause an accident. The work day was madness. SO MANY APPOINTMENTS. Stayed late (again) for medical records. Effing exhausted. Client brought us lovely chocolates, and I had two before I got back in the car. Got to bed on time, though!

Point breakdown for the week:

	Sun	M	Tu	W	Th	F	Sa	Total	Out Of
Pain level? 1-10	2	1	1	1	1	4	4 to 1
Weights 3x	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	3
Active 30m 4x	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	4
Ride 2x	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	2	2
Veg w 2 meals	1	2	2	1	1	2	1	10	14
Drink 50oz/day	0.6	1	0.8	0.4	0.4	0.6	1	4.8	7
Des: No=2, SgSv=1	1	2	1	1	1	2	2	10	14
Bed by 11pm	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	4	7
Read 5x	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	7	5
Meditate x4	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	4
Bonus: on time	-	-	-	1	1	-1	-	1	-
Bonus: sunscreen	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
								45.8	60

Week Zero: 76%

Pain levels this week were good until Friday. Everyone's pain is different. Someone's 5s may be someone else's 10s. Personally's my 10s include an ovarian cyst rupture, airplane descent with a sinus infection, and uncontrolled fibro. 5's include when I broke my ankle and a "regular" achy day. 1s are blessings when I have minimal pain. That doesn't mean no pain, because I still have muscle spasms, shooting nerve pain, and knots in my IT bands. 

[x Valkyrie x]

Wow what a week! It's so cool that you're a vet!

Good job tracking, even when things don't go as planned at least you've made the record of it to help you stay on track.

[Mrs Van]

Kitty is adorable, and so glad both op.patients are pulling through. Hats off for picking the meat from the pasta only. That is a lot of will power

[Guzzi]

I think it's amazing what you manage to get through considering the pain you're in. Nerve pain is horrendous! Have you found much benefit with the fibro since eating paleo?

[Aegir]

Crazy schedule is crazy!

I had my first experience with nerve pain recently. Until one has it on doesn't truly know pain. Holy crap.

Following along and looking forward to watching you kick challenge but, mini-challenge teammate!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[maegs]

Hi mini teammate! *waves*

Wow, you've got a lot going on! Nice job on your warm up week  That kitty is so cute! 

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

On 7/16/2016 at 0:37 PM, x Valkyrie x said:

Wow what a week! It's so cool that you're a vet!

Good job tracking, even when things don't go as planned at least you've made the record of it to help you stay on track.

It's a very rewarding, and sometimes very emotionally taxing, profession. I do love it. 

 

On 7/16/2016 at 1:48 PM, elizevdmerwe said:

Kitty is adorable, and so glad both op.patients are pulling through. Hats off for picking the meat from the pasta only. That is a lot of will power

Oh, yes, it was very hard. Most of the will power was redirected anger/frustration that they promised they were going to order one thing then ordered another. I did eat some of the pasta that was with the steak stroganoff. It was very good. Looking back over this week, I had lo mein with chinese and those noodles at lunch. More pasta than I've had for a while. ugh... 

 

On 7/16/2016 at 4:20 PM, Guzzi said:

I think it's amazing what you manage to get through considering the pain you're in. Nerve pain is horrendous! Have you found much benefit with the fibro since eating paleo?

I am working my way up the paleo ladder. Currently still indulge the sweet tooth (a la ice cream), eat yogurt and small amounts of cheese, and about 1-2 drinks a week. Have decreased by not eliminated the bread and pasta intake (except for this last week, oi!) so few sandwiches with bread. I already don't eat grains for breakfast, but I've been increasing my vegetable intake. SO.... Not much change yet. I've also been battling a roller coaster of a flare since about April/May. Few weeks bad, few days good, and so on. We will see what this month's changes in diet bring to pain levels! 

 

15 hours ago, Aegir said:

Crazy schedule is crazy!

I had my first experience with nerve pain recently. Until one has it on doesn't truly know pain. Holy crap.

Following along and looking forward to watching you kick challenge but, mini-challenge teammate!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! It's pretty much awful, but I try not to let it get in my way! Alliance FTW!

 

2 hours ago, maegs said:

Hi mini teammate! *waves*

Wow, you've got a lot going on! Nice job on your warm up week  That kitty is so cute! 

Hi there! He is stinking adorable. What a nutter, tho! I've only had adult cats, and he is a handful and a half.

[Tova, Warrior of the Wilds]

1) Happy Challenge Day everyone!

 

2) @Aegir @maegs @IrishPiratess Is there a number we want to shoot for for the week? 

 

3)  HOLY POOP BUCKETS! I'm going to CAMP!
Hubs and I paid bills today, paid off a student loan entirely (!) (Almost half gone in 2 years!), and still had extra. We've been talking about what else we'd like to do, and I mentioned camp. And hubs brought my my wallet and I'M GONNA GO!!!

[x Valkyrie x]

Oh my goodness!!!! Yay congrats on the student loan, that is amazing!! And congrats on camp!!!! So fun!!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

See you at CAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMP! BTW, that should make you eligible to vote for the camper led sessions.

NOT SO SUBTLE HINT

[Mrs Van]

7 hours ago, Aggievet2014 said:

3)  HOLY POOP BUCKETS! I'm going to CAMP!
Hubs and I paid bills today, paid off a student loan entirely (!) (Almost half gone in 2 years!), and still had extra. We've been talking about what else we'd like to do, and I mentioned camp. And hubs brought my my wallet and I'M GONNA GO!!!

So happy for you on both the paid student loan and camp! Woot! Woot!

[IrishPiratess]

11 hours ago, Aggievet2014 said:

 

 

2) @Aegir @maegs @IrishPiratess Is there a number we want to shoot for for the week? 

 

 

 

 

Well, I made the awesome-mistake of texting my trainer last night to tell him that lunges were on the table for the challenge...... That jerk/God (haven't decided if I love him or hate him yet....HA! J/K! I totally love this guy!) and well, he made me do lunges... I'm about to go enter them into the sheet... but short version total: 62 lunges while holding a 12 pound viper log........ pretty sure I hate him right now... lol

[Aegir]

Congrats on the student loan payoff!  I'm looking forward to that myself... some day...

 

21 hours ago, Aggievet2014 said:

2) @Aegir @maegs @IrishPiratess Is there a number we want to shoot for for the week? 

 

I've got 210 conveniently scheduled during my current strength/cardio sessions, but I'm willing to put in more.  I'm okay with lungeing around work, everyone already thinks I'm insane.