NeverThatBored: Catheters and Bedpans With Love

[NeverThatBored]

So, I’ve been sort of overwhelmed. I can’t seem make myself stick to any of my goals except the ones that are super ingrained habits at this point. This is partially because I don’t wanna and partially because I am travelling several times a month and it’s preventing me from sticking to a normal routine like I have in the past.

 

This challenge, I want to address those two issues. I’m going to address the “I don’t wanna” by actually setting a main goal for the rest of the year, which I haven’t really done in many challenges now. I’ll also address it with some of the things I’m doing this challenge. I’ll address the travel issues with a specific plan below.

 

Main goal: I want to get back to my pre-Paris weight by mid-December when I go stay with my parents for the holidays. That’s only -5 lbs, so it should be very doable.

 

I got stuck between two different challenge ideas for how to fix my problems, so decided I might as well do both of them.

 

Part 1 – Catheters and Bedpans

 

Spoiler

 

This portion of the challenge is inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Mr. Money Mustache. He writes about personal finance and lifestyle with an over-the-top persona that really makes you think. For example...

 

Quote

 

Let’s suppose you want the latest iPad. You want it because it is convenient to be able to look at pictures and websites and books and play music around the house. Sure, you already have other computers that do those things, but the iPad is special because it lets you do them while holding it in one hand, sitting on the couch.

Wow, that couch is pretty convenient too, isn’t it? It is comfortable, enjoyable, convenient, and joyful to sit and lie on your couch. In fact, wouldn’t it be best to just lie on that couch all day? Forever? Yeah! Maybe you could even hook it up with a catheter and a bedpan, and a friend or robot could bring you all your food on the couch too. With each release, the latest iPad could be delivered to you, and you’d have the most convenient and comfortable and effort-free life ever.

 

 

He suggests this mental exercise that I could really use right now, given how self-indulgent I’ve been for the past three months.

 

Quote

 

Mental Exercise: The next time you really want to buy some sort of treat for yourself, whether it’s a latte or a Mercedes, try the trick of not buying it instead. Mockingly offer yourself a catheter and a bedpan as a substitute.

 

 

I thought about dialing back my goals to get back on track. But I think that would be the wrong choice here. I’m struggling because I got into the mindset of being self-indulgent, and because of travel disruptions, not because I’m facing any real hardship. I’ve been working at these exact same goals for ages, with success, so it’s not the goals that are the problem. I just need to adjust some of the framework AROUND the goals to help me get past the "I don't wanna" urge. 

 

For this challenge then, I am going to apply the catheters and bedpans mentality when I feel the urge to put off a goal, buy things, or overeat.

 

 

 

Part 2 – With Love

 

Spoiler

 

I was reading a blurb by Lisbeth Darsh (that I can’t find right now) the other day that advised doing everything with love, and it really resonated with me. That’s really the core of what I want to achieve for myself in life – I want to do most things with love.

 

So for the “with love” portion of this challenge I want to:

• Exercise with love
• Cook and eat with love
• Walk and run with love
• Do yoga with love
• Get work done with love
• Wash dishes with love
• Meditate with love
• Offer myself a catheter and bedpan with love

 

Simple. I’ll remind myself to do this by sticking “with love” post its in places where I’ll see them, maybe adding a reminder on my devices that pops up, and so on. I’ll report back here when something interesting happens because I did something with (or without) love. When I journal, I'll reflect on how this exercise is going.

 

 

 

Part 3 – The Goals

 

Spoiler

 

Goal 1: Maintain Fitness

This goal isn’t really an issue. I’ve still kept my 3 workouts/week streak perfect since the first full week of January! I’ve had to sub in short/fast workouts at times, but I’ve maintained the habit.

• Workout 3x/week
• Run 1x/week
• Walk 16 miles/week for full weeks at home, or walk daily but don’t worry about mileage for travel protocols

 

Goal 2: Fitness Focus??

• I am not really sure if I have a bonus focus right now. Swimming or biking maybe? I’m planning to start swimming lessons.
• Pushup challenge or weekly AMRAP
• Do them with love!

 

Goal 3: Food

 

This is a catheters and bedpans with love goal for sure. Each time I break one of these goals, or even take a planned variance, I want to ask myself mockingly: “Would you like a catheter and bedpan with that?” That doesn’t mean slips won’t happen, of course, but the point is to make sure that I recognize the ridiculous privilege that is my option to self-indulge in the first place. And to do it from a place of love, not criticism. The question is supposed to be light hearted, not harsh.

 

Part A: Things that Work

• Do not eat after 8pm or within 3 hours of bedtime. -1 point if I do.
• Eat primalish - avoid refined sugars and grains (except for things I am experimenting with)
• Do not eat 2 non-primal things in a row. -1 point if I do.
• NEW Eat protein and a fruit or veggie with every meal, including variances. -1 point if I don’t
• Eat 19 primal meals/week (allows for 2 variances) +1 point for each success.
• I announced last challenge that I’m experimenting with rice and other leftover non-primal pantry items, so it’s ok to eat one of those things / day and it won’t count against this goal.

 

Part B: Conscious Eating

• Practice mindful eating every time I eat an apple (eating with love!)
• Acknowledge when I am about to sell out my future self. And then ask if I want a catheter and a bedpan with that.

 

Part C: Cholesterol Protocols

• NEW – track these in a separate tracker so that I actually stick to it instead of ignoring it like I have been
• Eat 25g fiber / eat a decent veggie portion with every meal. If I do at least one of these two, I won’t fuss if my fiber tracking isn’t perfect.
• Don’t cook with dairy except occasional butter or ghee when specifically called for (dairy ok for variances)
• Eat fish 2x weekly
• Eat an apple a day – I’m not tracking this one
• Eat leaner meats for a good chunk of every week’s meal plan
• Eat non-egg breakfasts 3-4 times per week (no breakfast counts as a non-egg breakfast)

 

Goal 4: Life Goal: Shopping

 

So I’m not going to do a shopping ban. I am entranced by the idea (and do it every February), but every time I think about it I start saying “but what about this thing?” “I should make x an exception too” and it keeps going until the exceptions list is so long there’s no point in doing a shopping ban. I’m clearly not ready.

 

So instead I’m just going to practice resisting self-indulgence. When I go to buy something, I want to offer myself a catheter and bedpan with that. Is this worth x% of my paycheck? Is this a need or a want? Am I going to regret buying this? Is this worth the time and space it will take up? Etc.

 

I specifically want to address my food spending too. I probably spend twice as much on groceries as I need to. And in some ways that’s ok when it means I buy healthier things for myself. Eating primal is more expensive than your average diet. But some of the food I do buy usually goes to waste. And my meal planning is based on wants rather than what’s on sale. I want to know that I can spend less if I want to. I want to know that I’m in control of my food spending. So I have a whole elaborate list of guidelines for that that I won’t bother posting here. Success is determined by how much I spend over my grocery goal for the month. I’ll start by lowering it by $50 and go from there.

 

Bonus goals – 1 bonus point each weekly, cannot be done at the expense of main goals

• Meditate daily
• Yoga 4x/week
• Bed by 10pm on Sundays
• Clean the sink 4x/week

 

 

Part 4 – Travel Protocols

 

Spoiler

 

I don’t feel like I travel much, but apparently I have been. If I’m travelling every other weekend, it’s really hard to settle back into a smooth routine. I can expect that this will keep happening at least through the rest of the year, so it’s time for me to come up with a better plan instead of trying to maintain all my usual goals through it all.

 

That said, my exercise goals will not change. I want to try to walk daily, run weekly, and exercise 3x/week, even if it’s a different workout than I would do at home. My movement focus goal will not change either.

 

I will aim to do yoga with or without an actual video once for every two days of travel. I get super stiff while travelling so this is important. I will continue to meditate daily.

 

I will try to have a veggie and a protein with each meal while travelling. I will allow rice and potatoes and yogurt cups, and I will not worry about what’s in the sauce at Asian restaurants, but I'll avoid foods like bread and pasta and desserts. When I get home from travelling, I'll eat meals I've frozen, and do super easy meals like rotisserie chicken instead of trying to meal prep for a whole week. I'll try to save my 2 variances for the part of a travel week when I know I'll be away. 

 

I’ll continue to try to limit my spending while travelling.

 

 

 

So that’s all the goal stuff! Now let’s do something fun - an icebreaker! I shared one of my favorite bloggers, and I’m curious about all of your favorites. Who is your favorite blogger, or if you don’t follow blogs, who is your favorite general internet person?

[Kestrel Grey]

Mr Money Mustache is going to quickly become my new favorite blogger!  I used to read Ramit Sethi's blog, but in the past year it has become all "see how amazing your life would be if you bought my latest course". Of course, he is the one who introduced me to the best resources, including Nerd Fitness, so I will forgive him.

 

Now I am going to be saying "would you like a catheter and bedpan with that?" to myself all day. Thanks a lot.

[Elastigirl]

That's hilarious. I really need to check out Mr Money Moustache. Great challenge too!

[NeverThatBored]

21 minutes ago, Cascade said:

Mr Money Mustache is going to quickly become my new favorite blogger!  I used to read Ramit Sethi's blog, but in the past year it has become all "see how amazing your life would be if you bought my latest course". Of course, he is the one who introduced me to the best resources, including Nerd Fitness, so I will forgive him.

 

Now I am going to be saying "would you like a catheter and bedpan with that?" to myself all day. Thanks a lot.

 

You're welcome.

 

I like Ramit Sethi too. I think he's a smart guy and he has good advice, but the selling does feel overwhelming sometimes. 

[iatetheyeti]

Here and following!

 

1 hour ago, NeverThatBored said:

So that’s all the goal stuff! Now let’s do something fun - an icebreaker! I shared one of my favorite bloggers, and I’m curious about all of your favorites. Who is your favorite blogger, or if you don’t follow blogs, who is your favorite general internet person?

 

Hmm. I've been introduced to some pretty great internet folks by people around here, the likes of Ben Greenfield, Jonathan Mead, and Daniel Vitalis come to mind first. 

[Ranger Five]

Mr Money Moustache is fantastic, and has completely overhauled the way I think about my entire life. There's only two people who've ever done that, and the first hasn't aged well. I don't mention this much, since it would just be bragging if it wasn't actually relevant. In 2014, I saved about $2,000. At the end of 2014, I discovered MMM. In 2015, I saved about $8,000, and dumped the 10k I now had into a Vanguard fund instead of a savings account. In 2016 I've saved about $6,000 so far. I haven't been earning more money; I've just spent a lot less on random crap I didn't need, and half the time didn't even really WANT that much either. He writes in such a way that it just seems so obvious, and you wonder how you could have ever been blind enough not to see it before.

Definitely following any MMM-inspired challenges. Maybe you'll inspire me to get off my ass and start riding my bike again...the gym is 10 km away and I'm a wussypants. 

[Lara]

Following as always!

[NeverThatBored]

7 hours ago, Ranger Five said:

Mr Money Moustache is fantastic, and has completely overhauled the way I think about my entire life. There's only two people who've ever done that, and the first hasn't aged well. I don't mention this much, since it would just be bragging if it wasn't actually relevant. In 2014, I saved about $2,000. At the end of 2014, I discovered MMM. In 2015, I saved about $8,000, and dumped the 10k I now had into a Vanguard fund instead of a savings account. In 2016 I've saved about $6,000 so far. I haven't been earning more money; I've just spent a lot less on random crap I didn't need, and half the time didn't even really WANT that much either. He writes in such a way that it just seems so obvious, and you wonder how you could have ever been blind enough not to see it before.

Definitely following any MMM-inspired challenges. Maybe you'll inspire me to get off my ass and start riding my bike again...the gym is 10 km away and I'm a wussypants. 

 

Glad to hear it! Sounds like you're doing great.  I've managed to pay off several of my student loans since I discovered MMM and changed how I think about money, so I'm really grateful to him. 

 

He also convinced me to buy a bike, though I still haven't figured out how to ride it well enough to use it for transportation. 

[Maigs]

I love MMM! Him and NF are really the only blogs I read (though I could use some new ones...I've read everything they've written).

[Sylvaa]

Love your challenge! Catheters and bedpans sound sufficiently awful to keep you in line.

 

9 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

So that’s all the goal stuff! Now let’s do something fun - an icebreaker! I shared one of my favorite bloggers, and I’m curious about all of your favorites. Who is your favorite blogger, or if you don’t follow blogs, who is your favorite general internet person?

 

I do not have a favorite blogger. I rarely ever read blogs, and even when I do, it's usually random because I am trying to research something (i.e. batch cooking or bullet journaling). The most I regularly do is like Instagram photos. So if that counts, Derek Weida is my man! 

[shaar]

Lisbeth Darsh is AWESOME!!  I have her new workout journal and each page is filled with awesome quotes.  The With Love one is in there, too.

[NeverThatBored]

10 hours ago, shaar said:

Lisbeth Darsh is AWESOME!!  I have her new workout journal and each page is filled with awesome quotes.  The With Love one is in there, too.

 

You introduced me to her! I found her recently when you mentioned the workout journal.

[NeverThatBored]

11 hours ago, Sylvaa said:

Love your challenge! Catheters and bedpans sound sufficiently awful to keep you in line.

 

 

I do not have a favorite blogger. I rarely ever read blogs, and even when I do, it's usually random because I am trying to research something (i.e. batch cooking or bullet journaling). The most I regularly do is like Instagram photos. So if that counts, Derek Weida is my man! 

 

Totally counts! That is an internet person. 

 

Today I wanted to buy some chips and I reluctantly decided not to after offering myself a catheter and a bedpan instead, so it seems to be working for now! 

[fleaball]

Subbing and will be back to read it tomorrow when I'm not falling asleep. But I am both amused and scared by the title.

[deftona]

Following! 

[fleaball]

I don't have internet people.  The closest I get is talking the Supernatural cast on various social media.

[NeverThatBored]

28 minutes ago, fleaball said:

I don't have internet people.  The closest I get is talking the Supernatural cast on various social media.

 

Yeahhh I think I chose a bad icebreaker this time around. I figured a bunch of you would have instagrams you follow and other shenanigans like that. Ah well. 

 

[NeverThatBored]

In other news, HALP. I am trying to figure out how to hair and I need help interpreting this picture. What is happening between step 1 and step 2?? What is she doing with that strand of hair before she pins it? I want to do the thing but I can never figure out how to do the thing.

 

http://www.howtohairgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG_6688.jpg

 

[Sylvaa]

Oddly enough, my Instagram is a ton of disabled veterans who run Spartans and do other feats of awesomeness. I keep getting follow requests and then follow back and next thing you know they are half my list. I say oddly enough, because I am neither disabled nor a veteran, but oh well, those guys are amazing. 

 

And it looks like she just takes the strand and twists it around like a mini bun before bobby pinning it in place. But I am in no way, shape, or form to be trusted with hair advice. 

[Shello]

20 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

In other news, HALP. I am trying to figure out how to hair and I need help interpreting this picture. What is happening between step 1 and step 2?? What is she doing with that strand of hair before she pins it? I want to do the thing but I can never figure out how to do the thing.

 

http://www.howtohairgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/IMG_6688.jpg

 

 

II agree with Sylvaa.  It looks like it's just twisted until it twists in on itself and then pin..

 

Also - following

 

[fleaball]

23 minutes ago, NeverThatBored said:

 

Yeahhh I think I chose a bad icebreaker this time around. I figured a bunch of you would have instagrams you follow and other shenanigans like that. Ah well. 

 

My instagram is sad and empty lol. I'm pretty sure I only got it because Supernatural folks were posting things. (I may have a problem.)

 

13 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

Oddly enough, my Instagram is a ton of disabled veterans who run Spartans and do other feats of awesomeness. I keep getting follow requests and then follow back and next thing you know they are half my list. I say oddly enough, because I am neither disabled nor a veteran, but oh well, those guys are amazing. 

 

And it looks like she just takes the strand and twists it around like a mini bun before bobby pinning it in place. But I am in no way, shape, or form to be trusted with hair advice. 

I'm pretty sure your daughter follows me? Which makes me lawl, mostly because I post nothing.

 

I agree on the hair thing. Good luck NTB, that looks crazy.

[NeverThatBored]

You guys are amazing. Of the two things I thought that she might be doing, that one did not occur to me. I am terrible at hair tutorials. 

[Sylvaa]

10 hours ago, fleaball said:

I'm pretty sure your daughter follows me? Which makes me lawl, mostly because I post nothing.

 

I agree on the hair thing. Good luck NTB, that looks crazy.

 

My daughter is an Instagram superstar. She'll get 300 likes on a picture and I'm like, seriously? 

[shaar]

3 hours ago, Sylvaa said:

 

My daughter is an Instagram superstar. She'll get 300 likes on a picture and I'm like, seriously? 

 

Dang.  I get 15 likes on a videogame screenshot and it legit makes my day~

 

[Shello]

14 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

You guys are amazing. Of the two things I thought that she might be doing, that one did not occur to me. I am terrible at hair tutorials. 

 

I'm a little afraid to ask..... but what did you think she might be doing?