[black daiquiri] is Reborn!

[imjustarogue]

Phoenix is probably my favorite character, so Imma channel her this round.

 

Strength

2 NFA workouts + warmup/cooldown per week. I am still level 1, but I am going to bump up the difficulty of a few of the exercises as I can for this challenge. At 2 weeks, I'm going to try to beat General DOMS again.  

Total 8pts

 

Cardio/Toning

2 classes per week - preferably 1 Zumba and 1 Pound, however that will depend on babysitter availability. I love having an excuse to get out of the house and get moving doing someting *other* than go for a walk. 

Total 8pts

 

PT

3 PT leg exercises per week - not on class days. The knee I injured and ultimately needed surgery is not happy with my newfound movement. I need to get back into the habit of doing my band exercises to strengthen the small muscles around my knees so I don't reinjure myself. That would be bad.

Total 12pts

 

Food

I am adding a goal of 1 serving of fruit per day with a minimum of 5 per week.

Total 20-28pts

 

Random Bonuses

Since the Cardio and PT aspects focus so much on my lower body, I'm going to give myself bonus points for any upper body workouts I do that aren't a part of the NFA ones. This may include a random set of doorway rows, stair push-ups, baby presses or curls, or anything else that's just a standalone arm exercise.

Not more than 1pt per day

 

None of the at-home exercises (NFA, PT) take a super long period of time, so I just need to willpower myself to take care of it when baby naps those days. Everything will be logged in my journal (new journal coming soon because I wanted to give the dot-layouts a try for ease with design and trackers and whatnot, so pictures forthcoming!)

 

[Jonesy]

Woohoo following along! 

[tourennatrix]

Go sister go!

[Lilmissbri]

LOVE X-MEN. You got this chicka. Channel that inner mutant.

[imjustarogue]

I realized this morning as I was working out my next planner plans that I am down about 3ish pounds from when I started journaling at the end of August.

 

Yay things!

[ctfranklin28]

Love the gamification in this! It adds a little motivational incentive along with a better way to reliably track your progress!

[imjustarogue]

Thanks! Having points assigned for each challenge helps me gauge how well I've done by the end of the 4 weeks.

[Lilmissbri]

1 hour ago, black_daquiri said:

I realized this morning as I was working out my next planner plans that I am down about 3ish pounds from when I started journaling at the end of August.

 

Yay things!

 

[LydiaJaybird]

What are these anti-knee-injury exercises?!?! I just blew out my knee...

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[imjustarogue]

10 minutes ago, LydiaJaybird said:

What are these anti-knee-injury exercises?!?! I just blew out my knee...

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I shall try to explain.

 

These are meant to stabilize the smaller muscles around the knee, from my understanding from my physical therapist. I have 3 different exercises, 2 of which use a looped exercise band. You'll want a band that will be comfortably held up around your ankles with your feet about shoulder width apart.

 

Side-step walk: loop an exercise band (of whatever strength you are comfortable with) around your ankles and take a step out to the side with your right foot, then bring the left foot in - literally a side step. Step right for about 10 steps, then do the same with the left foot first. Repeat the whole thing three times.

 

"Monster" walk: loop an exercise band around your ankles and V-step out, right foot first. Swing your left foot in towards your right and then back out in a V-step - you can pause with your feet close if needed (your feet probably won't get too close together or your band may fall off your ankles). About 20 steps and then repeat three times.

 

Single leg balance: I use a 2" foam pad to add some imbalance into this one, but it's not necessary. It's pretty easy - stand on one leg for 20 seconds or so. Lift the free leg up however high you are comfortable with, the higher the leg, the more wobbly you can be.

 

Bonus balance: Pick up jumping jacks with your toes. Sprinkle some jacks a bit in front of your feet. While balancing on one leg, pick up a jack with your toes of your lifted leg and drop them into a cup. Repeat until you've picked up all jacks, and then repeat with the other foot. You can add complexity by standing on a foam pad or a folded up towel or something.

 

Now - disclaimer, this is not medical advice and they're exercises given to me from my PT, so only do them if you feel comfortable and all that.  My PT gave these to me to help me strengthen around my knees when I was out running and not specifically for injury recovery.

[imjustarogue]

New journal photos! This journal is a little smaller than the one I'd been using which means learning how to write neat at a smaller size.   And I have to say, I'm a little bummed about the bleed through from my pens. *bummer* But I still like it.  I expect my "daily" boxes to change somewhat as I figure out an average of stuff I write in them.

 

I copied over my Big Why and Loot List. Anyone have any ideas for the smaller loots I can add to my list. Treats or goodies that are fairly inexpensive and could be a "hey! you did this small thing! victory!" type thing?

 

 

Challenge and Tracker:

 

Dailies:

 

 

 

[LydiaJaybird]

I shall try to explain. [emoji3]

 

These are meant to stabilize the smaller muscles around the knee, from my understanding from my physical therapist. I have 3 different exercises, 2 of which use a looped exercise band. You'll want a band that will be comfortably held up around your ankles with your feet about shoulder width apart.

 

Side-step walk: loop an exercise band (of whatever strength you are comfortable with) around your ankles and take a step out to the side with your right foot, then bring the left foot in - literally a side step. Step right for about 10 steps, then do the same with the left foot first. Repeat the whole thing three times.

 

"Monster" walk: loop an exercise band around your ankles and V-step out, right foot first. Swing your left foot in towards your right and then back out in a V-step - you can pause with your feet close if needed (your feet probably won't get too close together or your band may fall off your ankles). About 20 steps and then repeat three times.

 

Single leg balance: I use a 2" foam pad to add some imbalance into this one, but it's not necessary. It's pretty easy - stand on one leg for 20 seconds or so. Lift the free leg up however high you are comfortable with, the higher the leg, the more wobbly you can be.

 

Bonus balance: Pick up jumping jacks with your toes. Sprinkle some jacks a bit in front of your feet. While balancing on one leg, pick up a jack with your toes of your lifted leg and drop them into a cup. Repeat until you've picked up all jacks, and then repeat with the other foot. You can add complexity by standing on a foam pad or a folded up towel or something.

 

Now - disclaimer, this is not medical advice and they're exercises given to me from my PT, so only do them if you feel comfortable and all that. [emoji4] My PT gave these to me to help me strengthen around my knees when I was out running and not specifically for injury recovery.

Thanks!!!

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[raptron]

Awww man, so nice and crisp and clean! Love those pages.

 

And Phoenix. <3 <3 <3 

[LydiaJaybird]

New journal photos! This journal is a little smaller than the one I'd been using which means learning how to write neat at a smaller size. [emoji14]  And I have to say, I'm a little bummed about the bleed through from my pens. *bummer* But I still like it. [emoji4] I expect my "daily" boxes to change somewhat as I figure out an average of stuff I write in them.

 

I copied over my Big Why and Loot List. Anyone have any ideas for the smaller loots I can add to my list. Treats or goodies that are fairly inexpensive and could be a "hey! you did this small thing! victory!" type thing?

 

 

Challenge and Tracker:

 

Dailies:

 

 

 

OMG. Your journal is adorable & I want it

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[imjustarogue]

   

[Lilmissbri]

1 hour ago, LydiaJaybird said:

OMG. Your journal is adorable & I want it

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I concur. SO cool.

 

1 hour ago, black_daquiri said:

 

I copied over my Big Why and Loot List. Anyone have any ideas for the smaller loots I can add to my list. Treats or goodies that are fairly inexpensive and could be a "hey! you did this small thing! victory!" type thing?

 

 

As for some rewards. What do you like to do? I use gaming or binging shows as rewards. Or maybe going out and spending some time at Starbucks with a book?

[imjustarogue]

Gaming and show binging would be awesome rewards if I were not already limited on game time because of baby (and also spending a majority of time with the TV on at least in the background also because of baby). He definitely complicates things that would normally be easy rewards.

 

But, in the not Level 1 reward category (maybe 3 because of the expense...) I am adding these: https://www.poprageous.com/collections/geek-chic/products/steampunk-leggings

 

Definitely the Steampunk ones, but possibly some others as well because so much nerdiness. I bought an awesome pair of x-men leggings (not from this site) this summer after not really thinking I'd look good in them because so much pattern and color on my legs is weird! but I love them! So, I want to buy more now, of course! Plus, they also have a few fun looking shirts that look like they may even fit (unlike some other online shirt places where the L fits like a M and the collar is all up in my face and choking me and it fits once then shrinks in the dryer and I can never wear it again... so, I may have some issues with those shirt places... and yet, I keep buying shirts from there.... yeah, issues).

 

Now, it's super late and baby's been firmly asleep in his rocker so it's time to get him to bed, me in the shower and then me in bed where I will probably read for a while against my better judgement because baby wakes up anywhere between 7 and 9 in the morning (except for those nights where he wakes up every two hours...... those are fun........)

 

also, i apparently get super rambly when it's late and i'm tired, so i hope this was fun to read at least.  

[Lilmissbri]

17 minutes ago, black_daquiri said:

I bought an awesome pair of x-men leggings (not from this site) this summer after not really thinking I'd look good in them because so much pattern and color on my legs is weird! but I love them! So, I want to buy more now, of course! 

 

 

Can we see a pic!?! If you're comfortable. I wanna see what X-men leggings look like! XD

[imjustarogue]

Haha Sure! Except I was totally wrong with my comics because they're the Avengers. (I blame lack o' sleep for that mixup!!)

 

I think I got these from JC Penney...? They were on clearance for $9. o.o

 

[imjustarogue]

OMG THESE STEAMPUNK CAT LEGGINGS!

 

https://society6.com/product/steampunk-cat-vintage-style_leggings#s6-1738699p43a56v415

 

[Mad Hatter]

Wow your journal looks so pretty. Mine's a complete mess. 

 

Those leggings!  Both the cat and the cartoon ones.

[karinajean]

your journal is awesome!!! and OMG those leggings.

 

[Jonesy]

I love your journal pages and the leggings! 

 

For small rewards : Buy a paperback, guilt free me time, guilt free day to be lazy, mani or pedi or both (groupon is awesome), and maybe a new small kitchen gadget.  

[imjustarogue]

Thanks!

[imjustarogue]

Not doing so well this challenge so far. It's mostly a mental thing related to the dumb things going on with my thumbs. My thumbs hurt and my brain says "you can't do jumping squats!" WTFBRAIN?!

 

Anyway, so the deal is both my physical therapist, previously, and the occupational therapist I saw last week have asked me if I've ever been diagnosed with this thing called Elhers-Danlos Syndrome which is a fancy way of saying "the ligaments around your joints suck." (in my case, there are multiple types of EDS) I've never been diagnosed, but since they've both inquired, I'm going to follow up with my doctor because it would answer a hella lot of questions and kind of give me a path to follow. hopefullymaybe

 

But back to my thumbs. Basically, even if I don't have that particular illness, I do still have super, dooper, hyperlaxity going on for some reason and, in the course of daily baby care (picking him up or changing his diaper or even if he grabs my thumbs), my left thumb seems to be subluxated or dislocated or something (I'm learning these terms so I really have no idea what I'm talking about...) and even though I can use it, I can't use it well and, quite frankly, it looks disgusting because it's bending in all sorts of ways thumbs aren't supposed to bend. I have a video but don't watch if icky-type bendiness makes you blargh. The top knuckle of my thumb has always been able to bend back like that, it's the middle joint that's the issue right now.

 

And, yes, it's a small portion of my body, but just try to do things without your thumbs. Without even using the palm side of the lower portion of your thumb because those muscles are sore from being pulled constantly and if you're using the lower portion, then you're tensing stuff around the middle joint and it still hurts. I was born with opposable thumbs for a reason, dumb body!

 

So with reading up on EDS and the fact that my hands hurt and I've been waiting for the braces from the occupation therapist to come in (tomorrow afternoon, yay!), my brainspace is all:

 

 

Additional frustrating thing. I can't really play Overwatch much right now because of thumb on thumbstick - maybe two rounds... And Rock Band... guitar... ugh. I just wanna curl up in a ball. And then I start feeling guilty because it's just my stupid thumbs. I can walk, move, etc and not dislocate other, more important, joints. But it's still a thing, and it's constant.

 

And I'm tired.

 

/le sigh