Nina-Rose: Prepares for 2017

[Nina-Rose]

Since joining NFA in June 16, I’ve switched from sugary cereal to plain oats and milk. I’ve learned to make my own protein bars, 4-ingredient cake (no sugar!), increased protein a ton, and tried 2 new recipes a month with fresh ingredients. I’ve worked out every other day, in some form or other. Less rigidly than when I first began, but I’m still showing up.

 I’ve tried two types of protein powder (not a fan, but need to use it up now!) and I’m really learning what goals I actually am motivated to work towards.

I’d hoped to have hit a safe, even level of workouts in order to focus on diet more by now, but I had some setbacks. I’m back to daily emotional eating of cheap chocolate, sweets and crisps.I spent January trying to get things back on track, so I can move forward in Feb.

 

I've learned that I'm motivated to work on balance, agility and flexibility. I’m lacking in energy, so diet is my MAIN focus, but equally I can’t lose all the progress I’ve made in exercise.

 

I have 300XP a month for ‘Wellbeing’ in my annual goals: which is 75XP per week.

 

 

• I’ve decided to grab a 6-month student membership to my uni sports centre at the end of this month - they have a bouldering wall (can’t access without a membership), swimming will be free, they offer yoga/pilates (would need to take leave from work, but maybe be doable) and the alternative would be ¼ the price for a single session. If I do 4 sessions of bouldering across the 6 months, I’ll have got the exact same money’s worth, plus the extra opportunities.
• It feels uncomfortable to pay £100 to essentially use a bouldering wall (I’ve never seen, so no idea exact height/ obstacles) maybe 6 times across 6 months… But if my husband will come swimming / play tennis with me every 8 weeks (the only activity he could join me in, being a non-member), and if I wanted to pop in to use the gym for a row/run/lift… it would make it worth it. I want to try new thing; to find something other than ‘sports’ that doesn’t tie me down to a timetable. They also offer a body fat ratio measuring session for £5 if you’re a member (not available otherwise)! So for a 6-month ‘trial’ it’s worth the investment.
• However, my anxiety stops me leaving the house sometimes, so I’m trying to be realistic with my expectations, and due to semester timings, I've got 3 weeks before I can apply.

 

Mission - Fitness

• 3 workouts per week: minimum 2 sets of exercises per workout. (20XP)
  • Defined as “tires-me-out or i-can-feel-it-doing-something."
• BONUS! If I did 2 membership-related tasks for workouts across the month. (60XP at end of month)
  • Anything which uses my membership - (Bouldering, Gym, Tennis, Swimming, Donuting, Badminton, Pilates, Yoga, Balance Class)

Inventory - Food and Drink

• Points for healthy snack choices: Aim for 10 points a week. 5 would ‘pass.’  (20XP)
• Healthy evening meal (at least) every other day.   (20XP)

Journal - Mindset

 

• "Never two in a row. This is all just practise."

 

Side Quests:

• Submit short story by Feb 28.
  • Extra 50XP to writing goal.
• Take my measurements again (last done 2^nd October 2016…)
  • Weighed myself today, and although I’m focusing on ‘being healthy’ and ‘building muscle’ I've lost 10lb in 8 months. Feeling good as my arm muscles are definitely more defined so some of that is definitely fat. I want to do my actual measurements by March 11.
• Sign up for 6 month university sports centre membership.

[Lilmissbri]

I like your challenge! Will be following along to see your wonderful progress!

 

8 hours ago, Nina-Rose said:

Since joining NFA in June 16, I’ve switched from sugary cereal to plain oats and milk. I’ve learned to make my own protein bars, 4-ingredient cake (no sugar!), increased protein a ton, and tried 2 new recipes a month with fresh ingredients. I’ve worked out every other day, in some form or other. Less rigidly than when I first began, but I’m still showing up.

 

That's freaking awesome!! Congrats! You are my hero. I also joined in June 2016 and you are faring much better than I! haha. Well done you. Keep up the great work!

[Manarelle]

The membership sounds like a good way to try out new things without spending too much - they seem to have a good range of things to do there, and it would allow you to work with the anxiety instead of against it. Grats on the progress in the last 7 months! The workouts never seem to "stabilize" (just my opinion) because you're always improving/ trying new things/ leveling up/ etc. Here's to February leveling out and playing nicely. 

 

(This amused me too much, and is appropriate. You got this!)

[Nina-Rose]

I know we're not officially begun yet, but a mini-update.

 

Mission - Fitness

• 2 workouts this week so far. Winning.

Inventory - Food and Drink

• I chose 2 healthy snack choices yesterday and 3 today. Then we got takeaway for dinner. [om nom nom] Not sure if I should 'undo' or just deal. We have takeaway about once per 6 weeks, so I don't feel it's horrifically often. 
• Tomorrow's healthy dinner is prepped and I am excited!

Side Quests:

• I emailed the uni sport centre to ask about how I can apply for membership and if the timing matters like I think it does. if I can start earlier, I will!
• Took my measurements:
  • I feel like I've almost gone back to where I was last June, and yet the official changes are:
    • Down 10lbs, lost half an inch around neck, lost two inches around chest, no change to biceps, lost half an inch waist, lost 1 inch hips, lost half an inch thigh and lost 1 inch calf.
      Holy Hell, Batman. I swear I'm "back to where I started." Compared to October very little has changed, but looking back 7 months, clearly things have. Even in pictures I don't look different.

[For those new to my challenge aims, I wanted to get stronger, and not gain fat. I wasn't actively trying to lose weight but was afraid of over-eating causing more fat gain.]

 

Going to focus on cutting sugar by making healthy snack choices and those new exercise opportunities. =)

 

[Manarelle]

3 hours ago, Nina-Rose said:

Down 10lbs, lost half an inch around neck, lost two inches around chest, no change to biceps, lost half an inch waist, lost 1 inch hips, lost half an inch thigh and lost 1 inch calf.
Holy Hell, Batman. I swear I'm "back to where I started." Compared to October very little has changed, but looking back 7 months, clearly things have. Even in pictures I don't look different.

 

 

That's an encouraging way to start off a challenge! Are you feeling stronger, in general? 

[Nina-Rose]

5 hours ago, Manarelle said:

 

 

That's an encouraging way to start off a challenge! Are you feeling stronger, in general? 

I can do more - it took 4 months to beat the first academy boss battle. I can do normal press ups, and hold a plank longer, went from assisted squats to normal, and when I flex, you can see my biceps / triceps (no difference when relaxed yet) so although I don't feel stronger carrying paper boxes at work or the wheelbarrow, I can definitely do more than I could before.

[Lilmissbri]

23 minutes ago, Nina-Rose said:

so although I don't feel stronger carrying paper boxes at work or the wheelbarrow, I can definitely do more than I could before.

 

That's great! Little progress is better than no progress. It's still something to celebrate! Keep it up!! 

[Nina-Rose]

Eugh, this is so frustrating. My dates don't add up so I need a bunch of signed proof letter things to sign up to the uni gym because I'm on a work-funding PGDip, not an undergrad degree. 
Got tempted to give in, but going to see what I can do by going to see someone in person next week (when I'm next on campus). Frustrating though. 

[Manarelle]

Booooo. Don't let them bar you from your progress! You can do it! 

[Lilmissbri]

^^ This. ^^

 

[Nina-Rose]

Had a weekend from Hell Fri-Sun. Fitness just doesn't matter when things are that bad, so giving myself a pass for the 2 missed workouts and missed writing day.

Going to workout tonight after my late shift, and get back on track with food tomorrow. I have coconut rice & veg for lunch packed, and as our oven is broken, it's fried sausages and peppers with pasta for dinner. Reminding myself that small positives add up and it's okay to focus on tiny healthy choices for this week. 

[Manarelle]

Sorry to hear your weekend wasn't great (understatement). Looks like you've got a solid plan for taking care of yourself and getting back to things once you can. Hang in there, you got this. /hugs!

[Lilmissbri]

Yikes! I'm sorry for the bad weekend. Impressed you're already getting back at it! Good for you!

[Nina-Rose]

I haven't actually got back to it, but I've ended up taking long walks on the days I should have worked out. As someone who HATES walking, I'm counting them as workouts for now. This weekend is a 'date' weekend, and I'm going to workout in the hotel room tomorrow morning while my husband takes an exam. I'm not going to worry about food choices until we get back home Sunday. My next deadline is coming up and there's very little I can do about it (I have to record myself treating a client, but my clients are ill or cancel last minute or no longer need treatment each time I try to record so I have nothing to give in for the deadline!) 

So... focusing on workouts, trying to be kind that I've had 2 days this week I didn't write anything. The only way is forward, so time to make up for the lost words now.
 

[mom2sjm]

Walking is totally a good sub for a missed workout.  I admit that I consider my daily walks my "mental health time" rather than exercise but if you throw a few hills in there you can really work up a sweat!  Are you doing steve's hotel workout or working out in the hotel gym?

[Nina-Rose]

1 hour ago, mom2sjm said:

Walking is totally a good sub for a missed workout.  I admit that I consider my daily walks my "mental health time" rather than exercise but if you throw a few hills in there you can really work up a sweat!  Are you doing steve's hotel workout or working out in the hotel gym?

I'll just do the bodyweight exercises from the NF Academy: lunges/squats/press ups and the core exercises from the assassin's guild current extra challenge too  

For those following along the story, I also put in a request for an official letter to prove my studentship so i can get that 6 month membership at the uni bouldering wall

[Nina-Rose]

Posting for accountability: Tried to workout in hotel room but every floorboard creaks and I just felt I was being too loud for 8am.
Sill, I showed up, despite some possible food-poisoning/body-rebelling-against-junk-food (both husband and I not feeling well following a meal out so presuming food-related)
Completed 5 x lunges, 20 x flat knee raises, 5 x full press ups, 5 x full body squats per set; and some yoga before & after for stretching/cool-down.

Today's plan is some writing before we head out for lunch/shopping/dinner. Then back home to the kitties tomorrow. <3 We've never left them unattended for 36 hours so feeling anxious, but we put down plenty of food, toys and realistically they need to lose weight, so if they are hungry for the final feed (we put out 8 pouches to cover a 10-pouch time-slot) they will survive the extra 4 hours or so

Check-In Update:
 

Mission - Fitness

• 2 workouts this week so far, but including long walks, counting it as 3.

Inventory - Food and Drink

• Oven broke. Relationship broke. Missed deadlines. But still managing 1 healthy meal a day. Letting myself breathe this weekend as we're away.

Side Quests:

• Asked for a letter of proof for the uni sport centre.
• Not even begun the short story due on 28th so giving myself permission to skip this one.

[Lilmissbri]

12 hours ago, Nina-Rose said:

Then back home to the kitties tomorrow. <3 We've never left them unattended for 36 hours so feeling anxious, but we put down plenty of food, toys and realistically they need to lose weight

 

I feel ya! I am always very anxious whenever I leave my cat. I'm sure they are okay though!! Cats are so self-sufficient. It's pretty miraculous. 

[Nina-Rose]

On 2/18/2017 at 9:21 PM, Lilmissbri said:

 

I feel ya! I am always very anxious whenever I leave my cat. I'm sure they are okay though!! Cats are so self-sufficient. It's pretty miraculous. 

The bowls were empty and litter trays full, but they were clearly fine and only one even ate when I first put down fresh food anyway!

[Lilmissbri]

5 hours ago, Nina-Rose said:

The bowls were empty and litter trays full, but they were clearly fine and only one even ate when I first put down fresh food anyway!

 

Yay!!!

 

[Manarelle]

Ouch, sorry to hear about the food illness issues. That always feels like a betrayal on days off from being healthy. Glad you got some time off and hopefully mental health breaks, and yay for kitties! I would definitely count long walks as a workout - it's getting your body up and moving that you wouldn't have otherwise done, so good on you! 

[Nina-Rose]

Letter received proving my course, email sent to sports membership place asking about dates (the letter says I finish my course Sep 29, so a 6month membership would be March 29+... but I'm only on campus until mid-May for actual lectures so want it asap to use study days as well as weekends!)

Did a 'mild' workout last night, due to workout properly on Thursday as it's a study day. Made myself pesto pasta for lunch today and tomorrow because it's healthier than a bunch of crisps and cereal bars (what I end up eating if I dont take lunch as I refuse to buy it at £3 a sandwich). 

Let's do this.

[Nina-Rose]

Today was a study day and I didn't actually study, but I got shit done so I can now focus on studying at the weekend. I haven't been this anxious in 4 months, but the physical symptoms and thoughts will NOT leave me be, an after-math of last week's massive drama.
So exercise and distraction it is. I also had a shit-ton of reassurance-seeking from my partner this morning. He knows giving me reassurance isn't helpful really (I've had therapy for dep/anx) but sometimes, the day-to-day struggle requires some level of being told I'm okay. 

I had chocolate seahorses for breakfast, then spinach pasta with ham and corn for lunch, following by a yoghurt and some chocolate biscuits, and am having beef ribs with oven-baked potatoes and veg for dinner. I'll also make a milky drink with protein powder before bed so I can hopefully know I've had SOME healthy stuff for my body today.

I've walked to the post-box despite really strong winds (nearly blew me off the pavement!), did a load of washing, cleaned litter from the back garden, emptied compost bin, cleared recycling into a pile ready for when our bin is next empty (it's too full to add to!), vacuumed the house following a stray cat coming in our house yesterday and scaring the shit out of our cats, and 3 loads of washing up so we actually have plates to eat tonight's dinner off. I have leftover pizza quinoa casserole for tomorrow's lunch at work, and now I can novel and try to breathe.

How on earth do I still feel "I've not done anything today." That's crazy, anxiety: look at this list! *sigh* 

[Lilmissbri]

That's a lot of stuff you got done. Me = Impressed. 

[Nina-Rose]

8 hours ago, Lilmissbri said:

 

That's a lot of stuff you got done. Me = Impressed. 

This is why I prefer anxiety to depression. That nervous energy gets shit done