Leimanu Plods Along II

[Leimanu]

I enjoyed the last challenge so much, I decided to continue and build.

 

Feb 7 - March 8 (my birthday!)

 

One

30 days of movement + walk 1 mile

Continue with the movement challenge with a goal of 20-30 min a day.

Added: walk a mile a day

 

Two

Meditation + Journal

5x a week

 

Three

No processed or non-paleo carbs after 4, 5x a week, except for cottage cheese. 

Cottage cheese is dah best nighttime snack 

It may be omlettes every night lol.

 

Four

Complete two career tasks + two fin tasks

Two career tasks: 

--2 info interviews

--firm up educational goal. Nut up or shut up, Leimanu

Two financial tasks:

--talk to bank about house loans possibilities

--talk to real estate attorney referral

 

I also have monthly goals to break me out of my rut and actually enjoy where I live. I started this last Jan.

Social: to be completed 2/25

Hike

One new book (work: Project Management, fun: ???)

X Adventure, completed 2/3, Dolphin Tour!

Goals reflection

 

Fun pics later!

[Stronkey Kong]

Alright. Leimanu finishes two challenges in a row. Lets do this!

[Leimanu]

First week update

 

I've had good results with everyday movement and walking a mile.  I've made space in my day for them and I'm really enjoying it.

 

My mom's visiting, and it's been wonderful, but it's sort of gotten in the way of a few things.  I stay up late with her, so no meditation (though I suppose I could do it any point in the day and not wait until the end).  She also makes dinner, so forget eating no carbs after 4.  After working all day and dinner's ready at home??  Fughgetaboutit.  I've been good at just eating dinner and no evening snacks, though.

 

I have been doing quick journal entries, though.

[Leimanu]

On 2/6/2017 at 1:33 PM, Heidi ☯ said:

• Where you have been

• What you have seen

• Where you hope to go

• What you seek.

 

I've been hanging around the NF boards since 2012.  I just realized that pretty much the longest thing I've ever done consistently.  The longest professional thing was Peace Corps, and I finally beat the time length with my current job WOOOOOO!  I was always obsessed with new (new places, new job, new experiences - there's nothing but opportunity and potential in fresh starts) but I was always the same - same thoughts (usually negative), same habits, same distractions.

 

Something changed in my thinking and I wanted to find the adventure in staying in one place, have a deeper experience than just the surface, touristy part.  I moved from upstate NY to FL to get out of the north and help out my Dad.  There's lots of other reasons, but those are the biggest (they're also the two reasons most people move to FL).  

 

I was at my lowest, super-scariest point when I moved.  (There's people out there who've never thought suicide was an option.  Huh.)  I've been working on my depression and negative self-talk, and thankfully the fog began to lift over a year ago, so it's been the sort of fun, sort of weird, sometimes disappointing journey.  This shy girl is actually pretty talkative, and kinda mouthy!  I'm super goofy and helpful.  I work at a nonprofit health center in a non-clinical role, and at work my goofiness can come off as unprofessional and that's gotten me in trouble a few times (never with patients, but with other staff, haha!).  Unfortunately, I'm also a little stubborn and short-tempered, which shows up when I feel other people aren't organized or lack customer service.  I try to use it to my advantage.  It makes me research resources and other helpful people to refer to to help our patients.  Being able to pull reousrces quickly helps me look a little more professional.   Just randomly I was assigned to our clinic's behavioral health center, and the depression and negative self-talk crap has also helped me be more understanding towards people going through a hard time.    

 

The weirdest discovery is...I'm bored.  Depression takes up a lot of time, apparently.  My challenges have been trying to put healthy habits in place and make baby steps towards my new, shiny goals.  

 

So right now I'm just enjoying being me and finding new things to do around here.  

 

Career-wise, I want to get back into creative writing and use that skill in a communications role for nonprofits/government agencies (goal, NASA!).  

 

Fitness-wise, I'm focusing on movement and exercise and listening to my body.  I haven't been doing diet stuff because that's still too wrapped up in self-talk.  Exercise is like, 20-30 min once a day, but choosing what to eat feels like it's choice-making all day.

 

Personally, I gotta learn how to enjoy the moment, let go of the pressure, and try all sorts of new things.  

[Leimanu]

Oh my gosh, I've been on the boards for hours on this beautiful Saturday morning!  About three episodes of Four Weddings!!  Ahhh!!!

[Stronkey Kong]

Thanks for sharing more of your story.

 

I suspect you and I might actually be the same person... almost.

[FatboySuave]

On 2/11/2017 at 9:13 AM, Leimanu said:

I've been hanging around the NF boards since 2012.

 

So wait, this is only your second challenge ever? That's mind blowing to me because I feel like I've seen your pic pop up everywhere for a while now, lol.

Thank you for sharing your story and I look forward to seeing your progress! Following

[Leimanu]

On 2/12/2017 at 8:37 PM, Curl Brogo said:

Thanks for sharing more of your story.

 

I suspect you and I might actually be the same person... almost.

 

...almost  

 

I lost a little bit of sleep the other night as I debated if I should take part of it out.  Making your way through the darkness gives ya a dark sense of humor about it.  

 

On 2/13/2017 at 2:59 PM, EternalJourno said:

 

So wait, this is only your second challenge ever? That's mind blowing to me because I feel like I've seen your pic pop up everywhere for a while now, lol.

Thank you for sharing your story and I look forward to seeing your progress! Following

 

Oh nooooo nononono.  I've had many, many challenges.  Much of my path here is scorched earth from challenges that flamed-out, lol!!  I'm trying to follow Steve's advice, and going nice and slowly this time around has been really enjoyable.  

 

I love your battle log, too!

[Leimanu]

Success!  I reached a finance goal and saved $10,000!!

 

I've been very Zen and said that I would consider getting a new car when my Jeep decides it's time.  Well, it decided it's time.  (I think it decided awhile ago, but I'm stubborn, and love not having a car payment.)

 

After months of agonizing, I'm going car shopping tomorrow.

 

Pray for me.

[FatboySuave]

20 hours ago, Leimanu said:

Oh nooooo nononono.  I've had many, many challenges.  Much of my path here is scorched earth from challenges that flamed-out, lol!!  I'm trying to follow Steve's advice, and going nice and slowly this time around has been really enjoyable.  

 

I love your battle log, too!

 

Goes to show how well I pay attention, lol. Slow and steady definitely wins the race!

[Stronkey Kong]

How'd the car shopping go?

[Leimanu]

On 2/15/2017 at 6:56 PM, Curl Brogo said:

How'd the car shopping go?

 

What a nightmare.  I'm still in the process of it.  My wonderful parents went around and few a few options, and yadda yadda yadda, I chose one, a Toyota Prius.

 

Liked the car, worked with my bank for a comfortable payment plan, took car to my mechanic and it got approved, went in to dealership after work on Friday to do whatever else.  Unfortunately, my bank closed before the deal could be closed so I could take it that night.  It's a three-day weekend, so thing don't get closed for a couple days yet.  I'm not even sure if it's totally mine or if it could get sold this weekend.  I didn't hand over any money, and they weren't getting any from me.

 

Oh man, when I told the finance lady at the dealership that I wanted to go through my bank vs what they found, all customer service was gone.  They did not understand my loyalty to a credit union.

 

I've never bought a car at a dealership so I didn't know the coordination between salesman, dealership, and car insurance.  I was so uncomfortable signing so much paperwork with no idea what it meant.  I went in knowing it was a learning experience every step of the way, but with a Warrior mentality that I'm doing it my way.  I cried when I signed some paperwork, and I slept 11 hours that night.

 

EDIT: I'm OK with the process going slowly.  I did everything in my power to learn and ask questions and speak with a strong voice.  Sometimes life holds what you're working for at the last minute so you can affirm that it's what is right.

 

[Leimanu]

Challenge Update

 

1. 30 days of movement + walk 1 mile

movement: 11 out of 13 days

walk: 8 out of 13 days

 

The car-buying nonsense got in the way.  It's a little OK, though, because I think my body wanted a deload time and yoga.  The workout today was really strong.

 

2. Meditation + Journal, 5x a week

meditation: only 1 day

journal: 3 days

 

3. No processed or non-paleo carbs after 4, 5x a week, except for cottage cheese. 

Mom made supper, and I ain't saying no   She left for the tundras of upstate NY, so I can try this again.

 

4. Complete two career tasks + two fin tasks

None yet. 

[Leimanu]

Another financial success!!!   Credit score over 800!

 

Also, I won a free month of Jazzercize.  I'm not a cardio or group class kinda of person, but sure, I'll try something new.

..................................................................................

 

I knew it would happen.  Though I'm concentrating on daily movement and not nutrition, I can't get stronger, lose weight, or power through workouts without good nutrition.  I want to plod along and really stretch out any habit dealing with nutrition by breaking it down into very tiny chunks over many challenges while I separate negative thinking and attitude towards food (woah, that was a long and layered sentence!).

 

But...

 

 

But...

 

Here's me with weekly menu planners and food journals with macros, caloric deficit, etc.

 

 

But....

 

After always being tired for a year and sleeping 11 hours after the nonsense at the dealership, I'm just sick of being tired and willing to try anything!  I shouldn't be this tired for this long!!!  I'm going to try to eat really filling, nutrition-packed stuff with the hope that it helps.  My dr. has suggested a sleep-study too, but because all the elder folks are in Florida right now, it's takes at least a month to get any medical appts.

[Leimanu]

Copy

[Stronkey Kong]

Yeah. Dealing with car sales people and banks will take its toll. Once they realize they won't get the maximum return on the time they spend with you they toss you aside... Assholes.

 

I would need 11 hours of sleep after dealing with that because:

 

1) stress

2) reminder of how shitty people are can cause some minor depression

 

Also, are you getting that 8 give or take hours of sleep every night? The brain really doors builds up a asleep debt it has to repay once in a while. Having been through the depression stuff, i know it can be hard to tell if you're just a little behind on sleep or starting to get a little depressed when you over sleep.

[miss_marissa]

Finally getting around to responding to people who have commented on my challenge. Looks like it's perfect timing to bug you about an update

[Stronkey Kong]

Second.

[Leimanu]

On 2/28/2017 at 3:46 PM, miss_marissa said:

Finally getting around to responding to people who have commented on my challenge. Looks like it's perfect timing to bug you about an update

 

On 2/28/2017 at 4:24 PM, Curl Brogo said:

Second.

 

Thanks for the bug   Though I haven't been updating, I've been busy.  

 

Not all challenges fit in a 4wk structure.  I was inspired and decided to go in a different direction and I'll be updating my Battle Log. 

 

Thanks @Curl Brogo for the thoughts.  It's real, for sure.  Something about this is really different though.  I fortunately get plenty of sleep, but I'm ready for a nap by 11am.  I've switched up a few habits because I'm at the point of trying anything (hence, new challenge in the battle log).  Fortunately, I have done some labs and the numbers are beautiful.  I finally got an appt for a sleep study.

 

Also, I've been considering taking an accounting class.

 

 

[Leimanu]

YES!  I love my new car!

 

Zoom zoom!