Tzippi's gonna ROAR! Westeros Travelogue, Westerlands Edition

[Tzippi Longstockings]

The Westerlands are in some ways the most mysterious of the Seven Kingdoms to we readers/watchers, because it is the only place we have never been with a POV character. Apart from a few stories and a flashback/dream swequence, we’ve never seen Casterly Rock, Lannisport, or even any of the Westerlands countryside. Known for their vast mineral wealth and fertile, hilly countryside, the Lords of the West have always been important, and none more so than House Lannister of Casterly Rock. Serving mostly as antagonists (except for Tyrion) through the first book, we started getting POV chapters from Cersei and Jaime soon after. More so than even the Dornish schemes, more so than the proposed Grand Northern Conspiracy, the Lannisters are involved deeply in the game of thrones, on several fronts of the war(s). The Lannisters have also always been a fertile house, with many cadet branches in Lannisport and throughout the Westerlands, and until this generation, usually a vast network of close, in-House relations.

I’ll be basing my goals on the forward planning of House Lannister, which means potential spoilers for all books and the show. I’ll white out what I can, but assume spoilers for Book 1/Season 1 here, and white out could be spoilers for anything through Dance with Dragons.

 

 

Sorry Kevan and Gerion fans – they’re relegated to a potential stretch goal/mini-game I’m thinking about.

 

Going in Order of our introduction to each character, we start with fan-favorite Tyrion “the Imp” Lannister, dwarf son of the late great Tywin Lannister. He's currently serving with the Essosi sellswrod Company the Second Sons, attempting to get in with Danerys Targaryen in hopes of returning to Westeros Lord of Casterly Rock and getting revenge on his sister . . .

Tyrion is the most-travelled Lannister, (except maybe for Uncle Gerion?), so I will also move about, walking 60,000 steps per week. This adds up to a little more than 8,000 per day, so it should be doable.

 

Jaime "the Kingslayer" Lannister is everything a knight should look like, if not everything a knight should be. A member of the Kingsguard and probable best swordsman in the Realm, After his brutal maiming by Vargo Hoat, Jaime is currently on a redemption quest, to reconnect to what being a knight means.

Less than two years ago, I worked out three times a week with a bodyweight progressing that gave me room to keep improving. I too, have a quest to redeem myself from my slack ambitions. I will train (luckily, not with Ser Ilyn Payne or Bronn) 3 times a week with some sort of weight, body or otherwise. My prenatal yoga will do.

 

Queen Cersei Lannister is at the center of political life in southern Westeros. Attempting to maintain rule through Tommen, Cersei is also attempting to wrest power from her rival Queen Margaery and the regent Kevan Lannister. She also needs to regain her queenliness after her walk of atonement and extricate herself from the noose the Faith got around her neck due to her ill-thought-out machinations, at least until her champion can stand for her in trial by combat.

 

In the interests of appearing pious and atoned, I imagine Cersei is eating somewhat abstemiously, avoiding large servings of meat and sweets in favor of simple meals to appease the septas who are always watching her. Then again, her drinking habits appear unchanged.

I mean to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, with at least one being a leafy green in order to count the day as a success. Fermented grapes don't count. Fermented cabbage does!

 

Lancel Lannister, after his treason, murder, and adultery of book one, is currently on a redemptive arc toward the Faith Militant. Setting aside his marriage to Amerei "Gatehouse Ami" Frey and the attendant rights to Darry, he has chosen to join the Warrior's Sons as a result of guilt-driven dreams and visions. . .

Lancel is spending his time (when not training) praying, meditating, and visualizing his life as he wishes it, free of Lannisters, Freys, and distractions from his goal. I intend to do likewise (without giving up my family, marriage, or worldly possessions, but making time 3 times a week to practice self-care in pursuit of my goal, which is a healthy pregnancy and labor.

 

Genna Lannister Frey is the best Lannister. No-nonsense sister to Tywin Lannister, and aunt to the above listed, Genna is hilarious, schrewd, and sees through her family's dysfunction and schemes. Married to Emmon Frey, she is currently guiding him trough the political minefield of being proclaimed Lord of Riverrun by the crown while Edmure Tully (and his child in Roslyn Frey Tully) yet live. . . .

  I love this lady's cosplay!

Genna  holds the purse strings, and so marshals the resources to maintain herself, her husband, and their descendants as best she can, while also stabilizing the area for other Lannister interests, after the war between Riverlanders and Westerlanders that has ravaged the region. I need to marshal my resources as well, and I intend to do that by meeting my protein goals during this challenge. 3-4 servings of #grams/day.

 

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Challenge retrospective

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week One Roundup

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week Two Roundup

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week Three Roundup

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week Four Roundup

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Gerion and Kevan Mini-games

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Rangers gonna Chimichanga

 

Deadstockings!

 

 

Recovery Feat: Clean bathtub and take a bath. Yes, it's a crappy American tub. Do it anyway.

Speed Feat: Run once, off-and-on ok, but run for 20 minutes.

Distance Feat: One hike in the hills this week

Rangering feat: Build a planter box and put dirt in it.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along again.

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week One, Day One

Sunday the 23

 

The started out rainy, which is always a concern when you know you have to pack up your war*-camp and go back home. Mr. Longstockings took on a lot of it, but I still managed to walk back and forth a lot, taking small loads to the car.

 

Of course, breakfast came late because the whole camp needed to be taken down. But breakfast was some nice huevos rancheros with beans and eggs and veg and wonderfulness.

Long drive from Lewiston to Boise (about 5 and a half hours). Stopped at the store on the way home for smoothie supplies, had dinner and watched two episodes of the Flash, then fell into bed exhausted.

 

Tyrion (60,000 steps per week) - 8,220 steps, which is on the right path for this week.

Cersei (5 servings of veg a day)- only three veggie servings, which is unsurprising. Need to plan ahead better for car trips. I did great on the way up, but was too excited to get on the road to try to hit a grocery store for better snacks.

Genna (4 protein servings a day) - Beans and eggs for breakfast, fish for dinner, cashews for snack. 4 protein servings = success

Jaime (Weight work) - Packing up a war encampment ain't nothing, and involved squats, farmers' carries, and general schlepping for on-and-off an hour and a half. My arms are

sore today, I'm counting it.

Lancel (self care) - early to bed, but not really.

 

*First SCA event of the season! LIBERATE WESTERN ARTEMISIA!

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week One, Day Two

Monday the 24

 

Breakfast was an egg and cheese biscuit and a smoothie. 2 protein servings, easy, plus a fruit and a veg.

 

Lunch was cauliflower soup and a salad. The cauliflower soup was probably way too fatty, but delicious. One serving green leafy, one serving brassica.

 

Hope to do some meditation tonight. Yoga if I don't have a guest, but I think I will (I'm trying to hand off a volunteer thing for my synagogue that has to happen Monday nights before my Monday night birthing class starts, and if she has time, I'll teach her how to use the program while I'm finishing it tonight.)

 

Maybe a pot of soup to bring for lunches to work, or making another chopped Israeli (aka Lebanese) salad that can live in my office fridge for veg-tastic snacks. We'll see what I can manage tonight.

 

Got the email done, and slept pretty good.

 

Protein  with Genna - 4/4 Success!

Fruit and Veg with Cersei - 5/5 Success!

Steps with Tyrion - 4,856

 

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week One, Day three

Tuesday the 25

 

Breakfast was a smoothie - 1 fruit, 1 veg, 1 protein, and half an egg salad sandwich - 1 protein

 

Lunch was a whole egg salad sandwich - 1 protein, and a big salad made of romaine topped with shredded Brussels sprouts and cabbage slaw. easily 2 leafies.

 

Walk at lunch was about 40 minutes.

 

Did dishes and cleaned kitchen, had a veg scramble with hashbrowns and salmon for dinner. Easily 1 veg and another 2 protein

 

Protein with Genna - 5/4 Success!

Fruit and Veg with Cersei - 5! Success!

Steps with Tyrion - 10,500

 

Had my class through the midwifery center again, so I got to hear Tibba's heartbeat again! Keeping track of my weight is going well too.

 

Got good sleep and the lawn got mowed, so all is going good.

 

Now I'm trying to decide whether to use boards of cement blocks to make the raised garden bed this weekend.

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Week One, Day Four

Wednesday the 26

 

Breakfast was a smoothie -  1 fruit, 1 veg, 1 protein. And Egg bites - 1 protein.

Lunch was rice, bean, and veg bowl - 1 protein, 1 leafy.

 

Can't walk at lunch - too rainy, but steps should be good with dance class tonight.

 

Dance class was intense and great! I danced for two hours and kept hydrated and feeling good the whole time.

 

Dinner after was a veggie burger with veg, 1 veg, 1 protein.

 

I fell asleep midway through my meditation - I was really tired!

 

Steps with Tyrion - 8,250

Protein with Genna - 4! Success!

Training with Jaime - lots of arm and hip work , Success!

Self-care with Lancel - Success. If I relaxed too well, that just goes to show that it works.

Fruits and veg with Cersei - only 4/5.

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Ok, so I',m just coming back from . . . April 26th. Oy.

 

I'll fill in my previous weeks' successes soon, but I'm just going to restart today rather than worry about my thread being in the right order, because that's some underwear-collecting nonsense I don't have time for.

 

Big news - weekend before last, I built this:

 

Last week, I planted these:

 

It's 3'x6', and has a variety of greens and stuff to fruit later on (peppers, tomatoes, cukes, zucchs). And a few herbs tucked in around. I'm very excited!

 

Other than that, this challenge has gone a bit off the rails so far. I just don't feel very excited about it. Work is pretty intense right now, so I don't get a chance to check in here during the day, so I just feel kind of alone and meh.

 

I'm eating more protein and veg, but am also starting to do bad snacks more often, which is not congruent with my goals or justifiable as good for Tibba (Tibba does not need Skittles, Tibba does not want a second piece of cake from someone's retirement party).

 

I also got a weird thing last night - it's apparently normal for 2nd and 3rd trimester ladies, but I got a wicked Charley horse last night. I woke up with a rock-hard lump the size of a baseball in my calf. I was in such pain and panic (I had no idea what was happening), that I couldn't even get words together to explain to my husband what was happening. Luckily, my husband is one of those "cool heads under pressure" types, so he managed to pressure and massage and stretch it out until I was coherent, and help me to get some water and to and from the bathroom ok. I was honestly scared to go back to sleep.

 

I somehow ended up getting a not-horrible nights' rest, but my calf is still sore and tight today. Maybe I can get to dance a little early and stretch out if the studio is open. trying to keep my feet flat and not pointed today and get up for short walks often. Also wearing sneakers instead of my usual sandals just in case I'm subconsciously doing something with my toes that's causing tension.

 

 

I HEREBY DECLARE MY RESTART.

 

Snacked on banana and almonds in the afternoon, and went to both dance classes. Was careful about pointing my toes, and was extra good about stretching. Since my lungs are a little crowded right now, I got winded easy, but managed to power through class with a few short breathers.

 

Slept really well.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Welcome back, I hope that's the last of the charley horses.

[Tzippi Longstockings]

17 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Welcome back, I hope that's the last of the charley horses.

 So far. with dancing and lots of stretching, last night went well. I'll try to stay on top of potassium/magnesium intake and stretches. I guess it's all I can really do.

[Tzippi Longstockings]

Thursday, May 11

 

Feeling pretty good this morning. Stayed up a little late, because I didn't get home from class until 9:45, then had to shower and eat something before bed. But I slept soundly, if not enough, and wasn't bothered by painful leg cramps, so I'll call it a win. Smoothie and egg and cheese biscuit for breakfast.

 

I hope to walk at lunch and then do yoga tonight, see if I can hit my Jaime goal this week after missing it entirely last week.