Day Sixty Five: The One in Which I Take Some Stock

My challenge status so far:

Exercise: The best outcome of them all.  I began strength training as well.  I cut it down to 6 days a week and found this the most workable, weather permitting.  I'll bet Lakeisha didn't take on her challenge in the dead of winter.

Meditation: The runner up to best.  This has been happening on a regular basis, anytime I need a break or right after exercise (to bring down my heart rate).  It's been at work at the dentist's office.  It's been handy at night.  A good practice this.

Math Study: The big loser.  I lost my place in my Coursera course by the second week. Then my real class started and I couldn't spare much time for math study.  I've plotted a way to deal with this during the summer.  I MUST take the GREs this year.

Clutter Clearance:  A near loser.  I had to give up on the volume of clutter collection because of the weather.  The snow and ice made it impossible for me to make space in the garage for spare stuff.  I tried rearranging the basement, but it wasn't enough.  I've been living all winter with boxes of clutter stashed in the corner of my bedroom.  This lost to the winter.  Once March is done, I may rethink doing this in pieces on the weekends.

Creative Work: This too took a backseat when realized just how many materials I would need to enact my visions.  I've been slowly organizing my supplies.  I've been doing a small piece of enhancement here and there, but I need more stuff to bring my projects to life.  And with all that has been happening between the dentist and doctors (I'm fine, just delays), I just can't spare the expense or time.  It's not a dead end.  It's just proceeding v-e-r-y slowly.  This will likely overlap with the radio station and article writing I plan for the spring and summer.  (I'll count those in this same challenge while the work is done.)

Overall, this challenge required a focus.  And in this winter, it was my health.  Some of it was long neglected (like my teeth).  Some of it was short term neglected due to not being able to get coverage for child care and having too many health scares in the interim that demanded immediate attention.
And the weather has NOT been helpful.  I've had to cancel more than one appointment due to travel challenges because of the weather.

But here's the good news:

- Since the beginning of this challenge (which is only 65% over), I have lost an inch from each of my bustline, waist and hips and TWO inches from my abdomen.  I've lost about five pounds. This came about through a combination of diet and exercise, helped along through meal replacement shakes.

- I've gotten a much needed dental cleaning.  I received good lab reports from my general and specialist check ups.  I received the go ahead to take DHEA, which has made all the difference in the world in my energy level and overall mood. 

- I've made it through a horrible winter without being my usual unproductive and depressed self.  That was aided through a practice of getting out every morning for sun light, regular exercise, DHEA and a Vitamin D supplement.  With only one more cold day on the weather horizon (and due to DST starting), it seems that it all may be over soon.

- I've set a date for my surgery and am really looking forward to it.

- I've pushed through insurance challenges and unforeseen dental problems to keep pushing for treatments from an endodontist and a periodontist.  I may have to put off the periodontal work I need because I don't have enough insurance for it.  I find that out tomorrow.  In the meantime, we're seeking a dentist for my molar.  It's yet to be decided whether or not I go ahead with the root canal.  I may not after all.

- Alex's 504 hearing happens this week.  After that, I hope to never have to deal with this constant complaint nonsense again.   I'll set my mind to the expectation that I won't be dealing with any reasonable teachers and administrators until he's out of Daniel Warren. One the 504 plan is in place and operating, I'll know what special classes I have to get him and we'll proceed the following year or two from there.  Once he's in Bellows, I'll be able to deal with a new set of people and have a 504 plan IN HAND in which I will be able to set the pace instead of being a punching bag for their stress.

- I received a B+ on my first midterm with opportunities for extra credit. I'm sure my first assignment has already made that an A-  I now know what's expected and I can easily prepare for the next test.

- I've planned out how I'm going to proceed in the summer.  I'm hoping to learn from KEEPS that they have space for 1 or 2 days a week. I'm hoping to learn from the CLC that I can take a class that ends shortly after 5.   I plan on using the alternative days to study for my GREs as well.

For now:

My first 100 day challenge ends on April 20.  My second starts the next day and continues to July 29. I'm just about to set my preliminary schedule for Alex.  For the next two weeks, I must prepare for Alex's birthday parties, my dental work and my second midterm on April 7.  Following April 7, I'll be able to turn my attention to other work.

I'm also going to try to clean some today.  That will go a long way to making me feel more productive.

So, that's it!  From now to April 20th - Well being and health, economics study, creative/career work at Hunter, meditation (goes in well being) and maybe - just maybe - some clutter clearance on weekends! Yesssss! 

Day Fifty-Three: The One in Which I Check In

What can I say? This has been a horrible, horrible winter.  I preserved as much as I could; getting to the gym in the evenings, walking through frigid, icy streets to get there; working as much as I could on home projects; meditating when I remembered.  It was all too difficult to keep up with once the bad snows and my class started. 

I decided that I would rededicate this 100 day challenge to Wellness. It's the one goal in which I've persevered the most.    When I wasn't trying to get to the gym, I was eating according to plan.  When I wasn't logging my food intake, I was getting to numerous doctor's appointments of my own.  I've tended to long neglected health issues, like my teeth.  I've even planned a periodontal visit and intend to follow up with a treatment plan. 

I had to postpone my mammogram because it was the wrong time in which to do it, but I plan to follow that up too.  I plan to do my colonoscopy when it's warmer out.  I've planned my facial surgery for April 10th (recovery during Alex's Spring Break).    Furthermore, I have to research the BRCA gene test further.

I got bad news from my dentist today, but I'll persevere.

I also made a plan to get involved in activities at school.  I set up a Wiggio group for my International Econ class.  I got an application for Alex to attend the CLC in the summer. I also got Alex into Garden Crafters again for the Spring.

On the exercise front, I've gotten to the point where I can run for 5 minutes at a time. This brings my total interval jog length to 2 miles each time out on the treadmill. I also kept up with strength training.  I finally brought it in and continued to do it.  I saw results in as little as two weeks, which is a great incentive to keep at it. Additionally, even the weights are getting heavier in just two weeks.  This is all good stuff.

Plus, my OB/GYN gave me the go ahead to continue on DHEA.

So, Wellness has become the single focus for these next 47 days.  Wellness.

Math, you will follow when I'm done with doctor's appointments.  Sorry!!