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Challenge 2020 #IWSG

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Loni Townsend

I hope you all had a Happy New Year! Since the first Wednesday of the month was the first, Insecure Writer’s Support Group was bumped a week and landed on today.

Man, it’s already been a busy year with a forgotten dentist appointment, a trip to the pediatrician, and a meeting with the principal scheduled for later today. And we’re only eight days into the year!

Though I had hoped to finish up my Isto rewrites last year, I didn’t manage to make it. Yeah, those 10 work lunch hours I’d planned got taken up by co-worker birthday outings and other festivities. And, of course, once the holidays hit, all writing productivity ended and my attention switched to my family. Still, I made a decent dent, so I’m not too disappointed.

The kick off of the new year means another round of the Colonel’s Challenge here at work. Ten Weeks to perform 3,500 sit-ups/push-ups, 30 hours of aerobic exercise, and lift 146,600 lbs. Sit-ups and push-ups are easy enough. I bust them out at work, doing 20 after every bathroom break (and I drink a lot of water). Weight lifting is a bit tougher, but I divvied up how many pounds I’ll have to lift a week into four days for the different areas of the body. So far, I’m on track. The aerobic exercise, however… My son thwarted my efforts this morning by wanting to snuggle at 3 AM. That led to me not wanting to wake up and hop on the treadmill before work. Since I’m already behind, I need 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, in order to make it. Not sure I’ll be able to pull that off.

My goals for this year:
90% adherence to Intermittent Fasting. That gives me about 3 fudge days a month, which I think is reasonable. And it’s pretty easy for me to wait until 11 to eat and stop eating at 7 PM.
90% adherence to No Alcohol. Again, that’s 3 days a month where I might crack open a bottle of wine. But since I stop taking in calories at 7 PM, it’s easier to resist the temptation.
Drop my weight to 125 lbs. I’d hoped for this last year, but it didn’t happen. Still, I start this year 9 lbs lighter than I started 2019, so there’s progress.

I escaped 2019 without getting sick, likely thanks to the weird stuff I eat (homemade kimchi and fermented garlic) daily. This year, I’m adding local honey to my intake with the hopes that I’ll build a tolerance for the pollen and avoid my annual fight with seasonal allergies.

Writing wise, I’m not holding myself to any specific goals. I know I will always prioritize my family, and my family is the biggest wrench thrown into my writing gears. Though, if I don’t finish Isto this year, I’ll be pretty darn cranky.

IWSG Question of the Month – What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just “know” suddenly you wanted to write?

Much of my youth was filled with fantasy novels and magical girl anime. That led to many imaginary adventures featuring myself as the power-wielding protagonist. Once other characters started to intrude on my mental world, I wanted to write it down.

I hope your 2020 is starting well.

What are some of your goals for this year? What is your writing journey like? Do you have any health trick that keep you well?

About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Insecure Writers Support Group Badge
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.

22 thoughts on “Challenge 2020 #IWSG”

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    January 8, 2020 at 9:32 AM

    Forty minutes five days – you can do it!
    Honey helps with pollen allergies? Good to know.

    Reply
  2. Julie Flanders says:
    January 8, 2020 at 9:51 AM

    The nine pound loss is a lot! Good luck on achieving your weight and other goals for this year. I didn’t know about honey and pollen allergies either so like Alex I am happy to know that!

    Reply
  3. M.J. Fifield says:
    January 8, 2020 at 10:00 AM

    My significant other was just talking about Intermittent Fasting. One of his co-workers has been doing it and has been pleased with the results. My health goals this year aren’t super specific. I just know I need to do a much better job of eating healthy.

    My origin story sounds similar to yours. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  4. Helen says:
    January 8, 2020 at 10:25 AM

    “Once other characters started to intrude on my mental world, I wanted to write it down.” OMG isn’t that the truth! I’m not sure it was ‘wanted to’ or ‘had to’ πŸ™‚ I enjoyed your post.

    Reply
  5. H. R. Sinclair says:
    January 8, 2020 at 11:06 AM

    I had those kind of adventure when I was a kid too! You did darn good in 2019. I don’t have any new health tricks but I do keep a little bottle of instant hand sanitizer in the car and use it after grocery shopping and stuff.

    Reply
  6. Arlee Bird says:
    January 8, 2020 at 11:12 AM

    I haven’t tackled making my own kimchi yet, but I love the stuff I get at Aldi at a lower price than our Kroger’s affiliate carries. A friend of mine in Tennessee told me he’s been making his own kimchi and it’s easy (so he says). I expected him to have not even heard of kimchi, but he surprised me.

    All the best in the coming year!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    Reply
  7. Patricia Josephine says:
    January 8, 2020 at 11:26 AM

    I hope to finish a fantasy trilogy this year and another ya paranormal.
    Good luck to both of us with our goals.

    Reply
  8. CD Gallant-King says:
    January 8, 2020 at 11:26 AM

    Happy 2020! I, too, looked at my scale after the holidays and said I need to get back onto a regular exercise schedule (and eat better!) this year. Late-evening snacking really needs to go away, and I’ve been doing pretty good at it so far (you know, for a week).

    Good luck on you and your family staying healthy! As long as no one is in the hospital, I call that a win in my book.

    Reply
  9. Anna says:
    January 8, 2020 at 11:48 AM

    You have so many plans. I hope you get to succeed with most of them. πŸ˜‰

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    Reply
  10. Madeline Mora-Summonte says:
    January 8, 2020 at 12:42 PM

    Your fitness and health goals are always so inspiring! If I could do even a small portion of what you do, I’d be thrilled. Hmm, maybe this year….. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  11. Natalie Aguirre says:
    January 8, 2020 at 12:55 PM

    Sounds like you have some great goals for the New Year. I think you have your priorities straight by focusing on your health and family. And you are making progress in your writing.

    Reply
  12. ChemistKen says:
    January 8, 2020 at 3:13 PM

    Well you certainly have more willpower than I. Perhaps I will take the opportunity to be more healthy this year. Be sure to get back to Isto so that I can read some more or it.

    Reply
  13. L. Diane Wolfe says:
    January 8, 2020 at 4:03 PM

    Sit-ups and push-ups after every bathroom break. As much as I go, I’d be exhausted by noon! LOL But I do need to do some exercises that will tone. That’s what I need more than anything.

    Reply
  14. Liz A. says:
    January 8, 2020 at 5:30 PM

    I’ve been intermittent fasting since 2013. After a while it gets to be old hat (although, I don’t do it the recommended way, so I might not be getting all the health benefits).

    Good luck with your goals.

    Reply
  15. Lee Lowery says:
    January 8, 2020 at 7:11 PM

    Great goals! Health-wise, I gave up any fake foods. Also, and I know this sounds weird, but I credit to my low level of illness to brushing my tongue as well as my teeth. It’s an Ayurvedic thing. But no daily wine? So sorry, I’m out! My heart needs it. Also, the voices in my head.

    Reply
  16. Elsie Amata says:
    January 9, 2020 at 6:07 AM

    Happy 2020! I’m like you with the dentist. Except I canceled my appointment in October and haven’t made it in yet. I mean, it’s going to cost me over a grand so yeah. Not on my priority list at the moment. Good luck kicking your goals butts! I know you can do it!

    Elsie

    Reply
  17. Sarah Brentyn says:
    January 9, 2020 at 5:10 PM

    Wow. Some lofty goals. I have faith in you. I know you can do this. The exercise goals–no problem (for you). I keep seeing Intermittent Fasting but haven’t looked into it. Not even sure what it is. Will check it out. I just thought it was a silly trend but I know you don’t go for those. πŸ˜‰

    Here’s to finishing that book this year, lady! Happy 2020. Much hppiness and health to you and your family.

    Reply
  18. C.G.Coppola says:
    January 9, 2020 at 6:00 PM

    Good luck with the honey and the Colonel’s Challenge. I think this is going to be a great year! And I feel like this is the year you’re going to finish Isto. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  19. Juneta Key says:
    January 9, 2020 at 6:59 PM

    Those darn characters they do intrude, don’t they? My Star War fan fiction creations have been recreated for other stories and worlds always demanding, but I admit I miss them so like recreating them. Not all but several. I’m a little late making the rounds. Happy IWSG!

    Reply
  20. Elizabeth Seckman says:
    January 10, 2020 at 2:13 AM

    Here’s to hoping you got all the bad out of the way early and the rest of the year will be smooth sailing.

    Good luck with the goals. I’m shooting for not gaining weight and getting back into yoga so I can tie my shoes without gasping for air.

    I just read that about the local honey. I have a persistent cough during pollen season and honey would be a sweeter cure than pills.

    Reply
  21. Olga Godim says:
    January 11, 2020 at 2:56 PM

    Fantasy novels – such a marvelous inspiration for writing. They always inspire me too.

    Reply
  22. J.H. Moncrieff says:
    February 4, 2020 at 11:04 PM

    Oddly, my best “staying healthy” trick is not working in an office anymore. Even though I work in universities and colleges, I haven’t had a cold or the flu in ages. I think my mental health plays a big role. When I worked in an office, I was really unhappy, which led to a lot of sick days. Ditching those jobs was the best thing I’ve ever done.

    Good luck on your goals, Loni! I think it’s awesome your son still wants to snuggle. Workouts can wait. x

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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