Chronicles of Aunt Polgara

AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
First post, third day. I’m going by AuntPolgara — midlife, formerly fit, and currently on a long road back after back surgery, menopause, and a steady diet of stress and sarcasm.

I’ve got 50 pounds to lose (thanks to a magic curse of fast food, potato chips, and cookies), and exactly two years from today to do it — for an event that matters a great deal to me. Not chasing perfection, just consistency, strength, and movement that doesn’t bore me stiff.

I’m following a 6-day workout schedule with Sundays off, unless soreness or chaos calls the shots. I started on a Tuesday thanks to golf on Monday, so I’ll keep new programs on a Tuesday start unless otherwise derailed. Day 1 was invigorating. Day 2 required an Epsom bath. Today kicked my butt (actually my shoulders lol)

Today's Workout
* 2-mile walk
* Zero Hero – Day 3
* Target 10 – Day 3: (Reimagined as an Aes Sedai weaving the One Power) -ended up with 7 rounds
* EOD – 30 Elbows-to-Knees:
* Unbound – Day 3


Thanks to the workout today, I know that my left shoulder is officially the weaker link, so I’ll be working in scap push-ups, doorway pec stretches, and resistance band rehab (once I find my bands lol) as needed. Adaptation, not defeat.

Food
Lunch: turkey club in a low carb tortilla w/turkey bacon; cabbage soup w/3 tbs black beans, air fried carrot peels and air fried broccoli (latter sprinkled with nutritional yeast)

Dinner: lower carb Kung Pao (ish) stirfry w/zucchini over spaghetti squash
Dessert: plain yogurt with blackberries and a sprinkle of Lily's SF chocolate caramel chips

Water: 8 cup goal reached! (12 cups total)
 
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AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Day 4

Physical Training:

Morning
  • Walk (AM): 2 miles. No magical creatures spotted. Unless that squirrel is still spying.
  • EOD Calf Raises: 30, as prescribed but in the shower. No applause necessary
Afternoon
  • Zero Hero Day 4: Level 2 (scaled back—glutes declared mutiny). Kept form. Kept dignity. Barely. Immigrant song was a highlight.
  • Target 10 Day 4: Core circuit (got in 6 rounds), minus the sitting twists. Substituted a 10-second plank—less thrashing, more purpose. Gave it a back story of struggling to get out of a debris after an explosion. There has to be a reason for the struggle.
  • Unbound: 30 back leg raises per leg and the stretches
Evening
  • Walk (PM): 1 mile with the husband. Considered a diplomatic mission. Finished up my10K steps and kept marital stability.

Nutritional Log

Lunch (Working Lunch at the Village Pizzeria):​

  • 2 slices served, 1 eaten.
  • Second slice redirected to a fellow veteran in our group that was not eating due to finances
  • Side salad, no croutons. dressing on side
Snack:
  • 1 cup grapes.
  • 1 pepper jack cheese stick. Acceptable. Not thrilling.
Dinner:
  • Burger (keto bun, cheese, turkey bacon, mustard, tomato). Entirely reasonable.
  • Tiny portion of cheese fries—symbolic indulgence.
  • Green bean fries (primary side, redeemed with ranch-Greek yogurt mix).
  • Broccoli salad (part mayo, part Greek yogurt—alchemical success).
Water:
  • 8 cups and counting. Still hydrated.
Notes:
  • Glutes remain treacherous.
  • Strength holding.
  • No hexes cast today—but several considered.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workouts
2.5-mile walk after lunch and a .25 mile walk after dinner
Zero Hero (level 3), Target 10 (10 rounds), and Unbound -all day 5 (split up throughout day due to schedule)
Did not do the EOD because I couldn't see in it on the page.??


Nutrition
Lunch: Leftover kung pao stirfry (keto recipe) on a bed of spinach and romaine w/skinny girl Asian dressing
Snack: Carrots and celery -some with pimento cheese, some with a mix of PB2 and Peanut butter and some plain
Dinner: Spaghetti squash w/taco meat, salsa, sauteed veggies (peppers, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes), 2 tbs of black beans, 11/4 cup reduced fat Mexican cheese, a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and chives
Dessert: strawberries and blueberries with a Sugar free strawberry Greek yogurt, a tbsp pistachios, a tsp of flax seed.

Water goal met

A lot less sore today. Had a beauty day at the salon which was long so I didn't break my fast until almost 3.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workouts
2.5-mile hike in the morning and a `mile walk after dinner
Zero Hero Day 6, Level 3
Target Ten Day 6 (10 rounds)
Unbound Day 6
EOD -30 second side leg swings (found the actual location on the main page instead of the EOD link!)

Only having some mild soreness now (glues and hamstrings mostly). Had to split it up due to the schedule.

Nutrition
Woo boy. I had a cookout at a dear friend's house. It started at 12 but it 2:30 before we ate. I fast so I had not eaten when I got there. She had out chips and cheese dip and I resisted for first hour and then ate some, probably too many.

Then a huge steak, corn on the cob, veggie tray veggies (that I brought lol) and a angel food cake with sugar free topping and berries. (Even though I had said I am avoiding desserts as I'm dealing with pre-diabetes, so she made a low sugar dessert, and I felt obliged as I was only guest.

Part of my habits I am trying to build is enjoy it, drink extra water, walk an extra mile, and make the next meal light (meat and veggies). So for dinner, I had a bowl of cabbage soup w/some leftover taco meat, and some air fried carrot curls. I drank 2 extra glasses of water and walked an extra mile. Tomorrow is another cookout.....

It still fell into my 2 desserts for the week for which I had saved because I knew it was going to be a bit much. My carb "extras" went over due to eating out, but overall I feel like I am dealing with making lifetime choices not diet choices. I'm not on Keto or any particular plan but I do try to keep the starchy stuff and sugar to a certain amount per week to avoid binging.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Thank you @graoumia -I'm trying to learn "balance"

Weekly Weigh-in: Down .3 from last week (at least it's trending to the right direction :) )

Workouts
3-mile walk this morning at a fast for me pace (18:15) and a .5 mile walk after dinner
Zero Hero Day 7, Level 3
Target Ten Day 7 (5 rounds)
Unbound Day 7


Nutrition
Lunch: One slice of bq chicken pizza, a bowl of cabbage soup w/taco meat and some black beans and sliced cucumbers (also collogen in my lunch coffee)
Dinner: (cookout) - hamburger on keto bun, half slice cheese, half slice turkey bacon, mustard, lettuce, tomato slice/ a lot of Green bean fries w/a ranch/yogurt mix dip,
Dessert: watermelon

Water goal met
Step count met (currently 11K)
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Today was a busy work day and a rainy day.

Workouts
I got in my 10K steps with a 1.5 mile walk in a drizzle spot of the rainy day, a .5-mile walk, and a 20-minute dance/walk around house
Zero Hero Day 8, Level 3
Target Ten Day 8 (12 rounds)
Unbound Day 8

Still get fatigued in the left shoulder

Nutrition
Lunch: Cowboy Quesadilla (Low carb tortilla, leftover burger, G Hughes Bq sauce, sauteed onions, a mix of turkey and pork bacon -half slice each and LF Mexican cheese; Air fried green bean "fries"; dip of my homemade ranch and Greek Yogurt.
Dinner: (cookout) -Egg Roll in a bowl over Cauliflower Rice, sliced cucumbers w/Everything seasoning
Dessert: Half slice of Angel Food cake toasted w/ 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt with SF White Chocolate pudding and a 1/2 cup strawberries

Water goal met
Step count met (currently 10K -and not getting higher lol)
 
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AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workout
2 Mile AM Neighborhood Patrol -in the drizzle between downpours. Nobody suspicious walking about except the old lady walking in the rain.
Zero Hero: Day 9 Level III completed. Yes, I did all 7 sets. No, I do not wish to discuss how my legs feel. Suffice it to say, if I needed to flee the cornfield again, I’d do it crawling.
Target 10 Day 9: Four solid rounds. Took a while to figure out the moves. Anything past that would’ve required divine intervention or a second spine. Core is intact. Pride is... present.
1 Mile Hot Girl Walk: The garden gnomes' hearts were all aflutter.
Unbound: Day 10 (switched days around for what I needed): split arm circles into 2 sets of 50 to prevent spontaneous shoulder combustion
Step Count: Currently 10K +

Physical Status: Not sore, exactly. More like my legs have declared independence and are refusing diplomatic talks. It's not DOMS—it’s structural sabotage by gelatinous rebellion. I prefer my jelly with peanut butter.


Nutritional Log
Water goal reached/surpassed

Lunch:
Turkey BLT wrap (no cheese—intentional restraint, not oversight).
Broccoli salad, modified: half raisins, half grapes; dressing split between mayo and Greek yogurt with a whisper of stevia. Flavor balance achieved without selling nutritional integrity.
Cabbage soup with 2 tbsp of beans—enough to say “fiber” without declaring war on digestion and my collogen serving for the day.

Dinner:
Rotisserie chicken (catered by the local grocery store Lol)
Sautéed vegetable melange: zucchini, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes—with a touch of melted mozzarella and Old Bay seasoning. Tasted like effort but really was really leftover bits and pieces from other meals.
Strawberry Spinach salad with homemade vinaigrette—no bottled nonsense, just vinegar, oil, and someone who knows what she’s doing.

Dessert:
1 cup watermelon
1/4 cup yogurt/SF pudding fluff—because you can be disciplined and still enjoy yourself.

Summary: Macros respected. Fiber deployed. No nutritional sabotage detected. Stable intake, balanced plate, sorcery unnecessary.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Aunt Polgara’s Log – Day 10

The swamp tried to kill me again today. It failed. Poorly.

Workout:
  • 2-mile walk to get the blood moving and see if the neighborhood’s still standing. It is. Barely.
  • Zero Hero Day 10 Level 3: Butt kicks and side hops. Easy.
  • Target 10 Day 13 (7 rounds): Ten minutes of arm circles, chest expansions, and slow-burn shoulder work that feels harmless until minute five, when your deltoids file a formal complaint.
  • Unbound Day 9: Hip mobility, which I suppose we’re all pretending is optional until we try to get off the couch like an adult and not a medieval trebuchet.

Nutrition:

  • Lunch: Leftover egg roll in a bowl over cauliflower rice. Efficient. No notes.
  • Snack: Watermelon and one tablespoon of everything cashews—because I like chaos in measured amounts.
  • Dinner: Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a keto bun. Strawberry spinach salad on the side with red onion, toasted almonds, and homemade vinaigrette. Fancy enough to scare off beige food.
  • Dessert: Coffee with collagen, MCT oil, and cream. Black in the morning because I fast. This one? This one had flair. A little indulgence, a little nourishment,....

Status: This week is easier than last week. No DOMS but overall fatigue and soreness. Zero Hero is relatively easy and rarely makes me struggle even at level 3, but Target 10 fatigues me! I did switch around the other two programs days to avoid over working the same body parts. I got hexed by an itchy bug and working on a cure as hydrocortisone is not working.


— Aunt Polgara
 
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AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workouts
2-mile walk this morning and a .5 mile walk after dinner
Zero Hero Day 7, Level 3 (took me 4 sets to get 3 minutes of wall sits)
Target Ten Day 12 (6 rounds)
Unbound Day 14 (hips)

Target was pretty good workout today. Heart rate to level 4/flirting with 5. It was tough but not killer.


Nutrition
Lunch: Burger on keto bun (1/2 slice cheese, half slcie bacon, lettuce, tomato, mustard); small amount of green bean fries w/ranch dip. Broccoli salad
Dinner: - 2 bowls of chili w/ a mix of cheese "crackers" and cauliflower crackers, cucumbers and peppers.
Dessert: Greek yogurt with blueberries and strawberries, a tb of pistachios, and a sprinkle of flax seeds (they are my 'sprinkles")

Water goal met
Step count met (currently 11K)

But bite not conquered -the itch comes and goes and when it comes nothing stops it.


More about me --I am not on a particular diet but I try to keep plate half vegetables, have a protein, drink water before meals/in the morning/after workout, and limit myself to 2 sweet treats and 2 savory treats a week (if any). I do fast around 16:8 depending on hunger and social factors. I also try to substitute the lowest calorie option that will work for me. My biggest issue is stress eating and being lazy. I have to not bring it in the house
 
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AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workouts
3.5-mile walk this morning (came across a 3-foot black snake on the trail which is better than the usual copperheads)
Zero Hero Day 12, Level 3 (took me 4 sets to get 3 minutes of wall sits)
Target Ten Day 14 (5 rounds)
Unbound Day 11 (hips)

Target 10 and Unbound both were bridges. One of my favorite exercises. I actually enjoyed all three workouts. The RPG and the backstory I gave target 10 and the soundtracks for both! I'm also over 13K steps today so I only went to the end of the driveway for my after dinner steps which is my bare minimum to check the box. I was in my pj's.


Nutrition
Lunch: 2 bacon, egg and cheese burritos (Egglife wraps) with salsa, broccoli salad
Dinner: Ham and cheese sliders made with keto hot dog buns, zucchini fries, carrots and celery w/ranch & yogurt dip; also about a Tbsp of pimento cheese on a couple of the celery sticks.
Dessert: Red Rose dessert tea

Had planned to have watermelon for dessert but we were engrossed with Slow Horses and watched a second episode. By then, window had closed. Sliders are one of those meals that always leaves me wanting more so i put up the leftovers for future me to enjoy another day. I had to tell myself that I am full (I am) and it was just a craving.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Workouts
3.5-mile walk this morning at a local park (hilly and lots of ducks and a blue heron)
Zero Hero Day 13, Level 3 (took me 4 sets to get 3 minutes of wall sits)
Target Ten Day 12 (6 rounds)
Unbound Day 12
Total steps: 14.5K

I really enjoyed today's workout. Two days in a row that I actually had fun.

Nutrition
Lunch: 3 eggs scrambled with some kielbasa, black beans, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, and wilted spinach topped with Italian cheeses (one of those clean out all the bits meals) along with a strawberry spinach salad w/1/2 TB vinaigrette
Snack: 2 cups watermelon, pepper jack cheese stick cut into bites
Dinner: Salad w/onion, tomato, and carnitas. Ranch dressing
Dessert: Red Rose dessert tea
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Just a note that I am now officially in menopause. I feel like it should be momentous occasion,

Monday weigh-in. Down 2.6 pounds! Makes up for the .3 of last week making the average more what should be expected.

Workouts
2-mile walk this morning -neighborhood secure lol
Zero Hero Day 14, Level 3 (raptors did not get me)
Target Ten Day 11 (6 rounds -slower pace as I did it to Tango music and added a little flair)
Unbound Day 10
Total steps: 13K

Woke up an hour early so I got my walk in at 5 AM. I was going to split into 2 sessions due to an early coffee meeting that I do on Mondays.

Nutrition
Lunch: ham and cheese sliders and bell pepper strips. I made a bowl of soup but was full and didn't eat it.
Dinner: Chickpea pasta w/a spicy cajun cream sauce, chicken and hot sausage, side salad. barely finished

Really wasn't that hungry today. Didn't even get around to my afternoon diet coke (nor did I yesterday!)
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Tuesday

Workouts
2-mile walk this morning - Hot Girl Walk
Zero Hero Day 15, Level 3 (lasers!)
Target Ten Day 17 (9 rounds -way too many reverse lunges as my knee feels tweeked now)
Unbound Day 16
Total steps: 12K



Nutrition
Lunch: Cabbage soup and a ham sliders, bell peppers
Dinner: Chickpea pasta w/a spicy cajun cream sauce, chicken and hot sausage, side salad.
Dessert: Watermelon, Greek yogurt, a few lily's chips

Hungrier today


Wednesday

Today was a crazy busy day at work so I had to break up the workout in sections. Goodness only half of my to-do list got done.

Workouts
2 mile walk this morning. Pace walk
Zero Hero Day 16, level 3
Target 10 -Day 15, 6 rounds
Unbound -Day 20
Total steps 10K (barely)



Nutrition
Lunch: Chicken and Pork Enchiladas (one each) w/leftover meat, egg life wraps, sauce, cheese: spinach salad, cauliflower rice
Network Cocktail party: One slider with half bun removed, one buffalo chicken nugget, 3 pieces of celery
Dinner: Cabbage soup w/some leftover kielbasa in it, celery w/pimento cheese
Dessert: One mandarin orange

Those who read my menus closely are probably like "She always eats leftovers. Yes. It's my thing to find ways to use up those bits and pieces.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Thursday
Workouts
2-mile walk this morning - Hot Girl Walk
Zero Hero Day 17, Level 3
Target Ten Day 18 (10 rounds)
Total steps: 10K

Nutrition
Lunch: Cabbage soup w/ham and cheese quesadillas (egglife wraps)
Dinner: New Year's Lucky bowl -Leftover carnita meat, black eyed peas, sauteed leftover cabbage and onion over cauliflower rice


Friday
Workouts
2-mile walk this morning - Hot Girl Walk, 1 mile after dinner walk
Zero Hero Day 18, Level 3
Target Ten Day 18 (16rounds)
Total steps: 10K

Nutrition
Lunch: Hash -that one small sweet potato, some pepper and onions, scrambled egg, bacon, and black eyed peas.; spinach strawberry salad
Snack: Everything seasoned cashews
Dinner: SNACK PLATE SPLURGE: bq pork quesadilla (pimento cheese, leftover pork, G Hughes BQ on low carb tortilla -just one), bacon wrapped jalepeno poppers, celery stuffed w/PB2 and Peanut butter mix (2 to 1 ratio), spicy carrot curls chips, a tiny bit of cherry tomatoes and onion in balsamic vinaigrette, cucumber w/everything seasoning, bell pepper slices w/queso


Have not been able to do Unbound due to time. I've had to split the workouts I do to fit in since work is crazy. So I just been stretching the areas worked.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
I 've continued course since last update, -just been too busy to journal. I did take Sunday as a rest day with a long walk and some stretching. My Monday weigh-in had me down 2 pounds.

Today, I completed day 22 of both Zero Hero and Target 10- It felt amazing. I got the "runner's high" but in working out. I needed it as we put our dog down today. He was 14 and was 2-4 years past his breed's life expectancy. I knew it would be this summer, but it still came on quick. Yesterday, I was running him out of the kitchen and then by nightfall, he was not doing well.

I had to split my 2-mile walk into two 1-mile walks


Yesterday -I had a leadership breakfast and early network lunch, and a boring CE Class all afternoon, which set up my eating to not be great. I drank some extra water, walked an extra mile and stopped it before it became a binge.

Lunch -Keto Orange chicken over cauliflower rice, spinach salad w/Skinny girl asian, mandarins
Dinner-chili dog casserole (no bread), Loaded "fauxtato" salad made w/cauliflower instead of potatoes.

I was going to have to have yogurt for dessert, but I decided to do my second round of walking and that increased my high again.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Today is my birthday!

Zero Hero Day 23 Level 3
Target 10 Day 23 (forgot to count the rounds)
2-mile walk in AM/ 1/2 mile walk after dinner

Nutrition

L: chicken salad and lettuce in a low-carb wrap
S: apples with w/cinnamon softened in the microwave and topped with Apple Pie yogurt
D: BIRTHDAY Meal -steak, air-fried Brussels sprouts, cheese fries w/ranch (all made at home)
Dessert: Strawberries and dark chocolate-covered strawberries
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Friday
Did day 24 of both Zero Hero (Level 3) and Target 10
2 mile walk

L-Bq chicken/bacon/cheese in keto tortilla w/Carrot curls and leftover fauxtato salad
D-Casserole -leftover rotisserie, last of bag of pasta, salsa and questo and cheese (smaller portion) cucumber slices

Saturday
zero Hero Day 25 (Lvel 3)
Target 10 Day 25 (8 rounds)
3.5 mile walk
Steps total 14.5K

L-Eggs topped with leftover hot dog chili and one hot dog, cheese; spinach salad w/strawberries
D-Deconstructed Meatloaf, cauliflower mashed potatoes, peas and carrots; side salad w/ranch
Dessert -3 strawberries covered w/dark chocolate
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Today
2.5 mile walk (sub 19 min/mile pace for 2nd day in row -much improvement for me)
Zero Hero day 28 Level 3
Target 10 day 28 (7 rounds -added 16 oz cans to the bicep extensions after the first few rounds)
2-minute power walk
100 punches w/my adult son holding the punch mitts

Two days left-actually getting too easy this week.

Nutrition
Lunch-Mandarin Chicken Salad
Dinner-Cowboy Burger (sans bun), sweet potato fries, broccoli salad (w/grapes instead of raisins)

Today was the first time since I found out I was prediabetic last year that I have had my blood sugar test below 100!
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
graoumia said:
I am not really aware of numbers but i can imagine that it means it is good? So that's fantastic, i can see all your efforts, they pay, i am proud of you
Click to expand...
Thank you! Yes, very good!

100-125 is prediabetic and 126+ is diabetes 2 territory. I've been teetering at the border of diabetes 2, sometimes crossing over. Two weeks ago I was still 125 fasted. I was at 94 yesterday.
 
AuntPolgara

AuntPolgara

Active member
Posts: 37
Yesterday
Day 29 of both Zero Hero and Target 10
2 mile walk
2 minute power walk

Today
Zero Hero Day 30 (level 3)
Target 10 Day 30
2 mile interval walk


I did it! I lost 6 pounds, lowered my blood sugar from 125+ to the 90's, got back into a pair of pants that I couldn't even get past my belly button and now I can pull them off without unbuttoning. I went from walking 23-24 minute miles to about 18-19 minute miles.

First week was DOMS hell, Second was fatigued, third week was "runners high" and then this last week felt too easy so I punched it up a notch by adding cans or other "weights" where I could.

First time that I have not gotten bored since I did CrossFit over a decade ago.
 
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