I can strongly vouch for this. I’m a big fan of letting the universe decide. I did take my personal nerd a slightly different direction, and plugged the options into a random choice generator rather than an “analog” die.
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I appreciate that you acknowledge this. It’s a relief to know I am not alone, hence why this community is so great!
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I actually will flip coins or consult my Magic 8 Ball, and “let God decide” sometimes. In yesterday’s case I think there was a best course, which I just needed to calm down and decide. I’m going to have a two week disruption, I’m going to gain weight, and I’m going to have to prevent myself continuing “vacation” once things are back to normal in July. This is going to be part of it.
It just feels like loss of control, which is hard when I’ve had things so tightly managed with such positive physical and emotional result. I know we all struggle with this at times - maintaining the control becomes destructive at a certain point because it can take over our lives, but most of us have enough experience of falling off the wagon and it taking a long time to muster the will to climb back on.
It seems silly. We should be able to get on and off the wagon at will - I guess that’s really the goal? The 80/20 that spells a happy life with structure, variety, and pleasure all sharing space.
And I’m glad you’ve let ME know I’m not alone!
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This is, legit, why I’ve adopted “Chaos is the plan”. I HATE having my plans interrupted. I hate having something mapped out, only for reality to come along and smash it all to pieces. I took a page from Camus essentially, and decided that, if life is going to be chaotic, then chaos is going to be the plan. So now, when reality happens, I just go “Oh good: just like I planned”. It DOES tend to drive the planners in my life nuts when I refuse to say I have any sort of plan beyond chaos, but for piece of mind, it’s been liberating.
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June 26
Extended full body weights, which was tough - I regressed on most lifts, not sure why. I’m going to assume stress and preoccupation with other things. No big deal, I guess.
Yesterday TM sprints and KB swings, 35 minutes. This was delightful.
I’ve decided what I’m going to do starting after the 4th, which is to follow Caroline Girvan’s Iron series. A few weeks ago I joined an over 50 women’s weightlifting group on FB and have noticed that the more successful non-competitive members are either doing her workouts or started there. So that’s my plan. I’ve needed to split my WOs, so this takes care of that. I’ll see if I can manage 5x/wk - hopefully. This will assist with form and just programming in general.
And then recommit to the diet. Maybe improve on it somehow.
I continue to see muscle growth, but feel blubbery again.
I’m also listening to Mike Matthew’s Thinner, Leaner, Stronger.
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I was really pleased at the fit of my clothes while packing for vacation. Definitely seeing more definition as well.
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Way better than the scale, that bugger is deceptive!
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Husband complimented my triceps yesterday! Or maybe not complimented, exactly, but noted at least. “You can see them now,” he said. Which it’s true, you can. 
Taking the bikes out to play today. Yay!
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Let me know how this program is - I might jump on with ya!! I need a change!
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That doesn’t look like hiking.
It looks like living!
How did I manage to delete my post? I didn’t mean to.
“Hiking” in Acadia National Park.
And kayaking.
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Friday, July 5
Weight 147.5
Average calories for the week: ???
Steps: 10,252
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Still Friday.
Morning: day 1 CG Ultimate Beginner, afternoon: 30 minutes cardio vid.
@QuadQueen I decided to start Caroline Girvan’s beginner series instead of Iron because…well, primarily because I have imposter syndrome and became intimidated. I decided I’d knock out the 6 week beginner program, which I’m reading is very focused on form. Too, it’s 3x/wk vs 5 initially, which is also helpful. We’ll see how it goes. I may be too intermediate for it. If so, I’ll switch. I really want to establish good form without having to join a gym to access a trainer, so this seemed like a not-poor idea. For now it also allows me to continue cardio at the level I prefer in terms of my sanity.
I may change my mind tomorrow, though. We’ll see.
Had a first PT session today for what I thought was bursitis in my hip, but which my new favorite person (the PT) says is an IT band issue which can be helped, maybe cured. I’ve been suffering with this for ages, and I’m not even sure why. Feeling happy and excited about that.
Vacation was delightful - I ate (and drank) all the things, but mostly there was fresh, delicious seafood, so not much damage seems to have been done. We also biked along with the kayaking and hiking and spent hours every day walking from one beautiful spot to another and clambering around on the rocks at the water’s edge.
I’m ready to get back on track, though, workouts and food-wise.
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Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing. I was talking with the physical therapist at the start of the appointment about the history of my hip (bursitis in my late 30’s) and said something along the lines of “I was pretty athletic then, I guess” and he said “You look like you’re still pretty athletic!” Which of course pleased me right down to my toes - I was even more pleased when I found out that he works as a strength and conditioning coach for top level athletes (specific sport).
As compliments go, I liked it a lot better than the 12-year-old kid who said I looked good for my age, although I’ll happily take any flattery I suppose! 
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I believe this is critical to progressing successfully. Good decision.
Yeah, I think so. I’m not at all sure I have poor form - I do look things up and pay attention to form when I’m watching progress vids here at TN. I am also familiar with anatomy both from long term use of gym systems and from study, but I’m so injury-averse at this stage of the game I want to give it the attention it deserves. But without joining a gym, lol.
My $0.02 since is to consider audience when assessing form. Most form and technique videos are geared to strength athletes or bodybuilders.
Consider squats.
Strength athletes will sacrifice long term hip health to get the widest possible stance allowing shorter ROM and drive from the hips.
Bodybuilders will slam their knees to focus weight distribution across their quads.
Neither are great for longevity.
This website, not intended to compete with coaches and articles on T-Nation, takes an academic approach to form, technique and fundamentals: https://exrx.net/
It’s my understanding that it’s an accepted source in academia / sports science.
Not to muddy the worry waters but hopefully helpful.
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That looks like a great site, thank you! I’m sure I’ll spend some quality time there.
I’m definitely particular about my sources in terms of who/what I trust. TN has given me a great deal of knowledge over the years, but as you point out, I’m not the target audience.
Which is why I’ve looked for a credible female with workouts geared to strength along with general wellbeing as I’ve moved away from a cardio-first focus to a strength-first focus. I’m not a beginner at all, really, but I’ve taken myself as far as I want to go without a different kind of input. I’m ready to follow a program for women. It just doesn’t make sense to try to follow along after @simo, lol.
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Here’s an easy bookmark for you. I’ll leave placement under “special populations” for a conversation in another topic area 
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I see that you’re in violent agreement with me, lol. I’ll check it out, but I’m pretty happy with what I’ve organized for myself. For the moment, at least. More on that following.
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