Working on establishing a summer routine. With the semester ended, work-study not starting for another month, a dozen or so places I have to get to between now and when work-study DOES start, not to mention a school project section due next fall, things could get a little hectic. Hoping I can get a good time established to work out that will not interfere with any of the above. (I may be dreaming here!)

For the fight with the bad habit: Yup, missed on the rationing thing. But, I'm not out yet! Counting every cig that I light up, and when I DO light up, making a solid effort to NOT smoke the whole thing at once. And, I've gone to the shorts instead of the 100's, so there's LESS to smoke. Decided to get a couple of cartridges from the next level UP from my regular ones to help encourage the transition, then I'll work back into the ones I was using, and I've got a ready supply of 0 nicotine ones on hand to work into the mix to help cut back on the over all intake.

Looking up different exercises that I can compile into workouts for both home and gym based work outs, so that I don't just wander around the gym like a lost bunny in an eagle's nest. Time is precious, and I am doing my best to make the most effective use of it I can. (For some reason, the schedule is getting MORE hectic, not LESS without the full semester load of classes. Doesn't make sense!)

I was forced to take a break from the weights due to both knees acting up at once. So... this past weekend I finally found a knee brace that would fit around my thigh AND calf (which I'm VERY grateful about) that has the right kind of support. I've been keeping the worst under compression over night, usually with an ice pack to make it into a cold/hot compress, and that seemed to be helping.

Today, I actually remembered to take the brace with me when I hit the gym. Though I didn't wear it the entire time, I DID remember to put it on for the lifts that were causing me the worst problems - leg presses. I swear the brace along with choking back on the weight made the difference! Was able to finish out a full routine, even down to the 5 minute HIIT cardio finish!

Now, to finish building the exercise routine to go along with the more stable knee, so that I can KEEP the improvements coming, and get these dumb joints working properly ALL the time again!

Well, it seems that I'm going to flop on pushing my swim sessions to double like I had hoped. However, it ALSO seems that I'll be succeeding on the quit smoking campaign. Last cigarette last night at 10 or 11PM, then the rest of the night was a 0 nicotine e-cig with a snus pack. And, above all - no nic fits!

Though, I am a little nervous about leaving the house today - right at the corner is a convenience store, and because it's on the corner, the temptation to stop might be a little too much to resist today. I will be going to the gym tomorrow, however. Can't break the streak of exercise days now.