A Life Without Borders: SansSerif's Battle Log

[SansSerif]

Over this past year, I've shut myself up in a box.  I got myself stuck in an uninspiring job right after graduating from college, racked up significant credit card debt, struggled with alcohol, and really let my health get away from me.  I've lost a lot of friends and let my life choices keep me from forging new ones.  In this sense, I feel like I've almost completely isolated myself from the world around me.  

 

It started back almost a year ago, when I let a pretty traumatic event let everything spin out of control.  But now, just over twelve months after, I think I'm finally ready to get back on track.  I'm ready to live life as it was meant to be lived - without borders.  

 

I'll use this thread to keep myself accountable to the goals I've set for myself: 

 

HEALTH & FITNESS.  

1. Lose the 15 pounds I gained since last year by the end of May, and fight a little more to be in even better shape than I was before.  
2. Be able to do more than 5 pull-ups by June.
3. Eventually lose the little "tummy" I've had for most of my life.   
4. Take an average of 15,000 steps per day, with a minimum of 10,000 per day.  

​FINANCIAL.

1. Pay-off my remaining $3,000 of credit card debt. 
2. Save more than $500 in my personal account by this June. 
3. Put $1,000 in my investment account by this July.  

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE.

1. Find a more fulfilling job after my term ends this July.  
2. Travel to Amsterdam, Stockholm, and/or London. 
3. Cut down on the alcohol: Stop buying alcohol while grocery shopping, and only drink when out or when the drinks are free (parties, airport lounges, and work events).  
4. Re-connect with old friends before they also graduate and move away.  
5. Make a new group of friends here in the city.  

PROGRESS ON MY 12 GOALS   %

PROGRESS ON MY 12 GOALS   %

 

One of the reasons I'm posting this publicly, albeit anonymously, is to ask for your help in keeping me accountable too.  So I thought it would be helpful to provide a bit of background on each of my goals: 

 

HEALTH & FITNESS:  While I've never really considered myself "fat," I've never really been in the best shape either.  I even had a little belly fat when I was rather scrawny a few years back.  But I know that my health has deteriorated much more over this past year.  Along with the weight gain, my average blood pressure has shot up to borderline unhealthy levels, and I generally feel sluggish all the time.  

 

I'm not looking to look like a body builder in time for summer.  I just want to undo the damage I've done to my body and work towards getting even more in shape from there. 

 

FINANCIAL.  When you consider all my debt is on an interest-free credit card I can realistically pay off, $3,000 may not seem too serious.  It looks even better when you consider that I started off with about $9,500 in debt on ground zero.  

 

But for me, $3,000 is not an insignificant amount of money, and having my accounts be technically that much in the red has been a continual source of stress for me.  Even little decisions like going out or staying in to save that extra $50 make it hard when I think about all the other goals I've set for myself.  But I do believe these goals are possible if I am smarter about my money and cut down on unnecessary expenses like alcohol.  

 

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE.  These goals are a little trickier.  I have to admit my job does have its perks, and I almost feel guilty for saying that I don't like it when the benefits are great and my co-workers so nice.  But simply put, I signed-on when I wasn't in the best mental state of mind, and I'm starting to regret working in an industry I have almost no interest in.  My 1-year contract is up in June, so I want to have a more appealing job ready in line by then.  The jobs I've been considering require a great deal of confidence, so I'm hoping that working towards my fitness-related goals will help me here too.  

 

Actually, I think this confidence issue is at least tangentially related to all of the goals in this category.  I guess aligning my goals is a good thing, and I'm really hoping this will give me the extra boost I need to make it happen. 

 

HOW I'LL USE THIS LOG: 

 

I'll use this thread primarily to log work-outs and other significant milestones (e.g., going another week without buying any alcohol for myself while grocery shopping, paying off another $1,000 of credit card debt, getting closer to that dream job).  I don't think I'll be logging any diet-related stuff unless I eat something deliciously out of this world or particularly narsty.  Hopefully this thread will help me keep track of my progress and keep me in line to make all of my goals reality.

 

Thanks for following! 

[SansSerif]

Week 1: 10 February to 16 February 2014. 

 

• 66,984 steps, average 9,569 per day.  Need to step it up to hit average 13,000 per day, with a target minimum of 10,000 per day.  
• Didn't buy alcohol while grocery shopping, transferred $20 to savings.  

[Guzzi]

Wow, I am so impressed with your honesty. It takes guts really openly admit to your mistakes, and even more to actively do something about it. I look forward to seeing you achieve those goals mate.

[SansSerif]

SPOT UPDATE (17 February 2014): 

 

I must've been carrying a lot of water weight, because I dropped 2 pounds pretty quickly this week.  I'm also feeling less bloated and sluggish.  It's amazing how great you feel when you cut out alcohol entirely from your system.  Going from 1-2 glasses of wine/beer a day to just water, milk, and juice has done wonders for my health over the past few weeks.  

[SansSerif]

Missed out on my last weekly update, but I'll post a quick recap now.

I've been pretty good about meeting my minimum daily step requirement in February, but I'm going to take it up to 14,000 steps per day in March. I work from home most of the time, so meeting this new goal will require me to start working out (e.g., jogging, biking) regularly.

I also managed to pay off another $1,000 in credit card debt, so I'm down to $2000 now! I'm looking to pay off $500 a month for the next four months, which should leave me with plenty of time before the 0% promotional APR is up.

For the upcoming week, I need to be more careful of what I buy while grocery shopping. It's way too tempting to snag a bag of chips or bottle of wine while purusing the aisles. I've also set a budget of $150/month for groceries, so this should keep me from buying unnecessary food/drink.

[Guzzi]

That's the way to go! If you don't have them in the house you can't be tempted to eat 'em Kudos on paying off the debt

[SansSerif]

Thanks Guzzi! And you're right - I'm hoping to make more frequent walks to the grocery store instead of stocking up on a bunch of junk food.

[Guzzi]

Haha! Food is my vice... I eat pretty healthy, but eat lots and lots and lots of it. I LOVE grocery shopping and always end up buying waaaay too much. Oh dear, what a pity, I guess I'll just have to eat that *insert random food choice* or it will go to waste.

I told my mother-in-law last week "I don't lift weights because I like to exercise, I do it so I can EAT MORE!!!" (Only half joking too)

[Guzzi]

Weekly update????????

 

 

 

Accountability and all that......

[SansSerif]

Yes, here it is! Didn't realize FitBit makes a nice little weekly summary for me:

 

It looks like I'm all good on the 14,000 steps/day goal so far.  

 

I've decided to give up alcohol completely (not just buying it) for at least 3 weeks.  I've probably been drinking more than I should (an average of 3 standard drinks a day), so I'm hoping cutting out these empty calories will provide a much needed boost in health.  

 

Also, I applied for a couple of new jobs today!  Not for anything out of this world amazing, but I'm looking forward to using a few interviews (fingers crossed) as practice just in case I do run into an awesome job down the road.  

 

As a side note, I did a couple of push-ups and sit-ups a few days ago and the next day I felt like my arms were about to fall off.  Definitely not a good sign, but looking forward to ramp up strength training next week! 

[Guzzi]

Way to go!

Ah, yes... Those delicious empty calories... It's true, makes a big difference to cut them out. I only drink now when I'm out socialising. Got to admit, it was mostly habit anyway, and now that the habit is broken, don't miss it!

[SansSerif]

So it's a bit early for my weekly check-in, but I thought I'd give a quick update anyways.

Good news: After a week of cutting out alcohol entirely, I've lost a ton of water weight and generally feel less bloated. Woohoo!

Bad news: Losing all that water weight has revealed how much FAT I've gained over this past year. D: I know it's fat because it feels way more dense than the water weight I've been carrying for a while.

So, with this somewhat shocking discovery, I think it's time to step up my daily step goal now rather than later - to 15,000 steps a day. I'm also taking milk thistle supplements to hopefully undo some of the damage I've incurred on my poor liver.

I still feel really lethargic, but I make it a point to get out for my daily run. Right now they're more like my daily jog/walk, but I'm looking to build my stamina in the coming weeks.

It's been a bit frustrating sharing my weight loss goal with others, because I definitely fall on the "skinny fat" side of the spectrum. I get a lot of rolled eyes and comments about how if I lost any more weight I'd probably float away.

As somewhat encouraging/supportive that might seem, it's really not the case - my health stats (e.g., BP, blood sugar, and so on) tell a different story. And if this stubborn belly is any indication, I have a long way to go.

[Guzzi]

Don't be put off by any comments like that, you're trying to get healthy. That's a commendable thing. Keep it up

[SansSerif]

Thanks for your continued support Guzzi!  I really appreciate it. 

 

it's also time for my weekly check-in: 

 

I'm almost at 2 alcohol-free weeks, and I'm really feeling the benefits.  No more waking up super (only kind of) groggy, and I have loads more energy.  I still have moments when depressing thoughts of my past mistakes come flooding back - tempting me to take the edge off with a glass of wine or more - but I'm working on occupying myself with other things.  I also realized quitting alcohol has made me hyper-sensitive to any setback, no matter how small.  If I get minor criticism at work, for example, I feel like breaking down.  Hopefully I'll straighten things out soon enough.  

 

My daily walks have put me way above my target of 15,000 steps per day - I'm closer to 16,000 now.  Next month, I want to up it even more to about 17,000 steps a day (or half a million per month), but I also want to maximize the benefit of each step.  It's not so impressive if all my steps come from walking to the kitchen and back.  

 

I also think it's time to focus on strength training.  I'm not a big fan of gyms (especially since the ones nearest to my apartment have rates at $120+ per month), so I'll mainly do some push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups every day.  I'll be quite content if I can get to 10 pull-ups in a row.  

 

Finally, some good news on the job front!  I'll be doing a couple of phone screens next week, so I'll have to brush up on my interview/case technique.  

 

Onwards, 

SansSerif

[Guzzi]

That's looking really good my man. Or woman, lol! But I'm thinking you're a guy from your choice of language, & the fact that you'll be content with 10 pull-ups!

I get where you're coming from with the "I still have moments when depressing thoughts of my past mistakes come flooding back". I used to do this too. Almost like I had to hide from the things I perceived as failures in my life, I couldn't bear to think about them. It would send me into a bit of a downward spiral.

All I can say is that I think you're right - when you make positive changes to your life, it can become like a cascade. A positive spiral. You feel better about yourself which leads to better self image/self esteem, which builds confidence, allowing you to go further and make even more positive changes.

Good luck with the phone screens. Remember, confidence and positivity are infectious, and if you don't feel it yet, then fake it till you do

[SansSerif]

Sooo it turns out that I responded to one of the phone screens with the wrong name (i.e. Hi [insert completely wrong name here],) ... I didn't notice and send a follow-up until later that day.  

 

And they haven't replied since.  Total face palm moment, especially since it was for a job I was somewhat interested in.

 

Woo hoo .... 

[SansSerif]

17,000 steps this past week!  

 

Much fewer per day this week .. but am also giving myself a break.  

 

I am still anxious for additional interviews this next week, but am hoping to be able to prepare myself for them.  

[Guzzi]

You got this one mate, I have total faith. *thumbs up*

[SansSerif]

Apparently imageshack.us doesn't allow free uploads anymore so I am out looking for a new image hosting site.  But I thought I'd give a more detailed update for this week's check-in: 

 

So you'll have to take my word on this, but last week I averaged just over 17,000 steps per day.  But this week, unfortunately, will probably average much fewer ~9,000.  

 

It's no surprise since I have been feeling unusually down the past few days.  The job I thought I had screwed up did end up getting back to me (so much for unjustified paranoia!), and I even passed the initial phone screen and will be taking my skills assessment early next week.  I also found a really interesting job in infrastructure investment (funding public projects like highways, bridges, and hospitals) that I'll be applying for this weekend.  So I should be feeling really good, but reality just isn't meshing with my expectations.  

 

But on a more positive note, I'll be able to pay down another $500 in credit card debt this month.  That puts me at $1,500 outstanding, and should be on track to be debt-free by June.  Much thanks to the good people at Chase bank who let me get away with irresponsible spending at 0% interest.

 

Hopefully I'll be feeling better by next check-in.  We'll just have to see! 

[Guzzi]

Hey man! Big hug going out to you. I think you need one today. Well done on paying off the debt, that's fantastic

Don't downplay you success here mate. I think what you're doing is really commendable. Don't let those self doubts tarnish your achievements. You got off your butt and made the choice to change your life, applied for jobs that you actually want, and knuckled down to pay off those debts. All of that is ALL WIN right there my friend.

You are awesome, and the only person who can take that away from you, is you. You gotta shake off that negativity, and doubt. You got this, you absolutely do.

Tell you what, ask someone you know to write out three things that that they like about you. Give them some time to do it, so they can think about it and not just put down platitudes. I would actually say to do this with 3 people, if you feel you can.

I bet you'll be really surprised by the responses, we never see ourselves as other people do, we only see our "faults" and never appreciate our strengths. Let me know if you do it, and what they say.

And here's another hug for good measure

[SansSerif]

Thanks Guzzi.  I can't thank you enough for your consistent and thoughtful support throughout my journey.  

 

It's also time for my weekly update. 

 

As expected, I averaged just under 13,000 steps/day last week.  This is actually not too bad, especially considering I skipped out on my daily jogs for most of the week.  

 

My mood is better, despite absolutely bombing one of my skills assessment interviews a few hours ago.  The skills assessment was a surprisingly rigorous 3 hour exam.  It featured dumb logic questions like: if there are five numbered marbles in a bag, and all odd marbles are green, and marble 4 is blue, how do you end world hunger (or something like that).  I think I did the worst on the maths part which had a lot of grade school era train in one direction and from the other when do they meet type questions I hadn't dealt with for years.  

 

OH WELL.  

 

I've favorited a few more jobs on my schools career page, so hopefully those processes will be free of tricky-questions.  

 

Also looking forward to investing more in my health this week.  

[Guzzi]

Don't mention it

That sounds like a really interesting selection process... And like you said, don't sweat it if this one didn't go exactly how you'd have liked. Just think of how much more prepared you'll be for the next one.

Good to hear you're feeling more positive

[SansSerif]

Again, an average of about 14,000 steps this past week.  But I had to take a few days off because I pulled a muscle in my neck/back.  So far, I'm on track for a higher daily step count this week with my daily jog around the Presidio.  

 

I've lost about 5 pounds since I started, which is 33% of my goal.  I'm looking to get down to 155 and then start building muscle mass.  

[Guzzi]

Brilliant! Are you joining in on the next challenge?

[Guzzi]

Hey! How are you getting on?