jerrygerard

Ok. The honeymoon is over. After attempting nine (!) goals in my first challenge and only succeeding at five, I am ratcheting back big time for round 2. Good luck to us all! Goals Diet Limit overnight calories to 300 (CON +4) - I know this sounds easy, but I have been waking up in the middle of the night consuming as much as 1000 calories each time (of mostly crap). If I wasn't diligent with the exercise, I'd be gaining for sure. I realize going cold turkey would be better, but I'm trying to stay realistic. By overnight, I mean from midnight to 6am. Note: This goal was a fail from my first challenge, but I feel it's important so I'm trying again.Exercise Exercise 6 days a week (STR +2, STA +2, DEX +2) - I'd been doing this consistently until the holidays hit. Now I'm sometimes seeing a couple of days go by in a row with no activity. Life Purge/declutter the desk in my bedroom (WIS +1) - This shouldn't be too hard, but still needs to be done.Read one classic book (WIS +3, CHA +1) - For this challenge, I'll read Slaughterhouse-Five.

Results Goals Diet Limit overnight calories to 300 (CON +2) - I know this sounds easy, but I have been waking up in the middle of the night consuming as much as 1000 calories each time (of mostly crap). If I wasn't diligent with the exercise, I'd be gaining for sure. I realize going cold turkey would be better, but I'm trying to stay realistic. By overnight, I mean from midnight to 6am. Result: FAIL I had some good nights, but they were the exception rather than the norm No McDonald's Iced Coffees (CON +1) - I love those things... I moved from large to medium, but in the end, they're just empty calories. I'll be replacing the coffees with protein shakes. Result: SUCCESS Have not had a single one. Max of two cans of diet soda per day (CON +1) - Again, I know cold turkey would be better, but I'm trying to move in a good direction in an achievable way. Replacing excess soda with more water. Result: FAIL It moved closer to four cans a day by the end. Exercise Stay on track with weight training (STR +2)- I'm currently using the NF Dumbbell Division Rank Two, which is three days a week. I'll stick with this through this challenge. Result: SUCCESS Stay on track with running (STA +2) - I'm currently averaging 20 miles per week, which includes one long run on Sundays. Need to keep this going through this challenge. Result: SUCCESS Sign up for my first marathon (WIS +1)- It's in March 2013. Pretty nervous about it. I ran a half in September and a 10-miler in October. My longest run ever was just over 15 miles. Just don't see how a human can go 26.2! Result: FAIL Still afraid to pull the trigger... 10 chinups in a single set (STR +2) - I can do 6 now. Result: FAIL Still only 6 (usually less) 6 pullups in a single set (STR +2) - I can do 3 or 4 now. Result: SUCCESS 30 pushups in a single set (STR +2) - I can do 20 or so now. Result: SUCCESS Stats result: CON +1 STR +6 STA +2 Next challenge won't be nearly this ambitious... Hope others did well! Jerry

Day 15 update Still too many calories overnight (but less than before the challenge), but soda consumption is within goal limits. Also, zero McDonald's iced coffees! Average mileage up to 25/week (usually it's around 20). Haven't pulled the trigger on the marathon. I'm training as if I'm doing it, but I'm worried about doing real damage to myself at a distance like that. I finished the half-marathon in September and felt good--certain I could have run more. But I am almost 44 and I spend a fair amount of time sore (usually hips and crampy calves). Any advice from marathoners out there? Keep it up, scouts!

Congratulations, Devyn! That's a huge achievement. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6460[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6461[/ATTACH] Mission accomplished! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.

@"The Tin Man" Trogdor! Nice.

I think picturing my kitchen guarded by a group of angry chimps should do the trick. And no, I'm not hungry. It's some weird psychological thing. Thanks all for the advice! Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Quick update - fail! Went on an ice cream sandwich binge last night @ 2am. 4 of them at 150 calories each. Need to find a way to go to sleep and stay asleep...

6:38! Wow! Did you run it on a track or just a route you know?

I am also working toward my first marathon. Mine is in March, though. Congrats on the weight loss, too. I'm down 40 this year, and did my first half marathon and first 10-miler recently. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

I'm also in. Good idea, Hammlin!

Starting is indeed the hardest part. I routinely lie to myself. For example, I say, "I'm putting the running/workout clothes on, but I'm NOT going to run/workout!" Then, through the magic of putting on the clothes, I end up doing it. It feels like the first 5 minutes after waking up is the hardest part--once past there, it gets easier. Tomorrow is another day!

Day 6 update All still pretty much on track. I ate 400 calories one night, and had 3 sodas yesterday. But otherwise ok. Weird experience today: I got back from a 10-mile run and went to shower. I noticed I was covered in hives and my face felt like it was swelling! I took some Benadryl quickly, but was pretty nervous. I also had a dizzy spell so severe I almost fell down in my son's locker room at his hockey game about an hour later. The hives went away and there were no further dizzy spells, but I am not very energetic today. It's not a blood sugar thing, as I ate before my run and had a protein shake after the run. I asked Dr. Google, and he (she?) said that these reactions are not uncommon. It was likely due to a sudden change in temperature (it was in the 40's outside). The dizzy spell may have been caused by the Benadryl (also the tiredness after). I thought I had become allergic to my own sweat!! I tested myself yesterday on some of my other goals: Pushups: goal - 30 in a single set; yesterday - 23 in a single set Chinups (or chimps, as 18ck calls them): goal - 10 in a single set; yesterday - 7 in a single set Pullups: goal: 6 in a single set; yesterday - 2 in a single set (maybe the pushups and chinups wore me out!) Overall, things are good. I think being accountable to you folks really helps.

Thanks for the tip. Your recipe is probably quite a bit cheaper than the McDonald's version too.

Thanks for posting what you eat. I always read about what you should eat (paleo, low-carb, etc.) but have a tough time seeing what this looks like in real life.