Skywalker

Sat 6 Jan Parkrun done - and a time that would have been a 2023 PB so I'm happy with that. finally tracking down with time after beening stuck in the same time for a while. Gym - No - not going to make the four times goal Food Tracking 🏆 - again done but see below for food choices Food Choices - not terrible, but not up to normal standard. That 'one bad day bleeding into the next' issue. Also it was very hot today so didn't feel like 'real food' Bed time - given up for this week

Thur 4 Jan Gym - no but I did Yoga with Adrienne. I was planning to also go to gym, but we have been having dinner later than normal (due to still being on holidays) and I didn't want to go out late Food Tracking done - that's four Food Choices good - also didn't eat late Bed Time - In bed before 11 but listening to audio book later Fri 5 Jan (how is it the 5th already!!) Not such a good day. Started off well, but I spent the afternoon evening with family and snacked on a few off-plan things. Gym - NO. I had planned to be home in time for gym, but stayed out and watched a movie with my father and sister. Now I'm more annoyed I didn't make time yesterday. Food Tracking - done but a bit hit and miss with miscellanious snacking always hard to track, but sometimes this puts me off tracking altogether, so a very small win. Food Choices - Morning good - had a solid chicken salad for lunch, then a few biscuites/chocolates and Indian take away for dinner, followed by a few more ginger biscuits Bed Time - well, it's already passed midnight - so no.

For the 5k, I am a Park Run cultist fan. https://www.parkrun.com/ which gives you a community timed event once a week. Great if there is one near you, and it doesn't cost anything (other than to volunteer about 1 in 10 events)

I like your plan to detox by eating plenty of 'good' food. My gut rebels against lentils when I'm in such a state., I can handle them when my gut is healthier. Keep us up to date on this and we'll have your back.

Tue 2 Jan Gym - yes arms day Food Tracking done Food Choices good - also didn't eat late Bed time - nah, but I will be back to work next week so . . . (and not too late but after 11) Wed 3 Jan Gym - Yes - cardio. Just 2km on tready - was planning to do more, but I left to go later than I should and don't like to be exercising after 9:30. Food Tracking - done Food Choices - pretty good. I had lunch out and made a good choice (asian beef salad) but the serving was probably too big. Bed time - well it's just pass 11 now so another nah

Mon 1 Jan Park Run - Did New Years Day parkrun - time a lot better than the previous weeks, but only about half the participants, so definately a quicker start. I'm counting that as two in a row since I did one on Saturday Food tracking done Food choices good and had last food an hour after dinner Bed late!

Locks eyes with the Ranger and raises the tankard in salute. "It's nice to see so many familar faces still in the Wayfarers Rest"

Hey, also joined in 2012. Left and came back many times. I have been a lot fitter than I am now. rollercoaster and all. I also debate between the' doing the same thing and expect different results' and that sometimes it is successful. I am a converted Park Runner now - so have the cardio in hand. I am also looking at a way to track/be consistent with other training.

Copied and pasted . . . again . . . Difference is that my gym membership stops before the end of the challenge. I REALLY need to replace it with something else that is inspiring or at least cheaper (so at home). I would not do well with 'online coaching' type of program. Here's the plan . . again Go to Gym Twice a week = pass Four times a week = Gold Star More than four = Diamond Parkrun Don't miss two weeks = pass three weeks out of four = Gold Star More than four in a row = Diamond Food choices Avoid obviously bad foods - don't give into unnecessary food choices = pass Stop eating - 1 hour after dinner (to allow for a post dinner snack) = Gold Star Take control of the types of carbs I eat = Diamond (a bit hard to define) Food tracking Give it a go - track two days a week = pass A little more effort - Track four times a week - on the day or next morning at the latest = Gold Star Superstar - More than four times a week, and timely = Diamond Bed time In bed before 11pm four days a week = pass In bed before 11pm more than four days = Gold Star Bring that time back to 10:30 for at least two days = Diamond It seems a lot, but there is a ton of overlap here. I'm in the habit of Parkrun, so that is pretty much an insta win - and I will qualify that i have to be within 30 mins of a parkrun - as I may be away for a few weekends. What I really need to do is stop the self-sabotage which I'm hoping this will help. So go to Gym means spending at least 20 mins in the gym Doom scrolling - I did kinda kick this one, but I've started again so need to just stop doing it . . again!

Well, just to update the 'sucess' thread for 2022 and 2023!!! The hike that i had to postpone in 2021 was the Jatbula Trail in the Northern Territory. We did this in 2022 as a guided walk and it was a wonderful hike. Not too hard (but hot) and swimming at least once a day. Most days we were in camp and a water hole by 1pm for lunch and swim and relax for the rest of the day. Slept in insect netting only, which was novel, but no one mentioned how bright the moon is without a fly. Unfortunately after the success of the lockdown Keto, my weight has gradually increased and dispite a few efforts to get back to the grind, I am far away from my lowest weight,and I've lost that 'track fitness'. so back to the struggle. 2022 also saw a relatively unexpected part walking, part tourist, part hanging out with the locals, trip to Italy. Due to other restrictions it was a quick trip, where many of my fellow walkers were taking advantage of the flight to the Northern Hemisphere to have other extended walking holidays. 2023 was kind of a blank spot for fitness, epic hikes etc. I had things planned that fell through. A trip to New Zealand, but the extra hiking didn't happen, except I did the Tongariro Crossing with my son. The walk to Mordor in the South Island. I also had an unexpected and very plesant trip to the UK with hubby (who hates travelling) but I daren't add in a hiking extension, but the hiking mojo has kinda of left me. So as it is officially 2024 by minutes, here I have a few plans for 2024 that I have yet to fully commit to. Hoping that my next check in is a bit more positive.

Skywalker again slinks in to sit in the dark corner, hoping no one notices that she's been missing . . . again

I thought your intro was great, you really got the wisdom of Dumbledore - like he is giving you that advice himself. I also like your yes/no questions - a great solution for those 'vague' questions like 'did I make progress'

I have a local park with very confusing routes, mostly because they are made by mountain bikers - when I started walking in that park, I was always self-conscious of seeming to be confused, so I would just do out and back walks - go in the same direction for a period and turn around. It's a good way to feel more confident about where you are and worst case some of the walks were shorter than others. Also pulling out your phone with a map, you just look like everybody else on your phone in the middle of a walk. So prepare as you need to and get outside

I am also a good starter, and bad with the follow up. I look forward to seeing your updates.

So end of the week, I didn't get another gym session in, I forgot I was going out Saturday, and went for a hike today. So I'm giving myself a bonus star for 11 km - 450 m elevation hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/victoria/bundy-and-mount-everard-track I did get day four of in bed before 11 so another star Total to date:

Parkrun done - so I'm on a gold star Gym - four done - If I go today then I'm on diamond Food - honestly I don't feel that I have made any really bad choices, but my weight is creeping up and not down. It normally takes a LONG time before I start seeing results. I'm going to keep at it, but try to keep the food' real' and not lean on things like protein bars. And watch out on the snacking. This is more about keeping busy to stop the wandering into the kitchen vibe. Oh, and some form of tracking . . . I'm on day three of in bed before 11 - so maybe tonight I'll catch another star.

So far this week Gym x 2 visit so pass - I should be able to hit the four goal Parkrun done - but I need another for the pass (parkrun is a easy win for me so only counts for the whole challenge) Food choices - probably a big vague - I'd say almost a pass. Nothing terrible (ie no binging etc) but I still don't feel intentional. Logging - twice this week. Honestly these two are related. If I snack on 'not too bad' food while preping dinner for example, I know I won't track them properly and then don't track the whole day. It does come back to snacking - so maybe I'll change the Food Choices to days without snacking. Bed time - I've made two before 11 and I am tracking for a ten thirty tonight. With a little effort I should be able to jump straight to Diamond. Aiming for 10:30 is what I used to do, so allowing the 11 just means that its closer to 12 when I head to bed. Again related. I know I snack more if I am feeling tired - so Bed time is my priority. Off to pre-bed now - I've got 30 minutes to hit the sack to make one day 10:30!

I started this late last challenge, and did my normal and only updated once, but I did keep this challenge in mind. So I'm just copying and pasting it to this one Here's the plan: Go to Gym Twice a week = pass Four times a week = Gold Star More than four = Diamond Parkrun Don't miss two weeks = pass three weeks out of four = Gold Star More than four in a row = Diamond Food choices Avoid obviously bad foods - don't give into unnecessary food choices = pass Stop eating - 1 hour after dinner (to allow for a post dinner snack) = Gold Star Take control of the types of carbs I eat = Diamond (a bit hard to define) Food tracking Give it a go - track two days a week = pass A little more effort - Track four times a week - on the day or next morning at the latest = Gold Star Superstar - More than four times a week, and timely = Diamond Bed time In bed before 11pm four days a week = pass In bed before 11pm more than four days = Gold Star Bring that time back to 10:30 for at least two days = Diamond It seems a lot, but there is a ton of overlap here. I'm in the habit of Parkrun, so that is pretty much an insta win - and I will qualify that i have to be within 30 mins of a parkrun - as I may be away for a few weekends. What I really need to do is stop the self-sabotage which I'm hoping this will help. So go to Gym means spending at least 20 mins in the gym After dinner is where I self-sabotage the most with food Doom scrolling after I've finished what I am doing in the evening and going to bed late is probably the most frustrating of the self-sabotaging that I'm doing right now. I feel I've conquered this to some extent. Now I just have a war on snacking. Not yet in the challenge but under consideration. Update once per week as a minimum (I've added this bookmark to my game one, so if the computer restarts, I will get this tab opened. Here we go . . . 🏆 - no nice diamond emoji's so I'm going with trophy

I tried that with CR podcast, but I do enjoy watching the VOD, so I cheated and got caught up. Be strong!!!

Honestly, the chance to work collaboratively on a task to that was already taking longer than expected sounds like a win, as long as it isn't doesn't become a regular thing. I have those types of challenges, and working together was probably a learning opportunity for you as well. I also have a paper todo list and I like to finish one page before turning over. It doesn't always happen, but it helps with that annoying job I just want to put off, but it is the last one on that page.

Thanks for the support @Kalitraz, @spiralpoet and @cd667. Having a box to put devices in makes me look at my desk, and realise that I need to organise it! I don't take my phone in the bedroom generally (maybe if I'm going to bed early and listen to an audiobook) - so it is pushing the chair away and moving from the computer and phone is what I need to do. I haven't done bad this week generally. Mid-week update: Go to Gym - three times this week - so a pass already Parkrun - Yes, did it this week. I won't get to one next week as I'm away, but that is allowed so this is on hold Food choices - I have stopped eating after dinner - the only exception was tonight when I ate not long before gym, so had my snack later, but no unscheduled extra food. Carbs very under control - looking to ace this one, depending on my weekend! Food tracking - just once. will be able to get to two but need to put some time aside to do this regularly Bed time - I was going to say tracking well for in bed by 11 but I just checked my fitbit which doesn't agree. Only one day so far, I had better get to bed now to make it two! Wins: Gym consistency and seem to have got ontop of my self-sabatage eating - showing me that it is really a habit. Challenges: Noticing the less time for 'me time' with daily gym ontop of food prep Frustration: I really need to finalise the hike that I'm doing next year in Japan. I keep changing my mind and getting confused about the choices, and then nervious about the language and cultural challenges.

Welcome Limey, They should like very good foundation goals. Getting consistency is the foundation of improvements.

Welcome, I had also started a short term sprint and know deep down that I need some low-key accountability, and I have had success on this forum before for this. I also have the type of job where it is easy to keep working, in my case it is a problem that I can't quite get around but there is always one more thing to try, angle to approach etc, and leaving it feels like a loss of progress, but I know that sometimes the solution comes when not focused. The one change I have made that has helped enormously with feeling under control at work, to get the focus work done - is to schedule times without meetings and being relatively strict about it. For me it's a whole day on Wednesday, but one of my colleagues, who has more meetings does two afternoons a week. It seems like an impossibility at first and can end up with some very meeting heavy days. Another idea my hubby uses is to schedule a pre and post meeting time to get the jobs done that the meeting needs or raised - so keeping the meeting and the tasks combined in one chunk of time. Another thing is to have a commitment outside of work hours that you really don't want to let down by being unavailable. Just some ideas that have worked for me. You will figure out what works for you if you keep conscious about it. Remember what we measure we can improve.

Whoo - late starters and re-starters unite. Your goals are very similar to mine. I like the quote "not made out of sugar", I might quote that myself, although you may need it more living in England

Hi all, I'm glad to see that you are still all around here. I am re-starting a health and fitness journey, and I need a small amount of accountability - so I thought of you all Here's the plan: Go to Gym Twice a week = pass Four times a week = Gold Star More than four = Diamond Parkrun Don't miss two weeks = pass three weeks out of four = Gold Star More than four in a row = Diamond Food choices Avoid obviously bad foods - don't give into unnecessary food choices = pass Stop eating - 1 hour after dinner (to allow for a post dinner snack) = Gold Star Take control of the types of carbs I eat = Diamond (a bit hard to define) Food tracking Give it a go - track two days a week = pass A little more effort - Track four times a week - on the day or next morning at the latest = Gold Star Superstar - More than four times a week, and timely = Diamond Bed time In bed before 11pm four days a week = pass In bed before 11pm more than four days = Gold Star Bring that time back to 10:30 for at least two days = Diamond It seems a lot, but there is a ton of overlap here. I'm in the habit of Parkrun, so that is pretty much an insta win - and I will qualify that i have to be within 30 mins of a parkrun - as I may be away for a few weekends. What I really need to do is stop the self-sabotage which I'm hoping this will help. So go to Gym means spending at least 20 mins in the gym After dinner is where I self-sabotage the most with food Doom scrolling after I've finished what I am doing in the evening and going to bed late is probably the most frustrating of the self-sabotaging that I'm doing right now. Here we go . . . 🏆 - no nice diamond emoji's so I'm going with trophy