sammiejune29

Challenge #5 - Taming the Dragon Last challenge things just got CRAZY for me in life. I still haven't figured out my goals (at all really), but this challenge is all about focus. Main Goal - Find my zen & rebuild my habits to have consistency & balance between work, school, life and working out Goal #1 - Strength workouts (mostly BW) 2-3x's per week - I will be trying a different routine, 1 day full body, 1 day upper body, 1 day lower body - I think this might work better with my crazy schedule - Sometimes I need to work out two days in a row to fit in 3 workouts in a week - I want to do my jumping routine at least once per week, probably on my lower body day - 1 of the DEX points will be entirely based off of whether I keep up with jumping (have to do jumping at least 6 times, fairly spread out) Possible Points: 3 STR, 2 DEX Grading: A = 15+ / B = 12-14 / C = 9 - 11 / D = 6 - 8 / F = 5 or less Goal #2 - Biking, hiking, yoga or running (maybe even horseback riding) at least once per week - These are all activities that I love (well biking and hiking are definitely) and ones I haven't been making time for or tried yet - They help me to relax and find my center - I need to make time for them to happen so that I can stay balanced - Biking tends to be the best form of meditation for me - The charisma point rides entirely on attending at least 1 yoga class Possible Points: 2 STA, 2 WIS, 1 CHA Grading: A = 9+ / B = 6 - 8 / C = 4 - 5 / D = 2 - 3 / F = 1 or none Goal #3 - Cook at least one meal per week from fresh ingredients - This does not include the egg, green pepper & ham that I cook myself for breakfast/brunch/lunch most days - This does not include opening a can of soup and sticking it in the microwave - It would include an awesome dessert (even if thats not a meal) - These do not have to be new recipes, though they can be - And 1 per week might seem too easy, but with my crazy hectic life, its a lot Possible Points: 4 CON Grading: A = 7+ / B = 5 - 6 / C = 3 - 4 / D = 2 / F = 0 - 1 Health/Fitness Side Goal - Buy minimalist footwear - I thought I didn't like running, what I really didn't like was running with shoes on - I hate hate hate heel striking - While running barefoot is fine in my apartment I want to be able to run outdoors - I know I will keep putting this off if I don't make it a goal Possible Points: 1 WIS Grading: A or F Starting Stats: Height: 5'9" Weight: 159lbs

Overall Grade: B-/C+ C+ seems to harsh on myself and B- seems too lenient... Goal #1 - BW Workouts 3x's a Week Possible Points: 3 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA Grading: 16+ is an A with full points. Final: 11/16 = C Awarded Points: 1.5 STR, 0.5 DEX, 0.5 STA Thoughts: Life got crazy. I didn't do very well at keeping up with this goal :-/ Goal #2 - Jumping practice - 5 min sessions, 5x's a week (30 total) Possible Points: 3 DEX, 1 WIS, 1 CHA Grading: 30 sessions (mostly spread out over the 6 weeks) = A Final: 16/30 = C Awarded Points: 2 DEX, 0.25 WIS, 0.25 CHA Thoughts: I was a little overly ambitious on this goal to begin with. I was averaging about 3-4 times a week but then the last week I only got 1 in. So not my best effort here either. Though my jumping did improve a lot. Goal #3 - 6 new recipes (preferably mostly paleo recipes) Possible Points: 4 CON, 1 WIS Grading: 6+ new recipes: A / 4-5 new recipes: B / 2-3 new recipes: C / 1 new recipe: D / 0 new recipes: F -deductions from there based on how spread out or not they are over the course of the challenge Final: 6/6 (mostly spread out) = A Awarded Points: 4 CON, 1 WIS Thoughts: This was the one goal I stuck to and really really enjoyed. I think I want to do more cooking goals. Daniel also greatly enjoyed this goal. Lol Height: 5'9" Beginning Weight: 161 lbs Ending Weight: 160 lbs Even though I was still trying to eat at a deficit, my calories were all over the place. Plus my birthday was in there and a lot of traveling. I'm just happy that with everything going on I managed not to put on any weight. Mini-Challenges: Despite everything else, I did actually participate in all the mini-challenges. So yay me! Mini-challenge #1, week #2: Upper body +1 STR Mini-challenge #2, week #3: Conditioning +1 STA Mini-challenge #3, week #4: Core +1 CON Mini-challenge #4, week #5: Stretching +1 DEX Mini-challenge #5, week #6: Lower body +1 STR Even though I feel like I didn't do my best, I stuck with my goals relatively well so I'm still going to level up. Level 5 Assassin!! New Stats: STR: 16 + 3.5 = 19.5 STR DEX: 7.75 + 3.5 = 11.25 DEX STA: 11.75 + 1.5 = 13.25 STA CON: 8 + 5 = 13 CON WIS: 12.25 + 1.25 = 13.5 WIS CHA: 7.25 + 0.25 = 7.5 CHA

Overall Grade: B-/C+ C+ seems to harsh on myself and B- seems too lenient... Goal #1 - BW Workouts 3x's a Week Possible Points: 3 STR, 1 DEX, 1 STA Grading: 16+ is an A with full points. Final: 11/16 = C Awarded Points: 1.5 STR, 0.5 DEX, 0.5 STA Thoughts: Life got crazy. I didn't do very well at keeping up with this goal :-/ Goal #2 - Jumping practice - 5 min sessions, 5x's a week (30 total) Possible Points: 3 DEX, 1 WIS, 1 CHA Grading: 30 sessions (mostly spread out over the 6 weeks) = A Final: 16/30 = C Awarded Points: 2 DEX, 0.25 WIS, 0.25 CHA Thoughts: I was a little overly ambitious on this goal to begin with. I was averaging about 3-4 times a week but then the last week I only got 1 in. So not my best effort here either. Though my jumping did improve a lot. Goal #3 - 6 new recipes (preferably mostly paleo recipes) Possible Points: 4 CON, 1 WIS Grading: 6+ new recipes: A / 4-5 new recipes: B / 2-3 new recipes: C / 1 new recipe: D / 0 new recipes: F -deductions from there based on how spread out or not they are over the course of the challenge Final: 6/6 (mostly spread out) = A Awarded Points: 4 CON, 1 WIS Thoughts: This was the one goal I stuck to and really really enjoyed. I think I want to do more cooking goals. Daniel also greatly enjoyed this goal. Lol Height: 5'9" Beginning Weight: 161 lbs Ending Weight: 160 lbs Even though I was still trying to eat at a deficit, my calories were all over the place. Plus my birthday was in there and a lot of traveling. I'm just happy that with everything going on I managed not to put on any weight. Mini-Challenges: Despite everything else, I did actually participate in all the mini-challenges. So yay me! Mini-challenge #1, week #2: Upper body +1 STR Mini-challenge #2, week #3: Conditioning +1 STA Mini-challenge #3, week #4: Core +1 CON Mini-challenge #4, week #5: Stretching +1 DEX Mini-challenge #5, week #6: Lower body +1 STR Even though I feel like I didn't do my best, I stuck with my goals relatively well so I'm still going to level up. Level 5 Assassin!! New Stats: STR: 16 + 3.5 = 19.5 STR DEX: 7.75 + 3.5 = 11.25 DEX STA: 11.75 + 1.5 = 13.25 STA CON: 8 + 5 = 13 CON WIS: 12.25 + 1.25 = 13.5 WIS CHA: 7.25 + 0.25 = 7.5 CHA

Thanks so much. This is definitely a good place to start! If I wanted to add core work into that what would you suggest? The only core exercises that I have been able to do successfully thus far are planks and hanging knee raises. I would love some variety to my core work. Lol

This challenge has not been a stellar success for me. Its not like I've done poorly, but its definitely not up to the high standards I tend to set for myself. In the past 5 weeks I have driven back and forth to Cleveland 3 times. That was a major time suck (read around 24 hours just spent driving, not to mention all the time spent packing). We (read: I) gave our huge investor pitch, which went fantastically!! (though today I'm super pissed because the videographers screwed up and now I don't have a recording of said pitch) Classes started last Monday. Not too thrilled about this because everything I was doing over the summer was teaching me more, and didn't feel like busy work. Its hard to go back to classes when I was already doing exactly what I want to be doing. Things with the cute, awesome Doctor Who nerd are wonderful but this also takes up a lot of time. Its another adjustment. Its been a long long time since I've been in a relationship with someone who wasn't long distance. One thing that is nice is that he is just as busy as I am, so a lot of evenings we just end up hanging out and both doing work. My birthday was last week 24 year old! I actually had a birthday party and invited a bunch of my friends over to Daniel and mine's apartment. We sat around eating pizza, drinking wine and playing cards against humanity. At one point I laughed so hard that I literally fell out of my chair. Lol Today has sucked though. Woke up and my back was killing me (the back that I had surgery on last year). Was probably a combination of all the hours spent driving back and forth to Cleveland this weekend as well as falling down my grandparents stairs (though my elbow took most of the brunt of this). Was planning on working out today but I'm going to call today a win if I just make it through the day the way I feel. Goal #1 - BW workouts 3x's a week - Been averaging 2x's a week for various reasons - Crazy busy for one thing - Its super difficult when my workout day falls on a day that I end up driving to or from Cleveland - I'm not recovering as quickly from my workouts, 48 hrs is not enough time Goal #2 - Jumping sessions 5x's a week - 5x's a week was too ambitious - Recovery is an issue - Time is another issue - Been averaging 3x's per week Goal #3 - 6 new recipes - Got 4 so far, hopefully 2 more this week so I can actually get an A on one of my goals

First of all, you are looking great! Secondly, I sincerely hope you and your family are hanging in there. This may not be the best time to ask you considering circumstances but I'm gonna go ahead and ask anyway because I actually have 5 min to sit down and write this message. I've been doing full body circuit workouts since the end of February. Up until the last month or so they were working wonderfully. Lately though I have noticed that I'm not fully recovered after 48 hrs. and my performance greatly suffers. This had led to me only getting in 2 workouts per week instead of 3. From what I've read it seems like this might be a good time for me to start splitting my workouts. However, I really have no idea how to go about this. I also really, really, really hate resting between sets. I have a very busy life and there are always 30 more things on my to-do lists than I have time to do (hence the lack of me on the forums this challenge). I feel like I could probably put together a decent plan after a lot of research but I don't have the time to do that. What I need is a jumping off point from someone I trust and respect. It would be incredibly helpful to have your thoughts on where to start. I can't really afford for my workouts to last much longer than an hour from start to finish. I have 2 DBs at each weight from 10-40 in 5 lb increments. I have a pull up bar. Also have a set of 10lb ankle weights and 5lb wrist weights. Also, I have physical limitations. I can't do many core exercises (like boat pose) because of my bad lower back (L4-L5 herniated disc, surgery last June). And I can't do any exercises that require me to lay on my back because of my BPPV (I get dizzy and nauseated). Any help you are willing to give me is greatly appreciated. Feel free to PM me if needed.

I will start off with the awesomeness that I have cooked in the past few weeks. Even though its week four, I have only cooked 3 recipes thus far. I have a little catching up to do, but I'm not worried. So we have these beautiful purple basil plants: So my recipes keep invariably including basil. Lol So I made some basil lime chicken and vegetables for Daniel and his boy (my guy was out of town) This week I made garlic basil chicken thighs with baked potatoes and carrots. My awesome nerd came over for dinner! We ate sooooo much chicken. Lol. And then we went to see Kick-Ass 2. I think I've found a keeper He definitely knows how to treat a girl well!

I'm still alive! I've just been super busy. Goals are going decently well. But I'm happy Real update full of happiness and pictures coming soon

I find that my weird schedule makes it harder for me to establish habits. I'd suggest still doing as much as you can even on your non-work days I flossed steadily for 6 weeks and pretty much stopped afterward. I don't think the habit stuck And I don't know why, but my best guess is cause my schedule is so weird and I didn't have a specific time set aside for flossing each day or something that I always did it after or before. Its definitely great to have them. I was really nervous about posting mine but found it incredibly empowering once I did. Also, I didn't post them till the end of my first challenge when I had before and after shots to post. Saying that you will post at the end of the challenge may give you some extra motivation. Overall, great start!!

I'm very amused by your flylady PVP Cleaning has never been very difficult for me to deal with but its fascinating to see you gals figuring it out! There is indeed only so much time!! What I wouldn't give for 25 hr days. Lol Drinking water is a good habit to get into! Its definitely helped me. Making things seem doable always helps me Some days it really is hard to find even 15 minutes. When I get home late, sometimes I just need to crawl into bed. Lol Its so much harder to say no when someone was trying to do something nice for you! So most of the time I just enjoy it and move on Sounds like a lovely vacation (kettlebells in tow, lol)

Great job so far!! This is the worst!! I usually try to write out long posts in text edit first to prevent them from disappearing. At least it was meat and veggies that you gorged on

You are doing great so far!! Nice job That sounds like an absolutely lovely day Form check videos are definitely helpful, even if you don't post them. It helps just to be able to see yourself. I didn't realize how bad my pushup form really was until I watched a video of myself.

I have these like this too and its really really frustrating! I feel your pain! Wanting to exercise and not being able to is awful. Have you thought about getting one of the pullup bars that you put in a doorway that doesn't require drilling? I always find that the more information I have, the better

And this is Daniel being awesome This is what I aspire to be able to do!! We were playing around and jumping and what not and Daniel decided he was going to try to do a handstand. More than the handstand, I love how assassin-like his bail out was when he started falling sideways.

A couple of jumping videos of me Daniel told me to jump OVER the stool (which I hadn't done before this vid, but he said to do it, so I did it!!)

Just checking in. Hope you are doing okay *hugs*

Awesome l-sit! And lolz about your 5-year old's picture taking abilities I have been struggling with the making friends thing recently too. A lot of my friends graduated and moved away shortly before I started having all of my back problems. And then I was more focused on getting better than making friends. And now its just a slow process of meeting people and forming relationships with them. Some days it really gets to me but it does get better

These days happen. I've struggled many times. I've found embracing the suck days helps me. Lol. Sometimes if I accept that the day is going to be bad and I'm not going to be productive, it ends up being better. Lol Yay garden and stars Sounds like exactly the kind of night that you needed! OMG!! If I wasn't already stuffed this would have made me super hungry

Good job doing the meditation even on those days when it was hard. And being stretchy and bendy

Yay!! :D And kayaking is wonderful!

Yikes! I wish you guys luck! (one day flies got into the apartment, and they aren't nearly as bad as wasps but Daniel thought I was crazy cause I was running around with a yellow legal pad, swatting them and killing them. Lol) I always end up working out the day before the challenge starts and I hate not being able to the first day of the challenge. Lol Haha! I love this A suggestion I have is to switch up the variety of spices that you cook your food and veggies in. It really makes a big difference Makes me want to climb even more!! This vid is awesome

Of course!! Be sure to share if you try any of the squash recipes (Squash and zucchini are also good baked with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, but that also negates the benefits, lol) Glad that you are just busy Happy birthday to your daughter!!

I'm curious, how much have you lost overall? I wish you luck with your weight gaining Yay for checking out the gym and playing around with stuff! (and extra sleep is always amazing ) Daniel (my roommate) randomly decided that he was going to try a handstand the other day. And he could hold one against the wall. But more amazing to me was how he got out of it when he started getting off balance. It was amazing. I am going to post the video at some point. Lol Juggling while upside down on monkey bars... CRAZY!!

Great start to the challenge!! Migraines are the DEVIL!! I hope you feel better. Just remember that you are doing the smart thing by taking the time to recover (even if it sucks!)

Great read! Thanks for sharing For the step-ups, how high of a surface are you stepping on?