LegoLady45

Howdy Nephaisys! I was looking for you, and here you are. I think it's great that you have set a Triathlon as a goal. Guarantees you do a variety of workouts and get yourself in shape in all sorts of ways. Did not know you were getting married in 2015, congratulations! You will have your choice of pretty things to wear by that time. How exciting! I saw on MyFitnessPal that you had been cycling and now i see why. I also have a "male" bike; don't know why it matters anymore since so few of us are biking in ankle length skirts. Dragging it in and out of the house is a workout too, it sounds like. Too bad you don't have a little porch or shed where you could store it. If anybody can do it, I know you can. I am going to track how many miles I walk during a challenge - never thought to do that. But you are the graph master, and i should not be surprised that you thought of it. YAY for you! Keep us posted with your adventures.

Ten servings is a lot. Unless you slug down a huge can of V8 juice and call it good. Those sound like good goals. What are you studying in school this term?

Reese's Peanut Butter cups come in those tiny little sizes, so maybe it's a good thing to eat in smaller and smaller sizes as you get off ice cream. I like your goals and have always liked your photo. Good luck!

Thank you for the recipe including photos! I thought I was one of the only people in the world who used the term "Lazy Pants" in their daily speech. Those look good and i have some ground pork in my fridge that is looking for a job. Fred Meyer had it on sale last week and i got a bunch. Do you have trouble getting in enough vegetables? What do you eat for breakfast besides meat, and eggs? Don't get me wrong I like them both but wonder how to vary that a little bit with other foods. And Sicil, I don't think there is such a thing as "too much pork" when you are trying to eat healthy. It is amazing how much sugar is in our everyday food and the less processed food you can eat, the better!

Help me out here? What is Whole 7? I tried to Google it but all I get are ads for a breakfast cereal with the same name. It is a weeklong version of Whole 30? That might be a fun adventure.

Wow great goals and such focus! Keep it up, especially listing what you do in your workouts.

Care to share those spreadsheets, at least the formats, for those of us who want to track? And I would love to hear what you do with root veggies - I went to the store and looked at a rutabaga and just put it back down. No idea what to do with that thing. So you did partial Paleo last time. I hear often that when a person changes to Paleo or Whole 30 they sort of "detox" and their energy changes and life is different. But you are not doing it 100% - do you notice any change in the way you feel? Energy, restful sleep, anything? I love your photo and it makes me chuckle every time I see it. :-) Great work keeping up all the habits from last challenge, and then refining them.

I agree with Terosx. I don't know that I have battled "depression" per se in my life, but I had years of stress and dark thoughts and being unhappy. Like you I didn't want to take meds. I took them for a few months and I felt flat - like nothing would get me down or up. It was disconcerting and I got off those as soon as possible. I resolved a lot of my sadness with talk therapy. Good friends are also a great source, but therapy helps you understand the negative and incorrect patterns and thoughts in your mind. If you don't know why you are doing things, you are doomed to repeat them. It really sucks that you had to move away from your friends. That in itself is a source of stress I am sure. What if you made a point of going to see them, bad mood or not, every week or month, or whatever? Or make sure you attend weddings and events? Maybe you are in a crap mood beforehand, maybe as you are on your way to see them, but chances are that seeing your friends would lift you up and make you feel better. Sleep will help for sure. Doing small things for yourself, like terosx said, will also help. A walk, a new food or recipe, calling a friend. How about your work style? Sounds like you were pressured to finish that task - had you procrastinated? Was it too much for one person to do? Is there anything you could do to lessen the stress, maybe by delegating, or getting more done at the start of the project, so it doesn't all pile up on you at the end? Stress is insidious and anything you can do to reduce it, is definitely worthwhile. One of the first things you said was that you are not sure you should be here because you did "so poorly" on your first challenge. Think about all the people in this world who never even step up to challenge themselves. Even fewer stand up and try again after they "fail." Success is in the trying. Sit in front of the TV and eat and be lonely, or get on here and make some new friends, all of whom will encourage you and build you up and help you along. Easy choice, right? You are not alone! You are only as alone as you let yourself be. When you reach out - we are here.

I notice the guy in the warhammer video is not near anything breakable, and has the head of the hammer wrapped in fabric. That looks like a super workout for the upper body. Have you seen results, in terms of stamina or inches? Really admire you sticking to Whole 30. I want to do it but at this point I would have to give up too many things. I am starting to gradually get there, my ramping up protein and vegs, trying to avoid sugar and cutting down on grain. But grain and dairy - not sure I want to be without them 100%. I admire your dedication and persistence, to the point of making your own equipment. That has to be satisfying all by itself. What's the issue with getting into school? Good luck!

Day 2 check in: 1. Track calories in MyFitnessPal and post them here. Today I had approximately 1207. Ate some of the pumpkin bread today, and OMG it was good. In addition I ate - an English muffin with canadian bacon, egg whites and a slice of cheese, teriyaki chicken with iceberg lettuce and about 1.5 cups of brown rice, and I skipped dinner. I didn't want to go over my calories, so I am drinking water. in lieu of eating Busy evening; it was "back to school night" for one of my kids. 1(a) keep an eye on my carbs, Carbs for today were approximately 159 2. Seven or more hours of sleep per night. Didn't have FitBit and I would say I skated in just at 7 hours. And I feel tired. 3. Drink 40+ oz of water per day. Doing it now! Downsize my life. I didn't buy anything today. So I really enjoy protein shakes. They are tasty and they are easy ways for me to get some protein and nutrition, instead of fast food. I grabbed one today, it was a "slim fast." Now, I don't know if it is for dieters or a protein booster, but it has 24 grams of sugar in it. In fact the second ingredient was sugar. How can this be good for anyone? I know shakes are not the best choice, esp when there is fresh produce or meat, but in a pinch it beats a fast food sandwich. I could not bring myself to drink the sugar shake and thus the English muffin breakfast combo.

Thanks everyone. I do own a couch, sicil, but I will let it get pretty threadbare before I replace it. :-) I don't own much and I try to make it last. I am getting rid of excess clothes, toys, movies, kitchen wares, even furniture. As you can probably guess I am a fan of Legos; those are the only thing I am spending money on or making space for my in house. I collect the little minifigs and just found these great display cases for them. Which will help get them off the floor or out of bins. Check in for today: 1. Track calories in MyFitnessPal and post them here. Today I had approximately 1439. I say "approximately" because we baked tonight. I sampled some cookie dough, and I also had a 2x2 inch square of pumpkin bread. These are the kinds of things whose calories I have to guesstimate. I DID resist the gigantic lemon cake in the fridge, I did resist eating mindlessly after dinner. At around 8pm I heard a voice go through me that said "let's get McDonald's on the way home." And I realized it's just a habit. I am so used to it, my mind assumes it's going to happen. Something to work on. I had a pork chop and two eggs for breakfast, an Atkins shake for lunch, two sliced cucumbers for a snack, a grilled ground beef patty with onions, a big pile of green beans and a glass of milk for dinner. Then the above referenced cookie dough and pumpkin bread. But that's it for today. In normal life I would have had a slice of cake before dinner, and then eaten a lot more of the baked stuff, and probably stopped off on my way home for a little "something" from McDonalds. But not today. I am thirsty and will put down some water before going to bed. 1(a) keep an eye on my carbs, Carbs for today were approximately 91. 2. Seven or more hours of sleep per night. 7 hours and 16 minutes per FitBit. I left my FitBit at work today (charging) so tonight I will have to go by the clock. 3. Drink 40+ oz of water per day. I did 40 oz. I also had 32 oz of diet coke but I don't count that. Downsize my life. I have an orchid which needed a new pot. I scrounged around the house and found one rather than go buy one. A little thing, but it's something. Good night all!

Welcome back, as usual, you have great and admirable goals. Like finishing the meatballs before starting Whole 30. Much better than letting them go to waste. Good luck! I am going to be following you!

By the way I started a group called "Strength in Numbers" for those who appreciate daily feedback and communication with other NF members. I am going to post daily and follow my team members. If there are enough of us, I could put up a Facebook page? Thanks!

Hi King Leeroy, the drumming is cool! Just standing, supporting the weight of the drum, all that drumming with your arms, that has to be good for you. Especially if you get outside into fresh air to do it. Then again winter is coming so maybe you will be doing more indoors. I like your new challenge goals. What kind of books do you read? I am reading one called "Salt Sugar Fat how the Food Giants Hooked Us." Kind of topical, I suppose. After that I have a humor book to read, and a biography of Theodore Roosevelt to tackle. But I only read about 1 book per year too. I am trying to read a little bit before bed each night to help me relax. I started a group for this challenge called "Strength in Numbers" for those who value daily feedback and communication with group members. If you are joining a group, please consider it? I will probably put up a Facebook page for it if enough people are interested. I am going to follow your quest! Good luck!

I love your photo, and your title too! Good luck with your second challenge! I am cutting carbs in my diet for health reasons and so I hope you post a little about what you are cooking and eating.

Welcome back for Round 3, Tateman! I think of you every time I see cauliflower at the store. I started a group called "strength in numbers" for people who value daily posting and interaction, as well as feedback from team members. I hope you will join it.

So hello everyone, This is my third challenge. Second one was a dismal failure; I lost my mojo and focus and basically dropped out about halfway through. In thinking about it, I believe I tried to do too much, and did not take good enough care of myself. Without strength there is no willpower and without willpower, there are cookies. The mojo has returned, and man I am going to try my hardest to keep it for the next 6 weeks. I am buoyed by positive things happening in my life and I am ready for my third challenge. In fact I have been looking forward to its start. Overall goal is same as the last time: to feel NORMAL. Normal size, not obsessed with food. Working in harmony with my body. Not dismayed by my body. I have been held back from so many things in my life, always with weight as an excuse. Being heavy is why I didn't get that date, or that job. Why people don't talk to me. Why I don't have the kind of life (I think) I want. The only way to know if it's true, is to get myself under control and get the weight off. There is also the spectre of diabetes which is creeping up on me. So here are my goals: 1. Track calories in MyFitnessPal and post them here. I am not going to count and limit them, my goal is to become more aware of the calories and nutrients in what I eat. -A side goal I am going to do unofficially is to keep an eye on my carbs, and try to limit them to less than 60 grams/meal. That is a recommendation for those facing diabetes. I am going to start getting familiar with that goal. 2. Seven or more hours of sleep per night. Last challenge I was worn out from travel and staying up too late. I was too tired, most days, to keep focused on my goals. I will track this with my FitBit and post it here. 3. Drink 40+ oz of water per day. That is two of the 20 oz bottles I drag around with me every day. I bet I can do more. I have fallen back to the easy convenience of soda and lemonade, but I know I would feel better if I had some water in me. My life goal - well, it's vague but I will post it here. My goal is go downsize my life. I want to limit my possessions, reduce consumption, have a clean spare house with a lot of empty space in it. I have been pecking away at it; last time there was a mini challenge to de-clutter, and I cleaned out my garage in one day. That was pretty amazing. Today I am filling bags and boxes to donate to Goodwill and it feels great. I am going to sell things of value, too, as I am saving up for a new car. So that's it, i welcome suggestions or partners in the adventure. I am stoked again this time! YAY to all of us for making ourselves a priority!

I like your mindful approach to eating, and may steal that from you. It pretty much eliminates mindless eating and grazing. Where will you make your notes? In your phone, on a pad of paper? GOOD LUCK!

Well, the challenge is over. I can say with authority that I completely blew this one. Not sure what threw me off track but it was very effective. This, however does not deter me from jumping in for #3. What i will do differently: Make time for NF activities online as much as I make time to shower (which is daily!) Try not to let work consume so much of my time. Sigh....see you for the next one! :-)

Wow I love your graphs. Progress at a glance. I will help you proofread! Love doing that, I have editing skills and good grammar!

Check in from Wednesday: 1. Calories tracked, at 2490 2. Fast food - eaten. Boo! 3. 30 minutes physical activity 5 times per week? Nah, but I DID spend about 10 minutes getting more acquainted with my weight bench. I always have time before bed to read or whatever, but have refrained from exercise because I understand it's not a good thing to do before bed. But I figured that was the only time I would have, so I took it. I am right handed, but for some reason my right arm appears to be weaker than my left. Go figure. And WOO HOO to me for doing something physical other than walking around at the store! 4. One social activity per week with someone new - I am having lunch today with a former coworker. I saw my doctor yesterday and we had a nice long chat about my health. And he has recommended that I begin to cut carbs out of my diet. Especially refined carbs. That is something so many of you are already familiar with. How hard was that, at the beginning? I could use some advice please.

I can so relate to the "omg eat ALL the things phases" you describe. Those days when you cannot follow your eating goals, and everything looks yummy. I am not sure how to deal with those, how to avoid sugar when it's right in front of me or my body is howling for it. I would agree with MadScientist that if your mind is getting stuck on a troublesome thought, try to replace it with a calm thought, or a vision, something that will not allow the troublesome thing back in. Love the idea of watching fish, or clouds, both pleasant and benign things to occupy your mind. Keep it up you are doing great!

Ummmmm I can see a noticeable difference! I can see fewer inches, and more definition, especially in your tummy area. Wow that is amazing and I am so proud of you! Congratulations! I had a similar problem with lack of sleep affecting my progress. When I was tired or getting sick, feeling run down, it was a lot easier to eat convenience food, or drink soda because it tastes better than water, or not exercise because it was easier to sit on the couch. I think sometimes our bodies are sending us a clear signal to slow down, and we have to listen. And give ourselves a little grace when that happens. Keep it up! I am going to check out whole 30 if that's what it did for you!

I am confident in your ability to eat carefully and drink your water and duck the biscuits. Totally confident. I hope you get enough sleep so feel rested and ready to follow your plan. As always, I am impressed!

It has been a month, Tateman, are you observing change in other ways, since you are not looking at the scale?