Posy

I love your goal of tracking what you eat and sharing it - no matter what it is you eat. I think it'll help you become more aware of what you are eating and make it easier when you start trying to change how you eat.

I agree with other posters about the increments. Great idea.

Going to bed at decent hour is a great idea! I wish I had thought of that. I usually wake up at 0300 for work, and end up getting only a couple of hours of sleep. Beside being unhealthy in and of itself, it also makes me all moody and more likely to binge on junk food.

I just realized that I also did not include F's, and that's because I copied your format haha. So I guess I can't fail now, thanks to you!

Thanks. We'll see if I ever do the jogging haha. I probably will if the strength training is too much for my back, though.

Welcome, and I'm glad you're forging ahead with this! I feel you on the sugary beverages. I went years without drinking soda, but over the past year have allowed diet soda to creep back into my life. Also, I've always wanted to try pilates. Not sure why I haven't.

Thanks! I read your thread and can see we have a similar level of motivation (or organization at least haha). I definitely look forward to seeing how your progress.

I feel you on the family health issues, too. My father is also diabetic, and there was a scare for me when I was only in 8th grade! Everyone in my immediate family is overweight, and a lot of people in my extended family also have problems with their weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. I've already seen a few pass away from heart attacks and strokes (at relatively young ages). I spent so many years worrying about everyone else, but I've finally learned that you can't force people to take care of themselves. So now I just try to take care of myself.

Alright, so here are my workout plans: Strength Training: Warm-up: 10 minutes of jogging in place. Optional: 30 second "high-knees" intervals for every two minutes of jogging (for a total of 4 intervals) Per Circuit (X3): - 20 second squat (3-6 lbs weights optional) - 15 knee pushups - 20 second plank - 60 toe taps - 15 second bridge per leg Weights (X3): - 10 dumbbell rows (16 lbs) - 10 bicep curls (10 lbs) - 10 dumbbell lateral raises ( 4 lbs) Cool-Down: 5 minutes of jogging in place Stretch Interval Training: Warm-up: 5 minutes of light jogging Intervals: 8-10 intervals (or 20 - 25 minutes) of 30 seconds "high-knees" + 2 minutes of jogging Cool-down: 5 minutes of light jogging Stretch These are general workout plans based on what I had been doing a month ago before I was injured and what I think I am capable of now. Of course, this is highly likely to change once I attempt my first workout and have a better idea of where I'm at. Also, I plan to "increase" the strength training workout over the six weeks. I will not be alternating these every other day. My goal is to do the strength training either every other day or at least on non-work days (so at least 3 times a week). Interval training will be sprinkled in there whenever I feel like it.

Thanks! It really helps me to have a thorough plan. Today I am working on how I want to modify my strength training and interval training workouts as well as what kind of back stretches I want to do. I find it's easier to motivate myself to do those things if I have an exact idea of what I want to do instead of making vague plans to "workout".

Are you going to share your sketches?

Oh, and I don't think your life goal is a cop-out at all! While it's good to challenge yourself (hence, why we are all taking part in a 6 week "challenge"), it's a lot worse to over-burden yourself. Going to the gym, running a 5k, and following a low GI diet are already pretty huge goals, so you should be proud of yourself for even attempting all that!

I prefer to work out at home, simply because it eliminates the excuses I come up with to not go to the gym. Also, the workouts I like to do don't really require machines so it would be a little weird doing them at the gym. Just so much more efficient at home, I guess. However, every once in awhile I do like to go to the gym to use the elliptical or recumbant bike. I admit that I would be too self-concious to do any weight lifting there (and I personally don't care for the weight machines, but to each their own). I know what you mean, though, once you are in the gym and have started it's so much easier to see your workout all the way through.

Just wanted to update my "starting stats" before the challenge starts tomorrow: Weight: 130 lbs Height: 5'5" (still!) Hips: 38.2 in. Bicep: 9.5 Waist (at belly button): 32.5 Waist (one inch above belly button): 27.8 Chest (over nipple): 33.5 Chest (under breast): 31.3 Again, I don't expect these to change that much over six weeks, but I like having the numbers.

English is the only language I know fluently. I took about seven years worth of Spanish and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I finally started to pursue my dream of learning Danish about 15 weeks ago (I study for at least one hour every single day), and I hope to be fluent in it some day. It's going to take me a long time, and I will be beyond happy if I achieve that goal at all in this lifetime. People like you who decide and are able to learn multiple languages are completely beyond my comprehension haha.

I'm in! I will try to do a 5 minute breathing exercise everday, but my real goal is to do loving-kindness mediation or progressive muscle relaxation maybe 3-4 times a week (since they would take a lot longer). Will that still count?

Hi! Your profile picture is like the top for my profile picture haha. Also, if you are interested in some self-love one possibility is to try "loving-kindness meditation". I find that focusing positive energy towards other people puts me in a more positive mood and makes me less critical overall (including towards myself).

The binging/fasting was something I wanted make a post about on BS, but was not sure how it would be recieved there. So I'm just starting to work on it on my own and hopefully this challenge will help me really focus on it. <3

Oh. LOOK WHO IT IS. I'm so proud of the progress you have already been making and the dedication you devote to improving yourself. Also, still jealous that you have the willpower to run. Crazy person.

Hello everyone! This is my first challenge (and post, although I have lurked on this site for a long time). My apologizes now for the super long post. I tend to get a bit obsessed (or I just like structure and thoroughness, if you want to be nice about it). Starting point: I graduated from college in May of 2012, moved across country and in with my boyfriend's parents, and got my first real job. We are moving back out on July 15th and I will be starting graduate school this fall. I've lost 55 lbs since March of 2012, despite all the life shakeups and stress. I was doing the NF bodyweight/interval training workouts every other day from about the end of February until the end of April this year, but had to stop due to a back injury. Weight: 134 lbs (estimated; it has fluctuated quite a bit over the past two weeks). I do weekly weigh-ins on Tuesday mornings, and only consider that number "official" Height: 5'5" I have some pictures, but they are bra and underwear only, and I am not sure yet what the posting rules are for that, so if anyone can let me know, I would appreciate it! Measurements are from 5-14-13*: Hips = 39 in.Bicep = 9.5 in.Waist (at belly button) = 31.8 in.Waist (one inch above belly button) = 28.5 in.Chest (over nipple) = 34.5 in.Chest (under breast) = 30.5 in. * I will try to update photos and measurements either before or within a week of the challenge starting. However, I don't expect my weight or measurements to change significantly over six weeks. My fitness goals are centered around getting back into exercising after quite a few weeks out due to a back injury. I used the phrase "modified version" in my goals to leave wiggle room depending on how my back reacts. I suspect it will be difficult to get back into working out, especially because I will have to resist going back to my old levels immediately. My diet goal is going to be the hardest, but I think this challenge came at the perfect time and will hopefully help me stay on track. As for the reasoning behind the goal, well, that's a whole different post, which I am not keen to get into right now. Finally, my life goal is basically a continuation of something I've already been doing. GOALS Fitness: 1) Complete modified version (for my back) of NF bodyweight workout or interval training 3-4 times a week Grade: A: Workout completed at least three times a week B: Workout completed two times a week C: Workout once a week D: Workout not completed at all 2) Yoga 3 times a week + stretch every day (already doing) and work in new stretching for back Grades: A: Yoga completed 3 times a week and stretches done every day - Minus one letter grade for every day of yoga or stretching missed. Diet: 3) Eat "clean" with no binges/fasting; allowances for 1 - 2 "treats" a week and up to two diet sodas a week*. Grades: A: No binges; one or less weekly treats and one or less diet sodas B: No binges; 2 "cheat" meals and two diet sodas C: No binges; more than 2 "cheat" meals or more than two diet sodas D: Any binging and/or fasting Life: 4) Study Danish for at least 1 hour a day (already doing) Grades: A: Study for 1 hour every day B: Study for less than 1 hour any day of the week C: Miss studying any day of the week D: Miss more than one day of studying during the week When I previously did the NF workouts (every other day) I kept a simple word document with information like what I ate before and after, how long it took, how many reps/set/pounds were done, etc. I will continue to build off this old list as I do the workouts. My diet goals will be tracked with MyFitnessPal, which is a site I already use. I also already note there if I've stretched or not. Finally, I have a sort of daily-fill-in-the-chart system I use for studying, which involves rewarding myself with different colored star stickers based on how long I've studied. I have not decided how I want to assign my starting attribute points, yet. My boyfriend says I should put them all in charisma. *Sigh* As for the 15 attribute points for my goals: Strength or interval training: 3 STR + 2 STA Diet: 2 CON + 1 WIS Yoga and daily stretches: 1 DEX + 1 STA + 1 CON Studying: 3 WIS That is only 14 points. If I get an overall A grade for this challenge then I will also award myself +1 CHA, because I think these are things that will make me more attractive, haha. Oh, and I am already interested in some of the PvP challenges. Especially the meditation ones. I wanted to include that in my goals, but it seemed like too much. And... I think that is all for now.