coco_chanel

Thanks Beeza! Hope your challenge is going well Unfortunately, due to illness I won't be able to complete the challenge. I had a cold during the last challenge and though I was okay but the cough stayed on, and has developed into sinnitus and a serious chest infection, I'm currently on anti biotics, an inhaler and a nasal spray (not much fun!). I've been told to rest up which means I won't be able to complete this challenge as the doctor thinks I may have asthma but hopefully I dont.... I just wanted to officially withdraw from the challenge, and wish everyone else the best of luck. I hope to be back and rearing to go for the first challenge of 2014.

So at the end of day five here is how I'm doing as I head into the weekend. 1 - 4/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 4/36 - EAT CLEAN! 2A - 3/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 3/24 - BADMINTON! 2B - 2/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 2/18 - GET STRONG! 3A - 2/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 2/18 - C25K! 3B - 51.5/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 51.5/300 - 300KM CHALLENGE! 4 - 0/1 - 0/1 - FIND A COURSE! I'm feeling really positive about the challenge! Unfortunately I amn't the best at time management so I kinda fell behind a little bit with college work this week, so next week I'm going to plan out time just for assignments so it won't keep happening. So glad to have the 50km done for this week, have to say my butt is killing me from the bike seat!! ^^; Hopefully it won't always hurt this bad!! I'm working tomorrow and sunday, but amn't in till 12 on Sunday so planning on completing the lasting bodyweight circuit then, and then badminton and the C25K afterward, and as long as I don't snack over the next two days, I will pass this week with flying colours!! WOOP! I have to say, pushing myself to get started can be pretty hard, but once I get into it I actually don't want to stop! Can't say I say that coming

So at the end of day two here is my progress so far: 1 - 2/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/36 - EAT CLEAN! 2A - 1/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/24 - BADMINTON! 2B - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/18 - GET STRONG! 3A - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/18 - C25K! 3B - 34/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/300 - 300KM CHALLENGE! 4 - 0/1 - 0/1 - FIND A COURSE! So far so good on the food front, I have been tempted but haven't gone off track at all. I just keep thinking of how I want to feel in 6 weeks when I've worked my butt off and don't wanna ruin that by taking orders from a chocolate bar! So tonight I had training and over the past two days I've cycled up the 34km. Tomorrow is day one of the beginner bodyweight workout, hopefully I can stick with this as at the moment I have NO upper body strength but everyones gotta start somewhere....! ^^; And also the first day of C25K, I'm gonna update my phone with my workout music beforehand so hopefully that'll help as the only thing I'm used to running for off of a badminton court is a bus.... I'm feeling really good about the challenge so far, and think I can probably get everything covered this week if i keep up at this rate HOORAY

How well timed! I did my first grocery shop of the challenge earlier today, and had to take things out of the trolley before going to the till but I didn't buy any unhealthy snacks and have a stack of fruit for my snacks now. The my shelf is in a completely different cabinet so I amnt tempted! Huzzah for getting off on the right foot

Your goals are awesome, good luck with your challenge, following you on your road to success!

Template for updates.... All credit for the template goes to Duality, as I borrowed this from his own challenge thread, it is genius! Template for updates 1 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/6 - 0/36 - EAT CLEAN! 2A - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/4 - 0/24 - BADMINTON! 2B - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/18 - GET STRONG! 3A - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/3 - 0/18 - C25K! 3B - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/50 - 0/300 - 300KM CHALLENGE! 4 - 0/1 - 0/1 - FIND A COURSE! Legend Red - unbolded = not met yet, but week not done. Bolded = not acheived for the week. Green - bold = acheived Blue are totals

Photos of when I started and finished challenge 1 for visual motivation during this challenge!

CHRISTMAS MISSION So my mission for Christmas is more than putting up the lights and buying all the presents, it's time to drop a dress size for the festive season. Even though I completed my last challenge, my results were not as drastic as I had been hoping for, so this time I am going all out. They say you need to be prepared to fail in order to succeed, so this challenge is really gonna push the boundaries and hopefully the results will reflect that The three goals are to eat cleaner, move more, and my personal challenge to build up some distance! Each of the exercise goals have sub parts, just to add some challenge. Main Goal: Drop a dress size by Christmas 1. Eat clean. (+3.5 CON) 1600 calories per day. No unhealthy snacks. 6 days per week. A - 32-42 days completed B - 27-31 days completed C - 22-26 days completed D - 17-21 days completed F - Anything less than 17 days completed. 2. Be strong and fast A. Badminton (+2.5 DEX) 4 sessions per week. A - 22-24 training sessions B - 18-21 training sessions C - 14-17 training sessions D - 11-13 training sessions F - Less than 11 training sessions B. Beginner BodyWeight Circuit (+2.5 STR) 3 times per week. Start at 1 circuit in week 1 and build to 3 circuits from week 3 onwards. A - 16-18 sessions B - 14-15 sessions C - 11-13 sessions D - 8-10 sessions F - Less than 8 sessions 3. Get Moving A. Complete the first 6 weeks of C25K plan. (+2 STA) A - 6 weeks completed B - 5 weeks completed C - 4 weeks completed D - 3 weeks completed F - Less than 3 weeks completed B. Cycle/Walk 300km! (+2.5 STA) 50km aim per week. A - 270-300km completed B - 225-269km completed C - 180-224km completed D - 135-179km completed F - Less than 135km completed Life Quest: Find a Masters course and apply! (+2 WIS) I'm unsure of what area I want to pursue for postgrad studies. And when it comes to making big decisions I tend to put them off for fear of making the wrong decision, but the deadlines are all late december and early january so my life quest for this challenge is to make a decision and find the right course. A - Found list of courses and ready to apply/applied B - Found area & list of courses C - Found area D - Shortlisted 2-3 areas F - None of the above Starting Stats: I currently weigh 224lbs. Measurements: Hips - 117cm Calf - 51cm Thigh - 73cm Waist - 119cm My motivation is that I want my outsides to match my insides, I've also recently come out of an off again on again relationship thats been happening for around 3 years. So I want to take this six weeks and rebuild the confidence I've lost and make myself a priority, because somewhere in the haze of trying to keep everyone happy I've lost sight of what makes me happy, and have forgotten to make myself a priority. So here goes!

Hope you're enjoying your holiday Onwards and upwards I say, as long as you didn't fail anything then you can just bring the goals you want to keep with you into the next challenge. Congrats on your progress!

Points: 10 points to distribute: +3 Strength +2 Dexterity +2 Stamina +3 Charisma 1. Eat better. +1 Constitution Final Grade: B - 27/36 +0.75 Constitution 2. Get moving. +1 Dexterity Final Grade: C - 11/18 +0.5 Dexterity 3. Get logging. +1 Wisdom Final Grade: A - 42/42 +1 Wisdom Life Quest: Start saving. +1 Wisdom Final Grade: A - 120+ (138 to date) +1 Wisdom Final Points Strength - 3 Dexterity - 2.5 Stamina - 2 Constitution - 0.75 Wisdom - 2 Charisma - 3

So here is the challenge results.... 1. Eat better. A - 32-42 days shakes completed B - 27-31 days shakes completed C - 22-26 days shakes completed D - 17-21 days shakes completed F - Anything less than 17 days shakes completed. Final Grade: B - 27/36 2. Get moving. A - 18+ training sessions B - 14-17 training sessions C - 11-13 training sessions D - 8-10 training sessions F - Less than 8 training sessions Final Grade: C - 11/18 3. Get logging. A - 37-42 days recorded B - 32-36 days recorded C - 25-31 days recorded D - 19-24 days recorded F - Less than 19 days recorded Final Grade: A - 42/42 Life Quest: Start saving. A - Saved 120+ B - Saved 100-120 C - Saved 80-100 D - Saved 60-80 F - Saved less than 60 Final Grade: A - 120+ (138 to date) Starting Stats: I currently weigh 224lbs. Finishing weight 224lbs. Measurements: Hips - Pre: 118cm Post: 117cm Calf - Pre: 51.5cm Post: 51cm Thigh - Pre: 75.5cm Post: 73cm Waist - Pre: 120cm Post: 119cm

Wow so tonight marks the end of the challenge, I've just taken my post challenge measurements, and I wasn't expecting there to be any progress but I am surprised that there was. I'll also be posting my final grades for each of the goals. I don't feel I pushed myself as hard as I could or should have during this challenge and maybe justified this with the fact I was so busy with college. But in reality there will always be some excuse to justify a missed workout or a takeaway. So next challenge I need to crack down and really start pushing myself. Cos if you change nothing, then nothing changes

Don't get disheartened Beeza! Here are some words of support and wishes coming your way!! I had a flu for one of my weeks and it was a setback, but try not to let it undo all your progress, you've come too far to let it push you back Hope your knee is better soon

Felt really glad after I went to training instead of putting it off. There's a tournament tonight, where everyone competes and there's prizes at the end, so it's usually a lot more competitive and intense. I can't wait yesterday was a bad food day, as I was at a house party and the food was really good :/ there was also alcohol, which I have been avoiding because of the calories (especially in cocktails which are my tipple of choice) but I didn't last night. But today is a new day and so far so good.

Congrats on your charity walk and the money you raised, it's always great to know yer getting yer exercise in and helping a great cause! A loss is progress, so way to go! well done for sticking with the logging, it can be so easy to fall behind with it. Hope week 5 is going well

Thanks Beeza it's clearing up now, but I've been on a carb rampage with no exercise for a few days. So I'm feeling like my mess up of week 4 could put all my progress to date to waste :/ tonight will be my first night back to training after missing a whole week! Still not 100% but feeling well enough to give it a go anyway. I also have so many college deadlines looming in the next few weeks, and I did not get that much done when I was sick. I'm hoping to get back on track in the next few days though (hopefully! ^^) how did your week 4 go?! I can't wait to try the zombie run when I'm feeling up to it

So I was so happy with all my progress, and then this morning I woke up with a closed up throat and a flu.....damn it!! Which means I've eaten bugger all calories (except a bowl of lovingly made and force fed chicken soup - cos everyone knows its the only cure!) and the very Irish cure of flat 7up. I missed training, which I am really disappointed about. But I'm just hoping I'll be okay for Sunday training and that I survive the weekend in work. Damn whichever of my contagious friends passed me this plague

Hey, I know your posting here as your food journal which is great, but have you heard of the myfitnesspal website and app? It's really helping me to keep track, especially as I can update the app on the go. And it breaks foods down into sugars, protein, fat etc. Maybe you already use it but just wanted to post in case you hadn't heard of it yet. I'm thinking of starting the zombie run....do you think its helped you? I have to say, the most running I've ever done is for the bus, and I usually feel like I lost half a lung along the way ^^

Thanks GothicBeeza yeah it's definitely helped to keep me motivated, and I'm glad it's mostly green! Some of the other weeks didn't go as well as this one tho! Hope your challenge is going well

I love your post! I used to have the exact same problem. One minor mishap and I threw in the towel everytime, which just sabotaged my efforts. It isn't about perfection, it's about progress. As long as you wake up everyday and make the best effort you can to move in the right direction then you are succeeding. And life will always throw you a curveball every now and then, so it is so important to be able to take the occasional failure in your stride and not let it be the reason you quit. "You only fail when you stop trying". I think that's the best lesson I've learned on here so far for sure! Well done on re-evaluating your goals too, especially finding a way to work in your exercise. Keep up the good work

I have been doing well so far, and if i maintain my current routine I am on track for mostly if not all As across my goals. Which I am super happy about. I have been finding it hard to get the time to post as I just returned to my final year of college and have to start working on a thesis, and I also work part-time at the weekends. But I think I have finally mastered the art of fitting exercise into an already packed schedule. And I am finding since making the swap to healthier food options, my energy levels are a lot more consistent, rather than the sugar highs and slumps I was used to before. Hope everyone else is getting on well too Hopefully for my next challenge I will have more time available for posting! Peace out x

Thanks Dualtiy I know it probably seems like I haven't been tracking my progress, but the truth is I haven't had enough time to come on and post my progress. And I don't usually want to turn on my laptop before bed to do it as that would just end in me wasting 2 hours surfing facebook and youtube and not getting enough sleep. But what I have been doing is tracking my progress on a paper template I made. At the end of the 6 weeks I will post my results for each goal. I have to say I get a lot of satisfaction out of colouring the boxes green when I have succeeded, and I have it stuck on my bedroom mirror so I see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night and helps to remind me of my goals and progress.

So I think today has been one of the roughest for the challenge so far. I went out for lunch with friends and although I made the right food choices being surrounded by all the foods I haven't gotten over wanting to eat yet was pretty hard. I also have been see-sawing for most of the day about whether or not to go to training or not tonight. I can honestly say I've change my mind about 6 times, and have come up with every excuse under the sun to justify it. I am too tired, it's raining and I'll have to walk to training, it's just one night. So I came on here and found the link to the motivational videos in the blog, and I've gone from excuse making to feeling pumped to get to training and get some exercise in. I really feel like if I had skipped tonight it could have derailed my whole challenge. Training is in an hour, so I'm gonna go and sort my gear out....feeling good!!

Woah, where did those two weeks go? I've been so busy I didn't get the chance to post, but I have made the time to do all of my tasks, hurray! I've already had to write an essay and do two presentations for college which took a lot of time to prepare. But instead of putting them off like i usually do I made sure to get started on them straight away so i still had time to go to training. My savings to date are 65 euro, which is halfway to my target already. Feeling really positive about the challenge and on the days where I'm tempted to skip training or dive head first into a chocolate muffin I just read my little note to myself on why i started this, which i carry in my purse with me. Hope everyone else is doing well too, a whole third of the way to the finish line, who woulda thought it?!