helloandie

Oh man, and is anyone familiar with these? http://neilarey.com/workouts.html - pretty nerdy (=awesome)

Week 1 Diet - Paleo at least 5 days per week. Allowed exceptions are protein shakes on gym days and grass-fed, organic dairy. (+ 3 CON) YES!! I made it the first 5 days being totally strict with myself. On the two freebie days I had a total of one cheesebread stick, I (smallish) order for fried rice, and two pieces of pizza. Which is still way less carb action than a normal day a couple of weeks ago. I am SUPER proud considering this was the hardest part (and the part I totally failed) on my first challenge. Work up to 3 miles on the elliptical without stopping, at least 120 spm (+ 3 STA, + 2 DEX) I don't have hard numbers for this, but I've definitely been working toward this goal with lots of long walks for endurance, jogging and even trying to run. It's hard! But I should get a shot at the elliptical tonight and we'll see if I'm making as much progress as I feel like I am. Work up to 3 sets of 8 of dead lifts at 105lbs and squats at 55lbs (+ 3 STR) Last week I took my reps up to 8, which was a tough first step. I've been sore all week (from this, my fitness test, and the running) and that makes it feel like I MUST be making progress. I work with my trainer on Mondays usually, so we'll see if I go up in weight tonight, even if it's just a little. 7+ hours of sleep per night, average (+ 2 CHA, + 2 WIS) PASS! I haven't gotten my fitbit weekly email yet, but I checked every day all week long and I got over 7 hours of sleep every night, and I probably averaged well above that thanks to no work for Good Friday and a fair amount of sleeping in. Week 1 - Successful!

Dynamic warm ups 3 times - CHECK! First ever mini-challenge done! Yay!

OKAY! So yesterday I took a long walk before doing my dynamic warm ups and body weight workout. Squats, planks, reverse crunches, attempted pushups! Had two pieces of pizza, hated it. WHAT? I've only been on the (mostly) paleo diet for a week, how do I already feel like crap from pizza? IT'S AWESOME! XD This should make the remaining 5 weeks that much easier.

I guess, running is HARD and I can't do it for very long. I guess that means I really need to work on it! (It is gratifying... when I'm done!)

Went for a 3 mile walk (with some sparse jogging here and there) after dinner tonight. Did my dynamic warm up beforehand (once more tomorrow before the workout and I've completed my first ever mini-mission!) I made it the first five days of the challenge sticking to the diet 100%. So today I indulged in one stick of cheesy bread and a small bowl of fried rice. At the moment I'm planning on going back to it tomorrow even though my goal was 5 days a week. I just feel like pushing myself? The gym is closed tomorrow for easter, so I'll do a body weight workout tomorrow. Running is completely new to me (and a lot harder than I imagined) so I'm hoping this will make it easier to hit my goal on the elliptical. I slept a lot Thursday and Friday nights. Even before that I'd gotten 7+ hours each night. Yay!

Yes! I made it the first 5 days on the diet! Went for a run/jog/walk yesterday, did my dynamic warm up beforehand (woot!) so so far so good!

Good luck to you!

Wow, I love your run toward the arctic circle goal, that is amazing and creative. I downloaded the Zombies, Run app at one point and I liked it but for some reason I stopped using it. I think I'll have to check out this season 3 content!!

Thanks! I'll be happy if I can get rid of the mom-arm/wobbly upper arm thing I have going on. My legs were looking pretty jiggly too, but I started working out last September (for the first time in my LIFE) and discovered I actually really like lifting, and now my legs are looking a lot better. Slow and steady, I guess! Good luck to you as well!

Fitness Assessment Results - 4/16/14 - 7:30AM Age: 32 Weight: 143lbs Height: 5'5.5" Blood Pressure: 112/73 Cardio Test: - Starting HR: 85 - Ending HR: 144 Flexibility Test (Sit and Reach): 13.25" Push-ups(as many as possible): 8 Sit-ups (1 min): 17 Body Fat: 23.4% Chest: 34" Waist: 29" Hips: 39" Arm: -L: 13" -R: 13" Thigh: -L: 22" R: 20.5"

Well I went to the gym last night and worked on lifting. I bumped up to 3 sets of 8 for both dead lifts and squats (85lbs and 45lbs respectively) and couldn't believe how much of a difference those few extra reps made. I'm sore today! I also bench pressed 30lbs, 2 sets of 10 and did shoulder presses, 20lbs, 2 sets of 10. This morning I took a fitness assessment at my gym! I'll post those results in a new post, but it's close enough to the start of the week that I think it's a good benchmark for this challenge. They're not offering another one until July 16th, though, so I won't have updated results for some things until then. My diet has been going REALLY WELL I'm shocked. I mean, it's only been 2 days of paleo, but I had a much harder time last challenge, and so far I'm 2 for 2, and on track today as well. I stocked my fridge, so I should be good!

Thanks, I hope they turn out to be attainable, the diet part is REALLY hard.

Hi! New Ranger here, just finished my first challenge and looking to keep the streak going. Main Quest Less squishy/more defined muscle tone! (Look better, basically.) Goals Diet - Paleo at least 5 days per week. Allowed exceptions are protein shakes on gym days and grass-fed, organic dairy. (+ 3 CON) - CHECK! Work up to 3 miles on the elliptical without stopping, at least 120 spm (+ 3 STA, + 2 DEX) - CHECK! Work up to 3 sets of 8 of dead lifts at 105lbs and squats at 55lbs (+ 3 STR) - CHECK! Life Quest 7+ hours of sleep per night, average (+ 2 CHA, + 2 WIS) - CHECK! Starting Point 142lbs. (I'm pretty ok with this number going up or staying the same, as long as I'm building muscle.) About a mile, mile and a half on the elliptical Dead lift - 85lbs; 3 sets of 5 Squats - 45lbs; 3 sets of 5

Wow! I finished! I'm going to give myself a B- based on the following: I managed to get my butt to the gym 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Holy wow. I worked hard while I was there and I have gotten stronger as evidenced by my ability to lift more weight. I even made it through a few injuries, so I'm giving myself bonus points for that. I walked with my kiddo to school every day that weather permitted with the exception of a running late day, which I made up by taking a walk at work. I took bonus walks at work, too. (I'm still walking her to school every day, it has become the norm!) I stuck to paleo about 55% of the time. Not 90. Hence the grade being lower. If I'd made this goal, I'd totally give myself an A. As it is, I didn't completely give up on the diet and did my best to maximize paleo meals instead of just saying "well, not going to make my goal, let's pig out!" so hey, I'm proud of that. Proud, but I'm still going to dock myself an attribute point. My overall goal was to get strong (I DID!) and to see SOME visible muscle definition. And I can, in my upper arms, (although I still have flabby mom arm going on) my calves and my thighs above the knee (I just noticed that a few days ago and was so excited!) so I am for sure doing the next challenge! My life goal, to pay off my taxes: I have 70% of the tax $$$ in the bank as of last Sunday, and I plan on filing and paying on the 14th. Then I'll have a month to get that last 30% together and paid on my card. From my calculations it won't take that long and I'm calling this one done and successful. Biggest tax bill of my LIFE but boom, it's no big deal and I can start buying clothes and shoes again very soon. So that's my grade and summary and no I'm off to try and figure out how to assign points.

Ok, well I went to the gym Wednesday but I was reallyreally tired and had gotten very little sleep so it was kind of lame. I did the elliptical for 10 minutes, did 1 set of 10 body weight squats and 2 sets of 5 with 45lbs. Then I did 1 set of 10 dead lifts at 65lbs and 2 sets of 8 at 85lbs. Then I went home. Like, that was all I could do, and probably only half of my dead lifts were "proper" I was just so tired my body would not cooperate. Have been doing really well on the diet this last week! Last night the boyfriend got us Five Guys burgers for dinner, though, so ...eh. It was delicious. Walking to school goals have been met and I think it's something we'll definitely continue after the challenge. I'm reading Good Calories, Bad Calories and it's actually pretty interesting and scientifically scandalous! It's helping with the diet goals.

I haven't thought about it at ALL until now! I think I'll have to make diet changes the #1 priority because I am kicking ass on everything else and seeing SOME "visual" improvement but not like I'd hoped.

So I went to the gym last night, worked on my dead lifts with my trainer. He corrected a few things and MAN I feel it in my legs today. I did one set of 10 with just the bar, 1 set of 5 at 65lbs and 3 sets of 8 at 85lbs. Was TIRED. Then did two circuits of what we've been working on (listed in #14) replacing back extentions with body weight squats where I had to hold at the bottom of the squat for 2 seconds. Which was really hard. I felt super worn out afterwards. Had a great day diet-wise. I went to Cool Greens for lunch and got my favorite salad, the plaza skinny dry and a cup of the butternut squash soup. I was SUPER hungry in the afternoon to the point of not being able to think straight so I walked to Braums (they have a grocery section) and got some avocados. It was such a delicious snack. So that snack, walking and getting something paleo, was a huge win. Still walking to school. I'm not seeing as much visible difference in how I look as I would have hoped to after 6 weeks, but there is SOME. So I will definitely keep going to the gym at least twice a week, but aiming for 3 times. I will keep taking lots of walks, and I'm going to really try to go paleo for 30 days. Maybe 1 cheat day a week. I dunno.

Holy crap, is this the last week already?! I'm going to try and hit the diet hard this week and end on a strong note!

Still going! I made it to the gym Saturday and worked pretty hard. I did squats, 2 sets of 10 body weight to warm up, 2 sets of 5 at 45lbs. and 1 set of 5 at 50lbs. I did dead lifts, 1 set of 5 at 65 lbs., 4 sets of 5 at 85lbs. I did shoulder presses, 2 sets of 10 at 10lbs. each hand. I did bench press, 3 sets of 10 at 12.5lbs. each hand. And I started the whole thing off on the elliptical. Then I went home and cleaned out the whole garage, lifting many heavy things and sweeping. I was pretty sore on Sunday, in the good way. I think I hit over 9,000 steps on the fit bit that day. I'll have to post my weekly results when they send them to me. Walked to school today, plan on going to the gym tonight. Sleeping is... OK. And an update on my life challenge: I have saved over 50% of what I need to pay off my taxes. I should easily put back the rest so that if I pay them via credit card on the 14th, I'll be able to pay that card off in full when it's due and avoid any finance charges. So I'll also get a crapload of frequent flier points to go with my debt-freeness. I am starting to see a difference from all the working out, too. Like, almost visible definition? Oh man, this challenge has been challenging AND GREAT.

So I did make it to the gym Wednesday, quite a feat considering I was like noooo just want sleeeeep. I did 2 sets of 10 body weight squats, 3 sets of 5 squats with the bar. I did the circuit twice. I spent maybe 5 minutes warming up on the elliptical. I have walked with the kiddo every day except Tuesday when she was running late. For the win!

Went to the gym last night, did body weight squats and about 15 with the bar under supervision and didn't seem to hurt at all. So... weird and also awesome? Then did the circuit of exercises above twice. Also spent 15 minutes warming up on the elliptical and fast-walked a half mile on the track just because I was SO CLOSE to 10K steps on my fitbit. Ended up hitting like 10,500+! The kiddo ran late for school today, so we couldn't walk, but I brought my nikes to work so I can take a walk later. My neck/shoulder/back feels a TON better today than yesterday. Fingers crossed that it keeps getting better.

Eep! Back again. I took off spring break to spend with the kiddo, so there was a total lack of updates. That does NOT mean I wasn't working on it, though! I made it to the gym 3/16, 3/17, and 3/19. I don't remember all the specifics of what I did, but I remember 45lb squats with my trainer that were actually pretty good! And I did either 5 or 6 sets of deadlifts on the 19th, which also felt great. I went down to 80lbs because I was having a lot of trouble gripping at 90. Kind of lame, but MUCH better form, so I feel like it's a good thing. I've started this routine of back extensions, resistance band pull downs, bridges, shoulder press with 8lb dumbbells and reverse crunches. 3 circuits of that after either squats, leg press, or deadlifts. I didn't make it in this weekend, though. Should has gotten worse and I was told to take it easy. Also to take steroids for inflammation, a muscle relaxer and hydrocodone. O_o Sooo... I *WILL* be going to the gym tonight, but I might have to do pretty much nothing involving the right upper body. It's not awesome. Keeps me up all night even WITH the pain meds and muscle relaxer. Kind of worrisome. So, since it was spring break, there was no walking to school, but we took other walks and little field trips together than involved LOTS of walking. Fit bit reports over 7K steps every day. Not bad. DID walk to school this morning. Diet is fail. XD Spring break was lots of treats. Lots of healthy, too but I'm going to have to give myself an F for the whole diet challenge. Sigh. I'm still going to work on paleo meals, so maybe the next challenge it will be attainable!

Gym last night: I should start by saying that Monday night (after the gym) I twisted my ankle in the drive way while wheeling the trash to the curb and fell HARD on my left leg/knee and scraped it all up and acquired a fairly deep cut on my knee and also the bruising and general knee pain. It had almost healed from a giant and very painful bruise I got from slipping on some water and landing square on my knee on the hardwood floor. So a lot of knee pain! The leg is mostly just road rash but I'm having to watch it closely because it looks like infection could happen at any moment. All that to say I had to be a little creative at the gym last night. I skipped the elliptical since I'm having trouble walking, and instead warmed up with about 5 body weight squats. And they hurt, so I thought maybe no more of those. I did 5 sets of 5 95lb deadlifts and that did NOT hurt my knee. Also, YEAH! Next week I'm going to go up 10lbs. Then I tried the leg press machine since the body weight squats hurt my knee, and I didn't expect it to hurt much less but it didn't hurt my knee at all. So I did 3 sets of 10 at 85lbs. I could've done 90. After that I did 8lb free weight shoulder presses and hobbled to my car. I'm really glad that I'm able to continue with an injury, and I'm being super careful. I was worried my whole challenge would be blown! I'm even continuing to walk (slowly) to school.

Gym last night! I talked to my trainer about my shoulder, it is probably a knot in the muscle and we worked on how to squat with the bar some more. Getting better at it! For squats I did 1 set of 10 body weight, and 4 sets of 5 with the 45lb bar. Then 3 sets of 10 back extension followed by some shoulder exercise with a resistance band and shoulder presses with 8lb weights. Walked to school on this very nice morning and haven't eaten yet today due to getting a stupid filling. Very numb. Waah.