Harihead

Week 2 roundup is a repeat of Week 1. I'm into the high-intensity portion of project delivery, with 10-12 hour days. The weather has improved slightly and my diet has worsened, because I don't always have time to make dinner and eat whatever's in the fridge at work. It is what it is. This was another week of fail, another week to start fresh with day 1. So I am.

Week 1 roundup: Exercise: Still too chilly outside for wimpy me. C = >2/week, STA +1 Diet: Great with macro diversity and sugar grams. 3 processed food violations, though!B = 90% compliance, CON +2, DEX +1 Pound Down the Pounds:Too many calories. No change. F = fail to lose Write My Way Out of a Paper Office:Going very slowly. Still not a lot of zip left after playing catch-up at work. F = only 3x this week

People often mistake me for a Disney princess. Either that, or an assassin. Seriously, the giant magpies hopping and watching are really something. One of them followed me for 2 blocks afterward. I practice Tai Chi several times a week. I've had several instructors over the years (it's a volunteer organization), and each has taught me something new. I like the different perspectives, in fact. > Measurements don't lie, even inconsistent ones. Definitely going to have to steal some of that SlothBelly mojo. Me, too. It's time to get the fires burning.

> I have never considered Tai Chi. Is this something you learn on your own from the you tube? I have seen YouTube videos, but it's really tough to try to pick it up that way. There's something going on all around (360 degrees), so a video is at best a reminder. Likewise, they offer books, but when I was first learning I found neither book or video that helpful. I went to a weekly class. The first class they taught us only the first 4 moves out of 108 in the total set. I practiced those 4 moves all week in the parking lot. I could tell instantly that it was "working"; I'd feel my bones line up, and hear the gentle "pop-pop-pop" as my vertebrae released their tension one by one. (Tai Chi is about bone alignment, and yoga is about muscles, so they make a good companion set.) Anyway, I've been doing it for about 6 years now. I'm much better in terms of strength, balance, and fluidity; sometimes, when I do my set, people will stop to watch because it's "pretty". (I prefer to work outdoors under trees.) Animals love it, too. It must give off a good energy. I've had cats and dogs plunk themselves down to watch, not wanting to move on despite their owners' urging. I've even had wild birds interested, who hang out in the lower branches, watching. It's pretty magical. And so restorative, in the middle of the day. Maybe someday you'll find the time right to try it. Cheers!

Followed! > My old man back is getting better, but it still derails my training fairly often. Tai Chi was my magic bullet-- really got my back issues handled. I used to have problems at least 3 times a year. Now it's like once every 3 years. Hoorah! Here's hoping we both have a super Feb challenge.

Alas, yes. It's more like skating than walking. However, we have 2 clear days, and I expect the ice to sublimate nicely. I've brought my Tai Chi indoors, so at least I'm not a block of wood. The cold is mostly gone. Last week I had 3 good active days, then fell apart early on the 4th day. But it's steady progress toward health, which is encouraging. Also, everything is easier now that I feel better. I'm much encouraged.

It's such a relief! Apart from the physical stuff, I'm reviewing some scripts I wrote at work last month. Er, the cold really shows. (fixes) It's actually going to get above freezing for 2 hours today! I'm so happy. All the streets are ice slicks, and most of the sidewalks are still under a foot of snow. Hello, storm! Fortunately I have my nice Canadian boots. I need them at times like these. Good luck to you! PS: Mark contacted me. Thanks for the rec!

In the continuing weirdness that is life, I'm suddenly finding fitness "easy" again. My cold finally really let go 2 days ago, and it's amazing what a difference it's made. I'm going great guns at work, writing, and diet. The only thing is it's freezing. No outside walks, alas. Making do with small stuff indoors. It's a good start, though, and I'm pleased.

Thank you, Tank! You were a rock last time, and I do appreciate it. My cough is almost gone today. I took a long walk yesterday and it wore me out, but today I bounced back, so I think I'm ready to actually get back into a routine. Hooray! I'm looking for someone who has sound graphic design, a sense of branding and fonts, and especially good at representational art. I'll be selling online, so I need a design that will look good on a thumbnail, but will be engaging when viewed bigger. Does this fit your man? I'm so sorry you've been injured. Coming back does take a long time. I'm getting really good at working around it. Eventually, it does come back. Hang in there.

Right. Time to serious-on-up. This is the last month of my 4-month goal to lower my LDL cholesterol level. By the end of February, I need to prove to my doctor that: * My weight is lower * My "bad" cholesterol levels are lower If I fail, she's going to want to put me on meds. My mantra here is: NO MEDS. I did poorly in December, and in January I had the killer cold that wouldn't quit. It put me way behind at work, and I still haven't recovered my vim. I'm coughing regularly as I type this. It is what it is. Life Goal: I want to return to the weight and fitness I had when I operated my own home business, before the economy forced me to go work in somebody else's office. I put on LOTS of weight since 2008, because I lost control of my regular eating and exercise patterns. After joining Nerd Fitness, I have managed to shed (and keep shed) about 25 pounds of that. I still have 45 pounds to go to return to my mountain-climbing trim. Weight turns out to be one of the players that statistically will reduce my LDL level. Apparently the minimum I can lose to have an LDL effect at my current weight is 9 pounds. st180So that's my target for February. If you're getting deja vu, it's because this was my same challenge for January. However, illness and fatigue just ruined it. So I'm doing it over, clean. I expect to retest my LDL in the 4th week of Feb instead of the end of week 2, to allow myself time to regain some fitness before the crucial test. At the moment, walking up the three flights of stairs to my office at work is a challenge. C'est la vie. 4 Week Challenge: 3 months ago, my LDL cholesterol level was borderline high at 139. This challenge, I will continue the diet modification from my previous 6-week challenges, with additional metrics for tracking sugar grams, which seems to be my "magic pill" for weight loss. I also must reduce alcohol, since this leads to overeating behavior. I can use it infrequently as a stress reducer or occasional social event, but not as a nightly "wind down" habit. I don't need the calories or the effect on my LDL test. Tea is my new best friend. Exercise: Cardio = elevate heart rate at least 15 minutes 4x weekly. Slightly escalating target due to imminent deadline. A = >4/week, STA +2, STR +2 B = >3/week, STA +2, STR +1 C = >2/week, STA +1 F = fewer than this, take away 1 earned point! Diet: Hit everything to stay off meds. I will continue last challenge's alterations, plus track sugar and water: - Reduce red meat and poultry in favor of fish, <2 red meat and >=3-4 fish or seafood/week - Reduce meat overall and substitute legumes for protein >=3-4/week - Monitor dairy <=6 servings/week, especially cheese - Reduce alcohol <=4 small glasses/week, target=0 with social/stress exceptions - Processed meat or grains <=1/week, target=0 - Sugar grams <= 90 grams/day, target<=45 - Water => 13 glasses/day For my final push, there is no excuse to eat processed anything. The mantra is, NO MEDS. I need to remember that my goal is imminent and tangible. A = 100% compliance, CON +3, DEX +2 B = 90% compliance, CON +2, DEX +1 C = 80% compliance, CON +1, DEX +1 D = 70% compliance, CON +1 F = <50% compliance, take away 1 earned point! Pound Down the Pounds: A 5-10% weight reduction should have a positive effect on my LDL numbers. A = 10+ pounds, CHA +3 B = 6-9 pounds, CHA +2 C = 2-5 pounds, CHA +1 F = fail to lose, take away 1 earned point! Write My Way Out of a Paper Office: I'm slightly modifying my challenge. I've written several new short stories lately with my wonderful 100+ new words a day goal. However, I'm now turning my attention to the 2 novels I have to publish, so I'll be doing a lot of editing this challenge. My new goal will be 7,000+ words edited weekly. I intend to write 1 new chapter for the book I'm editing now, so that will give me some welcome new words. A = 6 days/week or > 7000 words WIS +3 B = 5 days/week or > 7000 words WIS +2 C = 4 days/week or > 7000 words WIS +1 F = drop below 3x per week, take away 1 earned point! January's subtask met: 10+ stories in mail. February's subtask: find a cover artist. I'm too philosophical to be discouraged about my January setbacks. It's life, it happens. February is just another chance to get on with leading the life I want to lead. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to try. Luck to us all, dear Rebels.

My Week 3 (and 4) reports are the same as Week 2. Or should I say, Weak 2. I've had this blasted cold (with accompanying fatigue and shortness of breath) all month. I'm par for the course. It's going all through work, and my coworkers all have this same report. Everyone seems to lose their zip and their voice. I'm going to just call this challenge a "do-over". I'm going to do the whole thing over starting in Feb, as my 3-pronged point of attack had only one prong. It was more of a challenge poke. I still need to get new stats for bloodwork, so onto the new challenge!

Week 2 Report: Exercise = F -- still sick through Monday. No cardio workouts. Diet = B -- eating pretty good. Sugar grams up a bit due to honey with oatmeal, but generally on track. Pounds = C - gained one pound back, but still down 3 from start. Writing = F. I had no brain. I really only got my brain back today. Summary: Illness really louses up my activities! But I'm stronger today than yesterday, so it's a good trend.

Thanks, Tank and Swampling! The fact was, I was too fuzzy to try to figure out how I had done for the week. I spent the last 2 days home recovering. Diet is going very well, eating healthy and pushing fluids. No exercise and no writing so far, but diet is key. I'm going to try to go to work today. We'll see how quickly I unravel! I've spent my time reading endless books on mountain climbing. It has convinced me that I never want to try super high altitude. I'm happy to climb my 14ners here in Colorado. Much less likely to die!

First week report: January challenge I'm giving myself C all the way around. I was just a mess; back went out, then I got a cold. So, no exercising, and not much energy to actually track calories or sugar grams since Friday. I had 2 days over the limit, but was otherwise within spec. Still, I need to do much better. I rested all weekend. Still coughing my head off, but I have to get into the office early Monday for a meeting. Yuck. It's hard to be motivated while ill. On the plus side, the water and the new Up Move are working great.

Thank you so much, my encouraging friends! You are super. You speak wisely, oh Slothful One. We had our belated company holiday party last night (the earlier one was postponed due to a snowstorm). I didn't eat any chips and picked a salad for dinner, but it was carby-er than I eat at home, and I drank 2 glasses of wine (along with 4 full glasses of water). The result? Gained back 1 pound today. The good news is I think this means the weight (water) loss is real. It also means if I keep with the low grams, I'll keep the loss. I'm drinking a ton of water. My goal is 13 glasses, but the last two days I beat that. Part of it is because I'm fighting a cold, and am drinking lots to soothe my throat. Yes, the body issues are building up. It doesn't matter, I'm going to eat a sensible diet for the next 6 weeks, because I want to show my doctor I can do it! It would be awesome if I could show a 10-pound improvement. I also just bought a Jawbone Up Move step-tracker, because I want to track all my daily motion. I'm having some trouble getting it to stay synced with my Android. If it keeps acting up, I'll call for help today. But my phone is too bulky for carrying around, so I'm happy to get this new option in place.

Okay, so I got on the scale this morning and I'd lost 4 pounds. In 4 days. WTH!?!?!??! There are two explanations. Either this sugar gram thing really is magic for me, and ensures I will lose the weight, OR The maids were here yesterday, and one of them jogged the dial on the scale. It could be either. I know I tend to average 1 pound a week, so a big loss now means I'll plateau for a while. But still, I have to admit, it gave me a kick. Heh, 4 days, 4 pounds. I'm feeling much better about meeting my goal. In other news, back continues cranky. The massage therapist said she could just visually see my left-side muscles all knotted up. So I'm still babying it a bit, although I'm all out of the good muscle relaxers. Onto regular OTC anti-inflamatories. Aaaand I think I may be getting a cold. Thank you, coworkers! So it's a barrel of laughs at Harihead's house. But really, those 4 pounds. I need another scale to sanity check! Happy snow day, all!

Thanks, Sloth and Tank! Back is much better today. After years of dealing with this issue, I have the routine down-- how to lie, how to stretch, do my dope, the old ice & heat. It's still a bit twitchy, but it doesn't feel as if it will "go out". If it's still this good this evening, I'll go to Tai Chi. I hate to miss. Really loving the sugar grams thing. I love comparing the differences (carrots at 5g/cup vs rutabaga at 6g/cup) when I design my meals. It makes it interesting again. It's been long enough since I did grams that I have to look things up again. Came in at 53g total yesterday, and that included a huge honey crisp apple. The d'uh side effect is that this morning I feel much more alert. Those nasty processed foods seduced me with their pop and buzz, but they can't support me the way plain old Natural Goodness does. Onward, Rebels! Let us knock this challenge out of the park!

Whahoo, I'm starting of this challenge with a bang! Woke up this morning with my back in such hard spasm, I could barely move. Back problems haven't bugged me for a while since I started regular Tai Chi. However, between the travel, long plane rides, extra computer time, and bad beds, yippee, it's back! I'm taking drugs I haven't taken for a while to relax the spasm. If I'm this bad tomorrow, I will beg my chiropractor for an emergency appt. I see my massage therapist Tuesday; I had to miss her over the holidays, and this was apparently a Bad Move. Good news is I got a copy of The Martian before the back went. Great book! I'm reading it from the floor. Also, I lost a couple of pounds from the holiday food-fest, so my starting point is nearer to my target ending point. I think I can lose as little as 5 pounds and make my doctor happy. But I'll make her happier with 7, and make me ecstatic with 9. We'll see how it goes. Day 1 of sugar gram counting, and it's keeping me on the straight and narrow. Water is going good. The other metrics are carry-overs from last challenge, so I already have routines in place for handling them. I really hope this works!

I'm getting psyched just reading your thread! As a recreational biker and former Minnesotan, I support you all the way! Subbed.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends! Once more; or close up our veins with the icky LDL dread. -- "Henry V", paraphrased This challenge is a continuation of my 4-month goal to lower my LDL cholesterol level. In mid-February, I need to prove to my doctor that: * My weight is lower * My "bad" cholesterol levels are lower If I flunk this test, she's going to want to put me on meds. My mantra here is: NO MEDS. I did poorly in December, so I need to kill this in January. Life Goal: I want to return to the weight and fitness I had before I lost my home business (insert heavy sobbing here) and had to go work in somebody else's office. I put on LOTS of weight since 2008, because I lost control of my regular eating and exercise patterns. After joining Nerd Fitness, I have managed to shed (and keep shed) about 25 pounds of that. I have to do better, campers! I still have 45 pounds to go. Weight isn't just a number here; it's one of the players that statistically will reduce my LDL level. Apparently the minimum I can lose to have an LDL effect at my current weight is 9 pounds. So that's my target for January. 4 Week Challenge:My LDL cholesterol level is borderline high at 139. My mid-February retest is now only 6 weeks away.I will continue the diet modification from my previous 6-week challenges, with additional metrics for tracking sugar grams, which seems to be my "magic pill" for weight loss. I also must reduce alcohol, since this leads to overeating behavior. I can use it infrequently as a stress reducer or occasional social event, but not as a nightly "wind down" habit. I don't need the calories or the effect on my LDL test. Exercise: Cardio = elevate heart rate at least 15 minutes 4x weekly. Slightly escalating target due to imminent deadline. A = >4/week, STA +2, STR +2B = >3/week, STA +2, STR +1C = >2/week, STA +1F = fewer than this, take away 1 earned point! Diet: Hit everything to stay off meds. I will continue last challenge's alterations, plus track sugar and water:- Reduce red meat and poultry in favor of fish, <2 red meat and >=3-4 fish or seafood/week- Reduce meat overall and substitute legumes for protein >=3-4/week- Monitor dairy <=6 servings/week, especially cheese- Reduce alcohol <=4 small glasses/week, target=0 with social/stress exceptions- Processed meat or grains <=1/week, target=0- Sugar grams <= 90 grams/day, target<=45- Water => 13 glasses/day In December, I fell prey to the holiday "Processed foods". As that is no longer a factor, there is no excuse to eat processed anything. The mantra is, NO MEDS. I need to remember that my goal is imminent and tangible. A = 100% compliance, CON +3, DEX +2B = 90% compliance, CON +2, DEX +1C = 80% compliance, CON +1, DEX +1D = 70% compliance, CON +1F = <50% compliance, take away 1 earned point! Pound Down the Pounds:A 5-10% weight reduction should have a positive effect on my LDL numbers. A = 10+ pounds, CHA +3B = 6-9 pounds, CHA +2C = 2-5 pounds, CHA +1F = fail to lose, take away 1 earned point! Write My Way Out of a Paper Office:I really love my pact with another writer to write 100+ new words a day, reporting our results weekly. I'm going to continue my goal of 6 writing sessions per week, with a total of 700+ new words weekly. I'll start editing novels soon, but the ideal is to produce new, original, publishable work on a steady basis.(The 100+ words habit is working well for me. Last challenge I wrote several new stories and sold one.)A = 6 days/week or > 700 words WIS +3B = 5 days/week or > 700 words WIS +2C = 4 days/week or > 700 words WIS +1F = drop below 3x per week, take away 1 earned point! This goal is part of a 3-year business plan to shift my income from Working for Da Man to Being My Own Boss which I really like. I'm thinking this is my actual Life Goal. My intention is to publish 2 novels and 3 collections of short stories this year. January's subtask: Establish genre branding and find a cover artist. Luck to us all, Rebel friends!

New Challenge Prep: I'm still on vacation, so I prepared some goals which I can copy and paste to the challenge forum when it goes live. See: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935 Quickie Weight Chart: Roughly every 7 pounds is a "bracket"; I will interpolate, but I want a quickie guide to easily post my percentages:10% = <20020%<19330%<186 - 35=18340%<179 - 45=17650%<172 - 55=16960%<16570%<15880%<15190%<144100%<137Apparently the minimum I can lose to have an LDL effect is 9 pounds. January 4 Week Challenge:Now posted.

Thanks, Ash! To you, too! And to all the Rebels everywhere: Happy Holidays!

You both are so sweet! I guess... could it be? I mean, yes, I've been more active. I must enlarge my brain to receive this new viewpoint. GAWD, I LOVE THIS FORUM!!!!

Nice stats, seriously. Some real progress. I do like changing up challenges; plus, it's fun! > Each patty probably costs me something like three months of my life. This had me LOLing. What a great way to look at it! Have super fun holidays, my friend. Cheers.

So, how'd you do, bro? I did NOT meet my LDL lowering goals regarding diet. I'm going to have to get a lot more clever and consistent to do that. I hope you did better!