Sigrikr

So has been a rough couple weeks for various reasons, and I have been more off than on track. Going to make a strong final week, and use that a launching pad for the next challenge... So early respawn? Am finding that an uneven and unreliable work schedule (in terms of hours worked in a day) is a big hurdle to setting myself on a consistent daily routine of any sort. Combined with a bit of down-in-the-dumps, and a slow recovery, it was hard to self-motivate to stay on track with my desired dining and exercise plan. A series of failed days made it tougher mentally to jump back in. Hopefully can brainstorm something that works going forward.

Still here. Last week's work schedule hit me like a ton of bricks, so I missed getting in exercises and cooking as much as I wanted to. There were a couple nights where the easy quick (and not necessarily the healthiest) meals won out. Back on track this week, though. Went grocery shopping last night, so I am prepped for the week ahead.

Three days in, pretty well so far. I have worked out twice this week, which is on pace. Bodyweight routine Monday before work; missed this morning, so I did it this afternoon after work instead. Trying to push myself to find where I should be at with reps currently. Have been having out-loud conversations with myself and my fiance at 4:30 am about how working out > an extra 15 mins of sleep. That's a tough sell. I have worked in some sessions hitting the pell pole a couple times this week, which is always fun. Diet has been a mixed bag. I have been 3/3 for a healthy home cooked or prepped dinner, but still finding myself grabbing more than I should as I relax and wind down for the day. Eating the correct portion and feeling sated is looking to be the "boss" for this challenge. I have been successful thus far avoiding energy drinks as well, which is a challenge given that my workplace produces them and part of my job is tast-testing. Drinking plenty of black coffee instead. I have not started my sewing project, but that is on the docket for this weekend. It's early, but I am hoping that I can keep up this enthusiasm and willpower for the duration of the challenge, and not lose steam by the 3-4 week mark.

Cat, I'm in the NW reaches of the Middle Kingdom (Draco Invictus!). I've started a shire up here in no mans land, conveniently enough full of other Norse types. Can definitely post some progress pics of my sewing project, too! And took a look at /r/swoleacceptance. Oh man, looks like an uphill battle there

Now is time to let past failures remain in the past. Now is the time to dig deep and drive onward towards the reality of a fit warrior, fearsome on the battlefield, and handsome on his wedding day. I participate in heavy combat within the Society for Creative Anachronisms. For me to be a competitive fighter within the SCA, I need to pursue a level of physical fitness and discipline that dovetails perfectly with my larger quest for a fit and trim self. Completing this second attempt at a challenge will be a mighty step towards being the Viking warrior I envision myself being. Also, my wedding draws ever nearer, and I want my memory of it to include a happier, healthier self. Photographs won't lie, and my fiancé deserves the best version of me I can put forth. If I can be stronger, slimmer, and sleeker for her through pursuit of overarching efforts towards fitness, fantastic. Long Term Quests I will get my weight to 200# (from 250#), the re-calibrate my fitness path from there. An average loss rate of 1.5#/week will put me at 220# by my wedding date, which, while tough, seems doable.I will re-focus my diet​​​​ back to a majority of healthy vegetarian dishes, and eliminate the over-consumption of cheesy, starchy, and bread-y meals.Diet I will eat a healthy home cooked/prepped dinner a min 5x/week, and if ordering or dining out, opt for a healthy optionI will drink only black​​​ coffee or tea instead of sugary artificial energy drinkFitness​ I will do the Beginner Bodyweight Routine before work 2x/week, and try for M-W-FI will train on my pell pole for 30 mins at least once a week, and attend the bi-weekly local fighter practicesI will lose 6# by January 30 (avg. 1.5#/week) Life Goal I will sew myself a new Norse tunic​​​​​I don't think most of these are overambitious, as most points, save for the addition of BBW routine, are just an augmentation or continuation of my current practices.​ The biggest hurdle, I believe, will holding fast to a proper dietary practice, as a busy work schedule has proven a stumbling block in the past. I tend to resign myself to ordering out after work rather than cooking, or settling in and overeating in the evening. This will be my focus for the next four weeks; the rest will be important and pursued as such, but above all else, my eating habits will be brought under control.

Thank you for the words of encouragement! How small of a goal is too small? I think my initial 6WC was too ambitious, making very little room for error, and consequently easy to declare it out of reach and stop the push. However, I don't want I set goals that are borderline trivial, if that is a legitimate thing (eg one healthy home cooked meal a week). I would guess there is a frequency threshold that has to be met to actually build a habit. I understand that diet should be the primary focus at the outset, but I really want to build a consistent exercise habit as well (I crave it, at least when I enter that fitness headspace). Before teeing off on another set of goals, I feel like I need to figure out what is reasonable at this point, and not under or over ambitious.

Admittedly, dropping the ball during my first attempt at a six-week challenge rather disheartening. I imagine I'm far from the only person that discovered NF, and, with a belly full of fire, attempted to reign in years of poor habits in one fell swoop. With that initial fire all but squelched, I stand today still wanting to become the physically and mentally impressive creature I know I'm meant to be... But instant gratification and excuses continue to waylay my quest. One specific hurdle, and a major one at that, is that I tend to lose my will to follow through on good habits the moment I set foot home after work. I've tried numerous times over numerous weeks to set a clear path to victory, only to find myself quickly abandoning those plans in favor of one more episode of GoT or another half hour of Minecraft. I'm aware that choosing those activities over exercise is detrimental, and that my tendency to mindless overeating increases in kind. Big why in hand, game plan in my pocket, how do I keep this belly ful of fire lit beyond my front door, and see myself to finish line? It is plenty easy to think a good game where I can't immediately act, but following through is the bane of my existence. Here goes nothing.

Thanks all for the encouragement, and apologies for going MIA. Been struggling to come back out of the woods, and making little headway. Life has provided ample hurdles the last couple weeks, and tripped me up in kind. At risk of making excuses, I realize I've subconsciously de-prioritized the goals I started out with. Still trying to get back, though, but this challenge is effectively a bust, unfortunately. Will keep fighting on, and hopefully lay groundwork for a successful respawn and second challenge.

So still struggling to recapture and return to that initial burst of focus and purpose. Need to find the fire that had me going hard at the outset, and keep it stoked. I'm eating clean-ish, but still more off meals than I had aimed for. Haven't prepped meals in a while, but did spend last week taking the raw produce meant for jar salads as lunch, albeit as individual components. Haven't properly exercised in a week. Doing nightly long walks, mostly because of a new dog. Making excuses to sit and tune out after work. Logging meals still, though not nearly as diligently. Meals are often logged the following day out of guilt, rather than as the day goes, which makes managing caloric intake ineffective or imposssible. Have noticed that I generally get close to my goal, so at least that habit has stuck. Finding myself constantly excusing missed exercise and poor meals by claiming "long day/week at work," "too much else going on." I know from my initial success that it only takes 20-30 minutes to get a days exercise in, and I certainly have at least that available every evening. Need to get past my current funk and really get back on track like I need to.

So been off the wagon a bit. The weekend had a couple rough days for eating healthy (game night + pizza). Back on track as far as eating goes, but have fallen out of the routine of walking or exercising daily. No workouts completed since last Thursday, save for two hours of relatively low impact Kali class Saturday morning. Could make excuses, but going to just get back on track today instead. Will do the BBW this afternoon after work, and maybe drag the pell back out for some more training, too. On top of that, will set aside time this evening to finally prep meals for the rest of the week, rather than just grabbing whatever raw produce is handy at the moment I run out the door.

I have only used rattan this far (don't have any practice steel yet). I can't say how the nylon rope would fare against blunted steel. You may be better off with a sisal rope instead, though don't quote me on that It's actually concrete, a single bag of Quikrete. Does great with Kali sticks, but a couple hard blows at head height with SCA length rattan can get it rocking and knock it over. Next one I make will likely have a wider base attached. Edit: spelling

I'm not necessarily springing for full vegan just yet, but I am not opposed to protein powders and such. Have to travel to have much of a selection as far as produce anyways, the local (only) grocery store has slim pickings, just too small of a town to support much variety and quality. Small sacrifice in the scope of things, I suppose. Cleaning up my diet is still on track. Have taken to eating more raw produce for meals, and back into the swing of cooking regularly. Woohoo. On a side note, just spent about two hours working out with my new toy. Practice in gear + shield gets a bit tiring after a while yet. Technique and combo drilling. Good times.

I haven't worked with chia seeds yet. Would like to. Have to travel a bit to get them, but if they are as valuable a food as I've been told, would likely be worth the trek.

That's kind of what I was leaning towards. Unless I could personally make ever target meal from raw ingredients, I'd constantly be in murky territory as far as the no processed goal goes. Hate to change the language of my goal in the middle, but avoiding foods with preservatives and artificial ingredients may be a clearer task at this point. Another workout logged yesterday, and two meals from homemade with raw ingredients. Over ate a bit, but I think that was a byproduct of eating while watching tv, made for mindlessness. Going to do better for that in the future. No progress on the life goal as of yet.

A lot of really good ones in here. "Be someone worth writing about." I let that be my impetus to constantly pursue a better self, not to accept mediocrity. If I want to be part of heroic memory, then I have to act as such.