broprey

So it has been a rough week or so. I go through periodic bouts of insomnia and the latest bout was last week. The hamster in my head got in more miles than I did. I was able to keep up with my strong lifts 5x5 but I am still in the beginning stages and so the weight feels light. I still worry about the squat but I got the barbell on my back now and am slowly climbing the weight. Overall, I am going to try and continue to take it day by day. See if I can try and grow the miles rather than aim for a large number of miles every day. Having just started reading Level Up Your Life the quote that has jumped out to me, my goal should be a little better than the me that was yesterday rather than the me of 20 years ago. So here is to a better me today...

First week down, and I didn't quite make as many miles as I would have lied. I will need to try and get some extra miles this week. I think the big thing, I need to find a way to accelerate my miles. I suppose I am on the couch to 5k model, although I am not following a plan, but I am accelerating over time, building slowly to running (jogging) full time rather than walking.... I have also started the Stronglifts 5x5 program. I am building up my strength and seeing where the limits are. I started slowly with the squats, I am nervous about throwing weight on my back with my knees. I am adding the weight slowly and haven't gotten to the 45lb starting limit yet... but climbing.

So I am not sure if I am doing too much on the treadmill, but my feet are starting to blister up and when getting off the treadmill earlier today, I found that I had bled through one of my socks. I will be pushing through, but I am trying to figure out what is wrong. I don't seem to get these problems when I am outside, but on a treadmill something changes.

Welcome to the group

Got my first run in today. Feet are a little sore, I am not sure why when I travel on the treadmill my feet hurt (same shoes indoors and out). I am assuming my stride changes. Also, for my Strength training, I was thinking of 5x5. Does that work if I am worried about my knees? It is what has always kept me away from free weights.

I am not sure, I had logged in looking for them as well.

Love the title. Good luck.

You got this Kaizen.

I am on my third challenge. I have done 1 recruit and 1 adventurer challenge. I did not advance in my adventurer challenge as I only completed one of my quests. In both both of my challenges, I have enjoyed the walking/jogging and so I thought the Scout might be a good place to move to. The following are my goals/quests and rewards for the next four weeks: 1. Run 100 Miles. A: 100+ Miles: 3 pts StaminaB: 85+ Miles: 2 pts Staminac: 70+ Miles: 1 pt Stamina2. Workout A: Strength Train 3x per week: 3pts StrengthB: Strength Train 2x per week: 2pts StrengthC: Strength Train 1x per week: 1pt Strength You can following along with my progress with my tracking spreadsheet here. I will also be working out with my accountabilibuddies over at the Order of the Stick.

Let's get this done. Like any true champion, I have decided that discretion is the better part of valor and have channeled my inner Monty Python Knight and have opted to Run Away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92gP2J0CUjc

So the time is up, and I am going to argue that I have mixed success. I a not willing to say that I made it to level 2 as I only passed 1 of the three challenges that I left out for myself. I am happy to report that I have not have had soda since the challenge started (and it has been tough at times). I still miss it and crave it at times, but so far I have not given in. I am going to try and continue this plan of not drinking soda. In terms of averaging 10k steps per day, I failed. I finished with an average of 7.096 steps. I have realized that Thanksgiving week is what did me in. I was off for a few days and instead of getting out there, I sat on my duff. I think I needed it, as I needed to de-stress and just getting out was not happening. I think I am gonna have to try this again in the next challenge. Although I failed NaNoWriMo, I think I actually succeeded in NaNoWriMo. I learned a lot about myself and I do think that should be a big part of who we are.

I have updated my tracking spreadsheet and have set it for the next few weeks. For those who are interested, you can track it here. As an interesting aside. Although it will count as a failure for the challenge, it might turn into a long term success. I ended up starting to listen to the podcast, Listen Money Matters (for the website, click here and I realized I need to get the financial house in order. I was seeing writing as a potential path, but I just don't have that desire. In a lot of ways, that was my goal from attempting NaNoWriMo, so perhaps I have answered the question I needed to answer, and so the journey continues. In terms of my other goals, I have been successful so far. For week one, my goal has been to average 10k steps per day. I was hit hard by work on Thursday, but the steps I have taken on the other day have still carried me to averaging over 10K steps this week. Definitely need to keep this up. I have also avoided soda all week, definitely going to need to carry this forward into the future weeks. In terms of the group I am traveling with, I made it to the caves of insanity (Travel at least 25 miles). I have used Nike+ app and use intentional miles for the trip to the caves of insanity and not just my steps which I am the Fitbit app to track. Anyway, week 1 is almost done, and overall, I am happy.

Day 1 is in the books. So far on the soda, I have been good and I got my 10k steps in. Working on the word count yet today but ended up having to take a muscle relaxant (not from the walking but I was trying heating pads and IcyHot Patches to no avail) and so I don't want to jump on the story.

Having just finished my first 6-week challenge. It is time to learn what worked, and what failed. It is time to continue the journey. http://i.imgur.com/nQ5ZjHP.jpg Challenge 1: It is a long road, and it all starts with the first stepIn the last challenge, I made it 50+ miles in 60 weeks. I only counted my Nike+ (intentional miles). Now I am going to shoot for 10,000 walking/running steps a day. I will use my fitbit to track this challenge. The following is how I will grade it: A: Average 10k steps a day - 3 Points to STAB: Average 9k steps a day - 2 Points to STAC: Average 8k steps a day - 1 Point to STAF: Anything else http://images.wisegeek.com/carbonated-drink-soda.jpg Challenge 2: Soda! I don't need no stinking soda.I am addicted to soda. No if, ands or buts about it. I have it with breakfast in the morning, I have it with lunch, dinner, snack. There are days I would not be surprised if I have 4-5 liters of soda a day. It is time to kick this habit. Not only is it bad, but it is getting expensive. I had success in the last challenge, increasing my water intake. From 0 oz a day to averaging 60 ozs a day. I was able to eliminate some soda with this, it is time to eliminate it all. Here is how I am going to grade it: A: No Soda - 3 Points to Con B; 1 20 oz bottle a day - 1 Point to Con (it is an improvement) F: any more than that. https://tinaannforkner.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/4cbd3a3642f1467898127738e76801c3.jpg Life Challenge: Time to Change to My Life Throughout my life, I keep trying to begin writing. I have tried and failed several times. Time to try again. As a result, I am going to be taking part in NaNoWriMo. This is a big endeavor for me. Not only have I never attempted something this big, but I have time management issues. I will not only need to juggle the walking/running, the writing, but my job, my kids, coaching basketball and all that comes with being a father. This one will be interesting.... Here is how I am going to grade it: A: Win NaNoWriMo - 3 Points to Wis B: Complete 50k within 6 weeks -2 Points to Wis C: Complete Story within 6 weeks -1 Point to Wis I will also be taking part in my accountabilibudies challenges on a daily and weekly basis. So without further ado (Time to get ready for NaNoWriMo)

Main Quest: Lose 10 pounds I am currently at 284. 10 is nice and round and easy to grade. A: 10 – 9 pounds B: 8 pounds C: 7 pounds All points will be allocated to Constitution. Quest 1: Strength Train 3x a week. I will break down the strength training through a combination of the recruit workout and the bodyweight workouts in the academy. The following is how the grading will work: A: 18 workouts B: 15 – 17 workouts C: 12 – 14 workouts All points will be allocated to Strength Quest 2: Do Yoga 3x a week I am not flexible at all, so time to try and change that. I will be using the Yoga nerd fitness routines for this. Similar to the strength training, I will grade this as follows A: 18 workouts B: 15 – 17 workouts C: 12 – 14 workouts All points will be allocated to Dexterity Quest 3: Run/Walk 50 miles I need to start walking and running more. Ideally by the end of this challenge I will be running more than walking. The following is how these points will be allocated: A: 50 miles B: 45 – 49 miles C: 40 – 44 miles All points will be allocated to Stamina Quest 4: Potus Aqua I don’t drink water. Ever. This is neither healthy nor good. So I will be looking to add water, ideally replacing soda with water (or seltzer). I will look to average 60 ounces a day. The following is how I will grade it: A: Average 60 ounces a day B: Average 50 – 59 ounces a day C: Average 40 – 49 ounces a day All points will be allocated to Wisdom Mid Quest Status: Lose Weight: Down 8 pounds to 276.4; 80% There Str Train 3x: Made it 7 times: Rounded to 50% there Yoga 3x/week: Whoops, no success here. Run/Walk 50 Miles: Made it 31 Miles, Rounded to 62% there Drink Water:Average 65%, 100% Success Challenge Allocation: STR 2 CON: 2 DEX: 0 WIS: 3 STA; 2 Since I havent done any Yoga, I took none of those points.