demosthenes131

Hi! Just checking in! Did you join the latest challenge?

I agree wholeheartedly, and welcome you! You sound like you have a lot on your plate but your goals are achievable! Good luck and welcome again!

Exercise log: Saturday Walking 10 minutes at 2.5 mph Chest Press 3x10 140lbs Leg Press 3x10 160lbs Calf Press 3x10 160lbs Tuesday Walking 11 minutes at 2.5 mph, but last minute I cranked it up to 3mph Dumbbell Lateral Raise 3x8 15lbs Dummbell Standing Triceps Kickback 2x10 12.5lbs; 1x10 15lbs Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 3x10 35lbs And here is my latest blog post which is tracking my progress at Flatiron: Completing the Hardest Section so far at Flatiron School

I did recently change activity level as before the last week of December i was pretty sedentary. Since then I have worked out 3 times a week. As for diet, I don't track calories and try to just keep as low carb and healthy as possible. I have introduced some fruits and a bit more veggies in recently, and overall eat much healthier than I did before the first of the year. I recently lost another pound or two, but I seem to be stalling a bit.

Yeah, I need to take some time and ask. All I can do right now is keeping moving forward!

Thanks @Miw_Sher, @Dalish and @Fush! So, here's my checkin so far I've had two workouts this week. Tuesday Treadmill for 10 minutes at 2.5 mph for the most part but last 3 minutes I went up to 3 mph. I need to work myself up, and treadmill walking just seems different. Can't wait for spring to head outside more. Chest Press 140lbs 3x10 Leg Press 160lbs 3x10 Calf Press 160lbs 3x10 Thursday Seated Machine Row 130lbs 3x10 Leg Press 160lbs 3x10 Calf Press 160lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Raise 20lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Wood Chops 35lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Alternate Reverse Curl 35lbs 3x10 I've written two blog posts this week as I continue to work through the Flatiron School Bootcamp: Blogging Through a Problem at Flatiron School The Answer at Last: Nested Arrays and Enumerables These two posts are what I believe I will structure my talk at Bmore on Rails in March. It was an extremely hard issue and one that I learned a lot from. Water continues to be a problem with me! I want to drink more, but I just completely forget. I know that sounds weird, but it happens. I even have water outside in my car... I also want to say that I am extremely frustrated. I have worked out 3 times a week, and feel that I am pushing myself hard, as well as eating much healthier since January 1st, and I have lost around 18lbs and now I am stuck. I will acknowledge needing more veggies. Any advice? Finally, I really need to be more social here. Going to try to do this more in the next few days.

I am back for the second challenge. I feel the first challenge was very successful, though I have adjusted things going into the second challenge. I feel this is the key to continued success. First, here is my retrospective on the 1st challenge. Diet Continuing a ketogenic diet - I did pretty well, though I have went more "paleo low carb" than ketogenic. I feel it is easier to maintain and frees me to not freak out daily concerning what I'm doing. No sweets - I had one slip up during the challenge and on 2/11/2017 while out at Valentine's Day dinner I had a slice of cake. That is it! No soda - I did 100% on this! Log the foods I eat daily in MFP - Complete failure here, but I also decided it was more important to focus on eating healthy while also not fretting over daily tracking and logging. So, this was a mindful choice. Drink more water, at least 6 cups - For the most part I did well on this. Drinking more water is hard, but I do flavor my water and drink quite a bit. Mostly, however, I seem to drink more at night. I want to try to drink more during the day. Fitness Strength training 3 days a week in the gym in my building. - 100% here. Even when I didn't want to I went. I feel I have more energy and starting to enjoy it. Life Continue studying at least 30 minutes a night toward changing careers to web development - 99% here, and mainly because I may have had a few nights were I did 30 minutes at least but was distracted. I have enrolled at Flatiron Community Based Bootcamp and I'm making great progress. Attend the 2 Meetups in the area for web development - I would say 75% here but only because the one Meetup changed a date due to Valentine's Day and I missed it. I think I may focus on the Bmore on Rails Meetup currently. I am also scheduled to speak at the Meetup on their next one in March. This is nerve wracking but necessary. So, I will keep most of these and add a few. Here goes: Diet Continue eating a "paleo low carb" diet. My biggest change from this is eating cheese. I really like cheese... No soda No sweets Drink more water, especially during the day Fitness Continue strength training 3 days a week alternating with cardio the week after at the gym in my building. I may switch this day to day (so, one day of strength training, then next cardio, then next strength...). I have considered going to a gym outside of my building but for now this is not financially feasible. Life Continue to work on the Flatiron Community Based Bootcamp, at least 30 minutes a night. Attend 2 Meetups a month Speak at the Bmore on Rails Meetup in March Finally, blog three times a week on my blog about my journey to change careers. My blog is here, From MSW to Web Dev, for those interested. Be more social on NF forums Continue with Habitica Also, for now I am sticking to the Rebel class. I enjoyed everyone here and want to keep it going!

I really enjoyed these games called Lifeline. There are a few out there now. Here is a link to the first one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.threeminutegames.lifeline.google&hl=en

Last day (well, day after) of the challenge and I guess I can reflect over the whole challenge in preparation for the next one! First, my last two workouts: Thursday Seated machine row 120lbs 3x10 Leg Press 145lbs 3x10 Calf Press 145lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Raise 20lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Wood Chops 25lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Alternate Reverse Curl 25lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 3x10 Today Recumbent Bike 10 minutes Chest Press 130lbs 3x10 Leg Press 145lbs 3x10 Calf Press 145lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Rise 15lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Bent Over Row 30lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Triceps Kickback 12.5 3x10 So, thus far I have lost 18lbs and finally, at the end of this challenge I can report that due to taking on new responsibilities at work I am getting a stipend which I am going to use to join an online bootcamp to switch careers, the Flatiron Community-Powered Online Bootcamp here. I have also continued doing well on my diet, though I can tell I'm starting to fray with this at the edges. i am going to recommit to a few more principles as needed at the start of the next challenge, probably something to do with snacking. I don't think i did as well on drinking water. I drink a lot of this sugar free grape mix in water but I am not sure if this counts. I drink 6 cups, but almost all at night. I need to drink more during the day. Overall though, it was a success. Finally, I think I'm going to stick in the Rebels for now. I will try to commit to being more social throughout the challenge!

Work has been crazy stressful and I woke up late this morning, yet was able to still get my workout in. I have lost 17.8 pounds since the New Year! Chest Press 130lbs 3x10 Leg Press 130lbs 1x10; 145lbs 2x10 Calf Press 145lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Rise 20lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 2x10; 40 1x10 Cable Rope Triceps Pushdown 110lbs 2x10; 120lbs 1x10

Well, i worked out this morning and did well on the diet and life goals. I did have a minor slip-up while shopping for groceries, however. Someone had a sample thing out and I couldn't resist trying a Hershey Crunch bar sample! Anyways, here is my workout log: Chest Press 130lbs 3x10 Leg Press 130lbs 3x10 Calf Press 130lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Rise 20lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 2x10; 40lbs 1x10 Dumbbell Bent Over Row 30lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Triceps Kickback 12.5 2x10; 15lbs 1x10

I got in both of my exercises this week, as well as maintaining my low carb diet and study time! I'll be honest. I DID NOT want to get up and do these exercises either day. I pushed through it, however, and I am proud of my ability to get up and get it done. Tuesday Chest Press 130lbs 3x10 Leg Press 130lbs 3x10 Calf Press 130lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Rise 15lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 3x10 Cable Rope Triceps Pushdown 110lbs 3x10 Wednesday Seated machine row 110lbs 3x10 Leg Press 130lbs 3x10 Calf Press 130lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Raise 15lbs 3x8 Dumbbell Wood Chops 25lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Alternate Reverse Curl 25lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 35lbs 3x10

Got in my workout yesterday and continued maintaining my study and diet! Chest Press 120lbs 3x10 Leg Press 130lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Rise 12.5lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 30lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Bent Over Row 30lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Standing Triceps Kickback 12.5 3x8

So, has Habitica helped at all?

OK, I exercised yesterday, continuing to try to mix it up a bit and utilize the dumbbells a bit more to get variety. Seated machine row 110lbs 3x10 Calf Press 115lbs 3x10 Leg Curl 70lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Lateral Raise 12.5lbs 2x8, last set 1x10 (I can actually feel this getting easier which is an amazing feeling!) Dumbbell Standing Alternate Reverse Curl 20lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Wood Chops 25lbs 3x10 Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 30lbs 3x10 Also, continuing to eat well and study daily!