The Archer

Thanks! I ended up gaining a pound [emoji53] but I'll stick with it for a bit. I do feel better, especially now that I'm working out more consistently.

No one? Well tomorrow I go for my weekly weigh in, so I'll update with that info. I've upped my calories to 1600-1700, mostly by adding a serving of carbs to my breakfast, snack, and dinner. Before I was just having traditional carbs at lunch, usually rice, but having sweet potato at dinner. Now I'm having toast with my eggs in the mornings, oatmeal in my yogurt for my snack, and rice with lunch and dinner, along with sweet potato at lunch. And a portion of meat/protein at each meal and veggies/salad at lunch and dinner.

Beginning in April, I have accounted for every single thing I've eaten, using the livestrong app. My goal was to lose weight and become more fit, but I want this to be a lifestyle change and not just a crash diet. My bff has also been doing the same, and as we're both very competitive, it's worked out well. From when I started, I've been eating an average of 1300 cal/day. I usually eat around 1200 one day, then up it to 1350 or 1450 the next, and try not to have two 1200 days in a row. I'm generally active, but last week I went back to my indoor weight/cardio program that I do for the winter, as I tend to be less active outdoors. I was hoping that would help me lose the last few pounds I'd like, but I seemed to have stalled out for the past month. My bff says it's time to up my calories before I'll lose any more, but it just seems so counter intuitive! Any thoughts? Here's my stats: 30 yo female 5'9" Orig weight: 165 lbs Last weigh in: 138 lbs Goal: 135 lbs Body fat %: 23.8% Typically I hit my macros, the only one I struggle with is my carbs. I try to alternate high/low carb days, and have also done a bit of intermittent fasting. I eat clean, lots of vegetables, hardly any sugar, and use healthy fats and carbs. Lunch is my main meal, and I try to have sweet potato or a similar carb at dinner, rather than rice. Have I plateaued? Or have I reached my healthy weight? I would love to see my abs lol, but I don't want to get my body fat % much lower.

Here's my most recent stats...lost 3lbs!! Lots of work to do yet.

I've been doing awful checking in, life seems to have gotten in the way. My diet has been going well, still sticking around the 1200-1500 mark. I'm going to do a weight check in today after work, so I'll post the results from that. The cutting out sugar has gone well! I allow myself a small treat now and then, but for the most part I haven't been indulging. I'm going to sit the next challenge out and regroup, I'm super busy involved in different activities with church and a recital coming up, but I'll refocus and join in the following challenge. My next life level up needs to involve my job. I'm stagnating and super frustrated, and thing's need to change. I'm living pay cheque to pay cheque, have school debt to pay off, and still live at home with my folks. I would very much like to stay in this city, but job opportunities are limited. I'm very involved in our church, and they're as much family to me as my actual family, and while I could leave and I would be fine, I have a few very close friends that I really don't want to leave. And I'm single, and would also like that to change lol. Prospects are very limited here! So to sum it up, I'm incredibly frustrated with my life, feel like I'm not going anywhere, and would like to change that.

Thanks! I'm really trying to focus on my diet, and now cutting calories. I'm trying to stick around 1200-1500. Which essentially cuts out any processed food, even if it doesn't have sugar. It's amazing how many calories are in that stuff! I've gotten out biking a few times, but my weightlifting has suffered lately. I now like to say I have bum shoulder :/ it's pretty much useless! I have to be very careful with what exercises I do. And I've been very slack on posting, so I do need to work on checking in more!! I've decided to start bullet journalling as well. Mostly because I feel like I'm always busy, and would really like to know what it is I'm doing with all my time lol.

Lol I should definitely do that, I have trouble finding my thread again! The past week and a half has been a blur. I'm doing great with the no sugar, so-so with working out, and no go on the box jump building. I lowered my body fat percentage by half a percent and lost 3 pounds though, so I'm pretty happy about that! I found a protein powder I like, and a smoothee concoction that works for me. I also found powdered peanut butter, and it has a fraction of the calories! Hardly any fat in it, which makes all the difference. I'll give that a go for a bit and see what I think. Good to meet you Taffy! I've only been out your way a couple times, I'm always amazed at how big Ontario is!

Just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It's starting to clear up, but super messy with all the snow!

Awesome, thank you! I've found a few different ones now, most of them pretty pricey! I'll take a look there as well. On the sugar note, I have to confess, I did slip up and have some ice cream last night. We're in the middle of an ice storm and I've been staying in town (I live a bit outside the city) and have been playing chauffeur for my sister, who is finishing up exams. I still have my studded winter tires on and she switched to her summers, so she's pretty much at the mercy of my good graces. However, the point of this is that both her and her roommate have atrocious diets and a general lack of actual food acceptable for human consumption. So today I will venture out and buy real food. After chipping an inch of ice off my entire car :/ I've been doing well continuing my weights, and so-so with the viola practice. I'll be doing more of that today, as I did bring my viola into town with me. Plans for the plyometric box have been attained, and provisions for the supplies have been made. Once the ice is gone, I can bring the truck in to pick up the plywood. Next challenge I think I need to work on my finances. I'm recently graduated from post secondary, work at a just-above-minimum wage job, and live pay cheque to pay cheque. At this rate I won't pay off any debt and live at home forever. Not what I would like. At all. We have a slight lull in the snow/rain/ice storm, but we're supposed to get another bout of it this afternoon, which may very well lead to extensive power outages, as the lines and trees are already heavy laden with ice. Can't wait. #aprilshowers

Thanks Salinger! It will still be difficult lol, it's in so much! One day at a time

Here's my checklist for the month. I decided to hand bomb this one. I'm also going to continue with my strength training, but may switch from three days to four a week to try for the month. We'll see how it goes fitting in swimming and hopefully an exercise class. The three black days are my freebies, when I'll be incognito. I'm going on a quick trip, weekend away with the bestie, and may indulge in a few sweets.

Lately I feel like I've been eating an excessive amount of sugar/candy/chocolate, so my main challenge will be to cut out sugar for the month. I'm going on a three day trip mid-challenge, and this is an annual bestie trip, so for those three days I'll be on a don't ask/don't tell diet lol, those will be my cheat days. I'll still remain reasonable, but I would like to just go and enjoy this trip. I'll be off the grid Main quest: Cut out processed sugar. Honey on occasion is acceptable, and fruit sugar (not fruit juice, just actual fruit) is fine as well. Any sort of sugar in processed foods will not be tolerated. Secondary quest #1: (isn't that an oxymoron!) Get outside! It's beautiful out, spring is here, time to start exercising outside. This will entail either biking, hiking, or walking outdoors. Ideally twice a week. Secondary quest#2: Build a plyometrics box. I used to do box jumps up the stairs, but I've started exercising before the tenants upstairs (aka my parents) are awake, and I don't think they would appreciate the noise involved in jumping up the stairs. So I'll build a contraption that I can use for box jumps in my room, and that I can add height to. If I happen to finish this, I'd also like to attempt to build a squat rack as well. Level up quest: Practice my viola!!! I have a recital coming up May 20th, and I actually need to practice and prepare for this. I would like to go through each of my three songs at least once four times a week. Not including my lesson, so no cheating. (Note to self) I've cut out sugar before, for months at a time, so I know I can accomplish this. I just need the willpower, especially around my TOM. That's my weakest point, and I'll need to devise a strategy. Maybe have salty snacks instead, like popcorn. I also like snacking on frozen blueberries, so that's an option as well. On a side note, I'm looking for a healthy sugar free non soy based protein powder, if anyone has suggestions!

I still have to work out my grade for this challenge, but I guesstimate it's about 75%. I didn't miss any of my strength training, which was the main focus of my challenge, so I'm pretty happy about that! I'm take a bit of a break this week, still went to the pool but not much other than that. Tonight I'm going smelting lol, and I'll be impressed if many people know what that is. It's my annual spring adventure! In the next couple of weeks I'll be getting a membership at the complex, and prob incorporating some of their programs into my challenge. As it warms up, I'd like to do more outside, but still focus on my strength training. I also got my slackline set up and tried that out...that will take some work! On the non-fitness front, I'm on the prowl for a car. I hate car shopping, and if I could get by without a vehicle, I would. A necessary evil.

My sister and I joined a drop in boxing class at the pool this morning. Not in the pool, of course but at the complex. It was really good! It incorporated a lot of cardio. I'm thinking I'll get a membership and hang out there before work more often. Just makes for an early morning...4:45! It's a nice addition to my strength training though.

The strength training is going well! The drinking water is still hovering around 50%, as is the viola practice lol. I'm making good progress on the Jim Wendler book, and have gotten through the bulk of it. I'll begin rereading it as soon as I finish. I think I'd like to focus on my diet more next challenge, and am on the look out for a eating guide (not diet) that will assist with my strength training goals. Something geared more toward the science of it. Any suggestions? I lean toward a paleo type diet, but not super strict at this point. I enjoy having a physical book and being able to flip through it and study it. Haha also looking for a good ground training book for working on basics with my horse, if anyone has suggestions for that! Everyone is going to dvds lol, or online courses.