RedCedar

I too, am lazy about updating some weeks. I've noticed my goals are more present IRL when I'm more engaged in the community here, but sometimes this part becomes a distraction. Use it as much as it's helpful for you, just don't go dipping out on us again Yay progress!!!!

You're crushing it! Have fun with the kids and good luck on Saturday

Week 4 is off to a good start so far. I'm operating from a mindset of "making up" for last week. This can be a dangerous mental game for me, as it can lead to beating myself up over past "mistakes." The reality is that I prioritized other responsibilities over my health. While this is not a sustainable path to that long-term goal of health and happiness, one off week doesn't define me or my success. Or so I keep trying to remind myself. We had a staff appreciation potluck last night, and once again I ate to the point of discomfort. Fighting feelings of guilt, and instead focusing on how fun it was and doing better the rest of the week. I could have done without the bread or slice of pizza, but I don't regret the Irish Car Bomb cupcakes one bit. Delicious! So far I've gotten one pushups work out done, and two Insanity sessions. If the weather keeps clearing up I might even get to use my forest gym! Pushups: 3/4 2/3 1/3 1/4 0/3 0/3 | 7/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 2/2 0/2 0/2 | 4/12 Desserts: D-Hall: 2/2 2/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 7/12 All Other: 0 8.5 0 2 0 0 | 10.5 Clean: 1/1 0/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 2/6

Week 3 Rundown Despite stumbling past the milestone of 100 pushups in one workout, I let the double I was working take over my life. Teaching and entertaining a large group of rambunctious 5th graders from 7:30 am to 9pm (with prep time on top of that) took about every last drop of energy I had. We have several new instructors on staff who are great, but just haven't been around long enough to recognize or know how to fill all those little inevitable gaps in a program. As a result I found myself picking up some extra slack and stepping up big. This week was full of positive reinforcement that I love what I do and I'm damn good at it, while being utterly exhausting. I fell into that old trap of avoiding exercise and giving in to the temptation of the ever-present dessert mountain in the break room. Well, at least I got some cleaning done before my hectic week started! Pushups: 3/4 2/3 1/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 6/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 4/12 Desserts: D-Hall: 2/2 2/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 7/12 All Other: 0 8.5 0 0 0 0 | 8.5 Clean: 1/1 0/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 2/6

This makes all the sense. I think you're a very brave Fish already for admitting the less than perfect week, and recommitting to making this one better. You got this Fishface!

Whew!!! Just struggled my way through week 4 day two level 2 of the 100 pushups workout and.... DID 104 total push ups! (Over 5 sets) The goal was 113, I made up the difference in two additional sets. DAMN my arms are tired and shaky. Good reminder to stop putting these workouts off, man that was tough. Pushups: 3/4 2/3 1/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 6/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 4/12 Desserts: D-Hall: 2/2 2/2 1/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 5/12 All Other: 0 8.5 0 0 0 0 | 8.5 Clean: 1/1 0/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 2/6

I second this! A few folks have asked me lately how I'm managing to balance grad school and working out. "Insanity is keeping me sane" has become my mantra. It also helps me remember exercising will make it better when I'm feeling too stressed out to work out. You got this!

Accountability, engaged! I'm working a double tomorrow, so I may not be able to find time to check in, but you can be sure I'll check in later this week. Go get 'em Fish! I'm rooting for you!

I guess it's time for a WEEK 2 RECAP One 100-pushups workout shy of the goal this week, but made up for it with an extra Insanity session. The dessert goal fell completely off the table. I thought I had a bad day on Thursday with a cookie breakfast and seconds on an ice cream sundaes, then I went back home for the weekend and hang out with my little brother. My mom baked a whole batch of cupcakes and two cakes (one was an anniversary cake for my grandparents), my brother shared his one pound bag of gummy worms, sour patch kids and other assorted delicious candy, and to top it all off, I went to my friends' restaurant before leaving town, and she brought me a dish of amazing local ice cream I didn't ask for but inhaled anyway. I wandered so far off the no/low sugar path that I'm making a new category for counting. I'm keeping track of my desserts in the dinning hall, and keeping track of all other desserts. I'm keeping things separate to avoid the "well I failed, better go eat some more sweet things now" mentality. Maybe I'll find some way to tract the non-dinning hall desserts as negative overall points or something. Didn't manage to clean my room last week, but I did tidy up today a bit. Now if you'll excuse me, it's finally a sunny day out and I can't wait to go enjoy it! Week Two: Pushups: 3/4 2/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 5/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 4/12 Desserts: D-Hall: 2/2 2/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 5/12 All Other: 0 8.5 0 0 0 0 | 8.5 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/6

Thanks Fultonator, that's the kind of reminder I need to get back on schedule, I've been skipping workouts again, but you're right, I'm SO close to 100 total! I've started (and quit) the program more times than I can remember over the last few years. This is my third attempt since October. I started with 15 reps, and the first round made it through week one and the first two workouts of week two on level 3. In the last challenge I tried again, made it one workout further, finishing week two on level 3. I retook the initial test at the start of this challenge, because I figured a month off would have slowed my progress. It did, but not by much. I had an initial test of 24 in a row! The app I'm using to track it suggested I start on week three of level 2. I've made it through week 3, and have done the first workout of week 4. I'll do the second today, so today should be the day I break 100 pushups in a workout, hopefully in 5 sets, but we'll see. So I guess that's the long answer, but I feel like especially these last three attempts have really helped me make steady progress. The short answer is about 6 hodge-podge weeks, starting from ~10-15.

Thank you Judge Fishface, but after this weekend at home for my little brother's (13th, a teenager!!!) birthday, that smaller than my palm sized cookie is the least of my worries. I think I'm going to need to start a separate category for dinning hall desserts and all other desserts. I'm pretty sure I blew through my entire challenge quota this weekend alone. >.< I often try to manage my ADD with timer-focused bursts ("Self Control" app is the only way I get homework done), so this might be just the thing. What usually happens is I get a wild hair and go on somewhat of a spree, it gets about halfway done, then I run out of steam. Slowly the clutter creeps back in and piles up. After a while I notice but feel helpless and overwhelmed. Something sparks the spree, I get halfway done/can see the floor and quit. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I just finished with one such spree. Clothes are in the wash, floor clear except a few corners, swept and made my bed. It's the maintaining part I struggle with the most.

Good start to the morning so far, another 100 pushups workout complete! Aiming for 97 reps over the 5 sets, managed 94 a bit sloppy and finished the last 3 reps in a 6th set. Heading down valley for my little brother's birthday tonight so probably won't get the chance to tidy up this week. Pushups: 3/4 2/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 4/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 3/12 Dessert: 2/2 3.5/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 5.5/12 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/

Another round of Insanity in the bag, but only after a cookie with breakfast and followed promptly by a second trip through the ice cream sundae bar for dessert. I have to count today as at least 2 desserts, but maybe I can get away with calling the cookie .5 instead of a whole 3 desserts in one day? I know it's a bit of semantics, but it makes me feel better than facing the idea of already being halfway through my dessert goals for the whole challenge mid-way through week 2. On a more positive note, I made a really amazing massaged kale salad for dinner that everyone loved! Pushups: 3/4 1/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 4/20 Forest!: 1/2 3/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 3/12 Dessert: 2/2 3.5/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 5.5/12 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/6

Good work making your protein goal again! That's like 4 or 5 days in a row now, right? Awesome! Any plans for this upcoming weekend, or just glad it's coming?

Great work on week one Fish! Keep going strong

My handwriting is barely legible with my dominant hand! That's pretty cool the pen doesn't feel as awkward, I bet you'll be fooling folks in no time! And nice work with the core routine, makes me sore just thinking about it!

There's more? No, I haven't seen it, I still can't believe it a thing either. SeaLevel I thought this kind of "workout" would be right up your alley, isn't this what dancing workouts look like? Once I got over her June Cleaver workout pearls and outfit, it was really fun to prance around the room, being silly with folks from work. Glad you've already been challenged to this, I thought of you immediately! Pleeeease post a video!!!!

I forgot to mention the serious sugar craving I was having last night, that I cured with a big mug of hot chocolate. Even though it wasn't in the dinning hall, that still has to count as a dessert. Started today off with a good pushups workout, and then dragged myself off the couch to Insanity tonight. A few more folks showed up tonight to check it out, so we decided to break in the newbies with "pure cardio". It's usually a tough one for me, but with a few extra guys around that think they're all that, I had extra incentive to push myself and not slack off. I was pretty impressed with how well I did. And then, as a, um "cool down" or maybe just for fun we did this... http://youtu.be/o-50GjySwew Not sure what to count that as? Just silliness I guess Pushups: 3/4 1/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 4/20 Forest!: 1/2 2/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 3/12 Dessert: 2/2 1/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 3/12 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/6

I'll also be thru hiking the PCT in 2015! (northbound) I've done shorter backpacking trips, a few 10 days and some shorter routes. This summer I'll be leading a few backcountry trips for teens.

Well played sir, well played. I've yet to make a mediocre impression on any SO's parental units. It either goes really well, or terribly. Makes for fun times when one parent loves me and the other doesn't agree.

Mid-week mid-day update Just finally finished the 3rd and last workout out 100 pushups program's week three, level 2 - 88 pushups over 5 sets! Whew! Feeling sore all ready, but it feels good to get back into it. Insanity scheduled for 5pm again today. Pushups: 3/4 1/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 4/20 Forest!: 1/2 1/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 2/12 Dessert: 2/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 2/12 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/6

"Ball crunches" wasn't the only one too good to pass up. My mind is stuck, as usual, in the gutter. So with that, welcome back!

Maybe it's a sign I've been watching too much "Queer as Folk" lately, but I could not read "gym membership" as anything except "gay membership". In my head I was like "Damn, Mississippi is more f*cked up than I thought, queers need a membership to go outside?" Then I read it a 4th time and I got it. hahah dyslexia can be fun sometimes Good luck deciding on the job offer. I hate it when I've got two good options and can only choose one. But then again I'm a Libra and hate choosing in any situation. Sounds like a good balance for your reworked workout plan. Try not to get too down on yourself about missed workouts, especially when your body is still healing. You made really good progress just with the diet change alone during your Whole30. Even if it's not as much activity as you would like it to be, adding in some regular exercise is going to make a noticeable difference. Stick with it, the dress will be worth it

http://youtu.be/Q-acFen9458?t=25s 0:25 to 1:03 is the most relevant part. Sorry I don't know how to shorten up the video, I'm much more of a nature nerd. But you can never have too much Ellen.

Nope, no forest gym for me. Hopefully soon... I did just manage to drag myself to an Insanity session. It's been toooo long, and I'm awfully sore from shoveling all this "cascade concrete" I planned on getting back to the 100 pushups program tonight, but maybe I'd better focus on something else. Perhaps more cleaning will be in order. Pushups: 3/4 0/3 0/3 0/4 0/3 0/3 | 3/20 Forest!: 1/2 1/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 2/12 Dessert: 2/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 | 2/12 Clean: 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 | 1/6