Rhia Wolfe Howls at the Moon

[RhiaWolfe]

Hello everyone! I kinda bummed out of the last challenge before it ended. My apologies on that. As an update, I ended up falling off the wagon for about a week. 

 

So my husband and I bought a new mattress because the old one was making my back hurt. While the new one was super comfortable, I couldn't sleep through the night. I kept waking up over and over again. So, all week I was sleep deprived. There was one night I went to the gym as it was regularly scheduled, and I ended up breaking down crying in the middle of the gym floor. I went and got my stuff and left without working out. That's how sleep deprived I was. So, starting then I said "fuck it" and ordered a pizza. After that, the next day I had a cinnamon roll and some skittles and leftover pizza for dinner. Then after that... you get where this is going. Well, starting this week I've been doing awesome on food, not so much on the gym. 

 

 

So, I'm going to go ahead and start this challenge with my totem: The Wolf. This challenge will be wolf themed, so bring on all the awesome wolf pictures and gifs! For me, the wolf is a symbol for my ferocious nature and need to fight through my challenges as well as protect those close to me. I can also be cute, fluffy, and cuddly at times. Hehe... but I also can bite.  

 

 

I am also going to have this challenge extend through 2 challenges so to speak. So for this challenge set and next challenge set, I'm going to continue to have the same goals to try and change my habits. The reason for this is because I feel that 4 weeks really isn't enough for me. I'm going to turn it in to 8-10 weeks instead (if you include zero week) to try and get those good habits going. I haven't been successful in getting back to where I was, so I'm trying to change it up a bit while still having similar goals. I'm also going to make some goals I plan to reach by the end of 2017 and I want to have my challenges be a way to get me there. 

 

So, here's the thing. This first week I am not going to the gym because I'm actually trying to get ready for Epic Nerd Camp (ENC) (Not affiliated with Nerd Fitness). I leave on Saturday and will be back on Wednesday night. This week I'm packing and getting everything ready, so I really don't have time for the gym. I AM trying to walk more during the week though while at work. That's one of my goals. Moving more. However, I'll get to that in a minute. 

 

So let's get this started!!!!!

 

Goals for the end of 2017:

 

Spoiler

• Finish 2 more classes towards my MBA degree
• Have a firm habit established of working out at least 3 times a week
• Have a firm habit established of meal planning
• Try 7 new healthy recipes
• Eat at least 1 vegetables daily
• Get at least 10,000 steps in daily
• Lose 1 pants size
• Wake up early enough as to not have to rush to get to work on time

 

I think these are goals I can reasonably accomplish in the next 4 months. The hardest ones are going to be the last two. I'm going to up my game though and fight to get there! I haven't lost any weight in a long while. It's time to push harder! 

 

 

Goals for this Challenge:

 

Goal 1: No more than 2 variances per week

 

A variance in this case is considered anything that is not healthy. If I go out to eat, but I choose a healthier option than I normally would, that does not count as a variance. If I have a sweet treat or dessert, that counts as a variance. No more than 2 per week (Excluding my vacation week). 

 

Goal 2: Work out 3 times per week

 

I think I've been looking at this the wrong way, so I'm going to change it up for now. In the past my goal has been to go to the gym 2-4 times a week depending on the challenge. If there's some reason I can't make it to the gym, I instead just don't work out at all. For this challenge I'm going to consider doing body weight exercises at home or swimming laps in my pool a work out as long as it is at least 30 minutes of continuous activity. 

 

Goal 3: get at least 7,000 steps a day

 

One of my problems I think is that I've stopped getting up and moving. I need to get up and move more. At work, I sit at a desk all day. I need to get up during the day and move around. When I do that I have more energy and can take care of more things. I have more energy and am more productive. So, to start, I'm going to try and get back to doing at least 7,000 steps a day. 

 

Goal 4: Report to my Accountabilibuddies daily

 

I will not only be updating this every day that I can, I will talk on chat with my accountabilibuddies every day and tell them what I am going to do to set myself up for success that day. We do that most days, but I have been slacking on checking in with them. I think with more support I'll be more successful. 

 

Ok, let's do this!!!!

 

 

[Maigs]

I'm here!

 

Food really is 90% of the battle. I know it's said a lot, but it's because it's so true. So good on you for putting a stop to your off week and getting your eating back on track even if the gym hasn't followed quite yet

[starpuck]

Great plan chica!  I also like that you set some goals for the last quarter of 2017.   

 

I'm not sure how big your office is, or how easy it is for you to get extra steps through the day - but for me hitting 10k a day on a day I am not planning an actual 3 mile outing, is sooooo impossible.    Even on days that I pace the office like a polar bear at the zoo... I couldn't come home with more than 5000.       Now that's not to discourage you!  Not in the least!  But!   Since you're building habits to get you to that 10k- you might want to see if there is a spot to get an honest 20 minute walk in per day.  Because that will go SO far in helping you with those numbers on the steps.

 

Awesome as always my apprentice!    Looking forward to watching your journey some more!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along again as well. Did you ever get the sleep sorted out?

[Elastigirl]

I so don't function well on low sleep, hope yours is better now. Great challenge

[RhiaWolfe]

2 hours ago, Maigahane said:

I'm here!

 

Food really is 90% of the battle. I know it's said a lot, but it's because it's so true. So good on you for putting a stop to your off week and getting your eating back on track even if the gym hasn't followed quite yet

 

Yep, and food is where I have been falling behind hard core. I HAVE to get that back on track, and so far I"m doing awesome. I'm not going to start trying to back track on what I"ve done so far this week. My challenge starts today! I will update everyone tomorrow how I have done today.  

 

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

Great plan chica!  I also like that you set some goals for the last quarter of 2017.   

 

I'm not sure how big your office is, or how easy it is for you to get extra steps through the day - but for me hitting 10k a day on a day I am not planning an actual 3 mile outing, is sooooo impossible.    Even on days that I pace the office like a polar bear at the zoo... I couldn't come home with more than 5000.       Now that's not to discourage you!  Not in the least!  But!   Since you're building habits to get you to that 10k- you might want to see if there is a spot to get an honest 20 minute walk in per day.  Because that will go SO far in helping you with those numbers on the steps.

 

Awesome as always my apprentice!    Looking forward to watching your journey some more!

 

I'm starting off slow as far as getting in my steps. Right now I'm going to see how 7k steps goes. My plans are as follows:

 

1. Get in 250 steps every hour while at work. 250 x 9 hours = 2250 steps. Not a bad start, and this is easy for me to do. 

2. Take a walk each 15 minute break and at least 30 minute walk during lunch. (I was doing this regularly there for a while and I just stopped).

3. Take any opportunity to walk I can. Instead of taking the golf cart down the street, I'll walk. 

4. If I'm going to the gym, I should be able to get my steps in on the elliptical. 

5. If not going to the gym and dont' have my steps in, do some domestic rangering or go for a walk in the neighborhood while listening to music or audio book. 

 

I have a plan on how to make this happen. Now, if I don't make 10k EVERY day, but let's say... at least more than half of the week, I will call this a success at the end of the year. I'm looking at progress. 10k will be difficult, but if it wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be a challenge! I think it's doable. I'm not sure if I'll keep it at 10k after I get there, but I want to know that I can do it. When I get there, I'll reassess and if it's taking up too much of my time, I'll adjust!

 

 

See what I did there? Hehe...

 

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along again as well. 

 

Welcome back Tank!!! I saw some pictures of the wedding, and it looked amazingly fun! I hope you had a great time and a very heartfelt congratulations to you!

 

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Did you ever get the sleep sorted out?

 

12 minutes ago, Elastigirl said:

I so don't function well on low sleep, hope yours is better now. Great challenge

 

So, I did get the sleep thing figured out. So, we ended up taking the mattress back and getting a new one. Now, I'm able to sleep, but if I stay in bed too long I still have back problems. It's not as bad as the original mattress as far as back pain goes and it's not as bad as the first one we bought as far as lack of sleep. A pretty decent compromise if I do say so myself. 

 

[Broba Fett]

Get those steps in yo!
 

[-Key-]

I feel your pain with trying to get walking in having a desk job. Good luck! Following!

[Nymeria]

I'm here to support a fellow wolf!  I'm glad you managed to get the sleep issues sorted out.  At least for me, if the sleep is poor, everything else falls off track, too.

 

[Wild Wolf]

Wolves are just OK....

 

LOL, who am I kidding, I love wolves!! This is a great challenge, Rhia. The goals are solid and the plan is all laid out and guess what? I know you have it in you to keep this upward trend of taking care of things. Compartmentalize. Execute the plan. Rinse and Repeat. 

 

 

You got dis!

 

Wolf

[RhiaWolfe]

20 hours ago, Broba Fett said:

Get those steps in yo!
 

 

Oh yeah! I'm working on it and doing good so far! I'm rockin' it! Or should I say... I'm walkin' it! 

 

 

20 hours ago, -Key- said:

I feel your pain with trying to get walking in having a desk job. Good luck! Following!

 

It's hard! I'm having to try and remember to walk every hour and during my break times. It's not easy, but I'm trying to get those steps in! The plan is to start at 7,000 this challenge, then next challenge 8,000, then 9,000 and so on. We'll see how it goes! 

 

Welcome to the Pack! 

 

19 hours ago, Nymeria said:

I'm here to support a fellow wolf!  I'm glad you managed to get the sleep issues sorted out.  At least for me, if the sleep is poor, everything else falls off track, too.

 

 

NEW WOLF FRIEND!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Yeah, when I was having sleep issues, I was really having difficulty with EVERYTHING. Since that's been sorted out, I feel so much better and feel like I can accomplish a lot more.  

 

2 minutes ago, Wild Wolf said:

Wolves are just OK....

 

LOL, who am I kidding, I love wolves!! This is a great challenge, Rhia. The goals are solid and the plan is all laid out and guess what? I know you have it in you to keep this upward trend of taking care of things. Compartmentalize. Execute the plan. Rinse and Repeat. 

 

 

You got dis!

 

Wolf

 

Woo!!!! Welcome Wolf Friend! Glad you could make it! 

 

 

I'm excited about this challenge. There's going to be a brief hiccup while I'm on vacation, but that's to be expected. I plan on crushing it when I get back! I'm feeling good about this challenge. I need to keep up my momentum. 

 

 

[Laghail]

[RhiaWolfe]

Week 0: Wednesday, August 9, 2017

 

Ok, update time!!!

 

Goal 1: No more than 2 variances per week

 

I had no variances yesterday whatsoever!

 

Breakfast:

2 fried eggs

2 slices of bacon

handful of grapes

 

Morning Snack:

1 babybel cheese

1 boiled egg

 

Lunch:

Turkey Sandwich

Apple

 

Afternoon Snack:

12 almonds

small bowl of strawberries, black berries, and raspberries

 

Dinner:

Burrito Bowl

 

After Dinner Snack: 

Home cooked popcorn

 

Not bad if I do say so myself... and I do. Hehe. 

 

Goal 2: Work out 3 times per week

 

I'm not going to count my 30 minute walk at lunch as a workout, because I actually did that to try and get in my steps. The workout I'm shooting for is in addition to that. So, no working out for the day, but I expected as much. I don't plan on getting back to my work out regiment until after I get back from vacation. It's so crazy busy trying to get ready that I really don't have time for much of anything. I'll see if I can get in a little something this evening, maybe a bit of yoga before bedtime, even if it's just 15 minutes. 

 

I'll let you know if I manage my yoga. If I do, that will count for tonight! 

 

Goal 3: get at least 7,000 steps a day

 

My final total for the day was 7,738 steps! Made it my first day! Strong start, let's keep it going! 

 

Goal 4: Report to my Accountabilibuddies daily

 

I reported to my RAGErs group and my guide, Master StarPuck! For the first day, saying what I'm doing to succeed and reporting my status towards my goals is helping and I hope to continue the trend. Yay for support groups! Also, thank you all that are following my challenge for offering encouragement and suggestions to keep me on track. You guys are the best! 

 

 

I have to admit, that I'm a little worried about my vacation derailing how well I have been doing. Luckily, there will be a lot of physical activity, but I'm sure my food intake will NOT be on par. I'll need all the help and support to get back on it! 

[RhiaWolfe]

44 minutes ago, Laghail said:

 

 

[starpuck]

Start practicing positive word speech thingies!      Talk about how you WILL do well on your vacation.      When offered something that will be off par, instead of saying to yourself, "I can't have that," choose instead to say, "I do not eat that."   (That subtle shift in phrasing can help reform words associated with denial and frustration, and instead replaces them with words that build up the idea YOU are in control of it.)   {Now that said, don't deny the vacation indulgence when the opportune time comes, but don't use the vacation in and of itself to be an excuse/reason/validation to throw out the momentum/hardwork you've already tallied up leading into it.}  [For my trip, I am following my usual pattern of; eat pb&j mornings, maybe some hard boiled eggs if we got a good mini fridge.   Sandwiches, grapes, bananas and whole grain granola for snacks out and about.  All the water.    Nuts.   Dinner is the indulgence meal- but only one night <we're only in the area for 3 days> can be no holds barred indulgence.  The rest of them have to be mindful indulgences.]  |Mostly I just wanted to see how many different bracket types I could use in one paragraph!|  /The answer is 6 if we count this one./   Huzzah!

 

Great job on the steps so far!  I only got my 10k because I had hockey last night hehehe!

 

[Xena]

I really like how you laid out your goals for the challenge, and they will help you get to your goals for the year!

[Cheetah]

That's a lot of wolfs.

 

Yummers!

 

Good challenge!  Really solid planning; I'm sure you'll do great!

 

[Fonzico]

Whoopa! Doing the things, being awesome, I love it! I need a back on track challenge too...

Have fun at camp!!

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[trickstur]

The goals look great. Have an awesome type at Epic Nerd camp, and I'm so glad you got the sleep thing figured out. It's so so hard when you can't sleep well. You'll have to tell us all about camp when you get back  

[trickstur]

Also, I can't forget to add a wolf picture!

 

[NeverThatBored]

Hey Rhia!! Woohoo nerd camp!! I hope you have a great time! 

[starpuck]

On 8/10/2017 at 10:19 PM, Cheetah said:

That's a lot of wolfs.

 

Yummers!

 

Good challenge!  Really solid planning; I'm sure you'll do great!

 

 

All I can think of when I see this picture, is that this guy is coming home to wife-wolf, who answers the door with a shocked voice and says, "Oh deer!"

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

How was your week 1?

[RhiaWolfe]

I'M BACK!!!!! 

 

So, guys, Epic Nerd Camp was just that... EPIC! I had soooooooooo much fun, I can't even tell you. I've posted a bunch of pictures in the Spoiler below with some comments on what happened. It was so much fun! I wish I could have stayed longer/done more... but honestly, by the end of it I was exhausted. I was getting around 18,000 steps a day on average. One day I got 22,000. It was insane! It was crazy fun though! 

 

 

Spoiler

 

On the plane to Nerd Camp. You can't see it too well in the picture, but there's a double rainbow there. 

 

 

My Quidditch team! It was a fun game. A LOT of running around. My team won 2/3 matches. I played Beater and Seeker. 

 

 

My friend and I ended up doing a jump picture. Totally looks like I"m riding a broom!

 

Mermaid swimming lessons! It's hard to see, but below the water my friend and I are wearing mono-fins so we have to swim like a mermaid. 

 

 

Guys, I did it!!!!! I got to a low enough weight that I got to ride a horse for the first time!!!!! It was awesome! This handsome devil is Elvis. He was very patient with me for it being my first time. 

 

 

Only at Nerd camp... IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!

 

 

The next few pictures are from the Supernatural LARP we did. It was so much fun! Here is the hunter's box with holy water, salt, and all sorts of goodies! 

 

 

Got an anti-possession tattoo to keep me safe! 

 

 

Laying a trap for a demon. 

 

 

Gotcha!!!! She didn't like it when I kept spraying her with holy water. Hehe... 

 

 

Nerd Karaoke!!!!!

 

 

My friends and I having a little drunk fun at Karaoke. 

 

 

Drunk selfie is best selfie.

 

 

Wizard Dueling!!!! I won! 

 

 

Luckily the T-Rex has a short reach with his sword... 

 

 

So, this trip was for my friend's Bachelorette Party. The camp staff found out and the cooks made her a cookie cake. 

 

 

They also had a couple of guys give her a pseudo strip tease... it was hilarious. 

 

 

Cookie Cake!!!!

 

 

I spent a lot of time in the game room. They had all kinds of games you could check out. I actually won two card games in a raffle they held! 

 

 

Here we are playing Betrayal at the House on the Hill. Awesome game, btw. I went and bought it when we got home. 

 

 

German Long Sword fighting!!!! 

 

 

I did a mosaic art class. I made the golden snitch. 

 

 

My snitch and my friend's mario mushroom. 

 

 

More gaming in the game room! 

 

 

Even more gaming in the game room with my friend and bunk mate! I made some good friends there. They don't live TOO far away either! Two of them are in Texas. 

 

 

 

 

 

ENC was so much fun. I want to go next year. I encourage all of you to look it up and go next year if you can (unless it clashes with Camp NF, that is.) 

 

So, needless to say, while on vacation I did not do well as far as sticking to my goals (it was vacation after all). So, today I start the sugar detox and getting back on my goals! I will post tomorrow how I did today, but so far I've set myself up to succeed. I'm doing good so far. No crazy cravings. Hopefully I can keep this up! 

 

Let's do this! 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Looks like you had a blast.