Jlailin Will Dance Like No One's Watching

[Jlailin]

I can't believe my first challenge went by so quickly... Well, here we are at challenge number two!  I'm pretty happy with the results from my last challenge, so this challenge will be a continuation of that with a few added bonuses.

 

Goals

• Lose weight from fat/reduce measurements/build muscle
  • Body weight routine 2-3 times per week
    • Research and add progressions as needed!  (About every 5 days going by current pattern)
  • Dance classes 3 times per week (Kpop, Zumba, motown, etc.)
  • Intermittent fasting (fast for 14-16 hours and feast for 10-8 hours)
    • Batch cook a large source of protein weekly (E.G. pulled pork, chicken, steak, beans, lentils, etc.) to make healthy meals easier
  • Walk 10,000 steps at least three days a week
• Refine choreography for Cherry Bomb by NCT
• Get down the choreography basics for Ko Ko Bop by EXO
• Retain choreography for Playing with Fire, Rumor, and Signal
• Perform the fallen angel pose and hold for ten seconds

 

Bonuses

• Sketch
• Make fennel liqueur
• Pull all of last challenge's and this challenge's data into a spreadsheet to track trends

 

Stay-cation Goals (9/30 - 10/7)

I'm adding in this section after one of my best childhood friends spontaneously decided to come visit me in the first week of October!  Yay!   I live on my own, so this is going to be a mini challenge of sorts to see how well I can stick to my plans while being social.  

• Exercise 2x while she is visiting
  • Go to 2 dance classes
  • Or if I only end up being able to go to one, then do a body weight routine
• Hit 10,000 steps for 5 days (I don't think this one will be a problem, since we'll be roaming about and site seeing)
• Don't go too crazy with the over-eating
  • Keep the intermittent fasting habit up as much as possible!  If you want to do brunch the next day, have an early dinner.  (I admit that this is the one that has me the most worried.  My friend needs to eat breakfast for her medications, whilst I need to skip breakfast for my goals...  I'll still cook for her, but I'm so worried I'm going to cave if I have another person around me eating...)

[Jlailin]

Measurements - 9/11/17

 

Weight: 135.8 lbs

Neck: 13"

Shoulders: 17"

Chest: 33.5"

Bicep (R): 11"

Waist: 30.25"

Hips: 39"

Thigh (R): 22.5"

 

I find it hilarious that my starting weight is exactly the same as it was for my last challenge, but I look and feel completely different this time.

 

 

 

[Wobbegong]

14 hours ago, Jlailin said:

Perform the fallen angel pose and hold for ten seconds

Can we see a picture or a video of someone doing this for reference? I'm super curious. 

 

14 hours ago, Jlailin said:

I find it hilarious that my starting weight is exactly the same as it was for my last challenge, but I look and feel completely different this time.

Weight is a tricky beast. Since it doesn't take into account body composition or distribution, it's totally possible to see no change in your weight but dramatic changes in your shape. If you're feeling better and happier with how you look, you're on the right track! And it's good to see you taking other measurements as well to corroborate your findings.  Keep at it and change will come! 

 

Since you're doing a dance-based challenge I couldn't help but think of this...

 

Sephiroth would make a great dancer. 

[Jlailin]

1 hour ago, Wobbegong said:

Can we see a picture or a video of someone doing this for reference? I'm super curious. 

So if I do it correctly, it should look like this: 

However, I'm sure my face will not look nearly as peaceful and will instead be contorted in a mask of "OW, OW, OMG, WHY?!"  ...But it's such a pretty pose.  I've dreamed of learning it since I saw it, and now that I feel like I have some modicum of arm strength, I'm going to attempt it.  

 

1 hour ago, Wobbegong said:

Weight is a tricky beast. Since it doesn't take into account body composition or distribution, it's totally possible to see no change in your weight but dramatic changes in your shape. If you're feeling better and happier with how you look, you're on the right track! And it's good to see you taking other measurements as well to corroborate your findings.  Keep at it and change will come! 

Exactly!  My weight did jump around a bit in my last challenge, which was a little confusing.  I know I did add some fat back on there just from unhealthy weekend eating (I fail at resisting the siren call of the french fry), but the overall trend is still good.  I totally would not mind staying at my current weight if all of the unnecessary fat weight converted into muscle weight.  I would look so good.  xD 

 

1 hour ago, Wobbegong said:

Since you're doing a dance-based challenge I couldn't help but think of this...

 

Sephiroth would make a great dancer. 

Yessssssssss!  The dramatic poses!  His beautiful, long hair swishing through the air!  Plus he moves that ridiculously long sword so gracefully~  I once did a somewhat Advent Children inspired dance with a sword as a prop...  It was not nearly as pretty as Sephiroth, but I got to fangirl a lot.  xD 

 

[fleaball]

That yoga pose looks so intimidating omg. Even if I had the strength for it I'd be terrified of falling on my face. D:

[Jlailin]

@fleaball I did that the first three times I attempted it--and then I realized this was probably one of those poses where knowing the technique to enter into it was probably important.  Doing the side twist into the side crow actually helps a lot in the gentle face plant department.  When I tried it last night, it was semi-graceful, haha.

[Jlailin]

Day 1 - 9/11

Just going to jump right in today to keep up my momentum!

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 2:00pm for 17 hours and 15 minutes of fasting

- Ate kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, and rice for lunch.  For dinner I treated myself to Korean fried chicken.

- Stopped eating at 8:30pm for 6.5 hours of feasting

 

Fitness

- Well, I was supposed to have zumba class today, but I got to the gym and there was a sign saying it was cancelled.  Such a bummer.    I don't actually have a gym membership there, since I only pay for the classes, so I just had to leave.  ...I instead went wandering through H-mart, the Korean grocery store across the street and bought myself tasty, tasty Korean fried chicken as a reward for completing the last challenge.  xD

- I decided that since I wasn't going to have zumba class, I needed to hit my 10,000 step count today.  It took a ridiculous amount of will power, but when I got home, I left my fried chicken sitting in the car while I walked around my apartment complex.  Fried chicken tastes so much better with the seasoning of 10,000 steps!  Mmm.

- I ran through the choreography of Cherry Bomb with a video lead (including the crazy back bend move ), and I ran through Signal with just music.  

 

Today I told my mother about my exercise routine and intermittent fasting habit to prepare her for when I see her during my Thanksgiving vacation.  I'm still really nervous about going on vacation and undoing all my hard work.  It's so easy for me here because I live on my own, so I have complete control over when and what I eat as well as scheduling in work out time.  Thanksgiving vacation will have my dear niece and nephew clamoring for my attention all the time and all the food in the world will be shoved in front of me.  The children will likely tease me to eat more because last vacation I joked with them that I was a big, fat monster that wanted to eat everything.  ...I still do love to eat, but they probably aren't going to understand if I try to explain intermittent fasting and the fact that I'm working towards a goal.  I told my mother that I needed her on my side for this, and I think she's going to be supportive.  She still doesn't really get the whole mechanics behind the intermittent fasting, but I think she's going to support me and not try to push breakfast foods on me while I'm there.  As for work out time, I'm going to wake up early and go to the park to exercise, so I don't get distracted by the kids.  I love them, but I don't think I can focus like I need to for a work out just because I'm so used to being on my own.

 

I know it's still far away, but I'm still worried about it.  It's so easy for one week of vacation to kill momentum and all the progress.  Ergh.

 

Okay, this is getting too serious sounding.  Check out the giant zucchini I got from my coworker today!  It's longer than my thigh, wider than my forearm, and almost as tall as my torso!    Anyone have any good zucchini recipes?

 

 

 

 

[durfette]

What a cool challenge you have! I danced in college and I miss it sooo...

I can't figure out quoting using Tapatalk in my phone, so hopefully you'll get my references:

Weight is so stupid. Haha! I just had a baby and I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight (I was chubby before too, so it's not like this is an achievement!) but I still can't fit into my jeans. It's so silly.

Also, that zucchini is beautiful. I love zucchini! I like to bake it in strips with olive oil and some salt and pepper or whatever other spice you want. Or you could also shred it, drain it, and freeze it OR us it for zucchini fritters.

Sad story: at church this Sunday they had a garden table where people would leave their extra veggies they couldn't eat up that anyone could take. I grabbed two massive zucchinis and when I got home I realized they were cucumbers. [emoji24] I like cucumbers, but I have no idea what to do with that large a quantity!


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[Jlailin]

17 minutes ago, durfette said:

What a cool challenge you have! I danced in college and I miss it sooo...

Thank you!  That was actually what made me start up dancing again this year.  In the flurry of work and adult things, I had forgotten how much I loved it.  Then I saw the intro for this dance, and it was like a switch was flipped in my brain.  I had to do this again.

 

28 minutes ago, durfette said:

I can't figure out quoting using Tapatalk in my phone, so hopefully you'll get my references:

Haha, no worries.  I can totally follow your post.    Mobile is not always the most friendly of experiences when trying to use all the features--I know this well from work. 

 

31 minutes ago, durfette said:

Weight is so stupid. Haha! I just had a baby and I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight (I was chubby before too, so it's not like this is an achievement!) but I still can't fit into my jeans. It's so silly.

Congratulations on the baby!    That's one big achievement you've unlocked right there!  ...and yeah, I feel you on the jeans thing.  I have some from my skinnier days that I am hoping to one day squeeze back into...  I feel like it's a better measurement for me than my actual weight at this point. 

 

33 minutes ago, durfette said:

Also, that zucchini is beautiful. I love zucchini! I like to bake it in strips with olive oil and some salt and pepper or whatever other spice you want. Or you could also shred it, drain it, and freeze it OR us it for zucchini fritters.

OMG.  Zucchini fritters!  Those sound so good!  I think I might bake some in strips and make fritters out of the rest.  I want this day to hurry up, so that it can be dinner time already! 

 

34 minutes ago, durfette said:

Sad story: at church this Sunday they had a garden table where people would leave their extra veggies they couldn't eat up that anyone could take. I grabbed two massive zucchinis and when I got home I realized they were cucumbers. I like cucumbers, but I have no idea what to do with that large a quantity!

Oh man!  ...I did that as a young girl once.  My mother sent me to the store for zucchini, and I came back with cucumber, haha.  However, I have since learned that a wonderful thing to do with lots of cucumber is to shave it into long ribbons (I use a potato peeler), and dress them in a mixture of apple cider vinegar, sugar, and sesame seeds.  It's such a lovely pickle salad thing.  I eat mine in mul-naengmyun (a Korean cold noodle soup), but they're lovely on other noodle salads, grain bowls, or even as a side dish. 

[zeroh13]

22 hours ago, Jlailin said:

Okay, this is getting too serious sounding.  Check out the giant zucchini I got from my coworker today!  It's longer than my thigh, wider than my forearm, and almost as tall as my torso!    Anyone have any good zucchini recipes?

I like zucchini bread, and chocolate zucchini muffins. I which I had recipes for them...

[Jlailin]

1 hour ago, zeroh13 said:

I like zucchini bread, and chocolate zucchini muffins. I which I had recipes for them...

You know... now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever actually eaten zucchini bread before.  I've heard about it, but never made it, since I've usually just grilled or stir fried my zucchini before.  Chocolate zucchini muffins sound delectable!  I'll have to look for a recipe! 

[Jlailin]

Day 2 - 9/12

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 2:00pm for 17.5 hours of fasting

- Ate egg salad and tortilla chips for lunch.  For dinner, I had leftover kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon, and rice.

- Stopped eating at 9:00pm for 7 hours of feasting

 

Fitness

- Strength training day!  I was weirdly light headed today, but I powered through my body weight routine.  I did a brief attempt at the fallen angel pose.  It's a lot easier for me on my right side than my left.  I tried it on my left and I just couldn't figure out the placement.  It was all wonky.  Still at the face planting phase, but I'm getting more comfortable with the face planting bit. 

- Ran through choreography for Playing with Fire, Rumor, and Signal.  Thought about practicing Cherry Bomb, but then I chickened out.

- I noticed that on Sunday when I did my last strength training session, it felt like I was super on it because I had two rest days (one was a dance day and the other was a true rest day) between my strength training sessions.  ...I'm wondering if it's more effective to back off training to two days a week and hit it harder on those days?  Not really sure.  I felt somewhat wimpy today compared to my last session.

 

One of my childhood friends has spontaneously decided to come visit me at the end of September!  I'm so excited!  ...slightly worried about what this means for my challenge, but it will be awesome to see her again!  ...I'll work on reevaluating goals for that week when I get to it. 

 

 

 

 

[Jlailin]

Day 3 - 9/13

 

It's 1:40am, and I'm wide awake just because I am so excited about life right now. 

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 12:00pm for 15 hours of fasting--meh.  1 hour off my goal, but I was being social with coworkers.  We had a team lunch, and I forgot to plan to stop my blueberry cobbler nibbling an hour earlier last night.

- Ate pizza, salad, and a brownie for lunch.  For dinner, I had egg salad and tortilla chips, which my cat ended up stealing from me.    I swear, any time he hears a chip bag rustling, he comes running, and he will point blank abandon petting sessions if someone drops a chip on the floor across the room.

- Stopped eating at 6:30pm for 6.5 hours of feasting.

 

Fitness

- OMG OMG OMG WE ARE LEARNING EXO'S KO KO BOP!  AHHHHHHH.  I am beyond excited for this song!  I have been dying to learn an Exo song since I started this dance class, and it is finally happening.  So, so, so happy.    Like seriously.  I cannot.  Words just can't do the describing thingy they do for this. 

-...but gah, this dance is hard.  There's this measure that is nicknamed the "machine gun" dance because there is a movement for every single beat.  It's definitely going to be awhile before I can do this dance justice, but I'm so excited to learn it!  There is so much internal squeeing going on right now.  

 

I really do need to go to sleep, but today was just so wonderful...  So many good things!   

[Jlailin]

Day 4 - 9/14

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 1:00pm for 18.5 hours of fasting.

- Ate kalua pork, rice, and lomi lomi salad for lunch.  Had a scoop of butter pecan ice cream for a snack.  For dinner, I had arugula salad with bacon, egg, tomato, green onion, and a balsamic vinaigrette for dinner.

- Stopped eating at 9:00pm for 8 hours of feasting.

 

Fitness

- Strength training day!  ...I was so conflicted today, I just wanted to practice Ko Ko Bop, but I decided to be good and just practice it once before to get out of my system and then do my body weight routine.  I am happy to report that I am making progress with split squats.  I am balancing a bit better and no longer hugging the wall quite as often.  It's always so gratifying when you get a handle on a new progression. 

- Did looooooooots of dance practice today.  Practiced Playing with Fire, Signal, Rumor, Cherry Bomb, and many, many repetitions Ko Ko Bop.  I do think I need to rethink where I practice my dancing for Ko Ko Bop.  There is this one turn thing with your leg in the air that keeps making me crash into various furniture pieces...  I really should just mirror a wall in my living room, so that I'm not stuck trying to practice in front of my entry way mirror.

- Hit 10,000 steps!

- Held a 2 minute headstand!

 

...I might go practice Ko Ko Bop again.  Oh wait, nope, my cat just sat in my lap.  ...I'm probably not moving from this position for at least another twenty minutes.  xD

[Wobbegong]

You're fantastic! Keep up the dancing and keep reporting your progress, I feel like I'm living vicariously through you! Congratulations on your handstand and your improving split squats, too. You're doing great!  

[Jlailin]

12 hours ago, Wobbegong said:

You're fantastic! Keep up the dancing and keep reporting your progress, I feel like I'm living vicariously through you! Congratulations on your handstand and your improving split squats, too. You're doing great!  

Thank you, thank you!   One thing I do love about this forum is that it's built in the habit to track my progress without me thinking about it.  I now feel weird if I go to bed without logging in here and at least reporting my intermittent fasting progress for the day, haha.

 

  

 

   

[Jlailin]

Measurements - 9/15/17

Other than the Challenge start and end, I'm going to be taking regular Friday morning measurements.  The Monday measurements are sometimes disheartening because they're right after the weekend, whereas Friday measurements are after four days of usually very good routine.

 

Weight: 134.2 lbs

Neck: 13"

Shoulders: 17"

Chest: 34"

Bicep (R): 11.25"

Waist: 30.125"

Hips: 38.5"

Thigh (R): 22.5"

 

I have also added a mini challenge of sorts to my goals.  I don't think it's realistic to expect myself to stick to the same routine during my stay-cation, so I've loosened up the rules a bit.  I am the most worried about intermittent fasting, but that is the one that I want to try to stick to the most.  Figuring out timing for brunches is going to be a pain. X_X  

[durfette]

Day 3 - 9/13
 
It's 1:40am, and I'm wide awake just because I am so excited about life right now.  [emoji3]
 
Intermittent Fasting
- Started eating at 12:00pm for 15 hours of fasting--meh.  1 hour off my goal, but I was being social with coworkers.  We had a team lunch, and I forgot to plan to stop my blueberry cobbler nibbling an hour earlier last night.
- Ate pizza, salad, and a brownie for lunch.  For dinner, I had egg salad and tortilla chips, which my cat ended up stealing from me.  <_ i swear any time he hears a chip bag rustling comes running and will point blank abandon petting sessions if someone drops on the floor across room.> - Stopped eating at 6:30pm for 6.5 hours of feasting.
 
Fitness
- OMG OMG OMG WE ARE LEARNING EXO'S KO KO BOP!  AHHHHHHH.  I am beyond excited for this song!  I have been dying to learn an Exo song since I started this dance class, and it is finally happening.  So, so, so happy.  [emoji3]  Like seriously.  I cannot.  Words just can't do the describing thingy they do for this. 
-...but gah, this dance is hard.  There's this measure that is nicknamed the "machine gun" dance because there is a movement for every single beat.  It's definitely going to be awhile before I can do this dance justice, but I'm so excited to learn it!  There is so much internal squeeing going on right now.  
 
I really do need to go to sleep, but today was just so wonderful...  So many good things!  [emoji3] 

LOVE hearing this kind of excitement!! Keep up the good work! And at hard times when food and laziness are temptations, remember that feeling! This momentum will carry you!


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[Jlailin]

27 minutes ago, durfette said:

LOVE hearing this kind of excitement!! Keep up the good work! And at hard times when food and laziness are temptations, remember that feeling! This momentum will carry you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you!   Yes, I'm still riding the wave of happiness from this day!  ...and every time I re-read the post, I'm reminded of all the good things, and the wave starts all over again--it's a very wonderful, happy circle.  Gonna hold on to it for as long as I can!  

[Jlailin]

Day 5 - 9/15

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 1:00pm for 16 hours of fasting.

- Ate a turkey, bacon, and ranch wrap for lunch.  For dinner, I had super good, legit Korean BBQ.  I'm so happy I found this place!  I cannot tell you how long it's been since I've had Korean food this good.  (Okay, yes, I can--it was back in April when I was in Korea.  xD)  Eating it took me back on memory lane like I was back in Hawaii or Korea.  It was so, so tasty. 

- Stopped eating at 9:00pm for 8 hours of feasting. (...I'm actually not sure about this because I forgot to look at the clock when I left the restaurant, but I'm just going to say it was 9pm.)

 

Fitness

- Rest day! 

- Hit 10,000 steps!

- Practiced a little bit of Ko Ko Bop and did NOT knock down my dining room table this time!  Woohoo! 

[Jlailin]

Day 6 - 9/16

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 1:00pm for 16 hours of fasting.

- Ate leftover Korean BBQ for lunch.  For dinner, I had leftover Korean fried chicken.  ...I think I'm having withdrawals from my Korea trip again.  Gah.

- Stopped eating at 9:00pm for 8 hours of feasting.

 

Fitness

- Strength training day!  ...I didn't really want to do my body weight routine today.  I stayed out late last night, so my throat is doing that weird scratchy thing that usually signals an impending cold--drinking tons of tea in hopes of staving it off.  However, I was able to convince myself to get out of bed and practice Ko Ko Bop, and from there I figured since I was up I might as well practice Signal, Rumor, Playing with Fire, and Cherry Bomb.  Then I figured I was warmed up anyways, so I might as well do my body weight routine.  It was like the whole if you give a mouse a cookie thing but it started with a dance. 

- Took a walk outside to pick up my package--not close to 10,000 steps at all, but it was better than me sitting in the house all day.

 

The said package I picked up contained a leather jacket I purchased last week because it was on some kind of super sale from $500 to less than $200.  ...and I might have a teensy, tiny addiction to leather jackets, so I may have made an impulse buy.  It has these beautiful lacing and distressed embellishments--it's is so gorgeous!  ...However, it either needs some breaking in or I need to exchange it for a bigger size.  The leather in this one is thicker than my other leather jackets I've gotten from this store, so it doesn't quite fit in the same way.  It fits... but it's like a glove--not entirely practical if I want to layer with it.  I don't know how much of this is due to the stiffness of the leather because it has more layers from embellishments or because it's just cut differently.  ...I'm going to wait a few days to see if it works with a few outfits because I'm pretty sure if I exchange for a bigger size, then the sleeves are going to be too long.  Mergh.  Problems of a short person who isn't shaped like a twig! 

 

On a happier note, my room now smells like leather.  It makes me happy. 

[Siferiax]

I love your upbeat nature. and omg dancing!

I love the idea of dancing, but I'm as stiff as a door LOL

 

Good luck on your challenge!

[Jlailin]

8 hours ago, Siferiax said:

I love your upbeat nature. and omg dancing!

I love the idea of dancing, but I'm as stiff as a door LOL

 

Good luck on your challenge!

Thank you!    You know, I actually thought I couldn't dance for most of my life.  I hid from dance floors all the time, but then in college I went to a swing dancing class.  It was kind of like how Baby in Dirty Dancing found out she could actually move like that.  Since then, I've just never looked back.  ...so you never know!  

 

In other news--GUYS, I BROKE MY PLATEAU WEIGHT.  YAAAAAAAAAY!  The scale refused to dip below 134lb for the longest time--it just kept hovering around there and fluctuating up and down but never below--then today it finally went down to 133.4lb!  So happy right now! 

[Jlailin]

Day 7 - 9/17

 

Intermittent Fasting

- Started eating at 3:45pm for 18.75 hours of fasting.

- Ate ramen for lunch, and I actually couldn't finish it.  Ergh... as much as I want to deny it, I think that I am getting sick.  My throat is terribly sore even though I took ibuprofen, gargled with salt water and drank copious amounts of tea.  ...However, the really telling part is when I'm not hungry.  If I'm not eating, then you know something is wrong.  I didn't really eat dinner.  I just had a strawberry soda after dance and called it good.

- Stopped eating at 8:45pm (if I'm counting the soda as food) for 5 hours of feasting.

 

Fitness

- Kpop dance class today!  We started learning Not Today by BTS.  It's a super fun dance, and I really love this instructor.  I only got to take a class once from her when I first joined this kpop dance class before she went on summer vacation.  I'd say of all the instructors I've had, she is the most serious and structured.  She really, really knows the dance inside and out, and she's a better teacher for it.  I like that she has the ability to teach a dance by counts and lyrically as well.  And she's not afraid to really drill movements till we've got them down.  I feel like I learn best with her type of teaching just because I, unlike many of the other students in my class, have no spent hours and hours rewatching the music videos for these dances. 

- Came home from dance and did more dancing! I practiced Ko Ko Bop.  I think I can actually match timing for the chorus and dance break now--it doesn't necessarily look that pretty, but I end up in the same place as them by the end of the measure.  xD  ...Now I need to go back over all the verse choreography to fix it up.

- Ran through Playing with Fire and Rumor.

- I cleaned my a corner in my house today, and I feel like carrying all the trash and boxes (I'm terrible about throwing away boxes from packages right after I open them) should count for some kind of exercise.  Along with all that, I'm going to be moving in a cabinet in about half an hour (right into the space I cleaned), so there's more exercise right there.

 

...Not sure if I'll make it to zumba tomorrow--it really depends on which way this cold goes.  I'm hoping it just dissipates after a good night's sleep and doesn't get worse. 

 

 

[Countess D'If]

On 9/10/2017 at 10:16 PM, Jlailin said:

Perform the fallen angel pose and hold for ten seconds

 

That is some advanced awesome right there. I'm still too scared to do crow pose. (It doesn't stop me trying, I'm just scurred)