Mike Wazowski: The Mac n Cheese Chronicles, Phase 1

[Mike Wazowski]

Edit: Based on my New Years’ food resolutions, I’m gonna be making a lot of Mac n Cheese this year. Probably none this first week, but keep an eye out for the first attempt circa 01/07. So I’ve added a bonus goal in addition to the 5 main ones I started this post with!

 

Alright, here goes first challenge of 2018. Everything will start Jan 3rd, my first full day back in Dallas. Clearly I'm getting a little stir crazy staying with my parents in that I'm already typing this up - will add a theme and gifs sometime before the 3rd as well.

 

1. Hit target calories and protein, every day: I want to hit the ground running with my physique goals (specifically, post holiday cutting) as soon as I get back home to TX, so starting on the 3rd I'll aim to hit the calorie and protein goals I set for myself every day - this is going to be most challenging when traveling to Houston for practice, but I'm planning to start buying groceries when I'm in Houston so I have access to plenty of veggies and lean protein while I'm there.
2. Sleep 8+ hours a night, 6+ days a week: I need to refocus on sleep for my recovery - really let this one slip over the last 3 months or so. Time to start tracking it and get the number back up to optimal for me.
3. Get pre-gym morning routine down to about 15 minutes: Part of a broader plan to optimize my work day routines so I have time to train in the morning, work a full work day, teach and practice in the evening, and still get plenty of sleep (and occasionally socialize somewhere in there, too); morning routine will ideally just be making my bed, mixing PWO, swishing some mouthwash, popping a couple pills, and grabbing a breakfast I can eat in the car en route to gym. Theoretically, should let me wake by 6:15, be in the car by 6:30, be at the gym by about 6:45, and finish a decent length workout at 8 to be at work by 8:30.
4. Do your scheduled workouts, adjusting as needed: I have all 5 days of the work week scheduled for an ideal setup, and if I need to shorten it due to national holidays, etc, I'll prioritize things from top to bottom, conveniently:
   • Mon - Upper body lift w/ HIIT finisher
   • Tues - Lower body lift w/ HIIT finisher
   • Wed - Gymnast stuff, plus full-length HIIT session (20-30 mins)
   • Thur - Pilates plus steady state cardio
   • Fri - Gymnast stuff, plus full-length HIIT session (20-30 mins)
5. Start tracking how focused and productive you feel at work: Simple 1-5 on each, assigned at the end of the work day. Won't do anything with the data yet, but getting it is the first step to look at patterns.
6. BONUS GOAL: Make one (or more) Mac n Cheese recipe and post the results here

Let it be known that I wanted to chuck a #6 and #7 at the end of this list, but stopped myself. Just barely.

 

[CourtnieMarie]

well done on not putting up more goals. you already have a full plate! once you get that sleep habit down, i'd say you can think about other goals   bring on 2018!!

[miss_marissa]

On 12/27/2017 at 11:32 AM, MikeWazowski said:

Alright, here goes first challenge of 2017. Everything will start Jan 3rd, my first full day back in Dallas. Clearly I'm getting a little stir crazy staying with my parents in that I'm already typing this up - will add a theme and gifs sometime before the 3rd as well.

2018?

 

I dig goal 5!

What are you planning to do for gymnastics?

[Mike Wazowski]

1 hour ago, miss_marissa said:

2018?

LOL whoops! Starting off great in the new year!

 

1 hour ago, miss_marissa said:

I dig goal 5!

Thanks, I'm hoping I do too!

 

1 hour ago, miss_marissa said:

What are you planning to do for gymnastics?

Tentatively, planning to start with Parallettes One from GMB as long as I can get a good setup at my work gym - I already own their Rings 1, Floor 1, and Parallettes 1 programs so I may as well make use of stuff I've paid for. Looks like it's a mix of basic pressing exercises (dips, push-ups, shoulder push-ups), tuck position swinging, and tuck / L-sit holds from the couple workouts I've done plus peaking ahead at future weeks.

[Blocky]

2 hours ago, MikeWazowski said:

LOL whoops! Starting off great in the new year!

 

Thanks, I'm hoping I do too!

 

Tentatively, planning to start with Parallettes One from GMB as long as I can get a good setup at my work gym - I already own their Rings 1, Floor 1, and Parallettes 1 programs so I may as well make use of stuff I've paid for. Looks like it's a mix of basic pressing exercises (dips, push-ups, shoulder push-ups), tuck position swinging, and tuck / L-sit holds from the couple workouts I've done plus peaking ahead at future weeks.

 

 

What's your opinon of the gmb stuff? I've been tempted to try the gymnastics bodies stuff (especially to strengthen my wonkg shoulders) but haven't seen the gmb stuff although it sounds similar.

[Mike Wazowski]

2 hours ago, Blocky said:

What's your opinon of the gmb stuff? I've been tempted to try the gymnastics bodies stuff (especially to strengthen my wonkg shoulders) but haven't seen the gmb stuff although it sounds similar.

So far, I’m a fan. Video of each exercise, with lots of cues for proper execution. Each of the Floor / Rings / Parallettes programs has a level A and B available so they’re reasonably scalable. No idea if they’d be helpful with coming back from a shoulder injury.

[Blocky]

41 minutes ago, MikeWazowski said:

So far, I’m a fan. Video of each exercise, with lots of cues for proper execution. Each of the Floor / Rings / Parallettes programs has a level A and B available so they’re reasonably scalable. No idea if they’d be helpful with coming back from a shoulder injury.

 

Sounds good... It's not really for rehabbing my shoulders, but making them bulletproof once they're working properly again

[Mike Wazowski]

5 minutes ago, Blocky said:

Sounds good... It's not really for rehabbing my shoulders, but making them bulletproof once they're working properly again

Ah, my mistake. Almost definitely is good for that, my shoulders feel heavily worked by the time I finish a parallettes or rings workout.

[Mad Hatter]

On 27/12/2017 at 7:32 PM, MikeWazowski said:

Let it be known that I wanted to chuck a #6 and #7 at the end of this list, but stopped myself. Just barely.

Pfft but it’s the new year’s challenge, where’s your sense of adventure?  

[Mike Wazowski]

1 hour ago, Mad Hatter said:

Pfft but it’s the new year’s challenge, where’s your sense of adventure?  

TRUE!! 8 goals it is, even better if some of them directly conflict!

[Mad Hatter]

Now that's the spirit. #DOALLTHETHINGS

[Mike Wazowski]

5 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Now that's the spirit. #DOALLTHETHINGS

Haha this isn’t a ranger thread!

 

But I did start making food resolutions for 2018, and one is to make more Mac n cheese - and I will be trying at least one iteration in this challenge. Guess I have a bonus goal!

 

Crowdsource: hit me with your favorite Mac n cheese ingredients, y’all!

[Gemma]

On 12/27/2017 at 12:32 PM, MikeWazowski said:

Alright, here goes first challenge of 2018. Everything will start Jan 3rd, my first full day back in Dallas. Clearly I'm getting a little stir crazy staying with my parents in that I'm already typing this up - will add a theme and gifs sometime before the 3rd as well.

 

Let it be known that I wanted to chuck a #6 and #7 at the end of this list, but stopped myself. Just barely.

 

 

So much here to relate to - stir crazy, need sleep, morning routine, job productivity, not adding too much but wanting tooooo ... yep. I get it. 

 

8 hours ago, MikeWazowski said:

Haha this isn’t a ranger thread!

 

But I did start making food resolutions for 2018, and one is to make more Mac n cheese - and I will be trying at least one iteration in this challenge. Guess I have a bonus goal!

 

Crowdsource: hit me with your favorite Mac n cheese ingredients, y’all!

My grandmunchkins are the ultimate mac'n'cheese connoisseurs - my favorite thing to do about it is bake a crunchy bit of panko and parmesan onto the top.

Like this: https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/super-cheesy-panko-parm-mac-and-cheese/  (I'm not vouching for the whole recipe,  haven't tried it, just the topper. But it looks good.)

[Mad Hatter]

9 hours ago, MikeWazowski said:

Haha this isn’t a ranger thread!

Ok how about #DOALLTHESHINYTHINGS? Like a proper assassin. 

 

Truffle mac n cheese!

[Mike Wazowski]

3 hours ago, Gemma said:

So much here to relate to - stir crazy, need sleep, morning routine, job productivity, not adding too much but wanting tooooo ... yep. I get it. 

Kindred spirits FTW!

 

3 hours ago, Gemma said:

My grandmunchkins are the ultimate mac'n'cheese connoisseurs - my favorite thing to do about it is bake a crunchy bit of panko and parmesan onto the top.

Like this: https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/super-cheesy-panko-parm-mac-and-cheese/  (I'm not vouching for the whole recipe,  haven't tried it, just the topper. But it looks good.)

Nice!!! I’ve already been dreaming of crunchy panko toppings, adding Parmesan sounds even better!!

 

3 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Ok how about #DOALLTHESHINYTHINGS? Like a proper assassin. 

 sounds about right!

 

3 hours ago, Mad Hatter said:

Truffle mac n cheese!

Ooh yes! I will need to figure out where to buy truffles, but it’ll be worth it!

[Khuja, Dwarf Tank]

Man n cheese with tako wienies(lil smokies shaped like octopi)

 

[Scaly Freak]

20 hours ago, MikeWazowski said:

 

Crowdsource: hit me with your favorite Mac n cheese ingredients, y’all!

 

Kielbasa, cut into quarter-inch bits and pieces and mixed into the mac n cheese before it goes in the oven.

[Mike Wazowski]

21 hours ago, Khuja said:

Man n cheese with tako wienies(lil smokies shaped like octopi)

Hmm, I might end up doing a variation on this! (...because I’m probably too lazy to cut up octopus shapes) My Mac n cheese cookbook (3 Years ago Christmas present, I think) had a recipe with chopped up hot dogs and crushed potato chips, and I’ll have to look at it again!

 

18 hours ago, scalyfreak said:

Kielbasa, cut into quarter-inch bits and pieces and mixed into the mac n cheese before it goes in the oven.

The pole in me is very happy with this!! Now I just need to find decent kielbasa in dallas - not as easy as what i got used to growing up in Chicago.

[Khuja, Dwarf Tank]

The pole in me is very happy with this!! Now I just need to find decent kielbasa in dallas - not as easy as what i got used to growing up in Chicago.

It's easy, just cut the end in a + shape. If you have to be perfectionist about it, do it twice.

[Mad Hatter]

34 minutes ago, MikeWazowski said:

The pole in me is very happy with this!!

The pole in me just goes wtf is even kielbasa?  People use it like it's a specific kind of sausage, but kielbasa just means sausage! It could be all sorts of different kinds! BAH  

[Mike Wazowski]

52 minutes ago, Khuja said:

58 minutes ago, MikeWazowski said:

The pole in me is very happy with this!! Now I just need to find decent kielbasa in dallas - not as easy as what i got used to growing up in Chicago.

It's easy, just cut the end in a + shape. If you have to be perfectionist about it, do it twice.

Hahaha - IF I have to be a perfectionist? Buckle up for the ride, we’ve got some getting to know each other to do!

 

19 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

The pole in me just goes wtf is even kielbasa?  People use it like it's a specific kind of sausage, but kielbasa just means sausage! It could be all sorts of different kinds! BAH  

Haha proves how bad a pole I am! At least in my part of the states, kielbasa is usually referring to a smoked polish sausage. Unfortunately my family is only vaguely in touch with our Polish heritage at this point.

[Mike Wazowski]

Today, managed to fit in a HIIT session (30 minutes of interval work, probably excessive but tomorrow’s a total day off and I was excited about Notre Dame’s bowl game win). And also my 3rd B workout for parallettes.

 

Plan the rest of the week, health and fitness wise:

• Tuesday: Travel day, grocery shopping, meal prep for week (protein pancakes, oatmeal dry ingredients, veggies for dinners), pick up Amazon locker packages
• Wednesday: First day back at work, try out morning routine, Upper body weights w/ HIIT finisher
• Thursday: Lower body weights w/ core finisher
• Friday: Try parallettes at work gym - if I can’t get a good setup (specifically, elevating them so i can do the swinging stuff) I’ll do rings instead as a backup plan, HIIT finisher

[CourtnieMarie]

nice job on day 1!!

 

mad hatter's totally right on the kielbasa front! lol in the states it does usually mean smoked (pre-cooked) sausage. buuuut my grocery store does sell raw polish sausage - doesn't even say kielbasa on it - and it's delicious. close enough to polish deli quality that i'll grab it when it's on sale. otherwise, you just gotta find a good polish deli/butcher  

 

my favorite mac and cheese add-in is actually tuna! used to do a can of tuna with a blue box and eat the whole thing. noms.

[miss_marissa]

On 12/29/2017 at 3:56 PM, MikeWazowski said:

LOL whoops! Starting off great in the new year!

 

Thanks, I'm hoping I do too!

 

Tentatively, planning to start with Parallettes One from GMB as long as I can get a good setup at my work gym - I already own their Rings 1, Floor 1, and Parallettes 1 programs so I may as well make use of stuff I've paid for. Looks like it's a mix of basic pressing exercises (dips, push-ups, shoulder push-ups), tuck position swinging, and tuck / L-sit holds from the couple workouts I've done plus peaking ahead at future weeks.

Nice! I follow a lot of their free content, but can't get myself to pull the trigger on the paid stuff. For something that would just be supplemental to me, it's awfully expensive.

[Mike Wazowski]

2 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

nice job on day 1!!

Thanks! I did not do so well on the sleeping last night, but I’m rationalizing it by claiming I was helping my parents stay in denial of going back to work today. And also knowing I can sleep on the plane!

 

2 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

mad hatter's totally right on the kielbasa front! lol in the states it does usually mean smoked (pre-cooked) sausage. buuuut my grocery store does sell raw polish sausage - doesn't even say kielbasa on it - and it's delicious. close enough to polish deli quality that i'll grab it when it's on sale. otherwise, you just gotta find a good polish deli/butcher  

Hmm, you inspired me to google - looks like there are at least some Eastern European delis near me, if not strictly polish. I know where I’m exploring my next free weekend!

 

2 hours ago, CourtnieMarie said:

my favorite mac and cheese add-in is actually tuna! used to do a can of tuna with a blue box and eat the whole thing. noms.

Nice! I’ve never been a canned tuna fan, but I also haven’t had it since I was in day care, so it’s probably just that I resented being forced to eat it . 

 

20 minutes ago, miss_marissa said:

Nice! I follow a lot of their free content, but can't get myself to pull the trigger on the paid stuff. For something that would just be supplemental to me, it's awfully expensive.

Fair. It’s definitely not cheap, and most of my GMB purchases were during impulse shopping hours for me (ie after 11 pm). You also get some in-person gymnastics coaching, right? Seems like that makes video tutorials of each exercise a lot less necessary for you.