Theophilus Writes His Way Out, Again...

[theophilus]

Ok, I'm literally reposting my last challenge. I went off the rails quickly last time, but I really want to execute this plan. I've edited where appropriated for the 5-week format:

 

 

"I wrote my way out, wrote everything down far as I can see..."

 

I'm cueing up another Hamilton-inspired challenge as I continue to get back into the groove and build on last month's progress. My inspiration and challenge titles come from the song, "Hurricane." In it, Hamilton recalls all the ways the pen has saved him and then plots how he'll use it to save his position. It doesn't exactly work out how he hoped, but it's a heckuva song, so count me in. Each challenge has a written component to help me track my progress and keep moving forward.

 

I. I Wrote my Way Out of Hell // I Wrote my Way to Revolution

 

 

Religion and literature have offered countless visions of what lies beyond the veil of death. In one of my favorites, "The Great Divorce," CS Lewis paints a sort of purgatory where one can either remain or choose to leave through the act of repentance. (He's working within the Christian tradition.) But if one remains, this "grey town" not only becomes hell, but all of a person's life on earth is rendered a hell unto itself. As I considered this image the other day, I found myself reflecting on how the consequences of our decisions are sealed the moment we make the decision. These decisions, made over and over, can become our own little "hells."

 

So, what on earth does this crazy, somewhat dark reflection have to do with fitness? Well, I've created many little hells for myself with the eating decisions I make day in and day out. I've made goals, but have failed to follow through, instead choosing the easy and the familiar. I was reading over the NF Diet guide (the one with the levels), and saw that while I'm not completely clueless when it comes to food, I'm lacking some basic habits and structures to hold myself accountable to eating well consistently. Level 1 of this guide includes writing down everything you eat. So I'm going to write down everything I eat. Every. Single. Thing. By the end of the challenge, I'll level up to level 3 of this guide:

 

• Level 1: Track food for a week
• Level 2: Track calories for a week and begin to reduce liquid calories
• Level 3: Reduce liquid calories further and eat high protein breakfasts for two weeks
• Level 4 (BONUS!): Eat a vegetable with every lunch or dinner, replacing a traditional starch for 10 days in a 2 week period, plus one week without pasta

  

II. I Was Louder Than the Crack in the Bell  

I'd pay good money for a Hamilton-Spinal Tap cross-universe collaboration (Lin-Manuel? Christopher? I'm looking at you...)

 

 

Until then, this will have to do.

 

 

 

This challenge goes to 11... miles, that is. I'm setting a weekly running target of 11 miles for the duration of this challenge. This will likely mean a 3-3-2-3 schedule. And in keeping with the writing theme here, I'll log all my miles and any notes about the runs.

 

 

III. I Wrote Eliza Love Letters Until She Fell // I Wrote about the Constitution and Defended it Well

 

 

 

Last challenge, I made an effort to get back into the practice of writing in my journal. It felt really good to get the pen flowing again. Recently, I was listening to Prairie Home Companion with the incomparable Chris Thile. I caught the "song of the week" segment, wherein he wrote a song about his son. Then yesterday, I was reading some of Shakespeare's Sonnets. Bring it all together, and I've found inspiration for this challenge. In addition to writing in my journal, I'm going to produce four different types of writing by the end of the challenge:

• Song about my kids
• Poem for my wife
• (Very) short story
• Short journalistic/research piece on some contemporary subject/issue

       

And in the face of ignorance and resistance

I wrote financial systems into existence

And when my prayers to God were met with indifference

I picked up a pen,

I wrote my own deliverance

 

 

 

 

Awwww... Thanks, Jimmy.

[elinox]

You'll find that once you can commit to doing something regularly, it becomes second nature and thus, easy. Believe me, with patience and determination, you'll get there! Good luck!

[The Borg Queen]

Following for the journaling goal! I have one, too. 

 

Good luck with your challenge!

[theophilus]

22 hours ago, elinox said:

You'll find that once you can commit to doing something regularly, it becomes second nature and thus, easy. Believe me, with patience and determination, you'll get there! Good luck!

 

Thanks!

 

17 hours ago, The Borg Queen said:

Following for the journaling goal! I have one, too. 

 

Good luck with your challenge!

 

I find that journaling is one of the best things I can do for my mental health. Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[The Borg Queen]

On 12/28/2017 at 11:36 AM, theophilus said:

I find that journaling is one of the best things I can do for my mental health. Thanks for the encouragement!

Yeah, same here. My issue is getting in to the habit of doing it. I need to get better about that. 

[AverageFish]

On 12/27/2017 at 2:09 PM, theophilus said:

the consequences of our decisions are sealed the moment we make the decision. These decisions, made over and over, can become our own little "hells."

Something I've been pondering a lot lately as well, but you've put it much more eloquently.

Maybe it's time for me to revisit some CS Lewis.

Good luck with your goals!

[theophilus]

Something I've been pondering a lot lately as well, but you've put it much more eloquently.
Maybe it's time for me to revisit some CS Lewis.
Good luck with your goals!

Thanks! I've totally coopted his ideas here, more of a jumping off point than anything. But hey, still not a bad reason to revisit Lewis.

[theophilus]

Week 1, Days 1-2

Successfully logged my food both days, did a 2-mile run yesterday, and the mini challenge today. Wrote a bit in my journal today, mostly about 2018 goals, but it's a start.

[AverageFish]

2 hours ago, theophilus said:

Thanks! I've totally coopted his ideas here, more of a jumping off point than anything. But hey, still not a bad reason to revisit Lewis.

Not that I really  need a reason to revisit him:) Totally unrelated to your goals, but I sometimes use El leon, la bruja y el ropero to practice my Spanish.

[darna]

On 12/27/2017 at 3:09 PM, theophilus said:

This challenge goes to 11... miles, that is. I'm setting a weekly running target of 11 miles for the duration of this challenge. This will likely mean a 3-3-2-3 schedule. And in keeping with the writing theme here, I'll log all my miles and any notes about the runs.

 

 

i'm a little one-track minded on my current addiction - running... following for the running...

 

 

[The Borg Queen]

Yo. I made a thread for journal writing prompts. You're welcome to join!

[Baldilocks]

I may have to live vicariously through your challenge.  I've wrote poetry and song's but the other stuff is way out of my league.  Also I suck at dieting.  Hope to see you winning at all your challenges.    

[theophilus]

16 hours ago, Baldilocks said:

I may have to live vicariously through your challenge.  I've wrote poetry and song's but the other stuff is way out of my league.  Also I suck at dieting.  Hope to see you winning at all your challenges.    

Thanks! These are very aspirational goals for me this time around. I trust whatever I come up with will be horrendous and darn-near unreadable, but I'm looking forward to stretching myself.

[theophilus]

Week 1 Update

 

Food: I've successfully tracked probably 70% of my food this week

 

Running: 3 runs so far, 2 miles each, easing my way into it

 

Writing: Written a couple times in my journal this week, but no progress on the four projects

 

[theophilus]

Week 2 Recap

 

A bit of a bust, wasn't feeling well and had an incredibly busy and stressful week. Here's where we stand.

 

Food: Hit and miss tracking and calories. I did make a concerted effort to consume fewer liquid calories, especially with regards to soda. Absent tracking, hard to know exactly how I fared.

 

Running: No runs last week. Sickness, bleh.

 

Writing: Poem! I wrote a poem! It was short, cringe-worthy, and as moody as a pre-teen's diary. But I did it, goshdarnit.

[theophilus]

Food: Still tracking most of my food but have not made progress beyond that. To help me make progress, I've decided to completely nix alcohol for the rest of this challenge. My body needs a break from that.

 

Running: Back out for two miles this morning.

 

Writing; Been doing a lot of free writing and reflecting in my journal this week. Trying to make some pretty big life decisions, and the writing really helps me process.