LVC - Routine is sexy

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

April 23 to May 20

 

Routines are sexy.

I read this sentence somewhere and wrote it down as a motto for this challenge. This challenge I’ll start writing my thesis and getting some data at school. I’ll have to keep the momentum of last challenge to get this task done and keep going for my studies. I’m curious how well I’ll handle these tasks.

 

Goal One: no snacks! 

I’ve been snacking again. So I’ll try to cut the sugar again. No chocolate, chips, cookies, or other artificial stuff for me. If I really need something I only get a cocoa. I should look up, what sarakingdom wrote about the cocoa in one of her old challenges.

 

Goal Two: Exercise

Aiming for three workouts a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I can try to get in a missed workout on Sunday, but I don’t want to make that a habit.

Bonus: Go to classes 2 to 3 times a week.

 

Goal Three: Study

So it’ll be 25 Hours this challenge und I’ll try to get in 20 pages during this challenge. Let’s see, how that goes. I’ll need a page tracker.

 

 

 

Some old habits I had accomplished and how well I did last month:

Spoiler

 

I tried to evaluate a little more last challenge in my HIDDEN AGENDA and now it’s time to read the data for some clues.

Self care

 

week 0: ✔✔✔✔

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 2: ✔✔✔✔

week 3: ✔✔✔✔

week 4:✔✔✔

 

 

 

I tried to get some time for myself and do things that I like. This goal was mainly for regaining energy and destressing. I felt quite busy, but most of the time it was still all right. I just should try to get some more quality time with my SO in. We’re having a rough time at the moment.

 

 

 

Meditation

week 0: ✔✔;

week 1: ✔✔✔;

week 3: ✔;

week 4:✔✔

 

 

I didn’t do much meditation, but I at least got some in, when I really needed it.

 

 

 

5 portions of freggies

 

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 2: ✔✔✔✔;

week 3: ✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 4: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

 

This habit still seems to be on track, even when I don’t track it actively.

 

 

 

3l of water

 

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 2: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 3: ✔✔✔✔✔;

week 4: ✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

 

 

no snacks… Only birthday cakes

 

week 0: ✘✘✘✘✘;

week 1: ✘✘✘;

week 2: ✘✘✘✘✘✘;

week 3: ✘✘✘;

week 4:✔

 

 

That’s why I’m making this an active goal again. At least I got a ✔ for the last week of last challenge.

 

 

 

morning routine

week 0: ✔✔✔;

week 1: ✔✔✔;

week 3: ✔✔✔;

week 4:✔✔✔

If I get my workouts done, I seem to be doing them in the morning. That’s good to know. I should make this a habit.

 

 

 

try out sport classes

Didn’t happpen. Maybe this challenge.

 

 

 

go out and walk

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔;

week 1: ✔✔;

week 2: ✔;

week 3: ✔✔;

week 4:✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

 

Could be going a little better. Maybe this challenge I’ll have better weather.

 

 

 

 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Progress Chart

unicode: ✔✘☐

Goal One: no snacks!

Week 0 ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔                           100% A

Week 1 ✘✔✔✔✔✘✘                             57% x

Week 2 ✔✔✔✔✔✘✔                             85% x

Week 3 ✔✔✘✘✔✔✔                             71% x

Week4: ✘✔✔✔✔✘✔                             71% x

~77% ~A

 

 

Goal Two: Exercise;

Week 0 ✔✔✔                                             100% A (Tai Chi ✔; Yoga ✘; Aikido ✔)

Week 1 ✔✔✔✔                                          133% A (Tai Chi ✘)

Week 2 ✔✔✔✔                                          133% A (Yoga ✘)

Week 3 ✔✔✔                                             100% A (Tai Chi ✘)

Week 4 ✔✘✘                                             33% x (Aikido ✔)

~100% ~A

 

 

Goal Three: Study                                        (64/125 hours)

Week 0 ✔✔✔✔✘✘✘                             72% B (18/25 hours)

Week 1 ✘✔✔✔✔✔✘                             60% B (18/25 hours)

Week 2 ✘✔✔✔✔✘✘                             28% C (7/25 hours)

Week 3 ✘✘✔✘✔✔✘                             40% C (10/25 hours)

Week 4 ✔✔✔✔✔✘☐                             44% C (11/25 hours)

~51% ~B

 

 

Page tracker

 

 

 

Challenge 4, April 16 to May 20:                 ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ 8/20

 

Challenge 5, May 21 to June 24:                 ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

 

Challenge 6, June 25 to August 5:               ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

 

Challenge 7, August 6 to September 9:     ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐

 

 

 

Score:

Goal 1: 77% A-

Goal 2: 100% A

Goal 3: 51% B-

~76%

 

 

A= 100% - 76%

B= 75% - 51%

C= 50% - 26%

D= 25% - 0%

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

HIDDEN AGENDA

unicode: ✔✘☐

Self care

 

week 0:✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 1:✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 2:✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 3:✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 4:✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

Meditation

week 0: ✔✔✘✔✔✘✘

week 1: ✔✔✘✔✘✘✘

week 2:✘✔✘✘✘✘✘

week 3: ✘✘✘✔✔✔✘

week 4:✘✘✘✘✔✘☐

 

5 portions of freggies

 

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 2: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 3: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 4: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

3l of water

 

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 2: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 3: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 4: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

 

 

Get it done!

 

week 0: ✔✘✔✔✔✘✘

week 1: ✘✔✔✔✔✘✘

week 2: ✘✔✔✔✔✘✘

week 3: ✘✘✘✘✘✘✘

week 4: ✘✔✘✘✔✘☐

 

 

morning routine

week 0: ✔✔✘

week 1: ✔✔✔

week 2: ✔✔✔

week 3: ✔✔✔

week 4:✔✘✘

 

 

 

try out sport classes

week 0: ✘

week 1: ✘

week 2: ✘

 

week 3: ✘

week 4: ✘

 

 

go out and walk

week 0: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 1: ✔✔✔✔✘✔✔

week 2: ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔

week 3: ✘✔✔✔✔✘✔

week 4:✔✔✘✔✔✔✘

 

meal preperation

week 0: ✔✔✔

week 1: ✔✔✔

week 2:

week 3:

week 4:✔

 

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Spoiler

Day 1

Today I got up early and did my workout in the morning. I'm at 13 reps. I also meditated for five minutes. Than I prepared my lunch and worked on my paper for about six hours before I went home again. I'm really tired because I didn't drink any coffein today, but I thought it would be better to not drink my black tea daily. I'll finish my Japanese lesson and get ready for bed soon. It was a productive day.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Day 2

Did my workout in the morning again, prepared my stuff and went to university for some organisational stuff. At least that has been sorted out. I'm still not sure, if I can take my tests this year. Somehow it frightenes me a little. At least I signed up for now and I can still cancel until the end of July, if I don't feel ready. But first things first. Now I have to write my thesis and then I can handle the rest. I also worked on my paper. I should go through all the books I borrowed, before I search for new ones. And I should write some important E-Mails. I didn't write them today, so I'm getting a X there today. I should post pictures of my bentos sometimes. They look really nice. =)

Tai Chi was fun. I was just feeling a little under the weather. Maybe shark was the reason for my lack of energy...

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Day 3

I had a good talk with somebody who is having her finals now. I think that helped a lot to see what's going to come. Somehow I wasn't as productive as yesterday, but at least I got some things done. Somehow I don't know what to do next. I wrote a page or so, but it's still raw text. No exercise yet. I'm working on it. This day isn't finished. Let's make the best of it...

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Day 4

Didn't go to Yoga.

Suddenly I didn't feel like it anymore and decided to go home to spend an evening with my SO.

 

Studying was ok. I also finished these mails and hopefully next week the tests can beginn.

 

I almost had some chocolate, but than I gave my stash to my friend. I don't want to eat it in a few months, just because it could turn bad. I don't like wasting food.

[Kishi]

Geez, so many things! Between what we know and what's been hidden, you got a lot of work cut out to do. It looks like something that you've built over time, so I'm confident that you can make it work; all the same, dang.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

16 hours ago, Kishi said:

Geez, so many things! Between what we know and what's been hidden, you got a lot of work cut out to do. It looks like something that you've built over time, so I'm confident that you can make it work; all the same, dang.

Yeah, that's why I don't put focus on them. It's all right to not take care of everything all the time. The three main goals are the important ones.

 

Day 5

I took a day off and got some stuff around the house done. It's so hot... I hope I can concentrate better in the evening.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Aikido:

Today I couldn't do the forward role in Aikido. I always bent my arm. Last week I could do it. It's a bit odd, how your body sometimes seems to work against you and does something else. At least I got better at the Shionage.

 

Yesterday I didn't get to do something with my boyfriend after all. I was really tired and went to bed at 10 pm. After Aikido I feel more energy than before. I also practised some Tai Chi beforehand to warm up. Hopefully today I stay awake for our movie. Went want to watch Scott Pilgrim again. One of our favorite movies.

[Kishi]

11 minutes ago, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

Today I couldn't do the forward role in Aikido. I always bent my arm. Last week I could do it. It's a bit odd, how your body sometimes seems to work against you and does something else. At least I got better at the Shionage.

 

Yep. That happens. We call that 'grinding out bad reps.' They're useful because they teach you what poor technique feels like. You'll feel the difference when you do it right, and actually you seem to know this already.

 

I hope you and the boyfriend get to watch awesome movies together!

[Mistr]

I share your goal of no snacks for this challenge. I like the way you have a concise set of activities that support your main goal of getting your thesis written.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

On 20.4.2018 at 9:12 PM, Kishi said:

 

Yep. That happens. We call that 'grinding out bad reps.' They're useful because they teach you what poor technique feels like. You'll feel the difference when you do it right, and actually you seem to know this already.

 

I hope you and the boyfriend get to watch awesome movies together!

That's true. I'm glad I'm getting to a point where I sometimes know what I'm doing.

 

Watching Scott Pilgrim again was awsome indeed. I saw so many new details.

 

On 20.4.2018 at 11:41 PM, Mistr said:

I share your goal of no snacks for this challenge. I like the way you have a concise set of activities that support your main goal of getting your thesis written.

Thank you. I really hope it's enough. I haven't done something like it before. My bachelor was only 40 pages and I didn't need to go to university classes, when I wrote that.

 

Review zero week

I learned to sometimes take a break and delegate stuff. Chris did maw the lawn and did some work around the house, when I asked him. I was really suprised, when I didn't have to ask twice. So Saturday he got waffles for breakfast as thank you. In the evening I met up with friends. We drank a little, we danced a little, we slept in a little and than we had breakfast together. It was a really good weekend. Just what I needed. Now I feel energized again. I'm at a much better headspace. I'll only work a little today to fill up the 20 hours of last challenge. It's all right to not get 25 hours a week. I'm not going to stress myself out about this. If I work concentrated I can get in my stuff in less time. So I should forget to take a rest from time to time and get my head free again. I'm still good at finishing my plans in time. I should write a new to-do-list, when I get home.

[PinkNinja]

It sounds like you had a good zero week!

 

I'm working on almost the opposite of your snack goal. I need to add snacks, but make sure they stay healthy. I'm terrible about skipping meals and snacks. I've bought some V8 and individually packaged nuts to keep at work so I'll have something on hand. I've also got the Epic jerky bars that Teirin got me hooked on.

On 4/22/2018 at 9:13 AM, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

I learned to sometimes take a break and delegate stuff.

Yay for delegation!! Double yay for breaks!! 

I'm glad you are incorporating both, though I know it can be a hard thing to do.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

On 23.4.2018 at 11:30 PM, PinkNinja said:

It sounds like you had a good zero week!

 

I'm working on almost the opposite of your snack goal. I need to add snacks, but make sure they stay healthy. I'm terrible about skipping meals and snacks. I've bought some V8 and individually packaged nuts to keep at work so I'll have something on hand. I've also got the Epic jerky bars that Teirin got me hooked on.

Yay for delegation!! Double yay for breaks!! 

I'm glad you are incorporating both, though I know it can be a hard thing to do.

 

Healthy snacks are important against unhealthy snacks. I try to eat more vegetables instead.

 

Jeah... I try to do all the things.

 

Week 1 Day 8 to 11

I didn't study as much as I wanted to. Tomorrow I'll have to do some more studying and practising. At least I got my organisational stuff done. And next week I can sign up for the finals. Woah...

 

I'm still not sleeping well. There's a lot going on in my head. I tried to do self-care-stuff and meditate. It's hard to calm the thoughts.

 

I didn't go to Tai Chi. Instead I finished my organisational stuff and read over that with my friend. On the other evenings he didn't have time for that so I couldn't do both. Mhh maybe if I stayed up late. But exercise isn't that important for me at the moment.

 

I'm feeling a little down. :/

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

Daffy's Booty Training

1. Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me On | 2:59 | Donkey Kicks | Me: 60 each leg
2. Usher - She Came to Give It to You (Audio) ft. Nicki Minaj | 4:04 | Squats | Me: 100
3. B2K, P. Diddy - Bump, Bump, Bump | 3:53 | Hydrants with a Leg Extension | Me: 55R 60L (but I think I forgot the leg extension sometimes...)
4. Selena Gomez - Good For You | 3:14 | Glute Bridges | Me: 135
5. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? | 4:26 | Side Lying Leg Raises | Me: 72 each leg
6. So Good Lexy Panterra ft Demarco | 3:15 | Single Leg Deadlifts | Me: 62 (31 each leg)
7. Syd: Baby We Can Take it Slow Say My Name. Girl I swear, I can Hear Your Body | 4:24 | Back Extensions | Me: 60
8. Montell Jordan: Girl if It's Alright, Let's Find Somewhere And Get It On Tonight, I Got A Girl But You Look Good Tonight, It's One on One Toniiiiiight! | 4:50 | Donkey Kicks | Me: 100 each leg
9. Ludacris - Pimpin' All Over The World (Golden Palace Version) ft. Bobby V. | 4:07 | Standing Side Leg Raises | Me: 110 each leg
10. Goldfrapp - Ooh La La | 3:17 | Clam Shells | Me: 60 each side
11. Rihanna - S&M | 4:03 | Front Kicks | Me: 218

12. The Notorious B.I.G. - Nasty Girl feat. Avery Storm, Jagged Edge, Nelly & Diddy | 4:54 | Single Leg Glute Bridges | Me: 100 each leg

13. Juvenile - Back That Ass Up | 3:59 | Hydrants | Me:

Deftona Is doing a Booty challenge and I'm trying to do her exercises. Butt I'm not good at remembering doing these. So I'm reminding my lazy ass here, too, by posting this list here. =P

 

The other exercise I'm doing is the 5 Tibetans. Let me know, if you ever give them a try. I love this video:

 

[Kishi]

Hey, nice! Hopefully a little side challenge will be good for you on top of everything else.

 

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that the past few days have been rough on you.  Those happen. You'll get through them. Don't forget, you've gotten through them before. You can do it again.

[Mistr]

On 4/26/2018 at 3:16 PM, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

I didn't study as much as I wanted to. Tomorrow I'll have to do some more studying and practising. At least I got my organisational stuff done. And next week I can sign up for the finals. Woah...

 

I'm still not sleeping well. There's a lot going on in my head. I tried to do self-care-stuff and meditate. It's hard to calm the thoughts.

 

I didn't go to Tai Chi. Instead I finished my organisational stuff and read over that with my friend. On the other evenings he didn't have time for that so I couldn't do both. Mhh maybe if I stayed up late. But exercise isn't that important for me at the moment.

 

I'm feeling a little down. :/

 

That all sounds very familiar. Grad school is one giant exercise in triage time management. There is no way you can do everything you want to. Probably you have to cut corners on several of the important things. Fit in self-care where you can and give yourself emotional credit for making progress on the things you choose to do.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

On 27.4.2018 at 3:37 PM, Kishi said:

Hey, nice! Hopefully a little side challenge will be good for you on top of everything else.

 

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that the past few days have been rough on you.  Those happen. You'll get through them. Don't forget, you've gotten through them before. You can do it again.

It's fun. As long as it doesn't overwhelm me, I'll stick with it. Just the DOMS from doing squats were murder.

 

right. They come and go.

On 27.4.2018 at 11:19 PM, Mistr said:

 

That all sounds very familiar. Grad school is one giant exercise in triage time management. There is no way you can do everything you want to. Probably you have to cut corners on several of the important things. Fit in self-care where you can and give yourself emotional credit for making progress on the things you choose to do.

Thank you very much.

 

----------

Yesterday was fun.:) We went to the zoo with friends.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

To do List

Getting back from my trip on Tuesday. I'll have to get some stuff done this week.

 

• Finish test on Wednesday. On Thursday I'm meeting the first class. I should show it to a few people beforehand.
• Start chapter about methods.
• When are my library books due?
• read, read, read and write
• take picture for signing up
• sign up for exams
   

[Solunaria]

1. I am ALSO writing this sentence down and using it for future fuel! Nice!

 

2. I love how balanced your challenge is. I might take a note from your book next semester.

 

3. Keep it up! You’re doing great!

[PinkNinja]

How's the read, read, read, and write coming?

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

On 6.5.2018 at 3:27 AM, PinkNinja said:

How's the read, read, read, and write coming?

Not that good. I'm still reading a lot, but the writing isn't going so well. I hope that gets bette, when my headspace improves. Didn't get as much studying in as I wanted to. At least I got the time crucial stuff done.

[Kishi]

On ‎5‎/‎7‎/‎2018 at 7:58 AM, Luciana Valerosa Culming said:

Not that good. I'm still reading a lot, but the writing isn't going so well. I hope that gets bette, when my headspace improves. Didn't get as much studying in as I wanted to. At least I got the time crucial stuff done.

 

Eh. It's understandable. It's easier to consume than it is to create. You can do it, though.

[Kishi]

So, hey, hope things are going well for you!