Shello's Back to Basics Food and Fitness Challenge

[Shello]

I've been picking up the pieces of putting my life back together.  The fitness aspects have been the hardest to put back into place.  I feel like I am starting all over again.  According to the scale I am almost back to square one.  SInce I am starting over, I figured I go back to what worked in the beginning.  We tell newbies to take it easy and focus on just a couple fitness goals.  That's what we're for, right?  So that's what imma do.  2 goals.  Straight to the point.  

 

One reason I'm struggling to get back to fitness is that my old routines don't work anymore. I really need to create new routines.  For each goal, I'll award points for meeting the goals at various levels, 1 for the bare minimum and 3 for the maximum.  In order to create habits, I need to continue to meet these goals day after day.  Meeting the goals for consecutive days creates a chain.  Chain bonus points are awarded for attaining chains of certain length. 

 

Achieving at least 1 point for either goal awards the following points:

5 days = 1 bonus point

7 days = 3 bonus points

10 days = 5 bonus points

15 days = 15 bonus points

30 days = 100 bonus points

 

Achieving at least 2 points for either goal awards the following points:

3 days = 1 bonus point

5 days = 3 bonus points

7 days = 5 bonus points

10 days = 10 bonus points

15 days = 25 bonus points

30 days = 1,000 bonus points

 

Achieving at least 3 points for either goal awards the following points:

3 days = 3 bonus point

5 days = 5 bonus points

7 days = 10 bonus points

10 days = 20 bonus points

15 days = 50 bonus points

30 days = 1,000,000 bonus points

 

Food Goal:  I'm increasing the deficit goal and aiming for a 500 calorie deficit daily.  The biggest obstacle for meeting this goal has been cooking. I have a particularly difficult time making myself cook real food when the kids are not at my place.  It's too easy to grab something on the way home, order a pizza, or just make something from a box. The more I get myself used to cooking for just myself, the better quality my food will be and the more successful I will be. 

• 1 point - maintain a 500 calorie deficit daily
• 2 points - maintain 500 calorie deficit by eating at least one home prepared meal
• 3 points - maintain 500 calorie deficit by eating at least two home prepared meals

Batch cooked meals are encouraged and home prepared meal points are still awarded if the food was prepped previously. 

 

Fitness Goal: I need to get back to working out regularly.  I am aiming for 5 workouts a week, 2 cardio, 2 strength, and the last can be anything, including home improvement projects or yoga.  The biggest obstacle for this goal is just not having a routine.  When working out had become a usual part of my life, I could alter my schedule any time and still manage to get all my workouts in.  That isn't working anymore.  For this challenge I will follow a workout schedule.  I am not as concerned about the intensity or duration of these workouts, just that I get back to a routine.  

• 1 point - be active enough to get at least 8,000 steps 
• 2 points - either active enough to get 10,000 steps or do a make up workout for one missed
• 3 points - do a workout according to the schedule

Workouts can be at home or at the gym.  I have a lot of options and I know what to do.  Rest days I can only get points for steps but will still maintain chain bonuses.  

 

*There are a few days that will be exceptions.  Chains will not be broken in those circumstances.  I am making the rules up as I go along because I can. 

 

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

14 minutes ago, Shello said:

*

I saw that asterisk and went looking for a euphemism.

 

Also following.

[Shello]

I saw that asterisk and went looking for a euphemism.
 
Also following.

Sorry to disappoint. Maybe I should throw some Non Euphemistic Fishsticks (great band name) in the oven


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[deftona]

4 hours ago, Shello said:

Sorry to disappoint. Maybe I should throw some Non Euphemistic Fishsticks (great band name) in the oven

 

Or euphemistic ones. Live your best life. 

 

Following along! It's so old school, I love it!

[jonfirestar]

6 hours ago, Shello said:

We tell newbies to take it easy and focus on just a couple fitness goals.  That's what we're for, right?  So that's what imma do.  2 goals.  Straight to the point.  

I love it! You've got this. Following  

[Yasha92]

A million bonus points?!?

Following~


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[thekatisalie]

I'm right there with you -- in exactly the same way -- gotta get the new routines down, gotta start over from almost 0. I know you can do it. A reset is just the place to start. You're doing great.

[Terah]

Love the goals! 

And the euphemisms

[Pickle6415]

This is awesome, I never thought of bonus points and chain bonuses... But I'm still new so that's my excuse! lol

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[Shello]

6 hours ago, deftona said:

 

Or euphemistic ones. Live your best life. 

 

Following along! It's so old school, I love it!

I like how you think.  

 

3 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

I love it! You've got this. Following  

Thanks! 

 

2 hours ago, Yasha92 said:

A million bonus points?!?

Following~


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YES!! I mean, why not?

 

1 hour ago, therealkat said:

I'm right there with you -- in exactly the same way -- gotta get the new routines down, gotta start over from almost 0. I know you can do it. A reset is just the place to start. You're doing great.

Here's to starting over! 

 

19 minutes ago, Terah said:

Love the goals! 

And the euphemisms

Thanks! 

[Shello]

Just now, Pickle6415 said:

This is awesome, I never thought of bonus points and chain bonuses... But I'm still new so that's my excuse! lol

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Welcome!  It wasn't my idea either.  I'm sure at some point I saw someone else use them in their challenge.  We are all just recycling each other's ideas and making them work for ourselves.   

[NeverThatBored]

Hey hey, following along again.

[Raxie]

Following! Looking forward to seeing you rock this out and assemble a routine that works for you again!  

[SkyGirl]

Following before the second page!! I love your goals and I'm totally rooting for you as you start over and rebuild your foundation. You've got this!!

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

I like the bonus point system. And I love that you are totally in charge of your challenge and any changes needed to it. 

 

Also, I'm following. 

 

 

[Shello]

On 5/21/2018 at 9:39 AM, NeverThatBored said:

Hey hey, following along again.

Hi!  Thanks.  

 

22 hours ago, Raxie said:

Following! Looking forward to seeing you rock this out and assemble a routine that works for you again!  

Let's hope!  I mean, of course it will happen!  

 

13 hours ago, SkyGirl said:

Following before the second page!! I love your goals and I'm totally rooting for you as you start over and rebuild your foundation. You've got this!!

 

Thanks!

 

3 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

I like the bonus point system. And I love that you are totally in charge of your challenge and any changes needed to it. 

 

Also, I'm following. 

 

 

At least there is something I have control over.    I plan to make the most of it.  

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 1

Game on!

 

Yestyerday was a pretty heavy day mentally.   DBE's name had a few extra choice words added.  It put me in a terrible mood which is a lot more difficult when the kids are around.  My water heater broke Sunday and I was waiting for the plumber to take a look at it.  I was scheduled for the morning but they said they would call first so I went to work.  But as the morning went by and I didn't get a call I started to get paranoid that they didn't call and tried to stop by when I wasn't there.  I took some work home and waited around until it was past time.  Turns out they were really behind but I was still on the list.  I waited a bit more but eventually decided to get some face time in at work before the end of the day.  Once I was a couple blocks from work I got the call.    So got that fixed in time to get at least half of the lawn mowed before scouts.  I ate lunch while I was at home waiting and ate one of the batch cooked egg skillet lunches.  Dinner was leftover home made pizza so that counts too.  I did snack mindlessly on some chips while I was sitting at home but still managed a hefty deficit of 1364 calories.  The lawn work helped as did the running place at 11:30 to hit 8000 steps.  I didn't actually need to hit that since it was a rest day but I was close enough to start this challenge off right.    

Food Goal: 2 home cooked meals - 3pts

Fitness Goal: rest day and 8000 steps - 1 pt

 

[Yasha92]

Way to start the challenge off right! Ugh, plumbers. I had one organised by the real estate (without telling me they had) who called me and said “I’ll be at your house in ten mins, can you be there to let me in?” Just one of the reasons I’m trying to keep my house clean this challenge, so random drop-ins don’t make me feel guilty.


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[Shello]

15 hours ago, Yasha92 said:

Way to start the challenge off right! Ugh, plumbers. I had one organised by the real estate (without telling me they had) who called me and said “I’ll be at your house in ten mins, can you be there to let me in?” Just one of the reasons I’m trying to keep my house clean this challenge, so random drop-ins don’t make me feel guilty.


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At least that wasn't technically the plumber's fault but how rude to schedule something and not tell you.  I know the struggle to keep your house drop-in ready.  Adulting sucks.

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 2

 

Another frustrating day with DBE.  My mom called me at work in the morning but I was on my way to a meeting and I told her to call me back.  In the meantime DBE and I had been texting about paperwork and agreement all morning.  By the time my mom called back again I had so much frustration built up that as soon as I picked up the phone I started crying because I can't help it when I'm with my mom.  Anyway, I'm tired of the ugliness.  DBE and I finally came to an agreement, again, and things calmed down the rest of the day.  

 

Peach had dance last night and I have a 2 hour window between dropping her off and picking her back up.  My plan was to finish mowing the lawn and get a walk in.  My mom called to check in and I was on the phone longer than I anticipated, then Qbert wanted to talk about his day and what work he had to accomplish last night (After taking a nap on the couch).  I got a late start.  Luckily, or not, the grass was still soggy from the storm in the morning.  My grass is again way too long to manage mowing it with any moisture.  So I just went on my walk.  My plan was to stick to the hill for some hill intervals.  I managed once around but as I passed by the house again, my neighbor was outside and we got to talking.  By then I had just enough time to clean up before picking up Peach.  Its so strange for me to have socializing getting in the way.  I didn't get as many steps from my walk as I had hoped but I still managed the scheduled workout so Points!   

 

I had my prepared egg skillet lunch and leftover homemade pizza for dinner for my two home cooked meals.  I had a hankering for some chocolate in the afternoon.  Instead of grabbing an entire chocolate bar, I grabbed two small mint patties.  I did snack mindlessly on chips when I got home from work though.  I didn't keep track but logged it as 3 servings.  I just barely managed to eek out the deficit - 540.   

 

Food Goal: 2 home cooked meals - 3pts

3 pt streak - 2 days

Fitness Goal: scheduled workout - 3 pt

1 pt streak - 2 days

3 pt streak - 1 day

 

Total Points: 10

 

[Pickle6415]

Well done, and socializing shouldn't be a bad thing if it makes you feel happier. Sometimes it's like food for your soul. [emoji4]

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[Terah]

I'm glad your mom is there for you <3 She sounds amazing. 

I hope all the paperwork will be over soon and you can start getting some normalcy back into your life

[Snarkyfishguts]

Your neighbors sound so nice. It sounds like they provide some normalcy as you are going through this divorce.  You are handling this like a champ, Shello. Also, yuck to wet grass. It’s so much easier when it’s dry. No one needs a clogged mower at this point. 

 

 

[Shello]

4 hours ago, Terah said:

I'm glad your mom is there for you <3 She sounds amazing. 

I hope all the paperwork will be over soon and you can start getting some normalcy back into your life

I hope it will be over soon too! 

 

28 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Your neighbors sound so nice. It sounds like they provide some normalcy as you are going through this divorce.  You are handling this like a champ, Shello. Also, yuck to wet grass. It’s so much easier when it’s dry. No one needs a clogged mower at this point. 

We used to have a group of neighbors that all hung out together.  It led to plenty of mornings watching my kids' soccer games while I was completely hung over.  But most have moved on now.  One I stopped talking to because he was beligerant most of the time - but they are divorcing too and the wife is staying in the house.  We have been comiserating a bit but we do not have a close friendship.  The family I talked to the other night has been there since around the same time we moved in and our daughters have been besties ever since.  The husband gives me lawn advice.   

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

14 minutes ago, Shello said:

The husband gives me lawn advice.   

 

Pro-tip: The appropriate way to show gratitude in the economy of the lawn is with beer.