Shello Kicks Names and Takes Ass

[Shello]

Boy has it been a year.  There was a point last year where I really felt I had my fitness identity figured out and I knew what *I* needed to do for success.  But I had some mental health and relationship issues to take care of first and that blew everything else out of the water.  It's been really tough to get my head back in the game, so much so that I had completely lost track of what was starting to work before.  This year has brought a few ups, and many downs. But my head is finally in the game and I feel ready to make some progress.   I think I've blown enough of the cobwebs off of my fitness brain and I'm ready to . . .

 

Kick Names and Take Ass

 

 

 

While trying to get my head on straight I started assessing all the underpants I've collected since starting NF and tried to do some decluttering.  I'm left with the underpants that work and make sense for me.  It's a constant balancing act between what works and what works AND I can stick to.  I still don't have a full picture of what all those underpants looks like together, but it's getting less foggy.  

So before I ramble anymore, on to the goals!

 

Food Goal:  Here is what I have learned from collecting underpants...   

• I know I need to find a way to strike a balance between being too restrictive and then not being restrictive enough. 
• I enjoyed doing the Whole30 because of the 'freedom' to eat without logging. 
• Eating real food just makes me feel better and makes it more difficult to go off the rails. 
• Paleo speaks to me but I'm not willing to cut out all the foods that are restrictive with Paleo or Whole30 long term. 
• Until my spiral, I was able to find a good balance between logging food and eating Whole30(ish)
• Logging food is beneficial, maybe (and hopefully not) permanently, but it works.

 

I finally took a look at some of Michael Pollan's food rules and they speak to me in the same way but are less restrictive.  Eat Food. Not Too Much of it. Mostly Plants   It occurs to me that the Paleo-ish I've been striving for is really just clean eating and Pollan's rules line up quite well with that ideal.  So that's what I'm aiming for.  Ideally, my goal would be to eat clean 80% of the time, and only log food if I venture into non-Food (processed food).  But since I'm also in the healthy living program at work, I''ll stick with logging my food all the time.

 

1. 1 point for eating at least 3 freggies a day
2. 2 points for at least eating with a deficit (preferably over 750)
3. 3 points for either eating clean all day or staying under MFP calorie target.(I haven't actually decided what this limit should be.  Last time I was really successful it was around 1500 but that was tough to stick to.  I've been at 1900 for awhile and it seems to be just under maintenance.) 

 

Fitness Goal: More underpants....

• Being more active daily can only be good
• My workouts need to have a higher intensity.  This brings results and keeps me motivated
• Do what you enjoy.  I enjoy playing with sledgehammers and barbells*
• Never miss 2 days in a row
• Rest is also beneficial
• Consistency is key

 

Ideally I'd like this to be a good old fashioned rucking and sledgehammer challenge.  I'm still working on getting a good tire to have at home.  I don't have access to the one at fancy gym now.  But really anything goes as long as the intensity is there and it's something I enjoy.  

 

1. 1 point for at least doing something
2. 2 points for at least getting 8000 steps
3. 3 points for either getting 10,000 steps or doing a workout.  Rest days also count as 3 points for purposes of point streaks but only up to twice a week.  Low intensity workouts (along the lines of yoga and housework) can count once per week

 

Chain Bonuses: I really like this aspect of my past few challenges, I just need to not be lazy.  I want that 1,000,000 points but I want to earn it.  Since I'll be challenging for 35 days, I've adjusted the points accordingly.  The MN State Fair is during this challenge and don't think there is any clean food in sight, it just won't stay on the stick.  So I'm counting the fair day as a freebie for the food goal.  To balance that out, I can count one of the driving days as a freebie for the fitness goal. 

Spoiler

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

7 days = 1 bonus point

10 days = 3 bonus points

15 days = 5 bonus points

21 days = 15 bonus points

28 days = 25 bonus points

34 days = 100 bonus points

 

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

3 days = 1 bonus point

7 days = 3 bonus points

10 days = 5 bonus points

15 days = 10 bonus points

21 days = 25 bonus points

28 days = 50 bonus points

34 days = 1,000 bonus points

 

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

3 days = 3 bonus point

7 days = 5 bonus points +1 Streak Saver

10 days = 10 bonus points

15 days = 20 bonus points +1 Streak Saver

21 days = 50 bonus points

28 days = 500 bonus points +1 Streak Saver

34 days = 1,000,000 bonus points

 

*not a euphemism

[Shello]

All that rambling and I knew I'd forget something.  

 

I'm adding in a side goal.  No points are awarded for this goal but it's something I definitely need to make a priority.

 

Finance Goal: Live frugally.  I am using YNAB but I'm using it retrospectively and not getting the most out of it.  I log every transaction by downloading it from the bank and then matching it to the right categories.  When I overspend for a category, I have to move money around to cover it.  What I should be doing is logging as I go and only spending when there is already money in that category.  So behold the rules.  They essentially start now but I have some clean up to go after I assess the damage from our vacation.  

• Pre-log all transactions
• non-essential spending must not exceed budget - EVER!
• Review and pay credit card balances weekly.  

[Toshimi]

1 hour ago, Shello said:

All that rambling and I knew I'd forget something.  

 

I'm adding in a side goal.  No points are awarded for this goal but it's something I definitely need to make a priority.

 

Finance Goal: Live frugally.  I am using YNAB but I'm using it retrospectively and not getting the most out of it.  I log every transaction by downloading it from the bank and then matching it to the right categories.  When I overspend for a category, I have to move money around to cover it.  What I should be doing is logging as I go and only spending when there is already money in that category.  So behold the rules.  They essentially start now but I have some clean up to go after I assess the damage from our vacation.  

• Pre-log all transactions
• non-essential spending must not exceed budget - EVER!
• Review and pay credit card balances weekly.  

Yay fellow YNABer! We actually stopped downloading from the bank for that reason. Since we (hubby and I) have started putting things in manually it's helped a lot. Sometimes we do get behind, but every week toward the end of the week we go through and make sure all the accounts are lined up. That way it only takes 5-10 mins instead of a lot longer and a lot more frustrating of a process

 

Just a reminder it is okay to move money around to categories. A budget can (and i believe should) be a living thing. Not something to do at the start of the month and force it to work. Yes there are non negotiable items (rent, utilities, monthly payments) but the others get moved around. 

[deftona]

here of course! Take that ass!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following. May I offer some of the first ass you can take?

[Shello]

11 minutes ago, Toshimi said:

Yay fellow YNABer! We actually stopped downloading from the bank for that reason. Since we (hubby and I) have started putting things in manually it's helped a lot. Sometimes we do get behind, but every week toward the end of the week we go through and make sure all the accounts are lined up. That way it only takes 5-10 mins instead of a lot longer and a lot more frustrating of a process

 

Just a reminder it is okay to move money around to categories. A budget can (and i believe should) be a living thing. Not something to do at the start of the month and force it to work. Yes there are non negotiable items (rent, utilities, monthly payments) but the others get moved around. 

I'd have to be much more religious about logging transactions to do that but I guess that's the point of the goal.    I am OK moving money around but I would rather it be a choice I am making when I am spending the money rather than as a bandaid reaction afterwards to cover overspending.  I don't always have another category to pull from so it ends up coming from savings.  That is No Bueno.  

 

2 minutes ago, deftona said:

here of course! Take that ass!

Woop Woop! 

[Shello]

1 minute ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following. May I offer some of the first ass you can take?

Sold! 

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 1

 

I'm starting the challenge on a rest day, as usual, but this one feels deserved.  We were so active on vacation and not having to rush in a workout on a busy night felt just right.  I didn't quite get 8,000 steps but there was a thunderstorm after the scout meeting and that's the only time I really had for a walk.  I fasted until lunch, which was an egg, turkey sausage, and cheese scramble and an apple.  In the afternoon I had some berry overnight oats as a snack.  I was still hungry since I'm adjusting back to normal eating pattern.  I put off getting a snack from the snack cart and by the time I caved,  I realized it was 10 minutes before a meetings so I no longer had the time for it.  I made some mostly home made macaroni and cheese with bacon for an early dinner before the scout meeting.  I was still hungry and was trying to come up with a healthy snack when I remembered I had all the stuff for some camping peach crisp that I never had the time to make.  So I made what was basically an upside down peach crisp with some vanilla halo top ice cream. Delish!  Calories were low enough to not have to worry about what my actual target is.  

I heard that the local Aldi's had a huge sale on chicken thighs.  I stopped down but they were already out.  I did grab a few extra things and forgot to log the transaction. *facepalm*

 

Food Goal - 90% clean and under target: 3points

3 pt streak: 1 day

Fitness Goal - rest day, 6000 steps: 3 points

3 pt streak: 1 day

 

Total Points: 6

[Snarkyfishguts]

3 hours ago, Shello said:

I put off getting a snack from the snack cart 

I read this as “snack fart”

 

i really like your challenge goals. I like how it supports your long term goals and general well-being. You really are great, Shello  I really look forward to following along. 

[Shello]

16 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

I read this as “snack fart”

 

i really like your challenge goals. I like how it supports your long term goals and general well-being. You really are great, Shello  I really look forward to following along. 

I would definitely put off a snack fart too.  <eleventy

[Cheetah]

On 8/6/2018 at 3:37 PM, Shello said:

YNAB

 

I love YNAB but it is def. easy to just use it like a checkbook register instead of a proactive budgeting tool.  I need to do better about this myself. 

 

Happy challenge!

[Sylvaa]

10 hours ago, Cheetah said:

On 8/6/2018 at 3:37 PM, Shello said:

YNAB

 

I love YNAB but it is def. easy to just use it like a checkbook register instead of a proactive budgeting tool.  I need to do better about this myself. 

 

It's a huge change to get into the habit of using it proactively versus reactively! We tend to do a hybrid type of strategy, where we enter everything on the fly, but then true-up twice a month when bills are due. It's actually been a fun game (don't judge me, this is NERD Fitness after all) to figure out what to make for dinner the end of the month that won't break the food budget. 

 

Also, we've built in a $100 buffer into our budget. For us, we took it out of our food budget. The money is in a side account and if we stay within budget for the month, that money becomes an "allowance" of sorts - for the kids in our case, because we did it to stop them from asking for junk food / take out, but you could do the same thing for fun money for the adults! 

[Shello]

11 hours ago, Cheetah said:

 

I love YNAB but it is def. easy to just use it like a checkbook register instead of a proactive budgeting tool.  I need to do better about this myself. 

 

Happy challenge!

Precisely. 

 

48 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

 

It's a huge change to get into the habit of using it proactively versus reactively! We tend to do a hybrid type of strategy, where we enter everything on the fly, but then true-up twice a month when bills are due. It's actually been a fun game (don't judge me, this is NERD Fitness after all) to figure out what to make for dinner the end of the month that won't break the food budget. 

 

Also, we've built in a $100 buffer into our budget. For us, we took it out of our food budget. The money is in a side account and if we stay within budget for the month, that money becomes an "allowance" of sorts - for the kids in our case, because we did it to stop them from asking for junk food / take out, but you could do the same thing for fun money for the adults! 

It is a huge change but I imagine once I get the habit developed it's pretty easy to maintain.  I just don't always think of it when I am spending money, or when I do I figure I might at as well wait like I did with all the others.  

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 2

 

I didn't have a chance to get everything done I intended but I at least got everything done related to my goals. #Priorities.  I fasted until lunch, which was the egg and turkey sausage scramble and some grapes then peach and blueberry overnight oats in the afternoon for a snack, followed later by an apple.  I got home a bit late but I still wanted to get a workout in before dinner but I was hungry.  I fried up an egg and 2 slices of bacon and wrapped them in a tortilla with a bit of cheese.  I started to get a bit lazy but forced myself to get out for a walk.  I walked a new route and included all the hills in the neighborhood.  I've named it The Tour of Hills. I started down my street, The Hill of Death, then all the way up The Hill That Never Ends.  Then walked back and forth on the side streets, which also set on a much smaller hill but each street is an incline to the middle and back down.  Then I went down The Hill of Pain and back up The Hill of Death til I got home.  

After my walk I prepped dinner.  It was an amazing and super easy garlic chicken in white win sauce with roasted cherry tomatoes and zoodles.  I left it simmer on the stove while I showered.  When I came back to the kitchen the deliciousness was welcoming.  

I ended the day well under my mysterious target and with just over 8,000 steps. 

 

Food Goal - 90% clean and under target: 3points

3 pt streak: 2 day

Fitness Goal - Tour de Hills walk; 8,000 steps: 3 points

3 pt streak: 2 day

 

Total Points: 12

[Cheetah]

Good work today!  I wish I had hills in my neighborhood.  There's a degree or two of grade on a couple of roads, but nothing I'd consider a hill.

[Shello]

7 minutes ago, Cheetah said:

Good work today!  I wish I had hills in my neighborhood.  There's a degree or two of grade on a couple of roads, but nothing I'd consider a hill.

To be fair, I've named my hills based on perceived exertion rather than actual size. 

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 3

 

Another great day.  I was too hungry in the morning to maintain fasting so I moved my snack to the morning and had peach and blueberry overnight oats for breakfast then the egg and turkey sausage scramble for lunch.  I had only an apple for a snack in the afternoon.  On the way home I drove past the high school to see if the track was empty.  They have a huge tire that is perfect for a sledge workout.  I was saddened to see football practice had started.  I decided to return later in hopes they were done.  I was hungry but again wanted to eat dinner after my workout.  So for first supper I had a fried egg and bacon tortilla wrap, some raspberries, and some crackers.  It was good but then I wasn't hungry after my workout.  I also worked out late so I just had some grapes and chocolate milk after showing up.  This would have been sufficient but I ran into a half eaten bag of Doritos.   I had some of those, too many I suppose but I still ended the day under 1800.  I'm satisfied with that but I felt uncomfortable approaching 1800 so I guess I've found my upper limit.  I also figure I was listening to my body and I needed a bit more food today.  

For my workout, I took the sledgehammer, Lillith the Terrifying, to the track.  I warmed up with a lap around (1/4 mile), then did 3 sets of 10 of either alternating tire slams or 10 each side, with 10 squats between each set.  Then I walked a lap.  Rinse and repeat 2 more times and I went home just as it got dark.  

 

Food Goal - 75% clean and under target: 3points

3 pt streak: 3 days ------------ CHAIN BONUS +3

Fitness Goal - Sledgehammer workout; 8,000 steps: 3 points

3 pt streak: 3 days ----------- CHAIN BONUS +3

 

Total Points: 24

[Snarkyfishguts]

That sounds like a really satisfying day!! 

 

 

[Cheetah]

Nice workout! 

[Shello]

On 8/9/2018 at 10:21 AM, Snarkyfishguts said:

That sounds like a really satisfying day!! 

 

 

14 hours ago, Cheetah said:

Nice workout! 

 

Thanks.  It felt great to the get sledgehammer out again.  They were feeling neglected.  

[Shello]

Week 0 Day 4

 

I had planned to try a yoga workout yesterday.  My hip kept clicking as I walked earlier in the week and my hamstrings felt realyl tight and yoga just seemed like a good idea.  But the day turned out to be really hectic so it was an unintended rest day instead.  I had a meeting after work with Qbert since we are housing a japanese exchange student next week.  I had just enough time to run home for an egg and bacon wrap and then run to the meeting.  The meeting when over and then Qbert wanted to take some of his extra stuff to his dad's.  By the time all that was done, it was getting late.  I had forgotten about yoga and was going to go for a low key walk instead.  I heated up a serving of the garlic chicken with roasted cherry tomatoes and whipped up some zoodles while my phone charged.  By the time I finished eating it was pretty late.  I've also had a hard time getting enough sleep in so I just called it in on the walk/yoga and just went up to bed for some rest.  I'm allowed 2 rest days a week so the rest seemed a smart play but now I'll just have to be sure to get workouts in every day for the rest of the week, including tonight - which I dislike but will do anyway.   Other than the tortilla, food was all 'clean' and well under target.  

 

I had my meeting/weigh in for the weight loss thing at work.  I am finally on a losing streak which is great and my food has been on point since I returned from vacation.  But this week's meeting was with the dietician and her and I just don't seem to get along.  My goal for last week was to eat clean, which I've mostly done.  She evidently hates that term since everything is processed.  When she asked me what I meant by it I basically said freggies, meats, and whole grains - like rice, oats, etc...  Well she went off on how oats and rice are processed too just not as much as things like white bread and things in a box.  Well duh.  Is it just me but this distinction seems pretty useful?

 

Food Goal - 75% clean and under target: 3points

3 pt streak: 4 days

Fitness Goal - Rest day and not enough steps: 3 points

3 pt streak: 4 days 

 

Total Points: 30

[Sylvaa]

16 minutes ago, Shello said:

But this week's meeting was with the dietician and her and I just don't seem to get along.  My goal for last week was to eat clean, which I've mostly done.  She evidently hates that term since everything is processed.  When she asked me what I meant by it I basically said freggies, meats, and whole grains - like rice, oats, etc...  Well she went off on how oats and rice are processed too just not as much as things like white bread and things in a box.  Well duh.  Is it just me but this distinction seems pretty useful?

 

Ugh! I am sorry you are not on the same page as your dietitian! 

 

I kind of get where she is coming from. But at the same time, if classifying it as clean to you helps you make better decisions, then why get into semantics over the level of processing involved? 

[deftona]

Yeah, she's one of those that would rather be right than helpful. 

[Echoceanic]

1 hour ago, Shello said:

I had my meeting/weigh in for the weight loss thing at work.  I am finally on a losing streak which is great and my food has been on point since I returned from vacation.  But this week's meeting was with the dietician and her and I just don't seem to get along.  My goal for last week was to eat clean, which I've mostly done.  She evidently hates that term since everything is processed.  When she asked me what I meant by it I basically said freggies, meats, and whole grains - like rice, oats, etc...  Well she went off on how oats and rice are processed too just not as much as things like white bread and things in a box.  Well duh.  Is it just me but this distinction seems pretty useful?

 

 

I kinda get her beef with the term (it's kinda like my beef with the words 'chemical' and 'natural') but yeah not helpful. 

[Shello]

Yeah, I kind of get it too.  It's a bit 'faddy' and she, in general, is very sensitive to fads.  Too sensitive, IMHO, because anything that is not the government/mainstream medical community mandated message is marked as a fad.  Or maybe I'm just being too sensitive to her.