ReturnOfTheDad Battle Log: Level 2 - Adventures in Ranger Land...

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Excited to report that I survived the Newbie Training Ground with 42 days of consistent posts and am moving on to the next challenge as....RANGER!!! This is my class until I hit my 50lb weight loss goal and one more step closer to my goal of ultimate awesomeness.

 

Full official Ranger challenge post here:

 

On to the good stuff, getting this second challenge party started...

Day 1:

Weight: 213.4 lbs 

Sleep: 7 Hours 

Bed Time: 9:00pm

Water: 1 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min evening meditation 

Mood: Quite the weekend, feels like I need a weekend from the weekend, but here we are and on to 2nd challenge prep.

 

Meals:

    8:00am - Coffee

    9:30am - Greek Yogurt, granola, grapes

                     Almonds, coffee

    12:00pm - Egg Whites, tomatoes, Toast

     3:00pm - Cheese stick, dates, crackers

     5:30pm - Chicken, pasta, veggies

     6:30pm - Soda

     9:00pm - Scoop of PB & Milk

 

Workout: Rest day

 

Notes: So for a rest day, not exactly restful, was running around with work, toddler wrangling and errands all day. Hopefully tomorrow will even out enough to get a quick workout in, time will tell. Now to continue my day of running - straight to bed...

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[Sloth the Enduring]

You can use NF however works best for you, but most people use either a challenge or a battle log for ease of posting. Some, like me, go back and forth. Either way, I’ll for you for dad solidarity.

[Kishi]

This past weekend seems to have been just utter bollocks for a lot of people I know. It's the way of things sometimes. You'll have your rest eventually.

[ReturnOfTheDad]

23 hours ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

You can use NF however works best for you, but most people use either a challenge or a battle log for ease of posting. Some, like me, go back and forth. Either way, I’ll for you for dad solidarity.

 

Thanks for clarifying, I was wondering about that! 

 

Given my affinity for daily posting I’ll probably just continue here in the Battle Logs and consolidate everything in the next couple of days.

 

Thanks for the heads up and of course the Dad Solidarity.  

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 2:

Weight: 213.0 lbs 

Sleep: 8 Hours 

In Bed: 10:30pm, need to do a better job 

             of prepping earlier so I can get        

             right to bed after evening 

              activities.

Water: 1 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min morning meditation 

Mood: Last couple of days have been pretty rough with all the stuff going on, so my mood and energy were in the tank. Fortunately I had breakfast scheduled with a good friend of mine today. Funny how taking the time to do the things that I know help does wonders for my mental health. After some time talking and a few cups of coffee the world looked a bit brighter. 

 

It’s a stark and startling reminder for me that recovery is a long term and daily thing for me. What would have pulled me to some pretty dark and unhealthy places before was resolved by a chat with a friend who has gone through what I’m going through. It’s amazing to me that this Sunday will mark 2 years of sobriety for me, but today was a clear reminder that I need to keep at it one day at a time.

 

Meals:

    8:00am - Greek Yogurt, granola, grapes

                     Almonds, coffee

    12:30pm - Egg Whites, Beans, grapes, 

                      Tortilla

     2:00pm - Iced Tea

     3:30pm - Protein Bar

     5:30pm - Chicken, pasta, veggies

     7:00pm - Cookie

     9:00pm - Scoop of PB & Milk

 

Workout: Rest Day

 

Notes: Another day full of things, but exercise was not one of them. Have some work schedule changes starting tomorrow so that might free me up for a quick workout mid-day. The tweaking continues...

 

Did keep a steady hustle today, got a lot done with work, ate pretty good, worked with ReturnOfTheDad Jr. on some Soccer stuff today, and some nice conversation time with Mrs. ReturnOfTheDad. Much adulting accomplished. With that I leave you with my adulting hustle music for the day. On to day 3.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[Kishi]

"Inch by inch, life's a cinch, but yard by yard, life is hard."

 

You're on the right track, and it's awesome to hear about what progress you've made compared to where you were years ago. I'm glad you joined us here in the Rebellion, and I can't wait to see how much better things get for you. Keep it up!

[RubiksCat]

Congratulations on the 2 years of sobriety! I totally missed your new thread here at first but I got here just in time. It's always important to find someone else that has gone through what you and I go through because we can't always get out of our own ruts all by ourselves so good job in getting back on track and getting healthier. God puts the people we need in our path exactly when we need them. I can't believe you're already in the 160-post range on the forum. You'll hit 1,000 in no time.

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 3:

Weight: 212.8 lbs 

Sleep: 8 Hours 

In Bed: 10:30pm, This may end up being 

             the most difficult part of the 

             challenge. Going to work on 

             wrapping some things up and 

             prepping for the next day earlier in 

             the afternoon.

Water: 1 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min morning meditation.

Mood: A bit better today. A friend of mine told me sometimes getting out of a funk is like a plane pulling out of a dive, the nose points up but it takes a bit to start gaining altitude. That sounds about right for today.

 

Meals:

    7:30am - Coffee

    8:30am - Greek yogurt, granola, 

                      peaches, coffee

    12:20pm - Eggplant Parmesan, roll, 

                       cheese sticks, iced tea

    6:00pm - Chicken tacos, chips, 

                      guacamole, soda

   

Workout: None

 

Notes: Another day swamped with work. Actually blocked out time on my calendar to workout tomorrow. For now juggling family and work, and someday a consistent fitness regimen. Tomorrow is a new day.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 4:

Weight: 214.0 lbs 

Sleep: 8 Hours 

In Bed: 10:00pm, making progress on 

             getting to bed earlier but still was 

             up an hour later taking care of 

             things I could have done earlier.

Water: 1 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min morning meditation.

Mood: Improvement continues as I get used to the new sleep schedule. Figure it will take a good week or so to normalize but feels like steps in the right direction.

 

Meals:

    7:00am - Coffee

    8:30am - Greek yogurt, granola, 

                     Almonds, coffee

   11:30am - Egg Whites, bell peppers,

                     Beans, tortilla

    2:00pm - Protein Shake & Nutella 

                     sandwich

    5:30pm - Chicken Tacos w/ mango and 

                      peppers

    8:00pm - Scoop of PB & Mill

   

Workout: 

     Warm Up - Stretching

                         1 Mile

      Intervals - 1 Set, Bodyweight/15lb KB

 

Notes: SUCCESS! Finally got a workout in. Also Rangering it up a bit more by doing a 1 Mile jog to warm up and 1/4 mile sprint at the end of my set. Was dying by the end but didn’t care, back on the workout wagon.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 5:

Weight: 212.8 lbs 

Sleep: 8.5 Hours 

In Bed: 10:00pm, the push to 9pm 

             continues...

Water:  1/2 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min morning meditation.

Mood: Actually woke up a little before my 

            alarm today. The schedule is 

             seeming more normal and mood is 

             getting better day by day. Still 

             waiting to see how I adjust to the 

             new workout regimen, but so far so 

             good for today.

 

Meals:

    7:00am - Coffee

    8:30am - Donut

   12:30pm - Turkey Sandwich, 1/2 

                      sausage, chips, Cole slaw, 

                      corn, iced tea

    5:30pm - Pizza & Soda

   

Workout: Rest Day

 

Notes: Rest day/cheat day, not much more to say. These days are where I don’t do anything and eat junk food are starting to put me in a funk. Need a better plan for Friday’s.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 6:

Weight: 214.6 lbs 

Sleep: 6 Hours 

In Bed: 2:00am, clearly went the other 

             direction fueled by the additional 

             sugar and caffeine last night.

Water: 1 Gallon

Meditation: 5 min evening meditation 

Mood: So very tired from yesterday. Not     

            bad but not great. Focus will be 

            just getting diet and sleep back on 

            track. If some exercise happens will 

            consider that a bonus.

 

Meals:

    9:00am - Coffee

   10:30am - Granola, Greek yogurt, coffee

   12:30pm - Egg white breakfast nachos

     3:00pm - Protein bar and sugar free 

                      energy drink

     6:30pm - Spanikopita, mousaka, salad, 

                      cake

   

Workout: None

 

Notes: Had a feeling today was going to be pretty rough from lack of sleep. Made it through and got a lot done. Tomorrow should be a bit more even keeled. Accepting that this is a season of life that is going to change quite a bit when baby #2 gets here in a few days. Doing the best I can to go with it and make the best choices I can along the way.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 7:

Weight: 213.2 lbs 

Sleep: 7 Hours 

In Bed: 2:30am, The lack of sleep 

             continues. Mostly work related this 

             time, but definitely need to snap    

             out of this staying up late 

             business.

Water:  1/2 Gallon

Meditation: 5 min morning meditation 

Mood: Got some acceptance on the late 

            night work issue. I know that while 

            a challenge, a lot of the work stuff I 

            face is helping me grow and feel 

            like I am in the right place for right 

            now.

 

Meals:

   10:30am - Granola, Greek yogurt, coffee

      1:00pm - Pizza, chips, soda

     8:00pm - Scoop of PB & Milk

 

Workout: None

 

Notes: Ended up being a chill day today. Spent a lot of time talking with Mrs. ReturnOfTheDad strategizing as best we can for the upcoming baby arrival on Thursday. Also had some friends over to play Dominoes, which was a blast. Looking to make that a monthly thing as that will be my approximate bandwidth for adult social activity once baby comes. No exercise but the rest was much needed. Feeling much more energized going into the first official week of the challenge.

 

Level 2 Challenge - Planning Week Review

Diet Goal Update - Still thinking the breakfast by 9am thing is still pretty doable, also the red meat once part and limiting proteins to meat once a day. This is more for cholesterol reasons than anything else.

 

Fitness - By adding a 1/4 mile run to the end of my intervals that has definitely set me back a bit, but I feel like it’s a good piece to work back in. Still taking it easy in holding off on distance runs until my knee feels 100%. Only got one workout in this week but still feel 3 a week is reasonable and healthy.

 

Life- The fight for 9pm bedtime is ongoing. I know that early bedtime is going to be extra critical when baby gets here as the wife and I intend to do a split shift on baby coverage 9pm - 3am / 3am - 9am, with me taking second watch.

 

T-Minus 3 Days to baby arrival, then it all changes. Ready to get this going.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[Kishi]

So you ran up, hit the wall, and bounced off. It happens. Shake it off and hit it again; if you bounce off again, then it'll be time to reassess and readjust.

[fitnessgurl]

Following  

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Day 8:

Weight: 212.8 lbs 

Sleep: 8.5 Hours 

In Bed: 10:00pm, step in the right 

             direction, will see if today is the 

             day 9pm happens.

Water: 1/2 Gallon

Meditation: 10 min afternoon meditation 

Mood: Acceptance on the work stuff continues. Successfully navigated out of the waters of wanting to rage-quit (which probably would not have gone over well with a new baby coming in 2 days). Se la vi. Readjusting schedule to deal with said work stuff and taking care of last minute things like packing for the hospital, getting a hair cut, and maybe getting a workout in. Like I was telling @fleaball the other day, sometimes all I can do is one small adultish thing at a time and somehow those tough days pass reasonably well.

 

Meals:

    8:30am - Fiber cereal & berries & 

                     Coffee

    11:30am - Egg white omelette, Oatmeal 

                      w/ apples

     1:30pm - Coffee

     3:00pm - Banana

     5:30pm - Chili, cornbread, soda

     9:30pm - Scoop of PB & Milk

 

Workout: None

 

Notes: Crazy busy day and The craziness is scheduled to continue until baby gets here Thursday. Just taking it in stride and doing what I can.

 

Motivation Music for the Day:

 

 

[fleaball]

Sorry about dropping off from your other thread! Glad you pinged me here though. 

 

Congrats on the 2 years of sobriety. That's awesome.

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Thanks!  

[Sloth the Enduring]

I hope you’re getting a bunch of time off for the baby.

[Kishi]

Ooh, getting close to delivery!

[Orias Malus]

Many well wishes for the baby! You're going to (continue to) be a great dad!

[Elastigirl]

Popping in here to hear if there is any baby news.

[ReturnOfTheDad]

BABY IS HERE!!!

 

Little Miss ReturnOfTheDad was born Thursday morning at 7:42am, 7lbs 11oz, 20.5 inches. Been a whirlwind couple of days and still at the hospital, should be heading home tomorrow. Probably going to be a few days before posting regularly again, but all are healthy and very happy to welcome this new member of our family.  

 

Thanks for all the support everyone!

[Sloth the Enduring]

Congratulations!!!

[fitnessgurl]

Congrats!!!!!  

[ReturnOfTheDad]

Consolidating my challenges into one thread going forward, feel free to keep following! Link below: