GoodDoug wins back ground for the Rebellion

[JuiceeTarget]

The grizzled old Ranger Guild Leader looked over and sighed. Here came that half-ogre again. GoodDoug was a good Ranger most of the time, but had some issues with consistency. He would work hard for a couple of months and then coast along until something (or someone) kick him in the butt a little. He looked like he was coasting now, but now was not the time to let up.

The Rebellion was pushing back against the Enemy on all fronts, but it was slow going. The weather was proving a distraction for many of the guilds, with winter settling in and the holidays just now over, it was tough to keep the Rebellion moving. The guild leaders all had their work cut out for them.

"GoodDoug, get your big butt over here, and stop stuffing that pie into your mouth!"

GoodDoug swallowed sheepishly and headed over to the guild leader who had been his mentor and biggest supporter. They continued, "Now is the hard part, there are no more easy wins, no surprise strategies, only hard work. Are you ready for that?"

GoodDoug nodded, he knew what the guild leader meant, "It is time to put in the work."

 

Okay, I'll put in a better challenge later, but wanted to get this in here. My main goals for this challenge are to get back to what has been successful for me. That means tracking my food, exercising most days of the week, and keeping up on this site. I do much better when I hold myself accountable to you lot.

 

Diet:

 - Get back on tracking every day. I was tracking religiously for 6 months, and then took this last month off to see if I could eat sensibly without tracking... spoiler! I can't!

 - Protein shake every morning as I have been doing

 - Sugary snacks must be home made

 

Exercise:

I've actually been pretty consistent about this, but I will keep on it

 - Bodyweight or weights 3 days a week

 - Run 2 days a week

 - Fill my rings every day

 

Mind:

I am lumping a few things here

 - Read 5 days a week

 - Do something creative 2 days a week

 

I have some things I want to work on for 2020 that I will talk about later, but this is what I can do for now.

[Defining]

22 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

I have some things I want to work on for 2020 that I will talk about later, but this is what I can do for now.

YES! I'm so so supportive of setting goals for what you can do at the moment, while still planning for the future, and NOT beating yourself up over it. Love it. Following!

 

Also, I started a non-structured reading challenge in PVP, if that's something that interests you.

[shaar]

There you are!

 

Here to CAPSLOCK HELP you through consistency and motivation!  WE CAN DO THIS OK :DDDD

[Cheetah]

Good goals!  You can do it!

 

Happy Challenge!

[Elastigirl]

Nice challenge! To be fair, I don't know if December is the best month to see how you do without tracking. I do find that tracking does help keep me accountable too though.Having to write it down makes me stop  and think first I think

[Novaurora]

Here to follow!!!!

[starpuck]

14 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

That means tracking my food, exercising most days of the week, and keeping up on this site. I do much better when I hold myself accountable to you lot.

Man these things look soooo familiar.   Oh wait!  Right.   It's the same for me!

 

Here to support ya old friend.

I should go back to my half-orc ways lol.

[JuiceeTarget]

16 hours ago, Defining said:

Also, I started a on-structured reading challenge in PVP, if that's something that interests you.

Thanks for that! I would totally join but I know I would start to make reading into a chore rather than something fun if I tried to game it like that. I am finally old and wise (snicker) enough to know how my brain works with things like that.

 

15 hours ago, loire said:

There you are!

 

Here to CAPSLOCK HELP you through consistency and motivation!  WE CAN DO THIS OK :DDDD

Thanks shaarloire! I'll take all the CAPSLOCK HELP I can get!

 

14 hours ago, Cheetah said:

Good goals!  You can do it!

 

Happy Challenge!

Thnx Cheetah!

 

13 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Nice challenge! To be fair, I don't know if December is the best month to see how you do without tracking. I do find that tracking does help keep me accountable too though.Having to write it down makes me stop  and think first I think

You make a great point. But I feel like if I tried to "ease back into tracking" I would just stop and then look around in six months wondering how I was back to my original weight and fluffy shape. And I really feel that tracking does have a wag the dog effect, "Do I really want to record that I ate three croissants? No, I'll only have the one and a half... okay, we'll call it two since I ate most of that second one."

 

5 hours ago, Novaurora said:

Here to follow!!!!

Thnx!

 

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

Man these things look soooo familiar.   Oh wait!  Right.   It's the same for me!

 

Here to support ya old friend.

I should go back to my half-orc ways lol.

Thnx! We should totally do the half-ogre/half-orc buddy cop movie. You could be Starpucksky and I will be  GoodHutch?

 

Cut to the inside of the tavern marked off with Police tape

Camera pans to GoodHutch and Starpucksky looking at some overturned chairs, a little blood and a plate of half eaten Nachos.

GoodHutch: "What do you think happened here?"

Starpucksky (sniffs the Nachos): "Looks like a revenge killing"

Police Chief Tanktimus walks up: "The tavern owner says they were playing a quiet game and they all got very agitated at one point. Then someone yelled "It's going to be a TPK!" and that is when most of them ganged up on the one they called the "DM""

[Elastigirl]

8 minutes ago, GoodDoug said:

You make a great point. But I feel like if I tried to "ease back into tracking" I would just stop and then look around in six months wondering how I was back to my original weight and fluffy shape. And I really feel that tracking does have a wag the dog effect, "Do I really want to record that I ate three croissants? No, I'll only have the one and a half... okay, we'll call it two since I ate most of that second one."

 

Yeah, I totally get that. I think I  do the same thing. However, it  is helping me when I just get sick of tracking and want a break to actually learn to trust myself a bit and realize that I am making much better choices and that I am not very likely to just go back to my fluffiness

[JuiceeTarget]

17 minutes ago, Elastigirl said:

Yeah, I totally get that. I think I  do the same thing. However, it  is helping me when I just get sick of tracking and want a break to actually learn to trust myself a bit and realize that I am making much better choices and that I am not very likely to just go back to my fluffiness

I am glad that I took a break. I needed it and will take a break again someday. Sometimes I just want to eat and not care, but usually I need to care

[Defining]

5 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

Thanks for that! I would totally join but I know I would start to make reading into a chore rather than something fun if I tried to game it like that. I am finally old and wise (snicker) enough to know how my brain works with things like that.

I totally get and respect that! FWIW, the 'challenge' is just to read, there are no rules about what kind/how much, it's mostly just a place for people to geek out about books. But I do understand how even that kind of thing could turn into a competition, so feel free to tag/DM me anytime if you want to geek out/chat about books even if it's not in context of a challenge.

 

5 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

"Do I really want to record that I ate three croissants? No, I'll only have the one and a half... okay, we'll call it two since I ate most of that second one."

I feel so seen....

[JuiceeTarget]

30 minutes ago, Defining said:

5 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

"Do I really want to record that I ate three croissants? No, I'll only have the one and a half... okay, we'll call it two since I ate most of that second one."

I feel so seen....

Haha I only say this because I made croissants yesterday (well, I really took two days to make them, but they were done yesterday) and everyone knows you can't eat day old croissants...

[Defining]

Just now, GoodDoug said:

Haha I only say this because I made croissants yesterday (well, I really took two days to make them, but they were done yesterday) and everyone knows you can't eat day old croissants...

Clearly you've never made really good bread pudding.

[Cheetah]

1 hour ago, Defining said:

Clearly you've never made really good bread pudding.

 

+1

 

Croissants are good for bread pudding out to a week old.

[JuiceeTarget]

1 hour ago, Cheetah said:

 

+1

 

Croissants are good for bread pudding out to a week old.

Dammit, are you saying I didn’t have to eat all the croissants yesterday? Because I really did have to  

[Defining]

13 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

Dammit, are you saying I didn’t have to eat all the croissants yesterday? Because I really did have to  

I am NEVER going to tell you that you didn't have to eat all the croissants. Especially if you made the laminate yourself! That's just basic QC.

[Salinger]

HEY HEY HEY !! Following along ❤️ x

[Xena]

On 1/2/2020 at 8:08 PM, GoodDoug said:

 - Get back on tracking every day. I was tracking religiously for 6 months, and then took this last month off to see if I could eat sensibly without tracking... spoiler! I can't!

 

Yup. Same here. I guess the problem is that I really would like to be thinner than my body "intuitively" wants me to be. So I can manage it, but it takes effort. The willpower to put in that effort comes and goes.

 

On 1/2/2020 at 11:06 PM, Elastigirl said:

To be fair, I don't know if December is the best month to see how you do without tracking.

 

I agree too. Good point.

 

On 1/3/2020 at 1:02 PM, Elastigirl said:

I just get sick of tracking and want a break to actually learn to trust myself a bit and realize that I am making much better choices and that I am not very likely to just go back to my fluffiness

 

...and another good point. I need breaks from it.

 

[JuiceeTarget]

The guild leader led the half-ogre towards the supply depot. "I know you've done supply before, and I know it is boring, but boring work wins wars."

GoodDoug sighed, he knew what was coming, and he knew it needed to get done. In a way, he knew the guild leader was showing their trust in him with this assignment. It needed to get done, and done meticulously.

GoodDoug was put in charge of resupply to the front lines. That meant keeping track of all the supplies, especially the foodstuffs, as well as some supply escort duty. There usually wasn't much cause to fight while on escort duty, they were mainly there as a show of force to keep the Enemy forces from attacking the supply lines, but there was always the chance that they would try something, so GoodDoug had better stay ready.

 

It is weird to start this on a Sunday, but I'm going with the flow...

Yesterday (Sunday) I was kinda lazy in the morning and afternoon. Did some work around the house and finally in the evening decided to do some bodyweight stuff... started and then my younger daughter decides she wants to go for a run. I can't say no that, so off we went for a short run. It was all super easy, but I felt good about getting active.

This morning, I did the GMB Mobius program and that is feeling a little better. I am getting better about not doing it perfectly, but trying to do it well... getting better each repetition instead of getting angry for screwing up the last one.

 

I got back on track with tracking my food on LoseIt! and feel pretty good about it. As I said above, I needed a break and  think it has helped. I still need to get completely back into the groove, but I am back to recording everything and I am hopeful it will continue to get easier.

 

Back to work means back to routine. I am trying to make this a boring challenge... but I don't want to get completely bored. Each week I will focus on something different. This week it is tracking food every day, hence the Supply duty. 

 

Also, I'm going to try and keep up with others' threads though I want to not get lost surfing the forums and refreshing to see if there is anything new... we will see how that goes.

[starpuck]

Happy Day 1 Proper.

 

Sounds like you have a good approach in mind.   I too, am one of the 'I need to track - but damnit I need breaks from tracking too' - some day, I hope that my months of tracking will create a system where the body lends more to controlled eating while not tracking.   I really do think I (we'll) get there if we keep at it.    If one thing life demands of all of us, it's adaptability!   

 

 

[Aquarii]

10 hours ago, GoodDoug said:

I got back on track with tracking my food on LoseIt! and feel pretty good about it. As I said above, I needed a break and  think it has helped. I still need to get completely back into the groove, but I am back to recording everything and I am hopeful it will continue to get easier.

 

I have been recently easing back into tracking on MFP. I am in a similar boat. I can definitely relate to finding it easier to stick to food goals when actually tracking. Just looking at my food choices since I have started it up again, I can tell it has really helped me to eat a much more balanced diet which is better suited for my current goals (muscle gain/body recomp). I especially find it helpful following the holidays. My body and brain are pretty decent about craving healthy foods in moderate quantities these days, but all the sugar around the holidays sends all those hunger signals for a loop, haha.

[JuiceeTarget]

It is fun to see people talking about their experiences with tracking. I know for me, it is a way to force myself to be mindful of what I'm shoving into my pie hole. Some people need occasional tune up reminders while people like me need almost constant reminders. It is good to know where you are on that spectrum and how best to thrive.

 

Otherwise, went running this morning and it was very hard. I think I am fighting off a cold... achey, a little bit of sniffles, more tired than usual (which is saying a lot). So that might explain why it was so hard to run this morning. But I did it, so yay.

Yesterday I did grab a candy bar. I justified it with my tracking and with my exercising, but I really shouldn't have done it. I need to find a snack I can do that isn't so crazy sugary. I'm beating myself up a little over it, but not too much. My willpower was low from working all day, lunch was brought in for a meeting and kinda sucked, and I knew at the time that resisting it would just make me miserable.

I brought my lunch today, so that won't be an excuse, but I know that when 15:00 rolls around, I'll likely be looking longingly at the candy stash so I have to figure out a strategy now.

[Elastigirl]

On 1/6/2020 at 9:32 AM, GoodDoug said:

This morning, I did the GMB Mobius program and that is feeling a little better. I am getting better about not doing it perfectly, but trying to do it well... getting better each repetition instead of getting angry for screwing up the last one.

Woot!

 

 

[starpuck]

Colds and general 'not feeling yourself' is also a major willpower zapper.  At least for me.  I too have that going on, though its all sneezes and sniffles, and no aches.  Ugh.  It's this pesky mild winter we're having!

 

Great job getting that run in though!!

 

[JuiceeTarget]

GoodDoug focussed on the task at hand. He was putting together bushels of storable food into units that could be sent out to teams as needed. It was boring work, but needed to get done. GoodDoug was doing his best to stay awake and energetic, but it was sapping his strength. With a yawn and a stretch he paused to think on the best way to continue. Should he stay head down working or would a quick walk help him clear his head so he could get back on task?

He heard some commotion near the guild leaders command tent so decided to take a walk and find out what was going on. 

He walked over to where a scout had obviously common with news and hailed her, "Hey, what's happening out on the lines right now?"

"Goblins have pushed through our southern line and are wheeling around to start attacking the druids in the Grove. The guild leaders are deciding whom they can send out to deal with them."

GoodDoug momentarily hoped they would send him out, but then realized that he had a job. An important job right now, and that was to keep the armies of the rebellion supplied and fed. It would soon be his turn again to go out into the field.

 

Trying to not get distracted by all the new shinys available right now. Hey, I could take that intro gymnastics course right now... or I could go back to handstands... or I could drop what I'm doing and do something really crazy... or I could do the work that needs to get done right now. I am choosing to do the good work and trying to find ways to enjoy saying no to these other opportunities.

 

Did the next step in the Mobius program today. Once again, the new move they introduced was one of those, "What the hell is that? Can I do that?" and then when I got down on the floor the move happened pretty naturally. Cool. Then they had us string two moves we had been doing before together, and I thought, "Oh, this should be easy!" but it wasn't. It was really awkward to go from one to the other. Especially given that they are both fairly dynamic moves. It gives you five minutes to work on it, and I found myself wishing for more time to do it. Which I took as a good sign. There was frustration, but there was also motivation. I got a little better by the end, but not as well as I felt I should have been. I am trying to convince myself that it is good that I found a limit and have something to work on. It is also good that the work I put in on this will help with other things I do that require dynamic poses.

 

I did manage to avoid the Snickers bar in the afternoon and that feels pretty good. Now let's see if I can make it two days in a row! Also, have been consistently reading and am enjoying it. For me, one of the hard parts is to put the book down. I will often not pick a book up at night, knowing that if I start, I will likely keep reading until my alarm goes off the next morning. So part of my push is to read and put the book down before I am ready to. I've also been doing another audio book, but that is pretty simple to do when on the bus. Creativity needs a little more juice, so I will see what I can do around that tonight.

 

Thnx all for checking in one, I really do appreciate it.