Tarly Tries to Take Over the World

[Stronkey Kong]

2 hours ago, Sloth the Enduring said:

I missed most of the discussion. I was diagnosed with ADD as an adult. I wish I had taken care of it years earlier. I’m not on stimulants right now, but I’ve used them and they are like magic.

The thing is, you have a lifetime of ingrained bad habits and drugs aren’t going to fix that. You somehow have to figure out systems to compensate. But the drugs give you the mental space to let the systems work.

If videos work for you, the YouTube channel How To ADHD is a good place for someone to start.

Good luck brother.

 

Kewl. Thanks.

 

That is what I'm hoping for with meds. I've done a lot of the stuff like the goal setting, scheduling, organization before and it never stuck. The other big thing I'd need help with are lectures, meetings, and discussions, which is when my mind wanders most and depends on focus most.

 

I've already found How to ADHD. They also have a forum and I posted an intro over there: https://forums.howtoadhd.com/t/phd-dropout/7864/12

 

 

[miss_marissa]

22 hours ago, Chris Tarly said:

 

I'm still using the same system. If you go to my food tracker google sheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jag6eSOsi69is3HXipmECDZzUL6E1ryeSxoKp-Y5eJI/edit#gid=477662458

 

I just check off the boxes. Before, I was printing off the blank sheet and posting it on my fridge, then I'd update the google sheet at the end of the week. Now I have this drawn, pretty much as it is there, in my BuJo... and that takes like 20-30 min to draw all that... so I'm probably just going to switch to listing food groups on rows to simplify things. I also keep my exercise log and grocery list on the same page. That way when I get groceries, I'm also looking at my food tracker and exercise and generally thinking about health and fitness rather than taste or shiny packaging and I'm more likely to avoid unhealthy impulses.

Is printing the sheet and pasting into your BUJO an option?

[Stronkey Kong]

22 minutes ago, miss_marissa said:

Is printing the sheet and pasting into your BUJO an option?

 

Yes it is. But, I thought about it and I think it's easiest to just put one line for each food group... two lines for veggies, fruits, and grains. Then just draw a vertical line at my limits. I don't need to have boxes within boxes for everything. What was making the old system work was just that it was posted on my fridge so it was convenient. But now I'm carrying my BuJo with me so it's even more flexible and convenient.

 

This is better in the long run. I was just reluctant, initially, to change a thing so soon despite it working so well. I just need to make it as efficient as possible so that BuJo maintenance doesn't become a distraction from getting things done in the BuJo.

[Snarkyfishguts]

1 hour ago, Chris Tarly said:

just need to make it as efficient as possible so that BuJo maintenance doesn't become a distraction from getting things done in the BuJo.

I feel attacked 😂😂😂 why are you calling me out like this? 

[Stronkey Kong]

I updated my BuJo for the next week. Here's the fitness log:

 

 

The old version is on the left, the new version is on the right. So much page space saved... though I'm already dissatisfied with it... tweaks will be made next week... some of the categories on the top might overflow and should have been put on a row by itself.

[Snarkyfishguts]

 It’s fun working out a set up. The second page is definitely roomier amd more open, but I agree, you haven't given yourself enough breathing room, especially for puppy doodles.

 

 

[Scaly Freak]

Wait. Can it really be called a bullet journal if there are no bullets? Should it be called a grid journal instead?

[Stronkey Kong]

17 minutes ago, Scalyfreak said:

Wait. Can it really be called a bullet journal if there are no bullets? Should it be called a grid journal instead?

 

You should see the next page.

 

AND...

 

It's my BuJo and I'll do what I want with it!

 

Addit:

 

I made mine based on this video...

 

As you can see, habit trackers are welcome additions, as are puppy doodles.

[Scaly Freak]

1 hour ago, Chris Tarly said:

It's my BuJo and I'll do what I want with it!

 

As well you should. I always suspected the notion that there's certain way that you "have to" set up your bullet journal or your'e doing it all wrong, is one of the most effective deterrents for having one.

[Stronkey Kong]

3 minutes ago, Scalyfreak said:

 

As well you should. I always suspected the notion that there's certain way that you "have to" set up your bullet journal or your'e doing it all wrong, is one of the most effective deterrents for having one.

 

I think there are a few key elements that make it a BuJo:

• Bullets... including key symbols -- I draw Tesla coils for thoughts or ideas and such... because fuck Edison the Electrical Elephant Executioner and his light bulb!
• periodic updating
• migration system

I could include the index and future log, but I think they're non-essential to the BuJo system. Everything else is optional but totally acceptable: notes from events/meetings, cartoons, journaling, Tesla coils...

[Stronkey Kong]

Week 5 Summary

 

Nutrition and Body Composition Tracking:

 

Most recent nutrition tracking sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jag6eSOsi69is3HXipmECDZzUL6E1ryeSxoKp-Y5eJI/edit?usp=sharing

 

I had red meat twice this week. The same guy who brought the brisket to our potluck... I guess his Mom is smoking meat to stay sane during quarantine*... he brought in a couple racks smoke pork ribs and I wasn't passing that up. Then on Thursday, when we usually get takeout at work or whatever, the boss went for Japanese food and I got a steak and scallops hibachi dinner. These were both relatively healthy and lean red meat options so I'm not beating myself up about. I did however go to Burger King on Friday... another damned impossible whopper (because I had two servings of red meat already)... Coulda just got medium fries, or just the sandwich, and I really didn't need the Jalapeno cheddar bites. I also went over on grains by a few servings.

 

But otherwise it was a pretty good week.

 

Overall my daily average values are:

2128 Calories

112 g Pro

274 g CHO

65 g Fat

 

*Yeah. I thought of making that joke but didn't because I'm a classy gentleman**.

** Mr. Peanut wouldn't make that joke.

 

Updated weight record:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1auR9MMvqi4AdYN2afjqD33chhwSyB-TvUzmI7hVz42o/edit?usp=sharing

 

My weight is still dropping down. Though it slowed a bit this week. More junk food less exercise, but I'm down another pound since last week. My other measurements are about the same, but down since the beginning of the challenge.

 

Wheel:

 

Pretty lame. One workout. But it was a good one. I was super fatigued from lack of sleep M-W and just said fuck it the rest of the week.

 

1 workouts:

51 min  558 cals

 

Total

172 min, 1548 cals, average intensity = 10.94 cals / min.

 

World Domination:

 

I'm finishing week 4 of my course this weekend. Shoulda had it done earlier in the week, but it is hard to get things done during the week. I did watch lecture vids over breakfast but detailed note taking and focused reading did not happen.

 

I also had a meeting with my Supervisor on Friday for my annual performance review. We discussed my performance as well as my future career plans. I laid my cards on the table and told them about going into embedded systems and electrical engineering, and they were interested in finding overlap between my goals and needs around the shop. The shop is small, and they likely wouldn't have a permanent role for an electrical engineer/computer scientist etc. (I knew this) but there may be some opportunities for side projects or researching technologies that could improve shop performance. I also told them that I could help them with shop documentation, especially training documents and manuals, which is something that they sorely... oh so sorely need. So while I'm stuck there doing my courses, I can at least get involved in some side projects that might help me get more experience with the tech side of manufacturing. And I asked for a raise, and that's a different meeting, but no one was shaking their head.

 

In addition, I'm looking into a side gig as a part time remote advisor for a tech driven manufacturing startup. Earning side money and making contacts.

 

==============================================

 

Challenge Summary

 

Good challenge. I did stuff I said I'd do for once, and did it regularly.

 

Nutrition:

I've been really consistent on this nutrition plan:

 

Estimated weekly calories, protein, carbohydrate, and fat

Est_Wk_Calories	Est_Wk_Pro	Est_Wk_CHO	Est_Wk_Fat
16328	809	2067	532
13639	788	1625	443
15930	777	1828	590
14627	813	2045	500
14034	824	1645	462
14895	784	1916	455

 

And I've lost quite a bit of weight...

 

 

Measurements in lbs. / in.

 

Weight	Waist_rel	Waist_tight	Neck	Shoulders	Chest	Hips	Left_Thigh	Right_Thigh
270.8	45.5		15.25	48.5	45	46.75	24.25	25
265.9	46.5	42.5	15.5	47.75	45.25	47.25	24	24
264.4	45.5	43	15.5	47	44.75	46	24	24
263.3	46	43.5	15.5	45.5	44.5	46.25	24.25	24.25
259.2	46	42.5	15.5	48	45	46.5	23.75	24
258.1	45.5	42.5	15.5	48	44.25	46	24	24

 

Yup. Weight is down 12.7 lbs. since the beginning of the challenge.

 

Measurements are not as impressive, but it looks like there's some change from beginning to end.

Waist (relaxed): No change

Waist (tight): No change

Shoulders: No change ... I thing the dive in numbers is more from bad measuerment... it's hard to fiddle with tape while holding your arms still and only in the last two weeks have I been checking to see if it's in the right spot on my back and sides.

Chest: level across the nips... I may have taken off the majority of an inch... manboobs begone!  

Hips/butt: Looks like I lost most of an inch

Thighs: It looks like the left thigh (the more muscular thigh) stated the same, but I may have lost some off my right. 😕

 

I don't know. The measurements don't show much. I do know my face, neck, and shoulders look leaner, and my pants fit better... so much better. I actually will need a belt soon. So good changes are happening, I'm just not sure these are capturing the change well. I'll keep doing them because I think they eventually will.

 

Exercise:

 

The good thing is I didn't skip a whole week, I'll take that.

 

Ex_Calories	Ex_Time	Ex_Ave_Int
2700	280	9.64
2000	160	12.50
800	80	10.00
1548	170	9.11
1628	150	10.85
558	51	10.94

 

There were a couple weeks where I slacked off: I didn't burn many calories or try hard. Yeah. Look at the chart. I came in pretty how, but cooled down. But, the overall intensity went up. Kinda.

 

I think Last week was ideal. 3 workouts, 2.5 hours, pretty high intensity. That's a good bar to aim for, and I shed like five pounds. No clue if the calories are accurate other than they do correlate well with ave HR and time.

 

But, I need some variety tho. I'm going to try to maintain a minimum standard on the bike, but add in some yoga for strength and flexibility.

 

Taking over the world:

 

I should have finished my course last weekend if I was staying on the ideal time track. I should be able to finish in a couple of weeks.

 

I have been doing it for six weeks and am on the verge of finishing 4 weeks of work. If I was taking the for credit course (official credit from UC-Boulder) I'd have 8 weeks to finish the course. I have two weeks to finish on that schedule (and I'm only counting that right now to gauge if I can keep up). So I need to step up and finish that.

 

I built my lab. I have a whiteboard, a soldering station, more work space, and fairly well organized storage space for tools and electronic components. So that was a success.

 

Now I just need to start a project (in addition to my course project), and get going on it.

 

And there have been solid improvements on my employment front.

 

============================================================

 

Preview of Next Challenge

 

I'm going to continue with the Pinky and the Brain theme since it's now so relevant with the possible ADHD diagnosis coming.

 

For nutrition etc:

Keep up this challenges habits

Make daily tweaks, check impulses, and reflect more on food choices

 

Exercise:

Maintain a minimum level for the wheel

Add some yoga

 

Trying to take over the world (Brain):

Finish current course

Take a break and work on other projects for a bit

Pay off a credit card... I can put the next course's tuition on it once i have a zero balance, and that will be my source of 'student loans' for this.

 

Managing ADHD (Pinky):

Set up appointments and seek a diagnosis/treatment.

Continue BuJo-ing

I think so, Brain, but this time, you put the trousers on the chimp.

 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

Dude... DUDE. 12 pounds! HECKS YA!  Those measurements show a lot of progress too. You are doing this!

 

And yay for finishing the lab. Now you can definitely take over the world. I do recommend practicing your monologue in case 007 pops by for a visit.

 

Are you leaping into the next challenge this week or taking time off? 

 

I love checkboxes for my bujo. I mean, it's SO satisfying. When I worked in higher ed, I used a highlighter to indicate finished tasks. That way I could still read the task, but I knew it was done. But I like making a little box and checking it off better. Plus, I don't have to worry about tidy notes and agendas since no one is like "Oh yeah, lets see the that list of everything you claim to be doing. Oh. This is very organized. Shit. NEXT TIME, GADGET!"  When I stopped working, I drew little people vomiting in my planner. It was so liberating to realize something was just for my use and I could do what I wanted. Basically, this is my paragraph saying "HECKS YEAH, YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT!" I'm really happy for you and admire that confidence

 

[Stronkey Kong]

7 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Dude... DUDE. 12 pounds! HECKS YA!  Those measurements show a lot of progress too. You are doing this!

 

And yay for finishing the lab. Now you can definitely take over the world. I do recommend practicing your monologue in case 007 pops by for a visit.

 

Are you leaping into the next challenge this week or taking time off? 

 

I love checkboxes for my bujo. I mean, it's SO satisfying. When I worked in higher ed, I used a highlighter to indicate finished tasks. That way I could still read the task, but I knew it was done. But I like making a little box and checking it off better. Plus, I don't have to worry about tidy notes and agendas since no one is like "Oh yeah, lets see the that list of everything you claim to be doing. Oh. This is very organized. Shit. NEXT TIME, GADGET!"  When I stopped working, I drew little people vomiting in my planner. It was so liberating to realize something was just for my use and I could do what I wanted. Basically, this is my paragraph saying "HECKS YEAH, YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT!" I'm really happy for you and admire that confidence

 

 

 

 

Leaping in to the next challenge. I think I already have my goals.

 

 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

3 hours ago, Chris Tarly said:

 

 

 

Leaping in to the next challenge. I think I already have my goals.

 

 

 

Cool, cool. I thought a out taking a week off but I dont want to lose progress so I’m gonna in the leaping feet first gang too.

[miss_marissa]

DUDE! A ton of great progress over the course of this challenge. Well done!