[Silmarilliane]

Hi there! I finished my last challenge and levelled up (woo) and then had a week off which showed that I definitely need to carry on with these challenges for a little while longer...

I know this is a mini challenge to Christmas, but I'm going to run it on until the following week (2nd Jan) and use this to minimise my overeating where I don't have a specific event. I also want to keep up with exercise stuff as that's slipped too, and add in something to stop me playing mindless crap on my phone in bed instead of sleeping/reading!

 

Existing good habits that I will continue with:

• Run before work (M-F) up a nearby hill: 0.7m total with ~50ft incline - no walking before the top of the hill
• Pilates before work (M-F) the Hundred with straight legs ribcage closure every 20 beats
• Weight training, 3x10reps of each unless stated:
  • Monday PUSH: Bench press, Military press, Dips
  • Wednesday PULL: Gym ring Pull-up (hip-height with bent knees), Negative chin-ups, Barbell rows
  • Thursday LEGS: Squat, Lunge, Romanian Deadlift
• Pilates class most Monday evenings - this is pausing over Christmas, so I want to factor in keeping up with exercises
• Walking:
  • Office days: to the station and over the river at the other end (~2mile total)
  • WfH days and Sat/Sun: 2 miles minimum, ideally during lunch
• Teethbrushing squat: Held squat for 2min+
• Cycle at least once a week (this has slipped the last couple)

 

Big food days - so there are nine in the next four weeks (deets in spolier for any interested), which isn't all that much, and also a bit depressing that I don't have all that many plans! My December historically has been rammo...

 

Spoiler

• Week 1:
  • 7th Dec: Work Christmas lunch
  • 9th Dec: Chorus Christmas singing - may not be foodie, but likely drinkie
• Week 2:
  • 13th Dec: Quartet Christmas dinner
  • 14th Dec: Work & Chorus Christmas drinks (unlikely to go crazy as I have an early appointment the next day)
  • 15th Dec: Winter Wonderland - likely to get lots of halloumi fries and festive stuffs
• Week 3:
  • 24th Dec: Usually get a Christmas Eve curry (though the people I go with had a baby so I'm thinking this won't happen)
  • 25th Dec: Christmas dinner
  • 26th Dec: Family dinner
• Week 4:
  • 30th Dec: Dinner with friends

 

So I think my goal is going to be to stay under calories on any day I don't have a specific thing on - this should stop me randomly snacking senselessly. I'll also give bonus points where I don't use the event as an excuse to overeat the whole day, e.g. tomorrow our lunch is 1pm so I'll have normal breakfast and then will need maybe a small snack in the evening (if at all).

 

POINTS AND SCORING:

• All morning/evening workouts in a week (run, hundred, squat) = 100pts
• 2 miles of walking every day = 100pts for the week, 75pts for 6/7 days, 50pts for 5/7 days
• All weight sessions in a week = 100pts
• 1hr of pilates a week = 50pts
• Cycle once a week = 50pts

Total possible exercise points = 1600pts

• No phone in bed = 100pts for 7/7 days, 75pts for 6/7 days, 50pts for 5/7 days
• Read instead of phone crap = 50pts for at least 4/7 days

Total possible no-phone points = 600pts

• Under calories 4/7 days for the week = 100pts
• Extra day under calories for the week = 25 bonus points
• Day over but limited to the event (AKA being sensible) = 10 bonus points

Total food points with bonuses = ~800pts (I can't be bothered to work out exactly )

 

Total possible points for this challenge = 3000pts

[Silmarilliane]

Lil update that Monday was successfully under calories, yesterday was Christmas Meal #1 which was spiced parsnip soup followed by roast butternut squash and polenta with winter veg. Very yum, and I didn't actually have breakfast or dinner as I was so full - I did eat a bunch of butter stollen bites in the evening though so definitely not 'limited to the event' but these were seriously good stollen bites (Lidl if you're interested!)

I've successfully NOT used my phone in bed which has been fine and I haven't missed it - I did read instead on Monday night and yesterday I just went to sleep as I finished my book on the tube (Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - would recommend)

 

I'm caving and going to start reading Wheel of Time again because the TV show has reminded me how much I enjoyed the books the first/second times through!

 

On track to stay under calories today as well - it's nice to have a target to stick to!

[Harriet]

Good luck keep the eating reasonable through the Christmas season!

[Silmarilliane]

Yesterday was all within calories, but as I had a couple of strong beers and a mulled wine (actually potentially under calories) I had some bread to soak it up before I went to bed. This definitely was limiting the overeating to the event though.

Today I'm expecting to stay under calories, but I do have plans to meet a friend for dinner this eve, and tomorrow after bouldering - hopefully I'll make good choices.

 

Exercise-wise, I've been keeping up with that, though need to catch up on some weights as I worked late Weds and had a singing concert yester. I've also stuck to my no phone in bed, and read my book instead last night. I also snuck in a quick cycle on Weds, woop!

[Silmarilliane]

Stayed under calories Friday and yesterday I had takeaway at a friend's after bouldering and was nice not to have to track calories (though I don't think I would have been massively over). I've mostly caught up on weights but have a few to do when I get home later.

All in all a good week and glad I've made this to keep me on track 🙌

[Harriet]

2 hours ago, Silmarilliane said:

All in all a good week and glad I've made this to keep me on track 🙌

 

Nice! Carry on splendidly!

[Silmarilliane]

On 12/12/2021 at 4:27 PM, Harriet said:

 

Nice! Carry on splendidly!

 

 Thank you  

[Silmarilliane]

Week one wrap up - generally happy with how it's going, though this week has a few foodie things early on which might scupper me later!

• All morning/evening workouts in a week (run, hundred, squat) ✔️ = 100pts
• 2 miles of walking every day ✔️ = 100pts
• All weight sessions in a week ✔️ = 100pts (just squidged this in)
• 1hr of pilates a week ✔️ = 50pts
• Cycle once a week ✔️ = 50pts

Exercise points = 400pts

• No phone in bed ✔️ = 100pts - I am so surprised I actually did this, and it's been great!
• Read instead of phone crap ✔️ = 50pts - I'm pretty sure I did at least four evenings

No-phone points = 150pts

• Under calories 4/7 days for the week ✔️= 100pts
• Two days over but limited to the event = 20 bonus points 😃

Total food points = 120pts

 

Total for week 1: 670pts

[Silmarilliane]

Yesterday was Christmas meal in the eve, but managed to not overeat the rest of the day. Today is work drinks followed by chorus drinks, and I've already hit pretty much calories (putting my dinner wrap in) so it's currently difficult to not overeat right now until then!

I'm very aware that's two of my three 'over' days, and I'm going for a roast on Sunday, but I think that'll be ok. Tomorrow I'm at Winter Wonderland so I'll limit the snacks, Thu/Fri have no special events and Saturday I might go to a gig (again, don't expect to go over).

[Silmarilliane]

Yep, so Mon & Tues over calories, but stayed under Weds (even with mulled cider mmm) and today was under too. I cycled yesterday too, and have just about got my walking in today (yesterday was loads). I need to catch up on weights tomorrow too.

Tuesday and Weds I had the phone out before bed and got caught in a social media spiral, so I definitely want to not do that the rest of the week - I did read last night after realising I was mindless scrolling.

 

I'm also massively lax on these boards this challenge, and felt myself dropping off them towards the end of last - I'm hoping this is just work blah in the run up to Christmas, as I do love reading other people's challenges ❤️ 

[Harriet]

On 12/16/2021 at 11:58 PM, Silmarilliane said:

Yep, so Mon & Tues over calories, but stayed under Weds (even with mulled cider mmm) and today was under too. I cycled yesterday too, and have just about got my walking in today (yesterday was loads). I need to catch up on weights tomorrow too.

Tuesday and Weds I had the phone out before bed and got caught in a social media spiral, so I definitely want to not do that the rest of the week - I did read last night after realising I was mindless scrolling.

 

I'm also massively lax on these boards this challenge, and felt myself dropping off them towards the end of last - I'm hoping this is just work blah in the run up to Christmas, as I do love reading other people's challenges ❤️ 

 

Good job averaging out the calories despite some higher days. And I hope Christmas gives you some rest and energy after the work blahs.

[Silmarilliane]

Week two wrap up - I didn't have the roast dinner in the end on Sunday because London is now a covid major incident, but I still didn't log calories as it was quite nice to have the day off! I missed my run Weds morning as I stayed at a friend's for an appointment, but made it back Saturday which I never do, so not docking points for that!

• All morning/evening workouts in a week (run, hundred, squat) ✔️ = 100pts
• 2 miles of walking every day ✔️ = 100pts
• All weight sessions in a week ✔️ = 100pts
• 1hr of pilates a week ✔️ = 50pts
• Cycle once a week ✔️ = 50pts

Exercise points = 400pts

• No phone in bed 📲 = 50pts as I failed twice, why are insta reels so addictive?!
• Read instead of phone crap ✔️ = 50pts - cracking on through WoT!

No-phone points = 100pts

• Under calories 4/7 days for the week ✔️= 100pts
• Two days over but limited to the event = 10 bonus points - I can only really give myself points for one of these as there was cake on Tuesday!

Total food points = 110pts

 

Total for week 2: 610pts

 

Total challenge points so far: 1280pts

[Harriet]

19 hours ago, Silmarilliane said:

Week two wrap up - I didn't have the roast dinner in the end on Sunday because London is now a covid major incident, but I still didn't log calories as it was quite nice to have the day off! I missed my run Weds morning as I stayed at a friend's for an appointment, but made it back Saturday which I never do, so not docking points for that!

 

It looks like a fantastic week! Great work!

[Silmarilliane]

Very awol over the last couple of weeks because Christmas. Looking forward to going back to work actually and getting back into a routine that isn't largely sitting 😄

 

So I'll have to do a two week round up to finish (memory allowing), and also looking forward to staying a new challenge tomorrow...

 

Week three:

All morning/evening workouts in a week (run, hundred, squat) ~✔️ = 95pts (I think I missed one morning hundred so docking five points)

2 miles of walking every day ✖️ I missed Christmas Eve with all the things to do, and Christmas Day/Boxing Day were quite lazy but giving something for doing walking for more than half = 50pts

All weight sessions in a week ✔️ = 100pts

1hr of pilates a week ✔️ = 50pts (I did a tough YouTube Pilates half hour)

Cycle once a week ✖️ = 0pts

Exercise points = 295pts

 

No phone in bed 📲 = 25pts as this got a bit slapdash

Read instead of phone crap ✔️ = 50pts

No-phone points = 75pts

 

Under calories = ✖️ it got to Christmas Eve Eve and I gave up bcuz I wanted mulled cider and mince pies

I will give myself 40pts for three days under calories and one day limiting the overeating to the evening

Total food points = 40pts

 

Total for week three: 410pts (1690pts so far)

 

Week four:

All morning/evening workouts in a week (run, hundred, squat) ✔️ = 100pts (I'm glad I kept this up on annual leave)

2 miles of walking every day ~✔️ = 100ptd (I'm pretty sure I got this in)

All weight sessions in a week ✔️ = 100pts

1hr of pilates a week ✔️ = 50pts (again did the YouTube tough lesson)

Cycle once a week ✔️ = 50pts

Exercise points = 400pts

 

No phone in bed 📲 = 25pts again not great

Read instead of phone crap ✔️ = 50pts

No-phone points = 75pts

 

Under calories = ✖️ I tried, I failed

One day I did really well until the evening where I ate loads of stuff for no reason, so I'll give myself 10pts for the rest of that day

Total food points = 10pts

 

Total for week four: 485pts

 

Total for the challenge = 2,200pts = 74%

 

So despite overeating for the last couple of weeks, I do think I've still made good choices along the way, and also kept up with almost all the exercise parts so I'm pleased with myself for that. And leveling up woop!