Laura's "Y U waste so much?" Challenge

[Hermione Gainser]

(thanks, ETF!)

Starting Stats:

STR: 15.45| STA: 4| CON: 10| DEX: 3.25| WIS: 10.25| CHA: 5.45

BIO:

We all know warriors worry about two things: lifting and eating. During the last 6 weeks our warrior lifted many things. They were silly, they were small, they were in the form of curlz. The lack of focus required to be a bro brought our warrior to a realization. This warrrior... is a wasteful warrior. Gasp, boo, hiss!

A truth about warriors known only to warriors is that it takes great strength of mind to lift ALL THE THINGS. Warriors are mistakenly thought of as narrow, tunnel vision types. Lift things up, put them down. But a true warrior knows that it takes more than an affection for iron. Warriors must run, hike, stretch, dive, and think. Our warrior intends to expand her horizons a bit-starting with waking her brain up, telling it to put on some pants and hit the mental gym!

GOALS:

Goal 1

Eat efficiently- Can a warrior feed herself properly on $5 a day? Well, no. Probably not. But reading this blog post got me thinking about how much I spend on food per pay period (twice monthly pay schedule). Could I figure out how I spend and get a rough estimate of what it works out to per meal? Sure. And it would include excel sheets and formulas and graphs, OH MY! (nerdy delight!).

The What-Work on spending less for nutritionally sound food.

The How-Post updates as pay periods end and at end of challenge. Experiment with cheaper sources of protein. Plan recipes that utilize shared ingredients.

Possible Points: +2 WIS, +2 CHA, +1 CON

I did an analysis of the last 3 pay periods. It hurt. Good lord did it hurt.

Here are the stats:

9/1-9/15

$184

8/16-8/31

$298*

8/1-8/15

$293*

*I'll get the exact numbers when I'm home. Just under $300 each, though. OUCH. Updated with exact costs

I've yet to go through and take out things like cat food, litter, and housewares and I don't include those in my food budget (food "budget"). But it's really not much each pay period.

The most recent is the best because I had decided to start implementing my goal ahead of time. This is my goal to beat that. Extra woots if I can pull off $5/day without starving myself.

Sub goal- Spend less, eat less. By default, if I'm spending less on food I should be able to keep myself in check. Theoretically. We'll see. No points awarded here but goal is to keep it 1850 or less (subject to change).

Part of this challenge will include posting my recipes and some pics of food. Don't get too excited, I'm not Catspaw. But I think it will be an interesting way to document what I'm doing.

Goal 2

Squat myself silly- Doctor gave me the okay to start squatting again with the caveat I do lots o' reps, light, light weight. I'll be posting in the Help Me Build a Workout Plan thread soon. ETA: here's my thread. I'd love thoughts.

The What-- Develop new plan OR decide on specific coaching and change plan completely; Squat twice a week and do supplementary quad work on non squat day.

The How-- Research, Post for help in 'help' forum, email folks about coaching, SQUAT.

Possible Points: +2 STA, +2 STR, +1 DEX

Goal 3

A mind is a terrible thing to waste- What? You mean I waste more than food? YES! My life is filled with the intellectually uninspiring. My job, while fun, does not challenge my mind. At home, though I don't have cable of any sort, I miraculously find ways to waste my beautiful brain. For whyz?! I want to be able to discuss more than Supernatural and the nuances of Harry Potter.

The What- Spend at 6 hours weekly on my online classes. (A&P, Statistics). Read non guilty pleasure/fluff (Sorry Harry!)

The How- Log on and get to work! I have plenty of time (at least 4 days each week) at home.

Reading Part 1: I joined the NF Book club! So, one book per challenge here. I don't have control (just a vote) over what's picked so if it's fluffy it's okay. Discussion makes for the smarts.

Reading Part 2: Work my way through the gads of books we have at home that I've not read. Start with classics and 'should have read by now /shameface' and move on down the line.

Current: Crime and Punishment. For this: minimum of 2 chapters weekly.

Possible Points: +2 CHA, +1 WIS

Goal 4

Cardio- Ugh. I know, I know! But sometimes we need to experiment. So, here it is.

The What- LISS in the form of walking; Elliptical

The Walking How- At work lunchtime walk: 30 mins 3x/wk; At home neighborhood walk: 30-60 mins 2x/wk

The Elliptical How- Post lift 15-20 mins, every lift.

Possible Points: +1 STA, +1 CHA

[Caution]

Subscribing

[PrincessHeather]

Only a title, and it already made me laugh

[The Tin Man]

Can't wait to follow this one...

[Khep]

Comments to come.

[Kishi]

::subscribes::

[catspaw]

You tease!

[Trad_Climb]

In.

[Damy]

Can't wait

[Mama T]

upon finding Laura's thread challenge:

upon opening Laura's thread:

now:

[CalvinHobbes]

ˆˆˆˆThis x 20000000000

[weirdquark]

::looks at Mama T's comment:: And let the gif madness begin...

[nightlight]

Y u no..

oh.

hmm....

[ETFnerd]

http://qkme.me/3r0ren

[Hermione Gainser]

Subscribing

Can't wait to follow this one...

Comments to come.

::subscribes::

In.

YES!

Only a title, and it already made me laugh

My work here is done

You tease!

Something about a cow and free milk.....

Can't wait

!!!

upon finding Laura's thread challenge:

upon opening Laura's thread:

now:

ˆˆˆˆThis x 20000000000

HAHAHAHAHA My apologies

::looks at Mama T's comment:: And let the gif madness begin...

My thread brings all the gifs to the yard, gifs to the yard..

Y u no..

oh.

hmm....

BAHAHAHAHA :high-five:

http://qkme.me/3r0ren

Thanks, ETF! I tried to make one but my work computer wasn't cooperating. Speaking of which, is the pic visible to anyone? There's weird space at the top but I can't see it. Wondering if user error (derp) or just work permissions and all that jazz.

Main post is updated... still a work in progress but mostly there

[nightlight]

yeah i can't see the pic.

but...

awesome goals.

[PrincessHeather]

Great goals, and good luck with Crime and Punishment, if I remember its a bit dry, but maybe that's just me.

[Max Power]

Laura is back! Wooo! *Claps* Oh wait, high reps with low weight... Welp, still way better than bro-curling your way through life.

Good looking goals girl, good luck with them! (I feel like I should use more "g' words in that line)

[Kishi]

Whooo, Crime and Punishment. Good book. Russian book. Your work is cut out for you.

[weirdquark]

Excellent goals.

Book recs:

Jacques the Fatalist, by Diderot (18th century French philosophy/novel) which is hilarious if you like yelling at the author. Not sure how much one can get out of it without the context of 18th century philosophy; my roommate studies this sort of thing so I've sort of absorbed some of said context.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Tristram Shandy) by Laurence Sterne. Also hilarious because of ridiculousness. Apparently this is a multivolume work, but the first one is probably more than enough. The joke of the novel is that the author is writing his own biography but can't do so without tangents. the first volume tells the story of his birth. I'm pretty sure his mother finishes going through labor by the end of it. Great airport reading; you can pick it up anywhere because nothing ever happens. One chapter of the book is a squiggly line. Or an ink blot. Or both. I forget. They made this into a movie, which I haven't seen, but apparently they do the book justice, which kind of terrifies me.

[Hermione Gainser]

yeah i can't see the pic.

but...

awesome goals.

Damn! I need to figure that out.

Thanks

Great goals, and good luck with Crime and Punishment, if I remember its a bit dry, but maybe that's just me.

Thanks! and Thanks! hahaha you are correct... I'm surprised at how well it holds my attention but I'm more surprised at how long it's taking me to read. I read for hours yesterday morning and only finished 3 chapters. Holy slow, Batman!

Laura is back! Wooo! *Claps* Oh wait, high reps with low weight... Welp, still way better than bro-curling your way through life.

Good looking goals girl, good luck with them! (I feel like I should use more "g' words in that line)

Amen, brotha! Thanks you could add gams! that would..kinda.. fit..

Whooo, Crime and Punishment. Good book. Russian book. Your work is cut out for you.

It sure is! I need to set up a good way to grade myself on that goal... and decide if read and finish is going to part of it.. hahaha

Excellent goals.

Book recs:

Jacques the Fatalist, by Diderot (18th century French philosophy/novel) which is hilarious if you like yelling at the author. Not sure how much one can get out of it without the context of 18th century philosophy; my roommate studies this sort of thing so I've sort of absorbed some of said context.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Tristram Shandy) by Laurence Sterne. Also hilarious because of ridiculousness. Apparently this is a multivolume work, but the first one is probably more than enough. The joke of the novel is that the author is writing his own biography but can't do so without tangents. the first volume tells the story of his birth. I'm pretty sure his mother finishes going through labor by the end of it. Great airport reading; you can pick it up anywhere because nothing ever happens. One chapter of the book is a squiggly line. Or an ink blot. Or both. I forget. They made this into a movie, which I haven't seen, but apparently they do the book justice, which kind of terrifies me.

Awesome! Thanks for recs!

Updated main post with the workout halp info.

[weirdquark]

Don't thank me until after you've tried to read 'em.

[The Tin Man]

Great goals! Sounds like a Miss Laura widowmaker challenge?

[Strawberry Squatcake]

Ooooh, yay! I'm excited for you to get back at it. My bro-in-law has been doing three sets of 20 reps of squats. He likes them because he says he's more sore in his legs than when he maxes out (he has a knee injuiry he's never been to the doc for) because he feels like his max is limited and he's much less stable in that knee. He's been slowly working up and now does 115X20X3 once a week. I was pretty impressed by that. And he says his knee feels better when he runs (although he's also adjusted his runs to shorter-distance intervals - sprinting the straights/walking the curves approach).

I'm excited for the book club. I don't care what we read, so I haven't commented. But I'm keeping an eye on it! Yay for reading AND discussing!

[Hermione Gainser]

Don't thank me until after you've tried to read 'em.

Hahaha good point. I think your first rec will be much appreciated by Boyfriend who majored in philosophy AND french. He loves it

Great goals! Sounds like a Miss Laura widowmaker challenge?

widowmakers! Gah! Where's Seth? We know he loves it.

Ooooh, yay! I'm excited for you to get back at it. My bro-in-law has been doing three sets of 20 reps of squats. He likes them because he says he's more sore in his legs than when he maxes out (he has a knee injuiry he's never been to the doc for) because he feels like his max is limited and he's much less stable in that knee. He's been slowly working up and now does 115X20X3 once a week. I was pretty impressed by that. And he says his knee feels better when he runs (although he's also adjusted his runs to shorter-distance intervals - sprinting the straights/walking the curves approach).

I'm excited for the book club. I don't care what we read, so I haven't commented. But I'm keeping an eye on it! Yay for reading AND discussing!

Yay! Thanks! Me too :-D So excited!

HOLY crap. Are you kidding me? That's nuts! I am in awe! Tell him I said whoa!

Me too! I'm really excited for it! I've been wanting to join one... this is perfect!

**

So, food for the week:

Yesterday I made an adaptation of this recipe from Jen Gone Paleo.

I used EVOO instead of coconut oil.

No egg.

No bacon.

Mild Italian Chicken Sausage.

Topped with a little asiago (which was probably not a necessary purchase beteedub).

Lunch this week:

Rotisserie Chicken with a side of green smoothie (kale, 2 carrots, peach)

Stuffed Peppers a la Cavemen Gourmet

Peppers pre filled:

Filled:

Used extra lean ground turkey instead of beef.

AND! I bought super cute notebooks for muh studies. So far I haven't used them (hullo word docs) but I'm sure once the math portion kicks in, I will. Also. Super cute!

I'm not sure what's up with the rotisserie pic... it looks right everywhere else... but hey, whatevs. It's chickeny and delish. Also made peanut sauce to dip the chicken in. Super yum.