18ck's Epic Quest of Quite Good [First Quest Evar!]

[18ck]

I would love to have an epic quest of awesomeness but I have to start somewhere so... OK, I have a job that involves long hours and a 5-hr round trip commute & I'm getting no exercise and eating at bad times. The aim of this quest is to get a frickin' grip and halt my slide into JabbaTheHutdom. To be, in short, Quite Good.

Goal 1: Lose 20 pounds in weight. Sounds like a lot with this lifestyle TBH, but I've done it before and I'm determined to do it again. [+2 STA]

[sub-goal: stop my daughter from being irresistibly drawn to "jiggle daddy's belly" when she sees me]

Goal 2: Get back to the stage of being able to propel my lardy frame around Richmond Park (12.5 K, roughly) without stopping. Again, I used to be able to do this easily and dammit, I will again! [+2 STA | +1 CON]

[sub-goal 2a here is to do exercise at least once a day - minimum one 5 minute session in the spirit of the angry birds workout, with at least 2 proper big sessions of exercise squeezed in there somewhere - a long run/walk, swimming or sculling] [+2 STR | +1 CON]

Goal 3: Am I allowed to do a language one instead of an exercise one? Because I think it would give me a good sense of being in control of my life if I could also get back to doing at least one Portuguese lesson per day - minimum 1/2 hour listening to Portuguese Podcasts on the iPod or going through 1 set of flashcards, but incorporating at least 2 "proper" lessons, either sitting down and writing or talking to someone in the language for a sustained level of time. Mrs 18ck is Portuguese and I think of finally learning her language as part of my effort to become quite good.[+2 WIS | +1 CHA]

Oh my god, is that the time? *runs for train*

[Scorpion1674]

Wow. love the ambition! Can't say as whether your goals are overreaching or not since you didn't post your starting point. That's totally ok, though. Only thing that troubles me, is the "used to be able to do this" part. I tell myself that often then end up overtraining to the point of getting shin splints. I may get my 2 mile under 14:00 again, but not in this challenge period. Just saying be cautious, I'd rather you not reach your goal than break something trying.

I completely understand the work thing, except my commute is only 1 hour round trip. You got me there!

I'd like to see what your plan is to reach these goals. Honestly, I'm open to see what plan all scouts have to compare! Distance running has always been a weakness of mine, so to me, completing 12.5K is an impressive goal!

[18ck]

Hi Scorpion - just looking at this challenge again on the train. I wrote it pretty quickly - the "at least 2..." bits of goals 2 and 3 were "2 per week" rather than per day, (doesn't seem v clear from the way I phrased it). On the subj of ambition, yes possibly but I thought since it's a challenge I might as well really... Well, challenge myself! When I was the fittest I've ever been (i did a half marathon 18 months ago) I managed the 12.5 in an hour once and it made me feel like a superhero but I know I'll not be able to hit that again any time soon. If I can restore my stamina enough to do it in any time at all, I'll be quite happy! The weight loss part is almost certainly the most ambitious bit. But, again, if I want a challenge...

*ahem* I hope this makes sense. Updating on an android phone and I can't.edit very easily...

[18ck]

So anyway, at the start of my quest I am 13 st 12, which is, um.. *does maths* 194 pounds or *does more maths, gives up, reaches for app* 88kg. Most if that is lard.

[Erick the Red]

Slow steady movement is a great goal to aim for daily. I have been told more than once though that you can never outrun your fork - meaning (possessed demon forks aside) you have to watch what you eat first and above all. I have been using an app called My Fitness Pal that I have seen mentioned by others as well, which has the advantage of being free.

Se quiser praticar o portugues, so falar. Morei no Brasil, entao minha lingua vai apparecer um pouco diferente a sua esposa. (I can help with the Portuguese thing. Great goal.)

[Scorpion1674]

I can certainly vouch for the MFP app. I used it to drop about 20. But that was from March to Aug. Tracking made dropping weight easy. Plus it tracks macronutrients and micronutrients as well, helping keep you balanced. That in mind, I'm with you: if it's a challenge then make it challenging! Let's go then!

[18ck]

Thanks chaps. I'll look at MFP. I don't really have time to reach for the portuguese dictionary as I have to dash out to work again but it's good to know there's someone I can come and practice on later, Erick!

[18ck]

Spending the night in a hotel because I'm working away from home. Normally that would mean cake, beer and no exercise but today... Water, big bag o'fruit and oh, would you look at all this gym equipment in my room! There's a suitcase stand to do reverse press-ups on (*reflexively strokes badly bruised buttock*) a step in the bathroom, a coffee table I can lift above my head, a carpet for pressups, a bed to put my feet under for sit-ups and this invisible skipping rope. Yes of course it's real. What do you mean you can't feel it either? If it wasn't real how could I do this? (*skips with grace and élan*)

Right, That's enough forum-posting (thumb exercise) back to work, then half an hour with Lathrop and Dias

Até Amanhã, scouts!

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[18ck]

*uff uff uff*

Hooray for Indie Soup Runner's Angry Rocker Chick Mix http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/5128355 is about the way I look at it.

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[BeigeTurtle]

Se quiser praticar o portugues, so falar. Morei no Brasil, entao minha lingua vai apparecer um pouco diferente a sua esposa. (I can help with the Portuguese thing. Great goal.)

Eu tambem falo portugues (mas tambem portugues do Brasil). Sei que nao falo muito bem - morei la uns dois anos e meio, e minha mae e' brasileira - mas se quiser practicar, estou aqui! (Ah, e nao sei se voce conhece a Shoobie, mas ela e' brasileira tambem.)

Tr: Me too!

[wonderbucket]

You have some great goals! Have you thought about doing the Portuguese part while on the train, either listening to saved podcasts or whipping out the flash cards? When I traveled by public transportation regularly, it was actually one of my most productive times. I sometimes listen to German podcasts at work, although it is hard to concentrate on them there.

I loved how you turned your hotel room into a gym - way to make the most of a situation that could have easily been written off.

[Sundae]

Nice work, keep it up!

[18ck]

You have some great goals! Have you thought about doing the Portuguese part while on the train, either listening to saved podcasts or whipping out the flash cards? When I traveled by public transportation regularly, it was actually one of my most productive times.

Thanks! And yes, I'm planning to do some language sessions on the train to work. I can't usually concentrate on the way home though.

Hey, lots of linguists around here - really good to see so much crossover between fitness training and language learning!

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[18ck]

Uh-oh, a delicious home-made cake!

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[fakehawk]

Hang in there! Don't go overboard!

[royalblood]

yowzer... 5hr round trip?? thats a lot. Do you have time to workout at lunch? Is there a gym near by?

If you know you ca do it damn it then you shall

[18ck]

Uff uff uff... Good morning! What d'you mean it's only 3AM where you are and you're still asleep? C'mon, you're missing the best part of the day!

Just been for my first crack at my target route, and the fact that it's a beautiful day really helped a lot. Anyway, I'll tell you all about it when I've changed out of these sweaty clothes!

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[18ck]

Right! Saturday round-up while my lunch is cooking:

It's - what? Day five?

Like I said, I had a first stab at my running goal and I very nearly nailed it first time, which was amazing because last time I tried the course I only managed about 2.5K before giving up and basically walking the rest but I guess the diet and the last few days' training is starting to pay off already. This time, I powered through the same distance easily. When I reached the first of the two killer hills I thought I might not make it but luckily "Harder Than You Think" came on the shuffle and there was no way I'm giving up on anything with that in my ears*. Painful though: When I got to the top I met an old fella coming the other way, grinning from under a big hat at the pained expression on my face and the pathetic stepped-on-kitten noises I was making. I kept running through a stitch, on and on thinking "Blimey, I'm actually going to make it!" until at about 9K the second of the two hills finally reduced me to a walk. All in, I walked about 500m and stopped for a er... comfort break, but ran the rest. And for a first go I call that not bad! *high fives self* It was a beautiful, beautiful day too. Even the Jackdaws seemed to be smiling at me as I puffed along the trail.

When I got home, I weighed myself and found I was 6 pounds lighter, which was nice. OK, so that's a bit of a cheat; last time I was "normal" weight, whereas this time I was post-run and a bit dehydrated but what the heck, it's nice to have a little psychological boost in the first week! I've really stuck to sensible foods this week, apart from a small slice of the above-mentioned DHMC and a teeny tiny um... what are those puddings called? One of those. Apart from that, I have been terrorising innocent fruits and vegetables; lentils have run screaming before me and glasses of water begged for mercy as they disappeared into my gaping maw.

The portuguese mission is not going quite so well. I have met my goals (one written exercise, some podcasts, some flashcarding) but only in a very minimal way and I don't feel like I'm crushing it in the way I am the other two goals. I'll have to pull my finger out, I think!

Now then we come to the controversy though. Is one of my goals null and void? I have a new run app for my phone and when I stopped it it said I'd only gone 10.5 K. Wha'? The one on the old phone always called it 12.5. So I went to mapymyrun, which split the difference and said 11.5. Dammit! How am I supposed to know how awesome I am if these gadgets can't make up their minds? I am sort of inclined to believe map my run because the route follows the path through all its twists rather than making estimates based on periodic updates of GPS position, but this means even if I meet the goal, I still won't have met it really, so I'll have to up it slightly I think and aim for the complete circuit plus a detour, probably up the path from Robin Hood Gate to the hill above Pen Ponds to add the extra K back onto the total.

*=Harder Than You Think is the music playing on the GREATEST AD EVER MADE for those of you who don't know, and if you are one of the few people who haven't seen it, you absolutely MUST!!!

[18ck]

yowzer... 5hr round trip?? thats a lot. Do you have time to workout at lunch? Is there a gym near by?

If you know you ca do it damn it then you shall

No gym nearby, no - It's a bit isolated really.

You're right though - I bloomin' well can do it!

I notice you're from Maryland. I lived and worked in Waldorf for a while. I wasn't much for exercise back then, which is a shame because there are some great places to run around outdoors there!

Thanks for the encouragement!

[shortstuff]

If you want to double check how your running track, if possible you could always drive around it, or use google maps or both

[18ck]

If you want to double check how your running track, if possible you could always drive around it, or use google maps or both

Mapmyrun is a lot like google maps which is why I trust it. Driving not really an option because (a) it's a footpath and ( cars are evil.

That was me who followed you on Twitter earlier today BTW. *waves*

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[Erick the Red]

Good progress so far. I have done the post-workout weigh in on occasion as well. Of course it is a bit of a cheat, but that's all right.

[18ck]

Spending another night away from home. This time the hotel has a gym and a pool so I have bought shorts to take advantage of early morning exercise time. I don't usually go in gyms and I hope I won't be thrown out for some breach of gym etiquette (I don't have trainers so planning to go barefoot... Is that bad?)

Dinner was a bit on the heavy side but never mind: scored some (sadly late) burpees and settled down with the Portuguese books. Night night!

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[18ck]

Bah! Caught in the gym and baninated for my naughty shoeless ways on Elf and Safety grounds. Maybe I will change my name to Barefoot 18.

Anyway, I managed a swim and I guess I'll round it off with some more hotel room outworking. Good morning Ferd Nitness!

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[KillerGriller]

way to rock the boat