First Challenge...chrisevans17 wants to get dirty!

[chrisevans17]

Greetings Programs! This is my first challenge. I am a Half-Orc Ranger and I’m ready to kick some butt. I am training for a mud run (5K with 20 obstacles) in November and this is the perfect way to boost my training. This challenge ends the week before by run. I have been working on getting in shape all year. I call it my “fat free apocalypse”. I figure if the world really does end in December, this is my last chance. I have lost about 60 lbs since January but got really lazy this summer. I am back and ready to get muddy!

Goal 1: Work out 5 times a week. I am currently doing Couch to 5K to prep for the mud run. That gets me on the treadmill three times a week and I walk on the off days. I also LOVE boxing. I have a good little setup in my portable building. Basically my plan is: M-W-F do C25K and boxing, T-R is walking and tires. This summer I got some old tractor tires and a sledgehammer. They are kicking my but.

A=5 Days, B=4 Days, C=3 Days, D=2 Days, D-=1 Day (credit for at least doing SOMETHING) F= 0 Days STR+2 STA+2 DEX+1 CHA+1

Goal 2: NO SODA. I was doing really well at the beginning of the year about no drinking soda. I went over 3 months without a single soft drink. I am dropping all soda out of my diet.

A= 0, B=1, C=2, D=3, F=4 or more CON+2 CHA+1

Goal 3: No more bored/stress eating. This is a big problem for me. It is probably my biggest hurdle. I tend to munch out of boredom and stress. NO MORE. If I get bored, I will find something to do (like workout maybe). If I have the munchies, I will get some water and do something productive to take my mind off of it.

A= 0, B=1, C=2, D=3, F=4 or more WIS+2 CHA+1

Goal 4: I will be smoke free by the end of the challenge. I have fought this dragon for far too long and I am tired of it controlling me. I am better than that and I will kick that dragon’s ass!

A= 0, B=1, C=2, D=3, F=4 or more CON+3

These grades are based on how many times I slip per week (i.e. a C on Goal 2 means I had 2 sodas that week, a D on Goal 4 means I smoked 4 times that week.). I will average my grades at the end of the challenge. (That is the teacher in me coming out)

[chrisevans17]

I hope I did the XP for each goal right. First challenge and all...

[smedly]

Looks like a good challenge! You might want to change the "work out 5 times a day" to 5 times a week. Also I think you have 3 extra exp points to distribute. Good luck on kicking the bad habits and remember start with small changes if you try and do one or more large changes at once you are more likely to fail.

Good luck!

[chrisevans17]

Thanks for catching that. I fixed it. Honestly, all these goals are things I was already doing and fell off the wagon. I am just getting back on the horse and other such cliches.

[maegs]

Looks like you have some good goals planned out! Good luck with quitting smoking, it can be tough. Think about how much better running will be though

ETA I just that Wicked Pixie posted a thread about how she quit smoking in the spring. It might be helpful for you!

[chrisevans17]

Looks like you have some good goals planned out! Good luck with quitting smoking, it can be tough. Think about how much better running will be though

ETA I just that Wicked Pixie posted a thread about how she quit smoking in the spring. It might be helpful for you!

I actaully PM'd her about it already. I think I was one of those that inspired her to make the thread. Her reply to me (which came around the same time as the thread) was pretty much a copy of what is on the thread.

[chrisevans17]

Not off to a great start. Since I "started" my challenge on a Wednesday I am already behind the 8-ball. I am not using that as an excuse though, I am making myself accountable for the whole week. I have a wrist injury right now so I am taking it a bit easy but I should be back to speed by Monday. So far my report card is as follows...

Goal 1 - A (I have not missed a workout yet)

Goal 2 - D (I had already hit that before I posted the challenge)

Goal 3 - A (Considering the week I have had, I am impressed)

Goal 4 - F (no excuses, I just suck at that one right now)

[chrisevans17]

UPDATE: As I noted on the Mini Challenge page I ended up working until after 10 last night (15 hour day FTW) so I did not get a workout in. However, my goal is 5 times a week so I have a flex day in there already. This just means I HAVE to work out tonight and tomorrow. I do not work out on Sunday unless I have NO other choice. I am having a ceremonial final smoke Saturday night and the soda thing is not going great. I have only had one a day but by my own accountability scale I have a F for that goal this week. Looks like I am going to pull 2 As and 2 Fs this week. It's not how you start, it's how you finish, right? I will kick this things butt! HUZZAH! \m/ \m/

[loumf]

I have a lot of respect for anyone doing the challenge with a stop-smoking goal. Not a smoker, but grew up in a family of smokers and saw how hard it was to quit, which nearly all did. Good job getting two A's -- something to build on.

[chrisevans17]

End of Week 1 update: Finally got my 5th workout in. Work got nuts at the end of the week. And I am nursing a pinched nerve in my right forearm that is causing me some issues. Below are my final grades for this week.

Goal 1: A (got all my workouts in)

Goal 2: F (like I said before, I was already behind on this)

Goal 3: A (super proud of this one)

Goal 4: F (I have officially smoked my last cig)

Next week will be all As! \m/ \m/

[chrisevans17]

W2D1: Did not get a workout in today. I am nursing what I believe to be a pinched nerve in my right forearm that is hindering my progress. I was going to run but my wife is sick in bed and the treadmill is in the bedroom. *But can't you just run outside?* No, actually, I can't. Outside running is too hard on my knees right now. Plus, it was raining. I decided I would just take a breather and let my arm relax. I still have all As for the week so far as I did not snack, have a soft drink, or a smoke yesterday. Wife still sick, but hopefully I can sneak my run in today.

\m/ \m/

[chrisevans17]

W2D2-3: I did 2 of my runs for the week, a good round of tires, and a good round of boxing (although I was interrupted and had to cut it short). My wrist/forearm is still giving me fits and I have been doing a lot of lower body so my thighs are on FIRE (thanks burpee challenge). I am working on the math of the interval challenge to see what my distance is. Still a muggy on the rule but I will figure it out. I have a concert to go to tonight so no workout. Still doing GREAT on my goals for the week...

Goal 1: A (still on schedule to get 5 in this week)

Goal 2: A (nothing but tea, coffee, and water)

Goal 3: A- (I did not stress/bored eat last night but I did have a late "snack". I was legitimately hugnry after my workout around 9:30 last night so I had a light snack)

Goal 4: A (I have not had a smoke since 11:30PM 09/30. Getting a bit difficult but I am sticking to it)

\m/ \m/

[jimmie65]

Nice work. And congrats on several days smoke-free. You can do this

[chrisevans17]

Nice work. And congrats on several days smoke-free. You can do this

Thanks, man. It really sucks right now, I won't lie. I am keeping my eye on the prize but I am craving BAD.

[Jaksavage]

Good luck on those goals! Especially the smoking! Freeing myself from the smokey bonds of the dark mother was the hardest thing I've done in a while. But 9 months later I feel great!!! Keep at it!

[chrisevans17]

End of Week 2: Really quick update... More sprints to do...

Goal 1: C (family obligations came up and I only got three days in but those are acceptable reasons)

Goal 2: A (tea, coffee, water)

Goal 3: A (I bumped this back up to an A from the A- early in the week because I actively did not cave. I fought back the cravings and found something else to do)

Gaol 4: B (I had a smoke with a buddy. It's a long road and cold turkey is a bitch)

[chrisevans17]

Week 3 update: So far so good. Maintaining all my goals. Fighting a cold/sinus bug right now so things are kinda slow-go. Not that I feel bad but I am having trouble breathing due to the congestion. Thanks weird Texas weather! More jump rope to do. JUMP ALL THE ROPES!

[chrisevans17]

Week 3 Update: Well, the sinus bug has beaten me this week. I can muscle through feeling kinda crappy, but I am so congested I can't breathe. Have not gotten much done this week. Gonna take the rest of the week to let myself recover and hit it extra hard next week.

[chrisevans17]

Week 3 Grades: As I said I was sick last week so I did not do so well...

Goal 1: C

Goal 2: B

Goal 3: B

Goal 4: A

Back at it this week

[chrisevans17]

Week 4: Off to a bad start... I fell off the wagon pretty bad. In fact I fell off in to a case of Cokes and pack of smokes. It is fear. I am excited about my mud run but the closer it gets, the more nervous I get. Every time I think about it it just scares me. I was sick last week and did not work out and now I am having trouble getting back to it. I have all the motivation in the world but no follow through. ARGH!!!! I know we fall so we can pick ourselves back up again (thank you Batman Begins), and that fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering (thank you Yoda) but damn... This clip from Karate Kid 3 keeps coming to mind (video below, the embed did not hold the start time I requested. Start at 6:41 for the clip in question). I am trying to regain my focus. I know that part of my problem is doing this "alone" (no offense to the Nerd Fitness Community but sometimes a physical person is needed). I need someone to kick my in the butt. Here's to regrouping and coming up with a new plan. \m/ IS NO TRY \m/

[jimmie65]

I understand what you mean about needing a physical person. It took two to get me motivated 2 years ago; my best friend dragged me to the gym and then my wife started going with me. Hard to do on your own, but if you can it is well worth it.

[chrisevans17]

Week 4 Update: Still struggling... Very disappointed in myself. Work is Nucking Futz right now and I am just not motivated to do anything when I get home. Falling back on my crutches. This is sucks. It's like I am looking at myself from the outside and yelling at myself to get busy. Clearly I am not listening.

[Chanda]

My work is nuts too... and I have 2 toddlers to look after (its official the baby took her first steps today). And here I am psyching myself up to go do the beginners body weight workout. Even though all I want to do is grab some chocolate and go watch some brainless TV.

So I came over to give you a great big KICK. Just do it. Start right where you left off and do it.

It doesnt matter how many times you fall off the wagon. What matters is what you do afterwards... and what an NF rebel does is get back up and chase that dammed wagon down. Then overtake it! We dont need to ride on no stinkin' wagon! We move under our own power! We are strong! We DO!

Go on get up and get started again!

[Lan]

One thing that really helped me kick the smoking habit was when I started saving all my empty packs. Once those started to pile up, I realized just how much I was dependent on those little buggers and it really renewed my determination to keep going with it.

I had also quit smoking once before, but I don't recommend the method I (unintentionally) used. I had bought nicotine patches that were waaay too strong for what I needed, so if I left one on too long, I would get violently ill. Eventually, I started associating the nicotine rush with being ill and I just couldn't bring myself to smoke. But like I said, don't try this one at home kids!

[Raven]

It's not easy to go back on track. When I'm in this situation, I like to do baby steps. Just tiny little steps, that don't need me to do a lot of effort. The hardest part is to start, once you've began something, just continue it !!

For example, when I need to do some housework (or worse, the dishes !!) and I'm bored with that without having started it, I kick my ass of my couch and just clean one shelve of tidy up one little thing. The same when I want to run ! If I'm not motivated, the hardest part is to put my shoes and get out of my house. Once I've done that, I've already won !! ^^

So yeah, what I want to say to you is just pick a real small thing, that seems nothing but one little thing after one other little thing, and you will be back without even noticing it !

GO GO GO !