Heidi: A Pure Foundation

[Heidi]

For me this is not just about physical fitness. It's about strength. It's about resilience. And as of this writing, my lack of heart health is a serious, daily threat. I will purge, purify, and improve.

1. Track fitness and food habits every day (CON: +3)

WHY: I need to know what I am eating and when. I don't intend to track this forever. However, I would like to get a rough idea of where I am being on track and when as well as how I am falling away from the goal.

HOW: Use an online blog to make a running list of what I have eaten and when, including tracking my cigarettes and sleep habits

2. Purify body (CHA: +3-7, CON: +3-7)

Why: This is the water part. I’m in love with coffee and wine. This isn’t doing my system any favors, and I really need to purge this.

How:

Part 1: Decrease coffee consumption to no more than 8 ounces a day. Limit wine (or other alcohol) consumption to no more than one a day, and nothing after 8 p.m. [CHA +1, Con +1]

Part 2: Increase water intake to 2500 ml/ day. Spend Sunday before Pilates with a purifying mask on face, neck and upper body. [Cha +1, Con +1]

Part 3: 5 or fewer cigarettes a day =just don’t even talk to me about this right now. It scares me, but somehow I have to find the strength to do this. [Cha/Con: +1 if met, +2 if 2 or less for 3 weeks, +5 if quit for one week or more]

3. Exercise 4-6 times per week (STR: +2, STA: +2, DEX: +1, CHA: +2, CON+1)

WHY: Because exercise is good!

HOW:

Part 1: Biking to Mordor 3-5x/week [CON+1, STA+1, CHA +1]

Part 2: 60 Minutes of Yoga/Pilates a week [DEX +1, STA +1]

Part 3: Strength Training 2-3x/week [sTR +2, CHA +1]

LIFE: Purify the bank account (WIS: +2-7)

WHY: Debt is bad. I have a long-term goal of buying a house, so I really need to make certain my credit cards are at no more than 25% of the limit. Also I would like to increase my savings.

HOW:

Part 1: Increase automatic deduction to savings from each check. [ Wis +2 for $50 increase]

Part 2: Reduce credit card balances to 25% of their total credit limit and maintain this level for all six weeks of the challenge. [Wis +1 for each card reduced to goal balance, plus an extra +1 for all reached, for a maximum of Wis +5]

The Challenge: For all of these goals the real challenge is not letting my children (14, 12 and 1.5 years old) and my work be an excuse, while at the same time not neglecting them!

[Heidi]

Progress Report:

11/11/12:

60 Minutes yoga/pilates cross training

25 minute purifying mask.

Cigarettes:

4 - 07:30, 11:30, 16:00, 17:30

Water:

3200 ml throughout the day

Alcohol:

1 glass @ 16:00

Food

15:30 - one organic banana after pilates (here's the creepy part -- I didn't even notice that I hadn't eaten yet.)

18:30 - 1/2 can organic red beans and 1/2 c. organic brown rice with 1/4 c. organic smoked cheddar cheese

[jimmie65]

Great goals, Heidi. Good luck.

[Jaksavage]

Good luck on your goals and welcome to the Rangers!!

[Heidi]

Hi, folks!

I created my fitness blog and am keeping a daily post on activities there as well as here in the forum.

http://fitness.heidichronicles.net/

I'm well on my way to Mordor (beefing up my Scouting side) and I just did my first weight circuit yesterday (for the Warrior part). My arms are feeling it today, but I'm happier than I have been in a long time. This getting out of bed at 6 in the morning to work out thing really puts the rest of the day into perspective.

Also, on the life front, I increased my automatic deduction by $50 a paycheck, so give a girl a shout and a high-five.

[Erick the Red]

"Biking to Mordor" is the funniest phrase I have seen today.

Great job with the automatic deduction. I started doing that a while back and even increased it once I got a promotion. Greatest savings tool that I have.

[AJHLegacy23]

Great goals! Keep it up

[Heidi]

Thanks, Erik and AJH!

[Heidi]

Added in some basic weights to my biking and worked arms on Monday and legs today.

Still biking, Erik, fear not!! [46.3 miles so far!!]

Any suggestion on what I should work on Friday? Or should I just try to put in a complete circuit that day (arms/ legs/ abs/ back etc.)?

[Heidi]

Progress report:

So far so good. I have been to the gym every day and my smoking and caffeine and alcohol consumption is down.

My water consumption is up. And Erik, I'm just outside the town of Woodhall on the Shire map.

If you want specifics, they are at the battle log, but the main point is that I'm 4 for 4 so far, and even on the two days my gym-buddy couldn't join me, I was there and I made it mine.

Are you guys in any groups? How does that work?

[Jacqui]

That's great Heidi! Awesome mileage!

[Heidi]

I got to increase the level on the bike today, thanks to my heart rate not really going much over 100 at any point in yesterday's 15 minute ride, and staying under 90 for most of it. So it was Level 4 for 30 minutes today, a total gain of 6.25 miles. It's kind of fun to watch the progress.

[Cait]

Biking to Mordor! That is awesome! I'm walking The Hobbit right now... I'm only 3% of the way to Rivendell. It is so far away! Good luck, you have some great goals!

[Heidi]

Hi, Cait!

This morning I reached the area of the Marish with fields and such. Yes, it will be something to celebrate when I get to Mount Doom!

Do you post your progress anytwhere? I would love to cheer you on!

[Heidi]

==Update as of 11/14/2012==

Starting Location:

Just outside Woodhall

Biking: 6.25 Miles Level 4 [53.5 total]

Ending Location:

Amongst the trees, having crossed over Stock Brook

Water: 24 ounces @ 06:30; 32 ounces @ 09:00, 14:00

Food:

07:30 1.5 cups Kashi Strawberry Fields cereal with whole milk

09:00 1 c. tea

09:30 ½ c. pumpkin seeds

11:00 1 c. tea

1:15 1 can Chicken and Wild Rice soup, 1 c. tea, ½ pound carrots

19:30 1 cup red beans and rice and 1/4 c. smoked cheddar cheese

Cigarette: 2 @ 18:00, 19:00

[Heidi]

Progress Report:

11/18/12:

60 Minutes yoga/pilates cross training

25 minute purifying mask.

Cigarettes:

3 @11:30, 17:30, 19:30

Water:

32 ounces 12:30, 4:30, 19:30

Food

08:00 banana

14:30 burger and fries at Wildflour Cafe (totally wonderful and yummy local beef) with iced tea

17:00 6 ounces Snow Money Plum hot tea

19:00 6 ounces Snow Money Plum hot tea

[Cait]

I mention it in my challenge thread occasionally but nothing official. I'm still about 30 miles away from Branywine Bridge. I'm considering making the hobbit-walking a distance goal for next challenge. Well done on your progress! I'll be checking back to see where you are

[Heidi]

I think making it part of your goal would be awesome. I'm hoping to get to Bree before the end of the challenge, but it's not really my goal so much as a perk of getting on the bike nearly every day.

Absolutely drop me a line when you update your location. I make note of mine in my progress reports.

[jimmie65]

Looks like you'r making solid progress!

[Jaksavage]

Doing great work so far!! Keep on killin it!

[Heidi]

Still struggling with the smoking demon, but you know, two is better than fifteen (and still well below the goal of five). Also, this morning I biked 6.5 miles at level 5, taking my progress over Buckleberry Ferry and heading north. I'm on track to reach Bree by the end of the challenge, in which case there will be much rejoicing!

Update 11/20:

Sleep: midnight - 5:30 am

Biking: 4.1 Miles Level 4 [64.9 total]

Weights: Tricep Press 10#@18x3; Seated Row 10#@18x3; Bicep Curl 10#@18x3; ab-x 25; ab roller 10 center, left and right.

Water: 32 ounces @ 06:00; 07:30;

Food:

07:30 1 peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread

08:30 1 everything bagel with cream cheese, 1 cup Lady Grey Tea

12:00 2 cups lettuce, 1/2 pound carrots, 1/4 c. Italian dressing

18:30 6 ounces black coffee

20:30 6 ounces black coffee

Cigarettes: 2 @19:30, 21:00

[Heidi]

Welcome back from the holiday, or, as I like to call it, The Edge.

I did manage to stay on track most days, including Thursday, but then tipped over the smoking and alcohol goals on Friday.

I'm back on track as of Sunday though, and Pilates was wonderful yet again. This morning I biked 4.5 miles, worked the arms and the abs and am on track with water and nutrition.

Keep thinking good thoughts for us, folks.

We who are still here are we who shall succeed.

[Heidi]

Still aching, but in a good way, and still fighting the good fight.

Another 4.5 miles on the bike this morning, and today's big challenge is that I lost my water bottle. No matter, but still, it makes my routine all catywhumpus.

Location: On the path in the Old Forest

Sleep: 20:30 - 11:30; 02:30-06:00

Biking: 4.5 miles Level 5 [80.4]

Water: 24 ounces @ 06:45, 09:00,

Food:

08:15 1 banana, I carrot

08:45 8 ounces Lipton hot tea, 3 ounces beef summer sausage

Cigarettes: 2@ 01:30, 07:45

[jimmie65]

Nice work, Heidi.

[karinalynne]

Incredible! You're hitting your goals in the heiney I know how hard smoking can be; that addiction is intense. You should be really proud of yourself for going from almost a pack a day to only two. I was never able to do that; it was either cold turkey or All-You-Can-Smoke. Congrats on staying on track on Thursday too! The holidays are always a tricky time for me and I think a lot of other people as well. The awesome thing is that healthy food tastes delicious, too...nom nom nom. Food in general just rocks. And if we splurge for a couple days, that's okay too. We can just choose to move forward!

Good luck and keep killing it!