Starpuck's Basic Training - First Challenge!

[starpuck]

Time for this nugget to get her ass in gear if she wants to be the next Top Gun on the Galactica.   I really only got motivated to stick to this right in the middle of the last challenge, so I didn't jump on board full swing.   This time I am.   I have a 90 day (3 month plan) to really really give it my all.    So it's starting now.  (I missed the start up announcement some how, so I am sort of a week late to this party, woops.)

 

This is my first challenge, so I am gonna need lots of help getting used to how it works and stuff.  LOL.   I think I've got the 'goals' and stats figured out.   Now I just have to keep track of if I am meeting them every week, right?   Well --- here we go!

 

Weight: 155.2

Waist:

Hip:
Thigh:

Bicep:

 

Fitness Goals

1. Strength Train:  3X / WEEK   STR 2, STA2    
2. Cardio  3X / WEEK (Kinect, Dance Central, C25K once weather breaks) DEX 3, STA 2    
3. 20 Push Ups - Perfect Form  STR 2   

Life Goal

• Create and stick to a budget for March   WIS 3
• Draw!  (And don't quit when it sucks)   CHA 1

Budget tracking:

-do not go over planned allotments for March at all = A

-go over by 5% = B

-go over by 10% = C

-go over by 15% = D

-go over by 20% or more = F

 

 

Drawing tracking:

For sake of learning, pages per week do not need to equate to a finished product, but must occupy a majority of the page or show intent of practicing styles or techniques.

- accumulate 4 pages of practice = A

- accumulate 3 pages of practice = B

- accumulate 2 pages of practice = C

- accumulate 1 pages of practice = D

- accumulate 0 pages of practice = F

 

 

So Say We All!

[Slushy]

How will you know when you have achieved your "Draw!" goal?

[Annavi]

I want to encourage you to calculate your budget finances this afternoon and start applying them tomorrow!

 

I'll check back with you first thing in the morning to see if you've created a budget to live off of

[starpuck]

Hmmm good point Slushy!    Gonna edit that one.    Gonna say that I need to have put some lead on some paper at LEAST once a week.   Doesn't have to be a finished product.   Just needs to show some work toward developing some technique or getting some practice.

 

Annavi - You got it!  

[Annavi]

Hey Starpuck!

 

It was really encouraging to read your comment! That's great that you have a plan to start paying towards your bill! I can't wait to see the end results

 

As far as cooking goes. I don't like to cook for just myself. I enjoy cooking for other people, but it's easier to just go about my day snacking instead of taking the time to cook  

 

If you're short on time, I recommend a crock-pot. Take five minutes in the morning to throw in a hunk of meat and flavorings with adequate amounts of water/liquids, go to work, and come home to a delicious dinner waiting for you Or cook fish. Fish cooks really fast!!!

[starpuck]

Weekends suck for me being online!  So I am going to have to just figure out some time to do it, or prepare to recap every Monday.

Of course, internet at work was down all this morning and then playing catch up was nuts.

 

I will have to update from home.

 

Let's just say things did NOT go well so far lol!

 

*hides behind a snaggle-toothed and sheepish grin*

[Annavi]

Oh no!!! Weekends (Sundays) are hard for me too ;P Maybe you could carry a little notebook with you and jot down what you achieve for your goals as you do them. Then it'd be easier to update when you have the time

 

Don't give up! Tomorrow is a new day!!!

[starpuck]

Update time:  (Holy crap I've not done a single one.)

 

So the weekend was bad.   I went in with the best intentions but had THREE meals out on the agenda and when I got to the restaurant, all previous plans went out the door.  (I think because I was hungry all three times by the time I got there.)

 

I did get my budget worked up AND found this fantastic app called EEBA that is going to work JUST PERFECTLY for me.   You create spending envelopes and fill them up at the beginning of the month.   Track your transactions in each category and you can see how much you have left at any point.   For example, my $100 of eating out per month -yeah, I'm down to just $36 left.   And it's only the 5th!  Yikes.     I have categories for basically, fun money and/or monthly activity funds.   So, I am gonna be able to track my spending on:  gas for the car, eating out, allowance, hockey money, bowling money and groceries.   Once I get to the end of the month spending is done.  Even if that means finding creative ways to come up with meals.   (Obviously the gas fund will have to have some flexibility.... but the rest, not so much.)    As I get better at it, it should come easier and I will learn to pace my spending more.

 

I haven't started any drawing yet.   I'm feeling a little overwhelmed on where to start.   I might have to get a book, or find some online tutorials to get me over the hump.

 

I also need to find a better way to keep track of my days - so that at the end of the challenge I can look back and see a quick tally.   I have a planner - I think I might get colored pens and mark things down.   Blue for strength work outs, red for cardio, green for drawings.   That way I can see how many I've done each week and easily track if am making the grade.

 

I'm also going to look through more threads and see how others track so I can learn from their experience!

 

In other news.  Found out our hockey team made play offs because the team above us had to forfeit (couldn't field a full team) - so I have LOTS of hockey this weekend.

 

Gonna need advice on how to eat up the spent calories without being stupid.   I will be playing 3-4 hockey games this Fri/Sat/Sun and the same next weekend.   I have a HRM and know that I burn anywhere from 600-1000 calories per game.  If I DON'T plan for some extra fuel - I will definitely be in starvation mode.

[starpuck]

Hmm.   After getting into a groove on my battle log thread, I think I will update the challenge thread 2x a week by tracking and jotting down what I've accomplished so far and what I haven't.

 

This way I am not doubling up the same info in two places.

 

Just gotta figure out how to organize it.   Hmmmmmm.   Wish I could switch off the OCD switch lol!

[starpuck]

Challenge Tracking : Week 1

NOTE:   Joined the challenge a week late.  Some data missing.

 

 

Monday 2/25

Cardio (Dance Central) &

Strength Training (Basic Training A)

Combined for: 1h10m - 491 calories

Stretching 15m - n/a

 

Tuesday 2/26

Cardio (Dance Central) 50m - 330 calories

Stretching 15m - n/a

 

Wednesday 2/27

 

Thursday 2/28

 

Friday 3/1

Cardio (Ice Skating & Walking) 30m - 193 calories

 

Saturday 3/2

Cardio (Hockey Game) 1h30m - 1001 calories

 

Sunday 3/3

 

 

Total Calories through Exercise:  2015

 

:Color Codes:

Heart Pumping Red = Cardio

Hulk Smash Green = Strength

Calming Lavendar = Stretching

Pencil Shades of Grey = Drawing

[starpuck]

Challenge Tracking : Week 2

 

Monday 3/4

 

Tuesday 3/5

Cardio (Dance Central) 1h10m - 519 calories

Stretching 15m - n/a

 

Wednesday 3/6

Strength (Basic Training A) 30m - 191 calories

I drew a kitty!   (Based off of Exalted artwork)  It was frustrating lol!

 

Thursday 3/7

Cardio (Dance Central) 1h -  526 calories

 

Friday 3/8

Cardio (Hockey Game - Playoffs!) 1h20m - 933 calories
 

Saturday 3/9

Cardio (Hockey - 2 Games, Playoffs!)   2h40m - 1897 calories

 

Sunday 3/10

FREAKING REST DAY!

 

Total Calories through Exercise: 4066 calories

 

:Color Codes:

Heart Pumping Red = Cardio

Hulk Smash Green = Strength

Calming Lavendar = Stretching

Pencil Shades of Grey = Drawing

[Annavi]

WOAH!!!! Nice colors

 

Congratulations on making it to the playoffs!!! That's awesome! I want to recommend my favorite food ever, sweet potatoes!!! Also, bananas and peanut butter are a quick and healthy way to stock up on calories. And maybe having Gatorade during your games to replenish those electrolytes?

 

Awwwww <3 you drew a kitty! That's great

 

How many drawings do you want to accomplish in a week?

[starpuck]

Heya Annavi - thanks

 

This way I can easily look back at each week and figure out how many of each thing I did.  Color coding is fun! 

 

I was aiming for 4 drawings a week - but I really don't know how well I will pull that off.  I feel like I should work on getting the strength training mastered for more than once a week before I add in things that will take MORE time on top of it.   Maybe I should just make it a goal for having completed 10 pages by end of the challenge.    4 is too low for a whole challenge period, but 4 / week is kind of overwhelming me.

 

Just now sure if you're allowed to tweak things like that once a challenge starts.  If not - I may just have to take a big fat D for the score on this one heh.

 

I'm also struggling this week and next week with the strength training, because while hockey IS cardio - it leaves your body muscularly wiped out too.  So Fri/Sat/Sun are right out for putting in strength on top of the games, and if I do it Mon/Wed/Thur - I might be too sore to function on the ice for the Fri-Sun. :/   After this weekend and next, it will be much easier to get it scheduled.  But oi!

[Annavi]

Hmm.... That's a good question. I'm not sure if you're able to tweak things after the challenge. But the point of the challenge is to set realistic goals so you don't become discouraged if you don't attain what you want. I'd say it'd be OK to cut back on drawing if it's taking too much time. 

 

Maybe you could do recovery workouts, like Yoga or walking/jogging (I know this isn't much strength training) But I think you should try and do a little exercise a day or two after your hockey game. Eat lots of protein after your hockey game for faster recovery  

[starpuck]

Challenge Tracking : Week 3

 

Monday 3/11

Drawing done today - 4 chibi style character sketches -- lol!

 

Tuesday 3/12

 

Wednesday 3/13

 

Thursday 3/14

Bowling Night - (Does that count for anything lol?)

 

Friday 3/15

Cardio - Hockey Tournament 2 games

 

Saturday 3/16

Cardio - Hockey Tournament 2 games

 

Sunday 3/17

 

Total Calories through Exercise:

 

:Color Codes:

Heart Pumping Red = Cardio

Hulk Smash Green = Strength

Calming Lavendar = Stretching

Pencil Shades of Grey = Drawing

[starpuck]

So, after more thought, I've come to figure out that yeah, if my intention with the drawing was 4 pages / week - I over extended myself.   I forget that I already have a crazy tight schedule.  

 

Monday - Friday work of course, leave house by 8am, back by 5:30pm.

Monday Night is my free night, and thus, I am very good about getting my strength work out in that first day of the week.

Tuesday Night is hit or miss as to if I am in or out, lately, more in, so that's good.

Wednesday Night is one of my tabletop gaming nights, so I am at my friends house by 7:30.

Thursday Night is bowling league night.

Friday Night is typically hockey during hockey season.  (Extra crazy this month with playoffs, tournaments and charity games)

Saturday Night this month is also more hockey.

Sunday Night is the other tabletop night.

 

Hockey will be all but dead once April starts.    So I think for the next challenge, it will be easier to get more drawing/other stuff plotted in.  But right now I am spread pretty thin.   I won't change the challenge terms - (and honestly, I DID leave it blank and just said 4 pages lol...)   But I'll probably grade myself honestly and not get too many points on that one.

 

OH!  And of course, unexpectedly making playoffs and having extra food/fuel/hockey costs is rattling my budget like crazy.  LOL    THIS is HARD!

 

This week - aiming to eat out like ... NOT AT ALL.  (Probably won't make it, but gonna try.)   And clean up the food choices.    Friday I will have to rush straight to my hockey game after work - so gotta eat something at my desk, to tide me over until after playing two back to back hockey games.  (Get off the ice at 7:10 and get back on at 7:55 UGH!)    Maybe a big fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich before I leave, and a Luna Bar in between games?

 

MAN!  It's kinda funny that sometimes being ACTIVE is what is throwing off your eating schedule and intention to eat well.

[Brutus]

Sweet goals! I always thought I would enjoy hockey, but just cant skate very well at all. That and I have no idea how to find a recreational hockey team in SoCal. As far as the drawing goes, are you just hoping to form a base of skills or are you already a practiced artist? I love to doodle and would love to draw better, but quite frankly, my drawings look like they were done by a 6 yr old.

 

Keep up the good work!

[starpuck]

Heya Brutus - thanks for peeking in over here.  

 

I started hockey when I was 32!   Prior to that I had never even ICE skated before.   Best place to start is look for adult instructional clinics/camps/etc.    Jumping straight to a team would be SKEEERY!       As for the drawing, I've never been a practiced artist in the sense of knowing real technique or anything.   When I was younger I'd pause my VHS tapes of whatever anime I was watching and just copy it from the tv.   (Not trace, copy hehe.)   I got pretty decent at that when I was going it a lot - but never learned to draw from my own imagination.    I really want to be able to put together nice character portraits for Christmas presents this year, so that's sorta where the goal came from.    I think I need to take a class, or maybe get a tutorial book though.

 

I DID manage to draw last night - chibi style character portraits.  ONE turned out ok.   (Attached below)  The rest got all funky looking hahah.    And yeah, I do not yet have the skills of an artist as Strongbad would say.

 

[Annavi]

YAY for chibi's!!!

 

Wow!!! You are a busy lady! But you're doing good at mapping out your week's and how you can fit in your goals. I admire your honesty and integrity about your drawing challenge

 

Maybe you could even look up tutorials online?

 

It's good that your challenges are that... challenging ha ha ha! It will be awsome when you can look back and see the progress that you've made!

[Brutus]

That is way better than anything I could conjure up for sure! I am hoping to get the photography accountibilibuddy group up and running tomorrow. I will drop a link if/when I get it.

[starpuck]

So wrap up on the first challenge.    I am here for the ending day, so I guess that means I actually stuck it out.    Though, in all honesty there was like 3 weeks in there where I didn't show up here at all.     Thankfully, it was the same 3 weeks that I decided to try a 'don't count calories - just be smart approach' and it netted me some nice weight loss.   That said.   End results are below:

 

Fitness Goals

1. Strength Train:  3X / WEEK   STR 2, STA2   

- Failed miserably and took no points on this one.  I think I trained MAYBE 1X a week the whole 6 weeks.  And when I did, I only really did push ups.  (Maybe next time, I should consider the 100 Push Ups program...  ?    

1. Cardio  3X / WEEK (Kinect, Dance Central, C25K once weather breaks) DEX 3, STA 2    

- This one I nailed.    There were some weeks I ended up tracking 5 days of exercise, and just last week I went 7 days in a row of it.    Now that spring is coming, and I have been able to sneak the bike out once or twice, it will get easier and easier.    Took all points possible.

1. 20 Push Ups - Perfect Form  STR 2   

- This one, despite not doing the 3x a week strength training, I WAS able to accomplish!  I suppose since it was the only thing I was ever doing, it was the only thing that got better.    20 perfect form push ups are now totally doable for me... (But don't ask me to do 20 more in my second set lol!   I top out at like 15 there.)

 

Life Goal

• Create and stick to a budget for March   WIS 3

- Well, I created a budget, and stuck to it for the first half of the month, then got nailed with unexpected costs.  (My team made playoffs and I had a charity event get scheduled for end of the month.     I did about 30% of the work involved in this goal, so took 1 point.

• Draw!  (And don't quit when it sucks)   CHA 1

- I drew 2 pages total and have really just failed at implementing this into my schedule.  

 

 

So, some improvements made.   A mindset for sure is tipping toward the 'better' path.   Just need to find some better stick-to-it-ive-ness.    And possibly a secret cashe of dashes if I am going to use that word ever again.

[Brutus]

Sounds like you made some good progress. Are you planning on giving it another go for challenge 3?

[starpuck]

I am!   Got some experience under my belt now, so I think I have a bit better grasp on how to get prepped for it!

 

How about you?

[Brutus]

Totally on board! i havent gotten to writting everything down yet, but i will do that tonight. Also going to fire up a photography group. I can link you to it (once it exists) if you are interested.

[starpuck]

That'd be great Brutus.   Let me know!     My life goal this time around is getting my 8000+ pictures from old trips into online albums.  oi!

 

lol