UberTumbleweed's World Building

[UberTumbleweed]

Prepare

Track Food Intake

I think I'm finally at an emotional place where I can track food without it driving me bonkers or to disordered eating.  I'd like to drop some poundage, but I LOVE food.  I love it a lot.  And I love a lot of things that are high calorie.

 

I'm not using a calorie goal.  I want to look at what I'm eating and where the problems are.  This is analysis.  There's time later to cut, if I decide to.

 

3 Con, 2 Wis

 

 

Explore

21.1 K Prep

Run outside!  Spring has sprung!

 

Do three outdoor runs of at least 30 minutes each by the end of the challenge.  I love my treadmilling, I really do.  But my feet need the variety of outdoor surfaces, too.

 

3 Dex

 

 

Build

Make Muscle

Slow grind the push-ups:  Starting at 1, do x + 1 push-ups PLUS 1 plyometric push-up for every day of the challenge. Today, 1 push-up.  Tomorrow, 2.  Next day, 3.  Ideally all done in a row, but not necessarily.  (I can't do a plyo push-up without a regular push-up first yet, so I've included both!)

 

Static Squat:  Get down to my fullest depth with my straightest back, every day, and hold it for as long as possible.  By the end of the challenge, I hope to see greater flexibility and greater ability to hold the position.

 

4 Str

 

 

Create

Create Happiness

Yarn bomb at least once — the already-planned target during this period is a locked home for dementia patients that's getting a sunflower garden on their fence.

 

Create Charity

Knit one charity item (scarf & hat, baby set, etc)

 

Create Space

Open and sort at least six boxes of "stuff" in the Hoard.  Get rid of 22 pounds of "stuff" — cheekily, the exact amount of weight my doctor wants me to lose this year.

 

2 Cha, 1 Dex

[catspaw]

Track Food Intake

I think I'm finally at an emotional place where I can track food without it driving me bonkers or to disordered eating.  I'd like to drop some poundage, but I LOVE food.  I love it a lot.  And I love a lot of things that are high calorie.

 

I'm not using a calorie goal.  I want to look at what I'm eating and where the problems are.  This is analysis.  There's time later to cut, if I decide to.

Accurately figuring out where you are is soooooooo important.  I think this is a great goal and I suspect you'll learn a lot just from observing.

[Kessihl]

I have never heard of yarn bombing. I love the idea of it! I like your self assessment and your decluttering goals. I mentioned elsewhere that I hope to do some decluttering of my house too. I also like the idea of adding a push up each day. Good luck with your goals!

[Aeryn]

Heck yeah, new challenge. Good goals - tracking food is really useful just for information purposes - I know I'm still surprised sometimes by how little/many calories are in something. What are you using to keep track?

 

Love the yarn bombing - that'll be awesome.

[UberTumbleweed]

For Mini-Challenge #1:

 

Is it sustainable?

Yes!  My run-outside goal is quite small looking because of this.  It's snow mould season, and pollen season may start before the end of the challenge.  I've got time to do what I want, and also time to be trapped indoors with my allergies.

 

I structured my strength goal to be something I build on.  42 pushups a day is not sustainable, but starting at one and working up to 42 is.
 
Do I have reasonable rest built in?
Yes.  My workout schedule isn't a specific goal this time, but I tend to do 1-3 strength and 2 running days a week.  I rarely workout on Wednesday and Thursday: those days are always dedicated to moving how I want to feel good. They're my two days a week where I don't push my movement.


Am I secretly targeting more than one goal at once?  
No.  It's not a secret at all!

 

I have bundled my strength goals -- one upper body and one lower body.  I don't want to do one without the other.

 

I've also bundled my life goal, Create.  But I've done it gently, I promise!  I already committed to attend at least one yarn bombing: this is accountability to make sure I show up for my friends and make good on the knitting work I've already done.  I already knit almost daily: specifying that I do some charity knitting is simply picking a project, not necessarily dedicating extra time.  And the decluttering needs to happen whether it's a goal or not: again, it's here for accountability.

 

My idea for the Create goal were huge and involved numerous other things: writing, painting, even more decluttering, volunteering, etc.  I've cut it down to what I know I can do.

Is it something that I’m willing to stretch for?

I am really happy with striving for all my goals.  I've been thinking about them for almost three weeks!  I'm very excited to get started at last, on goals I know I love.  I see a lot of value and worth in all my goals.

[Sandree]

I love the "Creating Space" one. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and had to get rid of a lot of stuff. I purged myself of a lot of books I knew I wouldn't read again (lots of weight there!) and sent them on to good loving homes. Also got rid of a ton of clothes. Although you can't tell...
I look forward to hearing how the clearing out goes and any how you over come any struggles. I know I am getting to a point where I am not sure what needs to go next and what is worth keeping.

[Sambalina]

I think your goals sound lovely, UberTumbleweed. I especially like your 'create' section Please, please take some photos to share with us!

[Rhyme]

I've never heard of yarn bombing before, that's really cool. I second the request for pictures when it's done!

[Loren Wade]

I'm subscribing. For some reason I find your challenge really appealing. It seems like a perfect fit for you.

[UberTumbleweed]

Accurately figuring out where you are is soooooooo important.  I think this is a great goal and I suspect you'll learn a lot just from observing.

 

Thanks!  It sure is sobering to see my sodium intake in numbers.  Well... it's better to know than not!  Wonder what else I'll see.

 

I have never heard of yarn bombing. I love the idea of it! I like your self assessment and your decluttering goals. I mentioned elsewhere that I hope to do some decluttering of my house too. I also like the idea of adding a push up each day. Good luck with your goals!

 

Yarn bombing is tons of fun; alas, also mostly... how shall I say it?  Less than legal.  We aim to misbehave.  We also aim to mostly just make people happy with nothing permanent, though.

 

I got the push-up idea from T Nation, although there it's a push-up, lunge, and pull-up challenge.

 

Heck yeah, new challenge. Good goals - tracking food is really useful just for information purposes - I know I'm still surprised sometimes by how little/many calories are in something. What are you using to keep track?

 

Love the yarn bombing - that'll be awesome.

 

Salt! OMG, the sodium in everything I eat! *cringe*  I'm using MyFitnessPal, because it has a functioning Blackberry app.  Having it on my phone is turning out to be amazingly helpful.  SparkPeople when I tried it in 2011 was a total failure for me; I just couldn't keep up with it.

 

I love the "Creating Space" one. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and had to get rid of a lot of stuff. I purged myself of a lot of books I knew I wouldn't read again (lots of weight there!) and sent them on to good loving homes. Also got rid of a ton of clothes. Although you can't tell...

I look forward to hearing how the clearing out goes and any how you over come any struggles. I know I am getting to a point where I am not sure what needs to go next and what is worth keeping.

 

Living with a hoarder, my biggest problem is: what can I get out of the house without her noticing? lol

 

I've never been able to get rid of books.  I admire you on that.

 

I think your goals sound lovely, UberTumbleweed. I especially like your 'create' section Please, please take some photos to share with us!

 

Thank you!  I'll post pictures once they're done.  (Except for the decluttering goals -- this space is an embarrassment.)

 

I've never heard of yarn bombing before, that's really cool. I second the request for pictures when it's done!

 

Thanks!  I'll definitely post a pic or two.

 

I'm subscribing. For some reason I find your challenge really appealing. It seems like a perfect fit for you.

 

Thanks, Loren!  Your support meant a lot last challenge, so I'm selfishly pleased to see you in this one!

[UberTumbleweed]

Day 1.1: I did my push-up and a plyo; I did some squatting around, GTG style. I ate 2,325 calories as per MFP, all tracked. I enjoyed every bit of every calorie.

Day 1.2: I did TWO push-ups and a plyo. I did some GTG squats. Gaib has to be fed while we hold the bowl in our hands, and since he's a little dog, I squatted as I held the bowl.

So far, I've eaten 1,680 calories, and might be desirous of some chocolate before bed. [ETA: I ate the chocolate: dark intense cranberry.  Nom nom.  Calorie total was 1,780.]

I discovered that I can't type "MFP" without first typing "MLP". *sings* My little fitness, my little fitness, aaaaah ah ah

Also some important news: NEW DEADLIFT PR!

Run:
5 min walk-jog warm up
9 sets of (60 s @ 12.3 kph, 120 s @ 6.3 kph)
6 min slow steady run
6 min cool down to walk

Total of about 5.8 km, averages out to slightly faster than my goal race pace.

Assisted Pull-Up
3 x 3 @ level 8 assist

Deadlift:
1 x 5 @ 110 lb
1 x 4 @ 120 lb
1 x 3 @ 130 lb (grip is so hard to hold for the last rep!)
1 x 2 @ 140 lb (had to adjust grip for second rep)
1 x 2 @ 150 [PR!] (needed to use a mixed grip on this)

I have deadlift-hands now, so I'm moisturizing like mad and using cheap yarn to knit with tonight.

OH Press:
1 x 6 @ 50 lb
1 x 4 @ 60 lb
1 x 3 @ 60 lb

Tried for 70 lb; couldn't get it over my head. I used the mini-barbells, and the 65 was missing.


PS: I love My Little Ponies: Friendship Is Magic with all my heart. Pinkie Pie is my spirit animal, y'all. Sometimes on a hard squat, I imagine I'm carrying the world's biggest birthday cake on my back, and it helps.

[catspaw]

Congratz on the PR.  Deadlift PRs always feel amazing.

[Hiraedd]

Great job, Uber!  Subbing in for some more of your awesomeness

[Sambalina]

 Sometimes on a hard squat, I imagine I'm carrying the world's biggest birthday cake on my back, and it helps.

 

Oh my gosh... I just about spat water all over my keyboard! This is awesome! And it gives me a neat idea... I'm going to go look up what weighs the different weights I can lift and then imagine I'm lifting those things. Though, when all else fails, I may steal your birthday cake idea. It's just too cute!

 

PS. I loved MLP as a child - the old school kind. I had a lot of operations on my eyes when I was little and I used to get to choose a new pony toy for each operation - I thought it was the best thing to happen to me ever!!

[Aeryn]

Nice workout! And congratulations on the PR! Now I'm going to be singing the MLP theme every time I see someone refer to MFP. Ha.

[Loren Wade]

Thanks, Loren!  Your support meant a lot last challenge, so I'm selfishly pleased to see you in this one!

Any time, Tumbleweed!!! Don't forget to let me know if you need anything.

[UberTumbleweed]

Congratz on the PR.  Deadlift PRs always feel amazing.

 

Thanks!  It did feel great.  I love my deadlift PRs more than any of the others!

 

Great job, Uber!  Subbing in for some more of your awesomeness

 

Thanks, Hira!  Being awesome is easier when surrounded by all the awesome here.  Makes me remember what I really can do.

 

Oh my gosh... I just about spat water all over my keyboard! This is awesome! And it gives me a neat idea... I'm going to go look up what weighs the different weights I can lift and then imagine I'm lifting those things. Though, when all else fails, I may steal your birthday cake idea. It's just too cute!

 

PS. I loved MLP as a child - the old school kind. I had a lot of operations on my eyes when I was little and I used to get to choose a new pony toy for each operation - I thought it was the best thing to happen to me ever!!

 

I love the old toys!  They were the greatest.  None of the current pony toys are as nice.  But my favourite of all is the current TV show.  It's so very happy!

 

 

 

Nice workout! And congratulations on the PR! Now I'm going to be singing the MLP theme every time I see someone refer to MFP. Ha.

 

Mwahahaha, pony-mission accomplished!

 

Any time, Tumbleweed!!! Don't forget to let me know if you need anything.

 

Thank you so much!  The same goes for you: if I can help you out, let me know.

 

 

 

Day 1.3: 3 push-ups and a plyo.  1,598 calories eaten.

 

I built a temporary standing desk for my office and stood for about four hours.  I feel like I got a lot down compared to when I'm sitting down, and it felt better.  My legs got tired near the end, but by the time I walked to the bus stop after work, it had faded away.  If our org has money at the end of the year, I might hit us up for one of those convertible sit-stand desk adapters.

 

[Loren Wade]

Ooooh, very nice!

 

How do you like it so far? It was a big adjustment for me.

[UberTumbleweed]

Ooooh, very nice!

 

How do you like it so far? It was a big adjustment for me.

 

It was really nice to use.  I felt a lot less achey using it for a half-day than I do sitting the whole day.  I think I'll keep doing it for half-days.

 

 

Day 1.4: 4 push-ups and a plyo.  2,735 calories (beeeeer).  I did some light walking and some charity knitting.  Standing desk continues to be nice.

 

Day 1.5: 5 push ups and a plyo.  1,825 calories.  And I got my period!  No random missing period this cycle, thank gosh.

 

I lost my gym shoes somewhere!  So I skipped the gym, and I didn't run outside because... it's snowing.

 

Day 1.6:  6 push ups and a plyo.  3,243 calories.  

 

I had half a pizza, and didn't like it enough to be worth it.  I wish I'd eaten my spaghetti squash instead.  I just wanted my mom to stop ranting and criticising things, and the easiest way to do that is to fill us with bad food.  I have to figure out another way to deal with this.  

 

I ran 12 k in 90 minutes earlier in the day, which is right on my goal pace for the half.  I'm feeling really good about everything to do with running.  The pace gets easier each time I run.  Yesterday was just very peaceful.  On the treadmill, of course.  I just really like listening to something other than traffic when running!

[UberTumbleweed]

Day 1.7:  

Today I did a lot better with not eating my feels.  I haven't even touched the leftover pizza yet.  My brother will probably take it for lunch tomorrow.  I don't think I'm going to miss it, or feel panic-regret at letting it go.

 

There was not always food in the house that I could eat growing up, and sometimes I went hungry because there wasn't food, or I wasn't able to make a meal out of what there was.  It's lead to me being very reluctant to let food go.  I'll eat it because it's free/there/not totally rotten yet/etc.  Shove it down, because it might be gone before tomorrow and what will you do then?

 

It was really quite minor in the grand scheme of things -- I knew plenty of people going hungrier -- but it was representative of a greater emotional neglect and general sense of fear I had.  So food was a comfort, because if there was food every meal for a week, it was a good week in other ways too.

 

I'm realizing in the past few months exactly how much the minor food shortage plays into my desire to eat ALL the things, and also into how I eat my feels so often.  (My feels usually taste like pizza, salt and vinegar, poutine, and doughnuts.  I wish my feels weren't so damn delicious!)

 

ANYWAY.  The other feels I have today are about rampant sexism in Formula 1 as admirably demonstrated by a clueless Vettel on today's podium, but one feels-rant is more than enough for NF today.

 

• 7 push-ups and TWO plyos.  (My first was kind of sad, so I just did a second where I got some actual height and landed on my hands instead of my face.)  
• 1776 calories.  
• 21 inches of charity-scarf knitted, plus a sunflower crocheted for the Installation.

 

And a workout!

 

Assisted Pull-ups

3 x 3 @ level 8 assist

I realized today these are really more of half pull-ups.  Even with assist, I can't get out of the "hole" if I let myself drop all the way down.  Bummer.

 

Squat

1 x 5 @ 90

1 x 4 @ 100

1 x 3 @ 110

1 x 2 @ 120

2 x 1 @ 130 [PR!]

I did my PR once, and then again, just to make sure it really happened.  It totally really happened!  It felt great.  I wasn't planning on trying for it, but I got into the grove and just kept going.

 

Dips

3 x 3 @ level 8 assist

I got full range of motion on these, and kept my shoulders away from my ears throughout.  Good show, Tumbleweed!

 

Leg Extension (machine)

5 x 6 @ 50 lb

My knee's feeling a bit tweaky after running lately.  Throwing these into the workout always sorts it out.  This time I'm not waiting till it starts clicking.

 

Bench

1 x 5 @ 70 lb

1 x 4 @ 75 lb

1 x 3 @ 80 lb

1 x 2 @ 85 lb

1 x 2 @ 90 lb

I wanted to try and match my PR, but my mind wandered to naalbinding (a Viking pre-knitting yarn craft).  And I knew my brain was telling me the workout was over.

[Hiraedd]

What a great week, and a great workout!  Well done!!  And I love how your brain also wanders to projects when it's done exercising....

 

I hear you about being hungry in the past making it hard to give up food now.  It's a long, slow battle, but you'll get there, one step at a time.  I think it's taken me about three years of deliberate work on it to get to a point where I can be hungry and not panic, or pass up things that I don't really want even though they're available, so there's light at the end of the tunnel (and you're probably a faster learner than me, so.... ). 

 

Here's to a fantastic week 2!

[Sambalina]

Only a truly awesome nerd thinks about knitting while bench pressing

Congrats on the squat PR!! And an overall great workout.

Well done UT!

[UberTumbleweed]

What a great week, and a great workout!  Well done!!  And I love how your brain also wanders to projects when it's done exercising....

 

I hear you about being hungry in the past making it hard to give up food now.  It's a long, slow battle, but you'll get there, one step at a time.  I think it's taken me about three years of deliberate work on it to get to a point where I can be hungry and not panic, or pass up things that I don't really want even though they're available, so there's light at the end of the tunnel (and you're probably a faster learner than me, so.... ). 

 

Here's to a fantastic week 2!

 

Thanks, Hira!  It's funny that when you're actually hungry, it feels like you're the only person who's ever felt that way.  And then when you're trying to deal with the aftermath... You find out exactly how many others struggled with the exact same thing!

 

I've been working on it for about three years, too, and it's actually going pretty well -- most of the time.  As long as no one tries to eat off my plate, that is!  I still can't share food with any but my most beloved and trusted people.

 

 

Only a truly awesome nerd thinks about knitting while bench pressing

Congrats on the squat PR!! And an overall great workout.

Well done UT!

 

Thank you!  I love my yarn-craft.  I don't do naalbinding yet, but I'd like to learn it.  And I've been watching that show Vikings on TV lately, which is probably why I started thinking of it.

[UberTumbleweed]

Day 2.1: I did 8 push-ups, 1 plyo, and a bunch of squatting.  I ate 2,518 calories, including a truly delicious butter chicken pizza.  I really enjoyed that pizza, even though I've switched to thin crust to dump some calories and carbs.  Pizza from Panago is a family thing with my dad, so in terms of taste and emotions: no regrets.

 

 

Day 2.2:  I did 9 push-ups, 1 plyo, and some squats.  I ate 1,650 calories and felt satisfied all day.

 

My deep and long squats are comings along very well.  My back is getting into better position all the time.  I snooped at the Assassin's challenge thread and found the 10 Minute Squat video.  It gave me some great motivation and tips, even though I'm not intending to try a full ten minutes.  I focused this day on getting my toes pointing forward more.  It felt surprisingly good, and I felt proud to pull it off so well.

 

For my push-ups, I'm starting to get some real height on the plyos.  At first, it was kind of... how to describe it?  I'd do a push-up, then push a little harder and my hands would come up -- but mostly from me bending my elbows and starting to fall onto my face.  Now I'm getting some height (maybe 1, 1.5 inches?) with my arms straight.  And it's been days since I smacked my nose on the floor.

 

I had another interval run.  I switched up the incline for each interval between 1% and 1.5%.  It feels low, but it wasn't so long go that I made the switch from 0.5% to 1% incline.

 

9 min warm-up on elliptical + some dynamic stretches

10 x (120s walk @ 6.3 kph, 60s run @ 12.3 kph)

12 min jogging cool down

6 min walking cool down

[Wolverine]

Snooping the Assassins' Guild, eh?  How very... Assassiny.

 

I call the "baby" plyo push-ups "plyo hops".