courtniemarie's commencement challenge

[CourtnieMarie]

Hi all! This is my first 6-week challenge so please excuse any noob moves I might make. A little about myself I suppose since I know you’re all dying for more info about me… I’m in my mid-20s. Work an 8-5 that I really enjoy in environmental consulting in the Boston area. Just marked a 3-year relationship anniversary. Been eating a paleo-ish diet since Jan 1, 2013. I have lost 61 pounds in the last 13 months.

 

Right now I am in the middle of Stage 3 of New Rules of Lifting for Women. Stats:

• 5’6â€;
• 170lbs;
• Pushup – 30 degree incline;
• DL – 75lbs;
• i continuously eat after dinner (apples, cashew butter, frozen grapes, dark chocolate, nuts, frozen fruit pops, anything that is within arms reach)

 

Goals:

• Begin Stage 5 in NRL4W by July 15th
• DL 135 lbs and 3 real pushups
• No snacking after dinner Mon. through Thurs.
• pay $600 towards my main credit card

 

How I plan to achieve these goals:

• Do NRL4W workouts 3 times a week
• Do a 4^th workout just being DL and pushup practice, 3 sets of 6 reps each.
• I don’t have a plan for not snacking after dinner. I just have to not do it. *edit* new plan: brush teeth directly after dinner and when i feel the desire to snack try a mobility workout *thanks everyone!*
• Pay $100/week to credit card

 

May has been really lackluster in the goal achieving department mostly because: our anniversary was in May; we went camping over memorial day weekend and it ended up raining (the entire time) and that led us to less grilling and more restaurants; mother’s day festivities; and two friends’ birthdays. I have not lost a single pound or inch since mid-April so I’m hoping this challenge forces me to kick it up a notch.

 

Excited to work through the next 6 weeks with all of you!

[Max Power]

Oh so much to talk about here!  First off, congrats on the weight loss!  That's amazing!  

 

Environmental consulting is what I do!  We've got lots to talk about now haha!  

 

NRL4W is a good program from what I've heard (I've never actually seen the programming of it)  I know Weirdquark and Princess Heather have done it before, so if you have any questions, I'm sure either one of them would be glad to help.  

 

Sorry the camping didn't work out for you, and that May wasn't the best month from a goal perspective anyway.  Here's to a better June!  Good luck!  

[CourtnieMarie]

Thanks, Max! That's great we both do env. consulting! I'm actually an environmental insurance consultant but I do some due diligence and remediation when those divisions in my company need help. what kind of consulting do you do?

 

I've really enjoyed NRL4W as a beginner step into the strength world. After looking at some other posts and previous threads I can see HOW much of a lightweight lifter I am! Oh well, no shame. At least I'm on the right path.

[Max Power]

Mostly on the remediation side.  I'm a geologist and do a lot of field work at potentially contaminated sites.  Then all of the report work that comes from those jobs (that part is boring ha!)  

 

No shame is right!  Everyone started somewhere.  

[PrincessHeather]

Welcome! I did the New Rules program last year, and I loved it! Stage 6 is awesome, by far my favorite stage after stage 1. Stage 6 showed some of my biggest strength gains. Let me know if I can help with anything.

 

Also, what's you calorie intake like? I know you're trying to lose, but if you ravenous all night after dinner, to me I would wonder if I didn't get enough throughout the day. A high quality but slightly higher calorie dinner should help nip the snacking.

[Choronodon]

Way to go on the weight loss!!

[Morrigainz]

Howdy and welcome! I also did NROL4W but ditched it after stage 3 for various reasons. I may get back to it someday

 

Congrats on the weight loss and I look forward to seeing your progress!

[livia-brazil]

Hi!

I'm starting my first challenge as well.

I'm quit impressed with your weight loss! 61 pounds is a lot! Congratulations!

I'll follow your steps with interest!

[CourtnieMarie]

@Max - I'm a geolgist as well! Somehow I ended up in this division though. I'm glad I did, the clients (surprisingly) aren't as stressful... unless you go to litigation.

 

@PH - Thank you! I eat around 1750 cals/ day. with an avg of 120 c, 90 f, 108 p. I should've clarified though - I am NOT hungry after dinner. I just snack because it's delicious and I like it. Gum helps sometimes but if i have something in the kitchen that is fun to snack on I want it. I think I need to learn to leave it there and solely use the snacks for work or post-workout. But you raise a good point, I will try cooking more of dinner and make sure i eat a good helping.

[sydneyanaconda]

Hi courtnie Marie! Well done on the weight loss so far, it's an amazing achievement.

It's my first challenge too, good luck!

With the after dinner snacking, could you try brushing your teeth/mouthwash straight after dinner? It kinda signals you are done eating for the day and makes snacking less appealing....

[orcwarrior]

Good luck on your inaugural challenge!  Just finished my first and found the community very helpful and supportive. Had a huge prob with late-night eating, too, and made major habit change in first challenge.  Made it one of my goals along with a daily food log, made mindfulness and accountability bigger factors. Also just tried to stay busy and on bad evenings (high temptation) nights I just went to bed early.

 

Good job on your progress so far!

[weirdquark]

Welcome!

 

Post-dinner snacking sounds like bored eating if you aren't hungry but eat anyway. Maybe find something to do that will keep you busy and away from food?

[Chaze]

Wow, congrats on you amazing success so far! I think you'll find being a part of these challenges keeps all of this fun and will inspire you to keep your momentum going.

 

I am also impressed with your goal/how you're going to achieve said goal setup. A plan like that goes a really long way.

 

Good luck! 

[CourtnieMarie]

Hi courtnie Marie! Well done on the weight loss so far, it's an amazing achievement. It's my first challenge too, good luck! With the after dinner snacking, could you try brushing your teeth/mouthwash straight after dinner? It kinda signals you are done eating for the day and makes snacking less appealing....

 

That is a fantastic idea! I will be trying this on Monday. Thanks!

[CourtnieMarie]

@weirdquark you are absolutely correct. it happens during my tv watching time so it's hard to do something else mindless when i want to pay attention to my shows! I would love to be able to train myself not to want food while watching tv so that I can enjoy it and not feel restless.

 

@chaze thank you! i've already felt the motivation being a part of this group has provided! i was so excited to get to the gym last night.

 

@orcwarrior it's awesome to hear that someone has had success with the same problem. i'll be coming to you if I need help!

[wesb1898]

This challenge looks awesome.  As for not snacking after dinner, have you thought of replacing it with something else.  Perhaps each time you want to snack, do a bit of mobility instead.  Trust me, the pain that KStarr can invoke will get your mind off snacking with a quickness.

[CourtnieMarie]

This challenge looks awesome.  As for not snacking after dinner, have you thought of replacing it with something else.  Perhaps each time you want to snack, do a bit of mobility instead.  Trust me, the pain that KStarr can invoke will get your mind off snacking with a quickness.

 

That's a great idea. I don't know KStarr but it looks like a crossfit thing? I bought a crossfit groupon a month or so ago and plan to use it in September  

[wesb1898]

Hit up www.mobilitywod.com.  Or google *aching body part* MWOD, i.e. hips MWOD or squat MWOD.

[Max Power]

You get to learn the meaning of "Pain Cave" once you start doing MWODs.  They are really good for keeping you from falling apart as your lifts progress though.  

[Morrigainz]

Don't go into the pain cave!

[CourtnieMarie]

You get to learn the meaning of "Pain Cave" once you start doing MWODs.  They are really good for keeping you from falling apart as your lifts progress though.  

 

 

Don't go into the pain cave!

 

That sounds... good? I don't want to fall apart orrrr go into a pain cave. I'm intrigued now though so it can only go downhill from here. I'm starting to think MWODs aren't something I can do while leisurely watching Grimm.

[wesb1898]

Don't go into the pain cave!

 

Your power animal is NOT in there.

 

Episode 2.  Check it out.  It is all about the pain cave.  Couch stretch is the devil.

 

I do them while watching TV, but I wouldn't call it leisure. 

[CourtnieMarie]

Can't wait!

[MasterOfCows]

subbed.  This looks like an awesome challenge, and welcome!

[Morrigainz]

You can totally do (some of) them while watching tv. But yeah, not leisurely. But maybe the tv will help distract so you don't go into the pain cave?