Catelf Challenge 1

[Catelf]

Just found this site today and I love it!  I'm joining the challenge!

 

1) meditate 10 minutes/day (I stole this idea from another challenger)  I am a "cat napper" by nature, so the idea of meditating quietly for 10 minutes sounds so refreshing!

2) start Tai Chi by doing 15 minutes/day.  If I really get into it, I can change from 15 minutes/day to 1/2 hour every other day, and if I make even more progress, I can do 1 hour 3x/week. Keep below 20 carbs/day.

3) start weight lifting and do it at least 3x/week.  Learn proper forms and start keeping track of reps/weights so I can improve.

4) clean out my spare room (my son left a lot of his toys and debris when he moved into another bedroom.  My desk is in that old room now so this also means I have a lot of filing to do!  Windows will also be cleaned.

 

Edit: I know nothing about Tai Chi and this is a ridiculous goal for me.  I'm changing it to keeping below 20 grams of carbs/day.  I think I took too much on at once.  I need to get the basics down first.  As for weight lifting, I'm going to use the basic beginner body weight one.

[The Tin Man]

Welcome to NF and the Rangers!

 

For the weight lifting what lifts do you plan on doing?  What iis your plan for both learning form for them?  Will you have a trainer/gym buddy?  The Warriors have a great form check thread if you're willing/able to record yourself.  

[Eilyd]

Welcome to NF!  Your meditation goal is one I might steal too.  You're starting in the right place!

[Catelf]

Tin Man: I have free weights at home so I'll start with those.  I used to lift in the far distant past, so I have a good idea of what I am doing.  I'll install a mirror and make sure I'm doing it right before I start "serious" lifting.  Thanks for the tip on the Warrior page.  I'll definitely be checking it out.  As I said in my post, this is literally my first day on this site, so all tips are truly appreciated.

 

I don't have a trainer or a training buddy.  I just decided to do this, so I don't have the lifting plan yet.  I'm supposed to be working now, so I'll probably draft something tonight when I get home.

[Dogbert]

Great goals Catelf!

How's the meditation going?

[Catelf]

Meditation is actually going very well.  I had doubts about doing it in the AM, but it helps get me focused.  I thought I might just go back to sleep if I closed my eyes!  As for getting stronger, I'm going to try to do the lunges and squats in my office (where I can close the door!).  I have a desk job, so stopping every now and then to exercise should be very good for me and my concentration.  I realize I should be doing it all at once, but for now just doing it is okay.  I might start taking walks in the morning when my work schedule allows.

 

I haven't started on cleaning out that room yet.  It is a big room and very intimidating!  The weather is going to get very hot soon and I'll only have an opportunity to clean it in the mornings before work or the weekend mornings.  I'm trying to save money and not turn on the AC upstairs (separate units for up and down).  Six weeks is not a long time and I need to get going on this.

[Eilyd]

Good progress!  I'm glad you're liking meditation so much.  You're so lucky that you have an office door!  I have a half-wall, not even as high as normal cubicle walls, so I can't get away with anything odd.

 

To save money on the AC and make it more comfortable, you might try turning on only the upstairs unit (at least for part of the time)--since cold air falls, it will cool both levels some, and you might be able to get more work done upstairs before it gets too hot.

[Catelf]

Good idea about using the upstairs to cool the downstairs!  The upstairs unit is newer also and more efficient.  I think the downstairs unit is an antique.  It looks like it was put in when the house was built in 1963.  Did they even have AC in 1963?

[Eilyd]

Oh wow!  That is old.  They did, I'm pretty sure...or soon after, because a house I lived in from the 50's had a primitive one that needed to be replaced.  If the upstairs is more efficient, that's even better!

[otterstamp]

I also had to pare my goals down to something a little more reasonable. Ooops! I figure if I can just feel successful for this first challenge, it will spur me on to greater heights in the next challenge. I plan to try meditation in the next one... I could use some of that focus you talked about, even if just to focus on keeping on track with the rest of my goals!

[Eilyd]

I think those are good changes--it is much better to have lower goals that you can be successful at than goals that are too high and will discourage you!

 

I would caution the level of carbs that you picked, though---that is very, very low. One apple has about 20 carbs--and you don't want to cut fruit and vegetables down too far!  A more attainable and healthier goal might be to try and keep it under 80 carbs.  That would be, approximately, 3 cups of broccoli, 2 apples, and 1 banana (as examples).

[Catelf]

Eilyd: thanks for the advice.  I'm keeping it low b/c I need to lose weight.  As I find a happy carb/weight loss ratio, I'll increase carbs.  The more I work out, the more carbs I can have.  That's one reason I'm here on this site!  I definitely eat my veggies, just not fruit for now.  I don't eat potatoes, sweet potatoes or other high carb veggies, but there are still plenty to choose from! 

[Eilyd]

Okay, that's good to know that you're paying attention and still keeping your veggies in.  My "overachieving" warning went off, which is why I was concerned ('cause I've totally done that--set unreasonably low quantity goals without being educated on how to reach them in a healthy way).

[Catelf]

Thanks, I appreciate the concern.