Grizzy has spent too long trying to think of a clever title

[Grizzy]

Note: Edits have been made because I decided I would try the real-life role playing again.

 

Let's get to it. I've done a 5k before, I've done push-ups before, but that ability has deteriorated over time. I also need to continue to improve my diet. And most importantly, I need to find something that I have a passion for.

 

Goal 1: C25K (again)

I've done the C25K program before, just about a year ago actually. Completed it, hurt my back lifting a window AC unit, aggravated it on a hilly mud/obstacle run, stopped running until about April.

 

I was doing the Zombies, Run! 5K app, but despite loving the story and the character of the app, I just don't like the program. So I'm starting C25K over, which I have done and like, while simultaneously re-running the missions from the original Zombies, Run! app, which I did the first time.

 

I'll be going for a run every other day*, first thing in the morning, lest it get too hot outside. By the end of the challenge I should be up to week 6, though my grading will account for the possibility of necessary repetition of a single workout or a week of workouts.

 

Finished Week 6, A; Week 5, B; Week 4, C etc.. Reward +5 STA

 

Goal 2: Bodyweight Strength Training

I want to start getting into consistency again with improving my strength through bodyweight exercises.

 

Minimally, I want to do 1 set of upper-body training (probably push-ups or pull-ups), 1 of lower-body training (bodyweight squats, squat jumps, or lunges), and 1 of core (leg lifts, sit-ups) to failure. This will be done  every other day, on the non-running days.*

 

Grading here is all about consistency. An A can only be achieved through fully following through with the schedule. A full letter grade will be taken off for each missed day, until F. Reward +2 STA +2 STR

 

Goal 3: Cleaner, Closer-to-Paleo Eating (4 Cheat days left)

I am not good at avoiding fake foods. I never have been. My diet rarely involves more water than soda and alcohol. I would rather eat a bag of chips than any kind of fruit or vegetable you could think to stick under my nose. I grew up believing with glee that bread, rice, and especially pasta should be the foundation of my diet, usually skipping fruits and vegetables and making cheese and meat my next two candidates for things I would maybe consider eating.

 

I've been working on a change in general, but I need a kick-in-the-pants, stick-to-it plan.

 

For the six week challenge, water is the only thing I can drink. I don't need to drink my calories. I am also eliminating cheese and anything that I might refer to as "junk food," i.e. most things at the school vending machines.

 

I have six allowed treat days during which I can diverge from this, with the hope of using at most one per week if I use them all. On these days that I select, I must report here what I had that goes against the guidelines, in what quantities, and for what reason. If I don't, it's a strike. If I have any beyond six, it's a strike. A letter grade reduction for this goal will be made for each strike. Reward +3 CON

 

Goal 4: Seeking Passion

I posted a bit ago on the pub forums on my panic over grad school, my research job over the summer. Sure enough, the more I do my job, the more I'm convinced that something about what I'm doing is not for me. I have no passion for it. But what do I have passion for? Good question. I would quit my job if I had a dream to chase, but I don't.

 

Weekdays for now might just be mostly 9-5, making money, riding my bike to school, making dinner, cleaning the house, blah blah daily grind. But I have the weekends!

 

So here's the goal: Every weekend of the challenge, I must work on something I believe I could have a passion for. I will report back not only what I did, but how I felt while doing it, how I felt afterward, and whether I think further pursuit is warranted. Working on the same passion candidate for any number of the weeks is allowed, assuming I haven't definitively decided that thing is not my passion.

 

Possible pursuits may include, but are not limited to:

-Drawing, both in pencil-paper and digital form.

-Writing stories or working on a book.

-Teaching something to someone.

-Starting a blog, or vlog, or something like that.

-Designing a program centered around something I care about and beginning the implementation in code.

-Studying material from a field in which I have taken no classes or few classes.

 

Doing something of this nature and making a post about it for every week will warrant an A. Miss one and I get a C. Miss two and I fail. Reward +3 WIS

 

Where I Am Now

I'm 22. I am female, 5'5" and somewhere in the 190-200 pound range, firmly in the category of obese (and yes, I know BMI is BS, but for me there is no change my weight is due to muscle).

 

I have been riding my bike to and from work for about two weeks now. It has made me a lot more conscious of my nutrition, my energy levels, my hydration, and my fitness. I've been drinking generally less soda (but haven't cut it out completely yet) and more water, eating more fruit and vegetables, eating less bread and cheese, and actually being consistent about putting on sunscreen. 

 

I am actually living on my own by myself for the first time this summer, so instead of moping about it and getting scared and lonely and depressed, I am trying to embrace the opportunity for independence, to understand what makes me feel good without having to consider other people. I get to be selfish, which might be good because I tend to be a bit of a doormat. Speaking of which, bonus goal: don't be a doormat. Don't accept people pushing you around, don't say you agree with things that offend you, be assertive.

 

And my current "character" stats, I'll be a shifter:

STR: 2

DEX: 2

STA: 2

CON: 3

WIS: 3

CHA: 3

 

Okay, that's all. I've not done great on previous challenges, so any comments as to feasibility would be really appreciated.

 

*After a pattern of workout-break-workout-break-workout, a 2 day break may be taken without penalty.

[QengpuBenal]

May I ask, what are you studying in grad school? Is your lack of passion for your grad school studies in general or just your current research job? 

 

You have some awesome goals set up here, and I applaud your decision to actively search for your passions! Way to be proactive instead of moping around complaining about how you hate what you're doing! You already rock, and I know you can totally conquer this challenge! (I would say "I'll be watching you!" but I'm afraid that might come across as too creepy!)

[Hammlin]

Good for you finding your passions and not moping about. The first time I lived alone I got a cat. To go with my depression. Lol.

If you start a blog first in your quest to find passion, you can document all the other attempts there

Glad you're here with us!!!

[bgvanbur]

I always spend too long trying to make a clever title, and just end up going for something simple.

 

I like the goals, seem very straight forward.  Definitely a good thing to try and seek a passion and that you have some ideas on what it might be.

[Grizzy]

May I ask, what are you studying in grad school? Is your lack of passion for your grad school studies in general or just your current research job?

...

(I would say "I'll be watching you!" but I'm afraid that might come across as too creepy!)

I studied computer science in my undergrad, and my current research is in Artificial Intelligence on the side of Natural Language Processing. It's my second AI-type research position, and I've hated both. I've liked all my regular internships much better, even the really sort of crappy ones.

 

I would say "please watch me," but I'm afraid that might make me come across as an exhibitionist.

 

The first time I lived alone I got a cat. To go with my depression.

I've always wanted a cat to go with my depression, but I am very, very allergic. Like stop-breathing-if-I-haven't-taken-my-antihistamines allergic. My landlord charges extra to have pets in the house anyway.

 

I always spend too long trying to make a clever title, and just end up going for something simple.

Yeah, I thought of doing a pokemon theme and making all my goals relate to pokemon moves (because we're supposed to have four or fewer goals, pokemon can only have four moves), but it was taking too long and I didn't think I could keep the theme up throughout the challenge, so I gave up on that.

[QengpuBenal]

I studied computer science in my undergrad, and my current research is in Artificial Intelligence on the side of Natural Language Processing. It's my second AI-type research position, and I've hated both. I've liked all my regular internships much better, even the really sort of crappy ones.

 

I would say "please watch me," but I'm afraid that might make me come across as an exhibitionist.

I am impressed by the computer science degree! I contemplated doing something with computers, but discovered I like playing on them more than working with them, so I ended up doing my undergrad in behavioural neuroscience! I get the impression that AI is vastly more interesting in movies/tv shows than it is in real life! I hope you figure out a career path you are passionate about! I recommend talking to profs at your school. I ended up having no clue what I was going to do after undergrad. One of my profs suggested school psychology and it turns out that I absolutely love it! I'd never even heard of it before and initially only started the program because it was short and didn't require a thesis or dissertation!

[Grizzy]

I am impressed by the computer science degree! I contemplated doing something with computers, but discovered I like playing on them more than working with them, so I ended up doing my undergrad in behavioural neuroscience! I get the impression that AI is vastly more interesting in movies/tv shows than it is in real life! I hope you figure out a career path you are passionate about! I recommend talking to profs at your school. I ended up having no clue what I was going to do after undergrad. One of my profs suggested school psychology and it turns out that I absolutely love it! I'd never even heard of it before and initially only started the program because it was short and didn't require a thesis or dissertation!

Behavioral Neuroscience is also pretty impressive! I got about one course away from a cognitive science degree, but the curriculum is so outdated that it makes it difficult to finish the program with all the classes that are no longer offered.

 

Yes, Hollywood AI is significantly more fascinating that academic AI.

 

I considered getting a degree in school psychology. One of the reasons I'm currently doing research is because I was considering getting my PhD in order to teach university. I've been a TA and like working with students. But professors have to do research and publish papers, which seems to be just not my thing so far. So I want to do some things that will help me figure out if I like teaching, or advisement, or school administration, or none of the above! Maybe I'll find that I love computer science, but that I love the software engineering aspects way more than research. I don't know, we shall see.

[QengpuBenal]

Behavioral Neuroscience is also pretty impressive! I got about one course away from a cognitive science degree, but the curriculum is so outdated that it makes it difficult to finish the program with all the classes that are no longer offered.

 

Yes, Hollywood AI is significantly more fascinating that academic AI.

 

I considered getting a degree in school psychology. One of the reasons I'm currently doing research is because I was considering getting my PhD in order to teach university. I've been a TA and like working with students. But professors have to do research and publish papers, which seems to be just not my thing so far. So I want to do some things that will help me figure out if I like teaching, or advisement, or school administration, or none of the above! Maybe I'll find that I love computer science, but that I love the software engineering aspects way more than research. I don't know, we shall see.

School psychology is pretty awesome, but there is definitely a fair bit of paperwork. I spend a lot of time working with teachers, coming up with interventions they can use for the kids that are struggling. I test kids a lot. I write reports about the tests. I spend time talking with parents and helping them to understand the whole process their kid is going through. It sucks when the laws mean having to tell parents there kid just barely doesn't qualify for special ed services. It rocks every time I get to help a kid (whether it's through special ed or just helping their teacher figure out a better way to help the kid)! Plus, you get to work with tons of students without having to deal with a lot of the day-to-day grind of teaching! /advertisement 

[Hammlin]

Oh sorry I wasn't insisting that you get a cat- totally not for everyone. More so I was saying that I couldn't handle being alone and instead of dealing with it properly, I got an animal.

[Grizzy]

Oh sorry I wasn't insisting that you get a cat- totally not for everyone. More so I was saying that I couldn't handle being alone and instead of dealing with it properly, I got an animal.

Ha, no offence taken. I just like to reply to everything in some way if possible.

[Anwyl]

First off I love your challenge! Especially love that your challenging yourself to find your passion!!

 

Also I feel so completely lost right now with all this fancy smart person talk ._.

 

Good luck on your challenge!! Look forward to reading all about your weekend adventures of excitement!

[Sifter]

This challenge is beyond awesome.  Completely admire your focus to find a passion.  I'll check in on you for those early morning runs.  If I don't get mine in, I will be a slave to the treadmill -- NOOOO!

 

Good luck on your first challenge!  Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Also I feel so completely lost right now with all this fancy smart person talk ._.

Anwyl, you are not alone

[Grizzy]

Pre-challenge goal #1... get rid of all temptations in the house before Monday!

I'll just wind up probably throwing out the cheese, it'll be bad before the end of the challenge anyway. I'll bring any junk food I have to my research lab and let people have it for free.

The liquor cabinet might be a problem!

 

 

First off I love your challenge! Especially love that your challenging yourself to find your passion!!

 

Also I feel so completely lost right now with all this fancy smart person talk ._.

Thank you! And sorry about the techno-babble.

 

This challenge is beyond awesome.  Completely admire your focus to find a passion.  I'll check in on you for those early morning runs.  If I don't get mine in, I will be a slave to the treadmill -- NOOOO!

Oh my god, I freaking hate the treadmill. I never feel like I have good footing and I always feel like I'm going to fall off. In fact, I have fallen off.

[Grizzy]

Also, I have been playing around with digitization of old sketches lately, one of the experiments I started before I decided on my challenge goals. I've been having a bit of fun with it, though I haven't decided whether it qualifies as a passion yet.

[Grizzy]

3 days pre-challenge workout: 20 bw squats, 3 negative pull-ups, 3 bad push-ups, 20 sit-ups. Going for a run first thing tomorrow morning! Can't wait!!! Almost literally, like I actually kind of want to go out and do my run right now.

[SeaweedGirl]

Love the sketches!  Especially the one with the hat.  I like drawing and doing stuff with Photoshop and Illustrator.  I used to do it as a job and got kinda burned out, but not that I am a stay at home mom, I get totally sucked in on the rare occasion I come up with a project.  

 

You seem like an interesting, multi-talented person.  Maybe that makes it harder to choose a passion?  I mean if you were limited, it'd be clear what your path should be.

 

I used to have one of my life goals as "Find an occupation to put your heart into."  I sort of have that as a stay at home mom, but I guess I will eventually have to go back to work, and it would be super awesome if I could have two occupations that I could put my heart into. But... OK, I'm a little embarrassed to admit I am learning towards accounting.  My heart won't go into it, but it is a job where I could potentially set my own hours pretty easily and that would support my life as a mom and my endurance related hobbies.  I have a knack for it, and it is cut and dry enough that I know it is done when it is done, and right when it is right.  

[Grizzy]

@SeaweedGirl Thanks for the compliment!

 

I think one of my problems with the passion thing is I have a lot of interests, but I don't think I have spent enough time on any of them to know if I can call them passions, or if I'll even care to keep doing them a year from now. I've started and stopped a lot of activities, without really thinking about whether it was because I didn't like them much, if school was getting in the way, or what the reason was. That's really what I want to focus on with this, is how doing these things makes me feel.

 

I can totally understand the desire to go into something that you know, and that you can set your own hours and be flexible in. I think I may want kids someday, whether by adoption or by reproducing myself I'm undecided, and that makes me really uncertain about some of the things I have considered doing which would not be amenable to me spending as much time with them as I would like if I did have them. If I'm going to be a parent, I don't want to be an absentee one.

[peanutbutter]

Pre-challenge goal #1... get rid of all temptations in the house before Monday!

I'll just wind up probably throwing out the cheese, it'll be bad before the end of the challenge anyway. I'll bring any junk food I have to my research lab and let people have it for free.

The liquor cabinet might be a problem!

 

 

Same here! My fridge is gradually looking very empty - looking forward to getting to the shop tomorrow and stocking up on good things! I'll be following you on the diet thing, I'm trying to do the same (closer to paleo, no junk) so it'll be nice to be doing it with someone!

[Grizzy]

2 day pre-challenge workout: w1d1 of c25k. Total 1.23 miles.

[KiwiChick]

Hey! Great looking challenge - your level up goal looks especially interesting, looking forward to following your progress

 

My hubby does computer science, I don't really understand it, something about photogrammetry - oh but he did make a computer game I kinda get that.

[Grizzy]

1 day pre-challenge workout:

20 bw squats

3 push-ups

20 sit-ups

3 negative pull-ups

[Shukar]

Looks like a great set of goals, finding your passion is the first step to following it, and that is worthwhile. Just be glad you're not in compilers anymore for now I guess.

[Grizzy]

Thanks Shukar&Kiwi!

 

I'm really glad that the challenge doesn't start until tomorrow. One of my friends just had a graduation party, which I think qualified as my pre-challenge binge on cheese, alcohol, excessive grains, soda, and cake. Although I'm so full I'm worried that I might still feel stuffed and logey during my run tomorrow! I guess I'll just get re-hydrated and hope for the best! The toughest thing is going to be that it is now somewhat late and I won't get a nice 8 hour sleep the night before the first challenge, unless I start my run LATE. And by late I mean 8 am.

[Grizzy]

Oh my goodness. If I needed more motivation to follow my diet goals, this morning's run did it. It was so much harder than on Friday, and I blame lots of ranch dip, cake, and five or six glasses if wine.

[Grizzy]

Speaking of which. Day 1 of challenge, week 1 day 2 of c25k completed!