HalflingOfficeDrone begins first quest

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

 

I joined the Rebellion a while ago, but this is my first challenge. I have always been active and “slimâ€, but my middle has gotten squishy on the standard American diet. Around Christmas last year, thanks to being diagnosed with gluten intolerance, I started eating mostly Paleo, but totally grain free. My health has improved 10 fold and the squishy bits are a bit less squishy. However, a bit less squishy just isn’t good enough! I want to be stronger, faster, healthier, and lower my body fat to 20% or less before my 40^th birthday in December. These goals are the first steps to getting there.  

Current Stats:
Age: 39
Height: 5’2â€
Weight: 133lb
Crossfit 5 days per week for past month

 

1. Get to work at 8:00 daily – Constitution 2, Wisdom 1

This will allow me to move to the 4:30 Crossfit class and have more time with my family in the evening. In order to be successful, I’ll need to go to get up by 6 which will mean going to bed by 9 in order to get 9hrs of sleep. I’ll set an alarm on my phone to chime at 8:30 to remind me that it is time to brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

 

2. Continue to exercise 5x per week – Stamina 1, Strength 1, Dexterity 1

I currently go to Crossfit 5 times per week and intend to keep it up through the challenge, however I may cut back on CF in order to focus more on pure strength training. In order to be successful, I will have to make workouts a priority. The workout need not be more than 30minutes in length, but it must be intense.  

 

3. Walk the dog – Charisma - 3

My poor dog has been injured and can no longer run with me, so hasn’t been getting a whole lot of exercise beyond a quick stroll around the yard.  She deserves more! I will walk her in the mornings before work (I’m getting up at 6 so it shouldn’t be a problem) and again in the evening for at least 15 minutes.

 

4. Increase deadlfit to 140lb 1RM – Strength 3

My current 1 rep max is 90lb.  I’d like to increase it to just over my body weight, which presumably will go up as my muscle mass increases. I’ve recently started the Wendler 5/3/1.

 

5. Stop drinking the poison otherwise known as Diet Coke – Constitution 3

I have been drinking Diet Coke like it is my job for as long as I can remember.  I must stop drinking it.  Initially, I will limit my Diet Coke consumption to meals dined out and I will no longer keep Diet Coke in the house. I think that once I’ve made that transition, eliminating the poison completely should be easy, since I eat out so infrequently. 

[Jence11]

I like your first goal! Time management plays a big part in meeting our goals. Gotta keep on top of that!

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

Wahoo! On time this morning AND I walked the dog!

[smurray]

The diet Coke poison is the hardest sometimes.  i was drinkning enough that it was causing digestive problems for me.  I still cave in sometimes, but I have really worked on switching to water or unsweet tea with no sweetners or a dash of sweet tea.  Here in the south, any more than a dash would diabetic comatose a Yankee.  Good luck on all of your goals.

[Nzyme]

Awesome goals! And huzzah for making to work on time and walking the dog! Good on you! Now let's keep it up!!!

[fluffyrin42]

I love the goals - especially the dog walking one.  We have the same struggle in my house, but with 3 dogs it takes both my husband and I together to get out the door.  Way to go on getting out the door on time on day 1!

 

How was day 1 without the Diet Coke demon?

[DrWho]

Great goals! Walking the dog is such a good stress relief! Makes you and your pup feel good so that's a great goal!

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! While not exactly mid-week.... here's my mid-week update -

 

Goal 1. Rocked it!! I've gotten to work every day as Rxd. Even when BF needed me to deliver his gun, that he forgot, before I went to work. How do you forget your gun? Seriously? Isn't that like one of the defining parts of being an officer?  But I digress.... Yes, getting to work earlier and getting home while there are still several hours of daylight is AWESOME! So much better than strolling in around 10 and not gettting home until close to 8.Still not a "morning preson", but maybe that will change.

 

Goal 2. Yep, rocked that too. I hope that didn't sound smug. CF M-Thur and sheduled for Saturday.

 

Goal 3. Izzy loves me! I've walked her every morning and evening thus far. I've found that it helps with the tightness in my muscles in the mornings, and keeps me a bit warm after CF in the evenings before I roll. I say it's a win win.

 

Goal 4. Lifting regularly prior to WOD. Squats and lunges in WOD will help too.

 

Goal 5. Not the most stellar performace here, but I know diet croake is my goat. I can however, report is solid improvement... M-4 T-2, W-2, T-2. That's probably about 1/2 what I drank last week, but I'm not proud. I will do better, I'm certan. diet croak, I will beat you!! 

[smurray]

 

Goal 5. Not the most stellar performace here, but I know diet croake is my goat. I can however, report is solid improvement... M-4 T-2, W-2, T-2. That's probably about 1/2 what I drank last week, but I'm not proud. I will do better, I'm certan. diet croak, I will beat you!! 

Good job on the DC.  It is hard I know.  I was thinking about it when I was pouring me a glass of ice tea during lunch today.  Keep it up and keep shaving away at those daily DC totals.

[fluffyrin42]

Great job!  I was never much of a morning person, but after forcing the issue for 2-3 months, I now find it hard to sleep past 6:30 or so in the morning.  Great job cutting back on the DC as the week progresses.  Stick with it - a 50% drop is huge!

[Nzyme]

Forgot his gun?!?! Hahaha that's funny! 

 

Good on you so far though!!! You really are pushing forward and I know you have what it takes to keep pushing!!! AND WAY TO KILL THE DIET COKE PERIODICALLY!!! Soon you will be able to go on without it!!!! 

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

The weekend went pretty well. I had a great CF workout on Saturday, I finally strung together a few double unders and jumped the 20" box during the WOD. I only walked Izzy once each day, but they were both long walks and the fiance gave her a second longish walk so I think that counts since the objective of getting the dog walked was accomplished. Diet Croak consumption was not awful (4-6), but I can do better.

 

Week's grades

G1 - A

G2 - A

G3 - A-

G4 - Will be graded at end of 6 weeks

G5 - C

 

Last night was the season premier of Falling Skies (does anyone else watch this thrash?) I styed up way too late and overslept. I walked the dog this morning, but didn't get to work until 9, and stopped for a diet coke along the way.

 

I hope everyone gets a better start to week two than I did.

[smurray]

Slip up has been acknowledge and now you can course correct.  You can nail the rest of the day.  Keep your chin up and tackle it.

[fluffyrin42]

^^ Ditto that.  It may have been a rough start to week 2, but shake it off and make the rest of the day better.  I bet Izzy is loving this challenge so far.  

[DrWho]

You did great last week! Don't let a little set back at the beginning of this week determine the rest of the week!  Keep working on the Coke! Eventually you won't even realize that you aren't drinking it.  Keep up the good work!!

[smurray]

You will like this story.  My wife still likes the diet cola  every now and then.  While sitting down to eat at a local restaurant, she got the drinks while I entertained the kids.  I thought I had grabbed my ice tea, but it was her diet Dr. Pepper.  For the first time, I actually made the "Gross!" face when I took a sip, and promptly switched the drinks.  I believe I have just about weaned myself from diet sodas, and this is coming from a guy who could put away over 2 liters in a single day.

 

Keep putting one foot forward on your challenges.

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

No diet coke for me today   .... that is all.  

[fluffyrin42]

WAHOO!!  <high fives>

[smurray]

No diet coke for me today   .... that is all.  

Awesome!!!

[DrWho]

No diet coke for me today   .... that is all.  

AWESOME!! Way to go! 

 

How're the rest of your goals going? 

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

Thanks for all the encouragement! You guys are making this almost easy.

 

Week 2 Summary

 

Goal 1 - B - Aside from the Moday slip up, I got to work daily by 8:15. Much improvement over pre-challenge time of about 9:45

Goal 2 - A+ - I LOVE CrossFit.  Serioulsy.  I have not once not wanted to go.

Goal 3 - A - Izzy is a happy girl

Goal 5 - C+ - Better (by 6) than last week, M-2, T-1.25, W-2, Th-0, F-1, S-1.5, S-3. Next week, mini-goal of no more than 1 per day.

[smurray]

Good job on the goals.  It looks like you are starting to get into a groove on some of them.

[fluffyrin42]

Great job!  I love the mini-goal to help get on track for Goal 4.  Keep it up!

[BreakingThru]

Nice recap for week two!  I have a dog we rarely walk.  Need to get her out of the house more   I'm glad crossfit is working out so well for you.  Sounds like you enjoy it.

[HalflingOfficeDrone]

Is it Thursday already?!  Where has the time gone?  I've done well with the dog walking and getting to work earlier.  I even got here at 7:30 yesterday. Exercise is solid.  I didn't go to crossfit Monday due to a raging headache, but I got in a sprint/jog session after work that cleared up the headache. My deadlift has improved, but I'm begining to think that a 50ld increase in 6 weeks may have been a bit ambitious. We'll see.

 

That brings me to my demon. I've not had any diet coke today (yes, I know it is only 9:30 and anything could happen). I also have a rubberband around my wrist as a reminder that I don't drink diet coke, but the begining of the week was a trainwreck. I consumed 3-4 diet cokes each day (refills count as additional units). What is the problem here? I KNOW that habitutual consumption (does 1-2 liters a day count as habitual?) has been linked to stroke and low bone density. I already have increased risks for storke and low bone density, diet coke aside.  Don't drink poison, you'd think that would be easy to remember and practice. Okay, enough pity party.  If anyone has any suggestions or insight on the kicking the diet coke addiction, I'd love to hear it.