Cycle 5: A Good Day To Darkfoxx (and jump ship to the Rangers)

[darkfoxx]

Ok, so I had a nice set of four goals, and bam! They changed the rules. So… 

 

My goals for this cycle are jacked-up. Building on last cycle's life-disturbances, the force continues to be disturbed. This cycle may see me unemployed for an indeterminate amount of time, or it may see me in an office position where I have to *gasp!* leave the house and interact with humans IRL. So. Shit might be getting real, or my schedule might be thrust into some crazy shenanigans. Either/or. With all that in mind, I'm trying to build alternate choose-your-own-adventure paths into my goal settings while sticking to the new framework.

 

 

Main Quest

 

My main quest for the next few months is to chip away at building the fitness I need to participate in a big challenge event like Tough Mudder or Mudderella. I am most likely looking at sometime late summer/early fall 2014 for Tough Mudder and spring 2014 for Mudderella.  

 

 

Support Goal 1: Yada Yada Fitness Related

 

Track #1 - If I can swing it and my schedule doesn't get completely jacked up, complete the Warrior 90 Challenge from HasFit. 5-6 days of working out per week will get me an A and on my way toward my goal. 

 

Track #2 - If my world does get turned upside down and I am forced out into the bright, bright light of day I intend to join a gym near my new place of employment. Actual classes or training sessions with actual people might be good for me. I also found a cray-cray bodyweight circuit I'm eager to try and kill myself with eventually. If picking this route, gym 5 days a week - either pre-set mudder/mudderella training circuits, trainer-assisted workouts to achieve the same goal, or classes that I think will help build strength + endurance.

 

Track #3 - If I'm unemployed, aside from picking up a Skyrim habit, I need to do the Warrior 90 Challenge + break out some of the yoga lessons I purchased before I knew things were going to go sideways if physical endurance allows. 5-6 days of working out + yoga on top of all of that. Or jogging. My DH (dearest husband) has been trying to get me to run for 7 years now. I absolutely, positively abhor running - so much so I wouldn't even do it as a kid. 

 

tl;dr - warrior challenge, warrior challenge + yoga or gym: pick your adventure. 

 

 

Support Goal 2: Something Food Related

 

One of my good friends wants someone to commiserate with while jumping into a Whole 30 Challenge. I love messing with my food intake ratios, so I'm in. We will most likely do this in August - prime beer + corn on the cob + lactose-free ice cream season. Be prepared for whining. 

 

Aside from the crazybananas, keep with the metrics (under 100g of fat, 80g or under of carbs for weight loss/ 100-150 grams is a fine active range, 70g or over of protein, 60oz. or over of water). I'm to the point with metrics that I either need to 'nut up or shut up' and I really need to make a more concerted effort to hit those goals to see if they actually *do* anything to my body. I've been doing great with the fat and water, have had mixed results with the protein, and consistently hit at around 130 for carbs - but I want to see if the lower limit of carbs works). A revamp of the morning smoothie might (sadly) be happening. Meat.

 

This will help me move toward Mudder/ella by fueling my body to the best of its ability. Peak performance from peak fuel.  

 

 

Support Goal 3: Cut The Stress

 

Looming unemployment, the possibility of not having a job to do, and the searching for a new job/rejection that goes along with it + the stress of actually starting at a new place are all going to take their toll on my mind and my body during this challenge cycle and I need to combat that. Be it through meditation, relaxing with some light yoga stretches, or doing something creative; I need to do something to manage the stress and anxiety in order to continue moving forward on my main goal. 

 

Stress ball = workout injuries galore = no advancing on my Main Quest goal. 

 

 

 

Life Quest - Find a damn job. Or start a damn job. Possibly learn how to interact with people again. 

 

Blergh. You can't see it, but I'm totally making the 'I don't wanna' face right now. The goal here is to find someone that will trade services for cash - and it will probably happen at a place of business, since I'm waaaayyyy too lazy to hound the internets for steady freelancing gigs. 

 

This goal will be either accomplished or not - I'll be plugging away with the resume sending and (hopefully) interviewing in the meantime. 

 

 

 

Diet/Fitness Side Quest - Metrics on Steroids

 

My big overarching goal is diet and fitness related, but I want to throw something extra into the mix: I want to learn more about Dave Asprey's ideas on biohacking and to see if any of that can apply to my life. I'm not big on supplements (and he's a supplement junkie), but I'd still like to carve out the research. Also, I want to explore hemp proteins and maybe krill oil in my morning smoothie. 

 

 

 

Challenge Start Measurements

 

Neck at narrowest: 11 3/4" 

Bust under breast: 30.5" 

Waist at narrowest: 28"

Hip at widest: 41"

Thigh at thickest: 19"

Arm at widest: 11" 

Weight at wakeup: 131.3 

Height: 5ft. 2 3/4 inches (5'2" for measuring purposes) 

 

According to my FitBit scale, my BMI is:  24.03% (mid-normal). 

According to the Navy's metrics, my BMI is: 34% (obese).

According to a random simple online BMI tracker, my BMI is 24.0% (upper end of normal).

 

 

And there you have it. Goals, goals, goals and more goals. FTW! 

 

Here's my motivation: 

[Fonzico]

Sounds like an intense challenge for you! I know you are trying to cover all your bases in this time of uncertainty, but I hope you'll clarify more narrow goals as you go... Maybe a week at a time you can declare which adventure you're choosing? It looks good though!

So excited for this challenge, and I really like the new format see you on the training grounds! (we're at a hostel right now, but there's no way I'm doing mine by phone, and we'll be off the grid again today so... See ya next week!)

[Skywalker]

Well done on sculpting your preformed goals into the new format and have fun in your new guild. I see you have a shinny new guild picture in your signature.

I like the choose your own adventure style of goal setting. I've wussed out of the whole30 as a goal, just because I don't want too many crazy goals at the same time, but I may tweak my food goal in week two if I've got the commuting down pat. Ill keep am eye on your thread and see how you do. Your more of a foodie than me, which could me good or bad.

[darkfoxx]

@Fonzico: I will do just that, since things by necessity need to be week-to-week. Week 1 will be Warrior 90 - I already started doing it this week and am liking it so far. Have fun in camping land!! 

 

@Skywalker: You can do it and if I manage to make it through Whole30 this challenge and you need a buddy next cycle; I'll do it again along with you. And as an added bonus I had planned on documenting what I'm eating Whole30 wise on my blog anyways, so you can have that list as a resource. If, along the way, you can think of any type of dish you are going to want that you're worried about not being Whole30-compliant (like I really like pork chops and the way I usually make them is xxxx - I need an alternative), let me know and I'll see what I can work up. 

[thekatisalie]

Welcome to the wide world of rangers

[darkfoxx]

@therealkat: Thanks! 

[Meta]

The Warrior 90 challenge looks interesting. I might consider that after my Insanity routine is finished. I also like the idea of your "choose your own adventure goal" - doing that could help when life gets crazier than expected.

 

I'll be interested to see how you tweak your diet through the challenge - it should help me figure out what I'm doing there.

 

And for your de-stressing, if you end up deciding to do something creative, I'll be happy to help out! (Look at me being a good brother for once! )

[darkfoxx]

@Meta: I started the Warrior 90 early - so far, days 1 and 2 were good. The trainer guy is really enthusiastic but if I think of him like a giant labrador, it's all good. 

 

I generally post everything I eat - this challenge, at least for the whole 30 part, I intend to do a little more of that for the blog. I'm thinking lots of semi-recipes with photos & possibly more than the one "real" recipe per week. We will see. 

 

Lol. I just might need a kick in the ass on that one - or an assist. You're a fine brother - but you're right, a collab would be particularly fun. Bonding and all that. I imagine it's good for us.  

[direrael]

Doesn't the Navy calculator suck? You think you're doing well, and then bam, it lets you know you have more to lose than you thought.

 

Anyway, great goals!

[darkfoxx]

I know! The Navy calculator was *definitely* made up a long, long time ago ... and with only men in mind. 

[direrael]

Still, keeps you honest. And kinda mad. Which can then be used for motivation!

[darkfoxx]

True, true. That it does! 

[BlamedCat]

Yay!! I love your goals!!! You are gonna do awesome.

Oh and on tapatalk apparently the stalker button is nowhere to be found.

[BlamedCat]

Okay stalking now, yay!  Btw, great motivation pic

[darkfoxx]

Thx I think it looks like I'm hungry and have taken to nibbling paper for my carb intake ... 

[BlamedCat]

Thx I think it looks like I'm hungry and have taken to nibbling paper for my carb intake ... 

BOL, I was just thinking you were putting your "motivation where your mouth is."  Now it's not all talk (as if it ever was), you've got something to back you up

[Meta]

Thx I think it looks like I'm hungry and have taken to nibbling paper for my carb intake ... 

Nummy papers! Om nom nom. Maybe try writing words of wisdom on the paper to see if you can absorb it by osmosis?

[darkfoxx]

Hahaha yes! 

 

Don't tempt me, Meta. ;p

[darkfoxx]

Week 1 - Monday Recap

 

SG 1: Yada Yada Fitness Related

 

This week sees no drastic changes to my schedule, so I will be continuing on to week 2 of my Warrior 90 program. 

 

A. Completed today's workout, the 20 Minute Warrior Workout Part 1

 

 

SG2: Something Food Related

 

Decided to give My Fitness Pal a try, since I've been struggling with wanting to continue adding things to my spreadsheet. 

 

Calories: 1,653

Carbs: 151 grams (way over - 80-130 is the goal)

Fat: 81 grams

Protein: 94 grams (over in a good way)

Sodium: 1,313 mg

Sugar: 53 grams

 

Breakfast: DH's green smoothie

Lunch: Prepared pesto chicken salad with colored peppers, pine nuts, cucumbers and tomatoes

Dinner: Hamburger patty with caramelized shallots and sweet potato fries

 

B. I hit protein, fat was fine, but carbs were way over. 

 

 

SG3: Cut The Stress

 

Stress levels weren't bad today. Sleepy for most of the day, but not much to stress out about. 

 

A

 

 

SQ: Metrics on Steroids

 

Nothing to see here. Moving on. 

[lilbichy]

good job on day 1!  welcome to the rangers.  i look forward to following you this challenge =)

[darkfoxx]

@lilbichy: Thx. Aside from forgetting that sweet potato fries would put me way over my carb limit, I was pretty pleased with the day's work. 

[Meta]

@darkfoxx: How do you do your sweet potato fries? Pan-fry? Top with something sweet, something salty, or nothing at all?

[darkfoxx]

I cut a potato in fry shapes, toss with 1-2 Tbsp. coconut oil & chipotle powder/chili powder/smoke seasoning - whatever I have on hand + salt & bake in a single layer at 400 for 15 minutes. Flip. Back in for 15 minutes. 

 

They don't get super crispy unless I remember to cut them into smaller fry shapes, but they are tasty. 

[BlamedCat]

I cut a potato in fry shapes, toss with 1-2 Tbsp. coconut oil & chipotle powder/chili powder/smoke seasoning - whatever I have on hand + salt & bake in a single layer at 400 for 15 minutes. Flip. Back in for 15 minutes. 

 

They don't get super crispy unless I remember to cut them into smaller fry shapes, but they are tasty. 

Sweet Potato fries are awesome... yum yum  

[prefect42]

Glad to have you as part of our squad vs. squad challenge.  Sounds like you have a lot on your plate, so hopefully we can be an extra sounding board and support for you.

 

I appreciate the fact that you've got a Babel fish in your inventory.