Taranizatika Prepares for the Adventure of a Lifetime

[Taraniztika]

Several months ago, I made the decision to set off for my first adventure. Well, apparently I wasn't ready to leave the comforts of my life of peasantry. I became disheartened with my lack of visible progress and gave up on myself and headed back to the tavern.

Since that failed adventure, I began attending classes at my local Kaia F.I.T. I just finished my first CORE session, during which I have made progress on my strength and endurance. I began going on weekly nature hikes with my family. I still can't "see" a difference, but every day I feel stronger, faster, and more flexible. It has given me the confidence to move forward. I WILL become my own superhero.

Although for the purposes of this quest I am going to record my visible stats, I refuse to let those numbers be an indication of my self-worth. Instead I will also be performing a "fit" test at the beginning, middle and end of the challenge to gauge my growth.

Taraniztika, the Peasant (starting point)

Visible Stats

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 182.4 lbs

Bust: 41.5"

Waist: 36.75"

Hips: 43.5"

Arms: L 12" / R 12"

Thighs: L 22.25" / R 22.25"

Fit Stats

Plank Hold (time before failure): 0:57

Push-Ups (# before failure): 10

Forward Bend (fingertips to floor): 9"

The Main Quest: Preparing for the Adventure of a Lifetime

I must prepare my mind and body for a life of adventuring as a Ranger. The main purpose of this quest is to develop healthy fitness and nutrition habits that will eventually turn into lifestyle changes.

(re)Starting the Fire

Before I can move onto trail running and long distance hikes, I must be able to build my endurance. By the end of the challenge, my goal is to be able to run 1 mile without stopping. To accomplish this, I will workout three time per week, following the 4 weeks to 1 mile program on the Personal Running Trainer app. Each run will be followed by 10 minutes of stretching. In order to build a solid foundation, I will repeat workouts when necessary.

Accountability:

A - Meet requirement for 'B' and be able to run 1 mile without stopping

B - Complete ALL scheduled runs (18 total)

C - Complete 14-17 runs

D - Complete 10-13 runs

F - Complete 21 Days

My blog is up! You can find it here.

I. WILL. SUCCEED.

The last time I tried my hand at a challenge, I failed because my sights were set on the wrong target. I was so focused on the lack of change in my outward appearance that I quit before I could make lasting progress on my inner strength. I will not do that this time. I will succeed in making changes to my lifestyle so that I can be the best me that I can be. I tell my girls that it's what they do that makes them awesome, not how they look. It's about time I take my own damn advice.

[cavemom]

I love your goals!  My family has started weekly hikes too, which we really need to keep up.  We've become way too sedentary on the weekend.  I would love to read your blog when you start it--be sure to post a link! 

[bgvanbur]

Nice goals.  How far can you run already?

[wideeyed]

Love the goals. If you are serious about writing, here is a great group of people who do it with passion: indie-visible.com

They post LOTS of good advice and blogs about their journeys toward publishing.

[Taraniztika]

Right now I can run about a quarter of a mile without stopping if I really, really push myself. My run workouts are always the ones I slack off on, so I want to set my sights high in order to push my lazy butt out the front door in the mornings.

[Taraniztika]

Wideeyed, I'm going to go check that out now.

I'm giving myself until Sunday evening to be an underwear gnome, and then I'm publishing something on Monday (even if it's just one line that says: "This is my blog!").

[Silvertongued]

Changing my goals from outwardly showing to inwardly knowing is the hardest thing I've ever done. It took me five years to break away from the mantra that BMI=health and dress size=hotness.

 

But once I switched over I feel great! It's really hard, but I'm sure you'll get there too!

[NordicGiraffe]

Great goals, Taranizatika! 

 

As a beginning runner, I always thought I was going too slowly and thought I should just be able to push hard - it's just a mile!  As a result, it took me frigging FOREVER to be able to run a mile.  My advice is to go slow - go slower than you think you need to!  Speed will come eventually.

[PNH]

So you wrote in my challenge log and I wanted to come and visit. I have one piece of advice that may not be useful, but it comes from having years of experience with excuses, and having failed the last challenge in a similar huge ball of fire that was consumed all at once like you said you had.

 

All of your "A" marks require 100% attendance for the full duration and I feel like that might be a mental block if you do have an unfortunate day in there somewhere. If one day you get food poisoning and miss a run and the blogging and a smoothie sounds awful to you, you have just taken 3 of your 4 goals and brought them down to a "B". Bad things happen and pushing yourself is absolutely what you should be doing, but as someone who has spent a lifetime quitting things, don't give yourself any reason to feel bad and/or possibly quit because of one slip up. Try to create an environment where you can not be perfect and still be stoked about how you are progressing. 

 

My suggestion: Either take the totals and round them out to percentages like in school(38/42 = 90.4% so between 38-42 is an A) or if you want to push yourself that much harder, only give yourself leeway of one missed day for each(41 out of 42 is still an A).

 

Feel free to take the advice for whatever it is worth to you. Either way, I genuinely hope you succeed. Your goals are great and happy hunting.

[deerskin]

I've tried and failed at a challenge too! It's awesome that you took the time and effort to figure out why. I know I've learned a lot about myself and goal-setting by falling on my face once or twice. (...okay, maybe all the time) I love that you're adding in good food instead of just trying to subtract the bad!

[bgvanbur]

I second PNH suggestion on grading.

[rebeltchr]

Your goals look great! I am also a singer--I love the idea of starting a blog to tap into that creativity! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress...

[FireAndBlood]

Your goals look good!  Good luck with them! 

 

I do agree with PNH though, you need to give yourself a little bit of leeway.  You never know what's going to come up over the six weeks.  If you really don't want to I'd advise at least giving yourself the chance to make up a class with something else in case you have to miss it.  That way if something does come up you have the chance to do something extra the next week to make it up. 

 

 

Good luck with the running!  That one can be tough, I hope to be able to start running again as soon as I get cleared from an ortho which should be interesting. 

[Taraniztika]

I reallly appreciate all the input on the grading system. I know I've set myself up for a really steep hill to climb for that 'A'. For my original (failed) challenge, I set up the grading rubic similiar to what you guys are all suggesting. I am the queen of excuses, and by week 2 I was using every bump, tummy ache, and stubbed toe as an excuse to skip a workout or slurge on my diet. I justified it by calculating what I'd still need for an A. Before you know it, I was just all like "screw this - health is for chumps."

I plan on considring anything C or higher a "pass," and a B is generally considered above average (and I'd be happy with that). The main reason I'm requiring perfection for an A is because I want a virtual reward for pushing myself to my limits. If I really do get sick or something else horrific jumps in, I am easily able to make up classes at my gym or runs at home. In terms of the food, even if I get sick, the high nutrient drinks are better for me that chicken noodle soup, and easier to digest.

Once again, thanks for all the advice. I hope to not be eating crow in 6 weeks. If I am, I'm sure my husband (who's around her somewhere) will revel in my wrongness.

[Taraniztika]

Day 0 Update

Tomorrow I plan on doing my morning run workout and record my mile pace, then complete my fit test and physical measurements (and pictures). Not looking forward to all that. It's going to be an exercise in shutting up my negative mind.

I'm still going strong on green juice/green smoothie every day. The juice recipe I'm using right now (only one for simplicity) still makes me feel like I'm licking the lawn. I'll be interested to see how that goes over the next 6 weeks.

Finally, I set up my blog webpage. It's got a title and a tag line. Woot. I'll post a link tomorrow when I make my first post. <--See that positive thinking? ("when" not "if") I'm so proud of me already.

[Taraniztika]

I updated my photo and "visible" stats. I'll be testing my fitness stats when my kids are down for nap/quiet time. Push ups with a toddler on your back are a PITA.

Also, I'm taking my scale and storing it in the closet until the last day of this challenge. I have a tendency to weigh myself, a lot. Like every morning and then a couple more times through out the day. I'm going to take a deep breath, activate my big girl panties, and allow the journey over the next 6 weeks to not be about the stupid numbers on the scale. (For good measure, I'll hide away the measuring tape too.)

[deerskin]

Adding "before" photos is scary, but a great leap of faith in yourself that the "after" ones will be impressive! Good job hiding the scale.

[Taraniztika]

Thanks, deerskin. I certainly am hoping for "impressive" after photos.

[Taraniztika]

Day 1 Update

I just got back from my workout. My back is killing me. Lots of core work irritated my sciatic nerve. I'm gonna ice it and take some Aleve.

Green smoothie was consumed for breakfast and I'm going to have my green juice for my after-workout snack as soon as my husband makes it for me.

And finally, my Life Quest. I got my blog up. It's ugly as sin and there's only one post. But it's there. Woot Woot. Here's a link for proof: Better Than Grown Up. Tomorrow, I'll get to work on the About Me page and other organizational stuffs.

(Oooo...I hear the juicer going now. I love my husband.)

[Skywalker]

Learning from failure is what makes us successful. You seem to have the right motivation and paying attention to the action, rather than the result is definitely the way to go.

Enjoy the green juices/smoothies.

[SunSeeker]

Great start Wonderwoman-in-training!  Having a supportive and encouraging husband is worth so much.  The challenge would be so much harder, if my husband wasn't behind me.

 

Glad you aren't going to use the scale as a measurement tool.  I hiked for over thirty days straight and lost a lot of fat, but gained a lot of muscle and my weight stayed EXACTLY the same.  The scale is an evil, evil device.  lol

 

What are you putting in your green juice and smoothies?

[deerskin]

Sorry to hear about your back. But great start so far! I also want to know what you're putting in those smoothies! Oh, and I really admire you for getting that blog up. That's going to be one of my goals in a future challenge, but honestly the thought terrifies me!

[Taraniztika]

Day 2 Update

So, I haven't run the past two days. I've gotten ready twice to run (once yesterday morning, and I'm currently wearing my running gear.) I've gotta run tomorrow at stupid early in the morning because my gym class is in the evening, and this is going to stick me at running two days in a row at some point this week. Such are the natural consequences of slacking off.

In other questly news, I DID update the About Me page on my blog. Now I need to come up with a list of things to write about and start pumping out more posts. Any ideas?

In non-questly news. I dug a giant, freaking hole for the turtle pond we're installing. Squirt (the turtle) needs a new home. Little dude has outgrown his indoor tank. 4 hours of digging hurts. It's akin to 4 hours of kettle bell swings.

[Taraniztika]

Almost forgot - Green Smoothies

So I usually use a Magic Bullet to make my green smoothies. It's easier that way. I use the biggest cup I've got for it. (Pint glass size, I think.) I jam it about 2/3 of the way full with spinach or kale - usually spinach. Then I pour in about 1/2-3/4 of a cup of coconut milk (from a can) or almond milk. Lately I've been really digging the coconut milk - yummy healthy fats. Then I blend that up until it looks like green milk.

Next, I add a bunch of frozen fruit until the cup is jam pack. I completely ignore the max line on the cup. I'm a rebel like that. I use frozen fruit because it makes my smoothies creamy and frosty, ala Frappacino or Jamba Juice. I don't like them all slimy and Odwalla-like. Oh, and if I'm using berries, I'll also add a tablespoon of Chia seeds. In my mind, the natural seediness of the berries covers the seediness of the Chia.

A good fruit combo is 1 (frozen) banana, and then equal parts frozen mango and pineapple. It comes out bright green and it's really tasty.

I will also use just about any mix of berries. Although they make the smoothie look kinda like mud. Adding a frozen banana always makes things creamier.

This week I'm experimenting with melon. We'll see how it goes. It's harder because i can't buy it pre-frozen. I have to chop it up and freeze it myself.

I'll write about green juices tomorrow. My husband does most of that, so I'll see if I can extract some info out of him.

[FireAndBlood]

Does your blog have any overall focus or topic?  

What about writing about the challenge itself?