Mac's Great Escape

[Mac]

Okay, here we go! Fifth challenge, second with the Ranger guild, and every challenge gets better and better. This one will be no different, but I'm glad to have the motivation to start thinking of it as part of a ladder of challenges getting me to a truly transformative leveling up. I'm ready!

 

My Main Quest has got to be getting my Ranger self out of the dystopic nightmare that calls itself Dallas! Leaving here will demand changing jobs (and maybe even careers), selling my house, and (gulp!) figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life. So, that's a Quest that takes me a little bit further than the next few months or the end of the year. But, I'm starting to feel like the only way for me to see the light at the end of the Texas tunnel is to haul in the dynamite and blow the fracking thing myself. So, that will be the Main Quest: create the light at the end of this tunnel, by whatever means necessary.

 

What does this have to do with diet and exercise, you might ask? Not much! But, I still have some goals that I'd like to work on for the next six weeks. I'm thinking that for the next challenge, at least, I'll divide my energy equally between fitness and life goals, two of each. To wit:

 

Goal One: Cook Weekly

I've slipped a little bit with my eating habits, mostly when I haven't done the work of preparing an arsenal of good food over the weekends to keep me on the straight and narrow all week. I got back into the Sunday cooking habit this past week, and it was a life saver during a horrible week when I wanted nothing more than to pick up a pizza and eat the whole thing. Knowing I had a fridge full of food ready to heat up, rather than just a fridge full of awesome ingredients, kept me from doing a lot of damage. So, for the next weeks, I will spend time every weekend prepping my meals as much as possible for the coming week, including breakfasts, packable lunches, and easy to prep dinners.These will be primal meals all the way.

CON: 2 point, WIS: 1 points

 

Six weeks=A, five weeks=B , four weeks=C , three weeks=D, two weeks or fewer=F

 

Goal Two: Run, Lift, Play

My workouts are getting to be real habits, and I just want to keep up what I've been doing. Nothing more, nothing less. So, that means 3 strength workouts a week (usually one group class and 2 Starting Strength barbell sessions), 1 running workout (should try some intervals, but that's just a suggestion to myself), and 1 something else per week. The something elses can include yoga, or one of the other classes (aerial silks, indoor climbing, kick boxing) I've talked with my friends about trying together. Should be easy and fun to make those happen!

STR: 2 point, STA: 1 point, DEX: 1 point

 

Six weeks x 5 workouts=A , five weeks x 5=B, four weeks x 5=C, three weeks x 5=D, two weeks or fewer=F

 

Goal Three: The List

This is a carry over from my last challenge, trying to tackle a lot of the projects on my very, very long list of things that I will need to fix in my house in order to get it ready to sell. They all need to happen, and each one I tackle seems to give birth to like 10 more things for The List. But, every week, one thing must get at least initiated (some take much more than a week to finish). I wish I could award myself sanity points for this one! I'm going to use charisma, but we'll agree that it really means SAN.

CHA: 2 points, WIS: 2 points

 

Six projects underway=A, 5 projects completed=B, 4 projects completed=C, 3 projects completed=D, 2 or fewer projects completed=F 

 

Goal Four: Rescue Productivity

Here's the situation: I have a lot to do at work, but it's almost all solitary, self-directed, creative work (research and writing). Part B, I hate my job at the moment, and I think I want to change careers. Part C, I still need to do my job in a way that makes me proud until I leave it behind. I'm not doing that right now. Period. I have to try every single thing I can think of to regain my lost habits of productivity, and maybe, if I'm really lucky, I'll even rediscover my own motivation to care about the work intrinsically. I'm going to experiment with the Tabata method, but mostly I think I need to get back to habits that have worked for me in the past and just apply them like my life depended on it.

 

I will keep a work/procrastination log with me from 9 to 5, and will log my time. I will rate myself each day on how productive I was, write a micro journal of how the day went, and look for patterns I can apply to keep productivity alive for the entire challenge. I may be on a work trip during one week of this challenge, so I'm not counting the work that happens during that time (which is mostly watching other people do work). If I end up cancelling the trip, I'll change the numbers for grading.

WIS: 4 points

 

20-25 work days rated (by me) "mostly productive"=A, 16-20 days=B, 13-15 days=C, 10-12 days=D, fewer than 10 days=F

 

Bonus Life Goal: Start practicing loving kindness meditation

Now, I lived in Berkeley, CA for a decade, and my favorite bumper sticker I ever saw there (of many, many) just said "Shut up, hippie." And, I've never been able to meditate at all, even in shavasana at the end of a hard yoga class. But, as I've been reading about loving kindness meditation, I think it's something that I may need in my life, especially right now, a practice to make me more patient, more open, less fearful, less judgmental, more trusting, and more generous of spirit. So, I want to work on this. My unhappiness with my life and my job has, I know, been bleeding outward in my attitude toward those around me, and that's not okay. So, I'd like to try meditation as a way to be exceptionally mindful of this negative feeling inside, and its effect on those around me. We'll see how this goes. Perhaps I'll find out that the hippies were right about this, along with pretty much everything else.

 

I think that's enough to get started with. I'll post my start-of-challenge measurements on Sunday, and I'm sure I'll be venting/oversharing a lot over the next six weeks!

[chickie.monkey]

Love it! I can't blame you for wanting to get out of Texas! I would run screaming, if was there too!

 

Great goals! I love your first goal. I really need to work on prepping meals ahead of time, especially to have available for days when I don't feel like cooking.

 

I'm sure I'll be venting/oversharing a lot over the next six weeks!

That's what we're here for!

[JessOfAllTrades]

I fully support getting out of Texas. Houston may not have been that awful (compared to my year in College Station. Ugh.), but I am much happier back in my natural habitat (east coast). 

 

Your goals all sound intense, but you've got a lot of thought and planning in each of them. Best of luck with beginning the challenge, and super happy to see you back and up for the madness that will be the squad v. squad challenge.

[thekatisalie]

Lookin good, Mac! I am hoping to start a little meditation soon, too. If not with this challenge, then the next!

[Mac]

First workout post of the challenge! Unfortunately, it doesn't count toward our PvP, but it did help me finish up the Escaping Caprica mini-challenge from the break strong. This was a Starting Strength (SS) workout "B" (in pounds):

 

Warmup:

Running on treadmill, 5 mins (never recorded this before, but now I will be getting team points for warming up! I do a bunch of other crap to warm up, but I'm not sure it's as quantifiable as the running.)

 

Squat:

45 x 5 x 2, 65 x 5 x 1, 95 x 3 x 1, 115 x 2 x 1, 135 x 5 x 1, 135, x 3 x 1, 135 x 2 x 1, 135 x 5 x 1

 

This was a PR, and it was heavy for me today. I had a monster headache when I arrived at the gym, and just felt a little weak and shaky at the start of the workout. I got the weight way too far forward on the second rep of the second set and almost lost it, and even though I was able to recover for one more rep, I decided to re-rack and rest before finishing that set. The last set felt heavy but okay. I'll want two more solid workouts at this weight before going up anymore.

 

Bench Press:

35 x 5 x 2, 45 x 5 x 1, 55 x 3 x 1, 65 x 2 x 1, 75 x 5 x 3

 

This was my second go at this weight, and it was tougher than last time. Again, I think I was just a bit weak today. I'll go at least more round at this weight before moving up. Also, I need to figure out someway to use the safety bars in the rack, because I am often in the gym alone on weekends, and I'm scared of getting stuck under that bar! There were at least two reps today that took everything I had. I should practice the roll of shame, and tipping the weights off, since the rack at my gym seems just impossible to configure in a way that works for my body!

 

Deadlift:

65 x 5 x 2, 85 x 5 x 1, 115 x 3 x 1, 135 x 2 x 1, 155 x 5 x 1

 

This was also a PR, creeping 5# (or .03%!) above body weight. Not perfect form, I could tell the bar was a little too far from my shins on the first reps, and I switched to a split grip after the first two reps to finish the set. Will keep working this weight next week.

 

Swiss ball crunches:

3 x 30, with last set being lateral crossovers 

 

Moral of today's story is: a of all) eat more before going to the gym, and b of all) don't give up because sometimes the workout actually makes you feel better. My monster headache was mostly gone by the time I was half way through the bench press, and I'm glad I didn't just give up after my wobbly squats. One more rest day before the challenge starts in earnest, and I plan to enjoy it very lazily.

[chickie.monkey]

I can say it's a very good idea to learn the roll of shame. I'm quite experienced at it now, LOL. I guess I'd rather try the weight and fail, rather than short change myself. Although, I'm getting better at telling when I'm completely done. I always just want to get that last rep in. Darnit!

[goodbye_farewell]

Looks like you are really pushing yourself! Well done.

Oh and don't short yourself: 5lb is 3% of 150lbs

[Mac]

Looks like you are really pushing yourself! Well done. Oh and don't short yourself: 5lb is 3% of 150lbs

Oh, ha ha! Did I mention that I'm really bad at math?

[prefect42]

Moral of today's story is: a of all) eat more before going to the gym, and b of all) don't give up because sometimes the workout actually makes you feel better.

 

I struggle with this one a lot.  It's hard to know when your body is screaming "no no no can't do this" and when it just needs a kick in the ass (or in your case, the head).  I guess the only way to find out is to start lifting.  

[Mac]

Sunday morning = measurements time! Official start of challenge measurements are below (with my starting measurements from my very first challenge with NF, in November 2012, where I have them):

 

Height: 5' 8 1/2" (same, duh)

Weight: 147.2 (163)

Body fat %: 23.0 (n/a)

Chest/underbust: 31 3/4" (34")

Waist: 28" (31")

Belly button: 31 1/2" (n/a)

Hips: 35 1/2" (39")

Thigh: 22 1/2" (n/a)

 

For good measure, here are my starting lifting weights (in pounds, for work sets, not 1RM, which I do no test):

 

Squat: 135

Deadlift: 155

Bench press: 75

Overhead press: 55

 

Okay, I think that's all! And even though it doesn't count toward the challenge, I'm off to put another notch in the belt of my Sunday cooking habit right now!

[Mac]

I'm convinced that one of the treadmills at my gym is set at a small incline, even when the display reads 0.0. Every time I do a warm up run on that treadmill, I get calf DOMS. Not too bad today, since I only ran for 5 minutes, but perceptible. Note to self....

[Mac]

Just finished up my Sunday cooking-fest. Here's what I'm looking forward to this week:

 

1 8-egg frittata with chicken sausage, onion, some tired-looking kale from the back of the fridge, leftover spaghetti squash, and a little shredded yogurt cheese that I bought the other week and decided was gross for eating but fine for cooking. That'll be for breakfasts for me, though my house mate likes to take her portions for lunch.

 

4 grass-fed burger patties prepped with garlic, rosemary, and worcestshire sauce, then individually wrapped and frozen

 

Ingredients prepped for tomorrow's slow cooker shredded chicken, cooked with onions, tomatillo salsa (from a jar, but a good, organic brand), jalapeno, chicken broth, and spices. The recipe called for boneless chicken breasts, but there was a great price on organic chicken "grill packs" with two giant split breasts and 4 drumsticks, and the meat cooked on the bone before being shredded will be better anyway. The 4 drumsticks went straight to the freezer for another quick recipe later on. I'll throw everything into the slow cooker tomorrow morning, and have the chicken for dinner with some black beans, quinoa, and avocado.

 

The shredded chicken leftovers will make salads for the rest of the week, with ingredients all washed and ready to go: romaine, kale, arugula, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, sliced radishes, sweet peppers, avocado, sliced black olives, diced red onion, a little crumbled feta cheese, and spicy pepitas. Monday's lunch will be leftovers from last night's dinner: Thai red curry of chicken, green beans, and carrots with basil, mint, and cilantro, over a little brown rice (an indulgence left over from my inter-challenge period).

 

For easy dinners all week, I'll have either frozen chicken sausages or the hamburger patties I made today, grilled with a little cheddar melted on top, and veggies on the side: green beans, broccoli, and kale are all washed and ready to go, and I've still got more leftover spaghetti squash. I have a couple of ears of corn from my veggie co-op, so I might indulge in a little corn with the grilled sausages. Sweet potatoes are in the pantry for nights when I'm just craving plain ol' carbs.

 

For snacks, I have cut up celery and carrots, I've stocked up on almonds, and (for a change) I got lots of nice fruit this week from my veggie co-op: bananas, nectarines, plums, strawberries, and we already had some cherries and blueberries in the fridge. I've also got a lot of fruit in the freezer to make smoothies: cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, and I've got 3 uber-ripe mangoes that I should go cut up right now and freeze. Love the summer fruit!!

 

I also spent some time toasting all the leftover packages of slivered almonds and shredded coconut that were rattling around my pantry, so that I have a kind of paleo granola to toss over a bowl of sliced fruit or some plain yogurt (one of my indulgences, especially with a sliced-up dried fig and a drizzle of honey--yum!). Oh, and I fished out and juiced all the tired and desiccated citrus fruit that had piled up in the fridge drawers from my co-op share. It made a big pitcher of grapefruit-orange-tangerine juice, and I bought some bottles of seltzer to mix with it. That should make for some nice citrus spritzers all week. 

 

Wow, that was a lot!! I think I might not need to shop next weekend at all. It took me the better part of the afternoon to shop and cook, but it feels like a very good investment of time for the week to run smoothly. Ready for week 1 to start!

[joedog]

My goodness! That all sounds wonderful. That slow cooker chicken recipe sounds really great. I tried to grow tomatilloes last summer but the drought got them.

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[direrael]

I have family in a suburb of Dallas. All I can say is that it is freaking humid! And hot, but it's the humidity that kills.

 

Great goals, btw!

[Mac]

My goodness! That all sounds wonderful. That slow cooker chicken recipe sounds really great. I tried to grow tomatilloes last summer but the drought got them.

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Well, these are not home-grown, just a jarred tomatillo salsa. I did try to grow tomatoes on my porch, but even though the plant gets bigger and bigger....no tomatoes are to be seen!

 

I have family in a suburb of Dallas. All I can say is that it is freaking humid! And hot, but it's the humidity that kills.

 

Great goals, btw!

Hmmmm, you must live somewhere west and north of Dallas, then, since it's not terribly humid relative to Houston or pretty much anywhere in the southeast, but yeah, it's way more humid than California, where I'm from. This summer has actually been surprisingly humid, though the temps have been mild so far (a number of days have cracked 100, but we haven't had whole strings of them in a row, yet). I mean, this is all comparing weather within the seven circles of hell, though. Summers in Dallas are just god-awful, for the most part. 

[JessOfAllTrades]

Good lord, all of the food you made yesterday sounds amazing. I'm jealous and may have to try that combination for burger patties next time.

Best of luck on week 1! Your numbers are awesome, and super congrats on the deadlift pr!

[Mac]

Thanks! Last week was so shitty, and having good food in the fridge really saved me. Trying for a repeat.

I'm sitting here waiting to hear from the vet that I can retrieve my cat from the clutches of the ultrasound technician. He's getting a needle biopsy this morning to get a better diagnosis on his lymphoma. Im hoping that I'll know by the end of the day whether we're looking at a prognosis of 6 months or 6 weeks. I was supposed to be on a trip to Japan at the end of this challenge, but if the prognosis is bad, I think I'll kick the trip to someone else and stay home. It's a good thing these little critters are worth it, cause man does it suck when it's time to make that decision.

[direrael]

Hmmmm, you must live somewhere west and north of Dallas, then, since it's not terribly humid relative to Houston or pretty much anywhere in the southeast, but yeah, it's way more humid than California, where I'm from. This summer has actually been surprisingly humid, though the temps have been mild so far (a number of days have cracked 100, but we haven't had whole strings of them in a row, yet). I mean, this is all comparing weather within the seven circles of hell, though. Summers in Dallas are just god-awful, for the most part. 

 

Oh heck no, I live in New Mexico. My family over there is an aunt and uncle and some cousins. I'm not sure how they do it.

[cavejen]

Dropping by to sub and say hi!

 

Moving like that is a huge thing and I'm impressed at your breaking it down and making such great concrete subgoals.

 

I totally hear you on productivity. If you want an accountability buddy on that, I'm game. I just lost my structured day schedule and need to stay focused in the vast expanses of blurring time I now have. I got a book recently called The War of Art which is about exactly this problem; hoping it will be of use to you as well!

[fluffyrin42]

Don't know how I missed seeing this one go up!  Sounds like a great build up to some awesomeness (getting out of Texas was 100% worth it for me).  Good luck this challenge!

[Mac]

Oh heck no, I live in New Mexico. My family over there is an aunt and uncle and some cousins. I'm not sure how they do it.

Oh, yeah, that's a world of difference. I love the desert, though I've never lived there. I'm just trying to get back to the coast myself!

[Mac]

Dropping by to sub and say hi!

Moving like that is a huge thing and I'm impressed at your breaking it down and making such great concrete subgoals.

I totally hear you on productivity. If you want an accountability buddy on that, I'm game. I just lost my structured day schedule and need to stay focused in the vast expanses of blurring time I now have. I got a book recently called The War of Art which is about exactly this problem; hoping it will be of use to you as well!

Yes, please! I so need help with this goal, and would love to be accountable! It's already 2:00 here and I've helped out a bunch of other people but I haven't got any of my work done yet- yikes! I'm diving in, and will check in for a report in 3 hours. If I don't, YELL AT ME!

[lilbichy]

Good luck on your goals!  Do you have a particular place you want to move?

[Sambalina]

I think it's been three hours, Mac So, how much work did you get done?

[Mac]

I think it's been three hours, Mac So, how much work did you get done?

So much work! No kidding, this was a very productive afternoon. I even wrote one email I had been procrastinating on for a solid month, asking a museum patron for a favor, and he said yes in like 3 minutes! I just made it to the gym with 5 minutes to spare before class. Yay productivity!