Lt_Laurel's Real Life RPG - Ranger Living 2 Realize Personal Greatness

[ShadowLion]

I didn't realize until Sunday afternoon that the rules had changed, so I am adapting what I had prepared and will post asap. In the meantime...

[ShadowLion]

Okay! I'm over the stomach crud and I think I've figured how to rework my original challenge plan to fit the new format.  I was way overthinking it...

 

My Epic Quest of Awesomeness

(while still pretty general and the specifics still being determined)

is to

 

Realize Personal Greatness

 

And not from some narrow, self-centered place, but from an expansive, creative vision of what a wonderful world it would be if that is what we all were able to do. I've spent too much time and energy playing small, and that serves no one.

 

 

 

 

I resolve to not die with my dreams still inside me.

 

 

To that end, I need to bring the vision down to earth where I can put a foundation under it.

 

 

 

 

My Main Quest for at least the next six challenges is to get in the best shape of my life through healthy eating, lifting heavy things, moving around A LOT, and creating routines that support my quest.

 

The Following Missions will enable my Quest:

 

1) Eat for health and performance

Continue to clean up my diet and maintain at least a 80/20 paleo-primal to Standard American Diet (SAD) split. I will maintain my compliance and momentum on this by

 

a ) Increasing the variety of meals that I eat through preparing one new recipe per week and planning my menus and shopping ahead for the week to maximize variety

 

b ) Minimize failures (due to my taking the easy way out and eating bad foods when life gets in the way of my aspirations) by having some fast and easy snacks and meals prepared and ready to go at all times

 

c ) Allow for a certain amount of social and emotional eating by building in some limited cheating, to be enjoyed without guilt or remorse. I will eat my birthday cake and ice cream with gusto, then return to my healthy ways!

 

d ) Keep a detailed food journal to ensure I'm meeting these sub-goals. Weigh weekly; take measurements at beginning, mid-point, and end; take photos at end. Aim to lose 6 pounds and 3% BF.

 

STR-1 STA-1 CON-2 CHA-1

 

 

2) Become a sleek, strong, and supple ranger with lots of stamina

Build on what I accomplished in the last challenge by

 

a ) Doing a daily mobility workout of at least 10 minutes a day, six days per week.

 

b ) Strength training at least 2x per week using primarily body-weight exercises and cross-fit style workouts. More than that - BONUS POINTS! Each additional workout earns $5.00 towards videos and music. (Bonus sub-goal is to be ready to join the regular group classes at the local box by the end of this challenge.)

 

c ) Move! Walk, bike (stationary or otherwise - just move!), dance and/or do tai chi for a minimum of 30 minutes per session, at least 3 days per week. More than that - BONUS POINTS! Each additional 30 minutes earns $5.00 towards videos and music.

 

STR-2 DEX-2 STA-1

 

 

3) Build good, simple, and sustainable systems to support the above goals

 

a ) Participate actively in an accountabilibuddy group. Cheer on at least one buddy per day, even when very busy. Aim to contribute at least 15 posts per week. Learn from last challenge to limit following threads to a manageable number.

 

b ) Get enough recovery - a minimum of at least 4 hours uninterrupted sleep, and at least 6 hours sleep per night, plus naps as needed. Track this in journal, too.

 

c ) Test out and establish a regular bedtime and wakeup that allows for 3b and also lets me get outside early enough in the day to avoid the worst of the heat and air pollution. This will be experimental for the first half of the challenge, then become a scored, regular routine the latter half.

 

STR-1 DEX-1 WIS-1

 

 

Level Up Life Goal

Ah, yes, I am definitely a ranger, a jack of all trades. I've been a musician/teacher, artist, firefighter/EMT, multimedia software developer... The business shakeup caused by the music store closing during the last challenge got me thinking about those other careers. Despite all that I've been told all of my life about the value of specialization, diversification is looking pretty good right now. I'm going to take a skill or stalled project from each career and either revive one that's gone dormant or upgrade/move to the next phase/finish one thing that is active. These aren't going to be huge projects, just something I can knock out in a few days to a week per. These are to work up my nerve for the big, scary BONUS GOAL - to start using the skill that scares me the most and that is the dream I always put off - writing (as in fantasy fiction) and doing something (anything) with the two half-written novels hiding on my hard drive.

 

Musician/Music teacher - Finish outlining the beginner guitar method that I have started and write a rough draft for one section.

Artist - Do one new drawing.

Firefighter - Review my knots. Practice them until I can tie them again - with gloves on and eyes closed.

Programmer - Do a Ruby Tutorial and write one short, fun program, preferably one that will work with the RPG game I use with my music students.

Writer - Anything at all.

 

WIS-2 CHA-1

 

 

All of the above goals will be graded with the standard A, B, C, D, or F system using the usual percentages.

 

 

Here is my starting point for this challenge:

 

 

 

Measurements as of 07/29/2013 (to closest quarter inch)

Weight - 200.5 lbs

Neck - 16"

Bust - 45"

Chest - 38.25"

Waist - 40.5"

Abdomen - 41"

Hips - 45.5"

Right Side

Upper Arm - 13.75"

Forearm - 11"

Wrist - 6.75"

Upper Thigh - 25"

Mid-Thigh - 23.5

Knee - 16"

Calf - 16.5"

Ankle - 10"

[fluffyrin42]

Can't wait to see what your challenge goals will be!

[ShadowLion]

Day One -

1) Ate within params, kept food log, prepared snacks, prepped menus and shopped for two - three days. Cooked all meals at home.

2) No formal workout, but did move some heavy boxes and some furniture around.

3) Took nap when needed one, sleep OK and within params, got up at 4:50 am. Reading threads, 6 posts.

4) Installed Ruby tutorial and watched first two short vids.

 

Day Two -

1) Ate within params, kept food log, prepared snacks. Cooked all meals at home.

2) Mobility workout focused on hips, glutes; Strength workout of squats, pushups, situps. [Need to get spreadsheet to track and post these, just writing them in journal for now.]

3) OK on sleep amount, up at 4:20. Too early, went back to bed! Reading threads, 3 posts.

 

Plan for Day 3 -

1) Have snacks leftover, need to pack a dinner or plan a clean meal on the road tonight while on my teaching route. Print out one of bookmarked recipes and see if have all ingredients to make in next day or so.

2) Move! Maybe workout with a dance vid tonight or use exercise bike when get home.

3) Get to bed earlier. Post on at least one thread.

4) Get out knot reference and rope, gloves, put in living room to practice while watching tv.

[fluffyrin42]

Sounds like a pretty great start to the challenge!  You have some seriously ambitious goals, but based on your progress, it looks like they are well within your means.  Keep it up!

[ShadowLion]

Yeah, I debated on how high to set the bar but decided to go all out! Thanks!

[ShadowLion]

Results for Day 3

1) Failed on having a clean meal on the road while on my teaching route. Printed out one of bookmarked recipes and checked pantry for ingredients. Made shopping list. Kept food journal up-to-date.

2) 30 mins on exercise bike so I could catch up on posts while moving legs, instead of just eyes and fingers. Mobility workout - squatting, hips, pelvic floor. Documented.

3) Get to bed early and got 8 hours sleep. Was an active accountibilibuddy.

4) Got out knot reference and rope, gloves, and put in living room to practice while watching tv.

 

Plan for Day 4

1) Grocery shopping. Cook a paleo dinner and have leftovers for tomorrow. Keep food journal up-to-date.

2) 30 mins on exercise bike or with dance vid. Mobility. Document.

3) Get to bed early again. Be an active accountibilibuddy. Update "About" and post an intro.

4) Tie some on - clove hitches and figure eights for 5 - 10 minutes. Check that have an up-to-date Ruby programming environment. Do any needed installs, so all set for next video in series tomorrow.

[fluffyrin42]

Nice!  Way to keep up with everything!  Cooking ahead will definitely help keep you on track. 

[shrinkingviolet]

I have serious admiration for you and your dedication.  We do have similar goals.  I'm excited that we're on the same accountibilibuddies group!

[ShadowLion]

I have serious admiration for you and your dedication.  We do have similar goals.  I'm excited that we're on the same accountibilibuddies group!

 Thanks, Violet. I'm glad, too! Fun to have another Phoenician on board and, with you as inspiration, I won't be able to whine about the heat anymore. I bet I'll be hiking sooner than I think!

 

You also got me thinking about dancing - I did a 30 minute session with one of my bellydance vids tonight. If I feel the need to snivel and whine about something tomorrow, it'll be about my aching abs, ha!

[ShadowLion]

Results for Day 4
1) Ate strict paleo 100%. Did the grocery shopping. Cooked dinner and had leftovers for Days 5 and 6. Kept food journal up-to-date.
2) 45 mins on exercise bike. Mobility workout. Documented workouts.
3) Squeaked by on sleep. Was an active accountibilibuddy. Updated my "About" in profile and finally posted my NF Intro and linked in sig.
4) Practiced knots for 5 minutes. Checked my installation of Ruby programming environment. All set for tomorrow.

Results for Day 5
1) Ate within params by using one of my designated cheat meals for date night. Kept food journal up-to-date.
2) 30 mins belly dancing with video. Mobility workout. Documented workouts.
3) Just squeaked by on sleep again. Was an active accountibilibuddy.
4) Did two quickie online programming tutes instead of watching videos and started coding.

DAY FIVE WOOT REPORT - Fridays are weigh-in days and I reached my first major weight loss milestone: I'm officially below 200 lbs. (199.5) for the first time in a year and a half!

[Mac]

That? Is an awesome milestone. Clearly the tracking approach is working for you. Woot woot!

[ShadowLion]

That? Is an awesome milestone. Clearly the tracking approach is working for you. Woot woot!

 

Thanks! Having those godawful pics and measurements up there, plus knowing that Fridays will render a verdict on my eating, does keep me more inclined to toe the line! Plus, I really want to see more difference on the before and after pics this challenge.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Excellent goals and congrats on the progress so far.  

 

You're definitely a ranger .... specialization is for insects (to quote Heinlein)!!

 

I like to see you planning for success after a not-so-great day.  Way to keep the momentum and a positive mindset!

[rogaecia]

Yeah! Love the inspirational goals in your goal post. I look forward to checking in on your goals and success!

[ShadowLion]

Excellent goals and congrats on the progress so far.  

 

You're definitely a ranger .... specialization is for insects (to quote Heinlein)!!

 

I like to see you planning for success after a not-so-great day.  Way to keep the momentum and a positive mindset!

 

Thanks, Chris-Tien! I must confess my ignorance - what is the "Suitcase Farmer's Walk?"

 

 

Yeah! Love the inspirational goals in your goal post. I look forward to checking in on your goals and success!

 

Hi, Rogaecia! Looks like we have a lot of similar goals. Love your love yourself goal - I think that's a key factor for any of us working to lose weight!

[fluffyrin42]

Sorry I'm late to the woot party, but WOOT on that major milestone!  Congratulations!!  Hope you had an awesome weekend.

[ShadowLion]

Sorry I'm late to the woot party, but WOOT on that major milestone!  Congratulations!!  Hope you had an awesome weekend.

 

Thanks! It was a very good weekend and now I'm rarin' to go for the week!

[shrinkingviolet]

Whoo-hoo!!  You're my hero!  And please, let's call it motivation instead of shame!   We will definitely have to plan a hike at the end or middle of the next challenge!...when it's a little less buring-flames hot outside.  My favorite trail is North Mountain because it's a paved path and has some good incline too.

Oh, and that brownie! Ugh, looks delicious!  I've tried a sweet potato brownie that wasn't too bad...that icing sounds like it would work well with it.  I found mine on PaleOMG website -- I used dates in mine (instead of honey) as the receipe call for.  Keep the recipes and yummy pics comin'!

[ShadowLion]

Whoo-hoo!!  You're my hero!  And please, let's call it motivation instead of shame!   We will definitely have to plan a hike at the end or middle of the next challenge!...when it's a little less buring-flames hot outside.  My favorite trail is North Mountain because it's a paved path and has some good incline too.

Oh, and that brownie! Ugh, looks delicious!  I've tried a sweet potato brownie that wasn't too bad...that icing sounds like it would work well with it.  I found mine on PaleOMG website -- I used dates in mine (instead of honey) as the receipe call for.  Keep the recipes and yummy pics comin'!

 

 

Yes, let's plan on it! You can choose the trail. I really don't know them around here, though I want to learn. I'll check out that site - the frosting was definitely the best part and needs something to match.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Thanks, Chris-Tien! I must confess my ignorance - what is the "Suitcase Farmer's Walk?"

 

Take the typical farmer's walk

 

http://youtu.be/E0i6N7Ozi7c

 

And do it with suitcases instead of weights.  I was job hunting last summer and fall and made I don't know how many trips.  But I walked a lot of miles carrying my bags during long layovers.

[ShadowLion]

OK, that makes sense. I haven't gotten past bodyweight exercises yet, but that's something I can look forward too once I start lifting.

[DrWho]

awesome goals and that is an AMAZING milestone!  You've been doing great so far.  Keep it up and you'll continue to keep passing some other milestones in your efforts!

Good JOB!

[fluffyrin42]

Hey Lt!  How's the week been going?

[ShadowLion]

Been crazy with back-to-school, but staying on track with my goals. Will catch up here tonight or tomorrow with a full update...