ΜΟΛΩ� ΛΑΒΕ (daggart runs to the the hot gates)

[Leithient]

('The hot gates' is the meaning of place where was the battle of Thermopylae, in which Leonidas I said the sentence I used to name my challenge).

 

I have failed my last two challenges, so I am here again. But this time I feel more confident (I think I got experience of my failures) and I want to stay here the next 6 weeks without giving up.

 

MAIN QUEST:

 

Be fit and a learned person before the end of the next 12 months.

 

Reward: If I achieve the fitness part of the quest before next summer I will buy a 6" jeans shorts and I will cut my hair on an ivy league hairstyle or in a short back and sides one.

 

Motivation:

 

Feel enough self-confident to do not care about other's opinion of my body and lifestyle.

 

1st GOAL

Run to Mordor 4x/week | +3 STA

 

I want to run at least 60 miles during the challenge.

 

1 day running: 1 p.

4 days a week during six weeks: 24 p.

 

2nd GOAL

Strength 4x/week | +3 STR

 

Same method: 24 p.

 

3rd GOAL

Eat with DISCIPLINE | +3 CON +1 CHA

 

Whole foods. No sugar or sugar-added foods. If I eat out, only meat/fish/salad. No sodas.

Count calories during the first 3 weeks and log every meal. Weight on Wednesdays. After 3 weeks, if my weight is under 60 kg eat a bit more, if it is over 65 kg do the opposite. I need to adjust my calorie intake, so I think this is the best way to do it without being obsessive and anxious.

 

1 day succesfully tracked: 3 p.

42 days: 126 p.

Goal: 100/126 p. (80%)

 

G / 5 (weeks): 20-25 p.

 

SIDE QUEST

Finish the Ancient Greek course that I started a few days ago | +2 WIS +1 CHA

 

1 week: 5 p.

5 weeks: 25 p.

 

 

Total: 93-98 p. So:

 

Mini quests (1 p. each one)

Finish a 30 day challenge (30 days without alcohol coffee) | +1 ?? (HELP!)

Stretching after ALL my workouts (both running and strength training) | +1 DEX

 

Score: p./10

 

A: 10

B: 9

C: 8

D: 7.5

E: 7

F: less than 7

 

Do you think this is achievable?

[ShadowLion]

Failure is useful. Wisely used, it moves you that much closer to ultimate success.

 

As for your goals being achievable, the above seems like a pretty stringent routine. How much are you running and strength training now? What was successful, and what was not, on your previous attempts? How can you incorporate those lessons into this challenge?

 

I found in my two challenges that I had overly high expectations and needed to modify things a bit. I'm probably doing the same thing again this time, but am working to build in tracking and productivity supports and systems based on what worked and what didn't the last time. I don't want easy, or even "realistic," necessarily, as I am trying to push myself. But, I have to factor in that it does put me at a higher risk of failure and burnout than the person who takes a more gradual, baby steps path. Kind of depends on your personality, I think.

[Leithient]

Failure is useful. Wisely used, it moves you that much closer to ultimate success.

 

As for your goals being achievable, the above seems like a pretty stringent routine. How much are you running and strength training now? What was successful, and what was not, on your previous attempts? How can you incorporate those lessons into this challenge?

 

I found in my two challenges that I had overly high expectations and needed to modify things a bit. I'm probably doing the same thing again this time, but am working to build in tracking and productivity supports and systems based on what worked and what didn't the last time. I don't want easy, or even "realistic," necessarily, as I am trying to push myself. But, I have to factor in that it does put me at a higher risk of failure and burnout than the person who takes a more gradual, baby steps path. Kind of depends on your personality, I think.

 

Hi Lt. Laurel,

 

More or less...

 

I am used to do a lot of sport (in terms of hours) but recently I have moved from running and strength training to spinning, Bodycombat, TRX and Bodypump and now I want to go back, because I have noticed that keep the things simple helps me much more than do so many different activities without enough intensity or constancy. Strength training will not be a problem for me, running maybe - and I love running, but only after I have run, the previous instants are so hard, ha ha.

 

My Achilles' heel is food, though. I find it very useful to reduce anxiety or tedium, I have good appetite and I love cooking and eat what I have cooked, so I should be aware if I want to achieve this goal.

 

I like hard goals instead of baby steps, too. Thanks for your feedback!

[Leithient]

I am thinking of doing a change and, instead of quitting from alcohol, quitting from coffee. The reason is that I tend to suffer from anemia and I feel very tired this days. I drink coffee and I still feel with fatigue and laziness. So maybe it could be due to iron deficit.

I am thinking about primal, too, as I know that grains interfere with iron absorption, but I think that it could be too much. I do not know if is better having for breakfast oats or the classical toast, but today are my main options.

 

~ From my phone.

[Leithient]

Time to evaluate.

 

Goal #1 - I plan to run tomorrow.

 

Goal #2 - Succeeded

 

Goal #3 - Succeeded

 

Side quest - Fail (see below)

 

30 days challenge - Succeeded (this is the reason why I failed studying, in fact, I tried at 7 PM and after 20 minutes I HAVE NEEDED TO STOP and SLEEP). I am very very very tired. So, I am going to dinner (what I planned) and tomorrow will be a new day. I am a zombie.

[laurabzz]

Hi daggart

 

It does seem to be a little too much with all that running and strength training but if you think you can do it, it's awesome. Also, fistbump for coursera! I did some courses over the summer and I'd love to do more but I've got uni IRL now.

 

Good luck!

[Leithient]

Hi daggart

 

It does seem to be a little too much with all that running and strength training but if you think you can do it, it's awesome. Also, fistbump for coursera! I did some courses over the summer and I'd love to do more but I've got uni IRL now.

 

Good luck!

 

Hi Laura,

 

Thanks for reading (and the feedback). Yes, it is a little too much exercise, but it is the easiest part of my challenge, too. In fact, today I did more than expected, ha ha.

 

Hmm, I should be studying something more... productive, but I want to start the academic year doing something which I like, there will be time to study what I must - although, I do not stop studying the rest, of course.

 

[Leithient]

Today.

 

STRENGTH! Done! I did squats, deadlift, and some curls. I will post the weights in my battle log. However, I do not know if I should post them here instead of there, and let the battle log for the week between challenges.

 

RUNNING! Done! Very little, and very slow, but I am very happy. I always think that I am too overweight to be a runner, but today I went out with the club, and there were some girls (younger, and thinner) and I run more than most of them - I started slower, but I ended with the two fastest. I know I should not compare myself with anyone else, but it encouraged me to take more serious the...

 

MEALS! Tracking done! About 1807 Kcal says Cron·O·Meter. Maybe too much, I think that bread is some kind of trigger food for me, but when I am hungry I do not know what to eat (for snacks I only have nuts - I stop at 30 grams - and fruit - no more than 4-5 pieces, because of lack of money in my family, so I end eating a slice of bread with olive oil, tomato or something similar). Anyway, I did my part today.

 

COFFEE. No coffee today. Almost every day sleeping, but better than yesterday. I needed some paracetamol at afternoon for the headache.

 

ANCIENT GREECE. I did two lessons. I am on week two (the course is on week three), so I need to hurry a bit. Tomorrow I will finish this lesson. Now I feel this goal is more achievable than yesterday.

 

As you can see, I am pretty happy today. Oh, I also did a class of Bodycombat this morning!

[vibrantnotions]

What a great day two!

[Thunderneath]

Good work, man! Looks like you know exactly what you're doing in this challenge. I look forward to seeing your progress. 

[Leithient]

Thanks you two! Yeah, I think this challenge I am much more focused than last one, which means that I have more opportunities to success.

 

Balance of day three

 

Today is weight day: 64.4 kg / 146 lbs

Last Wednesday I weighted 67.1 kg / 147 lbs. It is not a big step, but at least is something.

 

I did my workout at the gym, and pretty well. I am still seeing advances each day in all the exercises, even if my weights are not very big yet. I have post my routine here. Rest day of running, but I did a spinning class.

 

I have not dinner yet, but I tracked this day successfully (998 Kcal at this moment, so I hope I will end this day under 1600 Kcal, sure). The good new is that I had an awful day, with a very big discussion with my mother (we ended shouting each other in the middle of the street, ouch). You know my problem with emotional eating, but I think I did the things 'well': I smoked a cigarette - I usually smoke, so it is relatively normal, but I only smoke ONE cigarette - and I went with a friend to a pub in order to talk: 25 cl of non-alcohol beer + some nuts (typical Spanish, I do not know if in the rest of Europe is normal eating nuts with beer).

 

I did not have any coffee and I feel better, but (fun fact, keep attention, lol) I took a nap after having lunch: I went to sleep at 4 PM and I woke up at 7:30 PM (last night I slept about 8 hours, too). So, I really have a problem, ha ha ha. I do not care much because I do not start the classes until next Monday and I know I have anemia (today I did the analysis, next week I will confirm the diagnostic). Maybe it is not a bad idea having the most hours of rest as possible (rest, plus eating well, plus exercise, I think it could be a good preparation for the scholar year).

 

And about Ancient Greek it is obvious that today I did not do anything yet, but now is 9 PM, I can do two lessons without any problem before I go (again) to sleep.

[Leithient]

From Xenophon's The Polity of the Lacedaemonians:

 

After the gymnastic exercises the senior polemarch gives the order (by herald) to be seated. This serves all the purposes of an inspection. After this the order is given "to get breakfast," and for "the outposts to be relieved." After this, again, come pastimes and relaxations before the evening exercises, after which the herald's cry is heard "to take the evening meal." When they have sung a hymn to the gods to whom the offerings of happy omen had been performed, the final order, "Retire to rest at the place of arms," is given.

 

So, if it is true, the Spartans did their "workouts" fasted, and only after exercise they had breakfast. At evening more exercises (no lunch?) and, again, after that, something similar to our dinner. Interesting... I am not going to do the transition in one step, but maybe I'll try doing my workouts first thing of the day and then have my breakfast.

[Leithient]

I'm going to the gym and when I come back I'll go to sleep immediately after dinner, so, this is DAY 4.

 

I run this morning about 25 minutes. Not very well, I had to walk a bit, but the important thing is that I went and I did what I was supposed to do at the gym.

 

Rest day for strength.

 

Stretching and coffee, OK. Today I have been awake the most part of the day, I think I am recovering of the abstinence syndrome.

 

And food... good and bad. I tracked almost my meals (I forgot some nuts and I am going to forget a slice of bread tonight, because I am hurry, but I now what I've eaten today). 1500 Kcal says Cron·O·Meter, but actually it should be around 1700 (bread + nuts + 6 grapes that I didn't tracked). On my notebook there are every meal. Well, I think that the day was OK, but I know that at evening I overate a bit (because I was boring? nervous?).

 

And I have been doing the Greeks thing, so life quest was good, too.

 

On average I think that today has been a good day. Tomorrow will be better, though.

[ShadowLion]

You're doing a great job, daggart! I'm really impressed by your running. I hope to be able to do the same one of these days, but I've got quite a ways to go. I'll keep cheering you on and get inspired by your example!

 

It sounds like you are making good progress on kicking the coffee. I know when I have gone off caffeine, it usually takes about a week before I don't have sleepiness or headaches any more. You're doing really well!

 

That's interesting about the Spartans and their meals vs. workouts. When I do daily walks, i usually do them before breakfast and it does seem to accelerate my weight loss somewhat. May go back to that next challenge when the mornings here are pleasant again. I will be very interested to hear how working out fasted does for you.

 

You are off to a great challenge so far! Keep up the good work! I really appreciate how helpful and supportive you are on the challenge threads. It helps the rest of us a lot.

[Thunderneath]

Very much a good day, daggert!

 

Glad you're kicking the coffee habit- it's a beast to get rid of for some folks and it's good that you're sticking with it. Also good; Xenophon quotes!

Hope the lifting goes well.

[UltanBoyd]

Saw MΟΛΩΠΛΑΒΕ and knew who this would be. Nice

 

To go with the Η ΤΑΠΗ ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ.

 

I think I will be checking out Xenophon (seeing as I usually get his name and the xiphon confused.

[laurabzz]

Would be nice if you could copy/paste your weights from battle log from time to time, for us folks who already have way too many threads to check up on I really want to follow your progress. Also, it's a big weight loss so congrats make sure you're eating enough calories.

 

All in all, a very good day!

[Leithient]

You're doing a great job, daggart! I'm really impressed by your running. I hope to be able to do the same one of these days, but I've got quite a ways to go. I'll keep cheering you on and get inspired by your example!

 

It sounds like you are making good progress on kicking the coffee. I know when I have gone off caffeine, it usually takes about a week before I don't have sleepiness or headaches any more. You're doing really well!

 

That's interesting about the Spartans and their meals vs. workouts. When I do daily walks, i usually do them before breakfast and it does seem to accelerate my weight loss somewhat. May go back to that next challenge when the mornings here are pleasant again. I will be very interested to hear how working out fasted does for you.

 

You are off to a great challenge so far! Keep up the good work! I really appreciate how helpful and supportive you are on the challenge threads. It helps the rest of us a lot.

 

Thank you for your words, Lt_Laurel.

 

I pretend start the "spartan experiment" for the next week (I want to take the things as easy as possible), but I'll say how I feel, sure. I have been doing my workouts fasted a year ago and the feelings were good. The problem were carbohydrates. I associated "workout fasted" with "paleo", and if one day I drunk a beer or whatever which implies carbohydrates/sugar, my body didn't assimilate very well.

 

Very much a good day, daggert!

 

Glad you're kicking the coffee habit- it's a beast to get rid of for some folks and it's good that you're sticking with it. Also good; Xenophon quotes!

Hope the lifting goes well.

 

Thank you! I hope not going into coffee again after the challenge (one coffee often, OK, but I have been drinking 4 and 5 cups of coffee before starting the challenge, this was definitively too much).

 

Saw MΟΛΩΠΛΑΒΕ and knew who this would be. Nice

 

To go with the Η ΤΑΠΗ ΕΠΙ ΤΑΣ.

 

I think I will be checking out Xenophon (seeing as I usually get his name and the xiphon confused.

 

Yeah, but it would be nice if there were another spartan around here. The xiphon is the sword? Ha ha. Here there isn't that problem. In Spanish the sword is xifos, and the author Jenofonte.

 

Last days, DAY 5 and 6.

 

Strength

I was to the gym to do my workout, but I didn't do the 2 sets of triceps and the last set of biceps. The rest of exercises went pretty good, but I didn't have time to finish (I wanted to go to a spinning class).

 

Running

No running because my friends. I cannot run during the next 10 days because yesterday I cracked my head open (just to avoid the risk of feeling sick and fall again against the floor).

 

Food

I tracked my food until the evening snack of Friday: 1000 Kcal (more or less). But I went to a Wok at dinner time. I ate too much, too much, too much. I try to eat healthy food, but definitively it was a lot (salmon, chicken, chicken with almonds, chicken I don't know how, rice, sushi, mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, fruit...). And chocolate. Well, I can see that I have a problem when eating out of my house (and tonight I think we will go to eat together again, so I am going to need a strategic plan or something). I don't have the 3 points of this day (but my goal is achieve 100 p., so it's not a tragedy). Diet Coke.

 

Yesterday I started well. Even on the social lunch I ordered healthy meals (asparagus, tuna, salad), but I started drinking beer and I don't know how many bourbons I drank during the evening (I only know that I went out with 25 euros and I came back with 0 euros). So... no 3 points. A little tragedy, indeed.

 

Coffee

I have nothing to add.

 

Study

More or less. I am going to do something more right now. The study goal is easier to follow weekly rather than daily.

 

Stretching

As I went to a spinning class after my workout, I stretched my muscles after that class. So... OK, too?

 

 

The running problem. Next week I will do spinning Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Maybe I will go to indoor walking one or two afternoons. And the usual activities: TRX, Bodypump, Bodycombat and box. I hope I could go running again Thursday or Saturday, but if I can't, with 5 sessions of cardio it would be fine.

[Leithient]

Would be nice if you could copy/paste your weights from battle log from time to time, for us folks who already have way too many threads to check up on I really want to follow your progress. Also, it's a big weight loss so congrats make sure you're eating enough calories.

 

All in all, a very good day!

 

I'm all ears. Next week I will post here my workouts.

 

I am pretty happy with this week, though. I only went running two days, but I lift weights 4/4, and I did more activities, too. I remember two classes of Bodycombat, one of Bodypump, one of TRX and 2 of spinning. I did a good work.

 

Apart from the last two days, my diet went very well, too. I think I lost some weight - maybe recovered yesterday, but I'm sure that if tomorrow I weight myself again, I will be happy with the number. Also, I am learning how I need to feel good when I am training, very useful information.

 

I'm out of coffee, I think.

 

And for studies it could be better, but I am following the course, so things are okay.

[Jakkals]

Out of coffee?   

 

You are doing very well with this challenge.

 

I will not be able to keep up with your exercise routine.

[Waldgeist]

Just dropping by!

 

Looks like you're doing great, also love your goals!

[Leithient]

Thanks you two. Sorry for the previous mistake: when I said "go out of coffee" I think I wanted to say something like "I finally give up coffee". I feel more comfortable writing in English, so I check less often my grammar and as a consequence I do more mistakes than a few weeks ago...

 

Well... more NEWS FROM SPARTA.

 

Around 1230 Kcal today. One bad thing: two mini-empanadillas (no word in English, sorry).

 

I bought a new balance, so my weight and % are different now. The new balance says 70.5 kg (while the last balance says 63), and a % BF of 29. I'll take this new measures and work over them. I would like to know how many time is necessary to low 1% of BF to calculate something like: I would like to be at 2X% at the end of the challenge, but I have no idea.

 

I don't remember if I said this here or in my battle log. Anyway, I'm injured. Resume: a hit on my head, no sport in 7 days (no movement, in general). I can't continue with my two first goals during this week, and I think that I won't be able to continue with the running goal - when I could run again, I'll take it easy, one or two days the first week, and so on.

 

I thought that what I can do is modify my goals and focus on diet/mind. And then adjusting them again at the beginning of week 3.

 

So...

ΜΟΛΩΠΛΑΒΕ (phase 2)

 

Goal #1 (before the hit day, goal #3 - some changes) - Diet

Tracking my meals. As I am going to change the rest of the goals, I am going to focus only on the food journal, in its honesty and fidelity to my real habits. Why? Two ways. I have a notebook in which I write everything I eat (only day, if breakfast, snack, lunch, etc, and meals). I am using Cron·O·Meter/ Lose it (I'm testing this one), too, to track the portions and Kcal. I am going to add a few more data on my notebook (hour, and level of hungry: 1-5). An average of 1500 Kcal will be an A. 1600 will be a B, 1700 a C, etc.

 

Goal #2 (new) - Intermitent Fasting

I will follow a 14/10 protocol. From 10 PM to 12 PM fasting.

 

Goal #3 (new) - Meditate

5 minutes first thing in the morning, 5 minutes last thing at night.

 

Side - Ancient Greek (no changes)

3 lectures/day.

 

30 days challenge (no changes)

No coffee

[ShadowLion]

I like how you are modifying your challenge to cope with your injury. It looks like you are being really smart about it.

 

I have some trouble calculating the body fat%, too. I've gone to using this: Body Fat Calculator which seems to be fairly accurate, at least enough for my purposes. As long as I stick to just one method, I will see accurate trends without having to spend lots of money for a DEXA scan or something like that.

[fiddle-on]

Sorry about the injury! Good job on being flexible enough to modify your goals, instead of just quitting. They sound like good goals for someone who is fairly immobile for a while.

[laurabzz]

Great job on cleverly modifying your goals to suit your injury. Sorry to hear about that, by the way. Hope you're feeling ok.

 

Don't worry about English. As long as you don't write in those weird Greek letters I think we're fine by the way I had a Spanish language class for a year, just remembered.