"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power..." Aria [Chapter 1]

[Aria]

This is my first challenge on nerdfitness, so I hope I'm doing this right... My goal is partially fitness-motivated, and partially toward the spiritual goals I have been establishing and pondering for a long time. I picked a Star Wars theme for my challenge because who wouldn't want to be a Jedi?

 

My Main Goal:
Our intrepid heroine seeks the hidden Jedi clan on Urthha, the third planet in a distant solar system, to continue the training she has begun.

I want finally to sign up for a martial arts class, and continue doing the yoga and meditation I have been doing with some (!) regularity.

1. To find the right martial art for me and attend classes regularly!
2. Yoga or Weight Training 3x a week
3. Meditate 3x a week

My Motivation:
“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.†- Master Yoda

[JessFit]

Use the force and you will be fine! Hahaha actually you have great golas, good luck with them

[RogueWelkin]

I think for #2 you mean Yoda not Yoga 80P

 

I might suggest that you alter your first goal a little bit. It's not easily measurable, and while it might be something that you'd like to do during the course of the challenge perhaps you might want to reword it to something like "attend x # of Martial Arts classes". But this can be a difficult goal overall and it could become overwhelming especially considering the rest of your goals. Perhaps a focus on something dietary would be suitable as well? Don't want to let yourself feel too overloaded by the physical/mental demands that the classes + the exercise + the meditation (plus the classes could be your way to achieve your exercise goal anyway). Again it might just be a "wording" concern, but instead of "Weight Training" might I suggest "Strength Training" to be the goal, this opens up a wealth of additional potential exercises than something like "weight training" (which to me says "Lifting weights") can give you.  

 

Overall it's your challenge and you should definitely do what you want, but just keep in mind that Clear and Measurable Goals have a higher chance of success and also aren't as strictly pass/fail.

 

Good Luck!

[Aria]

I think for #2 you mean Yoda not Yoga 80P

 

I might suggest that you alter your first goal a little bit. It's not easily measurable, and while it might be something that you'd like to do during the course of the challenge perhaps you might want to reword it to something like "attend x # of Martial Arts classes". But this can be a difficult goal overall and it could become overwhelming especially considering the rest of your goals. Perhaps a focus on something dietary would be suitable as well? Don't want to let yourself feel too overloaded by the physical/mental demands that the classes + the exercise + the meditation (plus the classes could be your way to achieve your exercise goal anyway). Again it might just be a "wording" concern, but instead of "Weight Training" might I suggest "Strength Training" to be the goal, this opens up a wealth of additional potential exercises than something like "weight training" (which to me says "Lifting weights") can give you. 

 

Teehee! Yoda! <3

 

I will probably adjust that goal once I find a class in my area -- how often I can attend will depend on how often they meet, so I left that kinda' open for now. I think ten classes in six weeks would be good, though, and that is a more measurable goal?

 

I'm about 15lbs underweight with a lot of food allergies, so right now I'm on the "eat everything" diet plan. I'm trying to get 2k+ calories a day, trying to avoid eating "cute" meats for spiritual reasons, so that means a lot of fish, bivalves, veggies, eggs, dairy, whole grains and peanuts (sorry Paleos!)

 

You're right that I seem to have some overlap with classes and strength training... but if I count a once-a-week class as one of those, that's just two home sessions a week, seems doable...?

 

I do meditate now, just need to get consistent with it, and that's really a top-priority goal for me in my life, not just as part of this challenge; but I thought if I included it here, I'd feel more motivated to continue.

[JessFit]

I understand the "eat everything" diet plan. I'm not underweight for the first time in my life and my doctor is thrilled hahaha problem is with working out so much it is hard to keep the fat in the 20-25% range sometimes. Enjoy that you have that luxury

[Tateman]

Good luck with the classes.  Hopefully, you can find something quick that you have fun with it.

[Aria]

I understand the "eat everything" diet plan. I'm not underweight for the first time in my life and my doctor is thrilled hahaha problem is with working out so much it is hard to keep the fat in the 20-25% range sometimes. Enjoy that you have that luxury

 

It's really a challenge. My doctor would be delighted just to see me staying solidly in triple digits, instead of constantly flirting around the 100-105lb region... ugh. My lowest weight was 86 pounds because I was on Adderall (SCARY SCARY SCARY). I'm off all my psych meds now (turns out, being deficient in Vitamin B makes you every kind of crazy) and feeling a lot healthier... But after gaining about 30 lbs in the past two years, I'm getting a little pooch and my muscle mass is still non-existent.

 

Good luck with the classes.  Hopefully, you can find something quick that you have fun with it.

 

Thank you! I hope so, too. I think Shaolin might be cool because I really like the look and the forms... I'm just not sure yet. I need to talk to the monks and see what they recommend!

[RogueWelkin]

Eating a lot could be a part of a dietary goal, eating a minimum amount of calories a day or adding something into your diet to add healthy calories would be a great goal. The more you know about what you're eating the more likely you'll be able to achieve your goal, up or down. Just keep in mind that any exercise you do will remove calories from that pool, so you want to find a nice balance that will allow you to bulk up (which depending on your size might be a lot higher than the 2k.)  The Calorie Calculator here seems good, just take the highest number it lists and add about 500+ calories to that and it should help you to start bulking up.

[Waldgeist]

Found you and am following! Good luck with your goals!

[Aria]

Eating a lot could be a part of a dietary goal, eating a minimum amount of calories a day or adding something into your diet to add healthy calories would be a great goal. The more you know about what you're eating the more likely you'll be able to achieve your goal, up or down. Just keep in mind that any exercise you do will remove calories from that pool, so you want to find a nice balance that will allow you to bulk up (which depending on your size might be a lot higher than the 2k.)  The Calorie Calculator here seems good, just take the highest number it lists and add about 500+ calories to that and it should help you to start bulking up.

 

Thanks! I followed your link and then Googled "2200 calorie diet" and found this great link!  This is a good jumping-off point for me since it gives me a better idea of what 2200 calories looks like. Excited to share:

http://web.mit.edu/athletics/sportsmedicine/wcr2200calmenu.html

 

I'm thinking about throwing in a whey protein shake, too... Or an instant breakfast packet here and there.

[virlomi]

I love whey --- shakes are the best! Good luck on your goals!

[Hugh]

The Force is strong in this one...

 

 

Good goals there Aria! That 2200 cal menu looks totally doable too.

Whey protein shakes are great. If you want the extra calories, you could try adding a load of coconut milk (my favourite is chocolate flavour whey protein, 200ml water, a shot of espresso and half a tin of coconut milk. A good dollop of double cream too, if I've got some, will turn it into a delicious creamy, coconut mocha)

 

If you're stuck for ideas on the strength training, I wrote up Jedi and Sith themed workouts on another thread...

Good luck with your goals! We'll be watching and supporting!

[Waldgeist]

If you're stuck for ideas on the strength training, I wrote up Jedi and Sith themed workouts on another thread...

 

Intriguing...

[GypsyHeart]

Hey!

 

I like the adjustments you have made to your goals, they look really good now!

 

Good luck for the challenge.

[Aria]

Thank you! I hope they're more clear now

[RogueWelkin]

How'd the first week go Aria? Don't forget to update us all in here on your thread!

[RogueWelkin]

Still with us Aria? How're you doing?

[RogueWelkin]

I know you posted recently over in Rogue Squadron, but I wanted to see how you were doing in your own thread. Give us an update on how your various goals are coming along! Looking forward to an update!