LadyWitch - Ranger at last!

[LadyWitch]

So, I'm late posting this, as I didn't get back from holiday until yesterday afternoon, by which point I was completely knackered and still had a two hour burlesque class to go to!

 

However, here I am for my third challenge, first as a Ranger... and looking forward to meeting you all! Onto the important stuff (some of this is the same as my last challenge...)

 

 

The Main Quest...

 

...Get Married!

This is booked for the 8th Feb 2014. So, just over 4 months to go! Still have a lot to do before then, but my primary goal is to get down to 10st (140lb) by the end of January.

 

Goals to achieve this:

1/ Whole30 - I've been Paleo 75-80% for a few months  now, and developed a rather severe reaction to wheat, so I'm giving this a try to see if i have any other foody issues (Please not cheese... Please not cheese!). (CON 3)

2/ Do the 100 push up program (http://www.hundredpushups.com) and the 200 squat program (http://www.twohundredsquats.com/) (STR 5)

3/ Daily walk. I'm going to aim for 5 days a week, if I do more than that I get bonus points! (STA 3)

 

 

Life Quest...

 

As much as I loved my 'Make shineys' goal from the last challenge, I need to refocus on wedding planning. So, for this challenge my Life Quest is to get organised! At the minimum I need to :

Finalise guest list and send invitations

Finish the wedding website

Make/organise bridesmaids fascinators (One of the bridesmaids has said she'll give them a go... but need to make sure she's ok doing them)

Make MY fascinator

(So there is some making of 'shineys' involved! YAY!)

(WIS 4)

 

 

Motivations...

 

Obviously the main one is to look fantastic on my wedding day! But, I've also suffered with back problems for years, so strengthening my back is also a priority. I'm doing a lot of dancing at the moment (burlesque and belly dancing) and have shows for both classes coming up in October, so I want to be fit enough to get through the entire shows without feeling half dead! (this hasn't changed from last time... and the shows are both verrrryyyy close now... and we got asked last night to be in another burlesque show on Halloween night! So that's three shows coming up during this challenge!)

 

Starting stats:

Weight: 165lb

Bust: 37.5 (96cm)

Chest: 32 (81cm)

Waist: 31 (79cm)

Hips: 42 (107cm)

Thigh: 25.5 (68.5cm)

[LadyWitch]

Starting photos:

[mummybear]

Luff your goals! I got married on the second of January and we organised it in 2 weeks lmao we were sat at the kitchen table with my 7 month preg belly and the Hubs turned to me said should we get married before babybear arrives? 'Yeh better had', " 2 weeks? " "awesomeness" lol and we did! It was at the registry office and we were already engaged but Babybear was going to come early we knew so we thought we better get it over with and we didn't want a fuss so it was just us, our mums and tge couple who introduced us lol

I'm going to check out those challenges I think because it could be fun!

[GingaNinja]

Yay! You look like you've lost some more weight in this last week or so off! Hope the The Whole 30 goes well for you, I am going to maybe do it again next challenge as it seems October is going to be quite a celebration, booze, social month for me! I totally have your back! Yaaaaaay challenge time

[LadyWitch]

I lost 2lb in the week gap, which considering the amount of tea and cake I had at the weekend, is very impressive! Admittedly there was also a LOT of walking done (most of it in high heels!) but I was expecting a gain in weight not a loss!

Also had several people comment on my weight loss, most in a positive way, but several people told me I didn't need to loose any more. Which in a way is nice, but at the same time, it's my body, and until I'm comfortable with my size, nobody has a right to tell me to stop. Especially when they could do with loosing weight themselves! Oh well. I will carry on regardless!

[Proof]

Doing 100 pushups is just awesome. I tried the program earlier this year and I was just dumbfounded after 3 weeks when I changed the form and could hardly do a single one. In hindsight that's actually an advantage of bodyweight exercises. You can do them as hard or as easy as you need them to be.

 

100 pushups is a significant accomplishment, you'll get there!

[mom2sjm]

I'm a newbie Ranger too!  Good luck with the whole30.  I did one round and found it very reasonable and plan to do another in October.  do you like to cook?  I think it would be more enjoyable (the experience) if you can cook.  so many great resources out there.  Have fun   and happy wedding! 

[Arilian Princess]

Add my voice to hoping you can have cheese! And more shinies, even the invitations will be great. I'm so excited for you!!

[LadyWitch]

Since starting NF in June, I've gone from barely being able to do one kneeling push up to doing 10 full push ups... So that's a damn good improvement... But I found myself stalling on the BBW and not pushing myself to advance any further, so a friend suggested the 100 push up thing!

As for cooking, I'm improving, but my fiancé loves to cook! It's taken a while to break him of cooking bad things, and he slips every so often, but it's nice that he is supporting my Paleo endeavours... This would be so much harder if he wasn't.

Update time... I've completed two days of the Whole30 now, so only 28 more to go! Spent most of yesterday making my costume for the burlesque show, and will probably work on it more today around work... I know it's not in my list of goals, but it's kinda essential or I'll have nothing to wear on stage (I don't mind ending the routine practically naked, but you should never start out that way!!!)

Didn't get any exercise done, as I had a stomach ache and head ache most of the day, but will try and do the initial tests for the push up and squat programmes today. I'm working 11am-9pm today with no gaps, so exercise will be done in short bursts when things get quiet!

[LadyWitch]

Just did the initial tests, which is basically to do as many good form push ups/squats as you can before collapsing..

Push ups: 13

Squats: 32

That's gives me something to build on!

[LadyWitch]

Bah! It's only day 3, and I'm already craving chocolate!!! It's silly, when I know I can have it, I'm not that fussed, but when I CANT have it, I want it... It's sooooooo annoying... but I will not give in... I'm going to have a cup of peppermint tea, and do some more crafty stuff to distract myself... Oh, and some more work I guess

[mummybear]

You can do it! !!!!!!

Well done on the initial test! That's fab!

Keep it up And I'm pretty sure dark Farm high pervade chocolate isn't a massive sin to have so why not indulge in a Square every now and again must for the taste?

Having said this maybe wait till you've discounted a caffeine allergy. .. cause let me tell you how suck monkey that is!

[LadyWitch]

Unfortunately chocolate of any kind isn't allowed on the Whole30... Nor is diet coke, milky tea, or any of the other things I'd normally treat myself with! I settled for a cup of peppermint tea and an apple...

[Tateman]

The only thing I have seen is chocolate chili for whole 30.  I guess some cocoa power is sort of ok.  I didn't try any.

 

100 push ups goal is cool.  I tried a program before, but sort of bailed on it week 3 or 4.  I was trying knee push ups then still.  I'm hoping during this challenge I can get close to one full push up at least.

[Arilian Princess]

You have made awesome progress and are an inspiration to me!

[LadyWitch]

I don't think I've ever been an inspiration to anyone before! I'm not blushing at all... Nope, not me...

Things in my life are a little hectic atm, with learning dance routines (2 group, a duet and my solo), making costumes and trying to plan a wedding, but I managed to do the first sessions of both the push up and squat programmes today, and I went to belly dancing as well (which includes a half hour walk each way)

Food wise, I've managed to stay on track with the the Whole30 so far, but I'd be lying if I said it was easy... I've been craving chocolate and cheese, and I really wanted a milk shake earlier.. But I resisted!

I've not had much time to check out other people's threads, but I promise I'll catch up at some point!

[Arilian Princess]

We aren't hard to find and your schedule is impressive so great job on avoiding the milk shake.

[WifeyB]

High five for sticking it out past your cravings!

Love it that you dance so much! Burlesque sounds like fun! I wash my tiny town had something like that.

Wedding: congrats and enjoy! I know it sounds weird- but it's so different being married. It just feels different, special. Like you're in a new club. I just got married a few months ago, and every day I have to pinch myself. I soundalike such a nerd... But being a "Mrs." Feels so sexy! Hehe.

[mummybear]

Woop woop! Well done on the resistance!

[LadyWitch]

Hmmmmm for some reason the app on my phone isn't working atm, so updates will have to be done via my laptop (and around work)...

 

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, it definitely helps! Had a disagreement with my fiance today, he wanted to eat lunch out, but I wanted to eat at home so I could be in control of the cooking oils/additives in what I was eating... Needless to say I won

 

Been doing ok on the Whole30 so far, but have started to feel run down and getting periodic stomach aches... not sure if this is 'carb flu' or an actual bug, but I hope it passes quickly! I don't have time to be ill

 

Did belly dancing on Thursday evening, and an extra choreo session yesterday... We're working on a duet and we're nearly finished putting the routine together, after which we just need to practice, practice, practice! The first show is only 4 weeks away now, so starting to panic that everything wont be ready in time!

 

Also got asked if I'd like to be in the Nottingham Carnival next year, but it requires learning Samba... Needless to say, I said yes! I then looked Samba up on YouTube and had a mini panic attack:P But we have nearly a year to master it, so I'm sure it'll be fine... and apparently it does wonders for your legs and bum (and dancing three nights a week wont hurt my general fitness levels at all!)

[Arilian Princess]

You are amazing! Samba on top of your list? You go, And I know your duet and solo's will both be great because you've been working so hard on them.

 

What ever is causing the stomach illness, I do hop it passes quickly.

[mom2sjm]

I experienced some low energy/stomach pains in the beginning of the whole30, I think it's normal.  I never did have the "rage" thing they mentioned might happen so hopefully you'll avoid that (maybe they called it something else, but it was basically you are grumpy and annoyed).

[LadyWitch]

Still feeling below par today, and forgot to set my alarm this morning... thankfully I have a 15 minute warning on my phone before my shifts start, so I still had time to fall out of bed and boot the laptop up without being late for work They joys of working from home!

 

Last night, K (my fiance) was going to make himself a hot chocolate and asked me if I'd like one (forgetting that while on the Whole30 I can't have ANY chocolate)... I burst into tears Needless to say, I felt rather pathetic for doing so, and he was mortified... made me a lovely mug of fruit tea and had tea himself so as to not tempt me... I'm glad this first week is nearly over!

 

I'm still having problems accessing the forums from the app on my phone, not quite sure why, but I promise I'll try and make an appearance in other peoples threads soon! 

[Arilian Princess]

sigh, roll out of bed and be at work? I think I'm jealous......

 

I hope the 30 day get's easier for you and it sounds like K is doing a great job adjusting to it as well. Even if he's not offically on it.

[mom2sjm]

sugar cravings are hard at the beginning of whole 30.  fruit helps.  I know it sounds like it wouldn't but it does.  hang in there.  hope you are feeling better.  and how awesome is it that you can roll out of bed and get to work.  I guess, technically I do too seeing that I'm a stay at home mom but somehow it doesn't sound as cool rolling out of bed and starting my job of laundry, dishes, driving children to school...