Cavilie's First Challenge

[Cavilie]

I have been on a journey to feel comfortable with myself for years. There have been many ups and downs. After a rough year, I have been slowly coming out of a pattern of destructive eating and weight gain. I feel like I am back at square one with my fitness (which is not reality). Further, I am constantly struggling with feeling down on myself. This was a lot better in the summer, and I have recently realised that when I am stressed about school (read: when I am in school), negative emotion seeps into other areas of my life as well. I feel stupid, lonely, fat. I get preoccupied with body image and the perpetual need to change myself. I feel that if only this one thing, or this other thing were different then I would not have to feel so down on myself.

 

When all of these feelings get overwhelming, I often turn to food, or to video games or TV. Or I just push through and do what I need to do in life, but feel miserable. Thankfully, I have a few solutions to these negative feelings. For one, I really enjoy working out. I feel much better after running, spinning, hiking, going to gymnastics, yoga etc. Also, if I can redirect my thinking to the present rather than morbidly reflecting on all of my shortcomings, I often feel better.

In the next few months, I want to be more established in healthy patterns that help me to feel better about myself. Specifically, I need my healthy eating patterns to become routine. I also need my fitness patterns to be routine. Lastly, a big way that I feel like a ‘failure’ is by being behind in school, or because of missing class. So without further ado, here are my three side quests:

 

Life Side Quest:

I will not miss any school (other than for observerships or other clinical activities) AT ALL during the 6 week challenge.

I will study productively for at least 50 minutes each day (2 pomedoros). Every day.

Fitness Quest:

I just started gymnastics and I love it. It requires strength, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular fitness. To this end I will:

• Go to gymnastics every Wednesday.
• Strength train twice per week.
• Spin once per week (Friday) – but not this week because it is cancelled.
• Run once per week.
• Yoga twice per week.
• Practice gymnastics once per week (in the park, cartwheels, kick up to hand stand etc).
• Revised and simplified - work out 6 days a week. At least 2 gymnastics sessions, 2 yoga sessions, 1 cardio session and 1 strength session.

Diet Quest:

Simply, I will follow the diet plan that is laid out by my nutritionist/trainer. No exceptions. Currently, I am allowed two cheat meals – these meals cannot ‘spread over’ into other things. For myself, I will now only eat until I am slightly full on my cheat meals – no stuffing it all in because ‘I can only eat it now’.

[Cavilie]

I got to school on time today (yay!) and am on track for following my diet plan. I can't wait for gymnastics tonight!!!

[Cavilie]

So meals were good! I just got home from gymnastics, and I am hungry but I will make some tea and drink some water.

 

I went to school and studied for more than an hour - yay me!

 

Gymnastics was awesome. I might not be able to walk tomorrow but it was great.  For my record: I worked on cartwheels (about 40 reps), back hand springs on the boulder (30 reps, but sloppy sloppy), kick up to handstand (45 rep, could hold 1 in 7 for about 15 sec on the wall). Also a bunch of trampoline stuff.  To remember: arms straight, shoulders locked, don't tuck your legs and look somewhere helpful.

[formymonkey]

You are already rocking this challenge.  I wish they had adult gymnastics were I live.  I am the most uncoordinated person I know ( I run like a pregnant yak) but hey if it's fun why not try it!!  Great goals!  Hope you make it and become an assassin in the process!! But choose your own destiny

[Gneiss Assasin]

Hi Cavilie, so nice to meet you. I just have to say I am so proud of you!! I too have suffered way too many years of terrible self image and low self esteem. You just get to a point where you have to take charge and say, "Um, Yes!! I am SO worth it!" and prove to yourself that you are capable of so much. And not just because of what you will accomplish but all the time. Good for you for recognizing what makes you feel great and going for it. I am wishing you all the best on your challenge. 

 

I have to say I am so happy that you love gymnastics. It was my passion as a kid and teenager. I let it and myself go for so many years I am only recently taking charge of my fitness, but I will never, ever feel as much love for a sport than gymnastics! I will be so excited to hear about how it all goes, sharing with me your experiences will make me all giddy inside. 

 

You're off to a really good start. Keep it up girl you rock!!

[Cavilie]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! Very appreciated.

 

Today was a planned rest day. I wanted to work out, but every time I tried to do something, I realised how incredibly sore I am! (2/2 = 100%)

 

I got to school early, and studied for about an hour - life goal = success.(2/2 = 100%)

 

Diet was good, I followed the plan aside from one minor substitution: fruit instead of my dinner salad. ( 2/2 = 100%)

 

Tomorrow I plan to do yoga and/or a home body weight work out. It is also my 'cheat' breakfast (yay!). I will spend rest of the day studying my buns off for my cardiovascular midterm on Monday.

[Mad Hatter]

Yay gymnastics! I'm so glad that you found something you love doing, it's a much better motivation for getting healthy than just trying to get skinny.

 

There will be a cartwheel PvP coming up, you should join in and show off some of your skillzz.

[Gneiss Assasin]

Doing great!! Have a yummy "cheat" breakfast! Those are delish.

[Cavilie]

A belated update...So, I have gotten the flu! I missed my run on Saturday and did not work out on Friday because of it. I played FFXIV all day Saturday and really wanted to binge eat, but I didn't. Yay me! I'll keep this brief because I need to study (panicking right now for midterm tomorrow)....

• Diet: Followed the plan Friday, Saturday, Sunday (5/5 = 100%)
• Exercise: skipped Friday and Saturday because I was sick. As planned, did stairs every study break (every 25 min) all day - this replaced my cancelled spin (3/5=60%)
• Life goal: no school Friday, Saturday, Sunday ... studied way more than 1 hr Friday, Sunday. But nothing on Saturday. Literally gamed all day. Actually. Like 14 hours. (4/5 = 80%)

 

Good stuff. I am so happy with the diet section - that is by far my weakest area. Go go me! 

[Cavilie]

Doing great!! Have a yummy "cheat" breakfast! Those are delish.

It was wonderful. I checked out a new-to-me local bakery and had amazing raisin bread french toast topped with peaches and maple syrup. Yum! So worth it.

[formymonkey]

YAY!!  100% on your diet goal.  Excellent work!!  Don't punish yourself for being sick.  Take care and keep up the great eating.  Nice job studying and taking the stairs! 

[Cavilie]

Another update. Still sick sick sick.... I thought I was getting better but then it got way worse again! Hopefully I can go to yoga tomorrow.

 

• Diet: Still rocking it. 8/8    I had my cheat dinner tonight, chickpea burger and fries. I really need to get my sick butt out of bed and go grocery shopping!
• Exercise: Nothing since Sunday, too sick. 3/8 -- but I am going to just accept this and take care of myself.
• Life goal: Monday I went & studied for an hour (1). I missed yesterday afternoon (0.5), then today as well. I will be at school tomorrow. But I did study today (0.5). (6/8)

Not too bad. I have felt sort of crazy the past few days - I don't do well stuck at home. It is great to check in. Thanks for all the support!

[formymonkey]

WOOT WOOT Awesome job with the diet, and the studying.  It is hard to think when you don't feel good. 

Keep taking care of yourself and get better soon

[Gneiss Assasin]

Yay for your AMAZING diet goals!!!!

Yay for your AMAZING life quest goals!!!

SUPER YAY for taking care of yourself and adapting to the hurdles along the way. You my dear Cavilie are AMAZING <3

Get well soon!! Hopefully that will be much sooner than later  

[Cavilie]

<3 <3 thanks for the support. I really think this challenge will be way more successful than my first attempts and the support is a big part of that.

 

I am finally feeling better! I am so sick of being at my house and out of life. I am excited for this coming week - gymnastics will be great. I have two days that I am spending in surgery (I'm a med student) and I can't wait! It will be very nice to be back at school/hospital/real life rather than stuck on my couch watching Netflix and playing FFXIV.

 

I did have one day of not following my diet ... I think I was stressed out and made a bad choice. I had an extra ice cream & a bag of popcorn. Which sucks, but I am so happy  I did not binge. I did not even want to - amazing! My first binge (2 years ago) was when I had messed up on a diet plan.

 

Diet: All good, but I messed up one day. And I am starting to be less careful with portions again... need to tighten up.  11/12

Fitness: Finally worked out for the first time today. Did a strength work out at home. I am craving a run (+1). 5/12 

Life goal: Studied every day (+2), missed 1 day of school (+1.5)  9.5/12

[Gneiss Assasin]

I'm so happy you're finally feeling better! Yes!! I know how that goes, enough is enough! I think you did amazing given how you've been feeling. You accomplished some amazing things and your nutrition is awesome. Even how you handled school along with everything else. Well done. Isn't it THE BEST when you begin to naturally want what's best for you? Really I'm very proud of you. Have a super good/productive week. Don't overdo it. And remember you rock!!! I'll check ya soon

 

Couldn't find any final fantasy guys giving thumbs up. And believe me, I tried   (I'm a little obsessed with the series.)

[Cavilie]

I am cleaning up my goals and my goal assessment, and starting to look at attribute point allocation. After completing this week (week 3), I will be able to progress to level 1 and hand out my first 10 attribute points. I have decided to hand out my points based on who I am now à 3 WIS, 2 STA, 2 CHA, 1 DEX, 1 CON, 1 STR. Pretty far from the assassin I want to be, but we all have to start somewhere!

 

To better evaluate my goals, I will assign a letter grade based on the week’s performance. I will make my fitness goals worth 2 attribute points for this challenge (I can hand out a total of 4 for success). Letter grades will be assigned in line with my university grading scheme, and at the end the attributes will be assigned as follows: A - 100% B - 75% C - 50% D - 25% F - 0%. My diet quest is worth 1 CHA. My fitness quest is worth 1 STR and 1 DEX. My life quest is worth 1 WIS.

 

My fitness goals were not clear at the start, so here is a revision: work out 6 days of the week with 2 gymnastics, 1 cardio, 2 yoga, 1 strength.

Performance Assessment:

·         Week 1 (Day 1 – September 18)

o   Diet Quest: 5/5 A

o   Fitness Quest: 3/5 C

o   Life Quest: 4/5 B

·         Week 2

o   Diet Quest: 6/7 A

o   Fitness Quest: 2/7 F *reminding myself I was sick, so this is okay!*

o   Life Quest: 5.5/7 B

·         Week 3 (In Progress)

o   Diet Quest: 1/1

o   Fitness Quest: 1/1

o   Life Quest: 1/1

How is this week going so far? Great! I found another adult gymnastics class on Monday nights, so I think I will start going to that next week. My fitness plans for the week: Monday – run (check), Tuesday – supposed to rest but I will do strength, Wednesday – gymnastics, Thursday – yoga, Friday – strength, Saturday – gymnastics in the park, Sunday – hot yoga.  I might be joining a gymnastics club at school so this might get revised … I am waiting to see if they waive a requirement for me…. *fingers crossed*

 

Lastly, I finally found a progression list of skills for tumbling. For the next while (until mastered) I will work on: handstand, forward roll, backward roll, right cartwheel, left cartwheel, roundoff, backbend kickover. I practiced my bridge a few times already today…

[Gneiss Assasin]

I like the clear cut and organized goals here! Makes working toward them that much more rewarding. And holy cow are you busy at it!! You have yourself a full week. You'll be the deadliest assassin in these neck of the woods before you're through with this challenge. Kids at your university will be hiding in the bushes trembling. 

 

That's so cool how much gymnastics you're trying to fit in. Hard core. My fingers are crossed for the club too!!! I'm also excited for your skill list. That's the beauty of gymnastics. Even the beginner skills are done so beautiful when mastered. And master them you shall.

[Cavilie]

Yeah, hopefully I am not taking on too much. If I can follow through with this plan, I will feel totally kick ass! I can't wait until some day at school when I can show my friends my new moves - maybe a backbend kickover in a couple months or something cool like that.

 

I did my strength work out today which was pretty fun. I also practiced forwards rolls for a little bit (needs work) and held maybe 6 or 7 15 second bridges. Hopefully I'll be a bit more graceful getting into those bridges one of these days....

 

On for diet today. It was cheap grocery day for students, so I went and stocked up. I also made dinner for the next 3 days and lunch for the next week or so. So I am all ready to go. No more scrounging around the house because I am out of food!

 

Diet: 2/2

Fitness: 2/2

Life: 1.5/2 - I was late today and missed the first class, but I studied for an hour.

[Cavilie]

Gymnastics last night was great, as usual. The coach gave me a bunch of one on one time and now I am close to being able to do a bridge from standing - I just lose it in the last 1/3 or so. My bridge is feeling strong and my cartwheels are getting better. My kick up for my handstands is improving and I was able to hold a couple for about a second. Neato! And my dive roll on the trampoline is better - I can't wait to try it on the floor or at a park. But I am going to wait a bit.... too scary today. 3/3

 

Diet was good, and it is so nice to see the weight on the scale going down! 3/3 

 

Yesterday I studied for an hour (just here and there, no continuous hour) and went to my classes. I was about  min late for class, but I am just going to say that is alright. I didn't miss anything. 2.5/3

[raptron]

Ooh, cheering you on in your gymnasticky (and other of course!) pursuits! 

[Mad Hatter]

Kicking up and holding the handstand is so hard, great job! Next time two seconds.

[Cavilie]

@ madhatter & raptron - thanks for the support. 2 seconds next for handstands. And I need to fight to hold every one!

 

I found out today I can't join the gymnastics club without a back handspring. The leader said they would love to have me in the winter if I have it then. Can I do it?? I am not sure, but I am going to work at it really hard. I think I can do it.

 

I was supposed to go to yoga tonight, but an academic meeting went unexpectedly late so I missed yoga. But instead of taking the night off like I wanted, I did a yoga video as soon as I got home. Yay me. Good choice! (4/4 exercise)

 

Diet - I am on my way out to dinner, but don't want to use my cheat meal. I looked at the menu and planned out what I will get - grilled salmon with veg (and more veg instead of quinoa) and I will only have half. I am so hungry... 

 

I went to school today, although I was a bit late for my first class. Studying has not happened yet, but I will put in an hour after I get home from dinner.  I am getting my groove back, and I am so happy with this success so far!

[Mad Hatter]

I found out today I can't join the gymnastics club without a back handspring. The leader said they would love to have me in the winter if I have it then. Can I do it?? I am not sure, but I am going to work at it really hard. I think I can do it.

 

Of course you can do it!

[Gneiss Assasin]

You are doing really good on this challenge. I'm looking forward to you whole journey in the challenges to come. Sorry about not being ready for the club. I think too you have a really good chance of getting your handspring by winter (not sure what month?) One you get a backwalkover its much easier Training on the tramp helps a bunch too! Let your teacher know how serious you are about your goals and do open gym for extra practice with a spotter. It's just practice, practice, practice. But you knew that

 

Proud of you!