SammyShark - First Challenge!

[SammyShark]

Heyo! Sammy Shark here. This is my first ever challenge and I'm really excited to get started. I'll just layout my main quest and goals and life quest today. Plans of (shark) attack to come.

 

Main Quest: Be comfortable in my own skin.

 

Goal 1: Run 4 times per week to train for 5K race (Jan 12)

Goal 2: Complete the beginners body weight workout 3x per week

Goal 3: Eat 80/20 paleo 6 days per week

 

Life quest: Go to two OA meetings per week.

 

A little about my motivation: In the last year, I've put on about 20lbs. Most of it (actually all of it) was during a two month period over the summer, right after my dad passed away, and while I was studying for and preparing to take the bar exam. I was already about 20lbs over weight before that, so I'm kind of super uncomfortable with my body these days. Not surprisingly, most of my clothes don't fit. My main goal is just to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin. Like, literally, while I'm sitting here typing this up, I am not comfortable in my clothes or my body. It prevents me from enjoying my life and getting out there and doing things. I don't want to have to go out and buy a new wardrobe because of all of this. I know I use food as a crutch, as a coping mechanism, and as an anesthetic. This is why I want to try out going to OA meetings during the challenge. I think I need to get a grip on some shit, and I recently saw some interesting articles about OA and I figure - why not? I can't lose anything by going. It's kind of big deal for me to publicly admit these things. I don't know anyone here, so hopefully no one will judge me based on how messed up I am... :-/

 

Cheers,

Sammy

 

[Edit]: How could I forget to tell you all my nerd pleasures?! I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, I love Stargate SG-1, and I also love Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Futurama. I'm mainly a sci-fi/fantasy type of nerd. Oh, and I relgiously follow xkcd and questionable content. I think that's a good starting point. xo.

[SammyShark]

Thoughts on this challenge and the determination of passing, and how this will affect my character....

 

Main Quest: Be comfortable in my own skin.

24 possible pts        Goal 1: Run 4 times per week to train for 5K race (Jan 12)
22+ = A                    1 pt possible per run completed
19-21 = B                 Percentage given for effort/amount of running versus walking
17-18 = C
14-16 = D
<14 = F

18 possible points     Goal 2: Complete the beginners body weight workout 3x per week
17+ = A                     1 pt possible per completed routine
15-16 = B                  Percentage given for effort and # of circuits
13-14 = C
11-12 = D
<11 = F

18 possible points    Goal 3: Eat 80/20 paleo 6 days per week
17+ = A                       0.5 pts per day of paleo eating completed.
15-16 = B                
13-14 = C
11-12 = D
<11 = F

12 possible points       Life quest: Go to two OA meetings per week.
12 = A                         1 point each for first 2 meetings of the week
11 = B                       
10 = C
9 = D
<9 = F

Bonus points              0.25pts for each day logging and tracking on NF (max +10) (Applies to total overall)
                                  0.25pts for walking the dogs OVER 30 min (max +10) (May apply to exercise goals)
                                  1 bonus point if whole week is paleo (max +6) (May apply to food goal)
                                  0.5 bonus pts for extra meetings in a week (max +1.5/wk, +9 overall) (May apply to Life Quest)

 

Overall grading for the challenge:
72< = A+
63-72 = A
58-62 = B
51-57 = C
44-50 = D
<44 = F
 

 

I'm not 100% convinced that bonus points are a good idea... Do they encourage you to skip certain other things becuase you can make it up elsewhere? I'm not sure... This is definitely a trial run on points and attributes, etc., so I'll just have to see how it turns out. And even if I stick with this kind of system for a while, I can always adjust it later.

 

Any thoughts any one has on any of this would be appreciated!

 

Cheers!

[Countess D'If]

How'd you do with the Bar? I'm about ready to retake the LSAT and the attorneys upstairs (I'm a paralegal) say it's WAAAAAY worse than the Bar.

[SammyShark]

How'd you do with the Bar? I'm about ready to retake the LSAT and the attorneys upstairs (I'm a paralegal) say it's WAAAAAY worse than the Bar.

 

I actually did alright - passed! That's really all that matters!

 

The LSAT is just so different from the bar, you know? The LSAT is a lot more like the SAT or something, it's sort of more broad. The bar (depends a little on what state you take it in) is sort of more focused, since it's testing you specifically over legal issues, but it's also pretty broad becuase you don't know which areas of law you'll be tested over, so you study everything just in case.

 

The paralegals I know know way more about the law than most graduating law students. The practical experience you get is just so much more applicable to the practice of law, and you don't get any of that in law school. It's so much more theoretical. Don't get me wrong, I loved law school. I love learning about the law. Even now, my best days are when I learn about new interesting topic in the law - or even better, when I get to apply that knowledge to a case!

 

Best of luck to you! I'm sure you'll do great!

[Zabella]

I really love your main quest Sammy. I'm looking forward to following the shark attack

[Kaede]

I enjoyed taking the LSAT. I wish I had made myself practice under time constraints I would have scored much higher. Especially the questions that required matrices. The essay question was challenging for me because it turned out to be a topic for which I was very familiar. I struggled with providing an answer that was not too in-depth as they are not interested in what you know. Good luck, Countess!

[SammyShark]

Today was a good first day! I'm very excited! Each week I want to give an update with my weight loss, measurements and general feelings about the challenge. Each day I want to post updates about my food intake and workouts and othe  thoughts. So, here we go...

 

Day 1: 

 

Weight: 194

Weight loss: 0lbs

 

Measurements

R thigh: 26.5 in

L thigh: 26.75 in

Hips: 45.75

Waist: 35

Bust: 41

L bicep: 13.25 

R bicep: 12.75

 

Today I completed my planned run, did the beginners bodyweight workout and ate about 90% paleo. This was a great day. Generally my non-paleo foods are berries, dark chocolate, red wine, and diet soda. That's my big one. I'll be tackling that in the next challenge I think but for now, I'm just focusing on a few things. 

 

I guess that's all. I'm feeling good. Really excited. Motivated. I earned myself 2.75pts today! Woooo!

 

[EDIT] How could I forget to actually LOG what I did and what I ate?! Silly girl. Anyway, here it is:

 

Points today: 2.75

Points total: 2.75 

 

Breakfast: coffee with 2.5 Tbsp of coconut oil and 1 Tbsp of heavy cream

Lunch: big ass soup with a tablespoon of butter

Snack: pistachios

Dinner: sausage, bacon, kale, grape tomatoes

Dessert: frozen cherries (my fave!)

 

Exercise: Run 1 mile for time & complete 2 rounds of beginners bodyweight workout. I warmed up with a little walking and then did my mile. I'm pretty surprised that I managed to run the whole, to be perfectly honest. I have not run in ages and I'm woefully out of shape. I used to run half-marathons (not fast, but I did them), and before that I was competitive college swimmer, so I was in great shape a few years back, but I've really let things go. I actually really enjoyed my run. I took Eden (my dog) along with me, since it was so dark out, and I know it's good for her too. Hopefully she can be my little running buddy. She definitely makes me go faster becuase she is a speed demon. My bodyweight workout went well. I think I could probably do three circuits, but since I'm in such bad shape, I figured I'd start with just two per workout during this first week of the challenge. I cannot do 10 pushups in the normal position, so I do 10 from my knees. That is something I really want to work on more.

[Tas]

Awesome first day Sammy! You hit the ground running, great start

[SammyShark]

Day 1 was awesome and I am pumped for Day 2, but I don't have much planned for today. I'm not going to an OA meeting, as there aren't any in my town on Tuesdays. My workout plan has me only walking today, as I need a rest from weights and running from yesterday. So... I'm a little... deflated? I mean, I kind of want to do an extra workout and kick some butt and take some names, but I don't want to run myself down or over do it. I have to remember that I'm trying to make changes to my behavior and routine. Going for a walk is still a healthy thing to do. Sticking to paleo can still be seen as a challenge that I'm overcoming.

 

Also, I weighed myself this morning and I was down 6.5lbs from yesterday. You know what that means? It means that I ate complete crap over the weekend and my weight was artificially inflated on Monday morning from all the water my body was retaining because of the massive amounts of salt I consumed. So. Yeah. I mean, I'm glad that 194 is not my actual weight, I just don't want to get a false sense of achievement. I'm so messed up.

 

You guys are all stinking AWESOME though! You are motivating me so much. Just think - in THREE short weeks, we'll have leveled up and we'll get ten attribute points to assign to ourselves. Isn't that fantastic? I'm pretty stoked. I need to start thinking about how I'm going to spread them out. There's definitely some strategy to consider....

 

I've got to remember to stop by the running store and drop off my registration for the Holiday 5K. It's in three weeks, so I may not be running the whole thing, but I just wanted to sign up for it to have something to do and something to work towards. My training is very motivated by things that have to be accomplished - like, hey, you're doing a half-marathon in 3 months, you can't slack now. I have to go down to court today anyway, so might as well stop by then and get it done.

[littleissa]

You are AWESOME, SammyShark!    You've got your motivation in the right spot, and signing up for a 5K in three weeks is a big goal but it seems like you've got your head and your heart in the right place to make it!  You rock!

 

Also, the teacher in me LOVES your grading system! lol

[SammyShark]

You are AWESOME, SammyShark!    You've got your motivation in the right spot, and signing up for a 5K in three weeks is a big goal but it seems like you've got your head and your heart in the right place to make it!  You rock!

 

Also, the teacher in me LOVES your grading system! lol

 

Thanks! I know the 5K will not be anything great, but I think it will still be fun. I don't mind if I have to walk a little, as long as I do it!

 

I am a compulsive planner, so having a grading system that aligns with my plans gives me warm fuzzies inside!

[Raxie]

You've got a great motivation :]  I have similar reasons/motivations this challenge.  It's good to have something to focus on and regiment yourself to get out of a rut, at least I'm hoping so! Good luck on this challenge!

 

Also, your nerdoms are super overlapping with mine. Win!

[SammyShark]

You've got a great motivation :]  I have similar reasons/motivations this challenge.  It's good to have something to focus on and regiment yourself to get our a rut, at least I'm hoping so! Good luck on this challenge!

 

Also, your nerdoms are super overlapping with mine. Win!

 

Thanks, Raxie! I think with so many Whovians on board here, we're bound to succeed! We'll all be pulling for each other, and I think that will make all the difference - having someone else believe in you. We can do it!

[samanmoran]

Great job on your first day out. Keep it up!

[Countess D'If]

Heya! Great job for your first day!

Maybe to ease the recovery day jitters, you can take a walk today? Be all like, ima take the best walk EVAR!

[Bad_Wolf]

Go SammyShark! Looks like your first day went well, but I wouldn't say "false sense of achievement" around dropping 6.5lb of your artifically inflated weekend, be stoked and proud of yourself for flushing it out of your system and even realising why it was there!

 

Super huge high five for signing up to the Holiday 5k, it is obvious you are seriously commited to your goals.

 

Talk soon! -BW

[SammyShark]

Great job on your first day out. Keep it up!

 

Thanks Samanmoran! 

 

Heya! Great job for your first day!

Maybe to ease the recovery day jitters, you can take a walk today? Be all like, ima take the best walk EVAR!

 

Haha, I love the attitude! I actually ended up just ellipticalling at home because it's cold and I'm a wuss. But still, a good thing to do. I gotta get my Alaskan/Siberian/Minnesotan attitude on and just treat this cold weather like it's nothing. 

[SammyShark]

Day two complete! 

 

Here's how my day went: 

 

Points today: .75 (Need to average 1.7pts per day to get an A...) 

Point total: 3.5 

 

Breakfast: coffee with coconut oil and heavy cream 

Lunch: Big ass soup with butter and spinach

Snack: Soda (totally not paleo, but this is why I'm only doing 80/20 for this challenge - I've got other things to work before I get to my diet soda addiction...) 

Dinner: Chicken sausage, bacon, kale sauteed in butter & garlic. 

Dessert: frozen cherries, coffee with cream

 

Exercise: 35 min on the elliptical. I went real light today. My 5K training doesn't have me running today, and I didn't have bodyweight exercise planned for today, but I knew I needed to do something. It helps me feel like I'm staying on track and it will hopefully help me not be so sore. Also, I don't get any points for this exercise, because it's not actually a part of my goals for this challenge. Had I chozen to walk the dogs instead... differenty story. Let us learn from this. 

 

My legs are definitely sore from yesterday. Not sure if it's the running or the lunges and squats - probably the combination. I should have taken the dogs for a walk. But it's cold. And I'm a wimp. I'll be runing again tomorrow so we'll see. I'm wondering if I should make it so that I'm not doing the bodyweight workout on the same days as runs. I'm only doing the bbww 3 days a week and running 4 days a week, so I could do it... But Thursdays are just impossible for me to squeeze in a workout and get enough sleep (choir practice) and I like make the weekends a bit heavier on workouts. Ugh, I just don't know. I guess I'll just see how this goes. Maybe I should not be getting all stressed out after only two days! Hah - bring it down a notch, Sharky. 

 

Tomorrow is another run and bbww day. Not sure if I want to workout before or after work, or split it up. If I workout before I will have to shower. Ugh. Maybe I'll just do the bbww in the AM. Yeah. Okay, Rebels - I'm announcing my plan for tomorrow to all of you: Let it be henceforth known, that all may hold me accountable, I will wake up early and do the bbww before work, and after work I will come home and run with Eden. 

 

Hold me to it! <3 

[Zabella]

I'm going for a Arctic/deep freezer/English attitude- it's very much a work in progress

It sounds like you're really enjoying it so far, which is great! I reckon you'll be in fine form by the time the 5k rolls around.

[Epsilonx2]

Wow, I love the unique grading system. I'm really interested to see how it works for you. Sounds like you're off to a great start!

[SammyShark]

Last night I dreamt that I binged. I hate those dreams. Does anyone else have those dreams? 

 

It makes me wonder if I'm not getting enough calories, because I usually only have those dreams when I've been treating my body poorly and restricting a lot. I also know I have a problem with carbs though, so it may just be a withdrawal symptom. I definitely think I need to be eating more for breakfast on days when I work out in the morning, and especially getting more protein. Even just adding ONE hard boiled egg would dramatically change the macro profile of my morning meal. I usually just have coffee with some sort of fabulous fat in it. Anyway, something to think about.

 

I am most definitely sore today! I might have to do an epsom salt bath tonight. My legs are feeling very sore and get stiff when I sit for any amount of time (and I'll be sitting for the next 8 hours at work, more or less, plus the hour drive back home). So I need to make sure to get up and walk around today. I did the BBWW this morning, just 2 sets because that's the plan for the first week of the challenge. Those squats and lunges are kicking my butt. I didn't realize how weak my legs had gotten. But I will persevere. I've been in worse pain before, and this just shows me how out of shape I am and how much my body NEEDS me to continue doing this challenge. I have a run scheduled for tonight. I know that I am not really in good enough shape to be running the whole thing, so I'm doing run 1/walk 1 today. You'll see that a lot in my workouts while I'm rebuilding my stamina and my strength.

[Raxie]

Great job on day two! Keep going strong

[Kaede]

OMG I LOVE those dreams. I have learned to control them a bit. At some point I realize it is a dream so I eat everything I can. Then, I wake up and I am so happy it was just a dream and I did not trash my health IRL. You should always be careful about not cutting too severely. But, next time you have one of those dreams, enjoy! Eat everything! lol

[Bad_Wolf]

I have those dreams too! I spend the whole dream feeling so guilty, kinda ruins my sleep.

 

Fantastic job on day two! You are rocking!

[SammyShark]

Great job on day two! Keep going strong

 

Thanks Rax! 

 

OMG I LOVE those dreams. I have learned to control them a bit. At some point I realize it is a dream so I eat everything I can. Then, I wake up and I am so happy it was just a dream and I did not trash my health IRL. You should always be careful about not cutting too severely. But, next time you have one of those dreams, enjoy! Eat everything! lol

 

There's a word for this, right, when you control your dreams? It'll come to me... 

Anyway I haven't figured out how to do it yet. I'm always very convinced it's real. In this one I was actually feeling horribly guilty about having to confess my outrageous binge to everyone! It at least helps me stay on the straight and narrow!  

 

Lucid dreaming! Had to use the googles...  

 

I have those dreams too! I spend the whole dream feeling so guilty, kinda ruins my sleep.

 

Fantastic job on day two! You are rocking!

 

Thanks, Bad Wolf! We are kicking butt and taking names!!