My Little Pony - Staying on Target

[Paisley]

OK ,for this challenge I really just want to ...well as the title say...stay on target.

 

(.....did I just get a Star Wars reference in - Maybe I do belong on a nerd web site after all). 

 

 

 

The timing of the challenge means that it'll include one week with my parents in law visiting, Thanksgiving, My daughter birthday, a weeks vacation and will end with the arrival of my best friend from High school so there will be lots of excuses for slacking off.  So generally all I want to do it just try and stick with my goals as much as possible in in general just minimize the damage.
 

goal 1 - Strength Training +3 STR
I'm going to keep this one simple so that I can try and stick with it through the hard times.  I'm going to try for three lifting sessions per week Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  If I miss a lifting day then short 2 HIIT sessions or one endurance run for the week will be a suitable substitute.
A - 18+ workouts
B - 12-17 workouts
C - 6-11 workouts
D - 3-5 workouts
F - <3 workouts

Goal 2 - Specific Exercises

 

2a - push ups  STR +2
Hmm well I'm a bit bored by my pull up challenge so I'm going to switch to push ups this challenge.  I'm going to try for 50 push ups by the end of the challenge. following the procession shown in my spreadsheet.   I'll do this on my off days, so Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
 
A - 18+ workouts
B - 12-17 workouts
C - 6-11 workouts
D - 3-5 workouts
F - <3 workouts
 
2b - do a 10 sec handstand. DEX +2

 

well if there isn't a star wars reference for this too!

OK, this went well last challenge so I'm just going to keep doing what I was doing.  1 point for each day I practice for at least 2 mins.  Additional points will be awarded if I manage a 7, 8, 9 or 10 sec handstand.  1 point for each handstand 7 sec or longer.

A - <42 points
B - 30-41 points
c - 20-29 points
D - 10-19 points
F - <10 points

Goal 3 - FOOD +4 CON

So last challenge was a bit of a bust food wise (well I didn't lose any inches and that was the plan).  The plan for this challenge is just to minimise the damage. 
As per usual my main meals are usually pretty good it's just the snacks that are the problem so I'm going to track the snacks.
Food that will not be counted is three meals on non lifting days and three meals plus one large (healthy) snack allowed on lifting days. Any meal that is larger than normal (or really bad processed food) will be counted as an extra snack.
all other snacks are counted... so what constitutes a 1 point snack.
  2 small pieces of Halloween candy
  1 glass of wine/beer/any drink other than water or seltzer water
  1/2 cup ice cream
  roughly 100-150 calories of any snack food.
grading wise 14 snacks a week or less is good - an A grade
A - <84 snacks
B - 85-96 snacks
c - 97-108 snacks
D - 109-120 points
F - >121 points
 
side goal - +1 CON
so I found out last challenge that I am anemic and was told I need to be taking iron tablets.  so I need to remember to take these every day. this is an all or nothing challenge
A = 42 iron tablets
F = < 42 iron tablets
 

 

goal 4 - lifestyle

4a - sleep.  In bed and lights out by 10:30.  I liked this from last challenge though I didn't do very well, will try to do better this time round. +1 CON
4b - Crafting - Well my to do list is just getting longer and longer so this challenge I'm not going to try and focus on one area but rather just make sure I work on something regularly so the challenge is to try and cross as many things as possible off the list. +1 CON
 
make coat for L
Remake my black pants
remake J's blue/green shirt
remake L's purple shirt
New shoes for me
knit slippers for me
knit slippers for friend
knit myself new top in red wool

finish scrap rug

New outside Christmas decoration

stuff to sell in Y craft fair
 
4c - Household Improvements - as above try and cross as many as possible off the list. +1 CON
paint J's bedroom
paint our bedroom
curtains/blinds for our room
put up blinds in playroom
new curtains in lounge room
paint lounge room
new faucet downstairs bathroom
new vanity top for upstairs bathroom
door on closet in downstairs bathroom
flooring in downstairs foyer
paint guest bedroom
new windows Ls room, downstairs and lounge room

[lilbichy]

Awesome set of goals!  Stay strong through the holidays, I know that will be the toughest.  It sounds like you have lots going on to keep you super busy =)

[Librarian of Doom]

Awesome set of goals!  Stay strong through the holidays, I know that will be the toughest.  It sounds like you have lots going on to keep you super busy =)

 

What she said! Love your goals!!!

[starpuck]

Yay!  Star Wars, handstands and sensible goals.

 

Mmm, focus you must.   I sense great success in this one.

[Knightwatch]

I like it!  Best of luck!!!  

[thekatisalie]

Succeed, you will!

[Paisley]

Awesome set of goals!  Stay strong through the holidays, I know that will be the toughest.  It sounds like you have lots going on to keep you super busy =)

Yep, definitely going to be super busy.  Hopefully I can use that to my advantage rather than having it work against me.  No time to sit around snacking!

 

What she said! Love your goals!!!

Thanks.

 

Yay!  Star Wars, handstands and sensible goals.

 

Mmm, focus you must.   I sense great success in this one.

All I need is a yoda riding on my back to keep me inline!

 

I like it!  Best of luck!!!  

thanks

 

Succeed, you will!

I will!

 

Well the plan was that I would start the challenge early and have a good week but my snacking has just been terrible this week.  I've made all my lifting sessions so doing OK there but that's the only goal I've gotten.  But now that I have the thread up and running hopefully it'll be that push to get the rest of the goals under control.

 

So as far as a summary of today goes:

 

Day        Date

Fri       8/11/2013

 

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

Felt pretty good today but no new gains.

 

       Squats                               Overhead Press                                                    Hang Cleans                       Barbell Rows                 Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight             Sets     Reps   Weight                                          Sets   Reps   Weight           Sets   Reps   Weight     

                       (lb)                                       (lb)                                                                       (lb)                                    (lb)                                            

 1         5          45                    1         1       55 (push press held for ASAP)        1        5             45              4        6          65                          1      

 1         5          85                    1         4       50 (1 good 4 push press)                 2        5             50              1        5          65

 4         5          95                    1         4       45

 1         3         110                   1         3       45

 1         5         110                   1         5       35

                                                1         7       35

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

Not on the agenda for today                                                                    

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

                                                                 0                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

Actually managed a really good one today.  I wasn't counting so I don't know just how long but it felt good, really good.  I'm thinking it was at least 6 sec.

Max. Time      No of Days total

   6                      1

 

Goal 3 - Food 

A couple (OK 3) of glasses of wine tonight, plus choc chip meringue cookies for afternoon tea gives a total of 4 snacks for the day.

 

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        4                         4                                               Yes                1

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      no                        0

 

Crafting done

Started a new beanie for myself

 

Household improvements done

none

[Paisley]

Oops almost forgot to do yesterdays writeup.

 

Day        Date

Sat       9/11/2013

 

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

rest day

 

       Squats                               Overhead Press                                                    Hang Cleans                       Barbell Rows                 Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight             Sets     Reps   Weight                                          Sets   Reps   Weight           Sets   Reps   Weight     

                       (lb)                                       (lb)                                                                       (lb)                                    (lb)                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1      

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

                                                                  

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

   3         4         5           3          6          1                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

Atotally forgot about these for the day unfortunately.

Max. Time      No of Days total

   0                      1

 

Goal 3 - Food 

3 glasses of cider with and after dinner, plus a choc chip meringue cookie for afternoon tea gives a total of 4 snacks for the day.

 

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        4                         8                                              Yes                2

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      no                        0

 

Crafting done

Finished the new beanie plus made 3 snack bags which I can hopefully sell.

 

Household improvements done

the list but we did spend 2 hours raking all the leaves off the lawn. 

[Paisley]

OK sell Sundays are pretty much an off day, especially with regards to working out, but here's the official write up for today.

 

Day        Date

Sun       10/11/2013

 

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

rest day

 

       Squats                               Overhead Press                                                    Hang Cleans                       Barbell Rows                 Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight             Sets     Reps   Weight                                          Sets   Reps   Weight           Sets   Reps   Weight     

                       (lb)                                       (lb)                                                                       (lb)                                    (lb)                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1      

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

                                                                  

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

  rest day                                                  1                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

Did actually do these - a full 5 mins.  Nothing more than 4 sec today, most around 3.

Max. Time      No of Days total

   4                      2

 

Goal 3 - Food 

2 glasses of wine after dinner  plus went to the movies this afternoon so some of the kids popcorn, M&Ms and lemonade - taking two points for that for a total of 4 snacks today.

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        4                         12                                              Yes                3

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      yes                        1

 

Crafting done

nothing done today.

 

Household improvements done

nothing. 

 

I'll reset all the cumulative total counts tomorrow when the challenge actually starts.

[thekatisalie]

HAPPY DAY ONE!

[goodbye_farewell]

Do, or do not. There is no try. Good luck MLP!

[Parolles]

Great goals! I have a push-up goal too, although mine's less ambitious .

 

Keep it up!

[starpuck]

Omg your write ups are the shiznit.  Soooo organized.    My CDO loves it!

[direrael]

Star Wars = awesomeness. Your thread = awesomeness.

[Paisley]

OK so day one done and I think it went really well.  Daughter had the day off school for veterans days so we went ice skating in the morning, then tripped down to the gym after lunch.  Met up with a couple of friends after my work out and we all let the kids run wild in the kids gym whilst we had a good catch up.  Was a fun afternoon for all of us.  As far as food goes I'm doing well. Had an extra snack as is allowed on a lifting day.  Figured out that I can get my fish in at lunch time.  I love fish but my husband doesn't so I don't make it often and am usually a bit bitter about it, but realized today that I can have my fish at lunch rather than dinner then I don't have to bother the husband with it.  Don't know why it took my so long to figure it out.

 

But onto the daily summary

 

 

Day        Date

Fri       11/11/2013

 

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

I decided last night to change my lifting routine to the madcow intermediate routine since I wasn't doing starting strength properly anyway. It actually felt quite light on but I I'm going to stick with it for a while and see if it works for me.

 

       Squats                               Bench Press                              Rows                                   Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight             Sets     Reps   Weight           Sets   Reps   Weight          

                       (lb)                                       (lb)                                          (lb)                                                           

 1         5          45                    3         5       45                     1        5          35                                  1      

 1         5          60                    1         5       55                     2        5          45           

 1         5          70                    2         5       65                     1        5          55

 1         5          85                                                                 2        5          65

 2         5          95                   

                                               

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

Not on the agenda for today                                                                    

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

                                                                 0                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

did these after my workout today.  Got a couple of good 5 sec stands and one that was at least 6 sec.  I find that I'm getting better at moving my hands to keep myself balanced so there was some "steps" involved in that 6 sec and a lot of the 5 sec stands.

Max. Time      No of Days total

      6                      1

 

Goal 3 - Food 

No snacks (that aren't allowed) today.  A good day

 

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        0                         0                                              Yes                1

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

heading there now!

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      yes                        1

 

Crafting done

I finally finished the coat I've been making for my daughter.  I'm pretty happy with it.  It's not exactly as I had planned but I'm happy enough.

 

 

I also finished the first of my slippers and started on the second. so overall happy with today.

 

Household improvements done

no time for this today.

[Librarian of Doom]

Looks like a good first day! And that coat is super super cute!!!

[fluffyrin42]

Hey MLP!  Looks like you are off to a great start.  Love the goals and definitely love the coat.  Super cute.  

[Paisley]

Week 1 -  day 2

 

done (Or just about) and I do believe I have accomplished everything I need to so I'd say a good day.  The Inlaws arrive tomorrow so I spent the day cleaning the house - as you do.

 

Day        Date

Tue       12/11/2013

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

rest day

 

       Squats                               Overhead Press                                                    Hang Cleans                       Barbell Rows                 Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight             Sets     Reps   Weight                                          Sets   Reps   Weight           Sets   Reps   Weight     

                       (lb)                                       (lb)                                                                       (lb)                                    (lb)                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1      

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

Did these in front of the TV tonight.  I feel like the sets are a bit light on at the moment but I know that very soon the numbers will be a lot harder so I'm going to continue with the workouts as I've set them up.                                                                  

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

    4        5         5         3         8               1                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

Well my 5 mins went well this evening.  I managed two really good stands of about 6 sec.  The first was great, not wobbling at all.  the second required a bit of movement to keep it going for the full 6 sec but still 6 sec is 6 sec.  I definitely feel like I'm progressing with these.

 

Max. Time      No of Days total

   6                      2

 

Goal 3 - Food 

No real snack though I will admit to having a bite of the kids chocolate chip cookies for afternoon tea.  Still I don't think it was enough to call it a full snack so I'm going with 0 points for today (assuming I can be good this evening).

 

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        0                         0                                             Yes                2

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      ??                        1

 

Crafting done

nothing done today on the crafting front - too busy cleaning the house.

 

Household improvements done

I did manage to get one thing crossed off my list today.  I changed the faucet in the downstairs bathroom sink.  Was pretty happy with my plumbing skills, the new taps look great.

[thekatisalie]

How do you have the energy?! I can barely come home and make dinner without wanting to just pass out.

[Paisley]

How do you have the energy?! I can barely come home and make dinner without wanting to just pass out.

It's called being a stay at home mum, luckily I don't have to go out to work everyday, just deal with the kids - thankfully they were really good today and actually helped out rather than hindering as usual.

[starpuck]

 

It's called being a stay at home mum, luckily I don't have to go out to work everyday, just deal with the kids

 

As a non-kid-haver myself, I must correct you on something dear lady.    You may not 'go out to work' everyday, but by the winds you do WORK every day.   No small task that.   Awesome job, with or without the hurdles of having kids and jobs and stuff.    Keep it up lady!

 

(Still all googly eyed over how organized your reports are.)

[fluffyrin42]

Way to go with Day 2!  I hate the cleaning part for family coming over, but man, do I love the results.    I've totally slacked on my 15 minutes of cleaning rule... need to start getting back on that again.

[Librarian of Doom]

Nice work getting your workout in even with the pre-in-law cleaning!

[Paisley]

As a non-kid-haver myself, I must correct you on something dear lady.    You may not 'go out to work' everyday, but by the winds you do WORK every day.   No small task that.   Awesome job, with or without the hurdles of having kids and jobs and stuff.    Keep it up lady!

 

(Still all googly eyed over how organized your reports are.)

Very true - I do work everyday - and the hardest bit is that it's all day everyday, no going home and relaxing - there are some days when I wish I could go out to work, but most days I love this gig and am so thankful that I'm able to do it.  For me its the greatest job in the world.

 

Way to go with Day 2!  I hate the cleaning part for family coming over, but man, do I love the results.    I've totally slacked on my 15 minutes of cleaning rule... need to start getting back on that again.

Oh yeah, the saddest part is we had visitors last week and I cleaned for them and it was so easy to clean the guest area again, shows I really should clean every week...nahh that'll never happen.

 

 

Nice work getting your workout in even with the pre-in-law cleaning!

Thanks - It has to be done!

 

 

so another day on track - although only just.  We got another 2 bunches of carrots in our farm share this week, on top of the bag already in the fridge from previous weeks so I decided I needed to make a carrot cake....so I tried to make it good, make it as clean as possible but it ended up being 600 calories for a slice (1/8 cake) - yikes.  Now i'm not sure what to do, I did say that a snack was supposed to be 100-150 calories, and I had probably 2/3 of a slice - so 400 calories but do I seriously have to take 3 points - just for one slice of cake!  I'm thinking two yes, three no.

 

Well THe snack total is going up to three now - I caved and ate some more icing for dessert.  Also didn't get any more crafting done.

 

Week 1 -  day 3

 

 

Day        Date

Tue       13/11/2013

 

Goal 1 - Lifting

So the new training regime says Wednesday are easy on the squats then do overhead press and deadlift.  I still felt a bit like "is that it" at the end but I'm still going to try and stick with it.  Bugger, just realized that I've lost the piece of paper with all my number son it.  Will have to guess.

 

       Squats                                   Overhead Press                        Dead lifts                               Days of Lifting

Sets   Reps  Weight               Sets     Reps   Weight             Sets   Reps   Weight             

                       (lb)                                             (lb)                                         (lb)                                                          

    2       5         45                      1          5           25                  1          5         95                                            2

    1       5         65                      2          5           35                  1          5         115

    2       5         75                      2          5           45                  1          5         135

                                                                                                 1          5         145

 

 

Goal 2a - Push Ups

not today                                                           

Set 1   Set 2   Set 3  Set 4   Set 5     No. of Days 

                                                                1                  

 

Goal 2b - Handstands

Not quite so good today.  I managed one very wobbly 6 sec and one solid 5 sec but the rest were 4 sec or less.

 

Max. Time      No of Days total

   6                      3

 

Goal 3 - Food 

That Carrot cake really killed me today.  2 snacks for that.

 

No. of snacks   Cumulative total                            Iron tablets    Total days

        3                        3                                             Yes                3

 

Goal 4 - Lifestyle

Sleep by 10:30     No. of Days

      no                       2

 

Crafting done

I did get one snack bag made today, and another started. 

 

Household improvements done

nothing except cleaning.

[Librarian of Doom]

Oooh, snack bags. I keep meaning to make some, and I keep not. I think I need a crafting goal soon (once A gets out of the "needs to constantly be on Mommy" phase). Did you use PUL? Or any special fabric?