New Quest - Now only to begin the journey

[ktravtothemax]

Hello there!  This is my first quest and I am very excited to begin this with all of you. I got an early start on the challenge, and I've been trying to stick to my fitness goals for a couple weeks already... I couldn't resist!  I'm based out of Boston, and it is getting colder and colder, so I am hoping to keep my motivation going.  My fiance and I are moving in the middle of this challenge, so there may be a couple of hurdles, but I am hopefully going to be able to stick with it. 

 

Long term goal is to be fit for my wedding in June and our adventure honeymoon in Belize in July.

 

Main Quest: 

Start a healthy lifestyle and lose a few inches and pounds.

 

Goals: 

1. Go to the gym and lift at least 4x per week

A = 4x per week

B = 3x per week

C = 2x per week

D = 1x per week

F = 0x per week

 

2. Attend a yoga class at least 1x per week

A = Every week

C = Every other week

D = Once a month

F = Not at all

 

3. Reduce intake of foods with processed sugar to 3x week at most

A = Sugar < 1x a week

B = Sugar < 2x a week

C = Sugar < 3x a week

D = Sugar < 5x a week

F = Sugar > 5x a week

 

Life Quest: 

It has been a really stressful month, and it looks like it will not end any time soon, and typically when I am stressed I will shop for a quick pick me up.  My goal for this challenge is to recognize when my spending habits and to reduce impulse buys significantly.

A = No impulse buys

B = 2 impulse buy

C = 3 impulse buys

D = 4 impulse buys

F = > 4 impulse buys

 

Motivation: I'm getting married, and I want to feel strong and beautiful on my wedding day.  I have back pain that is the result of muscle imbalances.  I would love to be able to strengthen that to reduce the pain and the need for chiropractor visits.

 

[GothicBeeza]

Welcome! your goals sound awesome. Shall be watching your progress

[anaelle]

Oh, I do so like how you laid your grading schema right out like that. Very good! Good luck.

[VallenJoker]

Good luck, Ktrav! I know you can do it!

[ktravtothemax]

Thanks guys!  Been a rough start to the challenge, but I am hoping to get back on it.  I've been dealing with some family issues and a ton of work stress, so getting terrible sleep.  That definitely makes it hard to wake up early to hit my gym goals.  Here's where I am at so far:

 

1. Go to the gym and lift at least 4x per week

Made it to the gym once this week since I have been crazy busy playing catch up at work from being out a couple days last week.  Got in a leg/ab workout with some deadlifts, which was great, and a 20 minute cardio workout, which felt amazing.  My goal is to go at least 3 more times this week, which may be a stretch, but going to do my best.  

 

2. Attend a yoga class at least 1x per week

I have had late night plans every night this week, but I am hoping to go at least once to get a good stretch in.  I have 8 more classes in a 10 class pack I need to use by the end of December, so definitely additional motivation.  My plan is to go to the Friday night gentle/restorative yoga to ease into the weekend.

 

3. Reduce intake of foods with processed sugar to 3x week at most

This one has been a bad one... I've been super stressed, which tends to result in a terrible sweet tooth.  I was doing fairly well until the CEO of our company started handing out candy yesterday.  Definitely hard to say no when he is standing right there.  My future mother in law also bought gf cookies to be helpful, and I felt bad about not trying them.  Leaving the rest to my fiance since he likes them too.  So my tally so far is sugar 2x... hopefully it will be better.  I also tend to forget to eat when I am stressed, so I need to focus on not only eating more food, but also make sure it is good food.  All in all it is a work in progress, but hope to get back on track as things normalize.

 

Life Quest: No impulse spending

This goal I have been super good about, and I am really proud since typically I will use it as stress relief.  One big thing that has been helpful is the SelfControl app mentioned in Steve's productivity blog post.  I block all of the shopping sites I like when I am working, and it has made a big impact. 

 

So a couple of bumps in the road, but I am excited to keep going and try to get back to feeling good and strong.

[GothicBeeza]

Yay for getting back on track. You have identified where you went wrong, and you know what to do next - great work

[ktravtothemax]

First day back at the gym since Sunday, and it since it is getting cold in New England it was so hard to find the motivation.  I somehow managed to trick myself into getting out the door, and focused on upper body strength with a little elliptical cardio.  I ended up in the Chiro's office yesterday, and it looks like the 18-hour round trip I took to Virginia las week did a number on my back (although it was well worth it to see my family and get in some video games with my youngest sister).  I'll have to take it easy with some of the lifts that hit the lower back area for the next week, but will still keep up my fitness with body weight exercises on my lower body days.  

 

I've kept up with my other goals the last couple of days, so feeling pretty good about the challenge so far!  

[ktravtothemax]

So all in all an ok first week.  Here are my grades so far:

 

Week: 1

Gym: B

Yoga: A

Sugar: F

Impulse Spending: A

 

I didn't get to the gym on Saturday to make up for the beginning of the week, but it worked out since I really needed the rest day.  I got to a killer deep stretch yoga class on Friday night, which was a great way to destress before the weekend.  Sugar.... between coworkers going to a russian bakery and the CEO tossing candy my way it has been rough.  Thankfully the peer pressure should be less this week since my coworkers are all doing a 3-day juice cleanse (not for me... I get to cranky when hungry).  I get an A for impulse spending, been very good after a really stressful week.  

 

After all that, I still lost half an inch on my thighs and my waist, and I am down 2 lbs. Plus, my strength is seriously increasing - my goal for the next few weeks is to see how much I can safely lift, which will be fun.

 

I have already started out really strong this week, going to the gym 2x and really going for it.  I am nervous about the sugar piece, but going strong so far.  You can take a look at  my exercise logs on Jefit here

 

Keep up the good work everyone!

[ktravtothemax]

Midweek update

 

Gym: Gone 3x this week, once for pure cardio on my rest day and then twice for strength training (upper and lower body).  

Yoga: Working on when to schedule it in.  Loved my Friday class, but feeling really tight so a more strenuous class may be beneficial, which is tonight... trying to talk myself into it rather than going to the chiro to loosen everything

Sugar: Only broke once, woo!  Hoping to stick to my goals the rest of the week... The tough thing will be the "Friendsgiving" party on Saturday... have to be good.

 

Impulse Spending:  Been very stressed about the stability of my work situation, so wanted to shop but didn't to keep in line with my budget.  Overall a success!

 

So far so good, looking forward to keep going on this challenge, been feeling great!

[ktravtothemax]

Hello Rebels!

 

Here is the log for the last two days:

 

1. Gym:  Went  both yesterday and today and worked on strength training.  I focused on upper body exercises so I can one day meet my pull-up goal and lower/full body exercises.  Got cardio in once so far, but planning on getting a longer cardio session in tomorrow morning before heading to friendsgiving

 

2. Yoga: Scheduled to take a deep stretch/restorative class tonight after work.  I am super stoked about this one - I went last week and it was the perfect way to destress from the week

 

3. Sugar:  Been good the last two days.  I am not looking forward to baking awesome gf cupcakes tonight at the request of the friendsgiving hostess, but I think I can manage it.  I am noticing that I have been eating a ton of dairy, so next challenge would be good to reduce my intake. 

 

Life: No impulse spending, woo!

[ktravtothemax]

Week 2 down! Here's how it shaped up:

 

Week: 2

Gym: A

Yoga: A

Sugar: D

Impulse Spending: A

 

I made it to the gym for 4 strength sessions, and got in cardio 3 times.  Super stoked, and I am really feeling strong after increasing my weights.  Deep stretch yoga is my new favorite destressing activity on Friday night... the perfect end to the week.  I love how this class is changing all of my feelings about yoga, which were decidedly not positive.  

 

The sugar piece has been interesting... I am in the middle of the move, and the mini goal for the move has been to go through as much food in the cabinets as possible. This would be great, except it is not working so well for keeping my sugar intake low since we have not been going to the grocery store and getting my usual substitutes of fruit etc.  I may have to make an exception to the no grocery store goal this week to pick up some fruit and nuts.

 

Another week of no impulse spending, woo!  However, as the stress of the move kicks in and we have a new place to fill, I know the temptation is going to increase significantly starting next week.   

 

All in all, I am happy with my progress.  Have a great thanksgiving, rebels!

[ktravtothemax]

This week was a rough week challenge wise.  I was sick Tuesday through today with an awful head cold, and then I had to move on Friday and Saturday.  So between the sickness, chaos, and stress I got derailed a little bit.  Here is my goal summary for the week:

 

Week 3

Gym: C

I made it to the gym for weight training Monday and Tuesday before I went down with my cold, so officially I made it 2 times.  I did lift a ton of boxes and run up and down stairs on Saturday, so a lot of functional training, but in the strictest sense of this goal it does not count.  I am very nervous about getting back to the gym this week, since my commute is longer and the gym is no longer 5 minutes away / on my way to work, and my commute is longer.  I also have a ton of unpacking to do, so I would love to figure out a way to get it back into my schedule.

 

Yoga: F

I didn't get to my Friday yoga class this week because of the holiday and moving, so an automatic F for the week.  I will definitely be going sometime this week, but need to figure out when.

 

Sugar: D

Sugar is still my kryptonite.  Between the thanksgiving desserts and the treats at work I did not fare particularly well.  Got to clean out our pantry this week which got rid of some bad habit foods, so should help more

 

Impulse Spending: A

Still holding strong on the impulse buying.  I reworked my budget for the new year and new place, so holding strong.  I did go out to dinner a lot since one of my friends is moving to south carolina, so need to watch my spending on that.

 

Overall not a great week, but hoping I can stick with it and get back on track as I settle in to my new place.

[ktravtothemax]

Managed to make it to the gym near my new place... and not so thrilled.  For a big globo gym, the equipment is really old and doesn't seem secure.  Plus there is a no deadlift policy which is not cool.  There is another gym near my work that I will try, and hopefully that one is nicer... definitely not encouraging though.

[ktravtothemax]

So far so good this week.  It has been a rough adjustment switching my commute for the morning while still getting my gym time in... mostly since I realized the clocks at my gym are all 10 minutes slow.  Definitely not great for my late tendencies to begin with.

 

I couldn't get to the gym yesterday morning, but I did hit my first TRX class in awhile, so that was awesome.  Felt a lot better than the class I took a couple of weeks ago, and I was able to complete the whole thing.  Definitely sore this morning, but got to the gym and put in work on a leg work out with squats and stiff-legged deadlifts, and a couple other odds and ends.  

 

Feeling pretty good, and I am scheduled for Yoga tomorrow night, so just may make all my goals this week!

[ktravtothemax]

Week 4 down, 2 more to go! Here's how it shaped up:

 

Week: 4

Gym: A

Yoga: A

Sugar: D

Impulse Spending: B

 

I made it to the gym for 4 strength sessions, and got in cardio a couple of times.  Plus I got in a TRX class, which I love.  I am crazy sore!  Didn't feel great lifting all the time since I had a sporadic week last week with being sick, the holiday, and moving, but hoping to get some more in this week.   I hit my deep stretch yoga class on Friday, and it was great!

 

The sugar piece was a little brutal.  I have been baking a lot for the holidays, and I have subsequently been sampling a lot.  That combined with the baby shower I attended this weekend was tough.

 

Impulse spending-wise  I did ok.  I did a lot of apartment shopping, which may not have all been necessary, hence the B.  However, gave my fiance all of my credit cards to hide, which certainly helps!

 

It is my birthday this week, and I am really excited! Hoping the weather gets better in the north east, had to skip the gym this morning since the traffic was so bad.  Going to see if I can get a class in tonight or have a make up gym session on the way home.  I hate going at night since it is more crowded, but need to meet my goals!

 

Keep up the good work everyone!

[GothicBeeza]

Happy Birthday for this week. Im sure it will be an awesome feeling knowing you are celebrating your birthday on the back of such awesome work!

[ktravtothemax]

Happy Birthday for this week. Im sure it will be an awesome feeling knowing you are celebrating your birthday on the back of such awesome work!

 

Thanks!  It is an awesome feeling.  I am super excited to have this focus for the next year of my life and then some

 

Mid week update:

Made it to the gym monday and Tuesday with a full strength set and about 20 min of cardio each time.  I'm having some breathing issues related to my back, so I am dialing the cardio back a bit until it feels more resolved (went to the chiro today).  It has been tough getting myself out the door with the latest temperature drop, but hoping I can keep motivating myself to get out.  It may be uncomfortable, but it is way better than feeling sluggish all day.

 

Plans for the rest of the week include a TRX class tonight, pure cardio tomorrow to give my muscles a bit of a break, and then a strength training session on Friday and Saturday.  I also have plans for gently yoga on Friday which I am really looking forward to.  

 

Next week will be a bit crazy since I am in D.C. for a week long training, so I may have to get a little creative about my gym sessions.  This may be an excellent time to try some body weight circuits

[ktravtothemax]

Post Birthday Update

 

So completely blew my sugar goal for the week.  As much as being wheat free makes eating normal baked goods more trouble than it is worth, my kryptonite seems to be when people go out of their way to bring things in for me that are gluten free.  I feel guilty not eating any of it.  To sum up my day in sugar yesterday:

 

Work:

3-4 homemade whiskey caramels when I was wrapping them for gifts

2 of the 12 Truffles I got as an xmas gift

1 slice of flourless chocolate cake

 

Home:

1 GF vanilla cupcake with real buttercream (from a bakery my fiance went out of his way to find)

 

So moral of the story is that I need to work on not feeling guilty about saying no, even if they go out of their way.  I feel like absolute crap this morning from all of the sugar, and I still have piles of it at home.  I almost wish people would not make accommodations for my allergy since I tend to eat healthier then, so maybe I will try to express that more in the future.  It is a work in progress, but it is a lesson I need to learn.  As fellow rebel GothicBeeza said, no use fixating on it, and it is time to move forward and try to eat  well the rest of the week.

[GothicBeeza]

Wow awesome job as always. it's really hard not feeling guilty about little food slip-ups, and having to say no to food.

Just one more week to go! You can do it

[ktravtothemax]

So lots of snow storms and travel delayed this week's summary, but here we go:

 

Week: 5

Gym: A

Yoga: F

Sugar: F

Impulse Spending: B

 

So overall not a great week, although I had some awesome gym sessions that helped me feel great.  Between the stress of leaving for a work trip and the holidays, I have been a bit frazzled, and missed yoga and ate a ton of crap.  Thankfully the week is over and I can move on with this final week!  Traveling is always tough, so I am thrown off a bit from my typical work out schedule.  My goal is to do some bodyweight exercises and maybe some light cardio if I am feeling up to it.  My back gets really bad with traveling, so my breathing is not so great (I get super tight).  May need to hunt down a masseuse in a strange city... not exactly appetizing.  Anyway, super proud of my gym progress, and I am looking forward to power through this last week!

 

Life goal wise I did some xmas shopping and kept it in check... now I just need to figure out what to get my fiance...

[ktravtothemax]

Alright, final week/ final summary.  Been traveling for the last two weeks and then was in a place of no internet (aka my parents house) so it has been a bit hectic.  So, for the last week:

 

Week: 6

Gym: D

Yoga: F

Sugar: D

Impulse Spending: A

 

So overall a terrible last week.  I need to find some sort of consistency when I travel, since I felt very rushed.  My total summary looks like this:

Gym: B

Yoga: C

Sugar: D-

Impulse Spending: B

 

I ended up losing 5 pounds and 2 inches off my waist which was cool.  I think things would have been higher if I had been able to keep up with it the last week.  Overall I learned a lot, and I am excited to start the next challenge strong!  One down, many more to go