Wandern Prepares for 2014

[Wandern]

Wandern tiptoes back into the Druid lodge and takes her place in the back corner. After attempting to go it alone for a bit, she misses her fellow Druids.

 

To sum up:

The last time I posted here was just after our awesome, level-up family vacation back at the end of August. I did not complete that challenge, and by the time I got caught up on life and work the next challenge was well underway. Plus, Steve launched the Academy, and I thought I’d try that out in lieu of time on the Rebellion board. It’s pretty good, the new workouts, instructions, and demos are great, but I find that I really need the structure and accountability of the Challenge to stay on track.

 

I’ve continued to get into the gym fairly regularly, and have watched the diet pretty well, but the scale is starting to trend in the wrong direction. The Patagonia shorts still fit OK, so I’m not too far off the path – but if I’m to head into 2014 feeling like I’ve made good progress this year, I have to challenge myself now.

 

 The Overall Goal: A clean start to 2014

 

Subgoal 1: Increase overall strength

 

I’m doing an Academy barbell workout. I want to increase the amount I’m lifting by 10 pounds on all lifts. Current: Deadlift, 105 lbs; Squat, 95 lbs, Bench Press, 65 lbs; Overhead press: 55 lbs. Bonus points if I can finally do a pull-up at the end of the 6 weeks. Method: Hit the gym, do 3 lifting workouts per week. I lifted yesterday, so am on target so far.

 

A (+2STR, +2DEX) = +10 on 3 lifts; B (+1 STR, +2 DEX)= +5 on 3 lifts; C(+1STR, +1DEX)= increased weight on 2 lifts

 

Subgoal 2: Lose some fat

 

I tell myself I really don’t care what the scale says, and yet I still do. I don’t like that it’s going up instead of down these days. I know that it’s probably muscle gain, but there’s still plenty of fat on top of that muscle that could go. So, I’m going to try a 5:2 fasting diet for these 6 weeks and see what that does. I’ll consume 500 calories or less two days every week and not worry about calories the other 5. I fasted yesterday, so am on target here.

 

A (+3CON, +1STA) = 10 fast days; B(+2CON, +1STA) = 8 fast days; C (+1CON, +1STA) = 6 fast days

 

Subgoal 3: Focus!

 

Here we go with the meditation goal again: 10 minutes of meditation daily.  I missed yesterday, so am off to a late start.

 

A (+2WIS, +2CHA) = 36 sessions; B (+1WIS, +2CHA) = 30 sessions; C (+1CHA, +1WIS) = 24 sessions

 

Life Goal: Clean the house

 

I like to start the new year with a completely clean house: windows washed, cupboards and closets cleaned and organized, baseboards wiped, etc, etc, etc. I still have to make the task list.

 

A (+1CHA, +1DEX, +1STA) = 90% of the task list complete; B (+1CHA, +1DEX) = 80% of the task list complete

 

It's good to be back!

 

[LittleTurtle]

Looks like you have some great goals, and I'm loving the life goal. There is something about a totally clean house that clears the mind like few other things can.

Good luck!

[livingroovy]

Great to see you here! And I love the goals- cleaning out, making strength progress-- so awesome

[I am Eve]

"Joins Wandern at the table in the back corner and greets her with our secret greeting. It is nice to see you here again friend"

 

Great formulation of goals and splendidly outlined. I will especially be following what you think about 5:2 (need to work on my skepticism)

 

Namaste!

[LittleTurtle]

So how did Week 1 go for you? 

[Wandern]

Check-in, mid-way through Week 2 (sigh - the time! It slips away from me!)

 

Goal 1: Get stronger: This is going better than I expected it to:

• Deadlift: Start: 105 lbs; Now: 115 lbs - and it doesn't feel like too much - I think I've been lifting too light here.
• Squat: Start: 95 lbs; now: 100 lbs 
• Bench Press, 65 lbs; now: 65 lbs - but I think I'm ready to move up
• Overhead press: 55 lbs: now: 55 lbs - these are hard
• Not much progress on pull-ups

​Goal 2: 5/2 fasting diet: I'm on the 4th fast day. My official weigh-in day is Monday, and as of this past Monday, was down about 1.5 pounds. On fast days I basically skip breakfast and eat a small lunch and dinner. Yes, I'm hungry - I've always been a devoted breakfast eater, so this is definitely a challenge for me. My husband is doing it with me, which is an infinite help. This will not be a permanent lifestyle change for me, but I do think it might be a good tool for breaking through plateaus.

 

Goal 3: Meditating: I've meditated 9 times so far. I missed 3 days entirely - a slow start, and just forgot yesterday. I made up for yesterday by having 2 sessions today - one in the morning, and one after work. I had been doing it after work exclusively, so the morning session was a real experiment. It did not go well - my morning brain just seems too full of everything I want to get done later, and I could not chain those gerbils.

 

Life Goal: Clean house: Um...well... I got my list of tasks made...

[Wandern]

"Joins Wandern at the table in the back corner and greets her with our secret greeting. It is nice to see you here again friend"

 

Great formulation of goals and splendidly outlined. I will especially be following what you think about 5:2 (need to work on my skepticism)

 

Namaste!

Thanks Eve! It's good to be back - even if I'm not on the board as much as I should be. Skepticism is good - I'm skeptical, too. But I've never tried anything like a real fast before. My husband wanted to try it, and the theory seems sound, so why not. So far, so good. 

[Wandern]

Week 2 Check-in

 

Goal 1: Get stronger: This is going better than I expected it to:

• Deadlift: Start: 105 lbs; Now: 115 lbs - and it doesn't feel like too much - I think I've been lifting too light here.
  
• Squat: Start: 95 lbs; now: 100 lbs - but I did a couple of sets with 105 today - I won't claim it unless I can do all 5 sets.
  
• Bench Press, 65 lbs; now: 70 lbs 
  
• Overhead press: 55 lbs: now: 55 lbs - Did a couple sets with 60 Saturday,
  
• Not much progress on pull-ups
  

​Goal 2: 5/2 fasting diet: I'm on the 5th fast day. Yesterday morning, the scale said 168.0, which is down another pound from last week. However, my official weigh-in day is today - and the scale said 170.8 - which is up 0.3 from 2 weeks ago. And I KNOW I did not eat almost 3 pounds of extra food yesterday. *grumble*

 

Goal 3: Meditating: I've meditated 12 times so far. I missed yesterday. If I'm going to keep this up, I need to figure out a trigger for meditating on days when I'm home. Work days, I get it done shortly after I get home, but when I'm already at home, I don't have that trigger.

 

Life Goal: Clean house: Um...well... I got my list of tasks made...no progress. That will change this coming weekend.

[LittleTurtle]

​Goal 2: 5/2 fasting diet: I'm on the 5th fast day. Yesterday morning, the scale said 168.0, which is down another pound from last week. However, my official weigh-in day is today - and the scale said 170.8 - which is up 0.3 from 2 weeks ago. And I KNOW I did not eat almost 3 pounds of extra food yesterday. *grumble*

Scales can be the biggest a-holes sometimes.  Don't let that get you down too much.  I used to let it drive me crazy!  

 

You're doing great!  Keep up the good work!  

[I am Eve]

 

Week 2 Check-in

 

Goal 1: Get stronger: This is going better than I expected it to:

• Deadlift: Start: 105 lbs; Now: 115 lbs - and it doesn't feel like too much - I think I've been lifting too light here.
• Squat: Start: 95 lbs; now: 100 lbs - but I did a couple of sets with 105 today - I won't claim it unless I can do all 5 sets.
• Bench Press, 65 lbs; now: 70 lbs 
• Overhead press: 55 lbs: now: 55 lbs - Did a couple sets with 60 Saturday,
• Not much progress on pull-ups

​Goal 2: 5/2 fasting diet: I'm on the 5th fast day. Yesterday morning, the scale said 168.0, which is down another pound from last week. However, my official weigh-in day is today - and the scale said 170.8 - which is up 0.3 from 2 weeks ago. And I KNOW I did not eat almost 3 pounds of extra food yesterday. *grumble*

 

Goal 3: Meditating: I've meditated 12 times so far. I missed yesterday. If I'm going to keep this up, I need to figure out a trigger for meditating on days when I'm home. Work days, I get it done shortly after I get home, but when I'm already at home, I don't have that trigger.

 

Life Goal: Clean house: Um...well... I got my list of tasks made...no progress. That will change this coming weekend.

 

 

So IMPRESSIVE. I'm inspired to start lifting now...

And: forget the scale. I mean it. Do pictures instead

[Wandern]

So IMPRESSIVE. I'm inspired to start lifting now...

And: forget the scale. I mean it. Do pictures instead

You're in much better shape now than when I started! All I could do was basic bodyweight stuff back in July '12. I worked up to dumbbells, started barbells in March '12 then hurt myself gardening in April and took 4 months off to get things working again. I'm really amazed that I've come this far - when I started I figured there was no way I'd be squatting with a bar over my shoulders. Yeah, I know. I do the pictures, sometimes, but the Patagonia shorts are my true judges of how I'm doing body composition wise. They say I'm OK - still not great, but much better than I was a year ago. I still have an unhealthy fascination with how things can fluctuate on that dang scale though. Hmm - maybe a new challenge idea? No scale for 6 weeks.. that would be tough for me.

 

Anyway, here's how things shaped up this challenge:

 

Goal 1: Get stronger: 

• Deadlift: Start: 105 lbs; Now: 125 lbs - goal exceeded
• Squat: Start: 95 lbs; now: 105 lbs - goal met
• Bench Press, 65 lbs; now: 75 lbs - goal met
• Overhead press: 55 lbs: now: 60 lbs - up 5 lbs goal not met, but progress made.
• Not much progress on pull-ups, though I can hang there a little longer than I could 6 weeks ago

That's +10 on 3 lifts, so an A on that goal.

 

​Goal 2: 5/2 fasting diet: 11 fasting days total, for an A. I missed one fast day for the office lunch, but I did skip breakfast that day. I lost a pound or two on this, but nothing really significant. The scale has been fluctuating wildly the last couple weeks - from a low of 166.5 to a high of 171.8. Then again, I've been allowing more treats this holiday season than in the past. I found that the Monday fast was fairly easy, but as time went on, the Thursday fast got harder and harder to do. I was one cranky person on Thursdays. If it weren't for the Challenge, I probably would have given this goal up a couple of weeks early. I might fast occasionally in the future, but no more than one day a week. 

 

Goal 3: Meditating: Total faceplant. I did ok the first couple weeks, but let it slide. If I'm going to make this a habit, I really need to come up with a trigger. F on this goal

 

Life Goal: Clean house: Um...well... I got about 10 of the 20 tasks done. And most of them are already undone. Sigh. 

 

Total: +2STR, +2DEX, +3CON, +1STA. This makes me a Level 7 Druid STR 13 | DEX 13 | STA 12 | CON 12 | WIS 13 | CHA 13