alexgator chomps through bad habits!

[alexgator]

Joining a little late, but hopefully not too much so! Last time I logged on the current challenge was too far underway for me to feel comfortable joining. I promised myself I'd make this one, but boy how time flies!

 

Bit about me: My name's Alex, I'm 21. I'm finishing my final year in college (BS in Business Management, minor in Computer Science). I'm also a freelance writer and editorial assistant. I am, of course, a giant nerd (Star Trek, Doctor Who, games, games, games...)

 

Some fun facts about my health journey:

 

• I've been overweight since I was 9
• I went to a fitness and weight loss camp (read: fat camp) at 14
• I've gained all that weight back since then
• My parents both have had weight problems
• I'm perpetually lazy
• I have too many bad habits to count
• I've tried an uncountable number of "fad" diets

Here's my challenge!

 

Main Quest

 

My Main Quest is pretty vague, I guess, but it's built out of necessity.

 

I want to develop healthy, kickass habits while banishing all those lame, unhealthy ones.

 

Goals

 

Be active everyday. Whether it's just a vigorous cleaning session of the apartment or a formal gym workout, I never want to spend another day entirely sitting on the couch.

 

Get up by 9A everyday. One of my worst habits is sleeping to much. My schedule is 95% flexible and I never have to be anywhere before 1P. I'll sleep all day and try to justify it in my mind. I think if I start getting up by 9A, I'll start getting tired appropriately and get myself on a normal sleep schedule, which should lead to more productivity.

 

Self-monitor food/drink intake. I had to do this at camp at it was eye-opening. I'm very well versed in nutrition now, but self-monitoring is a good way to keep myself dedicated to my new lifestyle. Having to write it down means more of a connection. I'm not too worried about caloric intake, but it'll be nice to see what kinds of foods make me feel like shit--or make me feel awesome!

 

Live Quest

 

Like I mentioned, I'm a writing. I'm currently trying to break into business writing in order to build a stable career before I graduate. I've been dragging my feet due to low energy and low self-confidence. My goal for this challenge is to reach out to at least 50 local businesses about my copywriting abilities.

 

Motivation

 

My motivation is to not feel like crap anymore. I want to have more energy. I want to feel good for no reason! That should be the default. Being energized and happy. Also, I've always love this e-card:

 

 

My boyfriend is working on getting healthier with me (he says he's got "relationship gut"). I'm not doing this "for him" but he is great motivation! I'm tired of feeling like I'm not good enough just because I'm overweight and lazy.

 

Real Life Roleplaying

 

I haven't looked too much into the stats, but here's my character so far, cause why not

 

Race: Wood Elf

Class: Adventurer

 

Surprise, surprise. Not entirely original, but a small start!

 

 

So, yes, hi guys Glad to be participating. I'm off the gym for the first time in... oh, just about FOREVER. Oh, if you want a before picture, here you go. It's old, but it is exactly what I look like today.

 

[IndigoDancer]

Hi and welcome!

 

I joined a little late as well.  I used to love to sleep in.  Now I have kids that like to wake up by 6:30 in the morning (ugh!).  While it is hard to drag my self out of bed it really does make a difference how much I get done when I get up and get moving before 9am (sometimes I'm awake but not getting anything done.)

 

Good luck on developing those kickass healthy habits!

[alexgator]

Thanks IndigoDancer Good to know I'm not the only one who appreciates a good snooze. Good luck to you too!

 

 

First Week Update

 

Well, if I had joined on time, today would mark the beginning of Week 2. I'll just do quick update on my past day and a half. I wasn't reminded of this challenge until yesterday evening, so there isn't too much to report.

 

11/17/2013

• Previous to challenge, as is my "usual," I woke up at 1:30P
• I tracked my food for the day. Just a list, no calories yet.
• I went to the gym.

That's 1/3, but I only had half the day, so I'm not discouraged.

 

11/18/2013

• Out of bed at 10:30A. My boyfriend woke me up at 8A, 9:30A, and 10:00A. But I was being a lazy face cause we stayed up until 3A or so...
• Tracked my food.
• Gym, Day 2!!

2/3, and I'm getting closer to goal number one. I'm glad to see a tiny bit of progress even in just a couple days!

 

I feel good about what I'm doing. I have more motivation than I have before and everything seems good.

 

Did anyone else out there meet only some of their goals? I'm proud of everyone anyway

 

I also want to share a bit more of my motivation.

 

I've always considered myself a strong, independent woman. I pride myself on being able to take care of myself. I'm not especially girly, don't have many female friends, etc, etc. I was one of the most capable of my friends in high school.

 

When I fell into my new group--a group with entirely different interests--I was suddenly lost. These friends like to do things. They camp, they hike, they wrestle, they shoot guns and sharpen knives and all kinds of "cool" stuff. Well, I'm tired of looking like a delicate little rosebud.

 

I can't start a fire from scratch or shoot a can from ten yards away. And I want to be able to! I thought it over a bunch and the base of this is just getting my health in check. I want a solid base on which to build a whole bunch of cool new skills.

 

I may not be articulating myself especially well, so I'll leave it at this for now. In short, I want badass habits that lead to badass hobbies and badass skills Just full of badassery!

[Kalaq]

Hey! Meeting only some of your goals is totally acceptable to start. Especially if you don't let them get you down, which it sounds like you haven't! Keep working on building those habits. That is what the 6-week challenges were made for, making new awesome habits! I'll check up on you to see how you're doing. Keep up the good work, but most importantly keep having fun and enjoying life
 

[TennisGeek]

Live Quest

 

Like I mentioned, I'm a writing. I'm currently trying to break into business writing in order to build a stable career before I graduate. I've been dragging my feet due to low energy and low self-confidence. My goal for this challenge is to reach out to at least 50 local businesses about my copywriting abilities.

 

As Arthur Ashe said: "One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."

So, to have self confidence, you have practice and prepare yourself for the "big match".

 

I am (was?) a shy nerd who was pretty bad at job interview.

How I became good at "selling myself in job interview" was probably similar to selling your copywriting to the local businesses.

I went to an outplacing consultant and learned how to write resumes and take job interviews. That was a good prep.

 

What I learned over years:

 

1. Have confidence in your product - You don't need a lot of self confidence if you think what you are selling is excellent.

When I go into an interview, I have confidence in the product "me as a good programmer".

I've practiced and prepared as a good programmer for many years. When the game time comes, I'm ready.

 

 

2. Defeat (shit) happens. Use that as opportunity to learn the flaws of selling process or product.

This is hard. You have to not only pick your self up in that instance, and have a thick face to ask why they don't like your product.

But, this is the opportunity to learn what they want. Use that to prepare yourself for the next match.

 

3. Don't stop improving your product. You have to keep working on your craft.

Keep getting better is the only way to keep winning the big game.

You may not have enough self confidence now, then, the only way to have it is to improve your skills.

 

 

Yup. I'm totally mixing up my nerdy job and tennis, but that's how I approach the "big game".

If you prepare yourself like Roger Federer, you don't need the fake self confidence.

You've put in the work. So, when the game is on, you know you have a good chance to win.

[alexgator]

Hey! Meeting only some of your goals is totally acceptable to start. Especially if you don't let them get you down, which it sounds like you haven't! Keep working on building those habits. That is what the 6-week challenges were made for, making new awesome habits! I'll check up on you to see how you're doing. Keep up the good work, but most importantly keep having fun and enjoying life

 

 

Thanks, Kalaq! I'm definitely not letting it get me down. The fact that I've been to the gym 3/4 days since starting the challenge is amazing for me. It's nice to have motivation extend past a day!

 

 

As Arthur Ashe said: "One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."

So, to have self confidence, you have practice and prepare yourself for the "big match".

 

Great tips of self confidence! I feel well-prepared... Or at least halfway there. Maybe I won't fret too much about moving forward out of the preparation stage early. I'll just focus on that a bit and, you're right, it'll make everything easier in the long run!

 

 

Another Update

 

Today is the first day I've reached my "up by 9A" goal! I had to take a 40 minute shower just to feel alive, but I was out of bed by nine.

 

My SAD is hitting very hard this year, though. I actually slept 18 hours total yesterday. It was bad. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I just kept going back to sleep. I woke up feeling like total crap. My skin is dull, my complexion is suffering, my hair is falling out, and my body just feels... done. A note to anyone who suffers with insomnia (which I often do in the warmer months, due to anxiety): Hypersomnia is just as horrible. When did sleep get so difficult?! (Most likely with the advent of so many screens... Steve's article on sleep was very timely!)

 

Oh well, here's to hoping for better things, and a little bit of sunshine

 

How's everyone else's week going?

[SoftSoul]

Thanks, Kalaq! I'm definitely not letting it get me down. The fact that I've been to the gym 3/4 days since starting the challenge is amazing for me. It's nice to have motivation extend past a day!

 

 

 

Great tips of self confidence! I feel well-prepared... Or at least halfway there. Maybe I won't fret too much about moving forward out of the preparation stage early. I'll just focus on that a bit and, you're right, it'll make everything easier in the long run!

 

 

Another Update

 

Today is the first day I've reached my "up by 9A" goal! I had to take a 40 minute shower just to feel alive, but I was out of bed by nine.

 

My SAD is hitting very hard this year, though. I actually slept 18 hours total yesterday. It was bad. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I just kept going back to sleep. I woke up feeling like total crap. My skin is dull, my complexion is suffering, my hair is falling out, and my body just feels... done. A note to anyone who suffers with insomnia (which I often do in the warmer months, due to anxiety): Hypersomnia is just as horrible. When did sleep get so difficult?! (Most likely with the advent of so many screens... Steve's article on sleep was very timely!)

 

Oh well, here's to hoping for better things, and a little bit of sunshine

 

How's everyone else's week going?

 

 

When I wake up early, early (like 6 am), I feel remarkably better. More sunshine. It's just a different vibe all together. Maybe if you gradually reset your Circadian Rhythm by going to bed, say 15 mins earlier every night, you could get into a consistent habit of waking up 15 mins earlier. Sleeping too much will make you just as tired as not sleeping enough. Have you tried a sun lamp for the SAD?

[Kalaq]

Yay I love reading about progress! I hope things are still going well for you! Things are going well on this end. I just look at everyday as a battle, and I refuse to let myself slip. So even though I'm totally hating aerobic exercise for 30 minutes a day, getting in and getting done is a great feeling. Keep up the hard work!

[TennisGeek]

Thanks, Kalaq! I'm definitely not letting it get me down. The fact that I've been to the gym 3/4 days since starting the challenge is amazing for me. It's nice to have motivation extend past a day!

 

...

How's everyone else's week going?

 

Write your progress, achievements, failures.  What I learned from challenges - the forum is where you make yourself accountable.

As you say, it really helps me to have motivation. Also, it helps me to see the small progress otherwise lost in the shuffle.

 

I did a late night outing with friend, and did a bit of bad eating, but went back up tonight. Let's keep the good stuff going.

Having a good weekend?