Eirlys: Better body, better mind

[The.Introverted.Goddess]

Way to keep up the great work Eirlys!! And awesome on the 75 second plank!!! 

[18ck]

Hey there Eirlys! on the recycling front, you could try freecycle for some of it (usually stuff that's not really saleable via eBay but someone might want it for something). I think some charity shops accept old glasses and give them to someone who needs them - age concern? maybe some others...? I can't remember - I always keep mine as spares.

[18ck]

Good work on the training BTW - some good numbers there!

[Terinatum]

Re recycling - it's making the time to go out of my way to dispose of things one by one... have to locate an optician to dispense of my glasses, go to the chemist to hand over the inhaler, the clothes - I'm going to investigate whether ebay is the right place for these, or if they should be given to a clothing bank etc.

I think this will bring you a satisfying feeling. You get room and more ease of movement around the house and other folks get a chance to get things they can afford.

Thanks for doing this.

Sent via my phone b/c my laptop is out of reach. Cheers!

[Eirlys]

Reading is freaking painful for me now. It seems that, no matter how I sit or lie down with a book, something will hurt. I so can't wait until my posture is fixed (I could go to the chiropractor to expedite the process, but I don't have 3000$ to throw at the problem ) But you said it: forward, posture warriors!

 

Good job rocking the cardio and weights challenges, too!

 

Thanks Naxius!  Hope your back or general body is warming to the reading.  I've decided to treat an aching back for now in the same way as welcoming DOMS, my muscles are aching because they're under-used and the ache is a sign they're now getting used to the posture that I need to adopt.

 

And plus, I can hack this pain at my age - if I don't fight through this short-term pain now, then in 40 years' time I'll be suffering this agony every day..!

 

I absolutely love the way you worded your challenge. Very nice job.

Subbed and cheering you on.

How's the declutter process?

 

Hi Heidi!  Thanks for subbing  Decluttering has been going gently/fairly well but today I made a real effort and have purged several more places.  A couple of drawers are more empty and my house has less junk in it.  Hooray!  It's in places that nobody public will look but they have been at the back of my mind as being messy for a while..

 

Way to keep up the great work Eirlys!! And awesome on the 75 second plank!!! 

 

Thanks SG!    75 seconds is still my top time for 2014 but there's plenty of year left eh

 

Hey there Eirlys! on the recycling front, you could try freecycle for some of it (usually stuff that's not really saleable via eBay but someone might want it for something). I think some charity shops accept old glasses and give them to someone who needs them - age concern? maybe some others...? I can't remember - I always keep mine as spares.

 

Hey 18ck, good to see you again!  I guess I should give freecycle another shot if I have some worthy stuff.. I looked at it probably 7 or so years ago now and I didn't find it very friendly to get going with but in this day & age it's probably great

 

Good work on the training BTW - some good numbers there!

 

Thank you!  It's always frustrating to come back from a total dip, knowing what you'd been on before, but at least the numbers are getting better

 

I think this will bring you a satisfying feeling. You get room and more ease of movement around the house and other folks get a chance to get things they can afford.

Thanks for doing this.

 

Thanks Terinatum.  I have found a few things that could nicely go to charity, and it's always a hope that someone gets a smile out of it

[Eirlys]

End of Week 2 Check-In

 

So we are a third of a way through the challenge already!

Touch wood, this seems to be my most successful in a while  Scores over the last 2 weeks...

 

1. Sit up straight - Grade A

 

Have really become conscious of my utterly atrocious posture at my desk - my lower back is curved outwards and my upper back is hunched over, making one giant curved back.  Ugh!   Have made some incremental improvements and have been fighting through the discomfort of doing so.

 

I've also started noticing that while watching TV, my chin was practically in my chest - eep!

 

So glad I'm fixing this now while I can...

 

2. Run with a better posture - Grade A

 

Went to the gym 5 times in the last 2 weeks, hitting my target, and certainly my posture on the cross-trainer is much improved.

 

3. Look after my teeth and body - Grade A

 

Have been off the sugary foods.  I think I've passed the craving period, as on Thursday I was in a meeting where the table was veritably laden with chocolate, crisps and delicious bite-sized cakes, like being in a Santa's food grotto.  And I didn't feel any desire to eat any of the sugary food, although I did eventually succumb and nibble 4 individual vegetable crisps.

 

My weight/size seems to have come down a little over the last 2 weeks, probably back to where it was at the start of the new year.

 

This week I'm aiming to drop some calories by having only 1 bag of pom-bears gluten-free crisps at lunch, rather than the 2 I've been consuming for a while.  Wish me luck!

 

4. Use it or lose it - decluttering goal - Grade A

 

Have been both using & losing - quite a few travel shampoo-type bottles etc gone, am going through my sample eye creams etc.  Have got rid of some old make-up, and blitzed a couple of drawers that I had in mind to do at the start of the challenge, including getting rid of some old electronics today.  In fact I spent several hours today reducing, reducing, etc.

 

I just have to work out how I can update my routine to incorporate the use of: body moisturisers, anti-cellulite creams, hairsprays, and perfume - all of which I have far too many of and never use!

 

I've also been reducing unread messages in my personal email account - currently at 7 unread.  Each of those unread essentially represents an action or decision I haven't yet done, so good to clear these out too!

 

5. Stay off facebook - Grade A

 

Can't believe how easy this has been.  That's 19 days detox right there  Have much more time to do things I want!

 

Overall: A so far!

[The.Introverted.Goddess]

You're doing great!!! A's across the board!! Keep up the amazing work Eirlys!! Good luck with reducing the crisps!

[18ck]

That's a lot of A grades! Keep it up!

[Eirlys]

You're doing great!!! A's across the board!! Keep up the amazing work Eirlys!! Good luck with reducing the crisps!

Thanks SG!  It's a good way to start the new year

 

That's a lot of A grades! Keep it up!

Cheers Mr 18ck!

 

---

 

Gym, 21/01/14

 

Warm-up

6 assisted pull-ups, 33kg assistance

2 mins cross-trainer @ Level 8

 

Cardio

4km treadmill @ 10 kmph (24 mins)

 

Weights

another 6 assisted pull-ups, 33kg assistance

10 x 7kg free weight chest presses while lying down

10 x 10kg dumbbell rows

 

Conclusion

Set out to do 2.5 km @ 10kmph - wasn't sure I'd even last the 15 mins, so very pleasantly surprised to make it to 24 mins and 4km!  Mainly quit as I hadn't blister-proofed my feet enough in advance.

 

My best run in 2014 and indeed since I had an operation in late 2013.

[18ck]

Glad to see you're recovering enough to get good running times!

[Heidi]

That's a hellava lotta woot!

[GoodDoug]

Wow! Looks like you are doing really well! And reading your posts will remind me to mind my own posture, so thanks for that.

[Terinatum]

How are things going?

Sent via my phone b/c my laptop is out of reach. Cheers!

[Heidi]

Hi there, E.

How was Week 3? I can't believe it all seems to be going by so quickly.

[I am Eve]

Week two was FANTASTIC. Now - how was three?!

[Eirlys]

Glad to see you're recovering enough to get good running times!

 

Cheers 18ck!

 

That's a hellava lotta woot!

 

Thanks Heidi!  Woot feels good

Wow! Looks like you are doing really well! And reading your posts will remind me to mind my own posture, so thanks for that.

 

Hey Doug, good to see you back - I had wondered what you were up to

How are things going?

 

Hi Teri, thanks for checking in!  Things have been busy, but good!  I'll update below

 

Hi there, E.

How was Week 3? I can't believe it all seems to be going by so quickly.

 

Heya Heidi (again ) - and week 4 has flown past too.  We're more than 1/12th through 2014 already, how weird does that seem?!

 

Week two was FANTASTIC. Now - how was three?!

 

Hi Eve!  It's all been good!  Thanks for asking  

 

Sorry for lack of updates, I seem to have been going out a lot lately, which is quite unusual for me, and has meant less quality time with the internet!

[Eirlys]

2/3 Through Challenge - Progress Check-In

 

0. Maintain current posture progress - Grade B

 

This is unscored for the challenge, but for some reason the last week & a half I found it harder to keep up the posture, with 'feeling tired' seemingly the culprit.

 

1. Sit up straight - Grade A

 

Am working on achieving a good lower back posture during the day at work.  Particularly when I'm watching videos (on coursera).  The upper back is still awful but that'll be a later challenge!

 

2. Run with a better posture - Grade A

 

Have been gymming and cranked out 5k in a slow 31 min 49s yesterday, but it's the furthest I've run this year!  

 

3. Look after my teeth and body - Grade A

 

Still off the sugar, although I had a bit more dried fruit last week than normal.

Weight seems to have dropped too (phew), am averaging about 1 kg less than I was at the start of the challenge.  More to go, but at least I don't feel like a whale any more!

 

4. Use it or lose it - decluttering goal - Grade A

 

Have finished off more small packs of things, and gotten rid of some old duplicates of stuff that I didn't even use.  Progress feels slow but it's still progress, nevertheless!

 

5. Stay off facebook - Grade A

 

Still not tempted - woo!  Plus, I feel I have a lot more time in the evenings & am more productive.

 

 

I also managed to meet/exceed my assisted pull-up goal (3 reps of 10 assisted pull-ups at 33kg assistance) for January.  Next up, aiming to repeat this but with 26 kg assistance for February.

 

[18ck]

So that's BAAAAA. You're either doing excellent work or you're turning into a sheep. Hopefully the former.

[Eirlys]

So that's BAAAAA. You're either doing excellent work or you're turning into a sheep. Hopefully the former.

Well, I am wearing a fleece, but it's a purple one! 

 

Tube strikes this week meant I decided to try walking home from work.  It's about 6.5 km.  This was fine (if busy with lots of cars & people) but I'm not sure my boots were the right ones for the job!

 

And today I weighed in at 60.0kg, which is a nice drop from the 61.7kg I weighed exactly 5 weeks ago.  I had to resist the lemon & raspberry muffins that the high elf decided to make yesterday afternoon.

 

On a side-note the high elf has discovered his scout side and will be running a half-marathon in Richmond in a month or so's time!

[Eirlys]

End of Challenge...

 

The hated tummy has shrunk!

 

Before:

Start Weight 61.7 kg (136 lbs)

 

 

After: 

End Weight 59.3 kg (130.5 lbs)

 

 

5.5 lb loss!

[Eirlys]

Decluttering Before and After

 

Before - Cupboard Drawer 1

 

 

After - Cupboard Drawer 1

 

 

Before - Cupboard Drawer 2

 

 

After - Cupboard Drawer 2

 

 

Before - Bathroom Shelf

 

 

After - Bathroom Shelf

 

 

[Eirlys]

Shoe Rack - Before

 

 

Shoe Rack - After

 

 

Store Cupboard - Before

 

 

Store Cupboard - After

 

[Eirlys]

End of Challenge Summary

 

0. Maintain current posture progress (no point challenge)

 

Found this hard to maintain after a while - felt tired.  Need to reset on this one next challenge!

 

1. Sit up straight - STR +4

 

Started well, but lost energy for this challenge for the last 2 weeks.

 

Grade B

 

2. Run with a better posture - STA +3

 

Went to gym and observed this challenge, except for the last 2 weeks, for health reasons.

 

Grade B

 

3. Look after my teeth and body - CON +4

 

Resisted so many sugary things, and have reduced my weight and overall size.

Upper hips - lost 2 inches

Lower hips - lost 1 inch

Upper thigh - lost 1 inch

Mid-tum - lost over 1 inch

Waist - lost 1 inch

 

Body fat decreased from a peak of 26% (18 Jan) to 24.8% (15 Feb)

Weight decreased from a peak of 61.7 kg to 59.3 kg (16 Feb)

 

Grade A

 

4. Use it or lose it - decluttering goal - WIS +2

 

Have managed to get through a lot of portable toiletries and throw out some old make-up.  I've also reduced several drawers' worth of content, as some of these pictures show.  Today I processed my live role-playing kit and even managed to reduce that, despite having ordered quite a bit of new costume!

 

Grade A

 

5. Stay off facebook - CHA +2

 

Complete success!

 

Grade A

 

 

Overall Challenge: Grade A-

[Heidi]

Woot!

[18ck]

Looks like a great challenge - congratulations!