missrebecca's birthday slim down!

[rita lin]

Last challenge went pretty well! and I have a couple of goals for these next six weeks. 

 

First off, I shall turn 23 on the 12th Feb, and what with this challenge finishing on the 17th, my birthday shall be my goal!!

 

Goal: Get into my skinny jeans again by my birthday!

• Also, secondary goal, be able to do the splits.

 

And how am I going to do that? With the help of these 3 quests:

• Have smoothies for 5 meals of the week [upped from the 3 last challenge] - CON (4)
• Strength train 3x a week & walk to uni 4 out of 5 days - STR + STA (2 + 2)
• Stretch for 10 mins a day - DEX (3)

My life quest this challenge is about money. I am worryingly skint, so:

• Limit myself to a £15 food shop a week - WIS + CHA [because if I have more money I'll be happier haha] (2 + 2)

I've just signed up for a new DietBet, which to win I must lose just over 6lb in 4 weeks. I'm not planning on restricting my calorific intake, however I am planning on eat more of the right things. More fruit, veg and meat is the plan. 

 

Now to sort my new spreadsheet out!

[Reinfire]

What kind of smoothies do you like to drink?

[rita lin]

What kind of smoothies do you like to drink?

Just fruit mostly. They're usually some combination of frozen raspberries, blueberries or mango, sliced peaches, banana, and either apple juice or coconut milk. But I'm purchasing protein powder tomorrow to add in to it to make them a little more substantial as meal 'replacements'

[rita lin]

So the spreadsheet is done! I've just done my first weeks meal plan, and jumped on to Tesco direct to see how much it's going to rob me of; £30.19. Double what my goal is, however, it's the first shop of the new term, and I'm buying quite a bit of frozen things that will last a few weeks. All going well, the next shops will be cheaper

[Xena]

sounds like you are doing the right thing...I know it's easy to say when it's someone else's money

[rita lin]

sounds like you are doing the right thing...I know it's easy to say when it's someone else's money

Haha indeed. I'm just hoping I can stick to it, supermarkets are bad and make me want to buy crap I don't need, I'm considering doing it online and having it delivered xD

[rita lin]

My dietbet started yesterday and so far I'm not being good. To be honest I'm giving this weekend up as a bad job and just started for proper on Monday when this challenge starts. We're having a Chinese/Indian takeaway night tonight with some extended family for the New Year. I'm going to be as good as I can be, but there's only so far you can go when you're eating take away lol.

 

Off to work today though, so I'll be on my feet for 5 hours which should be good

[rita lin]

Oh! I created a new G+ account! Taking it away from my real name and keeping it solely for my blog & such like

[rita lin]

Yesterday I ordered some protein from myprotein.com because I had a 15% discount code, but even without the discount it's super cheap! It's a pretty cool website and it has all sorts of meal plan and workout ideas depending on what your particular goals are. 

 

I also ordered some 5-HT. At the start of last challenge I saw someone on here who was using tryptophan and 5HT to try to increase serotonin levels and I'd never seen anywhere over here that you could buy it until now! I have a real problem with stress induced anxiety attacks, plus I tend to spend most of the term in a sort of mild depression and I just don't want that anymore. 5HT is basically the chemical name for serotonin, so I'm hoping that an increase in my serotonin levels will not only lead to me getting better sleep (which is what it's promoted for on the website) but also will help my general mood stability too. 

 

But that should be arriving today, just need to wait for the DPD man. Hopefully he'll arrive before 1pm when I'm taking one of my housemates food shopping before going to lectures. 

[Arcanis]

You may want to consider this series for your stretching. The videos run for 15-20 minutes each but at the very least it'll keep stretching from getting boring. I know I often skip it just because it gets monotonous. Its free, by the way. Hope it helps!!

[rita lin]

You may want to consider this series for your stretching. The videos run for 15-20 minutes each but at the very least it'll keep stretching from getting boring. I know I often skip it just because it gets monotonous. Its free, by the way. Hope it helps!!

Oooh thank you very much!! I'll definitely check it out

[rita lin]

First day over!

 

It went pretty well, I had porridge for my breakfast and a smoothie for lunch then this turkey cottage pie for tea that was topped with sweet potatoes as opposed to normal potatoes. It was yummy whatever it was, and I had leftovers today for my lunch

 

Didn't get to the gym. First day blues set in hard yesterday, I found it very difficult to simply move out of my bed. Today I was at home, so everything was fine, but tomorrow I'm at uni again and I have no lectures or anything so I'm hoping I can actually force myself out of my bed, to the gym and to the library to get some dissertation work done. 

 

I've been feeling pretty hungry, which is a dangerous place to be, however, I know it's only because I'm not constantly grazing on chocolates and cake and wine like I have been for the past three weeks. 

 

But my protein got delivered!!

 

 

Protein + 5HT + thermopure!!

 

We'll see if it makes any difference

[rita lin]

Good morning! Third day of the challenge!

 

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I walked to uni so that's 1/5 so far! And I followed my meal plan (even though I only actually had my dinner planned) and had a jacket potato with broccoli and cheese for my tea. It was so yummy!! And good for me Cheese really curbs my craving for sweets and crisps and things. I also had a protein shake at about 3pm, which I'm going to continue doing as a mid afternoon snack.

 

I've realised that I need to keep myself feeling...not full, but just not hungry so I don't snack on bad things.

 

I also took some 5HT yesterday, now as a pharmacy student I am very aware of the placebo effect but I also know how effective that particular phenomenon can be (I take double the amount of zinc when I'm sick, and I get better quickly, I know it's most likely not the zinc but simply me thinking myself better - I don't care if it works haha),  so yesterday my mood was fairly okay, usually going to bed the first night I'm alone here is really depressing but last night, it was okay, and I slept really well, I only woke up once because I was cold. Who knows if it's the 5HT or if it's just that I'm feeling better in myself, whatever it is, I'm glad of it.

 

I'm just drinking my breakfast smoothie - mango, peach, banana and apple juice - had some thermopure(2 capsules) then I'm off to the gym

[rita lin]

Yesterday was my first day back at the gym for like 2 weeks! Got to wear my new gym clothes - this is the first time I've posted a pic of me!

 

 

Went today too, these are my workouts:

My legs are a bit...knackered xD

 

Just had a mushroom, cheese & tomato quesadilla with salsa for my tea and got a little frozen fromage frais for pudding I've hurt my hand though, and I don't know whether it's through weight training or when I was lifting the garage door. Hmmm....

[otter905]

you look amazing!

[rita lin]

you look amazing!

Oh thank you very much

[rita lin]

Good morning! It's a Friday hurraay!!! So I've been using my thermopure, 5HTP and protein for a week now which has been interesting, I'm going to be doing video reviews for them some time next week after I've used them for a bit longer. 

 

I'm currently say in my university building handing out our society hoodies, but it's pretty quiet atm so I'm hoping to get some dissertation work done, then I'm going to go to the gym and then I can chill out this afternoon, providing I get plenty of work done...I suppose I should get on with it xD

[rita lin]

I managed to get to the gym yesterday andalmost completed the NF Jedi training workout! I did not manage a farmers walk (cause my gym was HEAVING!) or the hanging from a pull up barb because there was a queue for it and just no.

I'm pretty achy today but not feeling too bad in general. I love being back at the gym and I only hope I can keep it up.

I'm in a perpetual state of stress atm, which isn't pleasant. I have an exam next week and I'm in the process of sorting out the gas and electric that my stupid lying housemate said he'd sorted out in September....except he totally didn't. I'm hoping that by Thursday I'll be feeling at least a little bit calmer, hopefully.

Back home this afternoon as its my nanas bday but right now I'm going to try to get some revision done. Here's hoping it helps

[Loopus]

Ache is good, keep that in your head.

Also, for late night studying, i have 2 recommendations. F.lux turns your screen a discreet shade of red, which wont stuff your sleep cycle up from late night screens. Also, 8tracks.com saved my sanity - go on, type in a genre, and listen. Amazing. I have a playlist of mostly classical and instrumental stuff at 8tracks.com/wolfieboy/collections/studying-music. Some remixed indie stuff there too. Depends on your music taste, ofc.

Seriously, both those and finding good quality, proper coffee saved my exam life. Good luck. May the Force be with you. Etcetera.

(and i just realised i missed the star wars workout email! That looks awesome!)

[rita lin]

Ache is good, keep that in your head.

Also, for late night studying, i have 2 recommendations. F.lux turns your screen a discreet shade of red, which wont stuff your sleep cycle up from late night screens. Also, 8tracks.com saved my sanity - go on, type in a genre, and listen. Amazing. I have a playlist of mostly classical and instrumental stuff at 8tracks.com/wolfieboy/collections/studying-music. Some remixed indie stuff there too. Depends on your music taste, ofc.

Seriously, both those and finding good quality, proper coffee saved my exam life. Good luck. May the Force be with you. Etcetera.

(and i just realised i missed the star wars workout email! That looks awesome!)

I love 8tracks! I have it on my phone and my nexus 7 Also, thing to turn my screen red would be awesome. Everything's blue! which totally messes with sleep patterns. thanks!

[rita lin]

Back at university this afternoon. Went to view a house this morning (we won't be putting an offer in) and hit up 2 wedding fairs. Figure we've got table centres decided on, we just need to decide on a florist

 

I have a 3 hour placement in the morning in a pharmacy aaaaages away, but then I'll be home and revising. I haven't felt this stressed out in quite a long time, but I'm just trying to breathe and take it one day at a time. Going to start actually doing yoga every day and perhaps meditating somewhat. Just taking 10 minutes to myself to unwind and relax somewhat.

 

Here's hoping it helps

 

Grades for the first week:

• Smoothies 5x a week = 5
• Strength train 3x a week and walk 4/5 days = 5
• Stretch 10 mins a day = 4 (I missed 2 days)
• Budget £15 for shopping = 0 (I paid £30 for the first shop)

[Xena]

Good job...I remember some of the 30 you spent this week was to stock up. It should be good for you to see how it goes over the next few weeks.

[rita lin]

Good job...I remember some of the 30 you spent this week was to stock up. It should be good for you to see how it goes over the next few weeks.

Well exactly. I got chicken that'll last me to the end of this week...perhaps even next week. Same with most of my frozen things

[rita lin]

Placement this morning went really well got home nice and early and managed to get half of the work from this morning typed up. Need to finish that tomorrow...or even tonight while at work, and continue revising tomorrow too

 

Heading back to uni early so I can hit up the gym then spend time in the library before my shopping gets delivered in the afternoon

 

Only £10 this week

[rita lin]

Sooo.....yeah....I didn't go to the gym today like I planned.

 

I got in and was just so tired and stressed out that I got into bed and didn't move until my tesco shop arrive at 4pm. At which point I walked to uni for a society meeting, came back, had tea and got back into bed! Never mind the fact that actually going to the gym would have made me feel a billion times better.

 

However, I did get quite a bit of work done today for my mock exam tomorrow. I know it's only a mock, but I still want to pass and do well, because then I know that I should be fine for the real one - at least that's the hope anyway. My exam is at 1pm tomorrow, so after that I'm going to go to the gym and continue working on my dissertation which I haven't been able to do since being worried about this bloody mOSCE. 

 

I've been pretty good this week with food, even though I haven't really had any smoothies. Tonight I had baked chicken w/ pepper and onions and a baked egg for my dinner which was yummy!

 

Also made myself some soup and portioned it into 4, so that'll do me for a while too