Citizenkade Takes the Path Less Travelled!

[Liberator]

I was raised by a wild pack of hippies, finding myself amongst the Druids was not a surprise!

 

I had hippie parents, too, and I am into art as well. It was probably all those music and art festivals we were taken to that impacts you. It was a different kind of childhood! Of course my middle name is Tranquility so I am much more Druid than badass Warrior.  

 

I am enjoying your post and appreciate your sharing of your artwork. Keep it up!  

[citizenkade]

I had hippie parents, too, and I am into art as well. It was probably all those music and art festivals we were taken to that impacts you. It was a different kind of childhood! Of course my middle name is Tranquility so I am much more Druid than badass Warrior.  

 

I am enjoying your post and appreciate your sharing of your artwork. Keep it up!  

 

Thank you! I recently learned a number of names I was almost given, I feel like I got off easy with Leigh. Funniest part of growing up a hippy kid in the 70's, though, was smoking something as an adult that I shouldn't have, and realizing that it smelt an awful lot like how my mom's  house smelt like when I was a kid! Really explains mom's late night pizza parties, too, I guess!

[Liberator]

Thank you! I recently learned a number of names I was almost given, I feel like I got off easy with Leigh. Funniest part of growing up a hippy kid in the 70's, though, was smoking something as an adult that I shouldn't have, and realizing that it smelt an awful lot like how my mom's  house smelt like when I was a kid! Really explains mom's late night pizza parties, too, I guess!

Lol, mom is busted! 

[citizenkade]

CHALLENGE UPDATE: WEEK TWO COMPLETION STATUS

 

Two weeks down! WOOHOOO!!!

 

Goal One: Cardio

 

Needed 5 hours for an A, put in 10.5 hours total, not counting construction on the new building SCORE: A

 

Goal Two: Body Weight Exercise

 

Needed to work out three days during the week, adding intensity each day for an A. Have been adding 1 additional pushup each day. Tried adding another set, but kind of borked the knee for a day. Still adding intensity, though!                                                   SCORE: A

 

Goal Three: Nutrition

 

Kept processed food completely out of my diet.  No chips, bread, tortillas, you name it.                 SCORE: A

 

Life Quest

 

Put in 6 out of 7 days with some creative work.                                                                                SCORE: B

 

Side Quest:

 

Cleaned up around the house 5 out of 7 days. UGH.                                                                        SCORE: C

[citizenkade]

Mini Challenge: Consciousness, Food, and the Why of What and How I eat

 

This mini challenge kind of floored me emotionally. Food is the absolute root of every negative issue I have ever come across in my life. I eat when I'm bored, I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I am victorious, and I eat after to celebrate. I eat to commemorate, and I eat to ease my shame. I'm an eater, and always have been!

 

When I was a little boy, my Hungarian Great-Grandmother always had an amazing assortment of food. It didn't matter when you showed up, Grandma Lizzie would have an amazing spread out within 15 minutes. I remember my parents running out of money and having to move back to Los Angeles, and showing up at Grandma Lizzie's at 4 in the morning. I woke up that day to fresh biscuits and jam.

 

My parents were poor when I was a kid, my dad was a musician, mom an artist. We drifted through the later half of the 1970's. We lived in tents and motels. When times were good, we ate to celebrate. When times were lean, we learned to pack in a lot of cheap calories to feel content.

 

As an adult, I grew to 360 pounds, maybe more. When my kids came along, I kept thinking I would straighten up, get the eating under control, but that didn't happen until I had some heart palpitations getting off the couch. I went on Weight Watchers, and lost a lot of weight. It keeps trying to come back, to this day. Quitting cigarettes was easy. Quitting eating? Kind of impossible.

 

The issue, I think, has always been a craving for satiety. I always associated being full with being safe, and sometimes I would eat so much that I must have been the safest person in the world! I could sit down and eat a 3 pound family size bag of pasta in one sitting. I once made an entire loaf of french toast, and ate it. I am learning how to push back on that, and hoping that I can get my mind and body to agree that "full" is not always "safe".

 

One of the biggest changes I made to my life was when I quit eating meat about 13 years ago. I have learned to respect myself more by not eating other beings. I don't judge other people who eat meat, that is their path. Mine just changed direction. 5 years ago, I went completely Vegan, which made me learn how to cook on a completely different level. When you strip the meat and cheese out of your meals, you have to learn your way around a spice rack! A couple of years ago, my wife and I focused our passion for cooking into our own restaurant, and we haven't looked back since.

 

So, on to the crux of the challenge!

 

What do I eat? As I mentioned before, I am a Vegan. I don't eat anything sourced from animals in any way. This sounds challenging to a lot of people, but I like a good challenge, and I love to cook, so I was happy to jump into it. The real challenge came along this past November, when I discovered Nerd Fitness and Thrive forward. I was getting back up there in weight, and realized that I wasn't much better diet wise than the "Taco Bell" Vegans that I'm always making fun of. How is my diet nutritive at all if all I am eating is refined pastas and fried chips with salsa? So, I made the decision to cut all of that out. Right now, my diet is mostly vegetables, some rice, some beans, and fruits with nuts and seeds. I have been without the refined, processed foods that were a staple of my diet for over a month now.

 

Why do I have this Diet or Plan? Primarily, it's ethical. I feel better knowing that I am living without another animal dying. Again, that's my path. I also appreciate the impact my lifestyle has on the environment. I feel closer to nature. Since November, I feel even more so, since my vegetable consumption has gone up so much. I really want to plant a garden this year and have a ton of squash to eat!

 

How do I eat: It depends. A lot of the time it's at the restaurant, during a slow period. I'll just grab a salad or some soup and sit in the dining room and enjoy it. Unfortunately, at home, it tends to be in front of the computer. I would really like to change that, I miss gathering everyone around the table and just being together. Maybe that needs to be a goal! My parents were always so busy working, so sit-down dinners didn't happen often. I loved it when it did, though! I am trying to learn how to be aware of my food as I am eating it, I think getting away from any media while it is happening would do me a world of good.

 

When do I eat? Right now, I am trying to eat around my workouts, and when I'm hungry. I am trying to ask questions before I sit down and shove food down my throat, like "are you hungry, or just bored?" or "am I eating some feelings right now?" This seems to be helping a lot!

 

Why do I eat? I covered that above, at least the historical reasons behind how I got to where I am. Right now, I eat because I need to fuel myself, to allow myself to grow and thrive. I read "let food be your medicine" and that rang true. I want to be healthy and strong, even when I get old. The only way that is going to happen is if food sustains and nurtures me, instead of pacifying me.

 

Wow. That was kind of cathartic!

[Bekah]

Family dinners are something that was very important to my husband too, so it's a same time every night at the table affair around here, and I have learned to enjoy them myself. It's never too late to start that with your family, even if it's just once a week bc that's the only time you have all open, it's better than nothing at all I loved the thought you put into this! Thank you for sharing

[Stonie]

I agree with Bekah, that was a lovely little insight into your life from the point of view of food. I tranced out a little bit while writing mine, It was kinda nice. 

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Terinatum]

Thank you for telling us some of your history. It will be nice to hear how your present and future grow from that. Best of Luck.

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

[citizenkade]

CHALLENGE UPDATE: WEEK THREE COMPLETION STATUS!

 

Level one feels so good! Let's rack up week three and see what was going on:

 

Goal One: Cardio

 

Needed 5 hours for an A, put in 5.5 hours total, not counting construction on the new building SCORE: A

 

Goal Two: Body Weight Exercise

 

Needed to work out three days during the week, adding intensity each day for an A. Made all three workouts, but decided to cut down on sets on my third workout due to fatigue from a week of construction                                                                                   SCORE: B

 

Goal Three: Nutrition

 

Kept processed food completely out of my diet.  No chips, bread, tortillas, you name it. I am, however, docking a grade because I went to a buffet. Buffets are NOT what Druid success stories are made from!                                                                                  SCORE: B

 

Life Quest

 

Put in 3 out of 7 days with some creative work.                                                                                SCORE: D

 

Side Quest:

Not home most of the week due to construction, not grading this one!                                            SCORE: -

 

Next week should be a little mellower with the construction, so I'm going to kick a few things up a notch.

 

Oh, weight today is 255, I'm down 18 pounds since Thanksgiving!

[Stonie]

Woo! High Five level one buddy! Don't stress the small things, I had a pretty hit and miss week as well. We'll get back with it next week!

 

Win all the points!

[Bekah]

Well some great, lots of good and some not so much but definitely understandable...overall it's been amazing. I am very much awed by your no junk food goal and how well that is going. ^5!!!

[Bekah]

Double Post....guess the NF gods thought it needed saying twice, I disagree.

[Basement Cat]

Congratulations on leveling up, CK!

 

And on the weight loss, that's awesome! Looking forward to seeing what you'll kick up a notch! Stay strong!

[Bekah]

and how did I miss the weight loss???

*note to self: read post thrice before replying*

That is absolutely amazing in that amount of time!!! :D

[citizenkade]

and how did I miss the weight loss???

*note to self: read post thrice before replying*

That is absolutely amazing in that amount of time!!! :D

 

You didn't miss a thing, Bekah! I forgot to add it so I edited the post!

[pumazealy]

you are doing so awesome Leigh, you are such an inspiration - and i know i've said that more than once to you before.

 

reading about how and why you eat i can certainly relate.

since coming here a month ago i've gone paleo. i still love meat but i've cut out all processed foods and eat way more fruit and veges than ever. and it feels great.

i hope that in two months time i'm in the same awesome position that you are.

[citizenkade]

We're in the same place, silly! It's a long ass road, and we've got a lot of miles to travel before our destination! Look how far you've come already! Cutting all processed foods is AMAZING! I'm really super proud of you!

[citizenkade]

CoC: Episode 2

 

Today's consciousness training was focused on Determination and Consistency. I knew I had the day off to challenge myself, so I went with something I have never done before. I took a kickboxing class on HULU and loved it! I couldn't do everything, but I was determined to keep at it. This was like Steve's "20 Seconds of Courage" bit. I knew my wife was in the other room, and she did laugh at me, but I didn't care. I just wanted to do that damned workout, and it was really great. I am going to continue to focus on Determination to get things done, regardless of the obstacles.

 

Consistency and I are old enemies. I can be so focused on getting something done that I'll forget to do the other things that make me part of the human race. I need to focus on being consistent with day to day tasks that make the "Big Thing" I am working on less irritating to the people around me. Yes, I'm working out an hour or more. If I make sure to do more around the house, the workouts will seem less intrusive and disruptive to my wife. It's easy to think of all the exercise and nutritive changes as the only part of what I am trying to change here, but I am realizing that I am trying to make myself a much better person overall, not just in those two areas.

[Mangostrike]

Good job trying the kickboxing! I always made fun of my wife for her TKB (Turbo KickBoxing) classes she used to take. Then I went to one and couldn't last 20 minutes of the hour. It's the real deal.

I tried your workout you posted too, those planks are insane!

Posting from mobile.

[citizenkade]

Ah, yeah. Planks. I will find them someday, and murder them! And I used to think I hated pushups the most! Planks are the worst... But I want to beat them! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!

[citizenkade]

CoC: Episode Two: Focus on Food

 

Today I focused on how I eat again. I have always been a "Big Eater", I eat until I am full. And full can sometimes mean more food than any human being should eat! My wife was hungry, so we went to the Tibetan restaurant three doors down from our place. They have a good buffet, but buffets and I have an abusive relationship. I have made myself a deal that I can have that second plate, as long as I keep it to veggies and fruit for the rest of the day.

 

That logic feels like a cop-out to me. It bothered me the other day, and it bothered me more today. There is a part of my brain that cannot wrap itself around the fact that I am full with one plate of food there. It's like "I paid for buffet, I had best buffet." That's really goofy logic. And buffet food is not the good stuff, it's the cheap stuff that you can prepare enough of without losing the lease when goons like me waltz in.

 

Now, if I hadn't been working out, today would have been a Black Mark day. But I worked out HARD, and used that as partial justification to eat twice the food I should have. Which means I probably had to work twice as hard digesting that food instead of letting my body repair that workout. I know extra calories are important after intense exercise, but I need to point myself more towards the real stuff. I need to eat the clean, real food. It's not that what I ate was junk, it just wasn't the purity that I am coming to expect.

 

I won't make myself any promises, but I am hoping that I can become a one-plate buffet guy if we go there again. That would be a major victory for me!

[WildColonialGrrl]

Food and value for money (or free food) is an epic brain body battle and in my case at least the brain always wins :/ something to work on... There is always something to work on.

[Bekah]

that face in your avatar is fantastic

[citizenkade]

that face in your avatar is fantastic

 

Thank you, I'm feeling prankish tonight!

[I am Eve]

CoC: Episode Two: Focus on Food

 

Today I focused on how I eat again. I have always been a "Big Eater", I eat until I am full. And full can sometimes mean more food than any human being should eat! My wife was hungry, so we went to the Tibetan restaurant three doors down from our place. They have a good buffet, but buffets and I have an abusive relationship. I have made myself a deal that I can have that second plate, as long as I keep it to veggies and fruit for the rest of the day.

 

That logic feels like a cop-out to me. It bothered me the other day, and it bothered me more today. There is a part of my brain that cannot wrap itself around the fact that I am full with one plate of food there. It's like "I paid for buffet, I had best buffet." That's really goofy logic. And buffet food is not the good stuff, it's the cheap stuff that you can prepare enough of without losing the lease when goons like me waltz in.

 

Now, if I hadn't been working out, today would have been a Black Mark day. But I worked out HARD, and used that as partial justification to eat twice the food I should have. Which means I probably had to work twice as hard digesting that food instead of letting my body repair that workout. I know extra calories are important after intense exercise, but I need to point myself more towards the real stuff. I need to eat the clean, real food. It's not that what I ate was junk, it just wasn't the purity that I am coming to expect.

 

I won't make myself any promises, but I am hoping that I can become a one-plate buffet guy if we go there again. That would be a major victory for me!

 

How reflective and wise and caring towards yourself you are - that is a really great consciousness post! Also, congratulations on week three advances, although I have to say that you are pretty strict in your grading (too strict I think).