Mariah used to be an adventurer like you...

[MariahSnow]

... but then I ate all the cookies.

 

Long term goal: clean up the diet and complete 3 sets of 20 pull-ups. Be happier and stop comparing myself to others (ahem, social media).

 

Expectations for this challenge: Get rid of the sugar and complete 3 sets of 20 pull-ups with the thickest pull-up assistance band. Stop mindlessly checking websites.

 

Atmosphere: Work is insane because my workload has essentially doubled by taking over other projects and learning new skills. I'm working long hours and my schedule is unpredictable. Right now, my life is work and the rest of my life needs to be flexible around that.

 

 

 

Goal 1: Slay the Sugar Dragon

The Sugar Dragon is when you have epic cravings for sugar despite the fact that you just ate sugar. Moar sugar!! I've got to get rid of my Sugar Dragon, and this means eliminating all kinds of added sugar from my diet. Sodas, starbucks, candy at work, cookies, donuts, waffles, you get the idea. I've been indulging way too much lately and I just need to rein it in. I also find myself turning into a bit of a dragon when I don't have sugar. Uh oh.

 

 

 

Goal 2: Climb up to High Hrothgar!

Pullups! I can do about 6-7 pull-ups with an assistance band right now. My goal is to be able to do 3 sets of 20 by the end of the challenge. This is essentially adding a pull-up to each set in my workouts MWF. I also have a pull-up bar at home, so no excuses! Once I reach my goal, I can move down to a thinner band, rinse, and repeat.

 

Goal 3: Be an adventurer again!

Just move, and enjoy moving. My life right now is all about managing stress, so if I just want to walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes and listen to music, do it! If I want to do a hard lifting workout, do it! The goal is to just move for 10 minutes a day (even if that's stretching before bed). Most of the time I just want to lay in bed, so moving is key.

 

Life Goal: Disconnect (oh the irony)

I sit at a computer all day. And then when I come home, I watch TV, while checking websites on my phone that I checked all day, and I'll often use my laptop to check those websites some more (I'm looking at you, Facebook). So after work, there will be no more social media. Internet is fine if I'm doing something productive (booking flights, writing blog posts, etc) but it really needs to be kept to a minimum. I'm allowing 1 hour of video gaming or TV watching a night (gotta get my Skyrim in somehow) because I have a ton of other activities that get neglected: knitting, guitar, reading, puzzles, playing with kitties, preparing food for tomorrow, laundry, etc etc). Weekends are kind of free, but when I get that "hmmm, what am I going to do now" that typically leads me to mindlessly scanning pinterest, I need to shut it off and do something else. Skyrim and TV watching are mostly unlimited unless I find myself replacing my pinterest habit with Skyrim.

 

That's it for now, more details about "scoring" later.  See below!

 

Also, this is my second attempt at a 1st challenge, so let's do this thing!

 

Scoring

Goal 1: I start every day with 3 points. If I don't eat any "extra" sugar, I get to keep all 3 points. If I go for 5 days without losing a point, I get 1 extra. 

A: 126 pts total (3 pts a day for 7 days a week for 6 weeks)

F: <126 pts total

Items to avoid: anything that is sweet for sweetness sake. Things like cookies, cakes, sodas, juice. Things that have sugar in them but are savory (like bacon) are acceptable. Also things like ketchup, bbq sauce, etc are acceptable. I'm trying to work on the treats, not every pinch of sugar in my diet.

 

Goal 2: 

A: 3 sets of 20 assisted pullups

B: 3 sets of 15 assisted pullups

C: 3 sets of 10 assisted pullups

There shouldn't be a reason I'm not an A or a B on this considering I can do 6-7 for 3 sets right now.

 

Goal 3: Every day I move for at least 10 minutes, I get an extra point towards Goal 1. That way my motivation to move and my motivation to eat right are intertwined.

A: 42 pts

B: 35 pts

C: 30 pts

 

Life goal: Keep track of where I slip up and why.

A: No more than one slip once a week. 

B 2 slips a week

C: 3 slips a week

[jamais716]

Good luck!  I am also fighting the sugar dragon and I know how much harder that can be when work is crazy!

[Everstorm]

Ah, that darned sugar Dragon.  I have been battling that one for a long time.  Let's finally slay it this challenge!

[MariahSnow]

I'm already starting my challenege today and the sugar dragon is rearing it's ugly head. I'm thinking of 20 different ways I can get sugar - milkshakes, candy, cookies, snacks. It's bad. It actually really feels like addiction because I'm scheming about how to score some sugar.

[Everstorm]

Me, too.  I keep thinking, What if it's just berries with whipped cream?  That's healthy, right?  

No, that's enabling.

 

We can do this!  Stay strong.

[MariahSnow]

What if it's berries and plain yogurt?

[Devyn]

As someone who has been playing a lot of Skyrim lately, I love this challenge!

[FemHawke]

Oh, I know the sugar dragon well! Pity I have to slay it, since I generally quite enjoy dragons. Good luck to you! I'll be sure to pop-in every now and again to provide backup on that dragon. Also...Skyrim looks like it would be a lot of fun! Sadly, as a part of my 'get shit done' goal - I have to nix the 'mindless web surfing' and game-playing (gave Dragon Age II the boot. Once I have more time though, I'll check out Skyrim). 

[lyricalsharon]

 

Saw this and thought I'd share it.  

[MariahSnow]

Day one was okay, other than the 10 hours I spent at work.

 

No sugar! So I get to keep all my points.

I got 3 sets of ~7 pullups, but I need to work on that last set because my form breaks down pretty quickly.

I looked at my phone briefly for weather and looking up a word (plenipotentiary)

 

So far so good, but man I want some sugar! My partner made hot chocolate last night and I was a sad panda.

 

Total pts: 4

[Jedimaster92]

That damn sugar dragon!!  Sometimes when I get a craving, (especially for something like starbucks) I'll do a yummy flavored tea (something that sounds sweet like gingerbread or caramel apple) and add a bit of honey. 

 

Another one that hits the spot, especially if I want something sweet for breakfast, is cinnamon apples. Either in the microwave or in a pan, just slice some apples really thin and warm them up with cinnamon and maybe a little agave syrup or brown sugar (just a pinch!). The more cinnamon the better it tastes, and cinnamon is beneficial for your metabolism!

[pearlescence]

Fruit helps with the sugar dragon.  I eat a lot of berries, apples, bananas, oranges, even papaya.  The sugar in fruit provides that sweet kick you know and love, and comes with a healthy dose of nutrients and antioxidants, with the added benefit of being low in calories..  So, fear not the fruit warrior.  He is an ally against the sugar dragon!

[jamais716]

Oooo, cinnamon apples sound great!  And fresh strawberries are great all on their own (although there is the voice in my head saying they should be dipped in chocolate or condensed milk)

[MariahSnow]

Actually one of my favorite snacks is to cut up an apple, douse it in cinnamon, and throw it into some yogurt. The yogurt (if I buy full-fat) gives me the protein and fat to fill me up while the apples have that yummy cinnamony warm taste that soothes my dragon. Definitely been a winner so far.

 

I'm also not sure if I'm sick OR overworked OR my dragon is much stronger than I expected because I feel like crap. Not necessarily sick although my nose has been running all day, just like tired all the time which makes me think it's sugar withdrawals (is that even a thing?)

[FemHawke]

Actually one of my favorite snacks is to cut up an apple, douse it in cinnamon, and throw it into some yogurt. The yogurt (if I buy full-fat) gives me the protein and fat to fill me up while the apples have that yummy cinnamony warm taste that soothes my dragon. Definitely been a winner so far.

 

I'm also not sure if I'm sick OR overworked OR my dragon is much stronger than I expected because I feel like crap. Not necessarily sick although my nose has been running all day, just like tired all the time which makes me think it's sugar withdrawals (is that even a thing?)

 

Mmmmm! Cinnamon apples and yogurt sounds really good! I think I'll have to try that! I've read elsewhere to be a little wary of using fruit as a sub for sugar, since a lot of fruits (like bananas) are pretty high in it and may just perpetuate the cravings. Still, having a piece of fruit is a better option than some pie! 

 

I think sugar/carb withdrawals are a 'thing', not sure if they result in a runny nose - but the feeling tired/rundown is, some people call it the 'carb flu'. 

[MariahSnow]

Mmmmm! Cinnamon apples and yogurt sounds really good! I think I'll have to try that! I've read elsewhere to be a little wary of using fruit as a sub for sugar, since a lot of fruits (like bananas) are pretty high in it and may just perpetuate the cravings. Still, having a piece of fruit is a better option than some pie! 

 

I think sugar/carb withdrawals are a 'thing', not sure if they result in a runny nose - but the feeling tired/rundown is, some people call it the 'carb flu'. 

I definitely haven't been cutting back on carbs. Maybe it's really a cold...

[musasabi]

If you like cinnamon apples and intend to include eggs and bacon in your diet, might I suggest this breakfast:

 

Fry up some cinnamon-covered apple slices in coconut oil, toss them in a dish. Fry up your bacon, toss it on the apples. Scramble your eggs and salt... but instead of black pepper, use cayenne pepper. =) The spicy/sweet/kick-in-your-face-delicious combination is pretty wonderful. =)

[MariahSnow]

If you like cinnamon apples and intend to include eggs and bacon in your diet, might I suggest this breakfast:

 

Fry up some cinnamon-covered apple slices in coconut oil, toss them in a dish. Fry up your bacon, toss it on the apples. Scramble your eggs and salt... but instead of black pepper, use cayenne pepper. =) The spicy/sweet/kick-in-your-face-delicious combination is pretty wonderful. =)

Oh snap, that sounds delicious! I love the sweet and salty combo.

[MariahSnow]

Day 2: 7 pts total

 

Almost 11 hours at work, including client meetings

 

No sugar even though I was offered a cookie.

No pullup work (resting)

I did check my phone email briefly when I got home (drama with the servers at work), but no social media.

 

I had some amalgamation of cheezits, doritos, and grapes for dinner. I just wasn't very hungry, more snack-y. I really wanted cereal but all I have is sugary cinnamon Chex.

I also didn't stretch or anything today, so that's point lost I remembered as I was cozying down in my blankets. Looking back, it probably would have helped me sleep, but oh well.

[Everstorm]

If you like cinnamon apples and intend to include eggs and bacon in your diet, might I suggest this breakfast:

 

Fry up some cinnamon-covered apple slices in coconut oil, toss them in a dish. Fry up your bacon, toss it on the apples. Scramble your eggs and salt... but instead of black pepper, use cayenne pepper. =) The spicy/sweet/kick-in-your-face-delicious combination is pretty wonderful. =)

OMG that sounds so good I would make it this instant if there were any apples in the house.

[Saviarre]

I absolutely love your climbing to High Hrothgar thing... and I'm tempted to borrow it and alter it for my own goals.

Good luck fighting the sugar dragon. The first few weeks are the worst, but after that, I SWEAR it gets better.

[musasabi]

Oh snap, that sounds delicious! I love the sweet and salty combo.

 

 

OMG that sounds so good I would make it this instant if there were any apples in the house.

Glad you guys like it. =D Lemmie know if you come up with any creative variants!

[Tearose]

Hey there, I love your intro. I am a total sugar addict too, I am off it as of this week. I can also relate to your'' I used to be an adventurer too, until I ate all the cookies''   because a year a half ago I looked like my profile pic and now I have 70 lbs of cookies(at least) to lose

[Basement Cat]

Yay, Skyrim!

 

Good job on resisting the sugar dragon, Mariah! And good luck on your climb to High Hrothgar!

[MariahSnow]

Day 3:

 

Still no sugar!

I got 6 full pullups for 3 sets (not the weak pullups I've been getting in the 3rd set)

Also did some body weight squats and lunges, pushups, etc.

I wanted to eat all the sugar but I didn't. However, I did have a mango margarita. The bar said they don't use mixes and powders, but I have a feeling the mango was in some kind of syrup.

Winning on the disconnecting, too, but I'm not sure what to do with "my partner plays video games and I just sit there on the sofa". I should probably go read instead. Must work on that.

 

Pts total: 10pts

 

In other news, my partner's vehicle was stolen. So now we're dealing with insurance, buying a new vehicle, driving a rental, not to mention finding a new place to live. FML.