Jill Beat - Divides & Conquers

[Jill Beat]

This challenge I’m trying something a little different.  In the past I’ve had a tough time sticking it out for all 6 weeks.  I’m dividing this challenge into two 3-week challenges.  One definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results, so here I am, changing it up so that I can (sanely) expect different results!!  In the 4-Hour Body Tim Ferriss writes something like “the good method you follow is better than the perfect method you quit.† This is why I’m trying to create a “good method I can follow.† I know that 6-weeks is supposed to be optimal for habit building, but I think I’ve already established why I need to shake it up!

I’ve also added a bit of a reward system for this challenge.  If I meet my goals, I get the reward.  That simple.

Goals:

 

Week 1-3 (Feb 24-March 16)

1. Paleo – Eat paleo 6/7 days a week

This challenge I’m giving myself a bit of slack.  I still really want to try to eat 100% paleo, but last challenge trying for 7/7 made me feel bad when I NOT ONCE made it for the week.  I don’t want the weekends to be a free for all, so instead of 5/7 I’ve chosen 6/7 so that if I have a bad day I can still meet my goal for the week. 

I also intend to meal plan for the whole 3-weeks at once.  I JUST ordered a veggie spiralizer yesterday and found a sweet site all full of spiralized recipes, so I’m pretty pumped about that!  I’ll hopefully update with my meal plans soon!

Reward: Redeem credit card points for $25 Target gift card

1. Workouts – 1 Group Power track/day (6/7days)

I think my problem with getting in workouts last challenge is that I get hung up on how long they should be and then I made excuses that I don’t have time.  This challenge I’m going to shoot for 1 group power track a day, so really, that’s a 5-minute workout (not including a warm up/cool down) and only one major muscle group.  It’s also going to be my goal to try to lift heavier for that one track. 

Reward: new sports bra

1. Polish – Put more effort into doing my hair and getting dressed for work (5 days/week)

I’ve gotten into the habit of getting lazy and just putting on some jeans and cute top and throwing my hair in a ponytail.  I’m currently growing out my hair (again) and want to make more of an effort to do pretty things with it!

Reward: Shopping trip, purchase 1 item for each week goal was met

 

Extras:

1. Craft – Crochet

Spend 15 minutes crocheting/day (the nice thing about crochet is that you can just pick it up and do it for a little while!  I’m trying to help my sister out who has an online store as well as doing craft sales and supplying to 2 retail stores.  P.S for some awesome handmade goods, buy from her store here: http://www.storenvy.com/stores/204745-west-coast-leslie-designs

 

1. Be a better fitness instructor – Plan head!

I’m terrible for last minute lesson plans for the classes I teach, or even just last minute scrambling to learn stuff.  I want to spend 3 days a week working on new material.

 

Tracking:

1. 0/6  0/6  0/6 = 0/18

2. 0/6  0/6  0/6 = 0/18

3. 0/5  0/5  0/5 = 0/15

A. 0/7  0/7  0/7 = 0/21

B. 0/3  0/3  0/3 = 0/9

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Week 4-6 (March 17-April 6):

1. Paleo – Eat paleo 6/7 days a week

This I want to try to keep the same.  I will create a new 3 week meal plan at this point.   

Reward: Redeem credit card points for $25 Target gift card (again)

1. Workouts – Handstand practice (6/7days)

I plan to replace my previous 5 minute workout with 5 minutes of handstand practice.  This isn’t that big or scary a challenge for me, as I used to do handstands all the time, it’s just been a while.  It’ll really be a matter of getting used to being upside down and wrist strength.  Might throw that in here to as far as doing some wrist strengthening and stretching.

Reward: new sports top

1. Disconnect – spend time without electronics on (3 days/week)

Like most of us I spend way too much time in front of a screen.  I want to take 30 minutes 3x a week to disconnect.  Ideally, weather permitting, this time will be spent going for a walk (ipod with music is allowed ).  If it’s wet and gross out still, other acceptable options include journaling, crafting, reading, etc.

Reward: ??? I really don’t know what would be a suitable reward for this…

 

 

Extras:

1. Craft – Sewing

Spend 30 minutes sewing 3x a week. I got a new sewing machine for Christmas and haven’t used it L

1. Be a better fitness instructor – Review Group Step!

Group Step is a training course I took a long time ago, and haven’t kept up with it, I’m going to try to re-learn at least one class worth of material and try to sub one class!  Work on this 3x a week

 

Tracking:

 

1. 0/6  0/6  0/6 = 0/18

2. 0/6  0/6  0/6 = 0/18

3. 0/3  0/3  0/3 = 0/9

A. 0/3  0/3  0/3 = 0/9

B. 0/3  0/3  0/3 = 0/9

 

 Alrightly, I might change some of my second half goals as time goes on, but for now this is what I'm going with!

[Jonesy]

I like your challenge goals and can't wait to see how splitting the challenge into 2 sessions works for you.

 

Good Luck!

 

PS those are some nifty crafts!

[Tateman]

I'll be curious as to how you will feel this challenge with switching it up.  I know you'll do good

[Kishi]

Maybe a good reward for disconnecting could be a really exciting book? Or maybe some music you can listen to?

[Swampling]

Sub'ed!

 

I'd also have gone with a book reward for disconnecting.

(But I'm a bookworm, for me books are always a good thing... )

[Jill Beat]

Maybe a good reward for disconnecting could be a really exciting book? Or maybe some music you can listen to?

 

 

I'd also have gone with a book reward for disconnecting.

(But I'm a bookworm, for me books are always a good thing... )

 

While both are great ideas, for me right now I feel like fitting in time to read would feel like a chore, and I don't exactly get super excited about new books coming out...don't get me wrong, I love reading, but a) it's just not something I've continued to make a part of my life right now and My reading strategy is more "go to the library, judge books by their cover....read blurb, check out, return late" lol

 

Music's not a bad idea, but I'm terrible at seeking out music, my weapon of choice is pre-determined mixes like on Songza. 

 

I might choose something like a craft something I want, or maybe a spa service, yoga class??  I've found that the rewards I'm leaning toward tend to be monetary/material because I'm not a material person.  I don't buy a lot of stuff for myself because generally I feel I just don't need it.  The other reason for choosing these as rewards is that I always feel like I don't have enough time.  So by choosing a reward that's like "spend 5 hours reading a new book" it then seems like a chore, and not a motivating reward. 

 

But that's just me

[ScoutSays]

I am loving your challenge!! We are so alike it's ridiculous!!! I also am trying to start making myself more presentable... I love makeup, but I never wear it, I usually throw my hair up in a ponytail too. I'm usually really good on Monday's wearing dress clothes to work, but by Tuesday it's yoga pants and t-shirts lol I have given myself subscriptions to both Ipsy and Birchbox, which are makeup/skincare subscription boxes that you get monthly with 5 products to try out! I just subscribed, so I can't wait to get them, because I love getting packages in the mail and I love trying new products, and I think this will help me start to actually wear makeup and take better care of my skin. I mean, come on... we deserve to look good, right!?  

 

And I love that you are into crafts like me! Good luck on your challenge! I am totally subbing to your thread again! Hope I can keep up!

[AshPS]

Sub'd! :triumphant: :triumphant:

 

Love the mini breakdown on the goals! Now, maybe I will have my thread up before the challenge actually starts...... le sigh

 

Whooo Hooo to a new challenge!

[Jill Beat]

Hmmm, just my luck, when I think I have it all figured out, there's a snag....

 

I went for my physical this morning, and pretty much everything's good, except that my blood pressure is a bit high.  I'm 27, not over weight, cook most of my own food (so low sodium), work out 2x/week +.  I do have a bit of a family history of it, but not at such a young age.  There's still a few things I could try to see if it lowers it, and I'm thinking about adding those into my challenge

- stress management - this one would probably be my biggest challenge...I like being busy too much and doing ALL THE THINGS

- give up caffeine - I'm going to try this, I don't drink a lot, but it's definitely worth a shot.  I really do enjoy coffee though

- drink more water - I've never been good at this. 

 

Other than that though, my doctor was supportive of me eating paleo, she just recommended calcium supplements (yay for doctors not shoving "healthy whole grain" nonsense down my throat!), and I got some necessary evils out of the way (pap test, std testing - this one is more just to confirm what I already know...can't be too careful   )  So I feel that all of that was definitely a win!

[Kishi]

Well, coffee does come in decaf. Could be helpful that way.

[Jill Beat]

Well, coffee does come in decaf. Could be helpful that way.

This is true.  I think I'll save that for weekends, and drink more tea at work - which, yes, tea has caffeine too (typically still less than coffee), but I'm going to slowly transition away from it to herbal teas. 

[Teros]

For water, I found having a giant water bottle around with a little marker on it helps.  Every day (or week) you can have a little piece of paper on the outside of the bottle, almost like a label, that has a bunch of boxes. Every time you finish the bottle, just make a mark on a box.  For people that try to drink 3+ bottles of water a day, having that little mark makes a big difference. You can see how much you drink by what time of the day.

 

As for rewards with crafts and such, maybe check out some little things on etsy that you like? Like some small earrings or something. 

[drunkensnake]

I remember you talking about how you were going to break it up into a pair of mini-challenges, interesting format, I am curious to see how it goes

[GingaNinja]

Good luck Jill! I am excited to see how the split challenge turns out! 

 

Glad your doctor is good about you eating paleo, it really does help!

 

[Jill Beat]

This morning I told the guy I was kinda seeing that I wanted to end it and see other people.  I was hoping we could still be friends, but he didn't think that would work out.  It hurt way more than I expected it to.  I know it was the right choice, but it still really hurts right now.  We were really good friends and I'm really going to miss that.  The last think I'm interested in right now is dating.  The upside is that I can use the extra time to go to the gym. 

[lolavictrola]

iTunes is ALWAYS a great reward. Great music can reinvigorate your workouts or help you chill out as you crochet.

[Jill Beat]

I did go to the gym today, and hit it pretty hard.  That felt really good, and has inspired me to try to add that in once a week.  The awesome feeling only lasted a short while after being at the gym, which sucked, because then it was back to feeling like crap and actually slightly nauseous.  This break up feels different because there really weren't any good reasons besides that I don't really see it being long term.  He's great, and we had so much fun together, it was only 7 months, but we did a lot of stuff in that time.  

 

I have my last hoop class tomorrow morning, so hopefully that helps pull me out of this funk, because otherwise the challenge isn't going to be off to a great start.  I hope to plan food & go grocery shopping tomorrow as well.  I'm not going to plan out my full 3 weeks tomorrow because I'm not sure when my spiralizer will show up, so I don't want to plan around it before it's here.  

 

Anyway, it's off to bed, super early, hope I don't have too much trouble getting to sleep. 

[deftona]

Great idea for the new challenge. I am doing a similar thing to keep my momentum up and I am also giving myself material rewards. It's tough about the break up but take the positives from it and use the extra time in investing in yourself. There doesn't have to be a "noble" reason to break up with someone - a gut feeling is enough and when it's not right, it's not right. 

 

Good luck with the challenge, I will be following your progress as your approach is very similar to mine. 

[GingaNinja]

Sorry to hear that the guy didn't take it well, but at least you were honest with yourself and him and can use the time to focus on yourself and your needs! I think it takes mental strength to just keep our own egos in check without including other peoples.

[ScoutSays]

{hugs}

Sent from somewhere in time and space using Tapatalk

[lolavictrola]

Props to you for ending the relationship when you knew it wasn't right. So often people let things drag on, because they like the person. It's not fair to either party. Kudos to you for being strong enough to choose the best option for both of you!

I ended a relationship once that truly blindsided the guy. I felt really badly about it, but I was just not as into him as he was into me. He was talking about apartments together, and I was thinking "uhhhh nooooot yet". But I never spoke up, because he was truly a good man and, very selfishly, it feels good to be loved. Finally I pulled the plug, but it was far later than what was fair. I knew a month in that I wasn't going to marry him. And I should have broken it off earlier.

[Kishi]

It's a break up. It sounds like it was the right move, and the responsible thing to do. You can know that on a rational level. But that doesn't mean it doesn't impact you even so.

 

Still, awesome gym sessions are good for smoothing that out. Hard to focus on other problems when the physical problems in front of you are just that interesting.

[Countess D'If]

Good for you for knowing your heart. It sucks to break up, even when you are doing the breaking.

[LadyWitch]

I'm loving your goals... especially the craft ones and the 'disconnect' goal. I seriously considered a 'no internet' goal (other than when I'm working) but tbh I'm not sure I could do it! 

 

Sorry about the break up, but at least you seem fairly upbeat about it, and focusing on your health and fitness is always a good thing.

[KnitJoy]

I'm excited to see how you best this challenge! Your new challenge format is intriguing. 

 

Bleh break ups are no fun. You can do it!