MandyM's first Quest!

[MandyM]

Hello !

It's pretty cool to come back to this forum and finally start my first 6week challenge!

English is not my native language, so please, if any of you see something wrong here, let me know, k? =)

 

My main goal is to lose weight, to be fit and strong again, and with a 32% of body fat after finishing college i just knew i had to start with something, anything, to change the way i am right now.

I was part of the soccer team at high school, and had amazing stamina, feeling good all the time... i miss this. Now, i'm easily tired and can't run for long, and want to change, and since i have problems with building habits, i will begin with running again. 

So, even if is not something i love to do (truly love kung fu) it will be a start.

After the challenge, i want to be able to run a 5k in 30min or less. So far i'm using Nike+ Running in my cellphone to track progress, but i'll post the results here too.

http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/running/home/A_Martins91

 

My Goal : To run 5k in 30 minutes

 

 

First challenge: -I will work out at least 3 times a week;

Working out will help me to build strength and define my muscles. I'm still strong for a woman even without any training all these years, but the point here will be to improve what i have now.

 

Second challenge: -I will run at least 3 times a week;

So far i'm usually running only two times a week, but now i want to do this at least 3 times, running a minimum of 4km.

 

Third challenge:-I will not eat pizza, burguer or drink beer more than once every 15 days;

I'm not sure if i can use this as a mini goal, but for me is something important.. I'm a burger lover. Period.

I'm a beer lover, and i mean true love for these two. And i know i need to change the habit to eat this as much as i can. My college years ended dez/2013, and thanks to that, i don't hang out with my friends that much to go out eating and drinking. But even without them, every weekend i go out to eat delicious crap like twice.

 

I began to change my routine to work out at the beginning of the year, but did poor changes to my eating habit. So challenge 3 will be the hardest. 

 

Good luck everybody, let's do this!

[StuffedInABoxx]

Awesome goals! The distance running scares me...way to take it on! Looks like some good steps to take to me!

 

Can't wait to hear about your progress in this!

[RES]

Good luck with your goals and the challenge!

[Nuala]

What kind of workouts are you doing?

[MandyM]

Wow, thanks for being here guys!

What kind of workouts are you doing?

For now i'm in the middle of the basic workout from my gym.. abs, biceps,triceps,back and only one routine for leg, i suppose it's a squatting machine lol.

16 routines, i've done 10. After that i'll post the updates

 

Good luck with your goals and the challenge!

Thanks! 

 

Awesome goals! The distance running scares me...way to take it on! Looks like some good steps to take to me!

 

Can't wait to hear about your progress in this!

Thanks!! I'm not a running fan, but since i can't play soccer with my high school team anymore, at least for me it's a goal i can see the progress! =)

[copo]

 

Good luck!

 

I was doing a 5k program for a while, and around week 4 it actually became SUPER fun!

 

Can't wait to hear how things go!

[MandyM]

 

 

Good luck!

 

I was doing a 5k program for a while, and around week 4 it actually became SUPER fun!

 

Can't wait to hear how things go!

 

Well, i ran 2 times a week for the last 3 weeks.. and now i'm starting to enjoy that half hour.. but i'm stuck at 4km/30 min, so i'll push harder to improve my distance =)

[Nuala]

I was not sure how to tag your thread but considering your quest is to run a 5k, I'll be tagging you as a scout Good luck for your challenge!

[fultonator]

Woohoo first challenge!

I hear you on the beer! Soo delicious. Why do liquid calories have to be so deadly

[MandyM]

Nuala, I'm planning on dividing my quests between ranger (since I run and lift some) and monk, for my kung fu passion.

Is it possible to change tag for this quest for ranger?

[MandyM]

Fultonator... so hard to control myself and drink less or nothing.. but I'm doing better! Two hangouts, two nights.. and barelly 300ml of beer each.

I know it's not ideal, but I'll keep going.

[MandyM]

Frustrated about yesterday. .

Lunch : eat all you can Mexican food

Dinner : beer and pizza.

Workout: damn ok

Running: no..

Trying not to feel guilty and focusing on monday.

[Nuala]

Added both monks and rangers tag. I have left the scout tag because you have a running goal right now, and it's always good to have some expert looking at our training! Tags are just someone to help the other to find you, they don't determine what you will be next time

[MandyM]

Thanks!

[Hazard]

Frustrated about yesterday. .

Lunch : eat all you can Mexican food

Dinner : beer and pizza.

Workout: damn ok

Running: no..

Trying not to feel guilty and focusing on monday.

 

 

You had me at Mexican food.

[robozebra]

I graduated from college this December too! And I've had the same thing happen to my fitness levels while I was studying, lol. When I started running I hated it and had to force myself to go out but it only took a couple weeks for that to change. I went from forcing myself to go out and run to forcing myself to stay in on my rest days! Hopefully you'll find that, too. And I hear you on the beer thing. I don't drink very often but man do I love beer. It doesn't help that there are some places near me that sell some amazing craft beers or that my city has a really good local brewery (Legend Brewery in Richmond, VA). I think your goal there is a good one, though. Don't cut it out entirely, but cut back. It's all about moderation!

Good luck!

[MandyM]

Quick update.. today was kung fu day!

A 3 hour training, now everything hurts but I love it

Baguazhang style

[TyrantLizard]

Hello! Your goals look doable and rewarding. I like that you're not trying to cut burgers and beer out 100%. It's good to eat healthy but life should also include a bit of decadence occasionally.

 

Your English seems pretty strong to me, by the way. I love learning languages and I know it's really challenging, so I always admire people who have succeeded in getting to a level in a foreign language where they can communicate effectively. What's your native language?

 

Oh, and I completely agree with you about burgers. Sometimes now, instead of going out for burgers and fries, we stay home and make our own burgers and forget about the fries. It makes the food healthier and means we can control the portions. Plus we can do crazy things like arugula-hummous-cabbage toppings.

 

I played soccer in high school too (half back) and it was fantastic exercise. If you really love it, is there any way you could still play, like some kind of adult intramural league? Your running goal is also pretty ambitious! I too want to run a 5K, but I am not going to put a time limit on my first one  

 

Anyway, good luck! I will be here to cheer when you succeed.

[Tkal]

Even if you have no martial arts in your challenge this round, don't hesitate to drop by the monks. If your heat is in the art, get from there an extra motivation to improve.

 

Anyway, if you don't mind I'll follow you

[german]

Great goals Mandy!, if you want to increase your speed, you may want to add some shorter and faster runs (tempo runs), and/or interval training, where you run as fast as you can for a short period of time and then jog (or even walk) for some time, rinse and repeat!

[JuiceeTarget]

I really like your goals. One thing to remember with running is that in the beginning, don't focus on how you feel while running (in the beginning you won't feel great) but focus on how good you feel when you are done running. That feeling of accomplishment, that slightly tired but satisfied feeling can become addictive (in a good way)

I did that in the beginning and after a while I really started to enjoy the running itself. Now the motivation is easy and I love running. Here's hoping you do too.

[MandyM]

Even if you have no martial arts in your challenge this round, don't hesitate to drop by the monks. If your heat is in the art, get from there an extra motivation to improve.

 

Anyway, if you don't mind I'll follow you

 

Thanks Tkal! And actually, kung fu is something that makes me feel truly alive.. u feel the ache in the muscles, but at the same time, our mind is just so calm and relaxed... =) 

Of course i don't mind if u follow, it's so cool to see people here really talking and interacting!

[MandyM]

Hi GoodDoug! I always try to focus on the way my body feels when i'm running, but for the point is not about pain.. physical pain is really easy to endure..

The real problem here is about my head.

The crappy days, stressing job, family fights let me so exhausted sometimes that i know i have two options : or just go home and get some sleep to forget about it all, or change my mind, relax and go run. If i try to ignore my mental state i just freak out and can't do anything straight, and my performance will be way too low.

 

Saw this last week, it's so cool i want to share it

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running

[MandyM]

I graduated from college this December too! And I've had the same thing happen to my fitness levels while I was studying, lol. When I started running I hated it and had to force myself to go out but it only took a couple weeks for that to change. I went from forcing myself to go out and run to forcing myself to stay in on my rest days! Hopefully you'll find that, too. And I hear you on the beer thing. I don't drink very often but man do I love beer. It doesn't help that there are some places near me that sell some amazing craft beers or that my city has a really good local brewery (Legend Brewery in Richmond, VA). I think your goal there is a good one, though. Don't cut it out entirely, but cut back. It's all about moderation!

Good luck!

 

Robozebra, we havee beer love in commom! Brazil isn't really a country known for craft beers, but thank god we can import lol But they can be reaaaaally expensive, so i'm also saving some money in this quest.

If i said i would cut out beers and drinks, i would not succeed. You see, the point of my first challenge is not even about food, is about trying to build some good habits =)

[MandyM]

Hello! Your goals look doable and rewarding. I like that you're not trying to cut burgers and beer out 100%. It's good to eat healthy but life should also include a bit of decadence occasionally.

 

Your English seems pretty strong to me, by the way. I love learning languages and I know it's really challenging, so I always admire people who have succeeded in getting to a level in a foreign language where they can communicate effectively. What's your native language?

 

Oh, and I completely agree with you about burgers. Sometimes now, instead of going out for burgers and fries, we stay home and make our own burgers and forget about the fries. It makes the food healthier and means we can control the portions. Plus we can do crazy things like arugula-hummous-cabbage toppings.

 

I played soccer in high school too (half back) and it was fantastic exercise. If you really love it, is there any way you could still play, like some kind of adult intramural league? Your running goal is also pretty ambitious! I too want to run a 5K, but I am not going to put a time limit on my first one  

 

Anyway, good luck! I will be here to cheer when you succeed.

 

Heey, good to hear from you again!

 

I'm brazilian, my native language is portuguese  

 

Fries *-* omg home burguer.. *sigh* If you really think about, home burguer is aaalmost a healthy meal.. haha

 

And i was a half back player at soccer too! well.. people play soccer all the time in parks over here, but i didn't find any group to join yet =(

 

Come on and run with me a 5k in 30 or 40 min, that way you can track progress of your running time! Like.. now i do a 4km/30min = 8km/hour speed. I need a 10km/h speed to reach 5km.. So i know how i'm doing now and how i want to be at april 6th 

 

I'll run later, will post when i'm done.. my concentration last night was 0