Let the Games Continue!

[Galaxy Gamer]

This time I am continuing my previous quest and kicking it up a modest notch with more specificity to stretch myself. I reserve the right to tweak these a bit until the start of the challenge, but not afterward.

 

Main Quest:

 

My main quest is still to get healthy and develop the habits to stay that way. If I can lose another ten pounds and have more energy, I will be very happy.

 

Main Side Quests:

 

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

M3. Floss and fluoride rinse daily.

M4. Weight training twice weekly, cardio once weekly.

 

Life Quest:

 

I will be continuing my creative goals and adding some much-needed organization. Hopefully by the end of six weeks I will have three novel outlines and a new job.

 

Life Side Quests:

 

L1. Achieve and maintain zero email inbox.

L2. Sort and file incoming snail mail.

L3. Submit 5 resumes weekly.

L4. Create one novel outline every 2 weeks.

 

Here's to continued health, happiness, and success for everyone!

[ShadowLion]

Nice goals!

 

The only one that seems a little off to me is the calorie one. Are you sure that 1400 calories or less will be enough to maintain your energy, especially with three workouts per week? That isn't much for most people that are working out regularly. Just my two cents, because it's been problematic for me when I go below 1500 - 1600. Your mileage may vary.

 

Best of luck this challenge on all your endeavors!

[Galaxy Gamer]

You could be right, though my workouts aren't that intense at the moment. It may be that I crank that calorie limit up a bit as we go.

[Countess D'If]

I hate flossing! I hates it!! It's such a hard habit to get into!

Good luck with the new job hunt!

[Galaxy Gamer]

Thanks!

[Galaxy Gamer]

Edited the calorie goal to allow extra fuel for cardio.

[vibrantnotions]

I think your challenge goals sound really productive and beneficial.  Good luck this challenge!

[vibrantnotions]

Please excuse this double post.

[Galaxy Gamer]

Thanks!

[Galaxy Gamer]

Some expanded comments on individual goals:

 

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

 

This one's tough. It's 7:21AM on day one, I've been awake since 5AM, and I'm starving already.  The main purpose is to keep me from snacking at night but it's hitting me hard in the morning as well.

 

L1. Achieve and maintain zero email inbox.

 

In the first time in forever, my inbox is clear. Really, I think I still had the "Welcome to Gmail" messages that were present the first time I logged in. It's taken two months behind the scenes to clear many thousands of emails, and I'm aiming to keep it that way.

 

L4. Create one novel outline every 2 weeks.

 

I had a weird dream that I completely mastered Flappy Bird--although in real life I only have a high score of 7 after playing all afternoon--and that future scientists bring me back to life in the 22nd Century because Flappy Bird has become sentient and someone has to prevent it from taking over the world.  That could be a book, couldn't it?

 

It's going to be an interesting six weeks.

[Galaxy Gamer]

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).
M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

I was off to a great start until 11PM last night. I was at 1398 calories for the day, and then I met a bag of chips and all my willpower abandoned me. I started this morning with a Dunkin' Donuts breakfast wrap at 6:45--but only because I was on my way to a dental appointment and possibly wouldn't be able to eat otherwise until noon. So far I'm zero for two on the interval fasting.

 
M3. Floss and fluoride rinse daily.

 

The dentist says I'm not getting the backs of my lower front teeth well enough. It's good to have input from a professional. Also, after having my roots scraped, I can say that my teeth probably have not been this clean in years. On my way home, I downloaded an app that gives you four thirty-second timers for the four quadrants of your mouth, so you can be sure that all your teeth are getting enough attention as you brush. That should help.

[ShadowLion]

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

I was off to a great start until 11PM last night. I was at 1398 calories for the day, and then I met a bag of chips and all my willpower abandoned me. I started this morning with a Dunkin' Donuts breakfast wrap at 6:45--but only because I was on my way to a dental appointment and possibly wouldn't be able to eat otherwise until noon. So far I'm zero for two on the interval fasting.

 

M3. Floss and fluoride rinse daily.

 

The dentist says I'm not getting the backs of my lower front teeth well enough. It's good to have input from a professional. Also, after having my roots scraped, I can say that my teeth probably have not been this clean in years. On my way home, I downloaded an app that gives you four thirty-second timers for the four quadrants of your mouth, so you can be sure that all your teeth are getting enough attention as you brush. That should help.

 

 

I had root planing a few years back. It does work well. Was danged uncomfortable, though. Hang in there on the food. It's hard to make those sorts of changes. Is there some way to phase the fasting in, maybe 11 - 7 one week then add an hour on subsequent weeks?

[Galaxy Gamer]

What I've found for the past couple days is that I've had increased mindfulness in the 9-bedtime slot that I should be done for the night, and in the wake-8 slot that there's no need to rush into breakfast. Now I just need to translate mindfulness into willpower.

[vibrantnotions]

What I've found for the past couple days is that I've had increased mindfulness in the 9-bedtime slot that I should be done for the night, and in the wake-8 slot that there's no need to rush into breakfast. Now I just need to translate mindfulness into willpower.

 

I always forget how differently people react to breakfast (or lack thereof).  I'd be starving, grumpy, and sick to my tummy, but then I know a lot of people really benefit from the intermittent fasting where they skip breakfast.  

[Galaxy Gamer]

I always forget how differently people react to breakfast (or lack thereof).  I'd be starving, grumpy, and sick to my tummy, but then I know a lot of people really benefit from the intermittent fasting where they skip breakfast.  

 

I still think breakfast is important, but if I eat something at 6AM, I'm hungry again at 8AM anyway, and then again at 10AM. So I end up having three breakfasts. Even Frodo only ever had second breakfast, and then elevensies...

[Galaxy Gamer]

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

 

1498 calories yesterday, but only because of the avocado. I've been eating avocado and strawberries for breakfast a couple mornings each week, which I highly recommend, but it requires cutting an avocado in half for one morning and saving the other half for the next day. I was at 1350 calories in the evening when a commitment came up for this morning, and I couldn't let that avocado turn brown and go to waste...so I ate it. And some strawberries to go with it. But at least I kept my 9PM to 8AM interval, so yay!

 

M4. Weight training twice weekly, cardio once weekly.

 

I can do pushups again without my back and shoulders twinging! The standing desk is working wonders on my spine.

 

L4. Create one novel outline every 2 weeks.

 

I had an idea this morning, and yesterday I came up with my "one awesome thing" for March.

[vibrantnotions]

I still think breakfast is important, but if I eat something at 6AM, I'm hungry again at 8AM anyway, and then again at 10AM. So I end up having three breakfasts. Even Frodo only ever had second breakfast, and then elevensies...

Oh yeah. I do that too. You make a very good point. I hadn't really thought about it!

[Galaxy Gamer]

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

 

There were 2 of 7 days this week when I was able to accomplish both of these. I could usually manage one or the other but not both. Trouble this weekend came in the form of a family function--the kind with passed hors d'ourves, buffet lines, and lots of time to mix and mingle. I expect the scale gods to punish me on weigh-in day. The good thing about a family function, though, is that family members who hadn't seen me for a few months quite vocally noticed my weight loss.

 

M3. Floss and fluoride rinse daily.

 

I'm really getting into flossing as a form of therapy. I take all my aggressions out on my gumline.

 

M4. Weight training twice weekly, cardio once weekly.

 

Now that I'm using my standing desk, I no longer feel twinges in my back when I work out, so I've gotten the first good workouts in a month or more. 

 

L1. Achieve and maintain zero email inbox.

L2. Sort and file incoming snail mail.

 

So far, so good!

 

L3. Submit 5 resumes weekly.

 

Probably won't meet this...

 

L4. Create one novel outline every 2 weeks.

 

I get another week to finish this one...

[Galaxy Gamer]

Weigh-in today...I'm under 200 pounds for the first time in a decade.  Woot!

[Jakkals]

Congratulations. Welcome down here.

[Galaxy Gamer]

M1. Track calories daily, averaging 1400/day (+200 on Cardio Days).

M2. No eating between 9PM and 8AM.

 

I've been doing this, but the "cheat" has been to add more cardio days. If you'd really call that a cheat.

 

M3. Floss and fluoride rinse daily.

 

I don't think I've ever paid more attention to my dental health, and the 2-minute brushing timer app is working nicely.

 

L1. Achieve and maintain zero email inbox.

 

This is a struggle, but I'm keeping my inbox under 20 emails and emptying it out totally once weekly.

 

L4. Create one novel outline every 2 weeks.

 

This is fast becoming the stretch goal that's falling by the wayside. Oh-no!

[Galaxy Gamer]

The good news is that I met my goals, mostly, this week. I was slightly over my calorie budget for the week. There were a couple days when I ate after 9PM. I don't have a story outline, but put some work into a new/old project that I feel good about. The bad news is that I actually gained a pound last week. Somehow. And I'm kind of down about it.  I've dealt with lapses in will-power that lead to disappointing results, but this week I did everything I was supposed to and still gained an entire pound.  It doesn't seem possible.

[ShadowLion]

Weigh-in today...I'm under 200 pounds for the first time in a decade. Woot!

Congrats on the weight woot!

The good news is that I met my goals, mostly, this week. I was slightly over my calorie budget for the week. There were a couple days when I ate after 9PM. I don't have a story outline, but put some work into a new/old project that I feel good about. The bad news is that I actually gained a pound last week. Somehow. And I'm kind of down about it. I've dealt with lapses in will-power that lead to disappointing results, but this week I did everything I was supposed to and still gained an entire pound. It doesn't seem possible.

Don't let the pound get you down. You may have had too much salt or something. Scales are not the best gauge of progress, either. You may have gained muscle. Stick to your plan and trust that as long as you are doing the right things most of the time, you will reach your goal.

Mind your mind and don't let the mood of the moment make you risk going backwards. You've got this!

[Galaxy Gamer]

Thanks, I needed that.

[Jakkals]

I know how that feels. It is even worse if you expect a good result and the scale thinks differently.

 

Don't worry, keep on with the right stuff and the scale will also play along.

 

(My personal worst moment is when I gained 4 kg (8 lbs) over a weekend without doing anything wrong. Fortunately it dropped just as fast.)