Don't Follow Teagarden's Footsteps, She Walks into Walls.

[Stonie]

Last challenge I found myself a little bit vague and wandering, lacking a sense of purpose. Without set restrictions on what I could and couldn't eat I found myself indulging more and eating more stuff I knew I shouldn't be. I still made improvements physically - running for longer and doing more push ups - but I know I can do so much better. So this challenge I'm going to be focussing on improving my physical form more then any higher consciousness type challenges typically found over at the Druids.

 

Shape shifting as a druid requires a certain knowledge about one's true form… And mine has gotten a bit hazy and well, pudgy. If I am to be the best druid I can be I need to know what my body is capable of, push those limits as far as they can go, and make those new limits my norm. Hence me joining the ranks of the Rangers this time to really buckle down and put some serious hours in. 

 

I don't want to be "sort of" or "kinda" fit, I want a clearly defined body shape with clearly defined muscles, as well as knowing my body's abilities. I want to put a number on my deadlifts and squats, and I want to have a total of exactly how many push ups I can do, and pull-ups (eventually) instead of this "I can lift some weight sometimes!". No more. 

 

No more of this vagary flaky "I might do this but I might not" shenanigans, I'm Keeping It Simple (Stupid!) This time around.

 

Them's The Rules!

 

Eat. Intermittently. Between 12pm - 9pm 7 days a week. (42 days) STA +4

I prefer to have a coffee for breakfast and eat bigger at lunch and dinner, so I'm going to experiment with this this challenge. I was going to try primal again but apart from making me fat if I have too much, my body doesn't have a problem with bread and dairy, so I will allow them but limit my intake. I've worked my way off milk anyway, but bread is something I haven't been able to give up yet. So instead of that I'm going to try fasting. I'll also count my calories for at least the first two weeks and see exactly what I'm eating and what I need to change. I've been too vague on this too.

 

TDEE: 2000cal. I'll be aiming for around 1800cal every day so hopefully slowly I shed the little bit of excess fat around my stomach, and go from there. 

 

 

Motivation: I want to stay around 15-17% BF, eating enough protein and fat to help my body recover and build muscle and keep me healthy. 

 

 

 

Sleep. (42 nights) CON +4

7.5hours a night. Every night. No exceptions. Getting to bed by 11 should give me more then enough hours sleep and I might even coax myself into get up earlier. If this isn't long enough after two weeks I'll up it to 9 hours. 

 

Motivation: I want to feel awake when I get out of bed. I want my morning coffee to be optional, not a necessity. I want to be able to spring out of bed and greet the day.

 

 

 

Run. 3 days a week. (18 days) DEX +4

Finish my C25K program, move onto a 10k program as that is staggered nicely and I feel like I'm accomplishing something.

Otherwise if it's raining and cold outside 2 HIIT workouts spaced throughout the day. 

 

Motivation: Rule #1 is cardio.

 

 

 

Lift. 2 days a week. (12 days) STR +2, STA +1

Deadlifts and squats etc, bodyweight workouts, the Rebel Outcast Workout etc. Keeping up my motivation for actually doing hardcore exercise is hard for me, hence the extra stamina point awarded for completing this. 

 

Motivation: I want to be able to deadlift and squat my own body weight. I want to be able to do 20 push ups. And I want to do a chin up. At least one.

 

 

 

I'll will be keeping track daily through my Battle Log (Starting from around page 19) and update here weekly with my scores for each section. Also for a change I made myself a pretty spreadsheet to colour in and type numbers into which you are welcome to look at. And I've also made an MFP account to log food. All the accountability!

 

 

 

Starting Stats:

I'm not expecting these to change a whole lot, but out of interest I'd like to see if anything changes, and where on my body it does. 

 

Weight: 64kgs

 

Measurements (in cm)

Neck: 32

Chest: 72

Waist: 69

Hips: 85

Thigh (both): 51

Upper arm (both): 27

 

BF %: 17.2

 

Deadlift: 20kgs

Squat: 11kgs

Push ups: 1x7

Pull ups: 0

[Leonine]

Awesome challenge! I think it's really admirable how you're able to have the desire to change, and then set hard and fast goals for how to get there. Not everyone can do that, you've got superpowers! I'm really looking forward to watching you kick some tail, best of luck Tea!

[Hammlin]

Your title made me giggle out loud. Because I walk into walls as well. My people!

[Stonie]

Awesome challenge! I think it's really admirable how you're able to have the desire to change, and then set hard and fast goals for how to get there. Not everyone can do that, you've got superpowers! I'm really looking forward to watching you kick some tail, best of luck Tea!

 

Change is no problem for me, my life is in constant flux because I have a short attention span. xD Do all the things! It gets me in trouble, I do more then I can handle and overwhelm myself. Not this time!

 

Your title made me giggle out loud. Because I walk into walls as well. My people!

 

Nothing is safe. Walls. Benches. Chairs. The floor! I'll walk into them all.

[Tearose]

subbed! Love your goals

[Quickdraw]

I love that you added the specific motivation for each of your subquests.  I'll be keeping an eye in here!

 

On the sleep, that's one of the things that most people do poorly and don't know why.  It's also one of the subjects I teach to my junior Marines.  If you're struggling with this one, I can share my class outline.

[QuirkyDM]

Rangers and druids ... sharing the woods and swapping trade secrets. Sounds good to me.

 

Subbing for the fact that we seem to be walking the same path. I have the same workout schedule you do. And if I would have put another goal up, it would have been to get 8 hours sleep every night because i was shorting myself last challenge and was practically brain dead all the time. I'm also more than a little curious on how fasting works for you as that would be one of my next body experiments if I decide to give it a shot.

[Stonie]

I love that you added the specific motivation for each of your subquests.  I'll be keeping an eye in here!

 

On the sleep, that's one of the things that most people do poorly and don't know why.  It's also one of the subjects I teach to my junior Marines.  If you're struggling with this one, I can share my class outline.

 

I'll keep that in mind, thanks! Yeah, Apart from crawling into bed and waiting till I fall asleep, I don't really know much else about sleeping. I was thinking about adding a "no technology after 10pm" clause to assist, but that's getting complicated. I'm going for simple. 

 

Rangers and druids ... sharing the woods and swapping trade secrets. Sounds good to me.

 

Subbing for the fact that we seem to be walking the same path. I have the same workout schedule you do. And if I would have put another goal up, it would have been to get 8 hours sleep every night because i was shorting myself last challenge and was practically brain dead all the time. I'm also more than a little curious on how fasting works for you as that would be one of my next body experiments if I decide to give it a shot.

 

Yeah, they are more similar then you would first believe. I used to shift work so my sleep pattern was ruined, but going to bed at a reasonable time seems to be working so far. Well, during Zero Week at least. Having a routine is weirdd.

 

Not gonna lie, the fasting thing is half "I can't be bothered cooking breakfast" and half "I can't be bothered being strict about what I eat." I started my first challenge eating paleo but I can't keep myself away from fresh home made bread long enough so I'm trying to let myself eat all the things... in moderation. 

[RES]

Subbing because you're awesome

[Stonie]

Subbing because you're awesome

 

Naw, Thanks!

[pumazealy]

i walk into walls too, always have sore arms, hands, elbows.

[pattycake118]

I'm curious to follow along with your intermittent fasting - I just don't know if I could do it! I look forward to each meal....

 

On the sleep, that's one of the things that most people do poorly and don't know why.  It's also one of the subjects I teach to my junior Marines.  If you're struggling with this one, I can share my class outline.

I'd be interested in the sleep class outline! This is one of my goals this challenge as well.

[Thom Stépan]

I am not missing out on your journey to awesomeness my friend. 

 

Although I am fully confident that you will rock this challenge well. 

[Quickdraw]

I'm curious to follow along with your intermittent fasting - I just don't know if I could do it! I look forward to each meal....

I'd be interested in the sleep class outline! This is one of my goals this challenge as well.

If multiple people could use it, I'll get it rewritten (it's a little particular to my Marines right now) and posted in my thread in the next few days, and link to it here.

[pattycake118]

If multiple people could use it, I'll get it rewritten (it's a little particular to my Marines right now) and posted in my thread in the next few days, and link to it here.

That would be much appreciated! A lot of people have sleep as a goal, so I do believe a lot of people could use it.

If you can't though, thanks for the thought anyways!

[Stonie]

If multiple people could use it, I'll get it rewritten (it's a little particular to my Marines right now) and posted in my thread in the next few days, and link to it here.

 

Agreed! I'd definitely read it.

[Stonie]

Updated my main post to include my starting stats from my usual Monday morning weigh in. I'm not expecting much of a change but I'd like to see what changes, if anything.

 

Also, I've decided to try a thing where I go for "combos" - that is, days on end of completing everything. The higher combo score I get (for eating, exercising, and sleeping) the betterer the prizes I get at the end of the challenge. I'm hoping that this gives me more of a reason to want to stick to my routine every day, instead of flaking and "doing it later" which never happens. 

[Stonie]

Week One Summary

 

Eat:

1800cal: 7 / 7 days complete. A.

between 12pm & 9pm: 7 / 7 complete. A.

 

Combo: 7 days.

 

Sleep.

Before 11pm: 7 / 7 days complete. A.

 

Combo: 7 days.

 

Run.

3 days a week : 3 / 3 days complete. A.

 

Lift.

2 days a week: 2 / 2 days complete. A.

 

Combo: 7 days. 

 

 

Grade for Week One: A.

Booyeah! 

[Thom Stépan]

You totally rocked week one. 

 

See being a ranger is good for you.

[Stonie]

You totally rocked week one. 

 

See being a ranger is good for you.

 

I think it might be!

[QuirkyDM]

 

Grade for Week One: A.

Booyeah! 

 

I'll see your Booyeah! and raise you a woot!woot!  Great job on week 1!

 

Teagarden doesn't walk into walls. She walks through them.

[pattycake118]

Amazing first week!

[pumazealy]

awesome first week!! An A is just amazing.

 

[Barfly]

And, you look good in a beard

[Stonie]

Week Two Summary

 

Eat:

1800cal: 6 / 7 days complete. A-.

Between 12pm & 9pm: 5 / 7 complete. B.

 

Broke an 11-day combo on Saturday. Gawddamnit.

Combo 1 day.

 

Sleep.

Before 11pm: 7 / 7 days complete. A.

 

Combo: 14 days.

Nearly missed a couple but just got in there.

 

Run.

3 days a week : 3 / 3 days complete. A.

 

Lift.

2 days a week: 2 / 2 days complete. A.

 

Combo: 14 days. 

 

 

Grade for Week Two: A-

 

I did set myself a pretty high bar last week. Eating got a bit slack, and I cut loose completely when I was out of town with friends on Saturday. But we're back on the horse and trying again. I tried a bit too hard on my weights and nearly hurt myself (I'm good) but did quite well while out running.

 

Week three will be me cleaning up my diet a bit, and figuring out how to get a run in when it's raining like the world's ending.