Garth Green's 'And this time I mean it' Challenge

[Garth]

Okay, so last month's challenge got derailed, even though I said it wouldn't, by a very serious event in my life which I won't go into here.

Enough time has passed that I can think about being good again with regards to my diet and fitness.

My goals for the month:

1- Be able to do ten standard pushups in one go.

I suck at pushups. I mean really suck. I want to change this. My plan is to follow the basic training section of the rebel strength guide.

2 - Stop drinking carbonated drinks

3 - Practice my guitar for 15 minutes each day. With a view to complete the beginners section of the www.justinguitar.com beginners method.

4 - Walk to work each day. I need to stop getting the bus, I've started doing this most days.

5 - Bring lunch to work with me.

This is a two fold thing in that I can only buy stuff that really isn't that good for me at work, and it's much cheaper to bring food with me.

The next six weeks will be a big improvement.

[Hermione Gainser]

Boo derailing life event but hoorah for new challenge goals!

I make my work week lunch on Sundays. I find having something prepared ahead of time really helps.

Good luck on everything!

[Crooked]

Good luck getting back on the wagon! Are you going cold turkey on the carbonated beverages, or will you be weaning yourself off them?

[Garth]

Thanks for the support guys.

Sorry for being vague about the bad stuff that's been going on, just I know a friend that sometimes visits the site and wouldn't want him stumbling across it.

What do you take for lunch, Laura? I get a bit tired of taking the same salad and pitta bread all the time. Would be even better if I could come up with something I could make a big thing of on a Sunday and portion it out through the week.

I'm going cold turkey on carbonated drinks. It's not like I have them everyday, it's just that they're often tempting when I have had a bad day. Trying to steer clear of comfort eating/drinking. Also trying to reduce my caffeine intake down over the 6 weeks, as I know from experience that I am addicted to caffeine and get terrible muscle and head aches when I stop. Plan is to drink decaffeinated tea at home, and the odd cup of normal tea at work and then next challenge completely remove the caffeine.

[Hermione Gainser]

Well, I frequently do salads with shrimp (or another fish) so I know that gets old hahaha.

I take it you're not 100% paleo (pita bread! nom!) so these might work for you. They are all pretty easy to make any number of changes to, as well.

This week: http://caloriecount.about.com/spaghetti-squash-ground-turkey-tomato-recipe-r352632 I got this recipe from one of the New Rules of Lifting books. I believe the original recipe actually calls for 1/2 lb turkey. I use a substitute as I'm pescatarian (no red meat, poultry, pork) and broccoli instead of zucchini. It is delicious! I usually pair with a small salad or soup (check out Mark's Daily Apple chilled beet soup-nom!)

Last week: http://caloriecount.about.com/orange-spiced-salmon-recipe-r177947 with roasted cauliflower and green peas (cauliflower recipe: http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/roasted-cauliflower-glory/)

Really delicious but definitely not paleo: http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/recipe-makeovers/healthy-eggplant-parmesan-recipes-00412000068404/ goes well with spaghetti squash, also (or some pasta if you're okay with that. I find it really filling so I don't eat anything with it).

Super tasty and easy: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/seared-scallops-with-puree-50400000110419/

This works great on chicken, too (according to a friend): http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-spicy-citrus-tilapia-10000002001927/ serve with any side you desire!

I add loads more veggies and decrease the beans by 1 or 2 cans when I make it. Could also do well to add some meat to it or replace beans with meat. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chunky-vegetarian-chili-10000000554690/

Most of these require access to a microwave to reheat...I've found a toaster oven very helpful in reheating fish.

Okay...hope you find any of those helpful :-)

epic reply: ended.

[Garth]

Thanks for the all the recipe suggestions Laura, very kind of you.

I do have a microwave at work, so that won't be a problem. Will definitely give them a try.

I woke up early enough this morning that I was able to make a packed lunch, but not early enough to make lunch and walk to work. So, I will definitely be walking home today and will endevor to wake up in plenty of time to walk in tomorrow.

I played more than my alloted 15 minutes of guitar last night. I've just about learnt all of the standard open chords now (majors, minors and 7ths). Working on speeding up my chord changes and getting a few songs down really well. Learning Outkast's 'Hey Ya' and Neil Young's 'Heart of Gold' at the moment.

Haven't had a carbonated drink, so that's a win so far as well.

[Garth]

Walked home from work last night, and to work this morning so I'm pleased that I'm getting back into the swing of it. Was up in plenty of time to make my salad to take to work too.

Breakfast today consisted of an Oat So Simple Golden Syrup porridge pouch with semi skimmed milk and a cup of tea.

Lunch will be 2 x pitta bread, salad w/ tuna.

I have also brought an apple and 2 x cherry yoghurt to snack on in case I get hungry in between. Plan to replace the yoghurt with nuts soon.

I have less control over my dinner tonight as I'm going to my colleagues house for authentic Indian food tonight. (Very excited about this)

Still haven't had carbonated drinks. I also played my 15 minutes of guitar last night, even though I didn't really feel like it. I'm really pleased with myself so far.

[Hannibal]

Glad to see you back & motivated.

I know you got a quite a few good links from Laura, but what I've been doing, and has been working great, is I make sure to leave enough of my dinner for lunch the next day. Sure taking soup to work in a Ziploc container can be perilous (leaking tomato soup isn't fun), but I find it a lot easier overall. And another thing is to prepare everything just before going to bed. That way you just have to remember to grab your lunch when you're heading out the door.

[Hermione Gainser]

No problem. I love, love, love to cook. I'm always looking at and trying out new recipes. I spend a good deal of my Sunday afternoon preparing foods for the week, and Monday morning I bring it all in. I usually have two large bags (tote bags, not grocery bags). I find it easier than bringing something every day (because I will forget-I am infamously absent minded). When I do need refresh I do it the night before and leave myself a little note so I can grab and go in the morning.

Authentic Indian food sounds DELICIOUS! I love Indian food. I would love to learn how to properly cook it.

[Garth]

I'm hoping to maybe pick up some ideas/recipes while I'm there tonight. If I get any good tips, I'll be sure to pass it on to you, Laura.

I like the idea of dedicating Sundays to cooking like that. I'm very much like you in the respect that I'm absent minded. Quite often I will make a salad, but forget the tuna (I like to put the tuna in once at work in case my lunch box explodes in my bag).

Hannibal, thanks for the kind words. I'm definitely planning on making some nice soups to take to work over the colder months. Might invest in a decent container for it before hand. Using a ziploc bag sounds pretty dicey!

[Garth]

Played a little bit of guitar last night, but closer to 5 minutes than 15. I'm just pleased I picked it up. Don't want to let this goal fall by the wayside. So long as I'm at least playing a few chords everyday, I'll be getting better and faster.

I really enjoyed my Indian feast last night. Tried Paneer curry for the first time and it was amazing.

Caught the bus home last night and to work this morning. The long walk to my girlfriends house tonight should make up for that though.

Have brought lunch with me again today, so that's a win all week so far.

I plan to keep up the good work over the weekend now.

Weighed myself this morning before work, the results are as follows:

Weight - 16.7 stone/234lbs

BF- 34%

Would love to get that down as the month goes on. Lets see if I can scrape a lb a week off and be down to 16.2stone or 229lbs by the end of the challenge now.

[Garth]

Weekend went well.

I did plenty of walking over the weekend which I'm pleased about. Played the guitar plenty too. In fact, I restrung my classical guitar for the first time. It was hard work as I'd not done it before, but am pleased to have done it as I understand how it works much better now.

I resisted fizzy drinks all weekend, even though there is a bottle of coke in the house at the moment.

This morning I walked to work and managed to bring a packed lunch, which today is left over curry, pitta bread and a small side salad. Nom.

[Garth]

Walked to work again this morning, in the rain no less.

Didn't play my 15 minutes of guitar last night as I had a friend over for dinner and it was very late by the time she left.

Have brought left overs from last nights dinner for lunch today.

Weighed myself this morning, curiously my overall weight is down 2lbs from 16.7 stone/234lbs to 16.5/232lbs. However, by body fat % has gone from 34% to 35% which I found peculiar.

I really need to start the basic training section of my challenge. Will start tonight before my friends arrive for film club.

Oh, and still no soda has passed my lips.

I feel like I'd grade my challenge so far at about a C+. If I can get into the habit of walking back and forth everyday, as well as getting the basic training going I feel like I can move up.

[EvanW]

Great work on the no soda so far! That's hard to do. Keep it up.

Ohh yeah - GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR ON THE TRAINING!!!!!

[Garth]

Thanks for the encouragement/berating I need both in equal measure at this point.

The pink text is just there to taunt me right?

Will get on it tonight for sure.

[EvanW]

taunting - YOU GOT IT!

[Hermione Gainser]

Hahahahaha I was also going to ask about the pink text. Nothing like a little barbie doll pink to make you feel like manning up!

Let us know how basic goes!

I wouldn't worry too much about the bf% reading from the scale. Those things are notoriously inaccurate.

One surefire way to decrease bf: BASIC TRAINING!

[Garth]

I had another manic night, what with running my weekly film club and my girlfriend coming over to mind straight after work for dinner. Between all that I didn't get a chance to start basic last night. I'm annoyed at myself as I should have found a way to get it done last night really.

I don't have any plans this evening other than going to enrol on my masters course. That shouldn't take too long, which will give me plenty of time to get started on basic.

No guitar again last night, will fix that this evening.

Made lunch to bring with me again today. It would have been very easy to slack it off this morning, as I was running late, but just threw some bits into my bag that I can turn into a lunch even if it isn't the most appetising thing in the world.

Still keeping to no carbonated drinks which I'm very pleased about.

[Garth]

On Wednesday evening I absent mindedly bought a can of coke. It really didn't hit me until after I'd bought it that I wasn't able to drink it, but it was a close call.

I'm now officially a student again, which is very exciting.

Walked to and from work yesterday, brought a packed lunch.

Today I got the bus in as I woke up super late and didn't have anything in the house to turn into a lunch.

[Hannibal]

Congrats on getting back into school. What are you pursuing a masters in? If you've already mentioned it, sorry I missed it.

And good thing you caught yourself with the coke. I've done that a couple times, where I absentmindedly buy something or start eating something, then realize I shouldn't be eating it. Too often I remember when it's too late.

[Garth]

I'll be doing an Masters of Business Administration. Not what I would have pursued myself, but with my employers paying for it I'm more than happy to do it and improve myself and my future earning potential.

I couldn't believe it slipped my mind like that. I ended up giving the can away to a friend that's a bit of a coke addict. Guess it's easy enough to do when you're used to doing something for so long. Just goes to show how we can often buy food/drink products purely out of habit.

I started the basic training today. I had to work myself up to doing it mentally, but I think now I've started again it should be easy to keep the ball rolling. The hard part is just getting in motion again .

I managed to do the following:

Kneeling Push Ups: set 1 - 25 set 2 - 15 set 3 - 10

Bodyweight Squats: set 1 - 15 set 2 - 15 set 3 - 15

Planks: set 1 - 30 secs Set 2 - 30 secs

Really looking forward to getting back around to work out A and hopefully seeing some improvement on this.

I have been practicing guitar plenty over the weekend, and as of yet no soda has passed my lips during the challenge.

[Hermione Gainser]

I started the basic training today. I had to work myself up to doing it mentally, but I think now I've started again it should be easy to keep the ball rolling. The hard part is just getting in motion again .

I managed to do the following:

Kneeling Push Ups: set 1 - 25 set 2 - 15 set 3 - 10

Bodyweight Squats: set 1 - 15 set 2 - 15 set 3 - 15

Planks: set 1 - 30 secs Set 2 - 30 secs

Woot! Keep it up!

[Garth]

Thanks, Laura!

I'm feeling good about it. Everything is going in the right direction at the moment.

I have leftovers for work again today. I did catch the bus in though as I was running late again, that's something I definitely need to work on.

No soda still, and played some guitar yesterday and feel pleased with my progress there.

[Garth]

Walked to work this morning.

No packed lunch today as I wasn't organised enough yesterday to get to the shops and buy stuff in.

No guitar the last couple of days.

Tonight I have my induction class ahead of starting my masters in business administration for real next week.

Will be doing my next workout in the basic training schedule tonight, will post the results then.

[TibbyUK]

If you're back at Uni it's a great time to capitalise on the sports on offer.

I took up Thai Boxing at Uni and was one of the best things I did in terms of fitness. Sadly I let myself go a bit after Uni, but back on the up now!

Looks like you have a good plan in place though, in terms of the pushups you should take a look at the 100 pushups challenge website. It has a good training schedule which you can do weeknights at home to up your strength around your workouts.