forkboy, again with the wagons

[forkboy]

I know, right?  As predicted day two today was even worse, ouch!  I also did DLs, Bench, BORs, and Chin-ups today so my top half should match my bottom half tomorrow rendering me basically immobile. 

 

I did end up getting my cleaning in last night and off to bed on time to boot.  I hit the gym today and now my son wants to go out for pizza for his birthday.  I think I will try and load up on salad and maybe have one slice.  I may still be able to hit my macros but will likely fail myself for eating the crust.  That's just how I am leaning.. Once home more cleaning but since I don't have to work tomorrow and I got in my 5 days of exercise already no curfew.  Time to Chi-lax.  Weekends can be the hardest food wise since I have so much down time.  Anybody else have that problem and potentially some proposed solutions?

 

Frankie says relax and I say chi-lax.

 

Toodles.

[Teros]

Sisyphus.  

I thought that said Sissy Puss.  Man, I need to take a break from the forums.  I laughed out loud.  SISSY PUSS! SISSY PU- oh. Sisyphus.

[AshPS]

Yeah, weekends can be rough. Uhmmmm...all I can say is that I handle it by keeping myself distracted. If you find yourself with some free time, maybe read a book your into or work on a hobby, play a game with your son. How many kiddos do you have? I don't think I've ever asked.  

 

Anyway, I find keeping my mind busy usually helps keep me from thinking about food. Just my two cents.  

 

That's a mighty fine week you have put in Forkboy, be proud!  

 

And, I wouldn't sweat the birthday party. Someone once reminded me of the fact that these birthdays are important to little ones and having mom and dad involved equally so. And so, I just use moderation and move on.

 

You're doing so well the rest of the time that it won't even be a blip on the radar.  

 

Have a most excellent Friday!  Hugs!

[forkboy]

I thought that said Sissy Puss.  Man, I need to take a break from the forums.  I laughed out loud.  SISSY PUSS! SISSY PU- oh. Sisyphus.

 

I think I can fairly easily say I have no interest in being Sissy Puss either.

[forkboy]

Yeah, weekends can be rough. Uhmmmm...all I can say is that I handle it by keeping myself distracted. If you find yourself with some free time, maybe read a book your into or work on a hobby, play a game with your son. How many kiddos do you have? I don't think I've ever asked.  

 

Anyway, I find keeping my mind busy usually helps keep me from thinking about food. Just my two cents.  

 

That's a mighty fine week you have put in Forkboy, be proud!  

 

And, I wouldn't sweat the birthday party. Someone once reminded me of the fact that these birthdays are important to little ones and having mom and dad involved equally so. And so, I just use moderation and move on.

 

You're doing so well the rest of the time that it won't even be a blip on the radar.  

 

Have a most excellent Friday!  Hugs!

 

Thanks Ash.  Yeah I will work on distracting myself for sure. Since we were on vacation for a bit there is plenty to distract myself with.  I did end up being able to get away with just one slice and I did hit my macros, but since my goal was "clean eating" I definitely don't think pizza counts, plus my salad was a restaurant Caesar, so I am sure it had some sugar so I will just go ahead and fail the day for food.  I am not disappointed or anything and know it is a small blip in the course of things.  I hope everyone has a super weekend!

[forkboy]

Wrapping up week 1 successfully.  I will hit my macro goals today and did my cleaning and will foam roll shortly now that I was reminded of its glory by swampling (thanks!).  

 

I was reading through Waldo's website today and besides loving the read, was reminded a lot of where I was in February right before I fell off the wagon again.  I had come so far.  So sad.  I won't wallow, just an interesting point of reflection is that I remember my struggle between reading about health and fitness a lot, learning a lot, and still having to go through the process of weight loss so slowly.  The weight coming off is a day-in-day-out struggle that requires your full attention.  You know you are making progress, but it is so painfully slow that you often don't see it.  That is the hardest part for me.  

 

I also really want to get to the next stage where I can use all the knowledge I have gained this past year.  I want to be at a point where I have to consider whether a diet break is in order, or where I need to consider my strategies of "bulking" and "cutting" instead of being in the long difficult general weight loss phase.  In reflection too, I can see I spent a long time much closer to maintenance the last time so I am hoping I get faster results this time with my new knowledge base, but still the process to just get to 20% BF could take me a year.  Day-in and day-out struggles for a year sounds daunting.  I am up for it though.  

 

I am also struggling with having faith in my convictions a little.  Last time I stuck with it for so long.  I was on this forum almost daily from September to February.  I made great progress and was on the verge of something great, I believe, yet here I find myself at the beginning, again.  When I say to myself (and to you all) that I am going to stick at this for a year how do I know I can believe myself?  

 

I need to be frank.  My failure was really just a series of rationalizations that need to be exposed and prevented.  I started with, "this is a habit, I don't really need the community accountability anymore" and "I am not really learning anything new anymore, I just need to continue to put things into practice, that won't be hard."  That started the laziness with respect to NF at least.  I then recall I had back-to-back injuries to deal with.  I was having extreme hip pain when squatting, so I had to stop.  I went back after a couple of weeks, and the pain returned, so I knew I needed a longer break, but kept pushing on.  Then I started to experience really bad headaches from most of my weight lifting activities.  I told myself I might stroke out while working out so I took a break until I could see a doctor.  I tried more running, but had headaches then too.  I then had a bunch of work-related drama and actually ended up changing my position within my organization, a pretty sizable promotion and relocation within the org.  The stress of the changed routine, work, and responsibility got me out of my diet and exercise routine, then the boulder was really rolling in the wrong direction.  My wife had an emergency room trip for her heart.  Once recovered, school was out for the kids and we had a planned family vacation.  It was on at that point, fish and chips, pints of beer, pizza, fries, it came on faster than I knew was possible.  It was a cascade.  

 

Life is going to have change and throw shit at me and I need to have faith in myself that I can battle through it.  I know now this community is oh so important and thank you all so much for helping me!  June 15th, 2015 here I come!

[AshPS]

  When I say to myself (and to you all) that I am going to stick at this for a year how do I know I can believe myself?  

 

 

Because if you disappear again I will come hunt you down and fill your email with harassing PMs!.......scared????......a little???? 

 

Seriously though, I know that you know that we have ALL been through those times. You came back. That shows that deep down you know what you needed to do, you just needed to take the action and you did. 

 

I believe in you.

 

You have the drive, you have the determination. I have seen it. You just fell into the same trap that many of us do when we think we are strong enough to go it alone. I know Steve has addressed that issue. But more so I know it from fact. People tell me I am strong, but I know that I am only strong because I am here and have people like you telling me I am. That is what makes me believe it.

 

And I understand what you went through. I had a bit of a set back after my hernia. I realized I was afraid to push the weights, afraid that I could cause it to happen again. I lost my motivation. But, I have been making a come back because I am here.

 

Now you are here, and we will be here for you. PInky swear.  

 

 

So HELLS YA June 15, 2015.......HERE WE COME!!!! :triumphant:

 

HUGS!

[forkboy]

Ash-You're the best.  Thanks!  'Nough said.  

[forkboy]

Alright day one of week two is in the books, pretty much.  I got in my sprints, hit my macros, and did my cleaning, just need to get to bed on time.  Week one summary was:

 

Exercise 5/5

Macros 7/7 (had a piece of pizza one day, but hit macros)

Curfew 5/5

Pull-ups, I think I actually may have already hit this goal, but need to review my lifting journal to make sure, should have made it harder, but didn't know where my strength level would be after 3 months off

Cleaning 7/7

 

Pretty satisfied with week one.  Lost a bit on my waist and a bit of weight.  I think I will hold full results until the end of the challenge, I am sure week one is lots of water weight coming off.

 

Off to catch up with everyone... 

[Tech_Hunter]

Well done on week one!  I can relate to your story, except I don't have injuries to blame.  I just plain got lazy and started making excuses.

 

I am also looking forward to the time where cutting and bulking will actually do something for me, instead of long weeks of weight loss.  I set myself back good this past winter/spring, but I hope to be back where I was in end of summer.  You are not alone in your process.

[forkboy]

  You are not alone in your process.

 

Thanks Tech_Hunter, that is the most important thing to know and what keeps bringing me back!

 

Today was not too shabby. Long work day, but I got in my macros, my run, my cleaning, and plan to be off to bed on time.

 

Happy Wednesday all!

[- Will -]

Heyyayayaya, Heyyaya! I said Hey! Forkboy, what's goin' on! Yeah!

 

-

 

Read your goals, and got myself caught up! You'll rock this challenge! You're doing great so far

 

As for the longer post you made on your week wrap-up, I understand your feelings of doubt. I haven't gone through what you have, but feeling unconfident and ashamed are feelings I've feelt all to often too. I've constantly doubted myself throughout all the challenges that I've done so far (and I still do), but you know what, I pulled through, and it's all because you all believed in me. Because you all where there with me, I found my courage every time I thought I'd lost it.

 

I can't say for sure that I won't trip up and make mistakes from now on. And the same goes for you; I'm not psychic, so I can't tell you that you won't mess up ever again. But that doesn't matter because I know one thing, and that's that I believe in you. I believe that you have the courage to stand back up, and continue on. I believe that you're strong enough to reach your goals, regardless of if it's difficult or not, because I'm sure you feel that as long as the road leads to somewhere worth going, it doesn't matter how difficult it is (at least that's what I think, and from what I've read, I'd assume that you share it).

 

And with every mistake, comes knowledge. Yeah, you regained the weight, but I wouldn't think of it as entirely a "setback." You learned something about yourself in the process. You learned that you were so strong before because you were surrounded by your friends. When feelings of not needing your friends came, you became lost. But as you can see, you've never lost us as friends, for true friendship is a bond that transcends time and space.

 

Like with me, friends bring you strength. And although inner strength is very, very important, there's nothing like the feeling of others friendship

 

And like the Happy Mask Salesman from Majora's Mask says at the end of the game, "Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. However, that parting need not last forever... Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short time... That is up to you.†So no matter what happens, no matter where the road take you, me, and the rest of us, I believe in you! We're friends, and no matter what separates us all, be it time through lack of contact, or space through large distances, I, along with the rest of the DAI-GURREN BRIGADE, will always have your back

[- Will -]

Oh and to add to what I said, I'm not trying to imply that friends are your, or my, only source of power. No we both have inner strength, and that part is very important. I just find that even when I'm not around with you guys on here, I think to all the encouragement you've all said to me, and I remember that my courage comes from within, not without. So if others believe in me, they must see my courage. And then that's when I start to believe in the me who believes in himself once again!

--

Oh and this song reminded me of what you're going through: Stickerbrush Sympathy (Original Rap) - Dem Games

I like to listen to it when I'm feeling discouraged. That and this for when I want to be crazy pumped up: Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker 'Full Mast'

(wanted to share the second one just cause I like the song )

[forkboy]

Thanks Will for the encouragement, support, and music, awesome stuff!  I really appreciate it man.

 

I missed the past few days of updates because work and home were a bit insane.  We are approaching our fiscal year end and my job is tertiary to accounting, so it just gets a little out of control at times.  My wife was out a bit too, so I was on full-time kid duty at times, so just not much time for NF posting is all.  I had a pretty good week though.  I have to fail myself for my nutrition goal for one day because there was an unexpected work lunch that due to circumstance would have been really awkward and inappropriate for me not to participate in.  It resulted in pasta and cheesecake, both not in my list of allowable foods, so even though I hit my Macros that day (Wednesday) I'm going to go ahead and fail myself.  I have gotten in my cleaning, off to bed on time, and my most of my exercise in though.  I still need to get in one more run either today or tomorrow.  I slept in a lot today since it has been my first opportunity in about a month to do so and now it is hot.  I have gone up to Phoenix to my mom's to visit family and it is f-ing HOT here.  It is currently 1pm and it is 103 degrees F.  Not sure I want to run in that.  Maybe closer to dusk or earlier tomorrow morning.  I did indeed complete my side fitness goal for the challenge during my strength workouts and I have lost more inches and pounds this week, so all in all it has been a pretty successful week 2.  50 more to go to make it a year.    I have been trying to think about some ways to frame upcoming challenges to ensure I stick with this path at least for the next year.  I think I am going to work on where I want to be June 15, 2015 and how I can break that up into manageable chunks and breaks.  A quest.  A mission.  A journey.  I want to have some time off on occasion, some cheat meals, some rewards, some mile markers.  I know I will likely need to adjust my plan as all plans are adjusted, but I think starting with something could be fun.  More to come on this topic (soon-sh) hopefully.  Have a great weekend!

[AshPS]

Sounds fantastic! I look forward to what you will come up with. And it's really good to see you making it a realistic and bigger picture mission. That's what will have true sticking power!  

 

Do your best and forget the rest!  

 

Ugh, I know what you mean about the heat. We have been hovering in the mid nineties. And it's one reason first morning workouts are important to me. Any later in the day and the heat and humidity here can seriously kill motivation.  

 

I wish you a most wonderful Sunday Forkboy! Hugs!  

[Swampling]

I hear you on the crazy-busy-ness...

 

And I'm looking forward to your goals and mission plans for the coming year!

 

Have a great Sunday!

[forkboy]

Okay, so quick recap rounding out week 2.  Unfortunately I had a bit of a disaster with a meal on Saturday.  We went out to Pei Wei and I thought it would be not biggie to fit in with my macros, but man was  I wrong.  I had a sesame chicken dish and I guess it was laced with gobs of sugar because my carbs went through the roof.  I ended up maxed on calories and having to skip dinner and I was short almost 90g of protein for the day, so turns out I ended up failing two days this week, bummer.  So I only have one more day I can fail the whole remaining 4 weeks to get my A and get my rewards, so I have to buckle down and be extra careful.  I did get in my run Sunday and today so other than that I guess it was okay end of the week.  

 

Summary:

Exercise:  5/5

Macros/Nutrition:  5/7

Sleep:  5/5

Side Fitness Goal:  1/1

Cleaning Side Goal:  7/7

 

Have a great week 3 everybody!

[forkboy]

k, here is my first DRAFT of my plan for the coming year.  I obviously have no idea when the challenges will be so the dates are subject to change.  I am also going to be flexible with all the goals and rewards and stuff, 

this is more of a very general road map that I will update as needed.

 

[xanjra]

I use tattoos as my motivation to lose weight too!

 

M x

[AshPS]

Forkboy, that is THE most impressive and motivational thing I have seen in a long time.

 

I am seriously inspired!

 

Now you should have it turned into a poster and frame it and hang it up so you see it every day.

 

And every time you look at it, I want you to remember that I am cheering you on. Your got this.  

[AshPS]

I use tattoos as my motivation to lose weight too!

 

M x

 

Oooh, that is awesome!

 

I currently do temps because I am too chicken too commit.   lol

[forkboy]

I use tattoos as my motivation to lose weight too!

 

M x

 

It is definitely motivational for me.  Too pricey to do regularly, but I definitely want to add some more and having a nice looking body to put them on is definitely added incentive.  

[forkboy]

Forkboy, that is THE most impressive and most impressive and motivational thing I have seen in a long time.

 

I am seriously inspired!

 

Now you should have it turned into a poster and frame it and hang it up so you see it every day.

 

And every time you look at it, I want you to remember that I am cheering you on. Your got this.  

 

Thanks Ash, I like the idea of the poster.  I think maybe a big calendar might be nice too with the major milestones, goals, and rewards on it would be cool too.  I will try and flush something out.  I am still working on some of my rewards for now...

[forkboy]

return of the graph

 

 

 

I find the scale's measurement of my body fat quite odd.  I have been getting ~200g of protein a day and weight lifting twice a week.  I find it hard to believe that my body fat is climbing and my weight is coming down this fast, that would imply I am eating all my muscle mass despite my routine.  Pish posh I say!  Anyway, I am happy with the trend in weight nonetheless.

 

Week three is off to a pretty good start I have done my exercise, hit my macros, cleaned, and gone to bed on time without error so far.

Hope your Wednesdays are a smashing success!

[Swampling]

Sounds and looks good (oooh, graphs! ), even though the BF numbers can't be right. Pish posh, indeed!

 

Great week so far!