thatgirlwrites might actually finish a challenge this time!

[Fitz_Hulk]

I've started two challenges and am yet to finish one. This time around, I'm going for the smallest of baby steps to keep me on track to getting fitter and eating healthier.

Step one: walk to mordor!
Walk one kilometre every day.
That's it. One measly km. every day.
I'm tracking this on runkeeper, where I have a goal set up with 2,846 km—the distance to Mordor and back, from the Shire.

ATTRIBUTE POINTS: STA 3 CON 1

Step two: yoga every damn day
I want to get as flexible as I was when I was younger. Well, not quite. I want to be better than I was then. I want to be able to do a proper handstand. I want to do the things I see on my Instagram feed. (I follow a lot of yogis).
So my goal is to do yoga every day for at least ten minutes.

ATTRIBUTE POINTS: DEX 3 STR 1

Step three: paleo central
I was a vegetarian for eight and a half years. I recently got back to eating meat (a personal choice) but I want to do it the healthy way. I want to eat real food. I'm allowing dairy for this challenge because I'm fairly sure my digestive system is okay with that and also because it's my way of easing myself into the new way of eating. I'm giving myself a score out of ten for every day, depending on how well I eat and how I feel physically and mentally about it.

ATTRIBUTE POINTS: CON  3

Extra motivation
My life quest is to be a better person. I know this isn't a quantifiable goal so I'm using the medium of SuperBetter to express it—I want to get more resilient. SuperBetter is a game designed to help you level up in life. You can power up at any time, fight bad guys, complete quests and make allies to improve your resilience and get happier.
My resilience started at 280 and, based on the max points you can gain in a day, my goal is to get 470 points, so up to 750 at the end of this challenge. Some of the power ups and quests will be a part of the goals I've already outlined, and some will be extra credit.

ATTRIBUTE POINTS:  CHA 2 WIS 2

[Fitz_Hulk]

We are on to day three! Here are my updates so far:

 

Days one and two were pretty similar. I had to work both days, and I had a long weekend. I almost missed the start of the challenge! But I got it done. 

 

Monday:

 

Walk one km--check! I actually walked two k's

Yoga--Check!

Paleo--8/10 I did pretty well on the paleo front but I was pretty tired and didn't eat a good meal for dinner. Not a good choice!
 

Checked into SuperBetter--check!

 

Tuesday:

 

Walk one km--check! Again, I walked about two and a half k's. I leave earlier so I can walk a few tram stops up and I got off a few tram stops early on my way home, too.

Yoga--Check! only just, but I did it.

Paleo--8/10 I ate well except for dinner (burger and chips) and then I felt bloated afterwards. So, one point off for dinner, one off for bloated feeling. 

 

Checked into SuperBetter--check! Here is my SuperBetter activity wall if you want to have a look!

 

Today I had dumplings for lunch. I've found that I'm pretty useless if I don't have a plan of attack around food. I follow along with the crowd, too. I need to get better at eating differently to the people around me and also at meal prep. I'm okay with this, though! I know it's early days yet. I'm hoping my weekly average will improve over time. I'm all set for snacks, and I have gum to ward off against sudden sweet tooth urges. It's just sometimes I am lazy.

[Fitz_Hulk]

Okay. 

Wednesday report: 

 

Walking--check!

Yoga--check!

Paleo--8/10

SuperBetter--check!

 

Thursday:

Walking--only just, but check!

yoga--check!

Paleo--8/10

SuperBetter--got on but didn't do everything I wanted to. I missed a few quests. I have to get on top of those. 

[GingaNinja]

Good job! Glad things are going well so far!

[Teros]

Looks good. Baby steps forward are still steps forward.  It usually takes a little bit to start building up consistency.

 

How are you doing on this first week?

 

If you have questions, feel free to send me a message (How to PM and follow/ ) or post at the Tavern (Tavern ) . Don't forget to check out the minis if you want ( Minis).

 

Good luck and have fun this challenge

[Fitz_Hulk]

Thanks guys!

 

This week ended tough--it's winter, and hard to get out of bed some days. Plus, I had a bit of a celebration weekend, so I ate poorly for quite a few meals. Not to worry! It's a new week.

 

Friday check in:

Walk: check!

Yoga: check!

Paleo: 5/10

SuperBetter: checked in, did not complete everything

 

Saturday:

Walk: check!

Yoga: missed it!

Paleo: 2/10

SuperBetter: checked in, did not complete everything

 

Sunday:

Walk: check!

Yoga: check!

Paleo: 6/10

SuperBetter: checked in, did not complete everything.

 

I have a lot on my plate with uni, but eating paleo makes me feel better (I've been feeling bloated and I'm pretty sure that's why) and walking and yoga help me clear my head as well as the physical benefits. Sometime this week I want to update SuperBetter with more quests related to the challenge, and I also want to attribute points to my goals for this quest. I added extra push ups in regards to the mini challenge for the adventurers, so I'm giving myself an extra .5 STR this week. Hooray!

 

Onwards and upwards!

[Fitz_Hulk]

This week's update: 

 

I weighed and measured myself on Wednesday, but I'm not sure how accurate it was due to hormonal reasons. I'll do it again at the end of the challenge. We'll see how we go. I felt much better afterwards than I was expecting, though. I want to take pictures soon, so I can see progress. 

 

Monday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep, about half an hour

Paleo: 9/10 (yay)

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: I think my body is still adjusting to paleo and I definitely need to eat more. Also, I rode my bike to and from uni today, hooray! It's harder to get motivated to do this in winter, but as the weather warms up I'll do it more. And when it gets lighter in the evenings. I get a bit freaked out when I have to ride home in the dark, even though I ride along well-lit streets which mostly have bike lanes. 

 

Tuesday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 8/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: worked all day today, so I drank lots of water, but was on my feet a lot. My legs are slowly slowly getting stronger

 

Wednesday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 9/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: Bit of a lazy day at home mostly, but I did yoga in the morning and in the evening. I really found it helpful. 

 

Thursday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 8/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: Worked again today and found it quite difficult to resist the urge to snack on cupcakes. Not beating myself up about it though. 

 

Friday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 6/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: again, it's harder to stay paleo around other people, and I worked again today. Chose to eat pizza for dinner with beer. I'm going to try to reduce entire meals that aren't paleo to once every week or two weeks, otherwise I'm aiming for at least partially paleo meals, with a few slip ups around snacking and eating out. Slowly slowly getting better.

 

Saturday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 7/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: I got a free pizza for dinner, and it was delicious. Found myself feeling a bit bloated afterwards, though, and with a headache that may be food related. It's okay, though. I'm back on track tomorrow for sure. Also, went out with friends today and their dogs, so had a lot of fun running around and throwing balls, with a few cartwheels and attempted handstands as well. Fun exercise for the win!

[Goodlittlewitch]

Hi! 

It looks like your doing a great job keeping up with your quests!  

How are you feeling with all that yoga? I hope your starting to feel more flexible. Just started following your thread so you know your not just whistling in the wind.  I think you have this!  1/3 of the way done, only 2/3 to go.

-Goodlittlewitch

[Fitz_Hulk]

 

How are you feeling with all that yoga? I hope your starting to feel more flexible. Just started following your thread so you know your not just whistling in the wind.

 

 

I am definitely feeling the effects of the yoga. More flexibility and more awareness of my body. And a little stronger!

 

Thanks for following! It's nice to know I'm not just shouting into the void. 

[Fitz_Hulk]

Today's update: 

 

Sunday:

Walk--yep

Yoga--yep

paleo--8/10

SuperBetter--yep

Notes: Woke up grumpy which is, I think, what led to eating cupcakes at work in the morning. However, I made a decision to recover from that and the rest of the day was awesome. 

 

Monday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: yep, 100% awesome

Notes: MY FIRST 10/10 PALEO DAY!! It's just getting better and better. It's getting easier to make the right choices and to eat enough food. I'm working on meal planning and prepping as well which will help, I'm sure. I felt awesome today, too.

ALSO I rode to and from uni today AND I went for the first run I've gone on in AGES. I really want to run the City2Sea, which is a 14km run held in Melbourne every November (I did it in 2012 and it was great) so I'm getting  off my butt and starting slowly, then I'll put together an actual training plan soon. Maybe the next challenge I'll do with the Scouts again. 

[Goodlittlewitch]

Sounds like some great days!  Way to go on the 10/10 paleo day. As you go it will get easier and easier to know the right choice.  Though I failed at Paleo (must have ALL the Sugar), I've been gluten free for two years now 98% of the time due to a wheat intolerance, so know the hassle of following a specific diet.  And woohoo on the running and biking! 

How cold is winter where you are?  I'm Canadian, and well we are having a cool summer (which I love!  20-30degs most days), our winters are well known as miserable snowy things that they are.

[Fitz_Hulk]

It's actually been a pretty warm winter as far as they go. We never get snow, but it drops down to 1 or 2 degrees in the mornings, although not so much recently. It's been hovering around ten to fifteen. That's Celsius, I'm afraid I don't know the conversion off the top of my head. 

 

Tuesday: 

Another 10/10 paleo day! Woohoo! I was even AT WORK where the temptation is hardest because I'm surrounded by cupcakes. 

Walk-check

yoga-check

SuperBetter-check!

Other Notes-was pretty tired because of lack of sleep. I've been having a pretty hard time of it lately, it's been awful. One of these days I'll add a sleep portion to my challenge. 

 

Wednesday:

Walk-no. Sad trumpet sound. I was at home all day today, and I was planning on going for a walk but didn't. Instead, I went for another run!

Yoga-check--loving loving loving yoga. 

Paleo-10/10. I even did meal prep so I've got lunches for the next three days. I'm so excited.

SuperBetter-check! 

Notes: I'm a little worried that I'll have a big relapse into non-paleo eating because that's often how it's gone in the past. I think I just have to make sure that I have no non paleo foods in the house and that I have plenty of snack things around. Because that's how it goes--I'll get bored and want to eat something, and also be in a bad mood so want to binge. So I'll binge on snacks throughout the day. I am combating this unhealthy way of life though! The run was really really good. 

[Goodlittlewitch]

It's actually been a pretty warm winter as far as they go. We never get snow, but it drops down to 1 or 2 degrees in the mornings, although not so much recently. It's been hovering around ten to fifteen. That's Celsius, I'm afraid I don't know the conversion off the top of my head. 

In Canada we use Celsius too.  Today was around 16 deg.  in the middle of our hottest month.  normally it's around 25-30. 

 

yay,  for some great days! 

[Fitz_Hulk]

Update time!

Thursday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep!

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: yep!

Notes: really good day today.

Friday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep!

Paleo: 9/10

SuperBetter: yep!

Notes: got given some bread and butter pudding so I felt like I kinda had to have a few bites. I stopped after a few, though, which is pretty good for me.

Saturday:

Walk: no

Yoga: yes!

Paleo: 6/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: I hung out with my boyfriend all day today. It's good because I'm getting him into yoga but it did mean that I didn't go for a walk(he's sick so we stayed in) and I succumbed to comfort food, meaning biscuits and toast and things. Ah well.

[Fitz_Hulk]

More updates!

 

Monday:

 

Walk: no

Yoga: yes!

Paleo: 10/10!

SuperBetter: checked in, but didn't do a lot.

Notes: Spent a lot of the day in bed. Not for any particular reason, I just found it really hard to get up. I eventually did and I went for a run, although I didn't end up walking, so I'm not sure how that will count... also, probably part of the reason I went so well eating was that I didn't start till 12pm. Although I'm not counting this as a bad thing, more of a flexible eating thing--like, not letting my body adjust to a routine. We'll see how it goes. 

 

Tuesday:

Walk: yep!

Yoga: just about to do it now!

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: about half of the things done, maybe three quarters. The idea is that you power up at least three times a day, battle one bad guy and go on three quests a day. Most of my not finishing SuperBetter days are because I missed quests, which are by their nature more difficult to complete than power ups or bad guys. So it's not too bad that I'm missing them. I'm definitely moving my resilience score up a lot more than I thought I would, so I might have to put the goal score higher. Maybe 1000?

Notes: I got through another work day without succumbing to the cupcakes! Or the toppings! Or anything! I'm so proud of myself. On the other hand, I'd like to get up earlier and do yoga in the morning as well as at night. I think I'll progress faster that way and I also really enjoyed the days when I got up early to do yoga. It's just so hard to get out of bed in the mornings.

[Fitz_Hulk]

Next Update!

 

Wednesday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 7/10

SuperBetter: Yep, 100%!

Notes: did extra cardio in the form of running and biking to and from the city. Also, I had an event on so I ate mostly paleo, had a few drinks and a chocolate bar. Pretty proud of myself for the way I handled it, especially because I was super stressed out about it. 

 

Thursday:

Walk: yep

Yoga: about to go do that now!

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: ticked off most things. 

Notes: I'm pretty happy that I'm checking in to SuperBetter every day even if I don't always complete the quests. Also I had work and resisted the cupcakes, and uni and I bought a salad. Today was a good day. 

[Teros]

 I'd like to get up earlier and do yoga in the morning as well as at night. I think I'll progress faster that way and I also really enjoyed the days when I got up early to do yoga. It's just so hard to get out of bed in the mornings.

I kind of think it depends on which yoga.  They tend to range between meditation, to intense strength/bodyweight exercises.  If it's more towards the latter; then you might need the rest instead of doing double.  Only 1 way to find out though.

 

Congrats on fighting the cupcake demon

[Fitz_Hulk]

I kind of think it depends on which yoga.  They tend to range between meditation, to intense strength/bodyweight exercises.  If it's more towards the latter; then you might need the rest instead of doing double.  Only 1 way to find out though.

 

Congrats on fighting the cupcake demon

Yeah, at the moment it's more stretching/meditation than strength stuff. I want to get more into the strength stuff as well, and I'm thinking of doing a class maybe once a week to work on that. There's an Iyengar yoga studio near my house and that's focused on alignment and holding poses for longer, which is definitely something I need to work on. 

 

Thanks! The cupcake demon is out to get me, but I will prevail!

[Arrowan]

Hey, you checked in with me so I wanted to make sure I checked in with you!

 

Sounds like you're doing great! I love your goals. SuperBetter is awesome; I know how hard it can be to complete three quests a day and battle a bad guy, though the power-ups are usually easier.

 

Walking and running in the winter is so hard! I'm in the US (Maine) so it's summer here, but we get our share of cold days in the winter. I commend you for your consistency in journeying to Mordor every day!

 

Keep up the good work

[Fitz_Hulk]

Update time! 

 

Friday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 7/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: hung out with the boyfriend again and he's still sick, so the comfort food thing happened again. Working on it. It's also interesting to see how sleep is playing out. I really appreciate a good night's sleep and I definitely am going to focus on sleeping well and getting up early for the next challenge. 

Saturday

Walk: yep! 

Yoga: yes

Paleo: 8/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: went for a rather long run which was awesome. Also went for a decent walk with the bf, and we had awesome conversations and it was all around amazing. Walking with him is excellent. And he's totally into getting healthy and levelling up his life, too. 

 

Sunday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: Eating paleo was so hard today! But I made it and it was worth it. Also, I really have to get better at meal prep because otherwise paleo is super expensive. But I bought a new vegetable at the supermarket today and I'm super excited to try out a few new recipes this week. 

 

Also, yoga is going great. I love feeling more flexible and stronger. 

[Fitz_Hulk]

Also, just have to point out that it is WEEK FIVE and I am STILL HERE. Major awesome news. I have stuck to this. 

[Fitz_Hulk]

Monday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: Not a completely productive day overall, but I got my challenge done and I went for a short, fast run as well. Hooray for extra cardio!

 

Tuesday

Walk: yep

Yoga: yep

Paleo: 8/10 

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: Really disappointed that I succumbed to the cupcake demons today but all is well. It totally galvanised me to make up a meal plan for next week and finish the challenge on an awesome note. I've got a few things on this weekend that mean I will be not eating 100% paleo so I've organised myself to meal prep for next week so I'll be all set. I will have 7 x 10/10 days in a row! 

 

Also, today I'm going to ride my bike and go for a run. Plus I've already done yoga today. I'm so pumped. 

[Fitz_Hulk]

Didn't end up having time for a run on Wednesday...or should I say MAKING time on Wednesday... ah well. I finally feel like I'm on top of all my uni assessments, and that's just as important at the moment. 

 

Wednesday:

Walk: yep

yoga: yep

Paleo: 8/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: I did go for a ride, to and from the city (10km all up) so that was good. 

 

Thursday:

Walk: yep

yoga: yep

Paleo: 10/10

SuperBetter: yep

Notes: I really want to hit 1000 on SuperBetter, so I'm going all out for the rest of this week and next week. I've been checking in with my ally. I should find someone else to ally with. 

[Teros]

Also, just have to point out that it is WEEK FIVE and I am STILL HERE. Major awesome news. I have stuck to this. 

Sounds like a victory to me.

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/50982-mini-challenges-please-follow/?p=1127819

[WildColonialGrrl]

Look forward to seeing you finish this strong!