MyLittlePony becomes insane

[Paisley]

OK so my last couple of attempts at challenges have been a bit of a failure and they say that doing the same thing over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity - so it looks like I'm going insane because here I am embarking on another challenge.

The difference is that this time the daughter in back in school and I'm in a good position to create a real routine. So what will this routine look like.

Exercise:
 
I just joined a new gym, less than 2 miles from my home so I should be able to get back to exercising three times a week religiously. The son is happy in his own gym so no issues there - hopefully we can make this work.

Now for the big questions - what exercises am I going to do in the gym. I had the obligatory free personal training session for new members last Tuesday, but I don't think I'll be following her plan. My problem is that the routine that she came up with consisted of 10 different exercises, three sets of each. I tried it out one day, but once I passed the 1 hour mark and still had three or more exercises to do I decided that that routine was not for me. I need in and out in a short period of time so it looks like I'm back to the modified strong lifts routine with just a few of her exercises as accessory lifts.

so my plan is:

Day 1:

Squats
8 @ 45
8 @ 55
5 @ 60
5 @ 65
5 @ 70

dumbbell bench - 5 x 5 @ 15lb

dumbbell overhead - 5 x 5 @ 15lb

farmers carry - 35lb

negatives

Day 2

split squats FFE -5lb

Bench press
8 @ 45
8 @ 50
5 @ 50
5 @ 60
5 @ 65

kneeling curls - 5 x 5 @ 15

box jumps - 3 sets of 10

negatives

Day 3

Deadlifts
3 x 5 @ 135

overhead squats
2 x 5 @ 25
2 x 5 @ 35
5 @ 45

dips

ball crunches

negatives

Final program to be worked out over the coming weeks.

will try and get to the gym three days a week. I'd like to add two days of running in there too but I'm not sure about that. Running days will be considered bonuses at the moment.

To score this I think I'll just give myself points for each workout. 5 points for a strength workout, 3 points for a cardio/running workout.

Food:

I'm trying not to count calories at the moment so the food goals are based around eating clean and keeping the snacking to a minimum.

again I'll use the points systems. Each non clean food will lose me a point. This is going to be a bit subjective - what is considered a 1 point fail and what's a two point etc.

but generally each alcoholic beverage (or any beverage that isn't water or tea) is 1 point.
one scoop of ice cream is 1 point, 2 scoops is two points.
cookies/baked treats will depend on size - one big cookie / slice / muffin - 1 point, small cookies may be two for 1 point.
1 bowl of popcorn 1 point - if I go back for seconds that's a second point.

The aim is to keep myself in the positive points each week.

 

life quest

 

So it's starting to cool down around here which means that the kids need new clothes again (how can they grow so much - nothing fits from just three months ago - its ridiculous).  So once again I pull out the trusty sewing machine.  The goal being to make each of the kids an entire winter wardrobe.

 

In addition to this I found a pattern for a coat which I absolutely love and I will during this challenge make that coat for myself.

 

Motivation

 

In order to keep up the motivation I will have a rewards system based on how many points I have gained.

 

If at the end of the challenge I have a total of 50 points or above I get to buy some new hair dye,  The good stuff - Directions by La Reiche.

 

I will see if I can come up with some weekly rewards to keep me going.

[Ryoko]

Impressive life quest! I can't even sew a button. I wish I knew how to sew. Best wishes meeting your goals!

[goodbye_farewell]

sub'd for the awesome

[Svella]

Subbed~

 

Good luck

[Paisley]

Week 1 Day 1

Well the challenge has started.

Got off to a good start this morning with a trip to the gym
 
Exercise:

Squats
5 @ 45
8 @ 50
5 @ 55
5 @ 60
5 @ 65

dumbbell bench - 15lb, 5 sets of 12,12,8,8,8, reps

dumbbell overhead - 15lb, 5 sets of 8,8,8,8,8, reps

farmers carry - 35lb - 3 sets of down and back each hand

negatives - 3 sets of 3 attempted negatives.

that's 5 points for the day

Food:

breakfast - cookie dough, iced berry tea (no sweetener)
lunch - salad veg, grilled cheese sandwich, salami and deli ham
afternoon tea - oat and date slice with chocolate glaze
dinner - roast chook and salad 1/4 cup milk

I will take 1 point off for the chocolate glaze on the oat and date slice. otherwise all clean. high in carbs but I'm OK with than on a lifting day.

crafting:

I remade a pair of my old soccer shorts to fit J but so far that's it today. Will spend some time knitting this evening - am working on a cardigan for L.

 

points total 4

[JessOfAllTrades]

Always love to see your sewing goals, MLP! Best of luck, and the other goals are looking good too!

[goodbye_farewell]

Food:

breakfast - cookie dough, iced berry tea (no sweetener)

 

Now THAT is a breakfast

[Paisley]

Now THAT is a breakfast

I promise it's not as bad as it sounds. - Its not actual cookie dough just the name that has been given to this breakfast to convince the kids to eat it. Its just a combination of oats, plain greek yoghurt and flavourings - In this case, peanut butter, banana and vanilla. the only bad bit is a few chocolate chips thrown in (to make it choc chip cookie dough). I figure that's still a lot better than the crappy cereals that is their other breakfast of choice.

[Paisley]

Food rundown for the day (so I don't forget)

Breakfast: 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup milk, 1 tsp maple syrup, frozen raspberries - good news is it was way too sweet.

lunch: roast chicken, cheese, pickles, salami, oat&date slice.

afternoon tea: Cadbury scream egg

[Maledictus]

subbed purely for the thread title.

it's possible to blitz your workout in 25 minutes and make gains.  It's equally possible to faff about for 2 hours and not get anywhere.  Quality > Quantity.

[Paisley]

Impressive life quest! I can't even sew a button. I wish I knew how to sew. Best wishes meeting your goals!

Thanks - I love sewing but I really wish I could get myself organized to do a little all through the year as it is I tend to leave it till the last minute then realize that the kids have no clothes to suit the change in weather and have to do a marathon sewing effort.

 

 

sub'd for the awesome

will try my best

 

 

Subbed~

 

Good luck

Thanks

 

 

Always love to see your sewing goals, MLP! Best of luck, and the other goals are looking good too!

 

Thanks - I've tried to keep things pretty simple this time around to make sure I stay on track this time.

 

subbed purely for the thread title.

it's possible to blitz your workout in 25 minutes and make gains.  It's equally possible to faff about for 2 hours and not get anywhere.  Quality > Quantity.

Totally - I was quite happy with my modified stronglifts workouts then I got this session with the personal trainer who was trying to get me to do all these little lifts which took forever - Back to the three main lifts I think so I can get in and out - I may add in a few of her lifts as accessories but I can't do them all at once. urghhhh

[Paisley]

Week 1 day 2

exercise:

None - I was hoping to get in a run this afternoon but the husband didn't get home till 7pm and I'm not comfortable running in the dark around here.

Food:

Breakfast: 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup milk, 1 tsp maple syrup, frozen raspberries - good news is it was way too sweet.
lunch: roast chicken, cheese, pickles, salami, oat&date slice.
afternoon tea: Cadbury scream egg
Dinner - Beef Satay with peas, green pepper and less then 1/4 cup brown rice.

that's one point for the chocolate egg (but well worth it).

 

Life:

 

I made a pair of pants for J this morning and this evening I started on my coat - that one is going to take a while but hopefully it'll be finished by the end of the challenge.

Total points for the week: 3

[goodbye_farewell]

I promise it's not as bad as it sounds. - Its not actual cookie dough just the name that has been given to this breakfast to convince the kids to eat it. Its just a combination of oats, plain greek yoghurt and flavourings - In this case, peanut butter, banana and vanilla. the only bad bit is a few chocolate chips thrown in (to make it choc chip cookie dough). I figure that's still a lot better than the crappy cereals that is their other breakfast of choice.

 

Oops, here I am eating a tube of raw cookie dough calling it the MLP diet

[Paisley]

Oops, here I am eating a tube of raw cookie dough calling it the MLP diet

I'm sure if I put it out there many people would jump on the bandwagon - cookie dough for breakfast the latest fad diet!

So todays rundown

Week 1 day 3

exercise:

Bench Press:

8 @ 45, 8 @ 50, 5 @ 55, 5 @ 60, 5 @ 65lb

split squats - Front Foot Elevated - 8lb weights

12, 8, 8

hamstring curl - 10lb weight

10, 8, 8

kneeling bicep curls - 15lb

8, 8, 6

handstand practice for 5 mins

Points for today 5

Food:

Breakfast: cereal and milk.

lunch: roast chicken, cheese, tomatoes, ham, oat&date slice.

afternoon tea: nectarine, frozen yoghurt with blueberries, strawberries and heath toffee bars

Dinner - nachos.

not really a good day at all, though not as terrible as it sounds still I think it'll cost me at least 2 points - for the frozen yoghurt and the corn chips.

Life:

worked on a pair of pants for L - got them about 7/8 finished, really just need the hem finished. The spent some time knitting in front of Doctor Who this evening - finished one sleeve of L's jumper and started the second one.

Total points for the week: 3 + 5 - 2 = 6

[Paisley]

Week 1 day 4

exercise:

None - was hoping to get in a bit of a workout whilst playing soccer with J but got there and realized I was wearing the wrong bra so a bit of light jogging is all I got in...


Points for today 0


Food:

Breakfast: cookie dough
lunch: ham, turkey, salami, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, cheese.
afternoon tea: a couple of slices of roasted garlic ciabatta
Dinner - lasagna
after dinner: Cadbury scream egg

2 points off for chocolate egg and bread.

Life:

Finished off L's pants, and remade one of J;s shirts that no longer fitted him. Did a little more work on my coat - got the sleves set into the inner lining.


Total points for the week: 6 - 2 = 4

Week 1 day 5

exercise:

overhead squats:
10 @ 15, 10 @ 25, 10 @ 25, 5 @ 35, 5 @ 35lb

Deadlifts
5 @ 135, 2 @ 140lb

negatives
3 sets of 4

ball crunches
2 x 20 w/ 7.5lb

box jumps
5 @ 24" - I did try the 30" jump but kept putting my hand down just in case.

Points for today 5

Food:

Breakfast: greek yoghurt, cocoa powder and raspberries
lunch: ham, turkey, salami, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, ciabatta
afternoon tea: pear and oat cookies, cheezeits
Dinner - lasagna

So I gave blood this afternoon which has made me ravenously hungry - unfortunately J and I baked cookies today so snacking was done on those - and the cheezeits were provided at the blood bank.

at least 2 points off - probably really 3 or 4.

Life:

Worked on a gymnastics leotard for J.


Total points for the week: 4 + 5 - 4 = 5

I really want something to snack on tonight but am struggling to come up with something the would satisfy that isn't straight chocolate.

[Glacier]

Ah, bra issues. I can relate.

Your cocoa raspberry yogurt sounds brilliant!

[Paisley]

Ah, bra issues. I can relate.

Your cocoa raspberry yogurt sounds brilliant!

Bras cam be a real pain at times - and at other times it can be a pain to be without the right one....

if you like the sound of cocoa raspberry yoghurt you'll probably like todays breakfast too.

crepes with a raspberry/blackberry coulis, lemon, a touch of powdered sugar and just a squirt of whipped cream....sooo decadent. Not quite as health for me as the raspberry cocoa yoghurt, but geeze it was yummy.

must get my eating back under control (says she as she contemplates driving down to the cape just to pick up some black pudding for tomorrows breakfast...)

[Paisley]

Well the weekend was pretty much a wash.  Saturday was bad eating and no exercise and Sunday not much better.  Hopefully next week will be better.  But heres the wrap up.

 

Week 1 day 6

exercise:

None - Had  PJ day - sat on the couch, did nothing and ate bad food.

Points for today 0

Food:

Breakfast: Crepes, raspberry coulis, sugar and whipped cream
lunch: black beans, guacamole, salsa, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, ciabatta with butter
afternoon tea: corn ships, salsa
Dinner - Totellini in a vodka sauce parmesan cheese
after dinner: 2 glasses of wine, chocolate

that's at least 4 points for the day

Life:

finished off J's gymnastics leotard.


Total points : 5 + 0 - 4 = 1

Week 1 day 7

exercise:

none.

Points for today 0

Food:

Breakfast: about 3oz smoothie
lunch: peanut butter
afternoon tea: 1 scoop mint choc icecream
Dinner - 1/2 restaurant steak burrito, chips, salsa and guacamole, margarita

not a lot of food early in the day and then bad food in the afternoon

at least 2 points off

Life:

got the rest of my coat cut out.


Total points for the week: 1 + 0 - 2 = negatives.......

so this week was a wash - no points left by the end of the week, so the question is what do I need to do differently next week.

 

I should have no problems getting to the gym three times but since the husband is still away till Friday night I doubt I'll get any other workouts in during the week as no one to watch the kids.  Hopefully once A gets home I can get in some runs next weekend. for a few extra points.

 

I need to be stricter with the food intake though.  try and keep it to no more than 1 snack a day. during the week.

[Paisley]

well week 2 started off well, but didn't last all that long.  Monday was good.  Exercise done and food all good, today not so much.  Feeling seriously drained (probably coming down with whatever the kids have had for the last week) so a few bad food choices.  Not terrible but not great.
 
Week 2 day 1

exercise:

 

warm up skipping rope - 200 jumps

Squats, 10 @ 45, 8@ 5, 5 @ 60, 5 @ 65, 5 @ 70, 3 @ 75

dumbbell overhead - 15lb, 1 set of 8, 1 set of 5
20lb,1 set of 5, 2 sets of 3

overhead carry - 45lb - halfway down the gym and back,
35lb - 2 sets of down and back

negatives - 3 sets of 4 negatives between 10 and 3 sec.

box jumps - 10 @ 24"

that's 5 points for the day

Points for today 5

Food:

Breakfast: cookie dough
lunch: left over burrito and guacamole
afternoon tea: apple with peanut butter
Dinner -  party pies, oven fried, peas and corn


0 points

Life:

Spent a good couple of hours working on my coat - its coming together nicely.


Total points for week : 5 - 0  = 5

Week 2 day 2

exercise:

none - though I did do the monkey bars a few times and a couple of negatives playing in the playground.

Points for today 0

Food:

Breakfast: cookie dough

morning tea: apple cider donut (I couldn't help it they smelled soooo good) and an apple
lunch: 4 pieces of sushi and a party pie.
afternoon tea: 1/2 donut
Dinner - homemade pizzas.

1 point for the donuts

Life:

nothing yet and I don't think I'll do anything this evening - Bed is calling me (and its only 6pm)


Total points for the week: 5 + 0 - 1 = 4





I should have no problems getting to the gym three times but since the husband is still away till Friday night I doubt I'll get any other workouts in during the week as no one to watch the kids. Hopefully once A gets home I can get in some runs next weekend. for a few extra points.



I need to be stricter with the food intake though. try and keep it to no more than 1 snack a day. during the week.

[goodbye_farewell]

I should have no problems getting to the gym three times but since the husband is still away till Friday night I doubt I'll get any other workouts in during the week as no one to watch the kids. Hopefully once A gets home I can get in some runs next weekend. for a few extra points.

 

 

Keep up the hard work MLP. How old are your kids again? Can they go to the gym with you? I think I am spoiled by my rec center since they have childcare available for free

[Paisley]

Keep up the hard work MLP. How old are your kids again? Can they go to the gym with you? I think I am spoiled by my rec center since they have childcare available for free

The kids are only 5 and 6 - L is at school during the day but J is still home with me full time. I tried to find a gym with free child care but the closest place is the Y where we used to go and that was a half hour drive away and J had started to refused to go into the childcare. This new gym is only about 1 mile from home and whilst it doesn't have childcare it does have an arrangement with the kids sports place next door so J can go in there whilst I work out - he loves that much more than the child care....but even with the arrangement it costs more for J to go there three times a week than it does for the gym membership. I would love it if J was allowed to come into the gym with me - we tried it a few times at the Y before being told off and J loved it but all the gyms around here have a no kids allowed policy.

When my husband isn't working I can try and get out and exercise more but he's been travelling a tonne recently so I try not to rely on that.

[goodbye_farewell]

Aaah I understand. I travel a lot too, so it is always a challenge for my wife to get workouts in with a 2 year old in tow. The childcare is nice, but its hours are limited...

[Glacier]

Grownups on monkey bars = awesome, and a pretty cool way to fit a bit of working out into mamalife.

[Chelkie]

We do get to see pictures of this awesome coat your sewing right? I would love to achieve the sewing prowess it takes to make a coat, i'm still in the hemming pants and sewing pillow cases stage.

[Paisley]

Aaah I understand. I travel a lot too, so it is always a challenge for my wife to get workouts in with a 2 year old in tow. The childcare is nice, but its hours are limited...

yet another of the joys of parenting trying to work around the kids to get your work outs in...

 

 

Grownups on monkey bars = awesome, and a pretty cool way to fit a bit of working out into mamalife.

Yeah I love playing around on the monkey bars, one of the reasons why I hate a crowded playground - I feel like when there are kids around I'm not allowed to play - useless kids - get off my playground..

 

 

We do get to see pictures of this awesome coat your sewing right? I would love to achieve the sewing prowess it takes to make a coat, i'm still in the hemming pants and sewing pillow cases stage.

Well if the coat turns out like I'm hoping then I will definitely be posting pics. Its starting to look pretty cool.

So anyway I need to add some points to yesterdays food count - ended up drinking two glasses of wine and eating some choc chips last night after I posted so total points for the week are back to 1.

But then comes today

Week 2 day 3

exercise:

Bench Press:

8 @ 45, 8 @ 50, 5 @ 60, 5 @ 65, 4 @ 70lb, 1 @ 70lb to finish set

split squats - Front Foot Elevated

10lb  - 10

12.5lb-  8, 8

hamstring curl - 12.5lb weight

8, 8, 8

 

negatives:

set 1 - 10, 10, 5, 3 sec

set 2 - 10, 5, 5, 3 sec

set 3 - 12 sec

kneeling bicep curls - 15lb

5, 3

Points for today 5

Food:

Breakfast: apple cinnamon raisin cookie dough

lunch: left over pizza, salami, tomato, green pepper

afternoon tea: 1/4 pear, calves liver pate - lots I was starving

Dinner - sausage roll (1 small), sausage roll meat, 1 egg scrambled, carrots, beans, green pepper.

after: greek yoghurt with cocoa powder and peppermint extract.

 

the the only real questionable was the pate but considering it was a lifting day I'm going to accept it as extra protein - I probably had a good 20g protein.

Life:

 

more work on the coat done - the outer shell is pretty much done, the interlining just needs one more seam and I still need to sew the entire lining and then attach interlining and lining to the shell.

Total points for the week: 1 + 5 - 0 = 6