LadyWitch's TM training No.2

[LadyWitch]

I'm going back to my original format for challenges, not sure if it'll help me stick to it, but its worth a shot! My weekend before this challenge (Friday to Monday) was spent at a big Steampunk event in Lincoln, which was FANTASTIC!!! BUT... due to all the walking (about 8 hours a day, or more) and wearing corsets for most of it, and sheer stupidity on my part, I've put my back out. Not majorly (I hope) but enough that 1 may have to change slightly for week 1, as that I'm not sure I'll be able to run or strength train. If this is the case, I'll alter my scoring to allow for it. So... Here are my goals for this challenge:

 

The Main Quest...

Get TM ready! It's in 8 months (37 weeks) and I'm no stronger/fitter now than I was two months ago when I signed up for it... That changes now...

 

Goals to achieve this:

1/ Return to eating 85% Paleo each week. My version does allow dark chocolate (if its 75% or above) and honey. I'm going to continue to track on MFP, but only to give me a record of what I'm eating... Calories don't matter, paleo does.

2/ Run 2x a week (I'm still going to aim for 3 a week, but I don't want to stress myself out if I can't fit the third in) And I have a 5k colour run at the end of week 4.

3/ Strength train 2x a week (I'll work out my own 'bodyweight routine' over the next couple of days and post it here... I may also be starting pole dancing classes during this challenge, so that will count as my 3^rd session)

4/ Yoga 7x a week (this is non-negotiable... I WILL do a session everyday. This is essential for my back, and will allow me to continue to do everything else)

 

Grading: Each day will be a pass/fail situation for each goal. At the end, I'll turn my pass rate into a percentage. 0-50% is a fail, 50-75% is a pass, 75-95% is a good, and 95%+ is excellent. Points will not be awarded for a failing grade.

1/ 42 days to eat right: pass is +1 CON, good is +2 CON, excellent is +3 CON

2/ 12 runs: pass is +1 STA, good is +2 STA, excellent is +3 STA

3/ 12 strength sessions: pass is +1 STR, good is +2 STR, excellent is +3 STR

4/ 42 yoga sessions: pass is +1 DEX, good is +2 DEX, excellent is +3 DEX

(That leaves 3 points left to award for any 100% achievements)

 

Life Quest...

Make a corset. I've made one before, but it ended up too big (not entirely sure how) so I want to make a second one, and try to work out where I went wrong...

 

Side Quest...

Visit/comment on forums everyday

 

Motivations...

To be strong enough to lift my own body off the ground with ease, so that I don't make a fool of myself at the Tough Mudder on the 30^th May 2015.

 

Starting stats:

Weight: 170lb

Bust: 38

Chest: 31

Waist: 31.5

Hips: 43

Thigh: 25.5 

 

Tracking:

1/ Paleo: 2/42

2/ Run: 0/12

3/ Strength: 0/12

4/ Yoga: 2/42

Life quest (corset): 5% complete

Side quest (forums): 2/42

[jaex]

A back injury - Ouch!  Have you tried stretching to see if that'll loosen it up?  I know that when I'm stiff and sore that some light exercise and stretches (arm circles, hip circles, etc.) help loosen me up and feel better.  Alternatively ice packs and heat pads can help.  Hopefully it heals up quick!

 

And pole dancing?  I've heard that is quite a workout.  

 

Good luck!

[AverageJoe]

This challenge has all sorts of awesome in it (Although I'm sorry to hear about your back).  Where to start?....Paleo! Yeah!...Color Run!...Build your own BW!....Pole Dancing Class (those really exist!?!)....Daily Yoga! (that should help your back)...Make a Corset!?!(that can't be easy)...Prepping for a tough mudder!!

 

Awesome..Just Awesome

[LadyWitch]

A back injury - Ouch!  Have you tried stretching to see if that'll loosen it up?  I know that when I'm stiff and sore that some light exercise and stretches (arm circles, hip circles, etc.) help loosen me up and feel better.  Alternatively ice packs and heat pads can help.  Hopefully it heals up quick!

 

And pole dancing?  I've heard that is quite a workout.  

 

Good luck!

I've had a problem with my back since I was a kid, and every so often it flares up... But normally, as long as I stretch daily, I have little to no problems with it now. Unfortunately, I didn't do my yoga over the weekend (my own silly fault) and that's caused it to play up... I've been stretching gently all day, done my yoga, and am about to ice it... Hopefully tomorrow it'll be good to go!

 

As for the pole dancing... I've done a couple of sessions before, and its works everything! I could barely move the next day This time, a friend of mine is doing her instructor course in October, and will then be offering classes, so I'm waiting till then to start... I also do burlesque, so different types of dance are my hobby!

 

This challenge has all sorts of awesome in it (Although I'm sorry to hear about your back).  Where to start?....Paleo! Yeah!...Color Run!...Build your own BW!....Pole Dancing Class (those really exist!?!)....Daily Yoga! (that should help your back)...Make a Corset!?!(that can't be easy)...Prepping for a tough mudder!!

 

Awesome..Just Awesome

Thanks! It'll be awesome, if I can make myself stick to it! I've gotten really bad at saying I'll do something, and then just... not...

[LadyWitch]

So, this is the bodyweight workout schedule I'm hoping to follow, and will try to do 2 sessions each week:

 

Bodyweight workout:

Week 1:

Starjumps: 100

Squats: 3x 20

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 10

Lunges: 3x 10

Hangs: 3x 20s

Burpees: 3x 3

 

Week 2:

Starjumps: 120

Squats: 3x 25

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 12

Lunges: 3x 12

Hangs: 3x 25s

Burpees: 3x 4

 

Week 3:

Starjumps: 140

Squats: 3x 30

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 15

Lunges: 3x 14

Hangs: 3x 30s

Burpees: 3x 5

 

Week 4:

Starjumps: 160

Squats: 3x 35

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 18

Lunges: 3x 16

Hangs: 3x 35s

Burpees: 3x 6

 

Week 5:

Starjumps: 180

Squats: 3x 40

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 20

Lunges: 3x 18

Hangs: 3x 40s

Burpees: 3x 7

 

Week 6:

Starjumps: 200

Squats: 3x 45

Planks: 3x 1.00

Push-ups: 3x 25

Lunges: 3x 20

Hangs: 3x 45s

Burpees: 3x 8

[jaex]

I like the plan.  If it works you'll be going from 30 pushups to 75 pushups in six weeks!  

[LadyWitch]

I like the plan.  If it works you'll be going from 30 pushups to 75 pushups in six weeks!  

Thats what I hope! I know from past experience that I can gain strength quickly if I stick to it... But its the sticking to it part thats hard!

[GingaNinja]

Nice goals, Ilike the side quest of visiting here everyday, will be good to see even more of you

Good luck and I hope your back feels better soon!

[Viscura]

I like the plan, you can do it

[LadyWitch]

My back is starting to feel a little less stiff and painful, but that may change over night. Will see how it's feeling in the morning, and try to go for a run (and if I can't run, I can damn well walk!)

 

Today has been good. All foods have been acceptable, and I've done my yoga and a ton of additional stretching. I also managed to cut out the pattern for the corset, and cut the mock-up fabric... Hopefully tomorrow I can get the mock-up assembled to check the fit, and make any alterations that need to be made. I've also been stalking the forums a bit, so yay for the side quest!

 

Tracking:

1/ Paleo: 2/42

2/ Run: 0/12

3/ Strength: 0/12

4/ Yoga: 2/42

Life quest (corset): 5% complete

Side quest (forums): 2/42

[Tateman]

Looks good.  I sort of went back to the original formatting this challenge too  Hope your back heals up nice and fast.  That TM will be here before you know it!

[LadyWitch]

My back was still a little iffy this morning, so I walked instead of running. Covered 5 miles though, so that's nothing to be sneered at. Did my yoga, and some extra stretching as well. Will try and do the BW workout later, but don't want to push my back to hard while it's still healing... During my walk I got bowled over by a very excited, very wet labrador... Which was lovely, but I'm not sure its helped my back any.

 

That TM will be here before you know it!

That's what I'm afraid of!!!

[jaex]

Good job altering the workout plan to deal with pain/injury!  

 

And yay labradors! 

[AverageJoe]

 (and if I can't run, I can damn well walk!)

Great Attitude!!!

 

My back was still a little iffy this morning, so I walked instead of running. Covered 5 miles though, so that's nothing to be sneered at. Did my yoga, and some extra stretching as well. Will try and do the BW workout later, but don't want to push my back to hard while it's still healing... During my walk I got bowled over by a very excited, very wet labrador... Which was lovely, but I'm not sure its helped my back any.

 

That's what I'm afraid of!!!

Nice work.  Back/core injuries are hard to rest b/c we use them for EVERYTHING even when we try not to.  Be patient keep up the stretching and I'm sure you'll be back in the game 100% in no time.  

[LadyWitch]

Tracking:

1/ Paleo: 3/42

2/ Run: 0/12

3/ Strength: 0/12

4/ Yoga: 3/42

Life quest (corset): 5% complete

Side quest (forums): 3/42

 

So, I didn't run, or do strength training yesterday as my back is still playing up... Not sure its getting better tbh, but the doctors are useless and I can't afford the chiropractor atm, so will continue to stretch and if its still playing up next week I may have to revise my goals... In the meantime, I will try to do what I can when I can, even if it means random sets of BW exercises scattered throughout the day, rather than one solid workout.

 

Food was all fairly good... I need to cut down on my hot chocolate consumption again (its my go-to drink when feeling cold/sad/bored/tired) so will try limiting myself to 1 a day (and yes, I know it's now paleo compliant anyway!) I spent a bit of time on the forums and did a ton of walking! 8 miles in the end! 5 in the morning in place of my run, and then I had to walk to the vets to get some more cat food (they have to have a special 'sensitive tummy' food) which was a 3 mile round trip! Think it's safe to say I got my exercise in yesterday

 

I did do something yesterday that terrified me... I entered the Miss East Midlands Burlesque Competition! No idea if I'll get to the live show on the 10th October, but just hitting send on the email was terrifying! I then spent a large chunk of the evening/night trying to decide what routine to do IF I get through... Do I do one that I've done before, or do I try and get a new one ready for the show... Needless to say, I've spent this morning working on the corset that I'd planned on making... Although I've ended up making a second mock-up, so I now have one overbust and one underbust to sew together and try... 

 

And if anyone is interested, here is a video of my Weeping Angel routine... I'm wearing a body suit, so there's no actual nudity

[LadyWitch]

Tracking:

1/ Paleo: 2/42

2/ Run: 0/12

3/ Strength: 0/12

4/ Yoga: 3/42

Life quest (corset): 8% complete

Side quest (forums): 3/42

 

So... back is still playing up... Kinda feel like I'm making excuses now, but as my big toe is numb and I have a sharp stabbing pain in my back, not so much. Still feel like I should be doing SOMETHING.

 

Anyway, diet fell through yesterday as we had pizza for dinner. I did at least stick with a gluten-free base, which makes it BETTER, not OK. The rest of the day was good though, so thats a partial win in my mind (even if I don't get a point for the day!)

 

Today, my hubby had a late start at work, so we got to have breakfast together. Which was lovely. Tonight is gaming, so it'll be homemade sausages and mash for dinner, and I'll only allow myself to snack on fruit or nuts... NO CAKE!

 

Tomorrow I have a isis-wing dance workshop... assuming my back is up for it *crosses all fingers and toes* I've been looking forward to it for ages, so I even if I can't dance, I'll probably still go along... After that, depending on how much pain I'm in, we're supposed to be going to my parents for dinner. So I can assume that tomorrow will be a right-off when it comes to eating paleo.

 

I've been working on the corsets and have both patterns ready to go. And the fabric for the under-bust one is cut out and ready to be assembled. Probably wont have time today to do that, but I may be able to get it done over the weekend!

 

So... thats me done. Now to take a quick mosey around the forums...

[Terinatum]

Hi LadyWitch,

 

I'm really impressed with your coping skills this week. You are staying level-headed as far as I can tell. Rewriting goals may happen, but you seem very capable of targeting the right areas in your life and that will mean success! Your follow through may give you bumps in the road, but it's suppose to. Learning to cope with life's agenda (with your back, I'm certain you already have a lot of experience with life) is the best way to find what works for you. Then sticking to it becomes manageable. Keep doing what you're doing. It seems to be working!

 

Good luck with your back!

[LadyWitch]

I've gotten sick of using 'my back hurts' as an excuse for not doing my workouts... So, I did one anyway... And other than having to cut 2 of the planks short, I completed it all, without my back hurting too much. I even figured out how to do inverted rows (I've put the broken exercise bike in front of my pull up bar, and rest my feet on the saddle), so I've added them into the routine.

 

Starjumps: 100

Squats: 3x 20

Planks: 1.00, 40s, 40s

Push-ups: 3x 10

Lunges: 3x 10

Hangs: 15s, 20s, 

Burpees: 3x 3

Inverted rows: 4, 3, 3

 

Also... I've just had an email to confirm that I'm in the Miss East Midlands Burlesque show on the 10th October! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! *Panic Mode Activates*

ARGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[LadyWitch]

double post

[Teros]

was spent at a big Steampunk event in Lincoln, which was FANTASTIC!!!

You say this, yet there are no pictures of something cool?

 

Goals look solid. That really sucks about the back. I messed up my ankles after doing a spartan race so I'm on the mend. We'll get through this. 

 

Try not to go into panic mode because of burlesque

[LadyWitch]

I didn't take many myself, as I was too busy having fun... But here are a few snaps...

[Terinatum]

Nice looking lady there! ;-)

 

You make that outfit look good. You can do burlesque!  

[LadyWitch]

Doing burlesque in a show organised by my school is one thing, but this is a proper, big competition, with actual prize money! Very scary!!! Think I've decided which routine I'm going to do though, but it does need some work, so I think that may be taking priority for the next 3 weeks!

 

My back is feeling pretty good actually, after the strength training yesterday. So hopefully I'll be good for the dancing workshop this afternoon... If I enjoy it, I may try and work the isis wings into my routine for the comp

 

Yesterday was ok... I'm not giving myself the paleo point though, as there were a few too many little 'slips'. But I did some work on my corset (although that will probably be put on the back burner until after the comp) and I did the yoga... So all in all, not a bad day!

 

Tracking:

1/ Paleo: 3/42

2/ Run: 0/12

3/ Strength: 1/12

4/ Yoga: 5/42

Life quest (corset): 8% complete

Side quest (forums): 5/42

[Terinatum]

Not bad at all.

 

If you want, you can alter your goals to include the work you need to do for the show. That way we can help and you can have a structure to go by. A thought.

 

P.S. You seem pretty brave so even though you're scared, I think you're gonna have a good time which will over power any fear!

[jaex]

Those are some sweet outfits!  Obviously you just are visiting from an alternative dimension where steampunk is normal and people attend conventions dressing up as what we would deem normal.