elinox - Becoming a Battle Crow

[elinox]

I wasn't going to participate in the upcoming challenge because I'm going away on vacation November 14-22, there's Thanksgiving, and I really haven't had a lot of free time after work during the week to get to the gym at all. However, the closer November 10th gets, the more I want to just say screw it, let's do this again. 

 

So, with caveats, I'm in for my 6th challenge! And with a Codex Alera theme too! (For those of you who are fans of the Dresden Files, check out Jim Butcher's other, equally awesome, series!)

 

Main Quest

To live a healthy and balanced life by exercising and trying to eat healthy.

 

For my sixth challenge, I am going to MAKE myself start going back to the gym on a regular basis. I've slacked off and I'm tired of it. So while I may not be 100% worthy of the Warrior's Guild yet, I think joining them again will get me there by the end of this challenge. I haven't done any serious weight lifting all summer and I really miss it. 

 

Motivation

I've successfully dropped weight by counting calories so my diet will be staying the same with 1200 calories per day M-F with blow meals on the weekends. For the past few challenges, I was really limiting my sweet treats during the week and that somehow caused me to then eat badly most Friday nights. So this time, I'm going back to the basics like my very first challenge: sweet treats are allowed, but only 2-3 days during the week. I want, and need, to get back to only 1200 calories M-F. 

 

Story

The Vord is coming back to Alera and all the races of Carna need to come together to fight once again. To join the ranks of the Aleran army, my goals are below. Perhaps if I'm lucky, and dedicated, I can join the ranks of the most famous Aleran legion, that of the Battle Crows!

 

Quests

1. Battle Ready, Battle Crow: 

Become stronger by doing these:

a. bar squat: 85lbs (115lbs, 9 reps on 8/13/14)

b. stiffleg deadlift: 55lbs (85lbs, 9 reps on 6/26/14)   

c. bench press: 75lbs (70lbs, 9 reps on 8/13/14) {revised 11/24/14}

d. barbell curl (each arm): 20lbs (25lbs, 6 reps each arm on 8/6/14)

e. assisted pull-up with 30lbs of assistance (30lbs of assistance, 3 reps on 8/13/14)

Scoring: x/5

Reward: +5 to STR (1 for each achieved)

 

Since it's been months since I lifted weights, I cut the goal weights by 30lbs. After my first workout, I may need to adjust the numbers further.

 

2.  Watch Your Rations, Recruit:

Eat healthier by cutting down on the sweet treats to 2-3 times in the 5 day week. 

Scoring: /25 days

Reward: +3 to CON 

 

I'm not going to be as strict by trying to avoid the chocolate things every day during the week, but I do want to measure using days to see how many days I can go. I'm not counting the weekends, the week I'm on vacation or Thanksgiving. 

 

3. Don Your Armor Again

Drop 6 pounds

Scoring /6 pounds

Reward: +2 to CHA

Current weight: 141lbs

 

Along with lifting weights again and watching what I eat more, I would ideally like to weigh 135lbs. It's never a bad thing to want to lose a few pounds and while this doesn't seem like a very high number, I have been lazy about maintaining my weight and feel like I would prefer to be lower. Plus, loosing 6 pounds is easily doable over 6 weeks. This should also encourage me to not go crazy with what I eat while on vacation as gaining a lot of weight will make this goal even harder to achieve.

 

4. Find your Fury

Scoring: x/6 weeks

Reward: +2 to WIS

 

I really enjoyed meditating when I did it as part of my Druid challenge and I think it will be a good thing to do while on vacation. I want to listen to nature more and just relax while calming my mind. So, in keeping with the Codex Alera theme, I want to focus on finding my fury (although it would probably be water and/or metal). 

 

5. Marching

/30 miles in 6 weeks (5 miles per week)

Reward: +3 to STA

 

I found that I was able to do more walking than I thought I could do in my last challenge. And an Aleran recruit needs to do a lot of marching: to reach the battle lines, during battle, just walking around Alera, etc. Plus, walking is always beneficial.

 

"There are some people who will never understand what loyalty means. They could tell you what it was, of course, but they will never know. They will never see it from the inside. They couldn't imagine a world where something like that was real." - Gaius Sextus, First Lord of Alera; Furies of Calderon

 

[wildross]

Nice goals.  Be aware that 1200 calories a day may be (probably is) way too low.  I'll let some of the others with more experience chime in.  (so this is really just a comment to get subbed to your thread)

[elinox]

Nice goals.  Be aware that 1200 calories a day may be (probably is) way too low.  I'll let some of the others with more experience chime in.  (so this is really just a comment to get subbed to your thread)

 

Thanks. And I appreciate the concern, but in 2009 my husband and I did a lot of research into loosing weight. This included looking into different diet plans (Weight Watcher's, Atkins Diet, Paleo Diet, etc.) and we found that in order to loose weight you've got to do three things: 1. eat fewer calories than you burn in a day 2. exercise and 3. tone your muscles. The lowest amount of calories you should safely eat, for someone with a mostly sedentary lifestyle, is 1200 calories per day. It's tough, but we've been at this awhile and it has proven to work well for us (I've dropped 65lbs and my husband dropped over 100lbs). Granted, we have 'blow meals' on weekends which means that come Saturday morning, we can then eat whatever we want: chicken wings, chocolate cake, pasta, whatever. The balance between the 1200 calories during the week and the blow meals helps to keep us sane and then balance out any caloric deficit.

 

It doesn't help that I'm also a picky eater (and a chocoholic!) so just going vegetarian or the Paleo Diet were not options for me. 

 

As long as you can beat the hunger and not binge eat later, it's a fine plan. All it takes is dedication and a lot of stubbornness. You've got to want it! 

[Grizzy]

The lowest amount of calories you should safely eat, for someone with a mostly sedentary lifestyle, is 1200 calories per day.

 

But... your plan is to not be mostly sedentary, right?

 

We're not all trying to be annoying, just trying to make sure you are getting proper nutrition and not losing muscle mass!

 

Awesome goals though. I'm sure you'll do awesome!

[elinox]

But... your plan is to not be mostly sedentary, right?

 

We're not all trying to be annoying, just trying to make sure you are getting proper nutrition and not losing muscle mass!

 

Awesome goals though. I'm sure you'll do awesome!

 

I have a desk job, so 8+ of my hours are spent sitting and there's nothing I can do about that since I need my job.

 

When I was lifting weights, I added in protein shakes to gain muscle.

 

Believe me, we did the proper research and we're safe about it! It's not for everyone, but it did work for us! And since it worked, I'll be sticking to it.

[Grizzy]

I have a desk job, so 8+ of my hours are spent sitting and there's nothing I can do about that since I need my job.

 

When I was lifting weights, I added in protein shakes to gain muscle.

 

Believe me, we did the proper research and we're safe about it! It's not for everyone, but it did work for us! And since it worked, I'll be sticking to it.

Sounds good to me!

[spideystrength]

Love the theme!

[Erick the Red]

 

Great goals.  Do you have a plan for how you are going to make it easier to get back to the gym? I found that for me it was easier to plan into my daily/weekly schedule the times I would go, instead of trying to find time throughout the week.  Competing projects always seem to come up unless I had a firm time blocked out already.

 

As a Dresden Files fan who has yet to pick up Codex Alera, you may have pushed me over the edge.

[elinox]

Great goals.  Do you have a plan for how you are going to make it easier to get back to the gym? I found that for me it was easier to plan into my daily/weekly schedule the times I would go, instead of trying to find time throughout the week.  Competing projects always seem to come up unless I had a firm time blocked out already.

 

As a Dresden Files fan who has yet to pick up Codex Alera, you may have pushed me over the edge.

 

 

When I was going 4-5 times a week to the gym before, it was had become an easy habit and I enjoyed it. For some reason, summers make me really lazy about going at all (maybe it's the hot weather?), even when I know I should. Since it's no longer summer but crisp fall, I had simply intended today to make myself do something! I think (and hope) I was simply being lazy during the dog days of summer rather than forming a new, non-gym habit. 

 

And yes, if you loved Dresden (which I know you do!) go read Codex Alera! It's just as good!

[elinox]

Monday and Tuesday I managed to walk two miles each day and I avoided the junk food for my evening snacks too. (Although I did have a Cadbury "scream" egg last night, but since that's not ice cream, cookies or cakes I'm not counting it!) And I meditated today. 

 

I haven't gotten to the gym yet, but that's simply because I'm avoiding plague infected places before going on vacation because if I get sick there will be no diving and that would be crushing. 

 

Sweet Treats: 2/25

Walking: 4/30

Meditation: 1/6

[Erick the Red]

I haven't gotten to the gym yet, but that's simply because I'm avoiding plague infected places before going on vacation because if I get sick there will be no diving and that would be crushing.

 

Looks like you are off to a good start.  I agree that discretion is advised with public places at all times, and especially before a big trip.  Maybe try to fit in some bodyweight exercises to not fall too far behind?

[elinox]

Looks liek you are off to a good start.  I agree that discretion is advised with public places at all times, and especially before a big trip.  Maybe try to fit in some bodyweight exercises to not fall too far behind?

 

I know that I should lift some weights at home (I have a set of barbells). The problem is finding the time between now and when I leave! 

[elinox]

And now, a new Accountabilibuddy group: The Wild Hunt.

[elinox]

I had ring-dings last night as a snack because it was simply easier since it was our Star Wars campaign game night and I was not at home.

 

They were not as good as I remember them. I'm wondering if some of my taste buds have changed or if manufacturers aren't putting as much care (and thus, taste) into their products nowadays? Of course, they could simply have been stale since I purchased them from a gas station. Hopefully, it's my taste buds so I can slowly ween myself off processed sweet treats like cookies and pastries. I know it would be much healthier for me in the long run! (Although Oreo's don't count: they will always be awesome!)

 

And I managed to loose a pound since last Friday. I weigh myself every week at the end of the week (usually Fridays) and use the Weight Watcher's scale here at work. I think it's off though as I've since been weighed on other machines (a typical needle scale and the slidey scale at a doctor's office) and the numbers have been 3-4 pounds under what the Weight Watcher's one has been telling me. I've been keeping a record though and according to last Friday's Weight Watcher's scale, I've lost a pound!

 

1/6 pounds

[Erick the Red]

I fall into social eating too easily, so I can understand the minor slip.  Just yesterday I ate some dry, biscuity, store-bought "lemon poppyseed scones" TWICE, because I was doing other people a favor so that they wouldn't "have" to eat them themselves.

 

I hope that you preparations are going well.  I am off tomorrow to Castle Wars, while not as cool as your diving trip it should be a fun time (unless it rains all day).

 

Fighting off the munchies is a battle, but think of the reward.

[elinox]

I fall into social eating too easily, so I can understand the minor slip.  Just yesterday I ate some dry, biscuity, store-bought "lemon poppyseed scones" TWICE, because I was doing other people a favor so that they wouldn't "have" to eat them themselves.

 

I hope that you preparations are going well.  I am off tomorrow to Castle Wars, while not as cool as your diving trip it should be a fun time (unless it rains all day).

 

I don't think it's eating socially that's my problem: most of the things (and portions) people around me enjoy I do not! So when those chicken wings are getting cold, I could care less since I don't like them. But chocolate is my kryptonite! Although to be fair, I did pass on some store-bought brownies last night so that was a small victory. 

 

The fact that you're in the SCA AND do fighting is just SO COOL! Have a great time!

[elinox]

Friday night I did not have a sweet treat!

Now that I'm on vacation, I'll probably convert scuba diving to some form of walking miles once I'm home again. I did two tank dives today at about 40 minutes each.

Sweet Treats: 3/25

[elinox]

Managed to not have any sweet treats yesterday! And by accident too!

After a double tank dive, I was exhausted so I fell asleep early and thus missed an after dinner snack; win!

Sweet Treats: 4/25

[Erick the Red]

Managed to not have any sweet treats yesterday! And by accident too!

After a double tank dive, I was exhausted so I fell asleep early and thus missed an after dinner snack; win!

Sweet Treats: 4/25

 

You should write a book, "Sleep your way thinner" and make a mint.

It may not look like it, but this is serious work!

 

Seriously though, those dives are hard work, you are probably getting a lot of good exercise in while having a great time!

[elinox]

I certainly could write an essay on 'how I lost weight'!

And diving is great exercise: I love it!

[TwinBear]

I really like the themes you've got going with your goals. I want to do more with themes around my goals during future challenges.

 

I hope your vacation is going well and that you are enjoying the scuba diving. That sounds like a lot of fun.

 

Way to stay on track with everything!

[elinox]

Home now from vacation and I'm very disappointed in how I ate all week. While I did eat mostly fish for dinners, it was always fried and I had a lot of ice cream besides.

I also didn't do as much diving as I'd wanted (should have been 5 days worth at 2 dives per day, instead it was only 2 days, so 4 dives instead of 10) due to weather. They didn't go out due to wind and thus, choppy water.

I did end up walking around Key West though. But I'm not sure how many miles so I can't really count it anyway.

And while I didn't meditate as much as I'd planned, I did get it in once.

Locking things down starting tomorrow and week #3!

Meditating: 2/6

[TwinBear]

Welcome back from your vacation. I hope you had fun, food not withstanding.

 

It's still pretty cool that you got to do some diving. I've never done that. There was an aquarium we've visited near Tampa that lets folks do a controlled dive with the fishes that I've seen others do, but that's about as close as I've gotten. Oh, I guess some snorkling many years ago, too.

 

As you said, you'll be locking things down starting tomorrow. That's great. You'll be back on track in no time.

[elinox]

Welcome back from your vacation. I hope you had fun, food not withstanding.

 

It's still pretty cool that you got to do some diving. I've never done that. There was an aquarium we've visited near Tampa that lets folks do a controlled dive with the fishes that I've seen others do, but that's about as close as I've gotten. Oh, I guess some snorkeling many years ago, too.

 

As you said, you'll be locking things down starting tomorrow. That's great. You'll be back on track in no time.

 

Thanks!

 

If you ever have a chance to try scuba diving, DO IT! It's the most amazing thing in the world! If you enjoy the water and swimming that is.

 

The downside with locking things down in week #3 is that's it's Thanksgiving, so that'll be an added challenge. However, since most of the food on Turkey Day doesn't interest me, as long as I can control myself around the desserts, I should do okay.

[Erick the Red]

We're here with you El.  It seems like there was a lot of back-sliding going on last week.  We are all going to lock things down this week!