[RxLady] Putting the Buff in Buffy!

[RxLady]

  So, challenge 2 wrapped up pretty successfully, except not so much on the weight loss. I think to attain more weight loss I need to get more serious about what I am eating - not just for each meal but in between meals.  Snacks are really tough for me, especially in the afternoon to get through that lull time after work but before dinner.  

 

  But strength-wise and commitment-wise, I was able to keep up with everything, and YAYOG is almost complete! After getting through the program once, I think I am going to pick and choose workouts depending on what muscle groups I feel like working on.  But I do enjoy those exercises and want to keep at them - especially the arm workouts, which I know is where I need a lot of work.  My upper body strength has never been very good, so I will keep at it.  Small victories, but I was able to do up to 8 regular pushups toward the end of the challenge, when previously it was more like 4-5.  

 

This time around I want to add some fun to my challenge and make it themed with my all time favorite show - Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am a fan of many Joss Whedon products (mostly because everything he touches is GOLD), but Buffy has a special place for me. But onto the goals!

 

Goal one: "Double meat is double sweet!" (aka "Abs are made in the kitchen")

 

 

So, I will not be swirling my meats together into patty form, but I will be prepping my lunches (and hopefully breakfasts too) for the week each Sunday afternoon/evening in order to better control what I eat during the week. Mostly I am trying to plan out my proteins and make sure I get good protein with each meal.  This will probably consist of lots of chicken, but I will try to mix in some pork and shrimp as well - edit: and lean beef! Thanks ItsDaniel!.  I will mostly focus on the main dish, as at my work they always have two different  "veggies of the day" in the cafeteria, which will help keep the variety up and is a more realistic way to manage lunches.  I will try to do some bigger side dishes for the week, like squash, sweet and sour cabbage, etc, but if I don't get the side dishes done, I will fall back on the work offerings.  I will also try a new breakfast combo each week.  I have some ideas, and will post them as I go along.   Grading will go as follows:

 

6 weeks prepped: +3 CON, +1 CHA

5 weeks prepped: +2 CON, +1 CHA

3-4 weeks prepped: +2 CON

[RxLady]

Goal Two:  Slayer Strength

 

 

 

  So not the best picture, but the idea is there - strength and balance. And since my strength is NOT predestined, I will need to work on it. Eventually Buffy went into advanced training mode after realizing she wasn't living up to her potential, and I would like to try to follow suit (at least as much as I can, given I am still learning about strength training overall). 

 

  I will be finishing YAYOG week 10 for the first week of the challenge (5 days of workouts).  After week 1, I will likely be switching back to TMNT or BBWW, but in addition I would like to work on acquiring a barbell!  I want to learn to deadlifts and do some weighted squats for starters.  So, in short, at least 3 strength training sessions per week, although the content of each will be somewhat TBD based on my acquisition of a barbell and development of other strength training routines.  

 

Grading as follows:

 

16-18 workouts: +3 STR

14-15 workouts: +2 STR

12-13 workouts: +1 STR

11 or less workouts: no points

[RxLady]

Goal 3: Trogdor the Temptinator (Controlling that sweet tooth!)

 

 

 

  How does this relate to Buffy, you ask? Joss Whedon is a fan of Homestar Runner, who created Trogdor the Burninator, who is REFERENCED in the above D&D game as a supposed character of the game in the series finale of Buffy! Whew! Anyway...

 

  My sweet tooth is crazy and I am frequently tempted with sweets (at work especially) and unfortunately give in.  It sneaks up on me, usually in the afternoon and after meals.  And I do a LOT of "well, just a little, I haven't had anything today, I'll keep this in mind for the rest of the day..." etc, etc.  Rationalization after rationalization.  

 

   I am actively going to resist ONE temptation a day.  Now, this may not sound like much, but there is always ONE time during the day where I tend to give in to that afternoon snack of sweetness, and typically it is small, but usually it is enough to make me feel crappy and ruin my good eating for the day. I am not going to cut out all sweets, because I think that would be unrealistic at this point (especially with the holidays coming up), so I will keep a small stash of APPROPRIATE sweets - good dark chocolate, maybe some frozen yogurt, but whatever I choose, limited and appropriate portions.  I am also realistic about Thanksgiving.  I am likely running my first 5k that morning, and won't feel too bad about eating  a piece of pie.  Also within the challenge timeframe I am having a cookie baking day with my sisters and mom, and chances are we will try some of the products, but honestly, on baking days, usually I am too wiped out to be eating much of the results, so I am not too worried about going overboard on this day.

 

Grading for sweets resisted as follows:

 

38-42 days resisted: +3 CHA, +2 WIS

34-37 days resisted: +3 CHA, +1 WIS

33-36 days resisted:  +2 CHA, +1 WIS

30-33 days resisted: +1 CHA, +1 WIS

<30 days resisted:  No points

 

Edit: I forgot to mention - goal 3 comes with a reward/punishment system!  For every temptation NOT resisted, it will cost me 15 burpees (I hate burpees).  At the end of the challenge, if I have resisted within the maximum range (38-42 days), I will get to purchase a new fitness tracker - whether it's smart watch or Fitbit band or some of the other new ones I have yet to research. I have been looking at them for a while and I always like the accountability factor, so I will take the plunge! 

 

Life goal:  Reorganize my pantry!

 

 

  So, we moved into our house, and the pantry space became catch-all for everything kitchen/food related that we moved into the house.  And since then, it hasn't gotten any better.  So this task will have two objectives:

 

   1.) obviously cleaning and organizing of the pantry for better access/usability

   2.) cleaning out some of the old and/or less healthy food to make way for some new purchases!

 

If completed by the end of 6 weeks: +2 CON

 

Side Quest:  If I indeed complete the 5k mentioned above: +1 STA. 

 

So there it is!  I think that's good for this challenge.  I also will be looking into PVPs, but might not commit to anything this time around. We'll see!

[Shello]

Nice challenge.  Subbing.

[Balthazar]

omg, I nearly didn't recognise you from the new profile picture. I was over on Shello's thread and was like who's this person with the sassy picture - oh - wait a minute!

 

Loving the goals, got a few comments, in no particular order (pretty much as I remember them)

 

Like the food goal, have you thought about using beef instead of pork? The trainer I used who's a body builder advised me to eat lean beef (including home made burgers, woot woot) but stay away from pork because it has all kinds of extra things in it that white meat and beef don't. Just a thought?

 

Love that you are getting a barbell to work on the lifts, sounds like a good pre-christmas treat to me! knowing you I think you will actually get a kick out of deadlifts, i know you enjoy unlocking beast mode!

 

But just be careful if you are going to do bodyweight exercises as well because you will probably want to do a barbell strength day and then not have a strength day so your muscles can recover.

 

I like the wording of the sweet tooth challenge, a great person on here called Deftona has a similar quest which she simply titled "don't eat like a dickhead" (pardon the french), works on the basis that we know what is good and not good for us, so don't get hung up on tracking calories or writing down what you eat, but just use some common sense . . . .

 

. . . . . other than on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving it's going down and I ain't even American but I take the Thursday and Friday off work and cook all the food on the Thursday

[GingaNinja]

Yeah Buffy themes are my fave. Good luck rx!

[RxLady]

Nice challenge.  Subbing.

 

Thanks! Glad to see ya!

 

omg, I nearly didn't recognise you from the new profile picture. I was over on Shello's thread and was like who's this person with the sassy picture - oh - wait a minute!

 

Loving the goals, got a few comments, in no particular order (pretty much as I remember them)

 

Like the food goal, have you thought about using beef instead of pork? The trainer I used who's a body builder advised me to eat lean beef (including home made burgers, woot woot) but stay away from pork because it has all kinds of extra things in it that white meat and beef don't. Just a thought?

 

Love that you are getting a barbell to work on the lifts, sounds like a good pre-christmas treat to me! knowing you I think you will actually get a kick out of deadlifts, i know you enjoy unlocking beast mode!

 

But just be careful if you are going to do bodyweight exercises as well because you will probably want to do a barbell strength day and then not have a strength day so your muscles can recover.

 

I like the wording of the sweet tooth challenge, a great person on here called Deftona has a similar quest which she simply titled "don't eat like a dickhead" (pardon the french), works on the basis that we know what is good and not good for us, so don't get hung up on tracking calories or writing down what you eat, but just use some common sense . . . .

 

. . . . . other than on Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving it's going down and I ain't even American but I take the Thursday and Friday off work and cook all the food on the Thursday

 

Ahh yes, I have not forgotten about beef, but I forgot to mention it in my post!  My husband has been doing a lot of smoking of meats (he built a new 55 gallon drum smoker with the help of a friend) and pork tenderloin has been one of them.  So I figure, eating leftovers for a week of whatever he happens to be smoking is probably ok to work into my prep day/weekly menu.

 

As for the Avatar, gotta give Buffy some props with the themed challenge and all.

 

I will certainly take time between bodyweight/weighted workouts to let my muscles take a break.  On off days I will still try to do SOMETHING (jogging, yoga, maybe trying some Tai Chi?) but it's not specifically part of my challenge.  I am super excited about buying a barbell, although I need to do some research so I'm not overpaying or getting more than I really need for beginner, because I can be one of those people who buys a ton of stuff with all the right intentions, but then I don't use it or only use a portion of it since all I needed was some basic starting equipment. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

And lastly, Thanksgiving.  Pretty much my husband and my favorite holiday. We do love to cook and love to host, so I'm sure it will be a yummy-food filled day, but I will do my best not to go hog wild and eat everything in sight.  And that's also why we started trying to put a scheduled healthy activity early on in the day.  Try to temper some of the eating. But there will be Pie. With a capital P. Oh yes, there will be Pie. 

 

 

Yeah Buffy themes are my fave. Good luck rx!

 

Thanks much!  Gotta love the ass-kickin' mean chick stories, and Buffy is one of the best.  Thanks for stopping by! 

[deftona]

Ooooh, a Buffy themed challenge? Count me in! Great goals, go for it! 

[RxLady]

So starting off today with my cooking portion!  Cooking Chicken breasts, cabbage and butternut squash for the week.  Plan is to eat it daily for lunches (might sub some vegetables for some that they have at work - keep things fresh!)

 

Temptation resistance starts tomorrow! (Which only sucks because I made brownies for my 2 coworkers birthdays! But if it's a reasonable portion, it's within the rules to eat it with a meal - but no snacking/grazing!

 

And YAYOG continues tomorrow - start of week 10! The final week. The big hoorah. Excited to finish the program and move on to another strength training something-or-other, which is yet to be officially decided. 

[Balthazar]

The final week! What a great accomplishment! to have committed to something challenging for ten weeks and seen it through to the end, you absolute rock star

[Anaticula]

Subbing! Love your goals and can't wait to hear how you do!

[cn3wton]

I am here!

[RxLady]

The final week! What a great accomplishment! to have committed to something challenging for ten weeks and seen it through to the end, you absolute rock star

 

Thanks very much! It feels good to be coming to an end so I can try some new things, but I'm glad I stuck with it.  I can do more full push ups then before, so if nothing else, there's that!  Sorry it didn't seem to work out for you, but you sound like you're on a better path with your new trainer!

 

Subbing! Love your goals and can't wait to hear how you do!

 

Thanks much!  You are very inspirational and I am glad to have you visit!  Probably going to sign up for my Thanksgiving Day 5K because of your progress!

[RxLady]

I am here!

 

Glad to see you!  Thanks for coming by.  You and ItsDaniel regularly crack me up, so I love having you guys around. And you both have cool weight-lifty-manly things you  do for inspiration.  

[Balthazar]

Glad to see you!  Thanks for coming by.  You and ItsDaniel regularly crack me up, so I love having you guys around. And you both have cool weight-lifty-manly things you  do for inspiration.

 

Yeah man shit and stuff

 

[RxLady]

Things I have resisted in the past two days: Brownies x like, 6; mini snickers x 2. Whoo hoo! I allowed myself one brownie (small) after lunch today but no snacking the rest of the day or the day before on them. No workout today - had to run errands after work, but I will probably double up tomorrow since I have the day off.

Also started planning my pantry reorganization. My husband is REALLY excited that I am making him come with me to the container store (sarcasm, sarcasm). But we will do it together as it's his pantry too and he has to like it.

[Balthazar]

really push his buttons and have a tupperware party, he'll be beside himself

[RxLady]

really push his buttons and have a tupperware party, he'll be beside himself

 

haha that's fantastic!  Although, the idea of hosting a tupperware party makes me die a little inside.... lol, I'm only 30 for crying out loud! XD

[Balthazar]

haha that's fantastic!  Although, the idea of hosting a tupperware party makes me die a little inside.... lol, I'm only 30 for crying out loud! XD

 

no shit? you seem that with it and together that I just assumed you were older instead of just a couple of years older than me, man I need to up my game

[RxLady]

no shit? you seem that with it and together that I just assumed you were older instead of just a couple of years older than me, man I need to up my game

 

Oh No! The dreaded old lady syndrome! >_<  

 

And nope, just turned 30 in October - Hubby and I did get to buy a house, but we are using it right now to brew beers and play video games.  And of course workout (me at least).  

[RxLady]

So I never shared what I made for lunches this week!  

 

 

So I did baked chicken breasts (5 of them, with various spicing) - this one happens to be rosemary, thyme, black pepper, salt.  Then I did butternut squash - peeled with a veggie peeler, cubed, and put in a casserole dish with dill, parsley, salt, pepper, butter, a dash of lemon juice and some balsamic vinegar and baked at 375 for 45 mins. I've decided I like the savory butternut squash better than the sweet!  Also the cabbage my hubby actually made for me, so I have no idea what's all in it, but I think vinegar, little sugar, and some other stuff? I wasn't paying attention, but it's pretty tasty.  

 

Planning out my menu for next week - probably a baked veggie medley, or maybe I will try another type of squash.  Looking into beef dishes this time around! Open to suggestions too, if someone has a favorite.  

 

Did week 10, day 2 today of YAYOG.  My legs were shaking by the end with one-legged romanians, but I was able to work through them.  I tried speed squats this time, not sure I like them as much as slow squats and pausing at the bottom for a challenge. Also walked the dog when it warmed up to 27 degrees.. Brrrr.

[Balthazar]

Beef joint or beef mince?

[deftona]

So I never shared what I made for lunches this week!  

 

 

 

This post has taught me I need more red cabbage in my life. That food looks so excellent!

[RxLady]

This post has taught me I need more red cabbage in my life. That food looks so excellent!

Haha love it! And cabbage is great! This was like a sweet and sour cabbage and really easy to eat a few times in a row without getting sick of it.

[RxLady]

Busy past couple of days! Only one day left of week 10 for YAYOG which I will probably crank out tomorrow.

Planned out my lunch prep for next week. Thai turkey meatballs, oven roasted veggies and cilantro lime quinoa. Grocery shopping tomorrow and food prep.

So my husband's work had a dinner thing, so I went and tried to eat well (salmon, grilled asparagus and some risotto) but there was also bread and desserts and wine, which I did partake in, and lo and behold I got sick! Maybe I am starting to reject some of the richer, sugary things. I just didn't feel great afterwards, physically or mentally. So, more lessons learned and moving on.