RedTomato501 Gets Saucy

[redtomato501]

...I'm going to need help thinking up future "punny" titles >_<

 

Anyway, I've got two sets of goals here. I've included my goals for all of 2015, as they stand right now, so that I'm keeping a long-term plan in mind, as well as the goals for this actual challenge, which are all designed to move me forward on these long-term goals.

 

 

Overarching 2015 goals:

• Keep going to the gym throughout- no more than a week off at any point
  • While there will be times that I just cannot get to the gym (hello 14-hour workdays, and camp in August) I want to avoid being on and off every few months, as is my current trend. Let this be a year of consistency!
• flexibility - be able to do a center split again
  • Used to be able to do center splits, front-and-back, whatever... now I'm struggling to pull 90 degrees! That's embarrassing...
• strength - be able to do two pull-ups
  • One could be a fluke, or accidental kipping, but two? Yeah, there it is.
• Average 10,000 steps per day (or higher) over the course of the year
  • this allows for the fact that I will have days that I can't walk - sickness, work, hopefully not injury though - but still keep an elevated count throughout the year. I've been hitting an average of 9300 since my car stopped working, so I'm not far off.
• Lose 20 pounds
  • Potentially more, but want this to be acheivable, and want to make allowances for muscle gain.  I would put an inch measurement goal here instead of weight, but I'm not used to thinking in inches so I'm just not sure what to put.
• Eat better
  • I know, this isn't a SMART goal... and this is really still a nebulous concept, but I think where I'm going with this is to have some sort of healthy eating habit goal in each challenge, and the successful completion of each of these goals will indicate a better eating trend. I'd love to count macros, but I eat way too many things that I have no idea how to track/what's in them (kimchi burritos? shish kafta?), so that won't happen unless I really start cooking myself more... which is in the plans!
• Engage with others socially
  • I'm no longer living with other people, which is great because no pants, no financial burdens caused by others, etc. However, I'm at risk of becoming reclusive, especially in efforts to save money, so I need to be intentional about spending time with people. This also means being better at living in an organized fashion, as I can no longer lock my bedroom door while inviting guests into my living room, as my bedroom is my living room! (glorified studio apartment, natch)

 

 

 

Goals for Challenge #38:

 

1. Do StrongLifts at least 2x per week  (14/14)
   1. I'm really shooting for 3, but I know that this may not happen with work in January - I can't go to the gym if I'm at work the entire time it's open!
   2. I've been doing Stronglifts 5x5 for about a year and a half now, simply because I keep stopping and starting, so I'm really trying to get through to the point of failure -> 3x5 this time around.
2. Do yoga on any Sunday that I don't have post-church plans. If I do have post-church plans, do some sort of flexibility stretching during the weekend on my own. (6/6)
   1. My gym has yoga at 2:00 on Sundays, which I've gone to before and enjoyed (even if I get weirded out by the chanting at the end), and I'd like to take that back up.
   2. Knowing that I tend to over-schedule myself, I'd like to have a back-up stretching routine focused on flexibility that I can do independently. Until I find a good routine, I'll fall back on doing sets of Sun Salutations, since I at least know how to do those.
3. Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink (80%)
   1. Now that I can drink beer (and enjoy it), that's turned into a frequent beverage of choice which I'll indulge in more casually than I ever did bourbon. Add into that the fact that I don't like to drink water, and will drink beer instead, well, that's a problem.
   2. An 8oz glass of water with each beer will be both healthier and economical, as well as setting up better habits for the future.
4. Complete a mini-project around the apartment each week (6/6)
   1. I moved out of a house into a glorified studio in September, and I'm still adjusting to how different life is! I need to get my apartment into an order that is conduicive to healthy and organized living, since part of the reason I'm making messes is that things just don't have a home! Also want to make my apartment feel more like my home, a happy space to be in.
   2. Possible projects: Organize clothing closet, rearrange dresser/bookshelves, figure out full-wall picture (through to printing), put up full-wall picture, clean and reorganize kitchen, general straightening of possessions, get dividing curtain rod up, make and hang dividing curtain, organize sewing stuff, set up desktop for photo-editing, set up desktop for dual monitor use, get rid of a bed, acquire a couch

 

 

Reward for successful completion of challenge(>90%): cool workout tank + new sports bra

 

Partial completion of challenge (>50%): new sports bra

 

Insufficient completion of challenge: sad trombone + donate $100 to the agency I work for

[redtomato501]

Pictures are coming, I just took them specifically for the purpose of this challenge and am in the process of loading and editing.
 

 
I was going to do bike shorts, but couldn't find them, so I ended up using pants. Sorryz. Had fun taking these, as I've been trying to figure out how to do a studio set-up in my apartment. I definitely need to get extension cords and stands for my clamp lights, but I can see the potential!
 
As far as the pictures themselves go, I took this series clothed since I don't want half-naked pictures floating around for a real-life friend to trip over, but then I took a few for my personal files in my undies, and oh.my.goodness. Most people have body image problems to the point that they don't realize how skinny they are. Me, I didn't fully realize how much weight I've put on until I saw these pictures! The side photo was a real shocker - doesn't match up with my image of myself at all. Don't worry, there's no self-loathing as a result, but my goodness. Something needs to go! So, yeah... maybe this will help me with maintaining the consistency I desire! That, and giving me the motivation to put the Christmas stocking chocolate up with the Girl Scout Cookies that are out-of-sight, out-of-mind!
 
Measurement Data:
weight: 197 lb
height: 5'7.75"
Bust: 42.75"
Chest: 36"
Waist: 37.5"
Hips: 43.5"
Arms: 13"
Forearms: 11"
Thighs: 26.25"
Calves: 17"

Navy Method BF: 42%

 

Past month top # for StrongLifts 5x5 Data:
Squats: 145#

Bench: 85#

OHP: 65#

Deadlift (2x5): 175#

Row: none *embarrassed*

 

Row explanation: I keep skipping them because "I'm running out of time" but really really 'cause I hate them. *sigh* I know, I can't do that... and I plan to do them for this challenge *grumble*. The last time I did them was Nov 27, 85# 5x5.

[redtomato501]

Questions For The Hive Mind:

1. Currently, my 2015 weight loss goal is measured in terms of pounds. I'm fully on board with the concept that it should be measured in inches, but never measured myself when I was in better shape, and have no idea what a good goal is to shoot for. Any suggestions on what I should be aiming for? The only idea I have comes from Sir Mix-A-Lot, but I'm not sure he's got my fitness in mind.
2. Anybody have some routines they recommend for developing flexibility? I ask this for my back-up plan for my goal 2 of this challenge, which was developed in light of my desire to be able to do splits again (as a measure of my flexibility). I already know I'm going to need to do stretches this weekend, as I have a NF meet-up brunch on Sunday after church.

[FamilyBeer]

Your flexibility goal probably depends on where you want to be more flexible--legs, back, hips, shoulders,...-- and so you might want to determine that and then you might be able to find stretches/programs yourself and others can help (that's about the limit to my help other than to recommend stretching after your workout when your body is warm). Yoga is good, maybe your instructor can help.

 

Nice goals, nice rewards and very nice StrongLifts weights!!  But, you gotta do those rows, they'll improve your back and a strong back on a woman is very nice, on its own plus it makes your waist look smaller!!!

 

Subbed

[mgage]

Something I've been using that I like is the Navy Method. The factors are your gender, height, weight, and two measurements for males (might be three for females). Then, it gives you a BF% estimate. It's hard to offer a specific inches goal, but I think it's really nice to see your BF% get lower on a consistent basis.

[Alanna]

Subbing for the lifting and the yoga! I like your plans for 2015, too. Maybe swing dancing can be part of your social goal?

 

Also, nice studio set-up--do you do a lot of photography?

[redtomato501]

Your flexibility goal probably depends on where you want to be more flexible--legs, back, hips, shoulders,...-- and so you might want to determine that and then you might be able to find stretches/programs yourself and others can help (that's about the limit to my help other than to recommend stretching after your workout when your body is warm). Yoga is good, maybe your instructor can help.

 

Nice goals, nice rewards and very nice StrongLifts weights!!  But, you gotta do those rows, they'll improve your back and a strong back on a woman is very nice, on its own plus it makes your waist look smaller!!! [...]

 

Since my overarching 2015 goal is to be able to do splits again, my flexibility focus is probably on my hips, although I'm certainly fine with any flexibility gained elsewhere! And yes, I do need to do those rows  I knew I had skipped a few, but hadn't realized it was over a month! Whoops! I'd be fine with a smaller waist.

 

Something I've been using that I like is the Navy Method. The factors are your gender, height, weight, and two measurements for males (might be three for females). Then, it gives you a BF% estimate. It's hard to offer a specific inches goal, but I think it's really nice to see your BF% get lower on a consistent basis.

 

Oh dear... using the calculator here I get a range of 39-45%, depending on which numbers I put in - height, waist and hip are not integers! Rounding each of them up gives me 42%. >_< While I hate using a calculator method, especially with all the fights about how accurate they are and for which people, I do see the value in picking a method and just watching that number go down (or up), so I'll throw that onto my data. Thanks! Would love to actually get the body fat tested, but not motivated to actually seek it out, so this is my best bet

 

Subbing for the lifting and the yoga! I like your plans for 2015, too. Maybe swing dancing can be part of your social goal?

 

Also, nice studio set-up--do you do a lot of photography?

 

Ha ha, maybe! I don't think I'll add it to my official goals as I have enough going on, but you're right, I should definitely look into making it happen soon!

 

Um, sometimes?! Ha ha... I haven't been letting myself take as many pictures lately because I need to transfer my photography stuff, clean up files, and edit what I've already taken, but it is something I do enjoy as an expensive hobby! My "studio" is currently a wall, and some clamp lamps from Home Depot (that don't actually clamp to anything really well) sitting on chairs, ha ha, but I've never played with setting up lighting before at all, so it's fun to mess with!

 

 

 

Went to the gym today, told myself sternly that I would do my barbell rows if they were on the program for today... and they weren't! I was happy, ha ha... except that everything was so heavy today, probably because I just could not fall asleep last night until close to 4 am (and then someone from work called and woke me this morning   ), so I wasn't very well rested.

[FamilyBeer]

Went to the gym today, told myself sternly that I would do my barbell rows if they were on the program for today... and they weren't! I was happy, ha ha... except that everything was so heavy today, probably because I just could not fall asleep last night until close to 4 am (and then someone from work called and woke me this morning   ), so I wasn't very well rested.

 

I did an early morning workout a couple of weeks ago (I normally go either immediately after work or late in the evening, starting as late as 10:30) and it was abysmal. Every lift was hard and I failed to complete one exercise but the next time I did the same weight on that exercise, I practically threw the bar up: no more early morning workouts for me, even though, in all other respects, I'm a morning person.

[JessOfAllTrades]

Fantastic goals! 

 

Also, we can always plan non-brunch things for the DC nerds, since brunch probably doesn't help a lot of our goals. But socializing is good!

[Alanna]

Ha ha, maybe! I don't think I'll add it to my official goals as I have enough going on, but you're right, I should definitely look into making it happen soon!

 

Um, sometimes?! Ha ha... I haven't been letting myself take as many pictures lately because I need to transfer my photography stuff, clean up files, and edit what I've already taken, but it is something I do enjoy as an expensive hobby! My "studio" is currently a wall, and some clamp lamps from Home Depot (that don't actually clamp to anything really well) sitting on chairs, ha ha, but I've never played with setting up lighting before at all, so it's fun to mess with!

 

 

 

Went to the gym today, told myself sternly that I would do my barbell rows if they were on the program for today... and they weren't! I was happy, ha ha... except that everything was so heavy today, probably because I just could not fall asleep last night until close to 4 am (and then someone from work called and woke me this morning   ), so I wasn't very well rested.

 

I hear you on needing to organize and edit photos... I periodically take a LOT of photos (mostly outdoors, though) and if I don't edit them in the days afterwards, they tend to just sit on my computer. Luckily I at least got a decent file system going so I can find the ones I want pretty easily.

 

Lack of sleep kills my lifts, too--hope you can get some rest and kill those weights (including BB rows, since they WILL be part of your next session) next time!

[redtomato501]

I did an early morning workout a couple of weeks ago (I normally go either immediately after work or late in the evening, starting as late as 10:30) and it was abysmal. Every lift was hard and I failed to complete one exercise but the next time I did the same weight on that exercise, I practically threw the bar up: no more early morning workouts for me, even though, in all other respects, I'm a morning person.

 

Yeah... I've done a few early morning workouts before work when I knew there was no way I could get to the gym before it closed at 11pm, and they've been awful. They're definitely a last resort!

 

Fantastic goals! 

 

Also, we can always plan non-brunch things for the DC nerds, since brunch probably doesn't help a lot of our goals. But socializing is good!

 

Thanks, Jess! And yeah, we could plan non-brunch things for the DC nerd, but we might be too DC for that. Plus, the brunches have been our best attended events, even if we say we want to do other things! I'm already planning to do the steak and eggs (protein!) and one beer at our brunch, and eat veggies the rest of the day, so it should still "fit my macros" (as if I were actually tracking...). Most of the other successful NF meet-ups seem to center around going to a gym, but I don't know of any non-member friendly gyms around here.

 

That was really why I was looking at Paleo-friendly restaurants... not so much because anyone is paleo, but because that meant there were options beyond pancakes/french toast/muffins/doughnuts and other sweet, white-flour options! Those are amazing, but I wanted to make sure we had options.

 

I hear you on needing to organize and edit photos... I periodically take a LOT of photos (mostly outdoors, though) and if I don't edit them in the days afterwards, they tend to just sit on my computer. Luckily I at least got a decent file system going so I can find the ones I want pretty easily.

 

Lack of sleep kills my lifts, too--hope you can get some rest and kill those weights (including BB rows, since they WILL be part of your next session) next time!

 

Yes, I can find them... but that doesn't make me feel any better about taking pictures for a friend, then not giving them back until 3 months later! I finally finished a batch of family photos, though, so I need to upload them and send them off this weekend.

 

Got 10 hours of sleep last night, thanks to yesterday's exertions! Woke up with a killer headache, though, so bummer... don't know if it was a migraine (no pulsing or centralization, but light sensitivity and nausea) or dehydration (my apartment is warm and the opposite of humid) but it's finally settled, so maybe I'll go for a run, give myself one more rest day, and then go to the gym Monday night after what's sure to be a stressful day at work! And yes, there will be rows.

 

 

Part of what I hate about rows is how much I feel like I'm just waving my ass towards the rest of the weight room... awkward. Then, too, it's a difficult exercise to self-assess form on. That first one, I just need to get over. To help with the second, however, I've just sent an inquiry to another gym in the area that runs exclusively on personal training and group classes (so not a drop-in-independently gym) to ask about a one-off session to assess form, so hopefully that will help (to the tune of $95 an hour >_<)!

[Wufkar]

/snip

 

Part of what I hate about rows is how much I feel like I'm just waving my ass towards the rest of the weight room... awkward. Then, too, it's a difficult exercise to self-assess form on. That first one, I just need to get over. To help with the second, however, I've just sent an inquiry to another gym in the area that runs exclusively on personal training and group classes (so not a drop-in-independently gym) to ask about a one-off session to assess form, so hopefully that will help (to the tune of $95 an hour >_<)!

Well your ass should be stationary while doing rows

 

Swing dancing clearly needs to happen as well.

[Raze]

Great goals! i agree with Jess that not all of our meet ups need to revolve around brunch especially with how much there is to do in the DC area.

[Wufkar]

 

Questions For The Hive Mind:

1. Currently, my 2015 weight loss goal is measured in terms of pounds. I'm fully on board with the concept that it should be measured in inches, but never measured myself when I was in better shape, and have no idea what a good goal is to shoot for. Any suggestions on what I should be aiming for? The only idea I have comes from Sir Mix-A-Lot, but I'm not sure he's got my fitness in mind.

 

I wouldn't pick numbers to shoot for as you'll find those change as you get closer and everyone's body is different. Instead I'd recommend just tracking for a while. See how you progress over time. You'll find that some parts shrink faster than others and then you can use that to help make loose goals as you get further along.

[Juni0r83]

Maybe for your weightloss goal, wait 3 weeks, take a measurement, and then set a goal based on that, and rather than say '3" here and 2" here', go for a total number of inches lost over all of your measurements. Just a thought anyway.

[EmCee]

I think you should definitely measure with a tape... but consider measuring in cm's vs inches.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Xisiqomelir]

 

Questions For The Hive Mind:

1. Currently, my 2015 weight loss goal is measured in terms of pounds. I'm fully on board with the concept that it should be measured in inches, but never measured myself when I was in better shape, and have no idea what a good goal is to shoot for. Any suggestions on what I should be aiming for?

 

 

Buy one of these at Amazon for $15. Enlist a friend to take the impossible-to-solo measurements (triceps and shoulderblade). Ignore all the multitudinous formulae for deriving bodyfat therefrom, including the ones in the instruction booklet. Just try to make the numbers decrease over time. Don't measure more than once a week.

 

 

 

The only idea I have comes from Sir Mix-A-Lot, but I'm not sure he's got my fitness in mind.

 

He does, though:

Some brothers wanna play that "hard" role

And tell you that the butt ain't gold

So they toss it and leave it

And I pull up quick to retrieve it

[redtomato501]

Well your ass should be stationary while doing rows

 

Swing dancing clearly needs to happen as well.

 

Ha ha, good point And yes... I think that will be an unofficial side quest, go try out swing dancing with the GottaSwing crew

 

Great goals! i agree with Jess that not all of our meet ups need to revolve around brunch especially with how much there is to do in the DC area.

 

Alright then, as long as we have group buy-in on it! I'm always in for a board game night, for that matter.

 

I wouldn't pick numbers to shoot for as you'll find those change as you get closer and everyone's body is different. Instead I'd recommend just tracking for a while. See how you progress over time. You'll find that some parts shrink faster than others and then you can use that to help make loose goals as you get further along.

 

Maybe for your weightloss goal, wait 3 weeks, take a measurement, and then set a goal based on that, and rather than say '3" here and 2" here', go for a total number of inches lost over all of your measurements. Just a thought anyway.

 

Thanks for the advice, peoples - It would definitely be less pressure to just see what happens, instead of shooting for a certain goal. Plus, I like the idea of aiming for a total number of inches lost overall, 'cause then I'm throwing bigger numbers around, and instead of a half inch here, a half inch there, it would actually feel more significant!

 

I think you should definitely measure with a tape... but consider measuring in cm's vs inches.

 

Because it's a smaller unit of measurement, and would allow me to put more accurate numbers into the Navy Method? Or is there some other reason I haven't thought of?

 

Buy one of these at Amazon for $15. Enlist a friend to take the impossible-to-solo measurements (triceps and shoulderblade). Ignore all the multitudinous formulae for deriving bodyfat therefrom, including the ones in the instruction booklet. Just try to make the numbers decrease over time. Don't measure more than once a week.

 

He does, though:

Some brothers wanna play that "hard" role

And tell you that the butt ain't gold

So they toss it and leave it

And I pull up quick to retrieve it

 

Aight, added that to my Amazon cart, for the next time I bite the bullet and put in an order. I love how 5 of the 7 items in my cart are fitness related, actually. Unusual - it's usually cookbooks!

 

Good ol' Sir Mix-A-Lot... I actually love the Glee cover of that song, I'll have to listen to that again.

 

 

 

Another unofficial side quest of mine is to drink more water, so I just bought two water bottles on the first to help with that, and I finally drank a full 64 oz today! It's a struggle, but Mio and lemons make it possible (I hate drinking water ). On the other hand, one of my 2015 goals is to walk an average of 10,000 steps per day, and I'm way behind on that already. Oops. 

[EmCee]

That's pretty much it. Because it's a smaller unit, it's more accurate and it's also easier for you to see progress in your numbers

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JessOfAllTrades]

Thanks, Jess! And yeah, we could plan non-brunch things for the DC nerd, but we might be too DC for that. Plus, the brunches have been our best attended events, even if we say we want to do other things! I'm already planning to do the steak and eggs (protein!) and one beer at our brunch, and eat veggies the rest of the day, so it should still "fit my macros" (as if I were actually tracking...). Most of the other successful NF meet-ups seem to center around going to a gym, but I don't know of any non-member friendly gyms around here.

 

That was really why I was looking at Paleo-friendly restaurants... not so much because anyone is paleo, but because that meant there were options beyond pancakes/french toast/muffins/doughnuts and other sweet, white-flour options! Those are amazing, but I wanted to make sure we had options.

 

 

Haha, I love how brunch defines us DC folks. But yes, I think we can continue brunch if we look into some of those places you listed on our meetup thread. Maybe we can do ice skating near navy yard one of these evenings so we're moving a bit. I do wish we had a non-member friendly gym though - that would be fantastic.

[wildross]

 

Part of what I hate about rows is how much I feel like I'm just waving my ass towards the rest of the weight room... awkward. Then, too, it's a difficult exercise to self-assess form on. That first one, I just need to get over. To help with the second, however, I've just sent an inquiry to another gym in the area that runs exclusively on personal training and group classes (so not a drop-in-independently gym) to ask about a one-off session to assess form, so hopefully that will help (to the tune of $95 an hour >_<)!

Can you turn around?  No law says you have to face the wall...

[redtomato501]

That's pretty much it. Because it's a smaller unit, it's more accurate and it's also easier for you to see progress in your numbers

Sold! I'll just convert the measurements above since I did try to get pretty precise and then use centimeters... because saying I dropped 5 centimenters sounds more awesome than 2 inches!

Can you turn around? No law says you have to face the wall...

:blinks: There is elegance in the simplicity of this plan, sir. It really hadn't occurred to me, as everyone faces the mirrored wall for any movement - at least until I went Friday, and saw a guy set up "backwards". Made sense once I realized he was doing walking lunges with the barbell, but it definitely jarred me to see him facing the "wrong" way.

Well, I'm back in the gym tomorrow early to kick things off, so yikes! And yes, it will be the barbell row day... If I don't have time in the morning, then I'll just have to go back and do them in the evening!

Otherwise, had a lovely meet-up with DC-area nerds, where (as usual) we got together, tried all sorts of delicious beer and food, and talked about anything and everything for 4 hours. (BTW, DC-nerds, Googled the blue... yeah. Eyes burn). Came home, ate too much salmon, and am about to head to bed because of the early wake-up call (and my decision to read a book instead of a chapter last night >_< )

[FamilyBeer]

Can you turn around?  No law says you have to face the wall...

 

But, if you turn around and your butt is towards a mirror, you're not achieving anything.

 

I don't lift much weight compared with others around me because I'm there just for myself and if anyone wants to point and snicker, so be it. Maybe you might want to adopt the same sort of attitude.

[redtomato501]

I don't lift much weight compared with others around me because I'm there just for myself and if anyone wants to point and snicker, so be it. Maybe you might want to adopt the same sort of attitude.

 

It's more of a personal hang-up - nobody in my gym points and snickers, and I don't think I'd care if they did. Nobody's looking at my butt, it's just a position that makes me feel vulnerable due to my own background. Hard to explain. Squat racks are always full at night anyway, so I may end up doing them with a bench press bar in a corner tonight, so that could help.

 

 

On to happier things, I just got back from my first (incomplete) workout of the challenge! Did the squats (145#) and bench press (90#, RAWR), need to go back this evening for the rows (legit ran out of time), but already have plans to do that with my gym buddy after work! They will happen today come hell or high water! Shower time!

[wildross]

Understood on the comfort level stuff. Some exercises just don't feel right.