Elinox's Twenty Pounds of Crazy in a Five Pound Bag

[elinox]

For my seventh challenge, I got started early as I began thinking of things I wanted to achieve while still in the midst of my 6th challenge. I also decided to go with a Leverage theme this time since they’re thieves which are usually very assassin-like. Plus, I love Parker’s attitude. Also, all of the quest titles are episodes!

Main Quest
To live a healthy and balanced life by continuing to exercise and eat healthy.

Motivation
I've successfully dropped weight by counting calories so my diet will mostly be staying the same with 1200 calories per day M-F and then blow meals on the weekends. I've managed to put on some muscle through weight lifting and that’s felt great. But I’m starting to think that ‘strong and beefy’ are just not words people are going to associate with a petite, 5’3†female. So perhaps I should try focusing more on agility, speed and endurance for a change.

Smaller Jobs
1. The Three Strikes Job
Be more mobile and conscious of how my body moves.
a. Practice animal flow
I enjoyed this when I tried it for my 4th challenge. Ultimately, I’d like to invent my own animal flow movement: wolf. I'm going to try for at least once a week.
Scoring: x/6 weeks
Reward: +3 to DEX
b. Walking
Last challenge, I started walking over many of my lunch breaks. It was both nice to get out of office and also felt good to be back at the gym again.
Scoring: /30 miles
Reward: +1 to STA
c. Running
Ideally, I’d wanted to join a Zumba class, but I just don't think it's going to work with my schedule. So instead, I'm editing this on 1/8/15 to be 10 minutes of running per week. Assassin's have got to be fast!
Scoring: /6 weeks
Reward: +1 to STA & +2 to DEX
Total: +5 to Dex & +2 to STA

2. The Scheherazade Job
Read
I really enjoyed the challenge of reading more books, so I’ll be doing that again this time. Reading 3 books in 6 weeks was an adequate goal for me so I’ll be striving for that again.
Scoring: x/3 books
Reward: +2 to WIS

3. The Homecoming Job
Cut down on processed junk food by only having sugary snacks on the weekends with my blow means.
Processed sweet treats are the enemy. I tend to do alright on weekdays, but I can still improve. While 2-3 times per week makes me saner, striving for x/30 days is by far better.
Scoring: x/30 days
Reward: +2 to CHA & +2 to CON

4. The Tap-Out Job
In an effort to keep lifting weights, since I enjoy it, I won’t have any weight-specific goals this challenge. Instead, I want to aim to do weightlifting 2-3 times per week.
Scoring: /6 weeks (1 point for going 2-3 times per 3 weeks)
Reward: +2 STR

Stats
Age: 32
Gender: female
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 144lbs

[Ocelot]

Love the Scheherezade goal - and your weekend food must be awesome! Good luck with all your goals.

[raptron]

Nice and well-rounded. Good luck.

[artemisia victoria]

Love the Scheherezade job! If you don't always have time for a Zumba class, there are some online videos and even a Wii game you could try. Zumba is actually great paired with high impact exercise like weight lifting because it helps loosen up sore muscles. 

[TwinBear]

Subbed and followed. Looking forward to hearing about what books you read.

[elinox]

I walked last night and today over lunch and I avoided junk food last night.

 

I'm also thinking about changing my dance/zumba goal to something regarding running. And running is generally reserved for traveling away from something trying to eat me: that is, I hate it. But perhaps running for 10 minutes per week would be doable and not piss me off? We'll see.

 

Walking: 3/30

Sweet Treats: 1/30

[Erick the Red]

And running is generally reserved for traveling away from something trying to eat me: that is, I hate it.

 

People speak highly of the Zombies, Run! app.  Never tried it myself.

 

I have never had a good run that was under ten minutes.  I rarely have a good run under twenty minutes.  It takes that long for me to "get into it" -- maybe it is loosening tendons, maybe it is something cardiovascular or psychological.  So no matter the length of the run, my first couple miles are usually unfun.  But then they usually get fun.  So maybe you just haven't run far enough for it to get fun yet?

 

You might try doing sprints to liven things up.  I have a road near my house that has regular streetlights about a hundred yards apart.  I can run fast from on to the next, then walk to the next, and repeat for a few minutes.  Doesn't take long, and I can practice running fast without burning out.  There are fancy runner-names for interval sprint training like that, but I don't remember them.

[elinox]

People speak highly of the Zombies, Run! app.  Never tried it myself.

 

I have never had a good run that was under ten minutes.  I rarely have a good run under twenty minutes.  It takes that long for me to "get into it" -- maybe it is loosening tendons, maybe it is something cardiovascular or psychological.  So no matter the length of the run, my first couple miles are usually unfun.  But then they usually get fun.  So maybe you just haven't run far enough for it to get fun yet?

 

You might try doing sprints to liven things up.  I have a road near my house that has regular streetlights about a hundred yards apart.  I can run fast from on to the next, then walk to the next, and repeat for a few minutes.  Doesn't take long, and I can practice running fast without burning out.  There are fancy runner-names for interval sprint training like that, but I don't remember them.

 

My husband has the zombie app, but I haven't tried it as I (*gasp!*) still don't have a smart phone.

 

I've heard that about runners, that they eventually just "get into the zone" but honestly, after running for a solid 10 minutes, I'm in pain and out of breath and sweaty. Not a whole lot of motivation to keep running when I feel like crap. But maybe with a bit more practice. Not that I want to be a runner, no no, I'm a swimmer and not built for running. But the option as another thing to do at the gym would be nice sometimes. 

[Erick the Red]

I've heard that about runners, that they eventually just "get into the zone" but honestly, after running for a solid 10 minutes, I'm in pain and out of breath and sweaty. Not a whole lot of motivation to keep running when I feel like crap. But maybe with a bit more practice.

 

This is what I was trying to say.  I needed to get better at running, even though it was not fun, to get to the point where I could go for long enough that it became fun.  A lot of people (understandably) just don't want to go through that initial ramp-up. 

 

I bet with some competent coaching (i.e. not from me) you could work on a ramp-up program that would be less painful, and help to get to the point when it might even be less-unpleasant.

[elinox]

I bet with some competent coaching (i.e. not from me) you could work on a ramp-up program that would be less painful, and help to get to the point when it might even be less-unpleasant.

 

Perhaps, but I'm still not sure I want to be a 'runner'. Running on occasion is fine (or for your life, which is necessary) but as a regular gym activity, not so much. Maybe I'll give it a try, we'll see.

 

Sweet Treats: 2/30

[elinox]

I did some weight lifting over my lunch break today and it felt good to be back, pumping iron again! Now however, I can really feel the bar squats in my legs, ouch!

 

Weights: 1/6

[elinox]

I walked 1.5 miles last night at the gym and 1.5 miles again today over my lunch break. I also did some animal flow poses last night including bear, frog, crab and donkey kicks (which I suck at). 

 

And I'm really thinking that I'm going to change my smaller job #1, C to something other than Zumba simply because I doubt I'll get to a class. So in the effort of changing it and getting something productive done for it during week #1, I will now be making myself run for 10 minutes per week. Ugh.

 

Walking: 6/30

Sweet Treats: 3/30

Animal Flow: 1/6

 

[Erick the Red]

And I'm really thinking that I'm going to change my smaller job #1, C to something other than Zumba simply because I doubt I'll get to a class. So in the effort of changing it and getting something productive done for it during week #1, I will now be making myself run for 10 minutes per week. Ugh.

 

Good job being flexible and finding new ways to be active instead of throwing in the towel.  Even if it is, "Ugh."

[elinox]

Good job being flexible and finding new ways to be active instead of throwing in the towel.  Even if it is, "Ugh."

 

Remind me of this again later today after I've run for my 10 minutes!

 

[elinox]

I actually did run today over my lunch break for 10 minutes. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to regret it on Sunday as my muscles will be in such pain! I also did some weight lifting too.

 

A very productive first week for me, but cripes am I tired from it now!

 

Running: 1/6

Sweet Treats: 4/30

Weights: 2/12

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

YEEEEEHAAAAA!!

 

I started watching Leverage again too --- and I really love Parker's character.  

 

Hope the muscles don't bark at you too much tomorrow!!

[elinox]

Friday night, since it was my husband's birthday, we went out to dinner and I got dessert. It was absolutely delicious so I don't regret it too much.

 

I finished my first book on Saturday too (564 pages).

 

Reading: 1/3

[elinox]

Yesterday I walked three miles at the gym: two while at work and then one after work. I also had pretzels for a snack.

 

Walking: 9/30

Sweet Treats: 5/30

[elinox]

I love goal number 3, same here. I have little post it notes up around the house reminding myself why I don't eat that anymore. It's the hardest one for me. Also, sweet job on the walking! I love walking! I got a gym membership basically so I could keep walking in the winter but I didn't think I would find walking on a treadmill to be the most boring thing ever, I think I'm going to have to cancel my membership. Good luck!

 

Yeah cutting down on sweet treats is, by far, my hardest challenge! Obviously if I didn't like them, then I wouldn't eat them, which would be great for my health!

 

And while walking on a treadmill can be boring, I can sometimes read while walking and there's always music too. Plus, my gym has a movie room with treadmills which is great. 

[elinox]

Very productive day again yesterday! I participated in the Assassin's mini challenge #2 and as a result, I get +1 to my DEX! I did weight lifting over my lunch break and then walked a mile after work at my other gym. I also had pretzels for a snack (which were, sadly, stale).

 

Walking: 10/30

Sweet Treats: 6/30

Weights: 3/12

[elinox]

I walked at the gym over my lunch break for a mile, then ran for my 10 minutes, then followed up by walking a half mile to cool down. 

 

Walking: 11.5/30

Running: 2/6

[elinox]

Last night I had junk food for a snack: a pack of cookies and a cadbury egg. All within my calories for the day though! It was Star Wars RP game night so it was simply easier than stopping at the store for something like graham crackers. Next week I will be more prepared! (And we're doing a group meal of chicken curry so that will be yummy all by itself!)

 

I just walked over my lunch break. And while I'd intended to only walk for a mile, I had my book with me and managed to finish it. When I was done, I'd ended up walking 2 miles total!

 

Walking: 13.5/30

Reading: 2/3 (328 pages)

[elinox]

I did animal flow poses last night including komodo dragon, advanced seal, cougar and advanced duck. And I know today that I did those well because my butt and legs are sore!

 

Animal Flow: 2/6

Sweet Treats: 8/30

[elinox]

Over my lunch today I did some weight lifting: bar bell curls, pull-overs, rows and situps. Not major stuff, but maintaining is good too!

 

Weights: 4/12

[Erick the Red]

maintaining is good too great!

 

Fixed that for you.