Darkfoxx 15 - Motivation, Motivation, Motivation

[darkfoxx]

 

 

I’ve been enjoying the amount of graphic designs I have made lately for my blog and want to continue on in that vein. To that end, the “theme†of this challenge is playing with texture and font by making my own versions of those uber popular Instagram and Pinterest click bait quote images. 

 

As for challenge, I’m keeping things on the simpler side this go round. Last challenge I got really lackadaisical and really didn’t post much. I continued on (mostly, minus some completely off the rails time), but really didn’t feel like posting. NF seemed like a ghost town - most everyone on my friends list either bailed on the last challenge (last *few* challenges) or didn’t really update. I *know* these things shouldn’t deter me, but dammit, NF had been slacking for 3 challenges in a row and it’s hard to keep going when you feel like you’re screaming into the void.  /rant

 

I know myself and without the support of this community, I totally wouldn't be where I am today - and wouldn't have the stamina to shoot for my big goals this year.

 

This year, my goals continue on from last year - I want to continue to improve my body; I have a bunch of OCRs & quick moving for bling things going on; and I still feel like I need to minimize the crap I have lying around. I also still have that GD SCARF to finish. I’m tired of that damn scarf. 

 

Oh, and to make things more interesting, I’ll be doing a Whole30 this January. So, there’s that. 

 

 

Goal 1: Fitness

 

I think I want to go back to bodyweight workouts. I like barbells in theory, but I really miss my jumping all around and working on the fundamentals workouts when I'm not doing them. I plan on either grabbing a Neila Rey program or trying the January program from PopSugar's new app - and I'm starting late (on the 5th) because I'm battling some hefty thigh DOMs from last week. 

 

 

Goal 2: Metrics

 

Metrics make me happy and they work for me, so I'm sticking with them. As a refresher, my metrics are: 100 grams or under of carbs, 70 grams or over of protein, under 100 grams of fat and around 1500 calories. Water is the recommended by FitBit 64 ounces, and on the weekends I like my step count to be over FitBit’s recommended 10,000. I track food with My Fitness Pal and exercise, sleep and water with the FitBit app. Last month, my FitBit Flex fell off my wrist sometime between here and the grocery store and I have yet to decide what I want to replace it with (ok, so I'm waiting to see if I want the Apple watch - shocker). Weight and BF are tracked with my FitBit Aria scale. I also use a combo of FitBit + Zombies, Run! To track my quickly moving through space workouts if they're in the wide world. 

 

 

Goal 3: Get My Shit Digitized

 

I bought a Groupon waaaaayyyy back last winter to get another chunk of my mother’s pictures digitized, and just purchased another to get some of the other things scanned/duped as well. Maybe those VHSs of my tiny little blonde self singing in the church choir as a kid (BWAHAHA) won’t disintegrate after all. 

 

 

Goal 4: Get Out Of My Comfort Zone

 

I’ve been doing really well at getting out of my comfort zone over the past few months, but I want to do more. I plan on going to exercise classes outside my bubble, socializing with new people, and creating new things. I’m not putting a time crunch on myself so I don’t burn my little introverted brain out, but I will continually look for new and different things to do. So far, I have at least 1 yoga class and 1 dance(!) class that I may go to in my building’s new gym + 1 yoga class out in the wild at of all places - Urban Outfitter’s flagship store. I did this class last month, and it was fantastic. And I didn’t die of exposure. Win. 

[darkfoxx]

 

Goal 1: Fitness

 

Re-focusing on my favorite: bodyweight workouts + yoga. Keep up my 4-5 day a week workout schedule and pick a program to follow. 

 

 

Week 1: A. I worked out all my days, even the day I didn't have time to do a full workout, and even got an extra day in. Bam. 

 

Week 2: I did good here. I modified where I needed to in order to give my wrist a rest, but I didn't use that as an excuse to slack off. A. 

 

Week 3: A. I'm on track here. 

 

Week 4: A. I got an extra workout in - yoga - and it was good. 

 

Week 5: A. Yay, bonus workouts. 

 

Week 6: A. I missed a workout day, but since it was to hang out with other OCR people + triathletes, I'll count that as acceptable. 

 

Final Report: I did good here. I stuck with my PopSugar workout challenge and even snuck in some extra workouts - I'd call that a success. +3 STRength, +2 DEXterity, +3 STAmina

 

 

Goal 2: Metrics

 

As a refresher, my metrics are: 100 grams or under of carbs, 70 grams or over of protein, under 100 grams of fat and around 1500 calories. Water is the recommended by FitBit 64 ounces, and on the weekends I like my step count to be over FitBit’s recommended 10,000. I am also doing Whole30 this January. Follow along here. 

 

 

Week 1: A. Whole30 always keeps me good. My calories were a bit high two days, but that's fine. 

 

Week 2: I did good here this week. W30 is on target, and as such, so are my metrics. A

 

Week 3: A. No surprises here. 

 

Week 4: A. This was my last bit of Whole 30, and while I wasn't completely virtuous afterward I wasn't completely off the rails. At least not to the point of getting sick. 

 

Week 5: B. I did great during the week, but had 2 dinners of excess during the weekend. This is not the way to stay on track. Granted, at least I binged on meat - but still. 

 

Week 6: A. I almost gave myself a bad grade from Saturday, but I'm freaking proud of myself for turning it around Sunday. Saturday I was all amped up to eat my hubby's pre-race dinner (ground beef with rice - heavy on the beef and light on rice for me), so when the time came to order delivery and rice was there, I ate too much --- but, I turned it all around Sunday by making myself dinner out of things I bought at the corner bodega instead of partaking in the Indian takeout the hubby had. Whoo. 

 

Final Report: No big surprises here. I usually do well with this goal, and this cycle was no exception. +2 WISdom

 

 

Goal 3: Get My Shit Digitized

 

Send more of my mother's pictures + other things off to get digitized. 

 

 

Week 1: DNF. Worked on other things instead. 

 

Week 2: I didn't get my stated goal done this week, but I have definitely worked hard toward another goal - that damn scarf. A for effort. 

 

Week 3: A. Even though I did zero work on my stated goal, I FINISHED MY DAMN SCARF. 

 

Week 4: A for completing something, even if it wasn't my stated goal. Got more done on my new knitting project and at least contacted the digitizing places to get the ball rolling. 

 

Week 5: A. I contacted the Peggy Bank people and am waiting on a shipping box from them. I also finished one knitting project and have started a new one. 

 

Week 6: A. I made great strides on my actual goal, and even better strides on my unspoken goal. 

 

Final Report: As usually happens with my 'life' goal, it revealed itself to be larger in scope than originally planned. I finished the scarf I've been knitting for 2 1/2 years, started and finished another scarf, and started a third - I also contacted the company I purchased a digitization Groupon through, got the box, and started loading things up to be sent off. An unqualified success. +2 CONstitution

 

 

Goal 4: Get Out Of My Comfort Zone

 

Do something out of my comfort zone - ideally once each week. 

 

 

Week 1: A. I attended 2 dance/yoga classes that were out of my comfort zone - 1 (African dance) that was way out of my zone. 

 

Week 2: I went out of my comfort zone this week. A. 

 

Week 3: A. I signed up for some stuff and put things in motion for future weeks. Also: game night (+ charades) with neighbors. 

 

Week 4: A. I got out of my comfort zone a bit. 

 

Week 5: A. I can't remember what I did that was out of my comfort zone this week, but I feel like it was something. And if there wasn't actually anything, I'm counting the trail run 5k my hubby talked me into signing up for this Spring as a something. I'm a freaking klutz. What am I thinking? 

 

Week 6: A. I got out of my comfort zone a bit - for good reasons, and for stupid anxiety reasons. 

 

Final Report: All 6 weeks out of my comfort zone - score! I was social with people that weren't book club people, put myself in situations where I could flail in public (dance classes), and met people with similar interests. A big cycle. +3 CHArisma. 

 

Challenge Cycle 15 Final Final Report: This challenge cycle was back to the black for me. I did well with my Whole30, re-committed myself to success, stuck with my workout regimen, and pushed myself to be social. And I finished a project that had been looming over my head for forever. Plus I made all my update images, so there's that, too. ALLLTHEWIN. 

[BlamedCat]

lurk lurk lurking

[Everstorm]

Subbed. When is your next race?

[darkfoxx]

So far, the schedule looks like:

 

Definite

 

May 30 - Spartan Sprint

June 27 - Savage Race

November 7 - Tough Mudder

 

Proposed

 

March 28 - Ladies First 5k

June 13 - 5k Foam Fest Brooklyn

July 12 - Rugged Maniac

 

Other Goals

 

5ks in March, April, August, September & October

A 10k - maybe the Oakley women's one if they ever freaking announce the date

I'd think about the Queens 10k, but it's 6 days before the Savage Race and I don't want to die

 

Maaaaaaybe the Zombie Run Black Ops (night) October 24, though that's a little close to Tough Mudder for maybe comfort. 

 

For being a wuss in the cold reasons, I think my season will be starting in March. And I hope I don't damn freeze to death doing Mudder in November (late summer/early fall MY ASS). 

[Fonzico]

Whoopa! Looks great.. And I'M SORRY! I am 100% here this time. Pinky swear. 

 

Looking forward to the original graphic design! Awesome theme

[kweber05]

Back and stalking....promise the texts about Whole 30 will slow down. Or at leased be contained to Sundays when I go grocery shopping! 

[Fonzico]

Kwebs are you Whole30ing too!? YESESESESSSSS!

[kweber05]

@Fonzico I'm going to try! We talked a lot about it on my yearly visit and I have read all the links she sent me. I started mine today (a day late) and am working on my challenge thread. I guess it is time to get back in to the saddle!

[Fonzico]

 

You can do it! It'll be great. And so worth it. I'm not starting until Monday, so I'm even later than you, but I'm acomin'! 

[darkfoxx]

@kwebs: it's fine. Text or gchat if you have a question. Fonzico and I also swap meal pics, too. This year I'm featuring them all on the blog.

[thekatisalie]

I hear you on the 'screaming into the void'. I am SO bad at checking other people's threads... I am so bad at updating mine.

You should post up some of the meals you choose for Whole30. I really want to give it a go. My sister tried it and couldn't hack it after 15 days because she was getting such bad headaches... I think that was from the caffeine withdrawal. I'm interested to hear how it goes for you!

[darkfoxx]

@therealkat: I am posting meals daily on my blog, but will try to remember to cross-post here, too. 

[thekatisalie]

*skitters off to follow blog*

[darkfoxx]

In lieu of a real weekend update so as to not blow my motivational image stockpile wad ....

 

Weekend food was on-target -- my body seems delighted that I'm doing W30 and getting things back under control. It no longer actually enjoys going to bed full past the point of reason. I've woken up in the night 2 nights in a row hungry (not from hunger - the dog is sick), and I'm taking that as a good sign. The hubby also said I look like I've dropped a couple of pounds immediately. 

 

The leg DOMs are mostly better. I whimpered half the weekend, but today they're not feeling too bad. I plan on doing some sort of hip stretching yoga tonight because that's what is really bothering me - and then we have the hubbs' last tattoo appointment. 

 

I knitted all weekend - the new "rule" is knit 1 episode of whatever (we watched Salem this weekend and have moved on to Marco Polo) a day. 

 

Comfort zone was firmly entrenched this weekend, but I did RSVP in the positive to attending a knitting meetup for one of my Facebook groups, and a Spartan Workout in March. 

[kweber05]

I got my new thread up if you would like to stalk me.

 

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/58965-kweber-back-in-black/

[Fonzico]

I like your knitting rule. How is Marco Polo? I've been meaning to check it out, but haven't gotten around to it yet..

[darkfoxx]

It's not bad. Interesting characters, lots of political intrigue, wild historical inaccuracies, beautiful women, and fascinating costuming. Plus, some great one-liner wisdom nuggets. A win, I'd say. 

[Terra]

Ok I've been trying to remember which NF member was the Gastography blogger....  Now I got ya put together and that awesomeness has been glued together for me!  I'll follow for the inspiration here too...  I'm doing a whole 30 as well (but with one modification for my sanity!)

[darkfoxx]

That's me! 

 

This W30 I'm planning on doing a weekly picture roundup of things my fellow W30-ers are eating in hopes of inspiring more NFers (and readers) who are on the fence with more voices/tastes than just my own - if you want to get in on that action, send me some meal snaps and I'll include them in the roundup. 

[Anamal]

Ohhhh Whole30! I did one last January and I think this is the blog/collection of recipes I referenced most: http://hollywouldifshecould.net/2012/08/a-month-of-whole-30-dinner-ideas/Seriously, cooking new meals made the whole thing feel way less challenging than when I tried to do it lazy style and got bored eating chicken and salad every day.

 

ALSO, since you watch TV, what new show should I pick up? I normally don't watch any but since I'll be riding my bike inside a few hours a week I'm giving myself permission and asking for suggestions! Please?

[darkfoxx]

Sweet! Thanks for the reference

Hmmmm ...

Netflix/recent series that aren't currently on:

Marco Polo

Orange Is The New Black

House of Cards

Breaking Bad

Game of Thrones

Arrow (my house is split on this one - I like it)

Hell On Wheels

Sons Of Anarchy

Eureka (split house again - I love it)

Haven (split)

Black Mirror

Penny Dreadful

Luther

Walking Dead

Salem

Masters of Sex

In The Flesh

Being Human

Warehouse 13 (split)

Defiance

Shameless

The Tudors

Dexter

And that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Most are sci-fi/fantasy shows.

[thekatisalie]

I second all of those suggestions. I also suggest Supernatural, but skip the first season.

 

And with Dexter... skip the last season.

 

And with Breaking Bad... prepare for the most perfect series finale ever.

 

And with Orange is the New Black... Prepare to spend a whole day one the couch watching a season.

[darkfoxx]

^I'm particularly excited about this one's background

 

 

Week 1 Day 1 Update

 

Goal 1: Fitness

 

Re-focusing on my favorite: bodyweight workouts + yoga. Keep up my 4-5 day a week workout schedule and pick a program to follow. 

 

Today I had pretty much zero time between finishing up a project for work (stayed late) and leaving for the hubbs' tattoo appointment. But ... I still managed to sneak in a 10-minute yoga therapy for the hips flow while I was cooking dinner that utilized a kitchen chair. Link

 

 

Goal 2: Metrics

 

As a refresher, my metrics are: 100 grams or under of carbs, 70 grams or over of protein, under 100 grams of fat and around 1500 calories. Water is the recommended by FitBit 64 ounces, and on the weekends I like my step count to be over FitBit’s recommended 10,000. I am also doing Whole30 this January. Follow along here. 

 

Breakfast: DH's green smoothie + hemp protein powder & coffee with homemade almond milk

Lunch: Leftover roasted meat I ordered from the kebab place + guacamole & chili garlic choula

Dinner: Instant Pot pulled pork + spicy roasted parsnips (recipes coming soon)

Snacks: No time for snacks

 

Calories: 1,214 / 1,500

Carbs: 54 / 100

Fat: 49 / 100

Protein: 88 / 70

 

 

Goal 3: Get My Shit Digitized

 

Send more of my mother's pictures + other things off to get digitized. 

 

Did I work on this goal today? No. I did, however, knit. An unofficial goal. 

 

 

Goal 4: Get Out Of My Comfort Zone

 

Do something out of my comfort zone - ideally once each week. 

 

Did I work on this goal today? Not really. I sat with my hubby during his tattoo appointment until about 11:30, when I had to bail because of sleepiness. 

[Anamal]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies! Between all of those I should have more than enough to get me through my cross training bike rides. Guess it's time to dust off the ol' Netflix account.