companion: challenge 1

[Companion]

Master goal: conscious, deliberate, and enthusiastic participation in life. Also, being a BAMF.

Goal 1: movement - Body weight workout 3 days a week

Bonus - less ordinary workouts (swim, rock climb) twice during challenge cycle, to switch it up

A - 3 times a week

B - 2 times a week

C - 1 time a week

Goal 2: intake - Stick within weight watchers points and improve quality of food in those points

Bonus - h2O consumption or tea, no soda

Not sure how to grade this - suggestions?

Goal 3: badassery - Learn to strip, clean, and reassemble my weapon without assistance

Bonus - range time once during challenge cycle

Pass (A)

Fail

Goal 4: possibilities - Work towards standards (17 min 1.5 mile run, 14 pushups, 29 situps) for possible reenlistment.

Bonus: research all necessary steps - do I have to repeat ASVAB, etc? Meet with recruiters. Line up ducks.

Defining "work towards" a little better, for more accountability... From baseline measurements, cut the gap from there to standards. IE if I run a 22 minute 1.5 mile now, success at 50% would be getting it down to 20 min. If I can do 20 crunches, getting it to 35 would be success at 50%. Hope that makes sense.

A - Cut gap by 50%

B - Cut gap by 30%

C - Cut gap by 10%

Potential pitfall: ten day vacation in Florida and the Caribbean. Last cruise I gained weight.

Okay, I think I put this in the right place this time.

Edited to add grading and eliminate financial goal that was handled over the holidays. Edited again to add correct reenlistment standards.

REWARDS:

A - 10 points

B - 5 points

C - 1 point

Pass - 10 points

Fail - 0 points

Bonus tasks - 3 points per occurrence

Points will be converted into shiny trinkets for my charm bracelet, or other doodads I find appealing.

[pureleeawesome]

Hey Companion

 

Oooh, that cruise sounds good. But yes, I've heard that weight gain is a common side effect of cruises. Which line/ship are you going on?

 

After that first gif, I think I'm challenging you to a dance class as one of your workouts though!

What weapon do you have? I'm guessing from the comment and gif it's a gun of some sort?

 

Do you know where you stand in regards to the standards now?

 

Good luck with your challenge!

[Companion]

Lol! We'll see what kind of dance thing I can find. Maybe zumba counts?

I have a .380, just a little pistol.

I don't think I can do any proper pushups right now. I will do all of the standards for a baseline on Monday or Tuesday.

Oh, and its the carnival pride.

[Companion]

Added a grading system and reward system in top post.

[skatrek47]

Hey Companion, sounds like you're already a pretty BAMF to me!

I really like your master goal... and the general Whovian nature of your post (I'm on season 3??? )

[Companion]

Today's progress: benchmarked pushups at 5 pathetic half pushups. Ugh. Oh well, nowhere to go but up...er, down. And back up again.

Went to meet with recruiter but he had a family emergency. So, good intentions but no results.

Toured work gym and reviewed my plan with the trainer. Getting added to the list for security so I can start training after vacation.

Looked up points before choosing my lunch instead of after!!! (That's big.)

Tasks remaining: benchmark crunches. And what the hell, let's knock out a BBWW while we're at it.

[Companion]

Okay, they are supposed to be sit-ups, not crunches. I updated the standards in post 1 to reflect reality.

For the situps, tbh I farted and me and hubby (holding my feet) died laughing. I was at 14 when that happened, and under a minute. So that is my baseline.

Also, got a mad case of jelly legs today during BBWW. Maybe because yoga yesterday was really leg oriented? (Sleeping swan, yo.) Maybe because I am going deeper on squats?

When I do squats now I am practicing the breathing pattern I would do if it was with weights.

[pjc]

Sounds like your off to a great start! How long have you been doing yoga and how often do you practice? Any tips for a beginner?

[Companion]

I just got a $20 two week pass and showed up every other day. There's a great thread here:

http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/57654-calling-all-newcomers-to-yoga-ask-a-yoga-teacher/?fromsearch=1

I would just try to take a slower class first. The Bikram is a bitch to keep up with when you have no clue what's going on.

Lots of gyms around here offer $20 two week "try us" passes so I plan on using those to mix things up some.

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Hi there!!

 

I’m Chris-Tien Jinn, an ambassador for the Assassin Guild. Despite the name, we are a VERY friendly guild, filled with people who enjoy a wide variety of activities and fitness goals!

 

For more information about the guild, stop by the Info & Announcements thread.  Also, check out the Assassin's Phonebook, which lists the names of people who are working on various aspects of fitness and life changes.  This is a great place to connect with someone who is working on goals similar to yours.  Don't be shy about following them or sending a message if you have questions!!!   

 

You can also stop by the Assassin's Den - a general chat thread in the guild forum – and introduce yourself.  You can always ask questions there, but I warn you that we tend to be pretty silly there and love to post gifs …. especially of cute animals!!

 

If you ever have any questions or need help with anything, let me know.  You can grab my attention by using the quote button at the bottom right corner of any of my posts.  I have the forum setting turned on to alert me when somebody quotes me using that button, so it's a quick easy way to let me know you're talking to me. You can also get in touch with me by posting on my own challenge topic or by using the forum private messenger system (the envelope button at the very top right of the screen).

 

Someone from the Assassin's Guild will stop by every week to check on your progress, but don't be a stranger!!  The most successful people around here reach out and get support from others - novices and veterans alike!  A great place to meet up with other (new) Assassins is in the Assassin Initiates Accountabilities Group   - stop by when you have a chance!!

[Companion]

Yesterday I tried to deepen my squats and lunges, and wound up with a bad case of jelly legs. Today my thighs and butt are killing me. Also I went to the tannery yesterday and managed to get a burn. So I'm in great shape. Today will be lazy recovery day.

Perhaps I can do something towards a life goal today instead of physical goal. It might be a good day to get out my gun.

I spent a little time researching the fitness facilities on the ship. It looks like they have free weights, so I may actually be able to start my strong lifts on the boat.

[kuraiuncia]

Hi Companion! I'm loving the Doctor Who gifs.

 

I can tell you that when I went on my Carnival cruise I wasn't really health conscious so I didn't actually check out the gym, but I do remember seeing the treadmills all lined up so you can watch the water while you work out. I can't remember what ship I was on though. On our cruise there was a track all the way at the top deck that you could run laps around. It was really nice, but might be a bit chilly depending. The wind was crazy some days but the view was always awesome! I wish I could tell you if they had free weights or not...

 

They did have dance lessons on certain days. That might be something fun to look into!

[Companion]

I cant wait to get the daily program. . I take a highlighter!

The ship description said free weights but that could mean anything. Regardless I do have excursions planned to climb the Altun Ha Mayan ruins, scuba twice, and zip line. So every port has a physical activity plan in place.

[kuraiuncia]

Woohoo! That sounds like tons of fun! I wish you good weather on your trip then.

[Companion]

Thanks! Traveling is my main hobby. I get up and go as much as financially possible.

[jengetsit]

You're on a boat? That's cool. 

 

Haha, gotta love them leg and butt doms. I can't do a damn thing when my legs hurt.

 

Good work in here!

[Companion]

Not right now, but on Saturday we are going on a week cruise. Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman.

[skatrek47]

Your travel plan sounds amazing - have fun! I'd love to travel but I can't remember where I parked my TARDIS (and there's that job thing too )

[Companion]

I had caffeine today, & I feel like I'm on crack. I am an anxious blithering idiot. It's probably been a month since I had any? Seriously, I can't do this anymore. I think I'm just going to declare a no caffeine rule from here on out. This can't possibly be good for me. I am currently pounding water to try to get the caffeine out of my system.

In other news I'm still suffering from DOMS so I took a second rest day in a row. It has been a long time since I had to do that.

I went to Barnes and Noble and they had a foam roller in their yoga section. I also picked up the book strong curves because they were out of stronglifts. I think that that may be fortuitous, as it has pelvic floor muscles that would be useful to me. Considering I have only had one child, I certainly have an awful lot of bladder implications still almost 20 years later. I am concerned that the condition will only degrade as I age.

Yesterday I ate a lot of chocolate, and today I had candy corn for no apparent reason. I know that my cycle should be coming soon, but it doesn't justify what I'm putting in my mouth. I'm going to try to be more conscious. The nice thing is is that I don't have a zero junk food rule, I just work it into my ww points. But it is a slight fail in terms of putting more nutritional food in my points. And that was one of my quest goals.

[kuraiuncia]

Oh dear... I personally gave myself the rule of 'If it's fizzy, no caffeine. If it's caffeinated, no fizz.' but if it's affecting you so drastically no caff may just be the way to go for you! Congrats on making it a month though.

 

I wish I could sneak onto the boat and go too.

[Companion]

My roommate is coming on the cruise with us. So I already have a "stowaway".

[Companion]

...so I wound up taking two days off. I think I said that already. Today is day 3. Packing took up what time I had left.

I also took today to deal with a lot of personal responsibility issues, as far as returning emails, refilling prescriptions, mailing forms, and fixing websites. I even paid a couple of bills. So even though it's not one of my goals, I still feel like I deserve a little extra credit just for doing the grown up things. Being a grown up turned out to be stupid...who knew?

My scales seemed to be stuck at 173-175.5 all week, but today it said 171.5!

It is nice to see a little progress in that direction. I realize that there will come a point when weight loss will no longer be of a goal, because I will be focusing more on strength gains. But I get the feeling that that will be a couple dozen pounds from now.

I think that overall, I am just trudging through the day, and getting her done.

[pjc]

Thanks so much for the yoga tip. Enjoy the cruise!

[Companion]

today is a day where I have to be strong and stick with my commitment to getting into shape. Taking a day off this normal, two is ok, but yesterday made three days. Which then sets the trend at not exercising instead of exercising.

I think it's very important to make sure that I don't stop. And at the same time that I say that I can think of 400 excuses to not work out today. It is really cold. I have to finish packing. I need to go to my mom's and wait for the cable guy while she is at physical therapy. But those are excuses, no reasons. So I'm just going to get up and do it. I really am.

[kuraiuncia]

It's ok to take a break. The important thing is that you realize when the break is done and you have.

You can do it! I'm cheering for you.

Also hope the muscle soreness is getting better for you. I'm struggling with that right now myself.