LadyShello parties like it's 1999

[Shello]

I started this journey at my 2014 weight and have been travelling back in time.  I am happy to report I have made it to my 1999 weight.  I have gone back 15 years!  I love time travel.

 

 

For those of you who are following along, you may be expecting some Whovian reference… Since I hate to disappoint… The 8^th Dr is the perfect companion for this challenge.  You know – New Year’s Eve, 1999, right? Anyway, watch the movie.  

 

 

I have accomplished a lot so far.   I have lost about 60 pounds since discovering NF back in June and people are constantly noticing the new me.  I feel like the changing of the year celebrates the new me.  Just like the Dr, I am still the old me (Let’s not talk about Christmas) but I have regenerated into a new body and ready to keep working so I can do it again and again.

 

My main Quest is still the same; reach my goal weight of 160 pounds, though I will fine tune this once I am closer.  I anticipate that I can get to 180 pounds and then stop looking at weight as the indicator and start looking more at body fat %.  I am tracking both at this point but I don’t feel like I can really set a main goal on bf%  just because it is too far off and I don’t feel like I know where I will reasonably end up.   During this challenge I am shooting for 218 pounds (aka 1997)

 

My motivation is still the same but I think it is due time for me to reflect on this again and put it out there.   I have two main motivations.  1 is me and the power my body has over me, the other is the example I set for my daughter.  When I started my first challenge, I had only lost 12 pounds and I still felt like I couldn’t do anything.  My body just didn’t cooperate or I had these visions of my body falling to the ground in some horrible manner.  I have more freedom now.  I still have a long way to go but I don’t want to forget the little things that were so difficult for me to do that ‘normal’ sized people take for granted.  Now that I can do these things I don’t want to get lazy and take it for granted.  My motivation to set the example for my daughter will also help me to make changes for the long run, not quick fixes.  What I am really doing is changing habits to be healthier and I just happen to lose a bunch of weight along the way.  I need to develop these habits, keep them up, teach them to my kids, and then encourage them to be the best they can be… leading by example. 

 

Last challenge wasn’t as successful as the previous ones.  I wouldn’t call it a failure.  There were legitimate reasons for the under-performance and some not so legitimate reasons.  But that combined with the holidays makes me feel like it is time to buckle down a bit.  I am still following my habits but I am not really pushing myself as much as I was at first.  This applies to workouts and eating habits.   I am looking for BAMF level performance this time around. 

 

[Shello]

Goal 1 – Neila Rey

 

I will be following the Neila Rey 30 days cardio blast.  It’s actually a great combination of cardio and bodyweight workouts.  I like the BW workouts, I like the variety, and I like the intensity.   There aren’t technically any rest days on this workout as the ‘rest’ days are worked in to be low intensity days with just a walk or something.  I will be cutting my challenge a little short due to a trip so I will have 37 days of challenge and 30 days of Neila Rey.  I guess this allows for some skips. 

Considering I have 7 extra days to complete the program and the rest days are worked in I think this is a pass fail.  I either make it all the way or I don’t.  If I don’t but I am close, I’ll figure out what that means at the end and possibly allow for partial credit considering circumstances.  +3 STA, +3 DEX

 

A – miss no more than 1x/week

B – miss 2x/week

C – miss 3x/week

 

 

Goal 2 – Eat my Veggies

 

I have done a fairly decent job of avoiding ‘bad’ foods.  I have been eating very little processed food, cut the grains down to minimal and increased protein.  I eat some vegetables.  I started eating a lot of salads and then cut back to hardly ever.  I rarely eat veggies with my dinners.  I have just been eating less (but enough also).  This would be a whole lot easier, and healthier, if I actually ate my vegetables.  This will also be a way to incorporate my habits into my family’s routine as well.  

So to make this easier for me to track and follow, I’ll follow the rainbow.  Each week I want to incorporate a vegetable (or technically a fruit) from each color group into my meals.  Red, yellow/orange, green, blue/purple.  This isn’t exact science.  Fruits count to some extent but I don’t want to be able to satisfy this goal by eating a banana and some strawberries each week. I already do that.  Blue/purple is the only category where fruits really apply.  OK – well red too since I only really like tomatoes and peppers which are both fruits.. but you know what I mean.  1 from each color each week except for green.  I must have green veg at least 2x/week.   Of course they must be in ‘sufficient’ quantities to count as a serving.  This could be all at once or I could space it out and have a little every day.  +2 WIS, +2 CON

 

A – veg 5x/week

B – veg 4x/week

C – veg 3x/week

 

 

Goal 3 – Watch those Grains

 

I don’t really have an aversion to grains.  They don’t make me ill and I’m not strictly paleo.  But I do know that I am more successful if I limit grains, particularly in the evenings.  If I do really want some pasta or potatoes, the best time to eat them is early in the day, by lunch or afternoon snack at the latest.  I started to slack on this a bit lately.  For this challenge, I want to be hyper-vigilant.  For dinners, I want very limited grains.  I am OK with some croutons on my salad but for the most part, that’s it.  I am not so much concerned with the rest of the day.  My current habits are still strong with regard to my lunches and breakfasts that this isn’t an issue.   +3 CON

 

A – carbs for dinner 1x/week or less

B – carbs for dinner 2x/week

C – carbs for dinner 3x/week

 

 

Life Quest – Stay Ahead of the Class

 

I am teaching class again this semester.  I always feel under prepared and behind.  When I started teaching, each semester I changed the structure trying to improve my materials, my teaching, and format, the assignments.  Just as I was getting it the way I wanted it, I was assigned a new class.  I have done the same thing for the past few semesters.  But now I feel like I have the entire semester planned out and prepared.  I just need to be prepared for each class and then stay caught up on the grading and feedback and this might be my most successful semester yet.  So the goal here is the just keep up.           +1 CHA, +1 WIS

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 1 Progress

 

 

Week 1 - Day 7 completed.  I did skip 1 day but still on schedule.  A

 

Week 2 - Day 11 completed.  I only remember skipping 2 days so I'm not sure why I'm only on day 11, but that's what it is.  B

 

Week 3 - Day 17 completed.  That puts me right on target.  A

 

Week 4 - Day 20 completed.  That means I only got 3 workouts in this week, missing 4. F

 

Week 5 - Day 23 completed.  Again, only 3 workouts in.  I am struggling to stay on schedule over the weekends.  F

 

Week 6 - Day 25 completed.  Only 2 workouts.  Another F.  

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 2 Progress

 

 

Week 1 - A-

red: Red sweet peppers cooked into quiche x 4 days.  Did not quite equal a serving but pretty close

Yellow/orange: carrots in salad x 1 day.  Not quite a whole serving.

green x2: salad x 1 day.  Greens mixed into eggs for breakfast  x 4 days and quiche for dinner x 4 days. 

blue/purple: cauliflower!

 

Week 2 - A+

Red: taco stuffed peppers with tomato

yellow/orange: roasted carrots x2 days

green: salads x2 days plus spinach stuffed chicken

Blue/purple: blueberries in banana bread for breakfast all week. Ok, not a veggie but a freggie.  I did allow this for the blue/purple group.

 

Week 3 - A

Red: veggie filled marinara x1

yellow/orange: carrots in salads and tacos x 3

greens: in taco salad x3

Blue/purple: a little purple cabbage (red?) in salads x3 

 

Week 4 - B+

Red: Veggie filled marinara sauce x2

Yellow/orange: carrots in turkey burgers and in marinara sauce x2 (but skimpy amounts)

Greens: spinach salads x2

Blue/purple: a teeny tiny bit of cabbage in salads x1

 

Week 5 - A

Red: Sun Dried Tomatoes x2

Yellow: Roasted carrots x2

Greens: roasted asparagus x1 and spinach x4

Blue/Purple: roasted cabbage x1

 

Week 6 - A

Red: marina x1, peppers x1

yellow: carrots x2

Greens: roasted veg x1, salad x1

Blue/purple: roasted purple taters x1

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 3 Progress

 

 

Week 1 - no carbs after lunch x 6 days.  1 day I decided to allow some carbs.  Still A

Week 2 - no carbs after lunch x5 days.  I allowed for carbs as a cheat for the birthday dinner but then I also 'tasted' too much mac and cheese... B

Week 3 - no carbs after lunch x5 days.  I had tortillas once night for dinner and pizza another.  Not the best choices. B-

Week 4 - no carbs after lunch x4 days.  plus poor choices... C 

Week 5 - no carbs after lunch x5/6 days.  I don't actually remember.  Let's go with an A- 

Week 6 - no carbs after lunch x4 days.  I had a trip in here and some difficult meal planning with family...  F but I'm OK with this. 

[Shello]

Reserved for Life Quest Progress

 

 

Week 1 - no class yet

Week 2 - class starts soon. Week 1 prepped

Week 3 - prep for week 2 almost completed, no grading yet.

Week 4 - so far so good.  First week graded and and still on track for prepped material.  Even have test questions written. 

Week 5 - still on track.  Getting less test questions written but I have the backbone done and grading is on time. 

Week 6 - Left mid week for a trip.  Sketchy internet connections got in my way.  No grading and no prepping done.  Even ended up cancelling class due to be unprepared and not getting back into town in time. F

[Aces3000]

Found you! Love the goals and subbed!

[Shello]

Off to a good start...   The bulk of the meals for week 1 are cooked.  The meal of the week is quiche.  I made one for me, the MR, and my son - all to order.  Should be enough for each of us for 4 or so dinners.  We are usually too busy to cook during the week due to the gym and other activities of the kids.   Mine has tons of spinach and some red pepper.  Part of the vegetable rainbow prepared but I'll need to supplement some more during the week.  

 

Also went to the gym with the family yesterday.  I have skipped workouts for at least a week so I had no real goals but just wanted to do something active.  I ended up playing some racquetball and did Day 1 of the Neila Rey workout.  

 

6 sets:

10 jumping jacks

10 lunges

10 lunge step ups

8 skater hops.  

 

My rests in between were usually more than the 2 minutes but I was also playing racquetball in between so it wasn't really a rest anyway.   So I'm starting the challenge off on day 2.  Bonus.

[Xena]

I also love your goals. The Neila Rey goal sounds perfect. Hard but possible. Allows some flexibility but forces you to be pretty consistent. Beautiful!

[marymama08]

Wow, you have been on an amazing adventure. 60 pounds is really great!!! I am looking forward to watching you achieve your next goal. I love that part of your goal is to set a good example for your kids. I am hoping that my kids will get something out of my quest for better health. 

Party on Friend 

[Balthazar]

gotcha

[Shello]

OK.  It's the start of the challenge.  I've got to get my head in the game.  I gained 7 pounds over the break.  Some of that was expected due to Christmas with family and all but these last few days the snacking has been killing me.   I'm not that worried about gaining over the break since I know I can lose it..again.  But I truly HATE losing the same weight more than once.  Once I lose it I don't want to see it again.  Ever.  I'm done with you. Maybe that should be my motto for this year.  I think I can just about hit my main goal by the end of 2015.  

[Anaticula]

Love your goals, looking forward to following your progress!

[Shello]

Wow, you have been on an amazing adventure. 60 pounds is really great!!! I am looking forward to watching you achieve your next goal. I love that part of your goal is to set a good example for your kids. I am hoping that my kids will get something out of my quest for better health. 

Party on Friend 

 

Thanks.  I recently found out that there are some people at work who have noticed my weight loss and just do not believe that I did it 'the hard way' by eating right and working out.  They must think I secretly had some surgery or lap band or some quick fix drug (that wouldn't work anyway).   That makes me chuckle.  

[Charlie_Quinn]

Great goals! Thanks for posting the link to the Neila Rey website. I'm going to do BW workouts when I can't get to the gym so those plans will be useful.

 

I have a confession. The 8th Doctor is my doctor. Great doctor, rubbish movie. I really wish he had been given a chance on screen (Paul McGann continued as the doctor in the Big Finish audio adventures which are well worth checking out if you haven't already). I was so happy when they finally gave him a regeneration scene for the 50th.

 

Anyway, enough Whovian. Subbed! 

[Shello]

Great goals! Thanks for posting the link to the Neila Rey website. I'm going to do BW workouts when I can't get to the gym so those plans will be useful.

 

I have a confession. The 8th Doctor is my doctor. Great doctor, rubbish movie. I really wish he had been given a chance on screen (Paul McGann continued as the doctor in the Big Finish audio adventures which are well worth checking out if you haven't already). I was so happy when they finally gave him a regeneration scene for the 50th.

 

Anyway, enough Whovian. Subbed! 

 

I really enjoyed the 8th Dr too.  And you're right about the movie.  The only good parts of the movie were Paul McGann and Eric Roberts.  

 

Hope you like Neila Rey too.  There are a lot of individual workouts to chose from.  The website has a filter too so you can find ones for upper body, lower body, or full body plus some other filters.  Not to mention all the 30 day programs to choose from.  

[Sarah Barr]

Subbed! I like your rainbow fruit-and-veg goal!

[Sloth the Enduring]

I haven't seen the movie. Is the 8th doctor the one they call the war doctor?

[Shello]

I haven't seen the movie. Is the 8th doctor the one they call the war doctor?

 

Not the same one.  I think the war Doctor came after the 8th Dr.  The 8th was the one they brought in to try and bring the show back into production.  But the movie wasn't that great so it took a little more time.  

[Harihead]

> I started this journey at my 2014 weight and have been travelling back in time.  I am happy to report I have made it to my 1999 weight.  I have gone back 15 years! 

 

This is exactly how I think about it-- only I've gone back maybe 18 months, not 15 years. Wonderful!

 

Hang in there and I'll be following along, cheering for you. 

HH

[Shello]

> I started this journey at my 2014 weight and have been travelling back in time.  I am happy to report I have made it to my 1999 weight.  I have gone back 15 years! 

 

This is exactly how I think about it-- only I've gone back maybe 18 months, not 15 years. Wonderful!

 

Hang in there and I'll be following along, cheering for you. 

HH

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I have a LONG history of putting the pounds on so that gives me more room to travel back in time.  

[Raxie]

Your journey is so inspiring! Here's to making 2015 even better than 2014!

Sent by TARDIS delivery service. Apologies for typos caused by interactions with the time vortex.

[marymama08]

Thanks.  I recently found out that there are some people at work who have noticed my weight loss and just do not believe that I did it 'the hard way' by eating right and working out.  They must think I secretly had some surgery or lap band or some quick fix drug (that wouldn't work anyway).   That makes me chuckle.  

Funny that you should mention surgery and quick fixes.This is exactly what I was thinking about when I mentioned you being a good example for your daughter. She will learn from you that something worth having/achieving is worth working hard for. 

Maybe for the doubting thomas' you could have a few work out pictures hanging around. They would see just how awesome you really are 

[Shello]

Your journey is so inspiring! Here's to making 2015 even better than 2014!

Sent by TARDIS delivery service. Apologies for typos caused by interactions with the time vortex.

 

Thanks!  it's great to be able to inspire others.  It also helps to make me remember my successes rather than all the failures.  

 

Funny that you should mention surgery and quick fixes.This is exactly what I was thinking about when I mentioned you being a good example for your daughter. She will learn from you that something worth having/achieving is worth working hard for. 

Maybe for the doubting thomas' you could have a few work out pictures hanging around. They would see just how awesome you really are 

 

  My sister is 15 years younger than me and is a little heavier than I was before I started NF.  She's getting surgery in a couple months.  It's hard to watch and encourage her when I'm sure she could do this too.  It certainly isn't easy but I'm not sure surgery is any easier.  I just have to remember that we all are on our own journey and need to get healthy in the best way for each of us.  I just hope my daughter doesn't have to make that choice and she can be healthy starting NOW.  

 

Good idea on the pics.  I talk about NF to anyone who asks and tell them how I do it.  

[maigrey]

hey girl, hey ... just checking in and tasting the rainbow (har har har) !