Challenge #6 - Maigrey's De-CRAP-tastic Lenten Challenge

[maigrey]

So, it’s challenge time again, and I did not complete the last challenge because of reasons.  But, it’s Lent which is a time of making space and such, and I have a much easier time giving up things during this season for whatever reason.  So, enter the de-CRAP-tastic challenge!

 

Goal 1: Decrapify my home

Let’s be frank: I buy too much stuff that I end up not even using.  I have an amazon box still unopened in my house. So, for Lent, I am going to challenge myself to remove 40 bags of stuff in 40 days.  I get Sundays off [because they’re not in Lent, do the math, how cool!] or one day of the week of my choosing

 

= 4 points per bag -> 160 points possible

 

Goal 2: Refrain from buying MOAR CRAP that ends up in my home

Until Easter, I will not buy anything that isn’t essential to my survival.  This includes food/perishables and paper products.  This does NOT include:

- purses

- makeup

- starbucks [when not going out with friends] etc

- breakfast sandwiches [i work from home]

- the next doodad or gadget I must have

 

I’ll put everything I want on a wishlist [which helps my family with birthday gift choices next month], and at the end of the challenge, I’ll evaluate what items I still want and which ones I didn’t need to buy in the first place

 

= -1 point for every $1 I spend extraneously

 

Goal 3: Reduce crap in my diet

I really resonated with raptron’s realization that it is easy to make myself do the things I don’t want to do versus getting myself to NOT DO things I want to do [like eat ice cream].  So, I’m going to focus on the things that I can add to my routine, and not the things I should cut out from my routine.  The daily checklist:

+ Eat protein at every meal 

+ Drink 100oz of water 

+ Eat 5+ cups of vegetables 

+ Log what I eat

 

BONUS POINTS:

+ MOVE everyday (mobility, walking, workout)

+ Mindful eating (chew your food slowly, get away from the TV)

+ Sleep 7-9 hours 

 

= 184 points possible [not including bonus]

 

Goal 4: Clear out the mental crap

I use the internet WAY too much, and I mostly am sucked into a time vortex which doesn’t do a lot for me, and just leaves things piling up.  Also, I have a lot of crap that runs through my head and I don’t take enough time to brain dump it.  To wit, I shall:

+ Turn off the internet at 7 pm every day [2 points per day]

+ Write a reflection / lessons learned on the day [2 points per day]

 

= 184 points possible

 

You’ll notice I don’t have any specific lifting goals - this is because I’ve gotten into olympic lifting and love it and it’s actually not an issue with willingness to go to class or my personal coaching.  I never thought I’d be in a position to say that regarding exercise, but it’s true!

[raptron]

I love this challenge for reasons.

 

[StarGazer]

I don't have an exciting gif because reasons. But hi. I'm here.

[Wufkar]

I'm just here because reasons. 

[chammy]

Really glad to hear you found your thing. And not even just because it's also my thing!

[maigrey]

I love this challenge for reasons.

 

now I want to watch top gun again.  I wish they'd do a version of it cutting all the love scenes because really? so snoozy.

[wildross]

I saw an otter on Wednesday.  It rain across the road in front of me....

[maigrey]

Okayyyyy Lent started on Ash Wednesday, so I did too.  I got a slight glitch in the starting, but over all pretty good day:

 

I made a spiffy spreadsheet with conditional formatting to track everything [hattip to @stargazer].  I was totally out of it with planning for my 40 bags in 40 days, so I gave myself a one time catch up allowance where I can do two bags/sessions tomorrow and have it count double...

 

Daily reflection:  When I turn off the internet at 7pm, it is AMAZING the things I get done!

 

 

Pretty good first day; no bonus points but go me!

[maigrey]

I don't have an exciting gif because reasons. But hi. I'm here.

Heya Hollabackgirrrl <3 homeslice is happy to have you around, yo.

 

I'm just here because reasons. 

<3 reasons!

 

Really glad to hear you found your thing. And not even just because it's also my thing!

I did!  after all that "eff that I'm not lifting" i find it amusing

 

I saw an otter on Wednesday.  It rain across the road in front of me....

... was it a rainbotter?  hopefully you didn't run over it!

[StarGazer]

Okayyyyy Lent started on Ash Wednesday, so I did too.  I got a slight glitch in the starting, but over all pretty good day:

 

I made a spiffy spreadsheet with conditional formatting to track everything [hattip to @stargazer].  I was totally out of it with planning for my 40 bags in 40 days, so I gave myself a one time catch up allowance where I can do two bags/sessions tomorrow and have it count double...

 

 

Pretty good first day; no bonus points but go me!

 

You do realize that today is neither Wednesday nor the 16th, right? And that Wednesday was also not the 16th?

[maigrey]

Ummm nope.

[maigrey]

Day 0.2 update:

 

Good, but exhausting day. I need to get better about getting my veggies in during the day instead of, like today, 5 cups of veg for dinner all at once.

 

Daily reflection: a) 100 oz of water is a lot if you don't keep up on it during the day   I desperately need a "catch up" working day while I'm off the grid to save my sanity. c) Decluttering your drawers means you can find old bras that fit and hence are WOO new bras!

 

 

yesterday and todays points even out to 11 wed and 12 thurs when we take the 2 bags and distribute them, so that's good.

[childofscorn]

Yaaaay Lenten challenge!   

I like doing veggies with scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Well, okay.  I didn't start out liking it, but I've gotten into the habit of it now, and it's nice.  I'll throw a bag of the steamable ones (or leftovers from dinner the night before) in the microwave while my eggs are cooking and by the time the eggs are done, so are the veggies

[peacecorn]

Woo hoo, Maigrey! Great goals. You've got this. 

[Haikoo]

reasons.

 

Just reasons.

[maigrey]

And now... Week 0:  WEEKEND UPDATE!!

 

 

 

The Summary:

 

So, basically - rather a poor showing over the weekend.  

 

Friday, I did have an amazing session with my coach Sheena in the morning.  We just got new blocks in so the workout involved ALL THE BLOCKS.  We did some pulls (clean and snatch) off the block and then some snatches and cleans from the power position.  Turns out the blocks are quite awesome for my foot issue, so I should probably do as much work off the blocks as I can, especially considering that my knees are giving me issues.

 

However, I gave in and got ice cream, which I logged as points against my spending freeze, but other than that, I did get a good day in.  I would have gotten 12 points had I not gone down that route.  I also did hard things and made the decision to get the strong facial my esthetician has been want to give me, because I didn't need to go out Monday or Tuesday which was when the peeling was to begin. She said I would "totally be cussing her out for the next week" because she knows I hate this [spoiler, she is totally right].  But it's for the greater good.

 

... and then I found out I couldn't go to lifting class Saturday morning because sweat would change the pH of my skin and my skin would be peeling for nothing.  Ugh.

 

so Saturday, I slept in. I could have done several things that morning but I really wanted a chance to sleep [wooo bonus point!] in. I basically got out of bed around 11 am and basically took more naps and eventually went out to play nerd [euro] games at my friend Beth and John's place, which was an awesome time and much fun and panang curry was had.  When I got home at 10:30, I was too tired to 40 bag it, so I decided that was my day off instead of Sunday, and prepped for getting ready for bed.  It was there that I found out that NOPE, peeling is NOT going to wait until Monday - it's started on my chin already. AAAAGH.

 

Sunday morning was a bit difficult.  It's the first Sunday in Lent and since I missed Ash Wednesday, I really should go.  But open gym is only from 9-noon, so that makes the 9 am service hard, especially since I had brunch plans at 11.  So ... the plan was 8 am service, 9 am gym, 11 am brunch.

 

HAHAHA that was the sound of the universe when I made plans.  But it all worked out well.  I didn't make it to church, my bed was too cozy, and I did not want to go with my face peeling off. And, all my friends cancelled on me for brunch which is good and bad: bad, friends cancelling; good - don't have to rush workout, don't have to see friends with my face REALLY peeling now.   I did invite myself over to the bar where my coach and friends were watching the blackhawks game, and cemented my Queen of the Dorks NF title by ordering a yummy cider and then 30 min later, realizing I'd put everything in my purse EXCEPT FOR MY WALLET.  yay dorks!

 

Then, I had a potluck dinner with a small group from church - people I've never met and I have a PEELING FACE.   @Stargazer kept convincing me that my face did not look as bad as I thought it did [although I still think it was a zombie apocalypse happening] and didn't let me cancel last minute on the small group because of a small thing like vanity.  Ugh. Hate her so much <3.  

 

But I went and I didn't die, although I got almost bored to death by some of the elder folks in the group droning on and on about church gossip.  It's just not interesting to me - I want to know about my fellow persons!  The couple more my age were really interesting and looked about as bored as I did with the gossip. 

 

... oh, and I'm hosting on the 8th, so all my 40 bags are going to be focused on the kitchen/great room after I finish my dresser drawer.  Ugh. 

 

So there's the weekend.  But looking back at the whole week:

40 bags in 40: 16/16 points - 100%!

extraneous $: -7 points

Eat protein at every meal:3/5

Drink 100oz of water: 4/5

Eat 5+ cups of vegetables:4/5

Log what I eat:0/5 ...

BONUS: MOVE everyday +2

BONUS: Mindful eating +0

BONUS: Sleep 7-9 hours +4

Internet off at 7 pm: 8/8 YAY!

Reflection / lessons learned: 6/10

 

Including the bonus, that gets me to 40 points out of a possible 54 or 74%.  A C definitely fits this week and I know where my weak spots are (I'm looking at you, food logging). 

 

And now for those of you who made it this far, I'm posting this and turning off the internet [and this still counts as internet off in time, because I had this on my list to do today and I am not just meandering into timesucks.  I'm posting this and going.]

[raptron]

But now week 1 has begun, so you can take those learned lessons and apply them in FORCE.

[nightlight]

i love all of this. i will be de-crapifying with you.

[chammy]

But now week 1 has begun, so you can take those learned lessons and apply them in FORCE.

^^ Dis lady is smart.

[maigrey]

Woo, I'm behind on updating, mainly because I have been Getting Stuff Done, and also the 7 pm internet cutoff hampers posting. I'm going to break up my posts into two days each, because a) it would get too long otherwise and I have to leave to go lifting in a few so this first one may be all I get done at the moment.

 

Day 1.1 - Mon

 

Pretty decent day, I got almost everything done.  I did end up spending $3 on ice cream soooo that undid some of the awesome of that day. I got some of my one legged squats and RDLs with dumbbells in for moving, otherwise it wasn't that noticeable of a day.

 

Day 1.2 - Tuesday

 

LIBRATTICAL DAY! Last Friday I had told my boss that I was basically losing it as I knew I had open loops and didn't even know what they were because I was overwhelmed with two email systems and 2 major projects.  I'd said that, unless he had any major objections, I was going to mark myself as Out of the Office and if he or my leads needed anything they can call me.  I sent out out of the office mail, just as if I had the day off, and set my OoOs on both systems.  

 

I slept in a bit, got my dishes put away, laundry put together, and prepped my work bag, since the library didn't open until 9.  All of a sudden it was 9 am and I hadn't had coffee or breakfast.  Oops.  I got the dogs in the car, grabbed coffee and a sausage sandwich from Starbucks (which is not counting as extra money because I needed coffee and breakfast), dropped the dogs off at daycare, dropped the laundry off at the laundromat, got the car washed, picked up aquaphor for my face and emergency cashew rations, and got to the library around 10:15.  [how's that for a run-on sentence?]

 

I plopped down and was working by 10:30.  it was a good thing that I had brought emergency cashews, as those ended up being lunch.  I was on a roll and also didn't want to get up and leave because I had a spot with a power plug, and those are like gold in the library. FIVE HOURS LATER, I was caught up on my email in both systems (well, February was cleared out) and got my weekly planning done.  

 

I walked out of the library about 400 lbs lighter as the stress yoke had been lifted from my neck.

 

I had just enough time to run home and grab my gym bag, and head back out for my session with Sheena.  I kept having to calm myself down because the efficiency expert in me kept saying "WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING THE GYM BAG WITH YOU?" as the library was pretty close to my gym, but whatever, no big deal.

 

Gymming was great, I will post later on that too.  Then picked up laundry, dogs, and ate dinner.  Whee!

 

Summary:

[StarGazer]

Are you just turning of the internet at 7 or the computer as well? It could help you to stay on top of posting if you allowed the computer but no internet after 7. You could write up your post for the day (or for a few days if you're behind) in Word or something so in the morning it's just a simple copy/paste then post and you're updated. No wasting your internet time with the actual writing which can be done without internet.

Just a thought.

[raptron]

^ Is a good thought.

 

Glad your day was so productive.

[maigrey]

Are you just turning of the internet at 7 or the computer as well? It could help you to stay on top of posting if you allowed the computer but no internet after 7. You could write up your post for the day (or for a few days if you're behind) in Word or something so in the morning it's just a simple copy/paste then post and you're updated. No wasting your internet time with the actual writing which can be done without internet.

Just a thought.

^ Is a good thought.

 

Glad your day was so productive.

I am tryyyying to avoid the internet.  The problem with my posts is I need the internet for my summaries and imgur.  But yes, I can work something out, I'm sure.

 

And yes, YAY productivity.  It actually got a lot of my peers/coworkers thinking that it is a pretty fantastic idea and maybe they should do that to.  I told my reports: GO DO IT.  My boss told my peers: Look, it was great for Heather, so if you need to do this to be functional, DO IT.

 

But now week 1 has begun, so you can take those learned lessons and apply them in FORCE.

MAY THE FORCE ME WITH MEEEE

 

^^ Dis lady is smart.

She is.

 

i love all of this. i will be de-crapifying with you.

WooHoo! the more the merrier!

[maigrey]

Two day round up here.  Hopefully later this evening I'll get the rest of my workout logs posted and be caught up for a bit.

 

Day 1.3 - Wed
 
Morning Oly class.  I really wanted to stay in my nice warm bed longer, but I also wanted to cement what I'd learned from Sheena the night before.
 

Workout: (weights are kg not lbs)

A. power snatch:

    70% x 2 x 2; rest 2 minutes

    80% x 2 x 3; rest 2 minutes

17x2

17x2

21x2

21x2

21x2

B. power clean / push jerk: 70% x 1.1 x 4; rest 2 minutes

20x1.1 

20x1.1

20x1.1

C. clean pull:

    80% x 4; rest 2 minutes

    90% x 2 x 3; rest 2 minutes

21x4 

25x2

25x2

25x2

D. front squat:

    65% x 3; rest 2 minutes

    80% x 3 x 3; rest 2-3 minutes

15x3

18x3

18x3

18x3

 

Other than that, it was a pretty good day.  I just wanted to fall asleep at 8 pm, but managed to get some light weight decluttering in, so hey, progress. I also ended up eating a giant amount of veggies for dinner because I'd had roughly NONE earlier in the day.

 

Daily reflection: I need to do more of the hard stuff in the morning, like eating vegetables or mindful eating or decluttering. I get so tired at 8 pm that I often don't have any energy to do those things.  Also, I need to attack the cabinets and drawers in my kitchen so I have places to put things that are not in kitchen or drawers.
 

Day 1.4 - Thu

 

Another good day.  It was a rest day, so I didn't need to be up early for anything, hooray!  I did get up and do my decluttering before work, which made a huge impact on my day - I was mostly burden free, if that makes sense.  My "uggggh I have to declutter tonight" black cloud wasn't over my head. I also managed to balance out my veggies a bit more so I wasn't trying to eat 5 cups at dinner, and that was a win.

 

Daily reflection: Doing hard things like decluttering in the morning really makes my day and evening much less stressful. I am NOT running around hearing about how I'm going to fit all this in. Also, I obviously have an issue with mindful eating.

 

... I may just aim for one meal a day of mindful eating.  It's a difficult thing for me to do, so why should I expect that I can do all three meals at once?

 

Summary:

[starpuck]

Dammit, how had I missed you until now?    Tagging this thread so it shows in 'my content' and then will catch up once I am home from the gym.

 

For now, take this gif. 

Dean feels the same way about all the crap.