LadyShello is in between

[Shello]

I am in a place of in-between.  In between what?  I don't know really. But I do. Last challenge was a kick start, a respawn, the beginning of a new year.  Now I've made a tentative road map for the year.  This is the year I expect to hit my goal weight, learn new things, explore, and develop super powers.  This challenge is the challenge between the kick start and the rest of the year.   

 

As we all know will power is a limited resource.  We can only change a few things at a time.  In my previous challenges I started with the low hanging fruit, the obvious choices, the habits that have the most impact on my main quest.  In this in-between space is the time to address some other habits that I have neglected and also to regroup to prepare to prepare (yes, I meant to do that) for this year's goals.   

 

Goal 1 - Strength Training 

Last challenge I focused on cardio since I felt I had let it go by the wayside.  I did marvelously but now I miss the strength training.  I don't think I have lost any muscle but I don't feel stronger anymore.  I want that back.  But, to avoid making the same mistake again I need to balance cardio and strength better.  I'll be trying out Neila Rey's 90 Days of Action.  It seems a good combination of both. This will spill over into the next challenge as well.  If I time it just right I should complete the 90 days right as the next challenge ends.  No exceptions here.  The point of this is to workout every single day.  Rest days are built in as stretch days or challenge days so really there shouldn't be any excuses (barring illness and injury of course).  I should, though, reserve the right to shuffle a little due to time constraints.   

For the purposes of grading, the goal is 7/week.  This will be a point based challenge with rewards explained later.  For the purposes of that, each missed workout will cost 1 point.  Worth +5 STR 

 

Goal 2 - Sleep 

This is one of those habits that I know I need to work on but just have ignored it for the all previous challenges.  This is the first step of a 3 step process of improvement.  I would like to be in a place where I can get my workout done in the morning or go for a run.  I can barely make it to work on time as it is.  For this challenge, I will focus on going to bed at a reasonable time.  For the first week the goal will be in bed, going asleep by 11:30.  Each week the goal will be reduced by 10 minute increments with the final week in bed by 10:40.  For weekend nights bed time can be extended by 1 hour.   

The goal is going to bed on time 7 nights a week.  1 point awarded for each weeknight in bed on time and 1/2 point for each weekend night for a total of 6 pts/week.  Worth +4 skill points TBD. I figure proper sleep will help me in all areas so I can award these points as I see fit at the end of the challenge wherever it is most applicable. 

 

Goal 3 - Water 

Actually, this is more about pop than water.  I typically drink 'enough' water if just barely.  But I also drink too much diet soda.  It will not work as well for me to just say I will cut back or (the horror) stop drinking it altogether.  But, if I increase the water I drink I will just simply not be able to drink as much pop.  I have a 24 oz container at work and similar ones at home. The goal will be to have 3 of those a day, 2 at work and 1 at home.  1 point awarded for each 24 oz container with a max of 3 pts/day. It's not that I don't want to drink more than that but I want to avoid manipulating my own system and drinking extra on some days to counteract bad days.  

The goal is 21 points a week.  Worth +4 CON 

 

(Non) Goal 4 - Walking 

The is the part where I am preparing to prepare.  On my roadmap for the year is a 5K.  The weather isn't really ready for me to start any training there, nor am I as I want to get a little closer to 200# before I start running.  But I had loved walking outdoors when I started challenges last year and the stinking weather has pushed me indoors.  I want to get back out there, weather permitting of course.  It doesn't really matter how far I go but I do have a fallback route that is 1.5 miles and another that is 5k.  I also want to get a membership for a local park with hiking trails.  This will get me used to it again so that next challenge I can start Zombies Run or C25K.  This is a non goal as it's not really a SMART goal.  I would like to walk at least 2x a week but I'm not committed to that number and it is weather permitting as well.  1 point awarded for each walk, no maximums.   

The goal is 2ish walks a week.  Worth +2 STA 

 

Rewards 

Now for the fun part.  Typically rewards do not work that well for me.  I have been so engrained in the mentality of rewarding myself with food that I find this difficult.  Also because non-food things don't always make great rewards for me since I feel like I will buy it anyway so what's the point reaching a goal.  But, I thought points made sense for this challenge and I do have a few things that I would like but I probably wouldn't pay for them anyway without some other reason.  

For the same of the reward system, we will say there is a potential for 175 points assuming I make in about 2 walks a week.   

 

Top Marks Award earned at 155 points = I get to order a Nerd Fitness tank from the online store!  

Honor Award earned at 140 points = a date with the Mr and he has to go to any movie of my choosing (Thanks babe!)   

Honorable Mention Award earned at 120 points = a music book for my guitar.  The Mr got one with some songs for his new drum set so I'd like to find the 'easiest' song for guitar and learn it so we can play together.            

 

Side note - I do intend to keep up with the diet aspect as well.  Last challenge was no grains or starches after lunch every day of the week but 1 cheat allowed.  That probably contributed to the weight loss for the challenge but it was part of the kick start and not necessarily sustainable.  I had done this before but grains were making their way back into my meals and even worse, they becoming habit.  The point of last challenge was to break the habit.  I am essentially OK with eating them with dinner but as an exception, not as a habit.  So I'll basically be following the same practice but will allow for more carbs for dinner as long as it isn't a routine.  I'll also be working to include as much veg as I can.  But this is just continuing habits and not goals for this challenge.  But I don't want it to go by the wayside.  Feel free to ask me how this is going if I don't mention it. I would hate for this to slip as I focus on other things.

 

Also, as I finish writing this it occurs to me I haven't mentioned Dr Who at all.  So, we need this.

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 1 progress

 

 

Week 1 - 100%.  No missed workouts.  I did reshuffle the days a bit to accommodate some issues but it worked well  A

Week 2 - 100%  NO missed workouts again.  Including 1 day of travel and 2 vacation days. A+

Week 3 - 50%.  3 workouts missed.  Missed 1 on a vacation day and then missed 2 over the following weekend.  F

Week 4 - less than 50%. 4! workouts missed.  What a schlup.  F

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 2 progress

 

 

Week 1 - bed time goal met 6/7 days.  Sunday was a bust.  Too much TV.  A-

Week 2 - bed time goal met 4/4 nights and suspended for 3 days of vacation. A

Week 3 - bed time goal met 7/7 nights.  A+

Week 4 - Bed time goal met 5/7 nights. 1 slip was deliberate as we were out with friends.  B+

 

 

[Shello]

Reserved for Goal 3 progress

 

 

Week 1 - all 72 oz every day.  It has slightly decreased diet soda consumption..  A

Week 2 - all 72 oz every day, including vacation. A

Week 3 - 3 perfect days, 3 days with only 24 oz, and 1 day completely unhydrated.  B

Week 4 - missed the goal 2 days by a close margin. Improving from the week before. A-

[Shello]

Reserved for non goal progress and other rantings

 

 

Week 1 - This is a non graded goal.  But 3 walks this week.  Started with a 10 minute walk, then 1.5 miles, then 3 miles.  

Week 2 - I didn't get many walks in but one day on vacation we walked all day.  So only 1.

Week 3 - More vacation walking.  Got 2 walks in this week.

Week 4 - no walks this week due to injury.  Will need to lower expectations here just to get out there.  

[T2sarahconnor]

Great challenge. I'm going to look into the 90 day thing. Looked interesting.

[deftona]

I love the idea of getting into the habit of doing something everyday, even if it just stretching. This would probably be a great program for me to look into myself for future challenges so thanks for introducing me to it. 

Ready to follow for epic progress!

[Aces3000]

Subbed!

[Aces3000]

Great challenge! It's interesting to see how many people I follow have included sleep goals in this challenge. I'm with you on that one. Can't wait to watch your progress!

[Lag a'mhuilin]

Hey teammate and fellow Whovian! Your thoughts: How's Capaldi? Should Clara be replaced?

 

I've got a sleep goal too (not to be confused with a sleep goat). For me I have to schedule my computer to shut off at 10:30 Sun-Thurs and not turn it back on because I find myself just wasting time online for no good reason. It seems to work unless I disable it

 

Also like your water goal. I just recently realized that the whole lot of black tea that I drink at lunch and the rest of work time is actually dehydrating me because black tea is a diuretic. This was causing leg cramps during other fitness activities, so I'm trying to incorporate more water and less tea now. It's been a couple of years since I cut out soda, and if you ever go back and try it you'll find that it's soooo sweet, like what were we even thinking drinking it?

 

Looking forward to the challenge. Good luck!

[Sarah Barr]

Hey LadyShello!

 

Good goals, I like the idea of filling up with water to ward off soda! I know that loss-of-strength feeling whenever I've skimped on the strength training too; it's so satisfying to get it back so good luck!

 

Also, I like the weird oxygenated Dr Who water picture, what on earth is that?

[Balthazar]

Heya

 

From all I have picked up over the last few challenges I think it is easier to do something every day than to do something on x amount of days per week

 

It's easier to get in the habit of always doing something and you avoid the old back loading of the week 'I can't be arsed to day I'll do it tomorrow' - you know there is no tomorrow today has to be today

[Xena]

in honor of your in-between goal:

 

[Noname123]

Hi there Lady  

 

Great challenge, looking forward to seeing your progress. You've also inspired me to really think about rewards, really awesome that you integrated them to your point system!

[artemisia victoria]

Subbed! Good goals, and I like your reward system. Makes me think of incorporating one into my own challenge.

 

I am also a soda fanatic trying to drink more water. and I have found that just having a water bottle on my desk reminds me to drink. Looking forward to following this with you!

[Shello]

First day completed and off to a great start.  3 jugs of water consumed and in bed 20 minutes early @ 11:10.  

 

My workouts on Mondays are particularly rough.  I work about 9 hours and then go straight to the night class I teach.  I'm not home until 9:00 and I am usually burned out and don't want to do a workout.  But it's the first day of the challenge and I wasn't about to start it off by losing a point.  So day 1 of NR 90 days of Action is complete. Hoorah

 

And weather is fairly decent today.  Maybe I'll be able to get a walk in today.  Probably not a long one but something,  

[T2sarahconnor]

Outstanding day one!

[Shello]

I love the idea of getting into the habit of doing something everyday, even if it just stretching. This would probably be a great program for me to look into myself for future challenges so thanks for introducing me to it. 

Ready to follow for epic progress!

 

Yeah, that's what I really like about it too.  And I don't have to program something.  I just do what I'm told. It eliminates the potential to create an easy workout on lazy days.  

 

Great challenge! It's interesting to see how many people I follow have included sleep goals in this challenge. I'm with you on that one. Can't wait to watch your progress!

 

Everyone must be tired after the holidays...   of course, I am perpetually tired.  

[Shello]

Hey teammate and fellow Whovian! Your thoughts: How's Capaldi? Should Clara be replaced?

 

I've got a sleep goal too (not to be confused with a sleep goat). For me I have to schedule my computer to shut off at 10:30 Sun-Thurs and not turn it back on because I find myself just wasting time online for no good reason. It seems to work unless I disable it

 

Also like your water goal. I just recently realized that the whole lot of black tea that I drink at lunch and the rest of work time is actually dehydrating me because black tea is a diuretic. This was causing leg cramps during other fitness activities, so I'm trying to incorporate more water and less tea now. It's been a couple of years since I cut out soda, and if you ever go back and try it you'll find that it's soooo sweet, like what were we even thinking drinking it?

 

Looking forward to the challenge. Good luck!

 

Actually, I haven't been doing a great job of keeping up lately.  I do like Capaldi.  I have no opinion on Clara.  Maybe I should use the sleep timer on my TV so it turns off automatically at bed time.  That's a good idea.  

 

Hey LadyShello!

 

Good goals, I like the idea of filling up with water to ward off soda! I know that loss-of-strength feeling whenever I've skimped on the strength training too; it's so satisfying to get it back so good luck!

 

Also, I like the weird oxygenated Dr Who water picture, what on earth is that?

 

It's crazy, isn't it?   There were other pics as well like this is a thing.  I had no idea it was a thing.  

[Shello]

Heya

 

From all I have picked up over the last few challenges I think it is easier to do something every day than to do something on x amount of days per week

 

It's easier to get in the habit of always doing something and you avoid the old back loading of the week 'I can't be arsed to day I'll do it tomorrow' - you know there is no tomorrow today has to be today

 

That's right.  No make-upsies.  I got into that habit with the YAYOG because I got neurotic about meeting an arbitrary deadline.  Now, if I miss it I just miss it.  So I can't convince myself that I can make it up later.  Well, I probably could.  My power of self persuasion is pretty fierce but I won't.  If I do, I would expect you to call me on it.   

[Shello]

Hi there Lady

 

Great challenge, looking forward to seeing your progress. You've also inspired me to really think about rewards, really awesome that you integrated them to your point system!

 

I wasn't able to get reward systems to work that well before.  But I already feel the motivation.  I really want a NF tank before summer.  But I have resisted buying it straight out.  I have a Tshirt now but I got it from my NF Secret Santa and didn't buy that for myself either.  

 

Subbed! Good goals, and I like your reward system. Makes me think of incorporating one into my own challenge.

 

I am also a soda fanatic trying to drink more water. and I have found that just having a water bottle on my desk reminds me to drink. Looking forward to following this with you!

 

I am the same way.  If I fill my jug right away in the morning, I can usually start the day of great and do pretty well.  I was getting into a bad habit of waiting to fill it up.  By then it was almost lunch so I barely drank any water, had a diet soda with lunch, and then all bets are off after that.  

[Aces3000]

Awesome first day! Great job staying accountable to your workout plan.

[Sarah Barr]

If I fill my jug right away in the morning, I can usually start the day of great and do pretty well.

Totally going to copy off you for this!

[Shello]

Day 2 - successful.  

 

3 jugs (about 72 oz total) water consumed.   I had a 2 hour meeting in the afternoon and I forgot to bring my water with me.  This made it difficult to get the 2nd jug at work done but I was open to stay a little late so I was determined to drink it all before I left.  Then forgot to fill up a jug at home when I got home so by the time I was done running around I had to finish it all just before bed.  I can tell making small habit changes here will make this easier in the long run. 

 

Workout day 2 completed.  I wasn't looking forward to this one as it consisted of a total of 100 mountain climbers and high knees.  But it went really fast.  This would have been a good day for a little extra even but I was really short on time as it was.  

 

I did go for a walk with the Mr.  He joined the Academy and is working on a badge for 5 minute walks for a certain number of consecutive days (I think).  So we managed a 10 minute walk.  I gave myself a point for a walk since I didn't make any time or distance requirements.  But now I am thinking  I should have a minimum... or partial points. Not sure yet. 

 

Sleep - on bed 20 minutes early @ 11:10.  It's a win but in all truthfulness, I was tired and ready for bed at 10:30 but I just couldn't bring myself to turn the TV off and go to bed.  This is clearly why I am working on this I guess.  

[Lag a'mhuilin]

Sleep - on bed 20 minutes early @ 11:10.  It's a win but in all truthfulness, I was tired and ready for bed at 10:30 but I just couldn't bring myself to turn the TV off and go to bed.  This is clearly why I am working on this I guess.  

 

Since messing with my sleep schedule this week I too have noticed that I get tired a lot earlier. Also forgot how much hungrier full paleo makes me feel. Does your TV have a timer feature? Something you can set and then put the remote far away from your bed?