sozzielou's spring clean

[sozzielou]

My ultimate goal is to fit comfortably into UK size 14 trousers. To do that, I need to drop a dress size and I want to do this by losing fat. I feel like I've got a good grip on workouts and food / diet so this challenge is about creating new routines and adding another level of automation into my daily life. Being more active outside of workout sessions and looking after my body are my main focus areas for this challenge.

 

1. Activity!  STA+2  CON+2

Be active outside of workout sessions. Minimum is walking for 10 minutes per day. This is continuing from my previous challenge but is being made more difficult by a higher target.

A = 30 or more active days

B = 26-29 active days

C = 22-25 active days

F = 21 active days or fewer.

 

2. Spring clean!  DEX+1  CHA+2  WIS+1

The start of spring is approaching and my body is beginning to show signs of winter wear and tear. I have made a list of activities I need to do to look after my body, and I have attributed points to those activities depending on how difficult (how likely I am to do them) they are.

A = 100 points or more

B = 75-99 points

C = 50-74 points

F = 49 points or fewer.

 

3. Floss!  CON+2  CHA+2

I'm treating this like a 30-day hard hat challenge for the whole of the 6 weeks. Fairly simple, I want to automate my flossing routine, put floss everywhere and make sure to floss daily.

Pass = Never miss 2 days in a row

Fail = Miss 2 or more days in a row.

 

4. On your bike!  DEX+1  CON+1  STA+1

I received a folding bike for Christmas and it's really easy to get out and about with it. I want to fit my bike in my car and take it to work with me. I hope to make a new activity out of bike riding and my initial aim is to ride my bike once per week.

A = 5 bike rides or more

B = 3 or 4 bike rides

C = 1 or 2 bike rides

F = No bike rides.

[Fonzico]

Looks good! Automation can be a very, very good thing.

[Charlie_Quinn]

Found you! Great challenge as always.

 

Ah flossing! Despite spending 7 years as a dental assistant, I'm terrible at getting myself to floss regularly! Putting floss packets everywhere sounds like a good way to get it done.

[Xena]

Sounds like a great challenge for habit-building! Subscribing.

[sozzielou]

Starting stats:

 

                  21/02/15:        

Weight        85.0 kg

BF               32.6%             

Water          49.1%           

Muscle        31.7%      

BMI             29.4

 

Bike challenge update:

So my bike just fits in the boot of my car but takes up practically the whole space ... and I have to take the saddle off for the boot to close!! Nevertheless, it fits. Who needs boot space anyway?!?

[Paisley]

I'm a bit late to the party but I'm here now.

Looks like a good new challenge. I love the idea of using the challenges to really automate certain things.it really does work well.

The folding bike sounds cool. I really would love to ride again, need to get the kids to learn how to ride so that I can go riding with them....hopefully this summer.

[turboseize]

How is it going? Sozzielou, report to the Forum!

 

[...] I really would love to ride again, need to get the kids to learn how to ride so that I can go riding with them....hopefully this summer.

What is holding you back?

[Paisley]

What is holding you back?

..the kids. I have my son home with me full time so can't go out without him at least and he can't ride yet and really has no interest in learning. And our location makes it very hard to learn - nowhere around here to practice safely. I just need to take both the kids out somewhere safe a couple of times but its hard when they can't practice every day.

[Xena]

How are you doing with the outdoor activity? Weekend coming up, hopefully some good weather for you.

[sozzielou]

Stats update:

 

                  21/02/15:        28/02/15:       

Weight        85.0 kg          83.9kg

BF               32.6%            32.3%

Water          49.1%           49.3%

Muscle        31.7%           31.8%

BMI             29.4               29

 

Pleased with this, I feel like I have been working hard this week

[Paisley]

A great result for the week. well done. Hopefully you can continue into next week.

[Xena]

Keep it up! Hope you are having fun too.

[sozzielou]

Week 1 review:

 

1. Activity!

I have been active (outside of workout sessions) for 6 out of 7 days this week. Monday to Friday I made sure to get outside for a walk every lunchtime, even though my walk was only for 15-20 minutes that is so much more sustainable for me than a 30 or 40 minute walk. On Sunday I went out on my bike which was fun and active. All round happy with this element of the challenge, I really feel like I am improving in this area.

 

2. Spring clean!

I have accumulated 30.25 points towards my spring clean this week. Mostly these were earned on Sunday when I had an hour to myself and had a nice bubble bath and "pampering" session. I don't really feel that "pampering" is the appropriate word but it's all I can think of right now. Pretty happy with the maintenance I have done on my body for this first week but I do feel I need to work at being more consistent through the week with looking after my body. It is pretty amazing, after all.

 

3. Floss!

I have crossed off 7 days out of 7 (in green pen, because it's minty fresh like floss) so I'm really pleased with this because it has been easier than I thought it would be to incorporate in my schedule. This new routine has also made me feel more confident about my mouth/teeth than I was before, which is a nice albeit unexpected bonus.

 

4. On your bike!

I've fitted my bike in my car successfully and driven around with it, although I haven't had the confidence to ride it around work at lunchtime yet. Still, I have achieved 1 bike ride this week, on Sunday. I'm pretty confident with getting the bike out and assembling it but not so good at getting it put back in the car yet. This, I'm sure, will come with practice. Although I look like I am huge and have terrible posture in this picture, it is actually the body warmer I'm wearing which is a few sizes too big.

 

Overall I'm feeling really good and happy with the progress I have made on my challenge so far. Let's work at keeping that momentum into week 2.

[Charlie_Quinn]

Awesome week one. And you don't look huge in that picture at all! You look fantastic, happy and very warm! 

 

Love that bike too. Is it a pain to fold up? It's one of the things that puts me off buying a fold up bike, I'm useless at that stuff!

[sozzielou]

Love that bike too. Is it a pain to fold up? It's one of the things that puts me off buying a fold up bike, I'm useless at that stuff!

 

Thanks! Folding is not difficult, there are 3 main folds: the handlebars drop down beside the wheel, the seat drops down (or in my case, I take the seat off completely) and the bike itself folds in half. Oh and the pedals flip in so they don't stick out. It only fits in one position in my car and although it's relatively light (probably 15kg) it's a bit fiddly. But hey, I've only practiced taking it out and putting it in twice! With more practice it will be easy!

[Fonzico]

Awesome start! I think the small, sustainable walks are the way to go - consistency is king!

[Xena]

Fonzico and BlimeyCharlie are very smart :-)

 

Great week! Seems like a sustainable plan that will make a difference!

[sozzielou]

Week 2 review:

 

1. Activity!

I have been active (outside of workout sessions) for 6 out of 7 days this week. Monday to Thursday I went outside for a walk every lunchtime, Friday I had a shorter lunch so I could leave early to go to a sports therapy massage. Half an hour is not enough time for me to eat and walk. On Saturday I had a good walk and went into the city centre to run some errands. Sunday was wet weather and I hoped to go out on my bike but that didn't happen. I still got out and about though. All round I am happy with this element of the challenge.

 

2. Spring clean!

I have earned 13 points towards my spring clean this week. This gives me a grand total of 43.25 points so I am nearly half-way to my goal of 100 points. I am definitely noticing my complexion is better recently and that my hands are not so dry and sore.

 

3. Floss!

Another full house, 7 minty green days out of 7 this week

 

4. On your bike!

No bike riding this week, sadly.

 

Overall happy with the way the week has gone. Onward!

[Paisley]

sounds like your doing really really well.  keep it up through week 3!

[sozzielou]

Week 3 review:

 

1. Activity!

I have been active for 4 out of 7 days this week. I had a week off work and a lot of time was spend doing house chores. I'm really happy with what I achieved this week in terms of activity.

 

2. Spring clean!

I have earned 25 points towards my spring clean this week. This gives me a grand total of 68.25 points so I am well over half-way to my goal of 100 points.

 

3. Floss!

Another flossy week, 7 minty green days out of 7 this week

 

 

4. On your bike!

No bike riding this week, sadly.

 

I have had a great week at home for week 3, getting up to some varied things but still prioritising the important stuff. On to week 4!

[Paisley]

great work, glad your time off was fun and well spent too by the sounds of things. 

[sozzielou]

Stats update:

 

                  21/02/15:        28/02/15:        07/03/15:      14/03/15:      21/03/15:

Weight        85.0 kg          83.9kg            84.5kg           83.6kg          84kg

BF               32.6%            32.3%            32.5%            32.1%           32.3%

Water          49.1%           49.3%             49.2%            49.4%           49.3%

Muscle        31.7%           31.8%             31.8%            31.8%          31.8%

BMI             29.4               29                   29.2               28.9              29.1

[Xena]

Hope week 4 was great!

[sozzielou]

Week 4 review:

 

1. Activity!

Back to work this week after my week off. The "normal" routine worked well and I was active on all 7 days this week. Aside from my workouts and lunchtime walks (5 out of 5 on both counts) I had a nice bike ride on Saturday and a long walk on Sunday. This has been a good start to spring and there are some good practices I think I could really continue. Feeling great about this week in terms of activity.

 

2. Spring clean!

I have earned 10.5 points towards my spring clean this week. This gives me a grand total of 78.75 points so I am over three-quarters of the way to my goal. I do need to do a bit more work in this area over the next couple of weeks though, I don't feel like I am really embracing the challenge of proper maintenance but I am starting to get there I think.

 

3. Floss!

Yet again a full house, with 7 out of 7 days of floss. I don't need to post a photo again do I? Anyway happy mouth, feeling good.

 

4. On your bike!

Had a long bike ride around my neighbourhood on Saturday. That feeling really took me back to my childhood! Anyway that takes me up to 2 bike rides in 4 weeks. I definitely need to build in some more bike rides to my average week.

 

Overall week 4 has been good. Despite the DOMS from Monday's workout I have been good at getting into a routine and am working steadily towards my goals. I am thrilled to be building activity into the whole week and feel I am making good progress. As a reward to myself, I have ordered a pair of Valslides. I have seen them used in Jen Sinkler's Lift Weights Faster programme and am looking forwards to including these new toys into my workouts.

[Paisley]

Sounds like a great week.  Your killing it this challenge.  well done and keep it up.