Ciara takes things one step at a time

[Ciara]

Hey everyone!

I respawned a few weeks ago and while I wasn't terribly active on the forums, I think I've made some strides towards my goals. However, I didn't achieve any of the goals I set for myself last time. So I'm going to do it again for real. Same challenge with just a few tweaks. Hopefully I am more on top of things this time. I'm going to focus on nutrition this challenge, since that's my biggest struggle.

 

GOAL:

To fall back into some kind of fitness routine. I don't care if it's pumping iron 5x a week and eating all the steamed veggies with chicken breast and salmon or just walking every night when my boyfriend gets off work and limiting ice cream to 2 days a week. As long as I'm doing SOMETHING on a regular basis. By the end of the challenge I want to have a starting place upon which to build over the summer.

 

Quest 1: (WIS + 4)

Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. I'm not going to cut out anything like tea or soda. I just want to add water.

 

A- 6-8 glasses a day

B- 4-5 glasses a day

C- 3 or fewer glasses a day

 

Quest 2: (CON + 3, CHA + 2)

I eat too many desserts. I am going to eliminate sweets from my diet, starting with dessert like cake and cookies and pie. This doesn't include sugar in my tea or coffee. I don't drink soda anyway so that's all set. Starting right now, I don't eat donuts, cookies, cake, ice cream, or anything else like that anymore.

 

A- 0 a day

B- 1-2 a day

C- 3 a day or more

 

Quest 3: (WIS + 3, STA + 3)

Eat 2 paleo meals a day. Simple as that. I would like to replace 2 meals with paleo meals rather than gorge myself as I have been doing. (Eating paleo as well as normal meals throughout the day. Meals, not snacks).

 

A- Every day

B- 5-6 days

C- 4 or fewer days

 

Optional Quest 4: Hit the gym 2x a week. Cardio, weights, or a class. Doesn't matter as long as I go and do something for at least 30 minutes. It could even be a combo, like 15 min cardio 15 min weight training. But this is optional, for days when I feel especially motivated. If I don't go a single time it doesn't matter. Orrr, just work out in my room. BBWW, anyone?

 

The points are as follows:

STR: 0

STA: 3

WIS: 7

DEX: 0

CON: 3

CHA: 2

 

Don't feel like taking pictures, but I will take measurements on Sunday.

 

Bust: 38.5

Waist: 34

Belly: 42

Hips: 44.5

Thighs: L: 27  R: 26.5

Biceps: L: 14 R: 13.5

Calves: L: 16.5 R: 17

 

Weight: 184 lbs

Pants size: 12 (it's a bit tight)

[Tkdgirl]

I'm loving the simplicity of your goals - I think that's the best way sometimes. I will be following to see how you get on 

[Ciara]

So I know the challenge hasn't started yet but I've been trying to follow my goals already. So far my biggest challenge is the sweets thing, of course. I am eating fruit, but I am still eating truckloads of baked goods. I haven't had ice cream in a few weeks which is a huge achievement for me but I've replaced it with cake and cookies. I literally just ate 12 chocolate chip cookies, even after having a salad and chicken breast for lunch. I might change this to just don't eat those foods anymore even though that is so hard and I've failed at cutting out sweets before. But my willpower has been really strong lately, so I might  be able to do it. It is a rare occasion when I am able to eat just one...so maybe not eating any really is the best route for me.

 

The problem might be the fact that I spend all my free time in the dining hall working and hanging out with people. There's so much temptation here and it's ALWAYS available...

[StoneMonkey]

Oh, I know the pain of getting rid of candy and replacing it with fruit, I did that for my first challenge. ^^

But yeah, diet is really hard to get under control. I went completely cold turkey for the duration of my challenge (which hasn't ended yet!) and I can say that it gets a lot easier after the first week! If you think that you'd be better of cutting everything out, go right ahead.

 

Best of luck on your challenge! Subbed. ^^

[Ciara]

Oh, I know the pain of getting rid of candy and replacing it with fruit, I did that for my first challenge. ^^

But yeah, diet is really hard to get under control. I went completely cold turkey for the duration of my challenge (which hasn't ended yet!) and I can say that it gets a lot easier after the first week! If you think that you'd be better of cutting everything out, go right ahead.

 

Best of luck on your challenge! Subbed. ^^

Glad to know I'm not the only one. This is my 5th challenge and I have focused on food pretty much every time. I always manage to fall short of my aspirations and give in and it's very discouraging. This summer I'll be working on a farm and the owners told me they don't eat or endorse the eating of junk. Hopefully those three months will help me purge my system, if I can't figure it out before hand. 

[mom2sjm]

When I was trying to kill my sugar cravings I totally had to cut out fruit too.  eating fruit triggered my sugar cravings (instead of satisfying them which I thought it would do).  cold turkey was really the only way to go for me.  too many rules and I'd just slip right into old habits.  it took me 5 months to lose the weight I wanted to lose eating this way (my meals were basically whole 30 minus the fruit). 

 

I found that red bell peppers are actually pretty sweet and that made me happy to eat salads.  now that I've lost the weight I still keep my fruit intake to a minimum so I don't have a full on sugar craving.  I do like blueberries in whole yogurt (the full fat fills me up so I'm not wanting a second serving and the berries are really yummy right now.  also after a workout I'll have a Planters NUTrition pack, the one with the chocolate.  protein and something sweet - it's a good thing.

 

it's still hard sometimes.  who doesn't like a good cookie now and then?  I find that when I'm over thinking the eating thing that I really need to get up and do something else - go outside or move to another activity.  plus I don't keep that stuff on hand, it would be a pain for me to get a cookie - I'd have to drive somewhere to get one or drag out all the stuff and bake some (and I only have ingredients for sugar cookies/snickerdoodles so not even anything fun like chocolate chips would  happen) so usually I can let the moment go.  it would be really hard if I worked around treats or if I didn't have total control over the shopping at our house.  

 

good luck!  take it day by day

[Tkdgirl]

God you have my sympathies - trying not to eat junk food is SO hard.

My strategy was like moms2sjm - I just couldn't have it in the house. I am fine with not buying it but once it's bought I just can't resist. I've tried all sorts but the only way I can avoid it is not to have it in the house. Hope you find something that works for you

[Maia]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. This is my 5th challenge and I have focused on food pretty much every time. I always manage to fall short of my aspirations and give in and it's very discouraging. This summer I'll be working on a farm and the owners told me they don't eat or endorse the eating of junk. Hopefully those three months will help me purge my system, if I can't figure it out before hand. 

 

I'm the same way! Nutrition is my downfall. As Steve says, you can't outrun your fork. Subbing because we seem to have a lot in common.

[Ciara]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. The hard part for me is, I have a college meal plan for another month before summertime and dessert is abundant. When I see people eating ice cream or cookies I reeeallly want it, and when I see them sitting in the fridge I have to force myself not to go over there. It doesn't always work. It would be better if I had my own kitchen, but I'll do my best without it.

[Maia]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. The hard part for me is, I have a college meal plan for another month before summertime and dessert is abundant. When I see people eating ice cream or cookies I reeeallly want it, and when I see them sitting in the fridge I have to force myself not to go over there. It doesn't always work. It would be better if I had my own kitchen, but I'll do my best without it.

 

Oh my gosh, college meal plans. I remember walking out of the cafeteria with a to-go-box full of chocolate chip cookies. Why do they have to have so many tempting goodies? 

[Ciara]

I wasn't near a computer last night so let me recap yesterday right now.

 

Quest 1: Drink 6-8 glasses of water.

I drank 5. So that's a B. Not bad!

 

Quest 2: Eat 3 pieces of fruit.

I ate two, and even managed to stop myself before eating an entire cookie. Success! Another B.

 

Quest 3: Eats one paleo meal.

I did this. I forget what I ate but it was as paleo as I can get in the dining hall. A for this one!

 

I haven't finished today's quest yet- still drinking water and haven't had any fruit yet so far....that's ok though. On the plus side, I only had one dessert all day so I still feel like that's a win. I might change the fruit quest to 3 sugary things max per day including fruit, or maybe I will go cold turkey....I feel like the wording right now allows me to make loopholes. I could say, "I ate 3 pieces of fruit! and also 5 cookies, 2 slices of cake, and a bowl of ice cream oops." I want to change it but I have already limited my intake of sugary things for a challenge and I failed. Based on everyone's advice....it sounds like I'll have to go cold turkey.....no...I'm scared.

[Ciara]

Yesterday's wrap up:

 

Quest 1: Drink 6-8 glasses water

I drank 5. Another B

 

Quest 2: Eat 3 pieces of fruit

I ate one. That's a C. Going to change that quest today though so I'm not too worried.

 

Quest 3: Eat one paleo meal

I did. I had ribs and a huge salad. I don't know what the sauce on the ribs was, it probably wasn't paleo, but again college meal plan what can you do. A for me.

 

 

I might increase my paleo meals to 2 per day because I really like eating this way.

I will change my sweets challenge from eating fruit as well as desserts to not eating any desserts at all.

[Ciara]

I just took my measurements (I just got home after an extended stay at my boyfriend's place and finally have my tape measure) and wow I have really let myself go. I need to take all future challenges seriously. I often live in the future, saying "oh it will be better when X happens" but I need to start living in the now. Every day is the beginning of the rest of my life. If I can get myself turned around now, I don't need to do it later. 

 

I've been totally inspired by starsapart and have decided to start taking aerial silk classes in the fall once I get back to school. I tried looking for places in VT where I'll be this summer but there's nothing that I could find. She recommended that I work on upper body and core strength over the summer so I am not totally frustrated when I start classes in the fall. That's gonna be the focus of my next challenge. I am going to start doing some things like planks and pushups now, but I don't want to get overwhelmed and forget about my current challenge. I'll let you know on days that I work out.

[Ciara]

Recap for day 3:

 

Quest 1: Drink 6-8 glasses of water

3 glasses. I fell a bit short here but that's ok! Tomorrow's a new day! C for this one.

 

Quest 2: Cut out desserts

YES!! It was hard but I did it today! There was chocolate cake, marshmallow fluff, and banana's foster for dessert today....sooo tempting. I ate grapes and resisted. Go me! A for this one

 

Quest 3: Eat 2 paleo meals

I actually did this. For lunch I had 2 lamb kebabs and a bunch of veggies. For dinner I had curried shrimp and veggies, and a plate of kale with chicken. I'm not sure if the curry sauce on the shrimp was paleo but the chicken and kale were definitely so I am counting that. A for me 

[Ciara]

So yesterday I forgot to mention, I did a modified version of the BBWW workout. I don't have space for walking lunges so I...didn't do lunges. I probably should have done standing ones. I plan on doing the whole BBWW minus the milk jug rows (because I don't have anything heavy enough in my dorm to lift) tomorrow so I'll do lunges then. Here's what I did yesterday:

 

30 second plank

10 knee pushups

20 squats

 

I've lost a lot of my former strength. Good thing I also seem to have lost a lot of the judgement I normally place on myself. I am happy just knowing I am starting again

[StoneMonkey]

I've lost a lot of my former strength. Good thing I also seem to have lost a lot of the judgement I normally place on myself. I am happy just knowing I am starting again

 

Keep this attitude up! In a couple months you'll be far beyond your former strength.  

 

Awesome progress so far! Now, I'm no bodyweight expert, but I believe the milk jug rows are kind of a substitute for pull-ups. Thus, there are quite a few variations you can do that can help you out with them. I'd suggest body-weight rows.

 

Either way, keep doing what you're doing. ^^

[Ciara]

Recap for yesterday:

 

Drink 6-8 glasses of water:

I drank 4. Barely made a B. Gotta get better at this!

 

Avoid desserts:

Another win! It's so hard but being strict with myself is helpful. A for me.

 

Eat 2 paleo meals a day:

I didn't achieve this goal. James and I went out to eat for dinner (I chose Vietnamese pho over pizza so that's gotta count for something) and then I had a snack of leftover chicken and quinoa salad. Healthy, but not paleo. I did have a paleo lunch of chicken stirfry with no soy sauce. B for the day.

 

I wish my academic grades were as good as my NF grades. I am probably going to fail one of my classes....I have a D+ right now. I really need to ace the final.....sigh. Good thing the other class I thought I would fail I'm actually getting a C+! I picked it up almost a full grade point over the semester! And I still have a chance to increase that even more.

 

Anyway, today is a workout day. I need to represent House Lannister so lunges are a go! Even though I hate them. I need to fit some walking into my schedule too. Does walking at work count I wonder? I'll be working from 10 - 5 tomorrow and walk a LOT.

[Tkdgirl]

Been on holiday so just catching up.

 

Seems like a positive start - particularly impressed with your edits to goals and missing out on desserts completely. Keep up the great work!

[Ciara]

I had a huge sugar craving today. I satisfied it by going for a walk (also good for the mini challenge- 2 wins!) drinking water, complaining to my friend, eating an orange, and drinking tea (it had sugar in it but not too much. they don't offer stevia at my dining hall and i refuse to eat artificial sweetener). I wanted cake sooo bad- there were two varieties today!!! Argghhhh...but I soldiered through and beat the craving. It lasted nearly two hours...

[Tixnleeches]

Hey there Ciara!

 

Looks like your challenge is going good! I'm proud of you for skipping the cake! I know it's hard watching everyone else have something you want and then have to pass. (atleast for me it is!)

 

Feel free to message me if you need help/encouragement I'll be popping by here checking on your progress! I'm totally following you, had to tell you or you may never have known... *Assassin mode on*

[Tkdgirl]

Well done on beating the sugar craving. 2 hours is a long time and most people would struggle to keep it up so you're doing great!

[Ciara]

Thanks guys! I had my friend act as a cheerleader so it was a bit easier to resist knowing she was there watching me. 

 

Just got back from 4 hours of farm work. Popped on to check on everyone but I'm about to go to my actual work in a few minutes so I can't update. Will be back to update tonight!

[Ciara]

Whew! I am exhausted. Been working all day...I volunteered at a local goat farm for their spring cleaning day. 4 hours of scooping manure from the shed where the goats sleep out to the small pen to raise the ground level. The area where the goats spend most of their time is at a high water table level...so it floods a lot. The manager wanted to raise the ground level with manure and sand to prevent future flooding. I left before they were done because I had to go to work but it was very hard work!! I feel accomplished.

 

Unfortunately, the food they provided for lunch was decidedly not paleo. Pizza and lemonade. At least there was no soda, not that I'd drink it anyway. I considered skipping the pizza but knew that it was a while before I would be able to eat again and I'd worked up a massive sweat, so I decided keeping my paleo challenge wasn't worth hurting myself by working too hard with no fuel. I ate three slices and had two cups of lemonade and a cup of sweet tea. 

 

Actually today is an off food day. I wonder if being physically exhausted makes me less likely to make good food choices. I had a good dinner- beef brisket with sauteed collard greens and bok choy, as well as some roasted cauliflower. But an hour after dinner I'm eating a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. I think this counts as dessert...darn. I'm not going to beat myself up about it, and I'm also not going back for a second bowl because one slip up doesn't define me.

 

I'm on my 5th cup of water today. I'll definitely meet my water goals for the day!

 

Feeling good as far as the challenge goes.Wish I felt the same way about life...this one class I'm taking is such a drag and it's weighing my whole life down it feels like. Glad the semester is over soon!

 

I did 30 squats today for the joust. I would have done more but my knees told me I had to stop. I'll try to do at least 20 more tonight.

[Tixnleeches]

It's not so much of the physical exhaustion leading to bad food choices and more a lack of proper planning. (At least in my case) When I slip up food wise it's due to me not planning ahead and bringing my own meals so I had the option of healthy food vs pizza (and god do I love pizza).

 

Glad to hear you didn't go back for a second bowl of cocoa puffs, everybody drops the ball just gotta realize it and make the most out of the slip up and catch yourself from doing it again!

 

Personally I would up the water intake on the days of heavy physical activity (working on the farm) because you sweat a lot more and become dehydrated that much quicker!

 

Be careful with the knees! Don't push yourself if you think you are going to get hurt, it's not worth injuring yourself for a mini challenge! Just have fun

[Ciara]

It's not so much of the physical exhaustion leading to bad food choices and more a lack of proper planning. (At least in my case) When I slip up food wise it's due to me not planning ahead and bringing my own meals so I had the option of healthy food vs pizza (and god do I love pizza).

I would totally have packed a meal but I live in a college dorm and rely on the dining hall for all my meals so it's pretty hard to pack food....next semester will hopefully go better food-wise.....