Snowfox: Leveling up in a new city

[Virago]

I've returned from the wilderness and am back in society!!

 

If you saw my earlier challenges, you might remember that I quit my desk job in Wisconsin in January and lived in a tent in the desert working for the Arizona Renaissance Festival during February & March. My time as a tent-dwelling nomad has come to an end, and I'm now getting settled in my new home: Portland, Oregon! How overwhelming is all of this? Hella. 

 

I'm tired of feeling like I'm "okay" in several areas -- I'm pretty fit, I eat mostly decent, I know a few things... granted, I have high standards and lofty goals, but I really want to narrow in on one thing for this challenge: consistency. My life has gone through some major changes in the past year, and they've been great, but I like having somewhat of a routine, and now that I'm starting a fresh chapter in my life, I'd like to develop some strong habits and routines right out of the gate. (All in my effort to be like the Lara Croft of the 2014 Tomb Raider reboot game, of course.) So:

 

Goal priority #1: Track my food intake in My Fitness Pal for the entire six weeks. I've known for years that I don't eat enough or balance things properly. I'm a healthy weight and ideally would like to increase it by gaining some more muscle and losing some excess body fat. I'd like to get a better picture of the balance of fuel that best allows me to perform, feel, and look better. 

 

Ideally this goal will also result in me better balancing my food intake, but for at least the first three weeks I just want to track everything. I'll re-evaluate later on whether I want this goal to specifically include hitting certain macros, or if just tracking & trying is enough for this round. Either way, it'll be on my radar.

 

After I successfully record my food intake, this will result in +2 CON, +1 STA, +1 WIS, and +1 CHA (because I'll hopefully be looking better after over a month of conscientious food choices!). 

 

Secondary goal: Consistent movement; also a struggle for me as I've changed schedules, gyms, and routines so often in the past year. I have a 4-pronged approach as I settle into my new life here: I'd like to go to crossfit 2x a week, lift on my own 2x a week, go to krav maga 1x a week, and include a daily practice of a skill I'm trying to work on (strict push ups, handstand, falls, crow pose, etc). It's going to be awhile before I find the right crossfit gym for me (there are 14 local to my area, and my boyfriend and I might be moving soon), so I'll add that in as I can but get the others going ASAP. 

 

For creating consistent workout practices, I will assign +2 to STR, +2 to STA, and +1 to DEX.

 

Third goal: Finances have been a focus of my past few challenges as well, and this one will be no different. Moving across the country is ridiculously expensive, so this time around I'd like to finish paying off one of my credit cards (I paid it off with my tax return, but had to charge a few moving expenses) and re-establish regular savings deposits by the end of the 6 months. +2 to WIS.

 

I don't have a fourth goal this time around; the above will be quite enough to keep me busy and honestly I'm really overwhelmed at the moment: new city and the headaches of moving (how to get the rest of my stuff here from Wisconsin; the $300 I have to drop at the DMV for a new license, plates, and emissions test; a new bank account since my old one is only in the Midwest; changing my mailing address; etc....), new job (exciting announcement incoming, I hope - I verbally accepted an offer but am awaiting written confirmation!), newly cohabitating with an awesome nerdy boyfriend who is playing Torchlight II while I type this, the stress of not knowing anyone else yet... So, yeah. Anxiety is rearing its head going hey girl what is UP? Didja miss me? I'm here! Let's wallow! 

 

The remaining 3 points will go to WIS, CHA, and CON for remembering to breathe, enjoy the process, and stay calm during a turbulent transition, provided I feel like I did my best with that at the end of the challenge.  

 

It's all really exciting, though. Just a LOT on my plate at the moment. And not enough protein.  

 

Let's do this!

 

 

[goodbye_farewell]

Welcome back to the real world!

[DarK_RaideR]

Go snowfox!

[Buff Brogan]

Don't stop get it get it.

Welcome back

[Virago]

Thanks everyone!! I miss sleeping outside but otherwise it's good to be back

 

I've been making fairly clean food choices lately with the odd clif bar here and there, and wow do I really not eat enough. I figured out my BMR and a rough TEE (total daily energy expenditure) and it looks like on a sedentary day I expend roughly 1700 calories and on a high activity day around 2100, so I set my goal for 1800 with the understanding that I should plan on eating more on days with heavier workouts. 

 

I lifted yesterday - the first time in a long time, and the first time not on a stupid smith machine in ages - and omg you guys, I hurt today! I also didn't come anywhere near my calorie goal or suggested protein goal - I always knew I ate too light but damn.

 

Getting back into the saddle, my workout consisted of:

warming up with air squats, dips, push ups, and 3 strict pull ups (I can barely link 2, want to get this up to 5)

Squat 3x5 at 85# - not very challenging but my quads started talking immediately after! been awhile!

Bench 3x5 at 65# - this is way harder without the smith machine stabilizing everything, hah. 

Deadlift 1x5 at 135# and 1x3 at 155# - I love getting confused looks when I deadlift more than I weigh at a big box gym. 

 

Also, does anyone have tips for loading the bar when it's on the floor like that?! I swear I had a harder time coaxing the 45# plates on and off the bar than I did actually picking it up.

[Virago]

Faithfully tracking food intake, definitely not eating enough (especially protein, surprise surprise) - working on it.

 

Still hanging out at home until the new job gets going. So I played Skyrim all morning and then worked out in the living room. Bliss.

 

For time: 

60 squats

60 dips 

60 sit ups

60 push ups

Finished in 4:15 (modified dips and push ups)

 

handstand practice - 30sec hold with feet on chair

lunges with two 15# dumbbells - 10 each side

kettlebell row with 16kg/35# - 2x5 each side

clean with 15# db, 5 each side

clean with 12kg/26# kettlebell, 5 each side

kettlebell swing with 16kg - 15

5 knee push ups, slow

yoga: crow hold, 3 attempts for 10sec

yoga: pigeon stretch, 1 min each side

[Virago]

Ate well yesterday but nowhere near enough! Was shocked to see my healthy choices clock in at under 1400 calories. My goal on light activity days is 1800... add my first Portland krav maga class last night and I'm running way too low on fuel!!

 

This is going to be a big challenge for me (and one I've honestly been avoiding dealing with for a long time) but ultimately really helpful!

[Terra]

Just catching up with ya!  Good to see you getting settled and back into a routine... 

[Virago]

You guys. Today was my first day at my new job... as a Personal Trainer with 24 Hour Fitness! OMG! 

 

For the little girl who picked dandelions on the soccer field and hated gym class, this is a pretty confusing (and super exciting) turn of events.

[Terra]

How is it going so far??? 

[Virago]

Oof, you guys. Forums aren't really my thing (can you tell?). It was also tough to stick with a challenge in the midst of all of these big changes.

 

Work is really stressful and overwhelming and sometimes discouraging, but I think it's going to lead me to really great things, so I'm trying to stay positive and keep working hard. My client base is slowly growing and hopefully my confidence will catch up as well.  

 

My birthday is on Sunday, so I've got some ideas of how I'd like to start out my year. I probably won't post much here but I'll see about getting back into things for the next six week challenge.