sozzielou avoids death by Powerpoint

[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 getting through a stressful time at work by making good use of my spare time, looking after the basics whilst still indulging my creative side.

 

1. 200k steps! STA+2 CON+1 CHA+1

Strap on the pedometer, get up and walk around.

A = More than 221k steps

B = 211k steps to 220999 steps

C = 200k steps to 210999 steps

F = Fewer than 200k steps.

 

2. Powerpoint! WIS+4

My employers have provided me with an advanced course in Powerpoint, all paid for, but I need to find a few hours a week to learn it, practice it and take an exam. I aim to take my exam by the end of May.

A = Learned, practiced and exam date set

B = Still practicing, nearly there

C = Still learning, not sure whether I could pass the exam but I will take it

F = Nowhere near ready, will have to defer the exam.

 

3. Hydrate! CON+2 CHA+2

My body is showing signs of dehydration. This needs to change, since the weather is getting warmer and more water is needed. Also I'm aiming to lose fat and variations in hydration can affect measured body composition. I will be recording the amount of water I drink and making sure to drink when I am thirsty. My target is 3.5 litres per day. I'm treating this like a 30-day hard hat challenge for the whole of the 6 weeks.

Pass = Never miss 2 days in a row

Fail = Miss 2 or more days in a row.

 

4. Dolly garden! DEX+3

Does that sound rude to you too?!?

My home storage facility (*coughs* - dollhouse - *coughs*) was built in June 2012 yet two of the rooms still are not decorated. Being an unconventional type, I want one "room" to be a garden. It needs paint, wallpaper, flowers and a fence at least. At the moment it's just a dusty white box which is full of random stuff.

A = What a beautiful dolly garden!

B = Mostly done but needs a little more work

C = Shows signs of improvement but looks like a building site

F = Still dusty and full of random stuff.

[redimagination]

Hey, just stopping by to say good luck with your challenge! What pedometer do you use to calculate steps?

[sozzielou]

My pedometer is a basic Omron walking III model, I wear it on a lanyard or put it in my pocket. Yesterday (day 1 of the challenge) I walked over 10,000 steps and found I get a little stick figure appear and wave its arms!

[Charlie_Quinn]

I'm coming along for the ride!

[AresPandora]

Hello! Subbed!

[Fonzico]

Wheee! (That is me cheering along with the little dude)

Love the steps goal! Great minds think alike [emoji14]

And of course we'll need pics of this dollhouse, eh?

[sozzielou]

And of course we'll need pics of this dollhouse, eh?

 

It's a storage facility

 

So here is the "before" pic. The greenhouse is going to stay but the rest needs to be sorted out. You can see in the foreground, I have some green and white bottles of paint, in order to paint bushes and shubbery etc. I am quite ashamed that everything is covered in dust. This is going to change!

 

 

Oh and also ... I've added a progress bar to my signature so it's clear how I am progressing towards my 200k step goal for this challenge. I will update this every weekday when I write in my daily battle log.

[Charlie_Quinn]

I love that your soon-to-be dolly garden has a miniature wheelie bin! 

[AresPandora]

No home for the horse?

[sozzielou]

No home for the horse?

 

He can live in the garage.

[sozzielou]

End of week 1 update

 

1. 200k steps!

In week 1 I have made 43032 steps, which is 22% of my 200k goal. This means I am well on target for 200k steps over 6 weeks. On Monday of this week I achieved over 10k steps, which is pretty unusual for me (I have only ever done that once before since wearing a pedometer.) So all in all I am really happy with the way this quest is going. I will have to make sure that I still focus on strength sessions three times per week and not abandon my strength sessions for the treadmill.

 

2. Powerpoint!

I have worked two hours on Powerpoint this week which is a good start. I need to make sure I get my book out and do my homework.

 

3. Hydrate!

I have installed the Plant Nanny app on my phone and am tracking my water intake as I go along in the day. The plants are really cute! Anyway I have managed over 3.5 litres every day this week and crossed every day in blue pen off my "hard hat challenge" grid. The week was pretty sunny and hot and I was glad of the extra water. It's quite easy to fit in the extra water to my day and I am sure to drink when I'm thirsty.

 

4. Dolly garden!

This week I measured and bought mount board to cover the "walls". I have also bought spray glue to stick the mount board and any other bits on. I have put together a stock of paints, brushes and sponges. I also walked past Starbucks each weekday and surreptitiously collected a handful of wooden stirring sticks each time - I'm thinking dolly picket fence. I think I must have over a hundred wooden stirring sticks already!

 

So overall it's been a good week and a great start to the challenge. Now, onward!

[AresPandora]

Yes yes yes!!! Get it, giiiirl. Keep up the good work!

[Fonzico]

Excellent job! You're going to smash your step goal or if the water at this rate!

[Charlie_Quinn]

Great job! The Doctor approves.

 

[sozzielou]

End of week 2 update

 

1. 200k steps!

In week 2 I have made 45302 steps, which is 22% of my 200k goal. Spooky how that is so similar to week 1 and yet my week was so very different. Thursday to Saturday I had a little break in London; no workouts but lots of wandering around the streets. On Friday of this week I walked over 10000 steps which I am pretty happy about

 

2. Powerpoint!

I have managed to dig out my textbook and have worked two hours on Powerpoint this week. Now my London break is over I will get a bit more spare time to work on this aspect of my challenge.

 

3. Hydrate!

My plant nanny plant (Ivy) is all grown up and I am now growing a cactus named Spike. I have managed over 3.5 litres on 6 days out of 7 this week; the missing day was Sunday when I was busy all day and just drinking water by the cup wasn't good enough because I got to bedtime and had 1.5 litres still left to drink. I did drink a pint before bed but that means I was a litre off my target for the day. Week 2 has been much less sunny and the weather has been pretty dreary and I have not felt like I needed to drink as much as I did in week 1.

 

4. Dolly garden!

Nothing to report this week.

 

So overall week 2 has been fine; I have walked and hydrated pretty well. I need to catch up a little bit with some Powerpoint and Dolly Gardening in week 3. So off I go to do just that ...

[Charlie_Quinn]

Well done on week 2. Did you have a good time in London? Did you visit any of the tourist attractions?

[sozzielou]

Well done on week 2. Did you have a good time in London? Did you visit any of the tourist attractions?

Thanks!

 

Do Five Guys and M&Ms world count as tourist attractions?

[Charlie_Quinn]

Thanks!

 

Do Five Guys and M&Ms world count as tourist attractions?

 

Yes. Yes they do. 

[sozzielou]

My Plant Nanny cactus, Spike, is all grown up so I moved him to the garden and planted a new chickfern called Dave.

Dave likes to sway in the breeze.

[AresPandora]

I'm also on the Chick-fern! But I named him Dude-fern. Glad you're keeping up on being hydrated!

[sozzielou]

Passed 100k steps yesterday so over half-way to my 200k step goal for this challenge

[Fonzico]

Whoohoo! Halfway there before the halfway mark! Winning

[sozzielou]

So, Thursday night and I go to bed and can't get to sleep for about one and a half hours because doll house and garden ideas are popping into my head and I am feeling very creative. When I get this way, it is difficult to sleep. When I noticed the time was past 11pm, I started to meditate on my breath and managed to fall asleep. Anyway now it is Friday and I drew up some very basic ideas whilst sat at work and I did it using powerpoint because, well, skills.

 

Do I paint the fence (white?) or leave it as wooden Starbucks tea stirrer stick colour?

 

BTW, the flowers will not all be the same, they will be die-cut using different colours of card / paper.

[Fonzico]

I'm a sucker for a white fence! Way cute though.

[sozzielou]

End of week 3 update

 

1. 200k steps!

Half-way through the 6-week challenge now and I have achieved a total of 117626 steps, which is 59% of my target of 200k. 29292 steps were in this third week. Not a great total for the week but we have had really crappy weather and I haven't been able to do much wakling at lunchtime. Hopefully I can walk a bit further in week 4.

 

2. Powerpoint!

I've been working a little extra on my Powerpoint this week. I did my 2-hour class plus homework and I have been doing a bit of challenge prep and ideas on Powerpoint too. Feeling pretty good about this.

 

3. Hydrate!

Spike is all grown up now and is planted in the virtual plant garden. Now I have a chickfern called Dave. Dave has funny, googly eyes and he likes to sway in the breeze. Anyway, I have managed 3.5 litres of water every day this week, despite the colder weather, I think my body is getting used to the hydration. I'm finding it fairly easy to hydrate when I am at work because it is easier to pace throughout the day. Weekends are a little more difficult and I need to ensure I drink enough earlier on through the day.

 

4. Dolly garden!

On Friday, I got some ideas jotted down and made a picture and a couple of lists (things I need and the order in which to do things) using Powerpoint. I also ordered some supplies online. On Sunday, I got my backing card measured and cut out, ready for painting. There are a few more bits I need (some paints and some glue) which I can pick up in week 4. I'm getting quite excited about this project because I like to be creative.

 

Week 3 has been good overall; I have made progress towards all aspects of my challenge. Feeling pretty great with myself and the way in which I am fitting things in. Looking forward to carrying on this way into week 4!