Suzy Q bursts out of her comfort zone

[suzyQlou]

Hi, I'm Sue and new to the world of Rangers.  This is a tricky challenge for me, because it means sticking with healthy choices over the summer.  Once school lets out, my house is overrun with popsicles and excuses.  Structure?  What structure.  Work out time?  Ha!

 

So, it's up to me to make the extra effort to stick with this challenge amid chaos.  My comfort zone was the recruit board where everyone was doing pretty much the same thing as me.  It was easy to chat with people when I had life experiences that could actually help another newbie.  Here, I'm in training.  I'm looking to learn as much as I can from folks who have made fitness and healthy eating a lifestyle.

 

Anyway, my main measurable goal is weight loss.  Despite its faults, I accept the scale as a guide through this journey.  Beyond the scale, though, are the more important abstract goals of gaining energy, strength, and confidence.  The photo in my profile is a reminder to myself of the healthier me that I once was.  I am determined to feel at least as spunky and confident as I did when I was 25.  Older and grayer is ok, but there's no reason for me to be sluggish and overweight.

 

Enough already.  Lets get this challenge underway!

 

Goal 1 - Build Strength in my Knees.  

I will do my physical therapy exercises along with my usual cool down routine five days a week.  4 CON

I experienced a setback last challenge where my knees refused to do their job.  I had overdone things and really paid for it.  I'm still hobbling around a bit, especially on stairs.  So, I want to focus on exercises that will be good for my knees.  My general workout routine is cardio on MWF and level 1 NF bodyweight on TTh.  Since I now have a dedicated time during my weekday to stretch I will add the PT exercises during this time.

 

Goal 2 - Community Service

I will find something helpful to say on the challenge forums at least 3 days a week.  2 STA, 2 CHA

I'm not a naturally chatty person, so I need to make sure I'm making an effort to become involved here in this challenge.  This is key to me sticking with my main goals.  It's too easy to walk away when there is no connection or accountability.  Don't ask me how I know this  .  I'm 40-something!  There have been many healthy living attempts in the past five years which didn't stick.

 

Goal 3 - Healthy Eating

I will lose a pound a week using my healthy habits checklist 5 CON

 

I am not (yet) sold on all of the NF diet guidelines.  I am sold, however, on eating lots of vegetables and less processed junk.  So, my checklist includes fruits and/or vegetables with meals, and limiting snacks to fruits and vegetables.  It also includes mindfulness with portion size and daily exercise.  I journal my foods daily, and keep track of my healthy habits.  I earn prizes for every five days where I ace the checklist.  That way I reward myself for good behavior, and the scale takes care of itself.

 

Life Goal - Active, Creative, and Helpful Kids

I will put a system in place to ensure boys do one thing active, creative, and helpful every weekday this summer. 1 WIS, 1 CHA

Summertime needs a plan in my house.  I have two boys aged 7 and 10, and I work from home in the morning.  The boys use this morning time for nonstop screens.  Last year we had a plan in place for summer activities which started out strong, and then slipped.  This year, I'm going to do a better job enforcing goal setting and achievement.  First of all, we have pool passes which I intend to use EVERY DAY.  Also, if one day's goals are not completed, there will be no screens the following morning until they are.  Finally, time outside of the designated morning screens  will be screen-less.  Exceptions will only be made by written proposals for projects that are deemed active, creative, or helpful.

 

I'm ready.  Let the challenge begin!

[jennilovesryan]

*insert fellow newbie ranger high five here* you got this!

[shaar]

Hooray, welcome to the Rangers guild!!  It's a great place to be!

 

Your goals look well thought out and smart.  Good for you for paying attention to your body and healing that knee up fast!  Nothing like a painful joint to literally knock the wind out of your workouts...

 

Mmmm pool pass, yes, definitely make good use of that!

[DarK_RaideR]

A wise man once said, "The more you put into this community, the more you get out of it in return". For your community service quest, I recommend you browse some challenge threads to say hi or drop by certain populated places (General Chat, Mini Challenges, shaarawy's thread, accountability groups etc). You'd be surprised at how quickly people will check out your challenge thread in return, forming connections that will keep you coming back, keep you interested and accountable

[Xena]

Hey there suzyq and Welcome!

 

What DR says is very true. It's also nice to try to find quieter threads on the forum where someone might just need a little encouragment. (but it's a little easy to get overwhelmed by the volume of the forum. You don't have to be everywhere).

 

Regarding diet, I think you mean the various recommendations in the articles Steve writes (?). While this is his site, and lots of people find his articles and other stuff helpful, he also writes that everyone needs to make their own decision and figure out what works for them. Lots of people on this site eat Paleo (or Paleo-ish). Other people try out "the Whole 30", weight watchers, or intermittent fasting. Some are vegetarian or just trying to eat more vegetables. Some have very fancy dietary guildelines along the lines of "try to eat less crap." If you do have a dietary goal in mind, people will be supportive of your efforts.

 

Regarding mindful eating, I could point you toward Terra and Roxy, who tend to have similar goals.

[suzyQlou]

...

Regarding diet, I think you mean the various recommendations in the articles Steve writes (?). While this is his site, and lots of people find his articles and other stuff helpful, he also writes that everyone needs to make their own decision and figure out what works for them. Lots of people on this site eat Paleo (or Paleo-ish). Other people try out "the Whole 30", weight watchers, or intermittent fasting. Some are vegetarian or just trying to eat more vegetables. Some have very fancy dietary guildelines along the lines of "try to eat less crap." If you do have a dietary goal in mind, people will be supportive of your efforts.

 

Regarding mindful eating, I could point you toward Terra and Roxy, who tend to have similar goals.

 

The NF diet I'm thinking about is in the Academy.  I'm at a level 3, and really have no interest in giving up my breakfast.  So, yeah.  I'm in the land of finding out what works for me.  I lived weight watchers in a previous life.  I find if I start there, and prefer whole foods over boxed foods, I like the result.  The rebel community has been very supportive of all the diet related changes I'm working on.  I love it!  Thanks for pointing me towards Terra and Roxy.  I'm following them, and look forward to stealing ideas from them for my own healthy eating!

[RoxyFreefall]

Great solid goals. I will be following along. Do you track calories or anything? Just wondering how you keep portions down. I have never been good at keeping control without counting calories and measuring portions.

[suzyQlou]

Well, I don't really count every single calorie.  For new foods, I'll look at the calories, estimate the WW points and decide how much (if any) of it is is "worth it" to eat.  I'm trying to find something that is sustainable for a lifetime.  I can see value in jotting down the foods I eat, but doing all the math all the time feels like a chore to me.

 

Portion control for me is a bit of a joke.  I started out at 211 pounds.  To actually get to that weight, I was finishing up my kids' dinners and eating seconds at dinner.  So, portion control for me is just trying to eat more like a normal human being.  One plate of food is enough (duh!).  

 

I'm a bit of a Stephanie Plum junkie, and I always hear her in my head when I think of portion control.  In one of the books, Lulu goes on a diet where she eats one of everything.  One donut, one large order of fries, one banana split.  But she draws the line at pork chops.  "No one can eat just one pork chop," she says.  But then she asks Stephanie how many pork chops she eats and is amazed to hear the answer is one.  Yeah, that's normal.  If I think about it, I know that one pork chop is enough.

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

Great challenge goals.

 

You were a HUGE help to me during our recruit challenge; your enthusiasm and positivity were awesome!  And it was your comment that got me working my way down the stairs on my push ups. 

 

I am cheering you on - you are going to beast these 6 weeks!

[suzyQlou]

Getting started today, and very excited about it!

 

Goal 1 - Build Strength in my Knees - Do physical therapy exercises five times a week.

A funny thing happened on the way to the basement last night.  I found the ankle weights and the resistance band from my old PT exercises, but no list of exercises.  Oops.  I need to put together a new plan for knee exercises.  Some I remember, but some I'll have to look up.  I should have a plan by mid week.

 

Goal 2 - Community Service - Post on the challenge forums at least 3 days a week.

I'm subscribed to a few threads, posted a bunch last week, and feeling positive vibes for the coming week.

 

Goal 3 - Healthy Eating - Lose a pound a week. start: 194.5 goal: 188.5

I saw a new low weight on the scale this morning (down 5.5 pounds since the end of last challenge!).  This is unusual for me for a Monday morning, and I'll have to really stay on track to lose another pound this week.  Nothing like raising the bar on the very first day!

 

Life Goal - Active, Creative, and Helpful Kids - kids are active, creative, and helpful

Off to a great start.  There is nothing in this world like coming back from my morning run to the sound of my 7 year old playing the piano and the smell of my 10 year old making coffee.  I love it!

 

Bonus:  This morning's run time was 11:42 which was my goal for last challenge (before the knee problem).  Makes me feel good!

[Terra]

suzyQlou - Thanks for the follow!  I'll follow ya back so we can keep up with each other.  Your goals are a lot like mine and it will be great to quest along side of others in the same boat.  

[suzyQlou]

Miracle of miracles, I found my knee exercises last night.  Who would have guessed that I was organized enough to file them in my "Medical" folder back in 2010.  Yeah!  I worked through them this morning, and they felt good.  They took longer than I remembered, though.  Good thing I have this challenge on the books.  It will motivate me to make time.

[Terra]

Its so hard when the only exercise you can do are physical therapy type of things.  Sounds like a WIN!  

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

 

Bonus:  This morning's run time was 11:42 which was my goal for last challenge (before the knee problem).  Makes me feel good!

 

You should feel good!  GO YOU!

[Knightwatch]

Great goals, and sounds like you're off to a good start!  

[Suzaqu]

I'm loving your goals! And way to work on making them happen! Doesn't it feel good when "past you" makes it easier for "current you" to get stuff done. Usually I leave stuff for "future Suzaqu" to worry about. I love your goal of staying involved in the community especially, that's something that I want to work on too. It's so easy just to stay in your own thread. You did such a good job supporting me and others when we were recruits, I'm sure you'll have no trouble doing it now! 

[Viscura]

Also a first time ranger. I think my thread needs more cool pictures, seems to be what all the kids are doing

 

I can't imagine how hard it is to keep to healthy goals over the holidays, a worthy challenge. Which you can totally rock!

[suzyQlou]

Ha!  Cool pictures.  I'm a nerd of the academic, math major variety.  You have no idea how un-cool I feel looking for images to try and fit in with the rest of the Ranger crew.  I think it's harder than the push ups!

 

Welcome along, Viscura.  I'm loving the Rangers so far.  So much to be inspired by and aspire towards.  Hope you enjoy the ride here in the den, too!

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

Ha!  Cool pictures.  I'm a nerd of the academic, math major variety.  You have no idea how un-cool  awesome I feel am looking for images to try and fit in bringing my mad math skills to fit in with the the Ranger crew. 

(I fixed that for you.) 

 

As for gifs?  Here you go:

 

 

 

 

Or:

 

Or my favorite:

 

I'm not going to lie and pretend that I don't laugh out loud every time I see these. 

[weaver]

Ahhh, you did awesome between challenges! And you'll do awesome during this one, too!

[suzyQlou]

Ha!  Cool pictures.  I'm a nerd of the academic, math major variety.  You have no idea how un-cool  awesome I feel am looking for images to try and fit in bringing my mad math skills to fit in with the the Ranger crew. 

 

(I fixed that for you.) 

 

 

Oh, Emerald_Dragonfly.  You have totally MADE my week.  Thank you so much for making me laugh with real math nerd humor!  That's exactly what I needed.  Your challenge's Monty Python theme is so perfect for these boards. I'm loving the humor over there, and I'm so glad you can consider my smiling radish anything but "un-cool"   .  Even with the math gifs, I must admit that I like the silly smiling ones:

 

[Peace]

Haha Love the gifs!

[suzyQlou]

Week one results - It was a great week personally, but not so great for my main goal and the challenge.

 

Goal 1 - Build Strength in my Knees - Do physical therapy exercises five times a week. Pass

Got a late start, but found everything I needed and made up for missing Monday with a Sunday session.  It's still early to tell if these exercises are doing any good, but they can't hurt!

 

Goal 2 - Community Service - Post on the challenge forums at least 3 days a week.  Pass

Umm, yeah.  I am still nice and obsessed with the forums.  Everyone here is so gosh darn supportive!

 

Goal 3 - Healthy Eating - Lose a pound a week. start: 194.5 goal: 188.5 This week: 198.  Fail

I wish I could blame all the weight on last week's low start and the general stupidity of a scale.  But, alas.  I claimed only two perfect days on my checklist.  I figure it's about 2.5 pounds of the scale's fault and one of my own.

 

The summer "routine" is a bit brutal.  There were only small infringements during the week, but they add up.  Kid-powered home-baked cookies (I had just one!), a beer to get me through a drum-set powered kid concert (really needed that one!), no salad pre-prepped at lunchtime because I've lost the routine of packing school lunches (oops!), emergency dinner out with the boys as hungry tempers rose between errands (I had a salad, but it came with bread!).

 

Oh, and then there was Saturday.  My brothers came over and we built the first phase of our tree house.  It was an awesome experience, all around.  Well, except for the healthy eating.  One brother is a vegetarian, and that stumps me a bit for fast make-ahead meals.  Normally, I would put BBQ or something similar in the crockpot, but that didn't work here.  So, we ordered pizza which everyone could eat, but was healthy for no one.  I did serve salad with the pizza, and it wasn't all bad.  And I had fresh fruit on hand.  But I also made fresh-baked blueberry muffins and a family favorite lemon fluff dessert.  So the things that were quick to grab when we were over-tired and over-hungry were not great choices.

 

The upcoming week is looking a bit challenging, too.  I'll be at Cub Scout camp with my youngest son for a couple days.  So that means plenty of hiking and outdoor healthiness.  But it also means that I'll be eating the grub at the mess hall, whatever that might be.  I'm going to have to be extra diligent on the "normal" days of the week so I don't slip into bad habits.

 

Life Goal - Active, Creative, and Helpful Kids - Whiteboard plan-for-the-day and screen rule enforcement.  Pass

I couldn't have asked for a better first week of summer.  We went swimming 3 out of 5 days!  We spent the other days with friends.  And we got the regular house chores done, too.  It is really hard to say "Screens are off" because of the uproar.  But once I do say it (and after the storm of complaining) active, creative things happen.

 

[Terra]

Quick eating it hard.  I often find myself opting out of the food everyone else is eating because it just isn't what I want to eat.  Its hard when no one else eats that same way you do.  On top of that my family is pretty picky (including the hubby!) so I've finally found that I just have to say "No thanks, I'll just eat something else" and dig into my stash of Tanka protein bars and find a fruit or veggie.  

 

Sounds like you hare having a great summer with your boys! (two boys right???)  

 

PS: loving the math humor!  it tickles the engineer in me!  

[RoxyFreefall]

Finding the right choices is hard. But you are doing great at dealing with the situations at hand and keeping things under control.