Honeybadger Becomes a Ranger- 2nd Challenge

[honeybadger]

Hey there,

 

I'm Honeybadger. I finished my first challenge and I am really excited to start the next 6 weeks. I have slacked off between challenges and have come to realize that I NEED the accountability the forum provides. My last challenge I accomplished my goal of getting back to running (my first fitness love). I built a solid foundation and increased my cardio workouts from 2-3 times per week to 3-4 weekly. I feel better and I am more satisfied with how I look (always a work in progress). I would like to build on the foundation I have established in my first challenge and incorporate diet and BW exercise goals for challenge #2. 

 

I will add more later about some of the challenges I anticipate with this challenge. I want to get my goals down and posted before GoT and I am running out of time....

 

I will continue to do at least 40min of cardio (running or spinning) at least 3-4x per week.

 

Main Quest 1:

Introduce BW exercises into workout.

 

Main Quest 2:

Begin to rehab diet.

 

Goals:

1. Do BW exercise at least 3x per week. My BW routine will include 3 sets of 10-15 reps of Push-up, squat, lunge and sit-up.

2. Keep daily food log with calories if possible

3. Zero candy for the entire challenge

4. Eat dessert no more than once a week for weeks 1 and 3-6. Week 2 eat no more than twice. 

 

I will elaborate after GoT

 

 

[DarK_RaideR]

So how's it going?

[honeybadger]

So how's it going?

 Thank you so much for checking in! So far so good with challenge 2. I am on track with my goals. I got two cardio workouts in (including my endurance feat of a 4.25 mile run) and one BW routine. I also bought a new speed rope today, yay! Double-unders here I come.

 

I am cautiously optimistic about my diet rehab. I have two weddings, a bridal shower and a week long vacation during this challenge so my diet goals will be hard at times. I tried to keep this in mind when writing my goals but I have a serious sweet tooth. My hope is that the extra accountability and support from my fellow Rangers will help me get through. 

[honeybadger]

Surrounded by candy today at work and was able to resist the temptation!! 

[Xena]

.

'..  running (my first fitness love)."
 

 

Proud to be your first subscriber. Would have subscribed for this ^^^ alone!

 

 

  I have a serious sweet tooth. My hope is that the extra accountability and support from my fellow Rangers will help me get through. 

 

Count me in. I know your pain.

[honeybadger]

Feeling extra Ranger-ly... I broke out my new speed rope today and worked in 2 minutes of practice between each BW exercise. I did 10 minutes total (with the welts to prove it)! My double-unders need work. Lots and lots of work.

[DarK_RaideR]

Proud of you

[Xena]

Extra ranger-ly is a good feeling!

[honeybadger]

I am happy to report that I met all my goals for the week!!!

 

Goals:

1. Do BW exercise at least 3x per week. My BW routine will include 3 sets of 10-15 reps of Push-up, squat, lunge and sit-up.

  BW exercise completed on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. I did my last set of ABs today because I forgot them last night. 

2. Keep daily food log with calories if possible

I kept a log of my food each day this week with calories when known. I also did my best to log foods for the wedding shower I attended today. This was tough because it was passed hors d'oeuvres.

3. Zero candy for the entire challenge

I'm very proud to report that met this goal. Especially after being mocked by the swedish fish and gummy bears at CVS earlier this week.

4. Eat dessert no more than once a week for weeks 1 and 3-6. Week 2 eat no more than twice. 

Also super proud that I met this goal. I had dessert today at the bridal shower 4 mini cupcakes (the equivalent of a full size cupcake) and 1/2 a cookie. 

 

I got 4 days of cardio in. 3 of them were at least 40 minutes. Today I did a quick workout only around 30 minutes (2 mile run with a cool down). I also weighed myself today and I am struggling because my weight is +1lb from the last time I weighed myself at the beginning of the last challenge. I have learned over the past few months that regular weigh-ins are tricky for me because I get very discouraged when there is an increase or no change. I will do my best to shake it off. Part of my motivation in keeping a food log is to identify how much my diet is contributing to my difficulty losing weight. 

 

Week 2 might be a bigger challenge. I am traveling to visit family and attend a wedding. There will be more temptations, less healthy food options and no access to a gym. Not to mention limited internet/cell phone coverage. I will be packing my running shoes and my jumprope... I should have no problem getting my BW workouts in but cardio will not be quite the same. I will have to run outside...which I hate (I am a diehard treadmill runner) and have a hard time running as far or for as long... but I'll make it work. 

[Xena]

I'm very proud to report that met this goal. Especially after being mocked by the swedish fish and gummy bears at CVS earlier this week.

Great job meeting all your goals. It really sounded like you had a fantastic week! I know it's not at all the same thing, but while you are traveling, even walking is better than nothing. If you will be staying in a hotel, will it have a mini-fridge? That's one way to try to at least get some healthy food. And/or could you bring a few healthy snacks with you?

[honeybadger]

Great job meeting all your goals. It really sounded like you had a fantastic week! I know it's not at all the same thing, but while you are traveling, even walking is better than nothing. If you will be staying in a hotel, will it have a mini-fridge? That's one way to try to at least get some healthy food. And/or could you bring a few healthy snacks with you?

I will be staying with family. The good: access to a fridge and kitchen. The bad: access to all variety of sweet treats. My plan is to bring as much of my healthy "normal" food with me as possible. Honestly, the most difficult part is willpower and not eating out of boredom (there is a great deal of down time). Thanks for reminding me that walking counts! I walk almost everyday when I'm there. I'll have no problem getting my cardio in. 

 

Thanks also for your support and encouragement!!

[honeybadger]

Sneakers, jumprope, ipod and healthy snacks all packed and ready to go. I am setting a diet goal for tomorrow: no fast food while on the road!! I have a 6-7 hour drive (solo) to grandpa's house and must resist the allure of rest stop junk food. 

[Xena]

Hope the trip went really well. You set a good goal for yourself!

[honeybadger]

Hope the trip went really well. You set a good goal for yourself!

 Things week 2 went better than expected considering vacation. I am actually not driving home until Thursday so my trip has spanned two chalenge weeks.

Goals for week 2:

1. BW rotine 3x. Done. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

2. Food log. Done 100% 4/7 days (M-Th). F-Sun most food logged but not all. Friday was a wedding and Sunday was a picnic hard to keep track of everything. While I ate a lot of different things I did not go overboard with indulging... still feeling a bit of a food hangover.

3. Zero candy. 100% compliant!!! The funny thing is I had a dream last night that I ate candy and then remembered that I was not supposed to.

4. Dessert 2x this week. This was a fail. I had 3 desserts this week. I feel ok about it. The interesting thing is that they did not feel as satisfying as they normally would. Almost too sweet and not yummy. Except for the homemade Rhubarb pie...that was totally worth it.

Bonus goal- No Fast Food On Drive. Done!!! McDonalds be damned. I snacked on nuts and fruit.

 

I was able to get all my cardio in. I did spin on Monday before taking off. While here I  walked for at least 45 min on Wednesday and Thursday. I went for a 2 mile run on Friday and ended up running 3+ miles and walking 2 (I am a poor judge of distance and direction). I also worked in jumprope 3 days for the mini-challenge.  

[Xena]

this sounds like huge success!

 

[honeybadger]

Sooooo... the wheels have come off the bus the past few days of vacation. Too many sweets and poor eating in general. Feeling a little down on myself about it but I will try to shake it off and start fresh tomorrow. I have done well with my other goals even while on vacation so I guess that's good. Still not a single piece of candy consumed!!!

 

It is really clear that diet is where I need to focus. I will have to do some reflecting about this. 

[Xena]

Shake it off!!

 

[honeybadger]

As I mentioned earlier, week 3 was a tough one for me. Heres what it looked like...

 

Goals for week 3:

1. BW rotine 3x. Done. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (with 2 exercises added for the mini-challenge).

2. Food log. Done 100% 3/7 days (M,Sa,Su). T and W most food logged but not all. Th and F 0% and these were my worst eating days. 

3. Zero candy. 100% compliant!!! Still!!!! I have no idea how I have pulled this one off but I did.

4. Dessert 2x this week. This was a fail. I still need to do some thinking about this goal in particular. 

Bonus goal- No Fast Food On Drive Home. Done!!! Even after knowing that I had already bungled my attempts at healthy eating for the past few days. 

 

I got 5 days of cardio in. Not super intense workouts but each one at least 40 minutes long. I also worked in some Jumprope (which I forgot to bring home). Off to Spin....

[Xena]

Sounds like you pulled off a pretty good week in the end.

[honeybadger]

This week is off to a better start food wise. I have allowed myself to eat frozen fruit bars as a sweet treat. Not sure if this violates my dessert goal but they are low cal (92 cal) and seem to help keep me from a sugar binge.

Exercise.... Finding it hard to motivate and get back into "normal" routine.

[honeybadger]

Did an interval run today. Planned on 40 minutes. Did 34. Wish I had pushed through...of course I am saying that a meal, shower and a few hours later.

I have been keeping up with my food log. No candy and frozen fruit bars only for dessert.

[honeybadger]

Week 4 update

I will continue to do at least 40min of cardio (running or spinning) at least 3-4x per week.

I was able to get 4 days of cardio in this week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Sunday's workout was an easy bike ride due to not feeling well for Friday and Saturday. I have been slacking in regards to running since vacation but will try to get 9 miles in this week.

 

I did not eat as well this weekend. Too many refined carbs. This was mainly due to my tummy being upset.

 

Goals:

1. Do BW exercise at least 3x per week. My BW routine will include 3 sets of 10-15 reps of Push-up, squat, lunge and sit-up.

I only managed to get 2 BW workouts in this week. Wednesday and Sunday. Planned on doing one on Friday but came down with a bit of a stomach bug.

2. Keep daily food log with calories if possible

7/7 days completed!!

3. Zero candy for the entire challenge

Success!!! Still no candy. Not even craving it.

4. Eat dessert no more than once a week for weeks 1 and 3-6. Week 2 eat no more than twice. 

I had ice cream on the 4 th but that was it. As I mentioned I had frozen fruit Popsicles throughout the week.

 

[DarK_RaideR]

3. Zero candy for the entire challenge

Success!!! Still no candy. Not even craving it.

Sounds like a habit has formed. Congratulations!

[Xena]

Great job on the cardio! Cutting a workout a little short isn't such a big deal. Sometimes if I push too far over my aerobic threshold, I really can't recover effectively. And sometimes on a long run I just can't hold a normal pace. Hard to know whether to just walk for a while or throw in the towel. For me, i guess it depends on the day and situation.

[honeybadger]

Great job on the cardio! Cutting a workout a little short isn't such a big deal. Sometimes if I push too far over my aerobic threshold, I really can't recover effectively. And sometimes on a long run I just can't hold a normal pace. Hard to know whether to just walk for a while or throw in the towel. For me, i guess it depends on the day and situation.

 Thanks!! I tend be hard on myself when cutting a workout short. Learning to tune into my body and differentiate between mental and physical block is an on going process.