LadyShello Comes Full Circle - Nerdversary

[Shello]

It's official.  I have completed one whole year of challenges.  It is time for a Nerdversary.

 

 

I have had resounding success.  I've lost 80 pounds, improved many habits, and made the most excellent of friends.   I have, however, been struggling the last few challenges.  All challenges are successes if you keep coming back for more and you learn something from them.  So this challenge I want to make sure I act on the lessons learned.  

 

• I chronically underestimate myself
• Developing good habits do not mean the bad habits are gone.  They lurk.
• Being too restrictive on calories or restricting too long may not lead to success
• I need to push myself more
• But I also have to be patient and live by the slow and steady mantra.  

 

I also feel like I have not been as committed to my goals as I was in the beginning.  I love the hyped up energy and extra motivation at the beginning of each challenge but none seem to match the first couple.

 

The best way to share some of the attitudes from the first challenge and address these lessons is to revisit that first challenge. So this challenge I will be shadowing my original challenge but modifying it to my current level.  I am hoping this not only brings attention to how far I've come but also keeps me from forgetting how much I can push myself to accomplish more.  All the while believing that I don't have to rush because a whole year passed by and all those fails and slips still got me here.   

 

Goal 1: Find the Tardis

One year ago my goal was to walk 5K three times a week.  I had to work up to that too.  I started walking a mile and half and hated how tired I was from that. I will be running my first official 5K at the end of week 5 of this challenge.  I may not be fast and I may not be able to run the entire distance but the thought of running last year was not even a possibility.  

 

For this challenge I will train for the 5K three times a week.  Scoring is based on the number of times a week but I will also be tracking a calculated 5K time.  At the end of each day's training I'll extrapolate the average speed to calculate a full 5K time - unless I actually run 5K then I'll use the actual time.  We did just buy new bikes for the family this week so I want to include some rides.  I will allow 1 substitution a week but no more than that.  

 

+3 STA, +1 DEX

 

Goal 2: Sonic Screwdriver

In my first challenge I was doing the Angry Birds Workout and the goal was to do 15 during the course of the challenge.  This works out well since it can be scaled.  But I also have some PT exercises to work on. In my last challenge I only did my PT and my strength suffered.  I need to be easy on upper body but I can work on core and lower body.  I will try Angry Birds once just to remind myself of my improvement. 

 

For this challenge my goal is to train 17 times.  I would like to workout 3 times a week but I'll allow one free pass. This includes PT exercises and then either a lower body or core workout from Neila Rey.  

 

+2 STR, +2 DEX

 

Goal 3: CICO

3a:This is an added goal for this challenge.  In my first challenge I was working on making better choices but I didn't make it a goal.  I have had many food goals in other challenges and some without.  I have learned that I am not ready to remove the training wheels.  I need this to be something trackable and scorable.  However I have been too restrictive in the past and recently this has led to overeating at the slightest excuse.   I recently got a fitness tracker, the UP2.  I've been keeping an eye on the calories out calculations and I'd like to use that to at least maintain a deficit.  This will allow me more calories per day so I won't feel so restrictive but at the same time there is a limit.  

 

Calories out will be calculated using my UP2.  According to my research, the UP2 has about 15% variance. To err on the side of losing weight I will assume it overestimates so I will be using 85% of the calories burned as my calculated TDEE.  

Calories in will be calculated using MFP.  I have been tracking for several challenges now but this time I will try to be more precise, given the constraints of using MFP.

 

+1 WIS, +1 CON

 

3b: I don't particularly buy in to the carbs are the devil drama but I do know that I am more successful with fat loss by limiting my carbs.  This is probably particularly beneficial to me since the carbs I like are the processed ones.  And I have a tendency to abuse potatoes and have lost most privileges.  I will also be tracking carbs as a percent of total calories.  I would like to keep my calories from carbs under 30-35%.  I am hoping this works better than tracking actual grams since I will be teaching myself to allow more calories in a healthy way.  

 

+2 CON

 

BOSS LEVEL

I started my NF journey right about the time my family met up for our annual meet up at the Minnesota State Fair.  At the time I really struggled with food choices and I had concerns about getting derailed at the beginning of my journey.  I feel pretty confident now that I won't be completely derailed by this event though I will probably backslide a little.  However, this year I will be running my 5K at the fair, in the morning of the first day.  Food choices at the fair will be easier since many of the junky fried and super sweet foods don't sound good anymore or I am aware of how terrible they will make me feel.  I am not really into feeling terrible.  But on the other hand, I don't want running the 5K to make me feel like I have a free pass.  Well, registration did come with a free coupon for a malt... but I will probably need to share that.  For this Boss Level I just want to remember mindful eating and remember my lessons since the last time.  

 

As with any game you play over again, I am expecting it to be easier to defeat the boss this time around.  I have learned it's tricks and patterns and I will be ready to defeat it.  

 

+1 WIS

 

Life Quest: Money, Moola, clams, bucks, greenbacks, loot

This summer we have been bleeding money.  It's time for a transfusion.  I plan to stick to the budgeted saving plan during the course of the challenge.  That's about $300.  

 

+2 CHA

[Shello]

Reserved for Spreadsheet of epicness

 

[Shello]

reserved for random ravings and reflections...

 

 

 

DareBee core workouts to be tried during challenge

Bruce Lee abs

Rocky abs

Ripley

 

 

Feats for the Ranger mini

Name: LadyShello

Height: 5'3"

Weight: 115

Race: Hengeyokai

Class: Ranger Assassin

 

• Endurance Feat - Run for 10 min continuously

• Strength Feat - Rock Wall climbing.  Attempt route at least 3 times

• Speed Feat - Sprint Work.  Include four 100m sprints on 1 run for the week

• Combat Feat - Attend shadowboxing cardio class at the gym

• Healing Feat - Check in on challenges for 3 fellow rangers I don't already follow

 

[ninjakitten]

Can't wait for the epic spreadsheets! (And omg, 80lbs pounds? You're my hero.)

[Snarkyfishguts]

Yay! You've had some awesome success! It sounds like you've really figured out what works for you, where you can challenge yourself and where you can let up. *high five*

[Presea]

Love how you're mirroring your first challenge - it's awesome to see how far you've come in a relatively short amount of time!

[Shello]

Yay! You've had some awesome success! It sounds like you've really figured out what works for you, where you can challenge yourself and where you can let up. *high five*

 

You'd think.  

 

[Shello]

Can't wait for the epic spreadsheets! (And omg, 80lbs pounds? You're my hero.)

 

Thanks.  I am trying to focus on the positive rather than where I thought I would be.  It also helps me to be appreciative for what I have now.  

 

The spreadsheets are finally all done but all the photo hosting sites are blocked so I have to wait until I get home....  

 

 

Love how you're mirroring your first challenge - it's awesome to see how far you've come in a relatively short amount of time!

 

Thanks.  I was planning on going in a completely different direction but after evaluating last challenge and my lessons learned it just seemed the best choice.  Especially with another trip to the fair with the 5K.  

[Sloth the Enduring]

This is cool; I love the idea of comparing yourself to your first challenge.

[our.lady.of.ashes]

Awesome challenge. Full circle it is. I see you doing quite well.

[spooky]

Love that you're mirroring your first challenge! I think this is such a great idea for the very reason you mentioned, that you will really get to see how far you've come.

 

Also 80 lbs!!!!! that is like....an entire pre-teen!!! You are a rockstar, and I KNOW you are going to crush this challenge and show yourself how much progress you've made over the past year! I mean, come on, you're running a bleeping 5k! 

 

Superstar Shello!!!

[Evicious]

Wow, you have made some EXCELLENT progress! I also love your "lessons learned" - I can apply all of them to myself, too.

[Terah]

I love your goals and the way you reflect on your first challenge. You've come a long way

I'm just missing something: the way I read your post you are very hard on yourself. Maybe you can put a little self love in your challenge? Like giving yourself compliments before a mirror, or reading positive affirmations, or a pamper session once or twice a week?

Remember:

[deftona]

I love this challenge, and especially how you're running the 5K this year - if that isn't evidence of how far you've come, I don't know what is!

 

Here's to the rest of Ariana Grande! 

[Shello]

I love this challenge, and especially how you're running the 5K this year - if that isn't evidence of how far you've come, I don't know what is!

 

Here's to the rest of Ariana Grande! 

 

That's right.  I'm tired of her and her stupid leg.  Be gone with it!  

[Shello]

Spreadsheets are posted.  They might look very similar to some of you.  Legend has it that these spreadsheets of epicness possess fat loss mojo.  Hopefully I have not violated any copyright laws.  

[Aces3000]

Found and subbed. Such a great challenge. It occurs to me that it's been a year for me, too. I think I'll follow your lead and look back at my first challenge also. Can't wait to follow your progress and recapture some of the motivation I had a year ago!

[DrFeelgood]

 

Pretty spreadsheet.  I love the needle gauge.

[Shello]

Love that you're mirroring your first challenge! I think this is such a great idea for the very reason you mentioned, that you will really get to see how far you've come.

 

Also 80 lbs!!!!! that is like....an entire pre-teen!!! You are a rockstar, and I KNOW you are going to crush this challenge and show yourself how much progress you've made over the past year! I mean, come on, you're running a bleeping 5k! 

 

Superstar Shello!!!

 

A pre-teen!  That's awesome.  

 

 

Wow, you have made some EXCELLENT progress! I also love your "lessons learned" - I can apply all of them to myself, too.

 

I suspect they apply to most of us here but yet they are not easy lessons to overcome.  Solidarity!

 

I love your goals and the way you reflect on your first challenge. You've come a long way

I'm just missing something: the way I read your post you are very hard on yourself. Maybe you can put a little self love in your challenge? Like giving yourself compliments before a mirror, or reading positive affirmations, or a pamper session once or twice a week?

Remember:

 

That's a great idea.  I was thinking of something like that before I decided to follow my first challenge.  I was inspired by spookyfoot's challenge with all the appreciation and positivity.  Perhaps I'll use it next challenge.  

[Shello]

Found and subbed. Such a great challenge. It occurs to me that it's been a year for me, too. I think I'll follow your lead and look back at my first challenge also. Can't wait to follow your progress and recapture some of the motivation I had a year ago!

 

That's right!  We both started in the Red Pill group as recruits together.  Happy Nerdversary!

 

 

Pretty spreadsheet.  I love the needle gauge.

 

Thanks.  I had to do something to make it my own.  Also - PURPLE!

[Shello]

Spreadsheets updated.  

 

I was a little worried about getting a deficit today.  It's not a cardio day but I went rock climbing for my strength workout today.  But I looked up a calorie calculator and it was a pretty decent burn.  Ended up with a deficit of almost 600 even though calories in were almost 1800.  It will take a bit to get used to eating so much.  But I was genuinely hungry too.  

 

I have a really hard time with rock climbing.  I still haven't made it to the top.  I did discover today that I am using more upper body to pull myself up rather than lower body to push.  I was going to try again but my arms were spent.  

 

Tomorrow will be a rough day.  I work half a day and then have to drive 10 hours to my brother's in North Dakota.  Maybe I'll do some sprints at some rest areas.  Between sitting most of the day and eating on the road that spells recipe for disaster.  

[Shello]

This is cool; I love the idea of comparing yourself to your first challenge.

 

Thanks.  It was a last minute inspiration.  Hopefully it is successful.  

[Aces3000]

That's right! We both started in the Red Pill group as recruits together. Happy Nerdversary!

Thanks!! By the way, I completely stole your idea for my challenge. I'm revisiting my first one also. Hope you don't mind me copying!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shello]

[quote name="Aces3000" post=That's right! We both started in the Red Pill group as recruits together. Happy Nerdversary!


Thanks!! By the way, I completely stole your idea for my challenge. I'm revisiting my first one also. Hope you don't mind me copying!



 

 

 

Go for it. We're all in this together. I can't wait to see your challenge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bearlee]

Let me know how you do on your trip to ND. I'm heading up that way in a week and any tips would be good. I'm heading to the Minot area, where are you going?

So now on top of training for 5Ks you're rock climbing also!? Awesome. Plus 80 pounds down. The Doctor sure knows how to pick his companions.