Zebarah's Random Challenge

[OrangeJorwell]

Failed before, yada yada yada.

 

That doesn't matter, because it's in the past. And you can either run from it or learn from it.

 

So onwards to this challenge, where I'm just going to use whatever images/gifs I think are appropriate. None of my goals really tie together, either. So this is my random challenge!

 

MAIN GOAL: Don't be the fat kid

-Everyone else in my main friend group is in rather good shape, except for me. I'm tired of being the fat one, so I'm going to try and lose enough that I can no longer call myself fat.

 

GOAL ONE: Run

-Run 3x per week

-Ultimate Goal: Run 5 miles straight by the end of the challenge

-Exception: Week 1 (I got sunburned really badly on Sunday and now it hurts to even walk. I'm hoping to still get two runs in this week, but I'm going to play it by ear)

-Background: I've run off and on for a few years, and towards the end of last year got to the point where I ran over 6 miles without stopping. Then I quit because it was cold, and now I'm back to barely being able to run a mile. I'm using Zombies, Run! 5k to get back to 3 miles, then I'll go back to the normal app after that.

 

 

GOAL TWO: Cook

-Cook at least one Paleo meal per week (I cook in batches, so it's at least three meals, usually four)

-Ultimate Goal: Eat 100% paleo during the week, whatever I want on weekends

-Background: I've gone back and forth with both eating paleo and eating nothing but garbage. So my compromise is to eat Paleo during the week and whatever I want on weekends.

 

 

GOAL THREE: Bend

-Squat for 5 minutes per day weeks 1 & 2, 10 for weeks 3 & 4, 15 for weeks 5 & 6

-Foam roll at least 5 days/week

-Ultimate Goal: Be able to be comfortable in the bottom of a squat

-Background: I have very poor mobility. Nowhere is it more obvious than in my squat, so I clearly need to work on that. Also, my calf has been bothering me while running, and I know I should foam roll more, but never do. So that's part of this now.

 

 

GOAL FOUR: Russian

-Listen to 5 Pimsleur lessons per week

-Background: I'm going to Russia at the end of September! I'm really excited about it, but don't know Russian. So I want to try and learn the basics of conversation. I'll also be doing a couple of other things when I can, like Memrise for extra vocab and Rosetta Stone. I also have a text book from which I'm going to try and learn a little bit of grammar.

-Ultimate Goal: Be able to speak enough Russian that I will be able to learn while I'm there, rather than just struggling. Or to drink with Putin. Whichever.

 

 

So that's it for now. Oh, and I'm going to own this challenge.

 

 

[Everstorm]

Nice goals and a trip to Russia sounds AMAZING! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

[OrangeJorwell]

So far so good with the challenge! I haven't run yet, as the burn is still rather uncomfortable, and I may be going out of town over the weekend, so I may skip week 1 for that goal. Again, I'm just playing it by ear. And if I'm going to spend a lot of time outside over the weekend, I should probably spend less time outside during the week. Or wear sunscreen, but I haven't done that since my mom forcibly made me when I was a small child, so forget that.

I made Cracklin' Chicken from Nom Nom Paleo on Tuesday. It was alright, but there was way too much salt in the recipe. It seemed like a lot when I was adding it, but I don't know cooking, so I trusted the recipe. Wrong move. I also haven't eaten any non-Paleo food since Sunday. Other than ghee, that is, which is called for in a lot of Paleo recipes. Which is weird, now that I think about it, since it's a milk product. Time to do some research. 

                              There were only two pictures on Google Images with this quote on them. Very disappointing.

 

 

 

I've done the squats and foam rolled Tuesday and Wednesday, and yesterday the squats were rough. I didn't think 5 minutes would be that bad, but by the end I was doing 20 second sets. My hips don't lie, and they were yelling about how much they wanted to kill me. 

 

                          And you thought this was going to be a Shakira gif

 

 

 

I've only done 1 Pimsleur lesson so far, but I did a little bit of Rosetta Stone, too. They work pretty well together, since there are some things in RS that I didn't get (grammar rules, mostly) that are actually explained in Pimsleur. I probably would have done more yesterday evening, but I got distracted by A Link to the Past. 4 days left in the week and 4 lessons to go. Works out perfectly.

 

Run           | 0/0 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 |

Cook         | 1/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 |

Squat        | 2/6 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 |

Foam Roll | 2/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 |

Russian    | 1/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 |

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Love the goals + gifs mix! And the Russian sounds fun! I loved learning Spanish. I actually lived in Spain for awhile and there is nothing better than being in-country to learn. How's that going? 

 

The fitness goals seem proper. Cooking at home is so important and something I am working on this challenge as well. 

 

Good luck with everything and keep us posted! 

 

Удачи! 

[Everstorm]

I share your antipathy for sunscreen...which is why I also sat out a week of running this spring after I sunburned my legs sitting poolside one afternoon. I recommend lots and lots of aloe.

[OrangeJorwell]

So last week I accomplished nothing for the challenge. I had a rough weekend (long story) and didn't get back to town until Tuesday, at which point I basically crashed and did nothing productive.  And then I went out of town again this weekend, so nothing got done. But that's no reason to quit, so I'm back at it this week. I'm going for a run after work today and then making my go-to meal for dinner tonight (chicken, broccoli, and asparagus stir fry). 

 

I never used any aloe, since I didn't want to buy a bunch only to use it once. I'm still peeling, but it stopped hurting a while ago. Russian is going half decently, and I actually have been working at it somewhat consistently, even if I haven't been doing the Pimsleur as much as I wanted. I got a schedule all set for my trip, with hotels booked, as well as a flight between Moscow and St. Petersburg. I got my invitation, so now I have to apply for the visa. I'll get that done tonight or tomorrow.

 

 

 

Run           | 0/0 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/3 |

Cook         | 1/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/1 |

Squat        | 3/6 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 | 0/7 |

Foam Roll | 3/5 | 1/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 |

Russian    | 2/5 | 2/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 |

[Everstorm]

Last week is over, and this week has just begun! You have the right attitude to just move on toward your goals this week. Go forth and conquer!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Nice work with the Russian. I know the visa is a pain but you'll manage fine and it will be worth it. 

 

I like that you're not going to quit. Even if you have two or three bad weeks, you can still have 3 good weeks. And 3 good weeks is better than 0 good weeks. 

 

Keep it up!