Osla starts fresh

[Osla]

I'm not entirely new to the challenge realm, but I feel like I need a completely fresh start.
I'm a 36 year old hair dresser living in Virginia. I'm married with two pretty cool daughters and I'm less than a year away from finishing my degree in elementary education.
I've let being uncomfortable with my weight take over my life for a while now. I intend to break the cycle.

Main Quest:
Land in healthy weight parameters (for my height the range is 113-140)

Quest 1: 10,000 steps per day tracked using my fitbit charge. (I've gone thru a lot of trackers and struggle with consistency as far as wearing them and utilizing them)

Quest 2: Drink 64 ounces of water each day (track using myfitpal)

Quest 3: Eat breakfast every morning. (I gave a bad habit of skipping breakfast and I know this leads to overeating throughout the day.)

Side quest: Put 1/3 of each weeks tips into savings account.

[Melissa Louise]

Hello!

 

I really admire your 10,000 steps goal, that's a lot of movement.  How do you plan to break the habit of skipping breakfast?  Would you eat something easy if it was already prepared and could be grabbed on your way out the door?

[Osla]

Hey Melissa,

I have to just make myself eat something, really. I don't know if having something prepped in advance would help but it sounds like a solid idea. I'm lucky that I only work 4 days a week and only one of those starts early in the morning. But I wake up with my girls every morning to see them off to school, and tend to just not eat until I'm starving. For the past two days though I've eaten breakfast within an hour of being awake so progress before the challenge starts.

On a good day at the salon, I've hit 10k before 4pm. On a slow day we sit and stare at each other. On my days off.... the sofa beckons me.

[trawlerman]

Hi Osla,

I'm also trying for a consistent 10,000+ a day! Good luck to you!

[Melissa Louise]

That sofa is such a jerk.  Mine is pretty mouthy, too, always wanting to snuggle. 

 

I'd experiment with a few different breakfast recipes to see what works for you.  You could try preparing something easy ahead of time, like sausage egg cups, or you might turn out to be more of a banana+milk or protein shake kind of person.  The important thing is to try a few things when you have the time to determine what you would actually be willing to eat in the morning.  It's ok if you don't want to cook in the morning, it's easy to prep stuff ahead of time.

[awesomesue]

Pretty exciting to be so close to finishing your degree.  Your challenge sounds great and definitely setting you in a good direction in breaking the cycle.  Are you able to work on eating breakfast with your daughters?

[Osla]

Awesome, I could definitel try - they are out the house so early for the buses to school though that I'm afraid my stomach simply isn't awake then!

[Osla]

Day 1 and I am SO excited. I worked on my goals since Wednesday to see which would cause me to trip up. Seems breakfast and water. Since Wednesday there was only one day that I didn't get at least 10k steps and I blame a slight hangover for that.

[awesomesue]

Week 0 is a great time to tweak out goals.  Breakfast is trial and error.  My husband goes for dinner type items more at breakfast.  You never know what will work.  Try making things you can drink.  I blend spinach, ginger (powder or fresh), and pineapple with ice and water (yep I have used canned pineapple) sometimes.

[saturnreturn]

Your post resonated with me for several reasons - I too am not new to 6WC, but am seeking a fresh start. I have a one-year-old daughter and am planning to go back to school in the spring, to satisfy some of the prereqs needed to apply for entry into an Accelerated Nursing program. Based on how many prereqs I need and the length of the nursing programs I've researched, I'll be graduating around 36 as well - so it's kind of like you're my spirit sister!

 

It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on most of your goals. For the breakfast challenge, maybe try some light fruits first, and see how your stomach handles them? Bananas and melons are typically my go-tos for early mornings. I too have to be awake for awhile before I can stomach anything more substantial, but I've found that bananas, honeydew or cantaloupe with cottage cheese hit the spot! 

[Osla]

Saturn, I think you're right. I think soft or bland fruits/foods in the morning will be the clincher for me for sure. I love that you're going back to school around the same age I did. It is harder, certainly. I fervently wish I had finished this a long time ago but this seemed to be when it was meant to happen. You do appreciate the opportunity to advance yourself and your brain when you're older I believe - but I suppose that's just because I already am.

[saturnreturn]

Hi Osla! How's your challenge going so far?

[awesomesue]

Hope the challenge has been going well so far!

[Blaidd]

I'm also going back to school later in life (i will be 36 when i graduate with my honours), and feel more prepared now than i was at 18 to go to school. So i feel you. 

 

You might notice that someone has added a tag to your post.  This is not to box you into a corner but rather because your goals or lifestyle have links to the guild you've been tagged and we'd like to bring you to the attention of one of their guild ambassadors. These ambassadors will be able to offer you advice, encouragement and support on your goals.  You don't even have to wait around for them to come introduce themselves to you, you are more than welcome to pop into the Adventurers' board and introduce yourself to the guildies there. I am also around to answer any questions that you might have so do not hesitate to PM me.

 

Good Luck with your challenge

AB xx

[Osla]

I have really had an up and down week. I started off well, but it has been a constant battle to get in the damned water. I have successfully had breakfast every day of my challenge so far, and if I didn't hit 10k it was terribly close. More than once I walked in place while watching tv to hit 10k if I was short. Water though... I don't know if I have had a glass of pure water in days. I can't seem to drink more than a sip here and there. I cannot keep water on my station at work, so if I am involved in a color it could be quite a while before I get to the back to get a sip. I'm pretty frustrated with my water and I am not sure if I should tweak the quest to include water but not require such a large amount since that seems unrealistic and unattainable for me currently.

[Luciana Valerosa Culming]

I have really had an up and down week. I started off well, but it has been a constant battle to get in the damned water. I have successfully had breakfast every day of my challenge so far, and if I didn't hit 10k it was terribly close. More than once I walked in place while watching tv to hit 10k if I was short. Water though... I don't know if I have had a glass of pure water in days. I can't seem to drink more than a sip here and there. I cannot keep water on my station at work, so if I am involved in a color it could be quite a while before I get to the back to get a sip. I'm pretty frustrated with my water and I am not sure if I should tweak the quest to include water but not require such a large amount since that seems unrealistic and unattainable for me currently.

Perhaps it would help to have a bottle next to you, when you are working. Just try to take a sip every few minutes and you'll empty it after a few hours. Perhaps start with a small bottle for week two and try to get a bigger one, when you can drink the small one with ease. Small sips are ok. It's wven better than drinking a lot at once and not drinking anything the rest of the day. Because in half an hour we can only work with 0,25l and the rest will just go to waist. So constantly drinking little will help you, too. Just don't give up.

Or perhaps if you don't like water. I got myself drinking more with tea. I have a big tea pot and make myself three tea pots of tea a day on good days. It sits on my desk and reminds me to get myself a cup from time to time. And it looks nice

Good luck. I hope you find something, that works for you.

[Osla]

Last day of this week and I feel alright. I am going to approach tomorrow with a bit more effort at drinking water, but I will not beat myself up if I fall short of 64 ounces. Water consumption was just not there this week Attempted each day D.

I did amaaahzing and ate breakfast every day! Wow, that is huge for me - 7/7 A+!

I believe I only fell short of 10k two times - so I am considering 5/7  B+.

 

Tomorrow's weather looks promising until late afternoon when I was supposed to be going out to a lovely horse stable. I am hoping the weather holds off but if it does not - my movement plan is to clean this danged house from top to bottom.

[Gelderich]

Hey,

      Saw your problem with drinking water and wanted to offer some alternatives, I've run into the issue of drinking plain water getting kinda old after a while. I got around it by essentially infusing my water with different flavors. I have an insulated bottle that holds 18 oz. and will keep it near me to drink from all day. But the real trick is that my wife and I will mix up what we call (green water) where we puree, skins and all, half a cucumber, half a lemon, quarter size cube of ginger, and 8 mint leaves; pour into a gallon jug with water keep in the fridge and that makes a concentrate. Dilute to your taste preference, it's healthier than most flavored water you would buy at the store and makes it easier than drinking plain water. Another option if you like fruity drinks is to freeze some freshly sliced strawberries or kiwi and drop them into your water bottle, it will keep the water cold and give it a fruity flavor. If I am in a hurry I will just squeeze a few squirts of lemon juice into my water but I kinda like the tart and sour things to it works for me.

 

Good Luck on your Second Week!!

[Osla]

New week, woo woo.

[awesomesue]

Hey,

      Saw your problem with drinking water and wanted to offer some alternatives, I've run into the issue of drinking plain water getting kinda old after a while. I got around it by essentially infusing my water with different flavors. I have an insulated bottle that holds 18 oz. and will keep it near me to drink from all day. But the real trick is that my wife and I will mix up what we call (green water) where we puree, skins and all, half a cucumber, half a lemon, quarter size cube of ginger, and 8 mint leaves; pour into a gallon jug with water keep in the fridge and that makes a concentrate. Dilute to your taste preference, it's healthier than most flavored water you would buy at the store and makes it easier than drinking plain water. Another option if you like fruity drinks is to freeze some freshly sliced strawberries or kiwi and drop them into your water bottle, it will keep the water cold and give it a fruity flavor. If I am in a hurry I will just squeeze a few squirts of lemon juice into my water but I kinda like the tart and sour things to it works for me.

 

Good Luck on your Second Week!!

That sounds amazing!  I do cucumbers and lemons but not together and ginger...yum!  I drink a tea of just ginger (and I do eat the bits at the bottom of the cup) and lemon.  Great hot drink.  

[Osla]

I've been considering getting one of those infusion cups, but now that I read about juicing I may not need one. We have a really nice Breville juicer. I never thought about juicing to use as a concentrate to add to my water. I am definitely going to try that tomorrow with the bit of fruit we have left. We have a bad habit of buying a heap of fruit with all intentions of juicing it - and then 2/3 of it goes to waste. I did see that you puree yours for your own concoction - I think I will try it both ways.

I really appreciate all the suggestions for getting in water. I drank 1 glass of regular water today and 2 glasses of tea. Progress, and all that.

[Osla]

So, Wednesdays are my Mondays. I should explain, I'm off work on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I consider that my weekend. Anyway, I am sitting here with zero motivation to get ready for work and I need to leave in 45 minutes. Ugh.

I have my water ready to take though, and if no one snagged it I have turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes left from last night.

[kbowden]

Mondays (or Wednesdays in your case lol) really do suck! But, if you can muster up the strength to workout at some point on Monday (Wednesday) it sets a goal for the rest of your week! You CAN do this!!

[trawlerman]

It's Friday (is that your Wednesday/Humpday?). Here's to hoping that you've been wildly successful in your goals and that you're ready to tackle the weekend fully hydrated!! :-)

[awesomesue]

We have a juicer too although we save the pulp for things.  LOL  Any way if you buy stuff to juice but you do not juice enough try having a bit of prep time where you get all your juices done.  Freeze it in ice cube trays and then dump in freezer bags.  You can use those to toss into your water.  I do that and add chia sees too for fun drinks.  I know it is a different idea of fun.  If you juice too much to freeze while doing house work freeze what you can and keep the rest in the fridge.  Set a timer to check the ice cube trays so you can keep the process moving.