LydiaJaybird Goes Back to Basics

[LydiaJaybird]

I did pretty decent last challenge, but I feel like I was getting pretty shaky on always getting in my runs, on always staying under my carb count, etc. So. For this challenge, I'm reinforcing the basics of my fitness instead of adding lots of new things to try to do. (well, imma add one new thing, but one is easier to do than three!) For anybody interested, my old challenge is here: http://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/73739-lydiajaybird-shakes-it-off/

 

 

Main Quest - Lose 6 Pounds

Since the challenges are shorter now, I've decided to cut my weight loss quest in half. Yes, I know, the challenge isn't 50% the length it used to be, but I never hit that 12 pounds during the six week ones, so this might be a more reasonable goal.

 

Goals

1. KCKO - Always stay below 50 carbs a day, but aim for below 25. (I don't want to lose points for having 30 carbs in a day, when you really only need to stay below 50 to keep in ketosis, but I still want to try to be below 25) Always stay below 1645 calories.

2. Get up & Go! - this one will be a combination of my old Rise & Shine and Exercise goals. I noticed that even when I woke up on time - I would just stay in bed. So this time, I need to not only get up (6am during the week, 9am on weekends), but get up and do my workout as well. (Run MWF, Aerial Silks class R, Pole + RLNA TSa) And of course, bedtime will be a part of this goal as well. 10pm weeknights, 1am weekend nights.

3. Get Flexy - I used to be super flexible. I miss that. So I'm going to start doing heavy stretching once a week (with photo documentation! wont see much of a difference during this challenge, but if I keep this up long-term I'll have a nice progression to look at) and stretch on my exercise days as well. 

 

Life Quest

Soul Health. I'm still job hunting, but given that this is a health/fitness place, I decided to focus on another type of health for my life quest. A type I've been neglecting - soul health! (mental health, but soul health is catchier) I want to start putting more time into playing piano and cross stitching. Every hour I spend on the arts is a point of extra credit.

 

Measurements

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 185.6

Waist: 30"

Hips: 42.5"

Thigh: 25.5"

I will put in all my measurements Monday morning.

 

Grading

Each goal will be graded weekly & be worth 1/3 of that week's total grade. Life Points are unlimited extra credit that can be added to my final score! My final grade will be the average of all four weeks plus my Life Goal extra credit. I need to make at least a B (80%) to pass the challenge.
KCKO - 1 point each day for meeting calories and another point for meeting carbs. Total points/Total possible for the weekly grade.

Get up & Go - 3 possible points/day. 2 points for a morning workout, 1 point for meeting bedtime. Partial credit available for waking up on time (1/2 point), but not exercising, or making up workouts in the afternoon (1/2 point). On thursdays, since my class is in the evening, I'll substitute stretching for the morning workout.

Get Flexy - 1 point/day for stretching, an additional point available on my heavy stretching day for photo documenting. So 8 points/week.

 

Exceptions - If I'm sick or injured (please noooo not again!), then workouts are excused. Pole is excused until I can get my pole installed at the new house, but I still have to do my RLNA workouts on those days. Just no practicing moves.

 

Motivation

Last challenge I let myself buy myself something each week that I got an A, which was a HUGE motivation for me, but I dont think I can afford that anymore (just moved, and rent is higher). So I'm going to give myself a budget. I earn $10 for each B, $15 for each A. $20 if I pass, $40 if I pass with an A. I can either spend as I go along, or save up until the end and buy something big.

[Shatyr]

Following along! You rock your piano and cross stitch, I'll rock my cello and cross stitch. We'll be arts buddies!.

[Mad Hatter]

Oh look a shiny, bendy circus person. Hiiii!

 

Good luck with the challenge!

[LydiaJaybird]

Following along! You rock your piano and cross stitch, I'll rock my cello and cross stitch. We'll be arts buddies!.

=D

 

 

Oh look a shiny, bendy circus person. Hiiii!

 

Good luck with the challenge!

haha, im not very shiny yet, but I'm working on it!! Hii! ^-^

 

 

 

Also, I just noticed that I accidentally smooshed two of my tags together - pole and running became pole running.... hahahahaha im an idiot. Anybody know how I can change that?

[Mad Hatter]

Sure you are!

Who knows, pole running might very well be the next big thing. I'm sure you can edit the tags if you go back to full editor mode (but I'm on my phone so can't check)

[lucky fire dragon]

getting the best images in my mind on pole running

 

in for this of course, oh and this time I will join you for the early rise for sure, it just puts more hours in the day and gives such a great start

When you say get up and do workout as well, do you mean working out first thing in the morning?

Somehow never managed to do pole first thing as our teacher taught us not to train on an empty stomach (not safe) and if I have breakfast first, then I feel full and do other things first and poof there the day goes... 

Curious on your plans here

 

Also which stretches will you focus on, any plans?

[LydiaJaybird]

When you say get up and do workout as well, do you mean working out first thing in the morning?

Somehow never managed to do pole first thing as our teacher taught us not to train on an empty stomach (not safe) and if I have breakfast first, then I feel full and do other things first and poof there the day goes... 

Curious on your plans here

 

Also which stretches will you focus on, any plans?

yep - working out first thing!

really? i prefer pole on an empty stomach... i get nauseous if ive eaten recently :/

 

middle stretch & my back primarily, also left/right splits some.

[Mad Hatter]

I think it makes sense not to pole fasted in the morning, especially inverting could potentially be unsafe with low blood sugar. Wouldn't be too much fun to get a dizzy spell on the pole.  But it's one of those things that if you feel fine then go ahead. Kudos to you for working out in the morning!

[lucky fire dragon]

Kudos indeed. Might try it out for my dance training session when I work on spins etc that aren't upside down and not on full power things, not that spins need no muscle... eh you know what I mean

 

very much in awe of people so active first thing in the day

 

Have a great start tomorrow!

[LydiaJaybird]

I think it makes sense not to pole fasted in the morning, especially inverting could potentially be unsafe with low blood sugar. Wouldn't be too much fun to get a dizzy spell on the pole.  But it's one of those things that if you feel fine then go ahead. Kudos to you for working out in the morning!

Oh that sounds terrifying... Dizzy spells arent generally things that happen to me though - nausea is more common for me :/ But none of this will be a concern until I can get my pole installed at the new house anyways Until then I'm just doing workouts on the ground. And of course my runs.

[LydiaJaybird]

I woke up at 6am this morning! Took me a half hour to actually get up and moving, but still! And I'm all dressed for my run.... and oh god I do NOT wanna go.... its 38F (3C) out there!!! *crying sounds* There's not much point in me saying screw it and taking partial credit by running this afternoon though... it won't be much warmer by the time i get home from work. Supposed to be 41F (5C) at 6pm... which is hardly an improvement. So this birdy just needs to suck it up, fluff up her feathers, and GOOOOO. *cries*

[Mad Hatter]

Go go go!

[LydiaJaybird]

I ran. Huzzah. Im cold. The run itself wasnt too bad, my new neighborhood has its own little lake (more like an oversized pond, really, but it can get away with being called a lake, hahaha) with a trail going around it, so that was nice for running. The trail isn't very long though, so once I start going further on my runs, I'll have to circle the lake a few times. Of course, I could also be sneaky.... The lake borders onto this park that's near the neighborhood, but the park entrance is off a main road, and I dont want to run on a main road. HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure I saw a couple places along the lake trail where the fence between park and neighborhood has collapsed. I bet I could hop over in one of those places and have the whole park to run in xD But in the meantime, the lake is enough for me.

[lucky fire dragon]

 

Respect for this birdy!! Way to go 

[LydiaJaybird]

Tomorrow I will not be running - I have to take my kitty to the vet in the morning instead. (she's fine, just getting checked out and maybe fixed) But I'm not going to make myself lose points for that - itll be an exception.

[LydiaJaybird]

Having a lot of trouble not breaking diet right now... This may be tmi, but my period just started & Im cramping so bad & I just want chocolate and pizza and the biggest bottle of ibuprofen money can buy =(

[lucky fire dragon]

HUGS

 

Anything good for you, that you could treat yourself to just for kindness?

What do you have for the cramps? They have these marvelous heat things now at the pharmacies that you can stick on the tummy side of your knickers and that spread wonderful warmth for many hours. Would that help you? 

 

There are also good teas that help. And if it's any comfort, I always allow myself chocolates during those days

 

Just don't stuff yourself with junk food (chocolate is not junk) because it won't make you feel better

 

Sending comfort and strong vibes

 

[LydiaJaybird]

HUGS

 

Anything good for you, that you could treat yourself to just for kindness?

What do you have for the cramps? They have these marvelous heat things now at the pharmacies that you can stick on the tummy side of your knickers and that spread wonderful warmth for many hours. Would that help you? 

 

There are also good teas that help. And if it's any comfort, I always allow myself chocolates during those days

 

Just don't stuff yourself with junk food (chocolate is not junk) because it won't make you feel better

 

Sending comfort and strong vibes

 

Heating pads make me nauseous, unfortunately...

 

I did end up eating some simple carb junk, though But on the bright side, simple carbs sit really easy on the stomach and I kept both them and a bunch of ibuprofen down, which ended up helping a lot. So I lost my KCKO points for yesterday... but I felt better at least... :/

 

Thanks for the hugs ^-^

[lucky fire dragon]

yay for being better

 

carbs can be great at times, with nausea definitely helpful. You did well!

Tomorrow will be easier

[Mad Hatter]

As long as you feel better! 

[LydiaJaybird]

It's not even 10am and the day is already terrible

 

I overslept in the dumbest way possible - woke up to my alarm, went 'ok, time to go run'... siiighhhhhhzzzzzzzzz and next thing i know its 8am D= So I missed my run AND was late to work...

 

I finally got around to weighing myself and HOLY SHIT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IM SO FAT. seriously though, I dont know how its possible. It says im 185.6... which I havent weighed in MONTHS, and which would mean I gained FIFTEEN pounds in two weeks! Im not gonna lie, I definitely indulged in the holiday foods, but not THAT much!! Of course, I weighed myself after my shower like an idiot, so I had wet hair, and Ive got a lot of hair... so that probably added to it. Also, I'm on my period, and I bloat really bad, so that's added to it. But still!!! *crying sounds*

[LydiaJaybird]

So apparently my hair weighs like three pounds when its wet? Because this morning I'm down to 182.4. & I'll probably lose some more once my period ends. So we'll never really know what I weighed at the beginning of the challenge... I guess I'll put 185.6, but I'd better lose more than 6 pounds off that.

Also, I measured myself - waist: 30". Hips: 42.25". Thigh: 25.5".

[lucky fire dragon]

Wet hair can weigh a lot, plus weight can differ easily 1 kg from one day to the next, I have often had that, especially during shark week. Seems the mind goes shark mode as well, killing you down like this... don't listen to it, when it babbles such bull, you're beautiful and badass and stronger than most people will ever be. Allow yourself some soft days for contrast, you will up and rocking it in no time again.

If it gives you motivation to do things good for you, great, if it pulls you down, toss it

 

Are you feeling better today?

[LydiaJaybird]

Wet hair can weigh a lot, plus weight can differ easily 1 kg from one day to the next, I have often had that, especially during shark week. Seems the mind goes shark mode as well, killing you down like this... don't listen to it, when it babbles such bull, you're beautiful and badass and stronger than most people will ever be. Allow yourself some soft days for contrast, you will up and rocking it in no time again.

If it gives you motivation to do things good for you, great, if it pulls you down, toss it

 

Are you feeling better today?

You're so sweet <3 I do feel a little better today, thanks

[LydiaJaybird]

Well week one didn't go too great... Got a 65.28 :/ Oh well, I'll do better this week!!

 

Also, here's the photo documentation of my first big stretch day.

 

 

 

My pancake looks better than it is - my legs aren't very open at all... so yeah, my chest is on the floor, but still. Much improvement needed. Also I need to flatten my back. My frog obviously has room for improvement. But look how skinny my leg looks in that pic! #illusion hahaha. Left split is just barely off the ground. Gah so close. Right split is on the ground, but I'm still supporting myself with my hands. Also, my hips need to be squared in both splits. I tried to get a picture of my backbend, but I couldn't work out how to hit the button on my computer while in the backbend AND keep far enough away to stay in the frame so that's just not gonna get pictures, haha.