Absidey's Challenge for the House Cup

[Absidey]

Hi Adventurers! I dig the new description and really feel like it describes how I've approached my fitness journey over the last few years! Hope no one minds if I change teams. =)

 

Last year was really big for me - I lost 55 lbs, and I'm still in awe of how different I feel. However, as I've gotten closer to my goal weight (which was already a pretty soft target), I've found weight loss alone isn't enough to motivate me anymore. I decided to do a Tough Mudder in September, and I know that as far as I've come, I have a long way to go before I'm ready for that challenge. The event is in September, so I have plenty of time, but none to lose.

 

Milestone goals:

10 minute mile - current PR is 13:33

Continuous 5 mile run - not sure what my best is currently, maybe a quarter mile.

monkey bars - need to find a place to practice

pull up(s) - working on hangs and negatives

10-12 mile sessions - The furthest I've done on my feet is 8 or 9 miles, but hiking with lots of elevation, not running.

3 minute planks - I can do about a minute if my muscles are fresh

 

I'm going to do a 10K obstacle course in May, so that will be a decent checkpoint to see how I'm doing.

 

I'll also be working on confronting my fear of heights. I know from experience that my fear can be literally paralyzing, and I do not want it to get in my way at the Mudder. I'll be working on a rock wall at my gym, but there's also a parkour gym that does obstacle course training. I'm going to check out their facility - hopefully they have some walls I can practice going over and some things to jump off of.

 

 

Onto this challenge! I'm doing a Hogwarts Health challenge with a group of Go Ruck geeks. It looks like this:

You will be required to take a minimum of 2 classes each day in order for your points to count toward your house's total. For those of you trying to get your O.W.L. for the week, you must take Defense Against the Dark Arts (Cardio for 30 minutes) at least 3 times. You will be required to take Transfiguration (Strength training or Yoga) at least 2 times. For those of you working on your N.E.W.T., you will be required to complete the requirements for the O.W.L. in addition to attending each of the other classes at least once. They can be taken all in one day, or spread out through the week.• Care of Magical Creatures: All proteins within proper portions or macros of your chosen diet plan.• Charms: Eating 75 calories or fewer of sweets in a day will earn one point for your house. â€¢ Defense Against the Dark Arts: 30 minutes of Cardio Exercise (minimum) earns one point for your house â€¢ Divination: 15 minutes of Meditation or Relaxation will earn your house one point, and getting your full complement of sleep in a night will earn you another point.• Herbology: Your daily requirement of fruits and vegetables. This includes 3 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables• History of Magic: Submit a comment to the History of Magic Thread containing a report on a study or article you researched regarding health• Muggle Studies: Post a recipe you're actually trying (with pictures of your finished product if you can) and let us know what you think of it. â€¢ Potions: Drink the proper amount of water for you (you know what you need). Healthful teas and other potions and vitamins/supplements you want to keep track of would count for this class too.• Transfiguration: 30 Minutes of Strength Training or Yoga earns one point for your house 

I'm focusing on Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions, with some Divination and Transfiguration thrown in, although I'll probably take other classes so I can get my NEWTs.

 

My goals:

Attend Defense Against the Dark Arts 3 times per week (C25K running program)

Attend Potions everyday (sufficient water AND all supplements)

Attend Transfiguration twice per week (1 strength training session and 1 yoga session)

Attend Divination 3 times per week (the meditation part; I try for enough sleep most nights so I don't kill anyone at work... =D )

 

So, umm, attribute points are going away, I think? I'm going to wait until the epic quest stuff is posted before I assign xp. I'm not picking any milestone goals, because, for me, it's about putting in the sweat. If I'm doing the time, I'll get the results.

 

HAPPY CHALLENGE!

 

Progress photos:

 

 

 

[Absidey]

Daily Stuff

1/1/16: Potions, Divination (Sleep), DADA

1/2/16: Divination (Sleep)

1/3/16: Potions, Divination (Sleep, meditation), Charms

M1/4/16: Care of Magical Creatures, DADA, Divination (sleep, meditation), herbology, potions

T1/5/16: Care of Magical Creatures, Divination (sleep), potions

W1/6/16: Divination (sleep), Potions

Th1/7/16: Divination (sleep), Potions, Care of Magical Creatures

F1/8/16: Divination (sleep), Potions

Sa1/9/16: Divination (sleep and meditation), Potions, DADA, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms

S1/10/16: Divination (sleep), Potions, Care of Magical Creatures

M1/11/16: Divination (meditation), Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, DADA, Transfiguration

T1/12/16: Divination (sleep), Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms

W1/13/16: Divination (sleep), Potions, DADA, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms

Th1/14/16: Divination (sleep), Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms

F1/15/16: Divination (sleep), Care of Magical Creatures, Charms

 

 

 

Attend Defense Against the Dark Arts 3 times per week (C25K running program)

27%

27%

Defense Against the Dark Arts: 30 minutes of Cardio Exercise (minimum) earns one point for your house (Extra Credit available: 1 additional point for 30 more minutes of cardio)  To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/7ha3l5nA3S

3/11

 

Attend Potions everyday (sufficient water AND all supplements)

52%

52%

Potions: Drink the proper amount of water for you (you know what you need). Healthful teas and other potions and vitamins/supplements you want to keep track of would count for this class too. Completing this for the day will earn you one point for your house. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/tMneNadSG1

13/25

 

Attend Transfiguration twice per week (1 strength training session and 1 yoga session)

28%

28%

Transfiguration: 30 Minutes of Strength Training or Yoga earns one point for your house (Extra Credit available: 1 additional point for 30 more minutes of ST or Yoga) To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/aqncQ71G0l

2/7

 

Attend Divination 3 times per week (the meditation part; I try for enough sleep most nights so I don't kill anyone at work... =D )

27%

27%

Divination: 15 minutes of Meditation or Relaxation will earn your house one point, and getting your full complement of sleep in a night will earn you another point. A full night for you might be 7 hours or it might be 9 hours, but if you wake up groggy to an alarm clock, you can be pretty sure you didn't achieve this goal. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/Emxm49Cv9f

3/11

 

Other Classes:

• Care of Magical Creatures: All proteins within proper portions or macros of your chosen diet plan. Achieving this will earn you one house point. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/U0bQRmrczv

• Charms: Eating 75 calories or fewer of sweets in a day will earn one point for your house. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/YcENZBklKA

• Herbology: Your daily requirement of fruits and vegetables. This includes 3 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables. One point is available for completing each section. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/kwTR0guouo

• History of Magic: Submit a comment to the History of Magic Thread containing a report on a study or article you researched regarding health (with a link to the original material you researched) to earn one point. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/sLXYctVRJD

• Muggle Studies: Post a recipe you're actually trying (with pictures of your finished product if you can) and let us know what you think of it. This has to be a new recipe each time you take this course. It doesn't have to be the first time you've made it, but you can only submit each recipe one time for a point. To submit your attendance, please follow this link: http://goo.gl/forms/3dRmK08BT4

[MichiruSedai]

good luck!

[Teros]

Love it!  Awesome progress pictures.

 

[RES]

Amazing job! looking forward to seeing more great things from you this year

[Kilyra]

Grats on your progress so far! 55lbs is amazing! It's also amazing that, rather than let your interest wan and progress slow down, you're hoping into Tough Mudder and tackling your fear of heights. I mean. Wow!

 

You are definitely taking life by the horns!

 

(Grabs popcorn and prepares to watch the awesome unfold)

[Absidey]

Thanks for all the nice things! =D

 

Excited to get started tomorrow!

[NeverThatBored]

Major props for tackling a fear of heights. That's not an easy thing to work on.

[imaginativa]

This is so inspiring! Way to go on all you've accomplished and continuing to set goals and exploring new things. You got this challenge!

[Absidey]

Thoroughly pleased with my first day!

 

I woke up early for work, got my kiddo moving relatively easily, cooked eggs for breakfast, and managed to get to the office a half hour early. Had a very productive day at work, left on time for a change, persuaded my husband he wanted to pick up Kate from school, and headed to the gym. My first run wasn't too bad, though my shins complained a bit. I'm going to work a bit with weights to hopefully avoid splints. I spent some time in the steam room meditating. I'm out of practice, but it was nice. Came home to the very happy surprise that my husband had made dinner, and it was not Hamburger Helper. Once I wrap up here, I'm going to go take a bath and read something fluffy.

 

It feels incredibly good to feel like I'm moving forward again. I hope you are all having a great start of challenge!

[Absidey]

Major props for tackling a fear of heights. That's not an easy thing to work on.

 

Thanks! I have been doing it a long time, so it has gotten easier. Never easy, but easier is something.

 

This is so inspiring! Way to go on all you've accomplished and continuing to set goals and exploring new things. You got this challenge!

 

Thank you!

[Absidey]

I stayed off the internet last night so I could read.

 

Yesterday was good, though not exciting. Today may have involved a cookie as big as my face. Perhaps.

 

Trying to decide if I want to go run. I am oddly sore in weird places. I took a walk with some coworkers after lunch though, just quick. 

 

My semi plans to go rock climbing on Friday may be falling apart, but I don't really mind. (heh) I'm trying to put together a hike for early Saturday - possible for a sunrise summit, which I've always wanted to do. Doing it in the winter means I don't have to get up as early, though I'm not sure about the predawn cold or the icy trail in the dark. But.. do hard things. =D

[Absidey]

I am getting up in 6 hours to go hike up a (small) mountain in the dark, in the snow, possibly by myself. Squee!! Also, I hope I don't die.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[NeverThatBored]

I am getting up in 6 hours to go hike up a (small) mountain in the dark, in the snow, possibly by myself. Squee!! Also, I hope I don't die.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

How did it go??

[Absidey]

I live!!! 

 

But I have the mother of all headaches, so I'm not going to talk about it until tomorrow.

 

One of my pictures:

[Absidey]

Holy shoulders! I am going to be sore tomorrow.

 

I may have forgotten about meditation last week after the first time. Whoops. 

 

I am glad I skipped the run on Wednesday, even though it threw off work out timing for my week. Still not sure what's up with my hip pain, but it hasn't been as bad. Possibly hip flexor? It started after my snowshoeing trip, which worked my legs in ways they were very much not used to. It went away, but starts up again after running/hiking. A bit tonight after lots of squats and lunges. Trying to be careful with it.

 

So the hike - harder than I expected physically and mentally, but the mind game was the more challenging. Sanitas is steeper up the back than I thought it was. I haven't hiked the loop in that direction since I first moved here from Texas. It was certainly a heck of a lot easier than it was then, that's for sure! It didn't occur to me until the night before that it might be unsettling to hike in the dark by myself. (And my husband wasn't helping.) I got to the trailhead at about 4:40 am, but decided to wait a little while so I'd have some light for part of the hike.

 

Sunrise was at 7:23 am, so I started up the trail at about 5:15 am, and I was jumpy as hell. Strange sounds in the dark and all that. I was making a lot of my own noise between my microspikes and my snowpants. A friend recently mentioned being stalked by a mountain lion on a hike this summer. I hadn't given it a second thought until I was alone in the dark in the woods. Reason told me it was super unlikely that a mountain lion would be anywhere near me or that I'd see it if so, but it didn't stop me from scanning all around every 15 minutes or so. I talked myself out of turning around half a dozen times. A car door slammed back at the trailhead, and I almost fell off the rock I was standing on.

 

After about half an hour, I heard voices behind me and my relief to no longer be alone on the trail was a physical thing. However, my phone announced my pace about 2 minutes later, and I about jumped out of my skin then had to laugh at my own ridiculousness. A little bit after that, the two women behind me caught up and passed me, and it started to get a little light. Nothing interesting from there - I kept going, had the top all to myself, and passed about 200 people coming up the east side as the sun officially came up on my way down. Felt good!

 

Went to the gym tonight. Meditated. Ate some super delicious fish.

 

Hope everyone is off to a fantastic week 2!

[NeverThatBored]

I live!!! 

 

But I have the mother of all headaches, so I'm not going to talk about it until tomorrow.

 

One of my pictures:

 

Wow!! How beautiful! It sounds like you had an amazing experience.

[Kilyra]

That hike sounds amazing and scary at the same time. I have a feeling I'd be the same way though - think nothing of it until I'm in it and start to wonder if this is a good idea LOL

 

I was about to ask why you opted for so early, but I see the beautiful picture. Wow

[Absidey]

That hike sounds amazing and scary at the same time. I have a feeling I'd be the same way though - think nothing of it until I'm in it and start to wonder if this is a good idea LOL

 

When I was planning the hike, I didn't think I'd be doing it alone!

[Absidey]

Week 2 just flew by. It's been absurdly busy at work, and I worked late almost every night, so I think that had a lot to do with it. I need to make more of an effort to post check-ins though - I start losing track of the days.

 

Monday I went to gym and did the barbell strength class.

Tuesday was a figment of my imagination.

Wednesday I took my dog for a run in the dark. (And almost busted my ass on ice about 6 times. Next time I'll wear my yaktrax.) Then I went to a brewery with some hiking friends and did not eat like crap. I did have a cider, though.

Thursday I took my daughter to a karate class orientation thing for a program she's doing at school. Freaking $242 a month if I want to enroll her after the school program! That's absurd!

Friday I worked really late.

Today I may go to the gym again, but I am going to a friend's this afternoon.

Tomorrow, I am thinking about doing the Manitou Incline, but feel guilty for leaving my family so much this week. Also, 3+ hours driving. Eh. Probably not.

 

Onward!

[NeverThatBored]

Martial arts classes are ridiculously expensive, but that's even more absurd than usual. 

 

I hope everything has been going well lately! You haven't posted in a bit. 

[Absidey]

Martial arts classes are ridiculously expensive, but that's even more absurd than usual. 

 

I hope everything has been going well lately! You haven't posted in a bit. 

 

I did something stupid.... I started playing WoW again. >.< I let my husband and friend talk me into joining a raiding guild with them, and I think I'm going to have to quit. I can't balance my life appropriately when I play WoW.

 

I liked the challenge I was participating in, but the tracking was kind of a pita. They simplified things in the last week, but I'd already lost the thread of what I'd done, and then got derailed with gaming.

 

I've been hiking, and halfheartedly pursuing other things, but I've got 13 weeks until the 10K Terrain Race, and need to get my butt in gear to keep up with my teammates. 

 

Here's a pic from Quandary peak yesterday - the false summit is behind us, which is where I turned around. I could see the summit from there, but it was rapidly disappearing in a snow storm. I'm in the middle. =)