Honeybadger: In Search Of...

[honeybadger]

I am keeping it simple for this challenge and going back to the basics. My diet goals will be the same for the entire challenge. My exercise goals will be different each week to accommodate my return to work on week 3. I will try to get all my life goals completed while still on vacation if possible. 

 

Goal 1: In Search Of...A Healthier Diet

 

1. Average 1350-1400 cal/day

2. Maintain daily food log (including when I eat and how I feel) 

 

My diet suffered over the holidays, more than I am comfortable with. I hope to get this back under control. I want to be mindful of my sugar and simple carb intake. Looking forward to future challenges, I might make more specific dietary changes. For now, I need a baseline.

 

Goal 2: In Search Of...Gym Time

 

1. Get to the gym at least 4x week 1 and 2

    Get to the gym at least 3x week 3 and 4

2. Run at least 2x per week (specific running goals to follow)

3. Do ab work at least 2x per week

 

I have focused on cycling during the holiday mini. That means it's time to start running. I will post specific weekly running goals later but my intention for this challenge is to focus on time rather than speed or mileage.  I would like to be better at making it to spin class at least once a week when I am back at work, if possible. 

 

Goal 3: In Search Of...Adulting

 

Schedule the following-

                                       Eye Doctor

                                       Yearly Physical

                                       Car Inspection

                                       Hair Cut 

                                       Confirm Mammogram (scheduled so long ago I can't remember when it is)

 

 

         

 

[honeybadger]

As mentioned above, I plan on running at least 2x per week for this challenge with a focus on length of time running rather than speed or distance. Knowing myself, I know that I need a very specific plan or I will get to the end of the challenge and wonder what happened. Soooo here are my running specific goals for this challenge. 

 

Week 1: Run for  34 min each run

Week 2: 37 min

Week 3: 40 min

Week 4: 44 min

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I'll be following along. The goals look good.

[Jezaraen]

Food tracking is always vital for me to maintain any sort of discipline. I need rules and boundaries or I flounder.

Good luck on your challenge!

[suzyQlou]

Looks like plenty to get done this month!

 

I like your idea of including how you feel in your food log.  Might need to steal that one.

[Raxie]

Following along! I'm keeping it super simple this challenge as well.  It's a great way to start the year off!

[honeybadger]

Started off the challenge a little under the weather. Not such a big deal because I am on vacation and could really rest all day. I will get a workout in tomorrow even if it is low key. I did a good job with my diet keeping calories at 1400. Calories were quality calories so I am feeling good about that too. When I am not feeling well all I want to eat are simple carbs. 

 

I finished the sweater for my dog today. I'll post a picture as soon as she is photo ready (which means after I bathe her!)

 

I'll be following along. The goals look good.

Thanks! Happy to have you as always!

 

Food tracking is always vital for me to maintain any sort of discipline. I need rules and boundaries or I flounder.

Good luck on your challenge!

Thanks! I feel the same way. My food log has been a huge part of my success. 

 

Looks like plenty to get done this month!

 

I like your idea of including how you feel in your food log.  Might need to steal that one.

 

Please steal any ideas that you like! I will be interested to see what the extra data will tell me. I'm particularly interested in tracking my sugar cravings. 

 

Following along! I'm keeping it super simple this challenge as well.  It's a great way to start the year off!

Welcome and thanks for the support! 

[suzyQlou]

Started off the challenge a little under the weather. Not such a big deal because I am on vacation and could really rest all day. I will get a workout in tomorrow even if it is low key. I did a good job with my diet keeping calories at 1400. Calories were quality calories so I am feeling good about that too. When I am not feeling well all I want to eat are simple carbs. 

 

I finished the sweater for my dog today. I'll post a picture as soon as she is photo ready (which means after I bathe her!)

 

Nice start to the challenge!  It's hard to resist comfort food when you are feeling icky.

 

Eager to see this photo of your pooch.  So glad you volunteered it.  I was thinking of begging to see the cuteness

[honeybadger]

Second attempt at this post...

This challenge is going well so far. 2/4 workouts in so far, including 1/2 runs. Still have to do some Ab work. Calories are right on track. Didn't eat enough yesterday and woke up starving. Will be picking up some non-carb heavy snacks at the market today. Scheduled my car inspection, haircut and physical. 

 

 

Here is a pic of my furry beastie in her new sweater (which she hates wearing BTW).

 

[Raxie]

Awwwww your dogs such a cutie!

[She-Hulk]

AH! Cute puppy in sweater. Instant follow, haha!

 

I'm adulting this round as well.... and you just reminded me that my car inspection is past due.... which is fine since I don't live near it anymore. I'll have to get that done soon, whoops!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

My grandpa loves mini schnausers, So when others have them it always makes me think of him. Yours looks great.

[honeybadger]

Awwwww your dogs such a cutie!

 

 

AH! Cute puppy in sweater. Instant follow, haha!

 

I'm adulting this round as well.... and you just reminded me that my car inspection is past due.... which is fine since I don't live near it anymore. I'll have to get that done soon, whoops!

 

 

My grandpa loves mini schnausers, So when others have them it always makes me think of him. Yours looks great.

 

Thanks guys!!! She is cute and small which allows her to get away with too much. I have to restrain myself from posting pictures of and talking about my dog all the time. Seriously. She is 1/2 poodle and 1/2 mini schnauzer. Her personality is 300% mini-schnauzer. It's her world and I'm just living in it. And she has a Ranger worthy beard.

 

On another note... My new food/exercise log (just a calendar really that I use for said logs) finally came in today. Yay! The one I used this past year (which was perfect) was discontinued. My new log is larger (not great for portability) and has plenty of room for food + feelings/observations. 

 

I also weighed in today at 147lbs. This means that I have undone any damage done by my holiday diet. Now if I can get back on a losing streak I'll be very happy.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

How are things going with that new food/exercise log?

[Xena]

Love the sweater. Hope you are feeling better (guessing yes, since you didn't mention it last post). How did week 1 end up for you? Will be fun to see how you like racheting up the time on your runs each week!

[honeybadger]

Well week 1 was a little bit of a flop...but only just a little. Here is what the week looked like goal wise.

 

Goal 1: In Search Of...A Healthier Diet

Could have done better made some good choices but also had one eat-all-the-food day. Some of the problems this week (not to blame biology, but I will a little) were hormone related. 

1. Average 1350-1400 cal/day- I logged my calories for 6/7 days this week. The average was around 1350, right on track. Saturday was the eat all the food day. I don't know how many calories I consumed (chinese food) but it likely pushed the daily average over. I need to be better about being consistent with my calories. Some days were high and others were super low. 

2. Maintain daily food log (including when I eat and how I feel)-I logged every day including the food I didn't know the calories for (chinese). I took note of feelings and cravings, I didn't write down the times of my meals. Now that I have my new log, I will have space for time and feelings. 

 

Goal 2: In Search Of...Gym Time

I fell short a little here. Ugh. 

1. Get to the gym at least 4x week 1 and 2- Only 3x this week (T,W,Su)

    Get to the gym at least 3x week 3 and 4

2. Run at least 2x per week (specific running goals to follow)- I got both runs in. 34 min on Wed and 40 min today.

3. Do ab work at least 2x per week- Only once...which is more than last week...or last month...or since this summer...

A general observation: earlier this week I was very sore and I don't know why. My quads were killing me as if I had just started running and spinning. My run early in the week was rough but today's run was great. 

 

Goal 3: In Search Of...Adulting

I Rangered this goal with just two things to follow up on this week.

Schedule the following-

                                       Eye Doctor- Need to schedule 

                                       Yearly Physical- Scheduled for 18th

                                       Car Inspection- Done

                                       Hair Cut- Scheduled but I need to reschedule because the salon made a mistake and scheduled me when my hairdresser              

                                       is on vacation

                                       Confirm Mammogram (scheduled so long ago I can't remember when it is)- Confirmed for Friday

 

How are things going with that new food/exercise log?

The size is cumbersome but I like the extra space and extra sections. It is going to be my master challenge log. I was actually feeling really bad about my diet for the week until I sat down to and looked at the numbers. Being able to look at my log helped me put the week into perspective and see the good with the not so good! Food log for the win!!!

 

Love the sweater. Hope you are feeling better (guessing yes, since you didn't mention it last post). How did week 1 end up for you? Will be fun to see how you like racheting up the time on your runs each week!

Totally feeling better thanks. I am interested in seeing how it feels to bump up my running time each week. I hope that it improves my basic endurance.  Looking forward I want to be more deliberate and thoughtful with my running training. 

 

I have been playing with the idea of doing a 10k in the future (something I swore I would never do.)

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

 

 

I have been playing with the idea of doing a 10k in the future (something I swore I would never do.)

 

So when is your 10k?

[Raxie]

Sounds like great improvements all around last week! Great job Don't sweat not hitting the gym or doing the core work your planned amount of times. I'm sure you'll get it this week and compared to prior weeks you're improvement is like 2910489075% (Ranger math).

[suzyQlou]

The doggie sweater is adorable!  Shame on her for not loving to wear it!

 

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment of "a bit of a flop" for the week.  Looks like you're getting an awful lot done!

[honeybadger]

Went to spin class tonight we did sprints. Which means DOMS tomorrow. I am preparing myself. My next planned workout is a run on Wednesday. Calories were around 1200 for the day. I did have a protein bar (before class) and a gatorade (during class) but otherwise a low sugar day. 

 

I also discovered white sweet potatoes (by accident). They are delicious I love them more than the regular orange kind. This probably means that they are not good for me in some way...but I hope not. Yummy!

 

So when is your 10k?

 

I haven't posted my longer term goals for the year but they include real world running and the possibility of doing a longer race. Depending on how my RWR goes. 

[honeybadger]

I honestly thought that I posted yesterday...I thought about it and I then I guess my ADD kicked in. Ugh. 

This week so far:

Workouts: 2/4

Run days: 1/2 (37 minutes as planned)

Abs: 1/2

Calories: 1425/day (after yesterday's indulgence, the one I never got around to posting)

Adulting: Mammogram tomorrow morning. Domestic rangering today.

 

No DOMS after spin as feared (thank goodness) but my run today did not feel quite as smooth as I would have liked. I still managed the 37 minutes as planned. I even forgot to check the mileage, which is progress for me. Sometimes I get hung up on the miles even though I am working on endurance.

 

I went out to lunch with my aunt yesterday and had a nice meal but totally indulged (2 cocktails!) and 1/2 a piece of cheesecake. Lunch (and dinner because the portion was huge) itself was super healthy, grilled chicken and veggies. Other than yesterday, I have done a good job reducing sugar and carbs. 

 

Non-challenge related, but exciting, I ordered some new books to read with a GC I got for Christmas, and I made a new horror movie watch list. 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Sounds like a good couple of days.

[honeybadger]

Made it to my mammogram appointment today. I don't have to go back for a whole year, yay! My boyfriend suggested we go out to eat tonight (which almost never happens), that would make two meals out this week. I am trying to get him to pick a restaurant so I can look at the menu in advance and find a healthy option. 

 

My legs feel tired after last night's run. I will do an easy bike ride this afternoon and plan on getting my second run in on Sunday. 

[honeybadger]

Rode the bike for almost an hour the went to dinner. Dinner included one slice of bread (Irish Soda Bread) and mashed potatoes. I did not have any booze or dessert. I had prime rib with butternut squash and the treats listed above. Overall not feeling too bad about what I ate. I am seriously craving sweets now though. 

 

I am off to cross a movie off my watch list before my Amazon membership expires tomorrow...and ignore my sweet tooth.

[Xena]

Your two meals (with your aunt and BF) sound totally worth it!  Sometimes it's not fun when your legs feel tired on a run, but I think there's value in running when you are tired. Great job on keeping at it! Endurance training seems to be going well...and even more ahead next week!