Suzaqu is back for 2016!

[Suzaqu]

Hello all! I'm back! I missed not having my insane assassins around for December, and I kinda failed at keeping a battle log, partially due to moving stuff meaning less exercise happened and partially due to not having the full-on guild camaraderie. And I love me some mini challenges!

 

So I'm getting back to basics with this challenge, and bringing back some quests from past challenges. Also going with a classic theme: Liz Lemon gifs.

 

1. Some form of exercise 3 days a week, plus 1 day of additional stretching: Ever since moving, I don't have a gym membership and it's cold outside, so I've had excuses to not get up and move. With not having a job, I have tons of time during the day, so I just need to use it well. The exercise sessions should be at least 25min+5min stretching, and the stretching should be 15min. This week I have a friend who I haven't seen in years visiting, so I'm allowing myself to lower it to 2 total sessions this week.

 

 

2. Only 7 servings of alcohol a week: Moving again got me into bad habits. Last time I made this goal it was a great reset, so I'm doing it again. I can't think of any exceptions for this month, so I'm being strict with myself.

 

 

3. Pushups: These are just so hard for me! I've been working on them for a while, but I lost a lot of gains in the move. But, I did gain a staircase, so I'm using it to get back into it. It will be super easy. Every day I'll do 5 pushups (1 day off a week allowed, just in case I forget). The first week I'll do the pushups with my hands on the 3rd stair, the second week will be the 2nd stair, until the end, when I'm hopefully doing them on the floor! (Subject to change depending on progress.)

 

^It's sad because it's true. My last push-up was last year.

 

4. Get a job: No real specific goals on this one, I just need to keep applying. I've had one interview and am working on scheduling another, but I need to not just sit around and wait for results on those.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 0/3, 0/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 0/1, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 0/7, 0/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 0/6, 0/6, 0/6, 0/6

 

Rewards and scoring to come later, I just wanted to get this up so I didn't miss the start of challenge, since my friend is arriving tomorrow.

 

Happy 2016 everyone! Bring it on!

[Suzaqu]

Quick update since it's a busy week. I haven't had a chance to exercise yet this week, but it looks like I'll have time coming up soon. I've managed to get in my pushups 2 days so far, and am fearing the pain when I start to work on the mini challenge. So many pushups will be done! I've also kept myself to one glass of sangria per night mmmm sangria.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 0/3, 0/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 0/1, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 2/7, 0/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 2/6, 0/6, 0/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

My house is empty again, so I'm freed up to exercise more! I got in a good session with a speedy intense cardio workout from my old kettlebell trainer and then did some free weight stuff just to see where my strength is at and it's not too bad. I was most impressed with how well my stretching session afterwards went, I didn't loose much flexibility at all, which is shocking! 

 

I'm still on track with the alcohol and also did my daily pushups.

 

Tomorrow I WILL tackle at least half of the mini-challenge! No more excuses. I'm starting to build it up to a big thing in my head, which is never good.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 0/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 0/1, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 4/7, 0/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 3/6, 0/6, 0/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

End of week 1 check in!

 

So when I said half of the mini, I meant half of the doable mini exercises I was on my phone when I looked, so I didn't notice the spreadsheet kept going. But I did do it, and my numbers were better than I thought they would be.

 

I got my daily pushups in for the week and they got easier and easier. This week I moved down a step and still got mine in yesterday and today.

 

Thursday I did my major stretch session and pushed it a bit too hard. Friday and Saturday my body informed me that I'm not that close to side splits and I shouldn't try that hard. So I decided to take it easy and skipped a workout session.

 

I also slipped up and had an extra glass of wine with dinner on Sunday, so two goals didn't go so well.

 

On the job front, I got a rejection from my interview, so I don't have much on the table right now. (It was a very nice rejection, they just hired someone with more experience than me.) So it's time to kick it up a notch and do more apps.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 0/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 2/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 2/6, 0/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

Week 2 is off to a great start.

 

Moving down a pushup step feels really good, much better than expected. I'm running 4 for 4 on those so far. 

 

I'm a smige behind on the workouts for this week, but I have time to catch up. I did a great pilates session today for 30 min and finished it up with 10 minutes of stretching.

 

Drink-wise I'm also on track to be at goal.

 

I also applied for a job today! It was one of those great days when being busy means that so much gets done and it feels good! Those days are rare, but I love them.

 

My best accomplishment today was the mini-challenge. A year ago I really couldn't do a squat. Now I was able to do 15 beginner shrimp squats when I didn't even know what they were this morning. My 2-legged squats could use some work, but its still amazing progress and I'm feeling great! We'll see what the DOMS are tomorrow. I definitely also want to try out the assisted pistol squat tomorrow.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 1/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 0/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 3/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 4/6, 0/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

Week 2 wrap up! So strange to think that we are halfway done with this challenge.

 

I got my stretching in on Friday, took a longgggg walk with my husband on Saturday, and almost didn't get in the 3rd one. But at the last minute, tonight I decided to just get off my ass and do a round of 30DS, just to do it. Turns out that if I don't have specific classes and someone telling me what to do, I'm bad at working out. So I'm going to try to schedule this. Next week, MWF at 11am, I will work out.

 

Pushups on the stairs are going well and I'm excited to get down to one stair. I even did an extra round this week, because it's fun to just bang them out.

 

Drinks-wise this was another fail week. I think I need to start building up a cushion early in the week, as weekends are my down fall.

 

In other news, it's snowing here! I just moved to NJ from Iowa, and I've been missing the snow!

 

 

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 0/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 0/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 0/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

Mid Week 3 check in!

 

Those one step pushups are hard, but getting easier, can't wait for the floor ones next week.

 

My Monday exercise session turned into stretch time because my back was feeling off and I didn't want to hurt it since I still get twinges from when I hurt it about a year ago.

 

I applied to 3 jobs this week and I have an interview today! So I'm not working out until that's over this afternoon, then we'll see. Otherwise I'll push today's workout to tomorrow.

 

I'm taking the week off of the mini-challenge. I don't have a pullup bar, can't afford a gym membership (or a pullup bar), and it's too cold/snowy for park workouts. Kind of a bummer, but we'll see what happens next week.

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 0/3, 0/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 3/7, 0/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 3/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

Ugh week 3. I think I managed to compress the whole slump and recovery cycle of the 6 week challenge into 4...

 

I just couldn't get off my butt to exercise this week, I don't know why. I think the weather and having so much free time has killed my motivation (which is crazy). The only exercise session I got in last week was shoveling out after the snow storm. Thankfully I also had to shovel myself a parking space yesterday (Monday) so the week is starting off better.

 

The snow storm also meant consuming a few bottles of wine, which killed Quest 2. I think this quest needs to come back next challenge.

 

Pushups are feeling great. I was sore from shoveling so I didn't try the floor yesterday. We'll see how they go today!

 

On the job hunt front, I had a second interview with the same company yesterday and I think it went great! So we'll see in a few weeks.  They strike me as a place that would have a gym on site, so it would definitely help with my workout avoidance.

 

I was hoping that the mini would be core based this week, so I'm excited. But kinda bummed that half of it requires a pullup bar again. I'll just do my best on the first half.

 

So weird to think that after this week the challenge is over. I don't know if this was enough time to build habits well, so I will probably roll over a lot to the next challenge and the week off.

 

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 1/3, 1/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 8/7, 1/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 6/6, 0/6

[Suzaqu]

Week 4!

 

This one is going well! I got all my workouts in already by doing a pilates video yesterday and today. and I'm running well on alcohol and pushups. Just need to continue those and get a stretch session in and we'll be good!

 

Ugh, did more reading on the mini challenge once the videos were posted and it turns out I dont' have any equipment for the 3rd or 4th part either. Can't even use two chairs, which I wouldn't really want to do, because the backs are rounded on top.

 

 

(What follows is super whiny stuff I just have to get off my chest, sorry. Please ignore)

I don't even really want to try the first two exercises in the mini now since I can't fully participate again, even though abs are my best "subject". This is honestly getting really frustrating. I feel like I'm whining, but not being able to really participate in the challenges because of equipment really sucks. I'm already bummed that I don't have a gym membership and am stuck at home without a job, and this just feels like it's being rubbed in more. 

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 1/3, 3/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 0/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 8/7, 3/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 6/6, 3/6

[Suzaqu]

I guess this is the end of challenge wrap up! I just found out we are ending today.

 

So clearly this wasn't my best challenge and I think that was all mental/emotional issues, nothing physical. I think i want to carry a few of these goals to the next challenge. I'm going to call this one a success, but not A quality work, I still have to do the stat point calculations and prep for the next challenge this weekend. I am going to keep up the push up training this weekend and try to restrict the alcohol as well. But the fitness goals are done!

 

Sorry I was cranky yesterday, it was a day with several job rejections and other stuff bringing me down, but I'm back and in a better mood.

 

 

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 1/3, 3/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 1/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 8/7, 5/7*

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 6/6, 4/6*

 

Still working on the * ones through Sunday

[Suzaqu]

#WeekendClub final check-in and summary

 

Quest 2 and 3 are done! I got my final push-ups completed, and as long as I don't have an alcoholic beverage in the next 3 hours, I'm successful there too!

 

 

So overall this challenge wasn't my best, but I'm calling it a success overall. I missed interacting with people on my challenge, and on others challenges so I'm going to make more of an effort to reach out next round.

 

I've updated my signature with new stats and link to my next challenge. See you there! 

 

Tracking:

Quest 1: 1/2, 3/3, 1/3, 3/3

Quest 1.5: 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 1/1

Quest 2: 8/7, 8/7, 8/7, 7/7

Quest 3: 6/6, 7/6, 6/6, 6/6