Courtney vs. The Tracker

[courtneyc]

I'm a little late to this challenge, and it's a short one. So let's keep it simple!

 

Main Goal: Track everything I eat for the final 3 weeks of the challenge. 

 

I've managed to lose about 10 pounds since the summer, and I really want to see that total loss continue to go up. Being aware of how much I'm eating is the first step towards making that happen, but one that I really struggle to stick with, especially if I miss tracking even a single meal. The truth is though, it isn't a very difficult thing to do. If I can fart around on the internet for an hour plus every day, I can find 10 minutes to track.

 

Side Quest: Read the chapter in Jiu Jitsu University for white belts and pick two skills to work on this month.

 

Bonus Quest: Eat vegetables at every meal for 10 or more days of the challenge.

 

I'll check in every couple days to report on the tracking, share what bjj wisdom JJU has to offer, and talk about what plants I'm munching on. Good luck everyone!

[Kishi]

Hey, ten pounds down is ten pounds down. That's awesome! Way to go and way to make that happen. Losing the weight without manipulating salt or any of that fight game stuff can be pretty hard, but it sounds like you not only got it off but you managed to keep it off too. Which is awesome.

 

I hope we can help you continue with that.

 

Be careful with that tracking. I find it's worked wonders for me too, but the truth is you don't need to know perfectly how or where everything is going or what it costs in terms of energy. It's okay to be inaccurate; the trick is being consistent with that inaccuracy. There's no quick way to get the results you're looking for, so give it time to work.

 

Anyway, yeah, short challenge, but good to see you again regardless. Good luck!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Nice job with the weight loss! I am also tracking what I eat and find it helpful, so I hope it continues to work for you. 10 lbs is really great. 

 

How is Jiu Jitsu University? Is it hard to work on techniques by yourself? 

 

Keep it going! 

[courtneyc]

Day 1 went well. I almost forgot to track after dinner, but I got it all in before bed. No progress on the reading goal yet. I'll set aside a few minutes after lunch to start on that. As for the vegetables at every meal I'm 1/10. 

 

I got a little creative to work it into breakfast and sautéed shredded brussel sprouts with a little pancetta and a splash of maple syrup. The cup of shredded brussel sprouts I started with cooked down a lot...in the future I'll probably start with two cups. I could see this changed up a lot of different ways to incorporate whatever odds and ends I have around, ex. dried fruit with a flavored vinegar, topped with an egg or two, etc.

 

 

Be careful with that tracking. I find it's worked wonders for me too, but the truth is you don't need to know perfectly how or where everything is going or what it costs in terms of energy. It's okay to be inaccurate; the trick is being consistent with that inaccuracy. There's no quick way to get the results you're looking for, so give it time to work.

 

When I say track everything I don't mean in an obsessive sort of way. I've seen people get really out of hand with that. What typically happens is that I track until it becomes inconvenient to track...I go out to eat somewhere or just don't want to acknowledge how much I am eating. Pretty much within a day or two I come up with a reason that I can skip just this one time, and then I don't track for months. My desire is to remove the common excuses that trip me up.

 

 

Nice job with the weight loss! I am also tracking what I eat and find it helpful, so I hope it continues to work for you. 10 lbs is really great. 

 

How is Jiu Jitsu University? Is it hard to work on techniques by yourself? 

 

Keep it going! 

 

Thanks! Some drills are easy to work through alone, and you can pantomime the moves to a certain point (which might be good for you as you get further along in the elbow recovery process since there's no resistance). But these techniques are things I'll be incorporating into open mat sessions at the studio--something that up until recently I haven't taken full advantage of. 

[Kishi]

Fair enough! I tend to write and observe and advise from a position of having gone too far with tracking, but it sounds like you got it well in hand.

 

Shame about the brussels sprouts cooking down so much. Beyond that, though, it sounds like they must have been amazing!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

All that sounds good! I hear you about the tracking. I am trying not to be crazy and get it down to every last ingredient. Like today we had a huge lunch at work and I just put in "miscellaneous" and guessed the calories. It isn't exact but it is close enough for my purposes. It's probably not something I will do forever, but I do see it as a part of the next challenge or two. 

 

That is cool about the pantomining. I should be doing something, even if it is quite gentle and slow, to help me remember the movements. But of course I am not, haha. Fingers crossed I can get back to class by the end of the month. 

 

Keep it up! 

[courtneyc]

Midweek Check In

 

I am so glad I made tracking a pass/fail goal. It is ridiculous how easily I come up with reasons for why I shouldn't have to do it. What's important though is that I am staying committed to my plan. Emotional eating has been a real struggle...maybe struggle isn't the right word for falling face first into all the melted cheese I can find. This morning I did fix myself some greens at breakfast, which felt like starting the day out with something beneficial.

 

Warning: Post spirals into whining from here.

 

I've been so tired lately. Too many late nights, mostly from drinking caffeine too late in the day. I didn't go to bjj at all this week. I ordered a gi (my first so I can start going to the gi classes). I was so excited for it to get here, and when it did the pants were too tight...like 5-10 pounds too tight despite being within the weight range, which is maddening. So now more ordering, more waiting, more wondering if there are gi pants that can house my watermelon-sized ass while shaking my fist at the women's gi companies that only sell 'slim fit' pants. *hint* If someone is ordering from the 180-220 weight range, slim is not the cut they need. Consider curvy, plus-sized, or covered wagon a la Oregon Trail.

 

 

Okay, whine fest 2016 is officially over. *Dives into vat of cheese* *logs cheese diving in tracker*

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Midweek Check In

 

I am so glad I made tracking a pass/fail goal. It is ridiculous how easily I come up with reasons for why I shouldn't have to do it. What's important though is that I am staying committed to my plan. Emotional eating has been a real struggle...maybe struggle isn't the right word for falling face first into all the melted cheese I can find. This morning I did fix myself some greens at breakfast, which felt like starting the day out with something beneficial.

 

Warning: Post spirals into whining from here.

 

I've been so tired lately. Too many late nights, mostly from drinking caffeine too late in the day. I didn't go to bjj at all this week. I ordered a gi (my first so I can start going to the gi classes). I was so excited for it to get here, and when it did the pants were too tight...like 5-10 pounds too tight despite being within the weight range, which is maddening. So now more ordering, more waiting, more wondering if there are gi pants that can house my watermelon-sized ass while shaking my fist at the women's gi companies that only sell 'slim fit' pants. *hint* If someone is ordering from the 180-220 weight range, slim is not the cut they need. Consider curvy, plus-sized, or covered wagon a la Oregon Trail.

 

Okay, whine fest 2016 is officially over. *Dives into vat of cheese* *logs cheese diving in tracker*

I totally hear what you mean. It is really hard to untangle food from emotions. And when I exceed my calorie count or go off diet, I tend to them fall apart completely. My brain is just like, 'Well, if today you're going off the rails, you're going waaaaaaaaaay off. Let's get burgers and ice cream and soda and fries and then chocolate" and then I feel like crap and hate myself. But that's just me, boo. 

 

So you've been doing no gi? Wow, that is pretty badass. From what I understand, that requires much more technical ability, so that is cool.

 

Sorry to hear about the gi troubles, but you'll get them sorted. I did adore the Oregon Trail photo and reference though, that kinda made my morning. 

 

Keep ranting when you have to! That's what we're here for! 

['BoutThatActionBoss]

I just saw that Oregon Trail image again. It is so awesome. I spent many, many hours on that game as a kid. 

 

Did you have a good weekend? 

[courtneyc]

I just saw that Oregon Trail image again. It is so awesome. I spent many, many hours on that game as a kid. 

 

Did you have a good weekend? 

 

I know, right? I remember being so excited as a kid when computer lab day rolled around, because it meant it was time to ford rivers and watch my comically named pioneers die horrible deaths. 

 

The weekend was pretty good. Still lots of food, but it wasn't stress/feeling eating which I consider a big step up. And of course everything got logged, so I'm still on track with my main quest.

 

As for the gi/no-gi I don't have a lot of comparison without owning a gi. I hear that it is more fast-paced without lapels or sturdy pants to grab onto. Gi bjj sounds like it will be hot with all the layers, but I'm ready to give it a try. Pants are supposed to arrive today. *fingers crossed* that they'll do the trick.

[courtneyc]

Yay! Pants arrived and are sufficiently roomy for proper movement. They're a little long, but I think a trip through the wash will take care of that. So, tomorrow night gi class here I come!

[Kishi]

Sweet! Glad to hear that the uniform bottoms are here. I saw the rage, but I didn't get the chance to say anything. Sorry for that.

 

I hear that Gi'd BJJ permits a lot more technical play because you have an easier time getting to grips and applying leverage as a result. It has more of the chess-game feel as opposed to the rougher play with no-gi. Not that I know what I'm talking about.

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Oregon Trail is amazing. The illnesses were macabre but kinda cracked me up. I always died of freaking dysentery. Makes me be glad I was born when I was, haha. 

 

Yes on the pants! Have fun at class for me as I may be weeks/months away from doing another class. 

 

Good job with the challenge! Keep us posted on progress and let me know what you thought of gi v. no gi. I have heard more or less what Kishi heard as well. 

[courtneyc]

So I chickened out on going to the gi class last night after hearing we were supposed to get snow/ice. Of course the wintery mix ended up holding off until right after I would have gotten back home and was not as much as forecasted. It was a rough night of sleep though, interrupted by a sore throat and general feelings of ickiness, so maybe not the worst that I wasn't there to spread germs. I'll see how I'm feeling this afternoon and decide if no gi is happening tonight.

 

Tracking is still going strong. Up until now my goal has only been to track, not to stay around a particular number, but obviously if I want to lose weight I need to start cutting back on a regular basis. Given that I tend to rebel at the slightest signs of discomfort when it comes to food, I want to ease into this. I set LoseIt up with a half pound loss per week, which gives me a ridiculous number of calories. I'll probably stay here until the end of the challenge only bringing down the calories until I'm comfortably staying at or below that number for a week or so. 

 

That's all for now. Hope all you east coasters are ready for some snow!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Ha, not training BJJ when sick is probably something your training partners would appreciate! Have you been back to class yet? 

 

Glad to hear that the tracking is still going well. I went through something similar. Last challenge I really only worked on tracking my calories. This challenge I put an effort into keeping below the calorie minimum or just hitting it. Good  to start with small steps as well. I think any drastic calorie cut runs into the problem of being sustainable after awhile. 

 

Keep it up! 

[Kishi]

Yeah, no, grappling while sick. Don't do it. It's not being a good training partner. Don't be afraid to lay low and let your systems recover while the weather's bad.

 

With wanting to stay comfy in your weight loss, I would humbly advise you to pick and find high-satiety foods. Yes, you could technically lose weight and keep candy and such in your diet, but sugar burns out fast and it doesn't have staying power as far as keeping you from getting hungry. Some protein, some healthy fats, rice and potatoes if you need starches, and all the green veggies you can stomach. Feel free to eat some fruit if you crave sweet things - this will do more than you might think to mitigate that unpleasantness.

 

Good luck! We're with you!

[courtneyc]

Okay, really quick update, because there is only so long I can hide from my 5 year old before she finds me.

 

Tracking is going well. Staying at or below my calories is going well. My sanity? Lost, 2 closed school days ago.

 

This update was brought to you from my hiding place in the attic.

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Hahaha that was an awesome update. 

 

Good job with the tracking! And good luck with the sanity! You can do it! 

[Kishi]

Good job, ninja girl. Two more days. Keep going!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Courtneyc! I hope everything ended well in your challenge! Great to see you in my challenge as well, I always appreciate the support! 

[courtneyc]

Courtneyc! I hope everything ended well in your challenge! Great to see you in my challenge as well, I always appreciate the support! 

 

The challenge was a success. I didn't miss a single day of tracking, which is pretty huge for me. We had our weekend off, so now it's time for the next challenge!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

The challenge was a success. I didn't miss a single day of tracking, which is pretty huge for me. We had our weekend off, so now it's time for the next challenge!

 

Awesome job! Keep it going as we enter our next challenge (already)! 

 

Let's go!