CourtneyC vs. The Daily Tasks

[courtneyc]

Another month, another challenge! Is anyone else appreciating the brevity of these 4-week challenges? Something about 2 fewer weeks makes me feel like I can take on something a little more ambitious. Maybe not as good if you have a big goal you want to achieve but perfect for the commitment-phobic.

 

Last challenge I committed to daily tracking, and it went really well. There were a number of days when I wanted to quit, but the pass/fail component made me stick it out. So this challenge I plan to follow that style more.

 

Fitness

 

Core Strength: My core guys...it is frailer than a newborn kitten, and core strength is everything when you've got someone sitting on top of you and you need to get off your back. So daily core training is happening this February (with Sundays as a rest day). I'll start at 10 slow bicycles, 20 sit ups, and a 30 second plank for now, and move up if that gets too easy. (Pass/Fail)

 

BJJ Training: I have a gi! That opens up a whole new world of classes I can take at my studio. There are early morning classes, midday ones, and evening ones. This month I want to make it to 4 bjj classes/open mats per week. Assuming I don't get terribly injured...(Pass/Fail)

 

Weight Loss

 

Continue daily tracking with a new goal of not exceeding my weekly calorie allotment. (Pass/Fail)

 

Life

 

Mindfulness: I would like to be more aware of my thoughts and emotions, rather than letting them lead me through my day. I've become more aware lately that I don't notice my agitation or rising stress level until I've already raised my voice, searched my kitchen for cheese and sweets, and so on. A daily meditation session seems a good first step. I've heard a lot of positive feedback about Headspace, so I'm going to give that a try for the month of February. (Pass/Fail) 

 

Writing: Meet a weekly word count of 7,500 words (Pass/Fail)

 

Rewards

 

Now we get to the most exciting part: the awesome prizes!

 

Hitting my Life Quest goals earns me one afternoon of guilt-free leisure time reading and enjoying a glass of wine at one of the restaurants downtown. Meeting my tracking goal unlocks a rash guard purchase. And for the meeting the Fitness goals: new gi pants. 

 

 

[Kishi]

I find myself digging on this new approach. It feels faster and gamier, for lack of a better adjective.

 

For core work, one thing to consider is learning hardstyle breathing. It's good for learning how to maintain tension in the core whilst still breathing. Obviously you don't want to just sit under there or comport yourself tensely all the time, but it's a good contingency, I think.

 

I like the rewards! I hope you earn them all!

[courtneyc]

Core Exercises: Yes

Training: 1/4

Tracking: Yes

Meditation: Yep

Weekly Word Count: 2,065

 

Day 1 was a success! 

 

I went to my first real gi class tonight...damn, does it get hot under all that fabric! Sweatiness aside, the gi class was amazing. First off, all the upper belts and a few people I know from kickboxing are at this class, and upper belts rock. They don't get awkward about rolling with a woman, you can learn a ton from them. Plus the gi slows everything down and gives more handholds, giving me a little more time to think. Tomorrow I'm trying out the midday class. Yay!

 

My first meditation session was nice. I've shied away from meditation in the past, because I always imagined it to be this thing where I sit in silence for x number of minutes with nothing happening. It sounded kind of boring and like one more thing I had to do the mental execution work for, but guided meditation was pretty good. I'm looking forward to trying it again tomorrow. 

 

Now, time for rest. 

[courtneyc]

Day 2

 

Core Exercises: 2/6

Training: 2/4

Tracking: 2/7

Meditation: 2/7

Weekly Word Count: 2,765

 

Another good day yesterday. The midday bjj class was interesting; it's kind of like getting a sneak peak at what the upper belt class is like while being a white belt. I got to work with a black belt the whole class, which was amazing. At the end we worked on a flow rolling drill with arm bars and arm bar escapes. I had no idea there were so many different ways to be put in an arm bar! 

 

I started a bjj notebook this week to help solidify the moves I'm learning and write down issues I run up against during class or rolling. Auditory learning is by far my weakest learning style, so I'm hoping this will help me interact with the material in a way that encourages retention.

[WhiteBeltBrowncoat]

Sounds like you've got some awesome classes ahead of you. I really like the idea of keeping a notebook. I'm wishing that I had started one now.

[Lou_be_Lou]

Superb looking challenge!  I like how structured you've made it. Plus - REWARDS!!!!

Brilliant.

[courtneyc]

Sounds like you've got some awesome classes ahead of you. I really like the idea of keeping a notebook. I'm wishing that I had started one now.

 

Thanks, and it's never too late to start.

 

 

Superb looking challenge!  I like how structured you've made it. Plus - REWARDS!!!!

Brilliant.

 

Thanks! Rewards are always good. I've already had a few night where I've forgotten the ab exercises until right before bed, but the thought of not getting my prize because I couldn't deal with a few minutes of work keeps me committed. 

 

Day 5

 

Core Exercises: 5/6

Training: 4/4

Tracking: 5/7

Meditation: 5/7

Weekly Word Count: 3,070

 

So far the first week is going extremely well. I'm beginning to adjust mentally to keeping within a caloric range, adjusting one day if the previous went over a little. Honestly seeing how I have to pick and choose where my calories go I'm kind of shocked my weight wasn't going up before. No complaints of course that it wasn't, but really, where was all that food going? Currently, I'm not including my workouts in my daily calorie count. If I find myself getting really hungry consistently or the intensity increases to a high level I might consider it. But it seems like it would be very easy to be overly generous with what gets burned.

 

Writing has been the trouble spot this week. Part of that is the increased training time. Those day time bjj classes end up knocking out nearly half my working hours. They tend to run a little long. Then by the time I'm home and cleaned up it's time to pick up the wee one from school. Today I was editing a short story for a writing group tonight...editing is a slippery slope for me. I get so caught up in thinking about clarifying the direction of a piece, character motivations, descriptions, dialogue. It's incredibly time consuming and does nothing for building up that word count. BUT it is a skill that needs improving (anyone else seeing the seeds of a future challenge component?). Anyway, I have some serious writing to tend to this weekend, if I want to make my goal.

 

Otherwise, things are going well. The in-laws are coming over tomorrow, and I'm making braised short ribs with pureed sweet potatoes. Chocolate cake with raspberry sauce is for dessert. Better be conservative with the morning/midday calories.   

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Jumping in like Han Solo at the end of Star Wars, a bit late but just in time to provide support. 

 

Great start to the challenge! I am so jealous of the BJJ classes and it is great that they have been so positive. 

 

KEEP IT UP! 

[courtneyc]

Jumping in like Han Solo at the end of Star Wars, a bit late but just in time to provide support. 

 

Great start to the challenge! I am so jealous of the BJJ classes and it is great that they have been so positive. 

 

KEEP IT UP! 

 

Ha! Good to hear from you. I was hoping you would show up this challenge.

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Courtneyc, I wouldn't miss it. Keep me posted on the BJJ and your progress. You will be my training proxy.

 

Glad to hear that the current class has good people that are comfortable about rolling with women. Time to make them feel uncomfortable about you throwing some crazy submissions though! 

 

I may have missed this, but are you a professional writer? Or are the words just for funsues? I got an MA in journalism but never used it, and I am always threatening to try to do work on the side for some extra income but never do it. 

 

Go get it! 

[courtneyc]

I may have missed this, but are you a professional writer? Or are the words just for funsues? I got an MA in journalism but never used it, and I am always threatening to try to do work on the side for some extra income but never do it. 

 

I'm an aspiring professional writer. My daughter's in kindergarten this year, so I'm using my new found free time to hone my skills. Currently working on the first draft of a science fiction novel, which is where most of those words are going, but I also write the occasional short story.

[courtneyc]

Day 7-ish

 

Core Exercises: 6/6

Training: 5/4

Tracking: 6/7

Meditation: 6/7

Weekly Word Count: 3,070

 

Oh jeezy creezy, that word count! I don't think I've ever written over 4,400 words in a day before, but you better believe I'm going to try my best to make it happen. There's no way I'm getting this close to a perfect week and letting it slip away without a fight.

 

Cue Eye of the Tiger and

 

[Kishi]

Get those words! Sprint for it! The night's not over yet!

[courtneyc]

Day 7

 

Core Exercises: 6/6

Training: 5/4

Tracking: 7/7

Meditation: 7/7

Weekly Word Count: 7,524

 

 

Word count met. Time to meditate and stick a fork in week 1.

 

*no bears were harmed in the meeting of today's word count*

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Incredible gif. I am saving for use at some other time. 

 

Keep tossing those bears. 

['BoutThatActionBoss]

You think that bear was just like 'Damn, well, that took I turn I didn't expect.'

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Also: I forgot to write this before, but that is way cool that you are doing a book. I think writing an ebook is on my bucket list. But I could never do fiction so much much much respect for that. Get it done! 

[courtneyc]

Week 2 Day 1

 

Core Exercises: 1/6

Training: 1/4

Tracking: 1/7

Meditation: 1/7

Weekly Word Count: 0

 

I was really dragging yesterday...pretty much just felt like sleeping all day. My mom had the day off, so I spent it with her catching up over lunch. We did a little shopping afterwards, something that since having my daughter I've lost interest in.

 

It just wasn't as fun when I'd always play the guessing game of "will anything in the store fit me?" It usually doesn't help that when I'd go out with my mom she'd complain about how fat she felt, and if she could just lose 10-15 pounds, she could get out of her fat clothes. I think she wears a size 6 or 8? So while she's wondering which single digit size to get, I'm wondering if they even make my size. Sometimes I'd make a joke about it, hoping she'd begin to see that I might not be the appropriate person to complain to about these things, but it never stopped her. I guess people get stuck in their own worlds when it comes to body stuff.

 

Anyway, yesterday I actually initiated the shopping idea, because I'm ready to wear clothes I feel good in. I think a lot of that shift has come about thanks to training harder in bjj. It's not that my body is physically much smaller but that I appreciate what it can do more. I think less about what size my arms or legs are when I'm thinking about how to use them to escape mount, evade yet another triangle (damn you triangles!), or get a choke.

 

And guess what? Shopping was fun! I bought shirts and sweaters and even a dress that (gasp!) stops a little above my knees. I hesitated for a moment with that dress. I honestly thought to myself, "have my knees earned the right to be seen out in public." which is obviously some toxic garbage. Then I remembered that the legs I was criticizing are the same ones that carry me through class and are one day going to put someone else in a triangle, and I kicked that thought to the curb where it belongs.

 

It was an all around good experience, except maybe for the credit card. 

 

Today will be a bit of a wildcard. It's snowing and school is out, so I'll have to be creative getting the writing time in. I'm not sure what that will mean for the midday bjj class either. Hope everyone is getting a good start on week 2!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Sorry to hear about the shopping issues. People can be like that sometimes, as if they lose all sense of perspective. I have a friend who complains about money sometimes but he owns a car, a house and takes lots of vacations, lives in a cheap part of the country and is now thinking of making real estate investments. I can BARELY afford to buy a bike tire this month. In fact, I walked home 4.5 miles after the Super Bowl because I didn't want to pay for a taxi or Uber after my bike broke. 

 

That is cool that you are having a shift in your thinking. In the Nerdfitness blog last week, Steve spoke about how he is focusing more on function and doing things rather than lbs and I think there is value in that. In focusing on what we CAN accomplish. So keep it up! 

 

Those mount escapes are no joke. If you know any good ones, send them my way! 

[Terra]

Hi - I was looking around at the Monks and your challenge grabbed my attention!  I've recently gotten into BJJ myself and am just loving the classes!  Since I'm considering a dual Monk/Ranger challenge next month I'm gonna find a few Monks and follow you.  And you got chosen first, so...  Hi!

[courtneyc]

Sorry to hear about the shopping issues. People can be like that sometimes, as if they lose all sense of perspective. I have a friend who complains about money sometimes but he owns a car, a house and takes lots of vacations, lives in a cheap part of the country and is now thinking of making real estate investments. I can BARELY afford to buy a bike tire this month. In fact, I walked home 4.5 miles after the Super Bowl because I didn't want to pay for a taxi or Uber after my bike broke. 

 

That is cool that you are having a shift in your thinking. In the Nerdfitness blog last week, Steve spoke about how he is focusing more on function and doing things rather than lbs and I think there is value in that. In focusing on what we CAN accomplish. So keep it up! 

 

Those mount escapes are no joke. If you know any good ones, send them my way! 

 

Yeah, I think we all have those moments where we are a little oblivious. I try not to, but I'm sure I'm still guilty of it from time to time. I really enjoyed Steve's article, too. I know some people find tracking stats through pictures, the scale, or measurements exciting, but I've always found that when I start looking at that stuff I go off the rails the fastest. 

 

 

Hi - I was looking around at the Monks and your challenge grabbed my attention!  I've recently gotten into BJJ myself and am just loving the classes!  Since I'm considering a dual Monk/Ranger challenge next month I'm gonna find a few Monks and follow you.  And you got chosen first, so...  Hi!

 

Glad to have you around, Terra! We are a bjj loving group around here. What are your Ranger interests?

 

Week 2 Day 2

 

Core Exercises: 3/6

Training: 2/4

Tracking: 3/7

Meditation: 3/7

Weekly Word Count: 2,265

 

Tonight's class was rough. I felt nauseous as soon as we started moving, and the assortment of bear crawls, crab walks, kangaroo jumps, and monkeys at warm up put me in a precarious state. I took the rest of the class at an easier pace than my usual and skipped rolling. I don't think it is a stomach virus...maybe my light dinner just didn't settle in right? I managed to get the ab workout in immediately after though, which I count as a victory considering the circumstances.

 

Meditation keeps getting pushed off to the end of the day. Bedtime is not my preferred time. Reading is my wind down activity, and I appreciate the calm clarity my 10 minute sessions gives me more as apart of my working day. So tomorrow I'll prioritize that for the morning before I sit down to write.

 

Only 4.5 hours of sleep happened last night, because that's how life is sometimes. Time to get some real rest. Goodnight fellow nerds!

['BoutThatActionBoss]

Sorry to hear about the stomach issues, that is never fun! Especially during BJJ. At least you got that ab workout on lock though! 

 

I hear that about the meditation later in the day. I did my 10 minutes after work yesterday, and I fell asleep for most of it. Which isn't the point. Plus if I sleep after work, it tends to energize me for the rest of the night. 

 

I hope you got a lot of sleep last night! 

[Terra]

Thanks for the welcome! The BJJ has become a huge part of my workout regime and the professor has pull my whole family into his extended BJJ family, so it has been really awesome! I also attend a conditioning class that he also teaches and it mostly body weight strength training. In the past I've tried running (but that has resulted in foot surgery), I like hiking and rucking, skiing, golf, weight lifting and I just want to be ready for anything interesting that comes my way.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Kishi]

Yeah, Courtney, sometimes you just have a bad day. They happen. Bodies are funny like that. I hope you get to feeling better and that everything goes where it's supposed to.

[courtneyc]

Week 2 Day 4

 

Core Exercises: 4/6

Training: 3/4

Tracking: 4/7

Meditation: 4/7

Weekly Word Count: 3,809

 

I'm keeping it brief tonight, because I'm exhausted and Battlestar Galactica reruns are calling my name.

 

Training was much better today than yesterday! Stuck around after class to roll for awhile. The daytime Tuesday/Thursday class at my studio is bjj-lite. So, the training portion is at a regular, exhausting level but roll time is all about taking out the speed and strength and focusing fully on technique. It's a great way for me to focus in on my grips and practice some of the techniques I'm learning in class without getting muscled out of a hold straight away. 

 

Okay, time to get my Starbuck fix.