1st Challenge for The Scarlet Pimpernel

[Teancum]

Hey everyone!

 

I'm a 26 year old medical student looking to lose some weight so I can be a good example for my future patients, and my family. I have been overweight my whole life, and have had several partially successful and unsuccessful attempts to lose weight throughout my life.

 

I'm looking forward to starting in this community though, because through those attempts I've learned that having ongoing support is absolutely essential for success long-term. I also love the idea of turning it into a game- leveling up and completing quests sounds much more motivating than "going on a diet" haha.

 

Here are the quests for my first 4-week challenge!

 

Diet:

 

Eat paleo at least 2 days each week

 

Fitness:

 

Complete Beginner Body Weight workout at least once per week

 

Spend 10 minutes stretching at least 3x per week

 

 

I tried the body weight workout a few days ago, I could barely walk the next day, and my muscles are still sore! So I'm taking it pretty slow this first month, and I hope the stretching will help me overcome the muscle pain and be able to get back into it sooner.

 

Thanks for the support, excited to see everyone's progress!

 

 

[CJ the (soon-to-be) Mighty]

You look like you have some pretty good goals in mind for your first challenge.  Good luck to you!

[GothicBeeza]

Awesome goals. Will be following along.

[Teancum]

I guess it's time for an update!

 

I've been really busy with school so I haven't had much time to get on the forums. Things have been going pretty well on my challenge so far though.

 

I've been sick with a bad cold the last few days, so I am putting off my body weight workout until the end of the week. I do however find that I am looking forward to when I can breathe again so I can do it. Imagine that, looking forward to exercise!

 

I have been able to eat paleo for all three days so far this week, so that goal (at least twice a week) is accomplished for this week! Tomorrow I have an event where I probably won't be able to do it, but I hope that for the rest of the day tomorrow and for the rest of the week I'll still be able to stick with it.

 

I've been behind on my stretching, but I'm going to go do it right now so I can get one of the days under my belt for the week.

 

Hope everyone else is doing well too!

[CJ the (soon-to-be) Mighty]

Congrats on the 3 days of paleo, I am slowly working towards shifting my diet that way (I still have a ways to go).  I hope you are feeling better soon, because working out while sick is the worst.  Keep up the good work!

[dancezwithkittehz]

Welcome to the rebellion!

 

And ughhh  I hope you feel better soon. It's totally OK to wait on the workout goals until you are healthy enough, but still booo sick

[bambooroo]

Being sick is terrible, feel better soon! I also want to be an assassin, I hear they a have a secret handshake and everything.

[Teancum]

Being sick is terrible, feel better soon! I also want to be an assassin, I hear they a have a secret handshake and everything.

 

Haha, although Assassin definitely appeals to me (maybe once I get closer to my goal weight), I have no idea how that tag got there!

[bambooroo]

Haha, although Assassin definitely appeals to me (maybe once I get closer to my goal weight), I have no idea how that tag got there!

Haha no worries! My husband is finishing up his residency but I remember his med school days. You can do it!

[fleaball]

Haha, although Assassin definitely appeals to me (maybe once I get closer to my goal weight), I have no idea how that tag got there!

Guild leaders tag newb threads based on goals, so people from the guilds and with similar goals can find you. They're like magical ninjas. 

[Teancum]

Guild leaders tag newb threads based on goals, so people from the guilds and with similar goals can find you. They're like magical ninjas. 

 

Ahhh, that makes sense! Thanks!

[Teancum]

Week 1 Report!!!

 

This week was really good! I did my body weight workout yesterday, and I don't hurt as much today as I did the day after last time! That's some nice progress haha. Got all of my stretching in, albeit mostly near the end of the week. I did really well eating paleo too, I think I got 4 days in this week. However, on the days that I didn't eat paleo, I ate more than I should have. I've always had trouble having an "all or nothing" attitude about things, so I need to work on making good choices even when I'm not having a full paleo day.

 

Best of all I was able to lose 6 lbs this week! It's nice to see my good choices having an effect!

 

For the coming week I hope to work on accomplishing my goals earlier in the week, and making better choices on my off days.

 

Thanks for the support everyone! Keep up the good work!

[CJ the (soon-to-be) Mighty]

I totally, understand the "all or nothing: mentality about eating healthy (that's why I have to make myself chart everything or it get's over the top).  Congrats on the weight loss and keep up the great work!

[Teancum]

A much delayed update!

 

On Monday I had an event with non-paleo food, but I think I did pretty well. I ate paleo the rest of the day, and I made sure to grab lots of fruit and veggies before enjoying my pizza haha. I had 3 slices when 2 probably would have suffice, but I avoided the temptation to eat cookies and a 4th slice, so I'll call that a win.

 

Tuesday I was able to get one of my stretching sessions in, and ate paleo all day.

 

Paleo on Wednesday too. Also on the days when I haven't been stretching or doing the body weight workout I've been trying to get in a 10 minute walk. It's not much, and not my current challenge, but it's more than I was doing before which is always a good thing.

 

I might try to do the body weight workout again today. My soreness has been going away faster each time, which is very encouraging!

[Teancum]

Update for week 2:

 

I got my two paleo days in early, so I accomplished my goal there, but I didn't do as well this week on the rest of the days. I didn't ever pig out like I have in the past so that was good, but there were definitely a few times I didn't make the smartest choices. For next week I think I'm going to try to do 4 paleo days, just to keep myself more accountable.

 

I did the body weight workout on Friday, and greatly improved over last week! I was finally able to do all the lunges, and I even had enough left in me to do 2 sets (although with diminished reps on the second set). I also got in all three stretching sessions, and several 10 minute walks on the off days.

 

Unfortunately despite accomplishing all my goals for the week, I gained some weight since last week. I kind of expected it though, because last week's loss was abnormally large (so probably inaccurate), and like I said, I didn't always make the best eating choices this week. 

 

Here's to some weight loss next week (hopefully), and trying to improve on my goals!

[Teancum]

Good week so far!

 

I ate paleo yesterday, and am doing well so far today as well. That would complete my original goal, but in light of my weight gain last week I am going to try for 4 days this week.

 

I did my body weight workout today! I improved since the last one, and it's only been 4 days since last time, rather than a full week. I'm hoping to do it again near the end of this week if I can! Working up to every other day, which will probably be my goal next challenge.

 

I stretched yesterday and today, so just one more time to meet my goal!

[Teancum]

With stretching yesterday I have succeeded in my challenge for the week!

 

I am still hoping to do one more day of paleo (hopefully today, possibly Sunday) for four total, and one more body weight workout (for a total of 2, probably Saturday evening).

 

It's nice that I'm getting to a point where I can try to exceed my goals. I hope that it is a sign that the habits are starting to stick!

[dancezwithkittehz]

It sounds like you are kicking ass on your goals! YAY! 

 

Are you also checking measurements in addition to checking your weight? I find measuring to be a bit more accurate gauge of things vs actually weighing myself, especially since weight can fluctuate from day to day and that's totally normal! Also keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. So sometimes weight can be weird!  I weigh more now than I did in my fluffier days but I also am super strong now with lots of dense muscle!

[Teancum]

8 hours ago, dancezwithkittehz said:

Are you also checking measurements in addition to checking your weight? I find measuring to be a bit more accurate gauge of things vs actually weighing myself, especially since weight can fluctuate from day to day and that's totally normal! Also keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. So sometimes weight can be weird!  I weigh more now than I did in my fluffier days but I also am super strong now with lots of dense muscle!

I haven't been doing measurements yet. I feel like it would be difficult to get a consistent reading, but that's probably because I don't know what I'm doing! Haha. Do you know any good resources for how to do it properly?

 I have been monitoring how my clothes are fitting, and I think my face may have thinned out a bit since I started. Also now that I've been tracking reps for my workouts, it's another way to see improvement (which has been great and very motivating!)

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Consistency in where you measure sure can be helpful.  See if you have any distinguishing marks to use as a guide for where the tape measure lands.  This is one video that might help.  

[Teancum]

Check-in for the week:

 

As I mentioned a few days ago, I was able to meet all my goals (body weight workout, paleo eating, and stretching) pretty early on this week. So that was a plus!

 

I had hoped to keep going strong into the weekend, and reach beyond my goals a bit... that part didn't go so well. I did do one extra paleo day, but I didn't get in the extra workout unfortunately. I also didn't eat too well yesterday, and I caved a bit with dessert at my in-law's tonight. I was able to lose one more pound this week though, so that was good to see.

 

I find that I am very on/off when it comes to healthy choices: if it's a "paleo day" I do pretty well at avoiding temptation, but as soon as I get it in my head that I'm "off" for the day (for example if there is some meal I can't avoid) then I end up coming home and eating chocolate and gummies because "I already ate something not paleo today anyways". I know that's definitely not the way to go about making healthy changes, but it is a very tough habit to break!

 

Any suggestions from others who have had this problem on things that have helped?

[Teancum]

Check-in for the week:

 

As I mentioned a few days ago, I was able to meet all my goals (body weight workout, paleo eating, and stretching) pretty early on this week. So that was a plus!

 

I had hoped to keep going strong into the weekend, and reach beyond my goals a bit... that part didn't go so well. I did do one extra paleo day, but I didn't get in the extra workout unfortunately. I also didn't eat too well yesterday, and I caved a bit with dessert at my in-law's tonight. I was able to lose one more pound this week though, so that was good to see.

 

I find that I am very on/off when it comes to healthy choices: if it's a "paleo day" I do pretty well at avoiding temptation, but as soon as I get it in my head that I'm "off" for the day (for example if there is some meal I can't avoid) then I end up coming home and eating chocolate and gummies because "I already ate something not paleo today anyways". I know that's definitely not the way to go about making healthy changes, but it is a very tough habit to break!

 

Any suggestions from others who have had this problem on things that have helped?

[Teancum]

So far week 4 has gone pretty well!

 

I was able to eat paleo both Monday and Tuesday, so that takes care of the challenge goal, but I'm still trying to go for four days this week. Today is my "off day" and unfortunately I haven't eaten very well. Like I said in my last post, that's definitely one of my big challenges.

 

I also did a body weight workout and some stretching yesterday. I've been doing better at lunges, almost completing the full set in the second round, but my push-ups went down this week from last time. I'm going to try to get at least one more workout in this week, and if i can't do it every other day I'll try to do push ups just so I can continue getting my reps up.

[Teancum]

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All the Easter food! And more tomorrow! Ugghhhhh

 

I'm going to do a workout tonight so I don't feel quite so fat. I'm not looking forward to weighing in tomorrow morning though...

[SnowOwl]

 

On March 21, 2016 at 10:04 PM, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

I find that I am very on/off when it comes to healthy choices: if it's a "paleo day" I do pretty well at avoiding temptation, but as soon as I get it in my head that I'm "off" for the day (for example if there is some meal I can't avoid) then I end up coming home and eating chocolate and gummies because "I already ate something not paleo today anyways". I know that's definitely not the way to go about making healthy changes, but it is a very tough habit to break!

 

Any suggestions from others who have had this problem on things that have helped?

 

I've found I don't do well with non-daily goals - like doing something a few times a week. I'm not sure if the same thing would work for you, but maybe you could switch from 2 days a week to one paleo meal each day or no sugar-snacking at all and then move into your paleo meals? Just something that allows you to make gradual progress each day. Then you can report in daily too and get encouragement - another thing that makes a big difference for me.

 

Congrats on completing your first challenge!