Introducing The Scarlet Pimpernel: the Big, Bad Assassin

[Teancum]

Hello everyone!

 

Having successfully completed my first challenge in the rebel ranks, I am excited to join the Assassin's guild!

 

The title of my post is "the Big Bad Assassin" and I mean those things literally. I am currently about 277 lbs, and the farthest thing from a capable assassin (lol can you imagine centaur trying to sneak up on anyone?). BUT! That is where I would like to end up, and I think the best way to do that is to train with, and get advice and support from you wonderful people.

 

For this challenge I am extending some of my goals from the first challenge, and grouping them according to attribute: 

 

Speed/Dexterity: Play ping-pong once per week

Strength: Do body weight workout twice each week

Stamina: Walk/run for 30 min 3x each week

Flexibility: Stretch for 10 min 4x each week

Diet: Eat paleo(ish) for 5 days each week

 

Upon deciding my goals I found they make a nice little pattern- my starting steps to assassinhood. Cue the music:

 

 

My tracking sheet is as follows:

 

0               Play Ping-pong

0 0            Bodyweight workout

0 0 0         Walk/run for 30 min

0 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

0 0 0 0 0   Eat paleo

I've started all ready (having a rest week doesn't suit me well- especially with all the Easter candy around the house) with a pre-challenge week to try out the new goals. My progress so far:

 

0               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Bodyweight workout

0 0 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

X 0 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

Here's to another great challenge!

 

[Hazard]

Welcome to The Guild!

 

 

[Jonesy]

Welcome to the assassins!  

 

[suzyQlou]

Hey there.  It's my first challenge over here with the assassins, too, so I thought I'd say hi.  It will be fun figuring out how these challenges roll over here.

 

I like your weekly chart.  Very visual.  I can tell that your week zero is kicking off strong right from the start!

 

[Cataleya]

Welcome to the best guild! 

[Teancum]

Yesterday was pretty good! I ate paleo again (even though I was really tempted with Easter candy at night). I also got in my half hour walk (it was beautiful yesterday!)

 

0               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Bodyweight workout

X 0 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

Today is an off-day for paleo, so I'm going to try to enjoy some mini eggs (aka crack) without going overboard. I also plan to get a stretch in and hopefully play some ping pong!

[Teancum]

I had too many mini-eggs yesterday (surprise, surprise) but at least they were planned. I think that's the main goal for me diet-wise right now, is to change my relationship with food so that even if I eat crap or eat too much it is on a day/meal that I planned to do it so I'm still in control (somewhat).

 

No ping-pong either: it's tough when you have to rely on getting someone else to play, which is why I only made it once a week. I did go for a nice walk and get my stretching in though!

 

0               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Body-weight workout

X X 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X X 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

Today is a paleo day, and I hope to get in a body-weight workout and stretch

[suzyQlou]

Absolutely relating to the mini-eggs.  There's a difference between idly eating too much candy and planning to indulge in a favorite treat.  Enjoy the special treat, no regrets!  Enjoy the healthy paleo choices the next day, too.

[Teancum]

Today was tough, but I pushed through! I ate paleo yesterday and today, but I had so many cravings. I need to get to bed before I snap and eat the whole house haha.

 

I didn't get the body weight workout in yesterday, I was crazy busy all day with school. Tomorrow though. I played ping pong today too so that was great! I can't believe how fast this week has been going. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I'm excited to start the real challenge this week.

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Body-weight workout

X X 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X X 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X X X 0   Eat paleo

[Teancum]

Bodyweight workout and stretching done!

 

I'm proud of myself because for the first time I was able to complete the full number of reps for one set of the beginner bodyweight workout (doing knee push-ups - but at least I did 10!) The push-ups have have definitely been my hold up, but I've progressed a lot, and hope to continue to do so!

 

Tomorrow I will eat paleo, go for a walk and stretch again to finish up the week!

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X X            Body-weight workout

X X 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X X X 0      Stretch 10min

X X X X 0   Eat paleo

[Phayze]

Welcome to the assassins, Sir Blakeney!

Are you a Pimpernel fan for literary, musical, or cinematic reasons? I'm all in on the '82 movie version, and read some of the novels. ^^

Sent from my XT1028 using Tapatalk

[Teancum]

14 hours ago, Phayze said:

Welcome to the assassins, Sir Blakeney!

Are you a Pimpernel fan for literary, musical, or cinematic reasons? I'm all in on the '82 movie version, and read some of the novels. ^^

Sent from my XT1028 using Tapatalk

 

You're the first to get the reference! '82 movie all the way! I should read the books sometime though

[Teancum]

Zero-week is completed! And successfully!

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X X            Body-weight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X X X      Stretch 10min

X X X X X   Eat paleo

 

It was so nice today so I enjoyed my walk. I found a great place to do hill sprints... when I'm about 50 pounds lighter haha. Just walking up them winded me. But it was good because it's a bit more energy than my normal walks give me.

 

Despite doing well on the challenge, I gained a little weight. On my off day yesterday I definitely ate more than I needed to. So that considered, staying at about the same place is pretty good. I am feeling better and advancing in my workout abilities, and that's what is even more motivating right now. I know if I can keep building these good habits the weight will come!

 

I think my goals for this challenge will be good. They do push me a bit, but they are certainly doable. Excited to officially start the challenge!

[Teancum]

Day 1 update: Played ping pong, went for a 45 minute walk, ate paleo

 

X               Play Ping-pong

0 0            Bodyweight workout

X 0 0         Walk/run for 30 min

0 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

X 0 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

I keep getting so tempted to eat garbage in the evenings. I usually end up eating some nuts (possibly what's keeping my weight up, but still paleo and healthier than the alternatives)

[suzyQlou]

Evenings are tough.   Are you hungry at night or is it just the habit of snackIng that's getting to you?   You might try planning out an evening snack ahead of time if you're not happy with the nuts.  Nuts are darn convenient, but portion sizes are tricky.  If you plan ahead for something a little less convenient like a hard-boiled egg, it might be just as satisfying without worrying so much about portion size.

[Teancum]

57 minutes ago, suzyQlou said:

Evenings are tough.   Are you hungry at night or is it just the habit of snackIng that's getting to you?   You might try planning out an evening snack ahead of time if you're not happy with the nuts.  Nuts are darn convenient, but portion sizes are tricky.  If you plan ahead for something a little less convenient like a hard-boiled egg, it might be just as satisfying without worrying so much about portion size.

 

Good thinking! There's a bit of hunger there, but I think most of it is just habit. Especially when my wife is snacking on something. 

[Teancum]

Day 2 (is it really only Tuesday?):

 

X               Play Ping-pong

0 0            Bodyweight workout

X X 0         Walk/run for 30 min

0 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

Ate paleo today (not as hard as yesterday) and went for a walk. I think I'll start getting more than 3 walks a week, because now that it's nicer out I like to walk home from the train station, which is just about half an hour so it's perfect. I also played ping-pong again today! I'm not going to record extras because I don't want to mess up my staircase haha. I've also doing some incline push ups for the mini! Should see some barrage action coming soon!

 

Body weight workout tomorrow, and some stretching. I've been saving stretching for the day of the workout and the day after, because that's when I feel it helps the most.

 

I've been thinking about my diet today, and I think my paleo(ish) approach will work, if I can get my off-days a bit more under control. The only thing with the paleo(ish) that I'm a little worried about is sauces. I haven't been to strict on them, focusing instead on the substance of the meal, but I know they can add a fair amount of calories (have you ever seen the calories in a salad from Wendy's or McDonald's? Yikes!) Any tips for knowing how much of a sauce to use, or good substitutions?

[Teancum]

Didn't report yesterday, but it was pretty bad, so there wasn't much to report - I did go for a 30 minute walk, but it was one of my off-days for diet and I ate worse than I intended again. That's ok though. Right now I'm focusing on making sure I do eat paleo on my scheduled days, then I'll work on not pigging out on my other days.

 

Today however, was great! I ended up doing every single one of my goals today! (even though ping pong and walking have already been met). Like I said last time, I've been walking home from the train station instead of taking the bus since it's been really nice out. The one downside of today is that my back started really hurting! I hope it'll be better tomorrow after some sleep and some more stretching, but it's a bit frustrating right now. I didn't do anything specific to it in my workout or anything, just achy lower back

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X X 0 0   Eat paleo

[Teancum]

So it seems I've officially thrown out my back

 

I talked to a physiotherapist friend at school, and he thinks it's likely that since I've started exercising more I've been slowly wearing it down by using it to compensate for my weak abs (no surprise there really).

 

As such, I'm having to modify my goals a bit until my back is back in business. Instead of the full body weight workout, I will count it if I do some stretches and core exercises that he recommended to help my back. Hopefully if I can keep it moving as much as possible I'll be able to get back to my workouts soon! (After all this progress I really don't want to slide back!)

 

As for my other goals, I've been killing the ping-pong and walks this week, I've done both almost every day! Also ate paleo yesterday, so one more day tomorrow.

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X X 0      Stretch 10min

X X X X 0   Eat paleo

[Teancum]

I completed my goals for the week, but I was really tempted to throw in the towel and stuff my face today. I gained some weight again.  I felt pretty good about this week too. It's demoralizing, but I'm trying to remind myself that this is a long game and I need to be patient. Hopefully I'll see some progress this week! My back is still out (slowly getting better), so again this week I'll count my bodyweight workout for doing my stretches and core strengthening each day.

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X X            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X X X      Stretch 10min

X X X X X   Eat paleo

[Jonesy]

I hope your back gets better! 

 

Looks like you still had a good first week.  

[Teancum]

Today was an off day for diet, but I feel like I didn't go too crazy. I got in my 30 minute walk from the train station, and did my back stretches and core exercises, including some planks for the mini. My back is rehabilitating pretty well- I feel better each day, so I hope that by next week I'll be able to start on the full workouts again.

 

0               Play Ping-pong

0 0            Bodyweight workout

X 0 0         Walk/run for 30 min

X 0 0 0      Stretch 10min

0 0 0 0 0   Eat paleo

[Teancum]

Reporting for two days here:

My back is starting to feel a bit better. It still hurts, but I've stopped using Voltaren and can get through the day, so that's good. I've been working on my stretches and core strengthening (hooray planks for the mini!). I also got in 30 minute walks both yesterday and today, and ate paleo. Ping pong yesterday as well.

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X 0            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

I'm glad I'm doing well on my goals, I just hope the weight will follow!

[Teancum]

Did some more ping pong today, and an extra walk. Those goals have turned out to be easier than I thought they would be (thanks to willing friends and great weather!) I have a big test at school tomorrow (neurology) so my workout today consisted of doing a bunch of planks for the mini while studying! It actually worked out pretty well, and I really think they've been helping my back feel better. Hooray for multitasking!

 

I started out the day eating Paleo, but when I got home my wife had made a chicken pot pie. I still had another off-day for diet left, but I was hoping to save it for the weekend. So we'll see how that goes. It can be hard to stick to a diet when the person who often prepares food in your house is not.

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X X            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

[Teancum]

Today was a MAJOR fail challenge-wise.

 

As for positives, I did decently well on my test, and I played some more ping-pong and walked again (but those goals are already completed for the week in the challenge). It was supposed to be a paleo day, and started out like it, but went downhill quick in the afternoon. One thing led to another and here I am feeling like crap after eating way too much for the second day in a row. So I won't complete that goal this week.  I guess to overcome my perfectionism I need to fail sometime and learn to pick myself back up, so it may as well be now!

 

X               Play Ping-pong

X X            Bodyweight workout

X X X         Walk/run for 30 min

X X 0 0      Stretch 10min

X X 0 0 0   Eat paleo

 

Also, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix... A nice way to decompress after the test, but not so great for my workout goals haha!