Climbing the Ranks

[crazykhajiitlady]

At Queen Ayrenn's side, the mighty warrior helped the Mane at Drindil Pass, to pursue the Undead Shade of the Queen's brother Naemon... 

 

 

Going to try to build more simple things into this, make the goals more realistic and measurable. Hopefully this should motivate me to be more productive! And this time I will not post my topic late! 

 

Diet Goal: 

* Cook/Prepare myself all but 3 meals per week

* No more foods with primarily sugar enters the house by my purchase

 

Training Goal: 

* Walk outdoors for a minimum of 15 minutes x3/week

* Attend gym x3 a week (~45 min work out)

--> Interval Cardio Training = 15 min, 5 min cool down

--> x3 sets squats; x3 sets deadlifts, x3 sets benchpress; x3 rows; x3 overhead press* (choose TWO of these)  

--> 1:30 plank OR 1:00 rows with weights

 

Life Goal: 

Reduce social media and gaming to allotted times. Install and USE Cold Turkey on both computers. 

 

 

Week 1 Check in on April 11th:

A little late on this check-in, but here goes! (posted 4/13)

• Diet Goal: Not 100%, ended up getting food with my classmates again, and during study weekend, so I probably had 4 meals that weren't prepared by me. Will be home more in the next few weeks which should help. 
• Training goal: Went on walks 3 times! (check!) and went to the gym x3 (check!) - need to be consistent with the planks, was doing less time on those; I also added in overhead press as an exercise choice. 
• Study Goal: Did better on this; but now I've also created a unique user login for my study time and deactivated my FB account (eek!) 

 

Week 2 Check in on April 18:

• Diet Goal: Only got food outside 3 times, did a lot of cooking (albeit not all of it healthy); it's been hard not getting sugary sweet food... but was much better this last week.
• Training goal: Gym x3 (check!); walks x3 (check!) though no hike yesterday. 
• Study Goal: Study is still on track, will be a prominent feature of my quest next month for sure. I been off of Facebook for almost a full week now, and that's been interesting. 

 

Week 3 Check in April 25:

This was not my best week... 

• Diet Goal: didn't keep track as well as I usually do, probably went out 4 times? 
• Training goal: Gym x2, walks x1; but the times I went I did a full workout so that's good
• Study Goal: Studying has been going well. Considering deactivating other social networks. I feel like I have too many "free time" activities and not enough free time to do them.

 

FINAL Check in MAY 1st: 

• Diet Goal: ate out 3 times, at home not as great even if I technically followed my rules.. SO needs to get on board and NOT bring home ice cream
• Training goal: Gym x3, walking every day I didn't go to the gym, which I will be continuing going forward
• Study Goal: easy to get off track but w/o social media I have found it easier. Need more concrete goals next round. 

 

Overall I think I met my goal! Looking forward to crafting next round's challenge. 

[Raxie]

You've got some awesome goals here I'll be following along.  Have you played with batch cooking at all?

[crazykhajiitlady]

You've got some awesome goals here [emoji4] I'll be following along.  Have you played with batch cooking at all?

I have not! It's crossed my mind but I suppose this would be a great time to try it. I do tend to make food for leftovers but usually want to eat something different the next day haha. Will check out Pinterest for ideas - thanks for the input!

[Raxie]

I understand not wanting to eat the same thing every day.  I usually batch cook 2-3 things each week so I can rotate!

[crazykhajiitlady]

1 hour ago, Raxie said:

I understand not wanting to eat the same thing every day.  I usually batch cook 2-3 things each week so I can rotate!

 

Actually, after a little browsing, if you have batch resources that are easy for you to pull up I'd love to see them ^^; some seem more healthy than others haha

[Raxie]

do you have a crock pot? that make batch cooking tons easier but it's totally doable without one too

 

Edit: Actually either way, here are some of the resources I used when I started out batch cooking for real (which was only last challenge!)

http://paleoleap.com/art-weekly-make-ahead/

http://empoweredsustenance.com/paleo-batch-cooking/

http://lifemadefull.com/paleo-batch-cooking-and-freezer-meal-recipes/

[crazykhajiitlady]

On 3/31/2016 at 10:32 AM, Raxie said:

do you have a crock pot? that make batch cooking tons easier but it's totally doable without one too

 

Edit: Actually either way, here are some of the resources I used when I started out batch cooking for real (which was only last challenge!)

http://paleoleap.com/art-weekly-make-ahead/

http://empoweredsustenance.com/paleo-batch-cooking/

http://lifemadefull.com/paleo-batch-cooking-and-freezer-meal-recipes/

 

Yes I do! It's not a very large one, but I do have one. Thank you so much for the suggestions

[crazykhajiitlady]

UPDATES: 

 

To prepare for the challenge I have downloaded and activated Cold Turkey to maximizing productivity!

I also went to the gym yesterday for about an hour, got a solid run in, some bicep curls and dumbbell rows. 

Gearing up to go!!

[crazykhajiitlady]

Another update: finishing up another gym day, killed myself with some squats after some interval on the treadmill. Woof. Going to buy some food today or tomorrow to prep for next week's meals. 

[fengor]

khajit <3

 

 

I'll think I will keep an eye on this thread

[Raxie]

You're kicking so much butt already!

[crazykhajiitlady]

On 4/2/2016 at 0:51 PM, fengor said:

khajit <3

 

I'll think I will keep an eye on this thread

Ehehehe I love that video. When I cosplayed a Khajiit a few years back I was humming it to myself while I pretended to pick-pocket people. 

 

 

On 4/4/2016 at 10:41 AM, Raxie said:

You're kicking so much butt already!

Woot! Just trying not to let "but it hasn't started yet..." be an excuse yknow? 

[crazykhajiitlady]

UPDATE 4/5

 

Gym yesterday was kinda short and unfortunately at a super busy time of day :| I hate going at 6 pm for that reason. 

• 16 min HIIT warm-up
• Benchpress
• 1 min plank

 

Also went out for dinner but given that it was the day I finished a tough exam, it's something I felt well-deserved. so that's 1/3 of my out-meals already gone! 

[Raxie]

Congrats on making it through that exam

[Maggie-Miau]

Oh, hey, Khajiit! (Elder SCROOOOOOLLS *flings confetti*)  Your goals look great, and I especially admire the social media one. It can be strangely difficult to stay away from. Congratulations on finishing your exam! It being a tough one, having an out-to-eat meal afterward really isn't so bad.

 

On the subject of batch-cooking; I haven't actually tried it out either, but it always sounds like such a great idea. Whenever busy times are approaching it just sounds so nice to have a freezer full of no-hassle meals that only require heating. Most everyone in my family is perfectly happy to eat the same thing for a week (I'm convinced I could exist entirely and without complaint on a rotation of hummus with peppers and carrots, yellow split pea soup, and chicken with broccoli ) but variety is, as they say, the spice of life. Do you have any idea how long you'd like to batch-cook for? Like a week, two, a month...? Because then you could theoretically make a few different recipes and freeze them in small portions, almost like TV dinners, to pick from throughout the time period so as not to get bored. 

 

 Hope you're having a great time this challenge, and keep up the good work Ranger-ing your goals!

[crazykhajiitlady]

 

Congrats on making it through that exam

thank you! I made it through another one yesterday woohoo! 

 

 

Oh, hey, Khajiit! (Elder SCROOOOOOLLS *flings confetti*)  Your goals look great, and I especially admire the social media one. It can be strangely difficult to stay away from. Congratulations on finishing your exam! It being a tough one, having an out-to-eat meal afterward really isn't so bad.

 

On the subject of batch-cooking; I haven't actually tried it out either, but it always sounds like such a great idea. Whenever busy times are approaching it just sounds so nice to have a freezer full of no-hassle meals that only require heating. Most everyone in my family is perfectly happy to eat the same thing for a week (I'm convinced I could exist entirely and without complaint on a rotation of hummus with peppers and carrots, yellow split pea soup, and chicken with broccoli ) but variety is, as they say, the spice of life. Do you have any idea how long you'd like to batch-cook for? Like a week, two, a month...? Because then you could theoretically make a few different recipes and freeze them in small portions, almost like TV dinners, to pick from throughout the time period so as not to get bored. 

 

 Hope you're having a great time this challenge, and keep up the good work Ranger-ing your goals!

Yeah, it has been hard for me, and I actually deactivated facebook o.o scary but probably for the best of my mental health too haha (man politics is getting bad this year); I think the most I could stomach batch-cooking is for 2 weeks ahead; I tend to like a lot of flavor variety and I like a lot of fresh foods (fortunately both my SO and I like cooking so not a big deal). Thank you for the suggestion

 

 

 

ALSO. 

UPDATED with my week one check in! 

 

[crazykhajiitlady]

Another trip to the gym today (as well as monday). I have been going with my SO but that means arriving at around 6:00, when everyone else seem to be there. Didn't get to do squats or deadlifts too crowded. Gonna see about either going way early or may just go by myself. 

 

Keep chuggin' along!

[crazykhajiitlady]

Gym trip #3! Went hard today, feeling nice and sore. Sounds like tomorrow we might go hiking too on my day off so will be in good shape for Monday ^^ 

 

I also did buy a mini-cupcake yesterday.. but I won't be too hard on myself for that >.>

 

So far, making a new computer login for "work/study" stuff has been super effective for focusing Highly recommend!

[crazykhajiitlady]

Weekly check-in added! Still sore from Saturday's workout. Gym planned for later today. 

[crazykhajiitlady]

Updated with weekly check-in. 

[crazykhajiitlady]

Starting to do early AM gym stuff... not as easy as it seems...haha. Yesterday did some deadlifts for the first time in a long while. Today I went on a nice long walk with my SO and it was great. 

 

Also got some pork tenderloin cooking in the crockpot.. for anyone interested recipe is here. It smells so good o.o

 

 

[crazykhajiitlady]

Updated and done! Woo! Time to craft my next challenge.. will post later today or tomorrow.