AthenaMM Journeys On

[AthenaMM]

Last month I created new goals and refocused my efforts in order to begin making progress again. It has worked really well. I've gotten much stronger, I can run a mile and a half, my eating has improved and my weight is going down again instead of yo-yoing. I'm very pleased with the progress I've made and I'm going to continue with the plan I made last month. My parents are coming to visit for a week and a half at the end of this month which will complicate things. Because of that I'm going to make the goals monthly instead of weekly so that I can try to make up for anything I miss while they're here.

 

Quest 1: I still want to exercise every day (including during the parents' visit) and I can still employ placeholder workouts. I also still want 4 of the workouts to be runs. This month I also want 8 of the workouts to be strength workouts. I have made a lot of progress with the Startbodyweight.com workout that I found through @Lightning so I plan to stick with that for the strength workouts.

 

Measurement: A = 26-28 workouts, 8 strength workouts and 4 runs, B = 23-25 workouts, 6-7 strength workouts and 3 runs, C = 20-22 workouts, 4-5 strength workouts and 2 runs, D = 17-19 workouts, 2-3 strength workouts and 1 run 

 

Quest 2: The no bread rule from the last challenge went well and I'm choosing healthier carbs. I'm going to keep that up this month along with the allowed 2 variances. Another key part of the "core" program I discussed in the last challenge was to eat until "satisfied" not "stuffed". I actually think that was the most useful thing I learned from the program and I made that part of my very first challenge at NF. Unfortunately I've backslid from that, particularly in the last few months. I worked on this some last month, but not as part of the challenge. I did well most of the time, but it's definitely not a habit and needs more work. I used this scale in my first challenge and that's what I've been using for the past month. I'll rate my hunger before and after every meal and snack. I won't eat if my hunger is higher than 4 and I won't eat past a 5 or 6. I'll calculate the percentage of time that I stuck to these guidelines to grade my progress.

 

Measurement: A = 8 or less variances, within my ratings 90-100% of the time, B = 9 variances, within my ratings 80-89% of the time, C = 10 variance, within my ratings 70-79% of the time, D = 11 variances, 60-69% of the time

 

Quest 3: I've decided to up my average steps to 10,500 steps. It's not a big jump but since I shoot for an average I didn't want to do too big of a jump. Instead of trying to average 10,500 steps each week, I want to average 10,500 steps for the month. That will give me a little more leeway during the parents' visit. After this month I'll go back to a weekly average.

 

Measurement: A = Average 10,500 steps for the 4 weeks of the challenge, B = Avg 9,500-10,499 for the 4 weeks of the challenge, C = Average 8,500-9,499 steps for the 4 weeks of the challenge, D = Average 7,500-8,499 steps for the 4 weeks of the challenge

 

Life Quest: I'm continuing the produce goal for this challenge. It had a lot of benefits and I want to make sure this has become a habit before I start keeping up with it outside of a challenge. I'll continue to measure it the same as before. I'll make a note of each of the different types of fruit and veggies I buy and then decide how much of each type I throw away. For example let's say I bought 10 different types of fruits and veggies. Then I threw away half the broccoli, a quarter of the lettuce and all of the oranges. That would mean I threw out 17.5% of the produce. Freezing stuff (if it's freezable) before it goes bad is allowed. 

 

Measurement: A = Throw out 10% or less of the produce I buy, B = Throw out 10.1%-20% of the produce I buy, C = Throw out 20.1%-30% of the produce I buy, D = Throw out 30.1% - 40% of the produce I buy 

[Teancum]

Following again! I really like the idea of evaluating your hunger each time you eat.

[peelout]

I'm following.  Great goals.  I like the fact that they are "life changes" and not just "do somethings".

[Elastigirl]

Great challenge. I like how you have continued goals from your previous challenge. I've found that some habits just take longer than a month to form

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following.

[Schaengel]

Following and cheering along

 

[Hazard]

On 5/5/2016 at 9:45 PM, AthenaMM said:

I have made a lot of progress with the Startbodyweight.com workout

 

What exercise are you on for your Work Sets in each of the categories in that program?

 

 

 

[Chris-Tien Jinn]

Glad to see you building on progress!!

I increased my step goal to 11K, but I've called a bit behind because of the flu.

Sent via two swallows carrying a message in a coconut.

[AthenaMM]

On 5/5/2016 at 8:57 PM, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Following again! I really like the idea of evaluating your hunger each time you eat.

When you get it right and make it a habit, it's amazing how much it helps. The one time I managed to do that I kept losing for a while and maintained for a couple of years even after I stopped following any sort of eating plan.

 

On 5/5/2016 at 9:01 PM, peelout said:

I'm following.  Great goals.  I like the fact that they are "life changes" and not just "do somethings".

I need things that stick, so life changes it is!

 

On 5/5/2016 at 9:21 PM, Elastigirl said:

Great challenge. I like how you have continued goals from your previous challenge. I've found that some habits just take longer than a month to form

Definitely! I'm kind of trying to "build" my exercise and eating plan. So I'll keep adding things to the first and second quests till I've reached the goals I have for those.

 

On 5/5/2016 at 9:51 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following.

Thanks!

 

On 5/5/2016 at 6:49 AM, Schaengel said:

Following and cheering along

 

Thanks! Love the Minions!

 

On 5/6/2016 at 4:27 PM, Hazard said:

 

What exercise are you on for your Work Sets in each of the categories in that program?

 

 

 

I'm not doing the pull-up or horizontal pull progressions at this point because I'm still trying to get my elbow completely healed. For the others I'm at the Bulgarian split squats, incline pike diamond push-ups, forearm straight leg raises, 3/4 push-ups +5 sec eccentric push-ups, bent knee bench dips and side planks.

 

10 hours ago, Chris-Tien Jinn said:

Glad to see you building on progress!!

I increased my step goal to 11K, but I've called a bit behind because of the flu.

Sent via two swallows carrying a message in a coconut.

You have the flu and you started a Weekend Warrior fitbit challenge?! I hope you're feeling better now! I started to up mine to 11K, but I thought that might be too much especially with the parental visit this month.

[AthenaMM]

I didn't mean to be quite this AWOL this week, but I've been using my evenings to do some stuff that I've been trying to get done for a while. I'll be back on here most evenings starting tomorrow. Here's a quick rundown of this week.

 

Quest 1: Sunday-30 minutes of yoga

Monday-Startbodyweight.com, 3 sets, 1:30 minutes rest between

• Bulgarian Split Squats 7,6,6
• Incline Diamond Push-ups 4,4,4 (these were harder than I expected but I did manage to finish)
• Forearm Straight Leg Raises 7,6,6
• 3/4 push-ups +5sec eccentric push-ups 6,5,5
• Side Planks 24 sec each side

Tuesday-1.5 mile run (this was still tough at the end, but I felt like I could run faster at the beginning so I think I'm going to try upping the speed instead of the distance next time)

Wednesday-20 min walk

Thursday-20 min walk, 3 sets of TGU's on each side with 8kg 'bell

Friday-Startbodyweight.com, 3 sets, 1:30 minutes rest between

• Bulgarian Split Squats 7,7,6
• Incline Diamond Push-ups 4,4,4 (I tried to do 5 on the first set, but I couldn't)
• Forearm Straight Leg Raises 7,7,6
• Bent knee bench dips 7,6,6
• Side Planks 25 sec each side

Saturday-20 min walk

 

Quest 2: Didn't really stick with the no bread thing very well this week. I ended up with 5 variances. As for the hunger ratings, I've been using this week to try to relearn what the different numbers on the scale feel like to me. I haven't kept up with exactly what my ratings were, but I've gone over a couple of times. I've also undereaten a couple of times as well though. This week was about experimenting on this part.

 

Quest 3: Currently my average is over 10,800 steps, so I did well here.

 

Life Quest: I haven't thrown out any produce and I finished off the lettuce, bell pepper, spring onions, new potatoes, spinach, green onions and broccoli. I'm down to root vegetables, lemons, limes and some rock hard pears that I need to put on the counter so they can ripen, but grocery day is Monday.

[peelout]

10 minutes ago, AthenaMM said:

 

Tuesday-1.5 mile run (this was still tough at the end, but I felt like I could run faster at the beginning so I think I'm going to try upping the speed instead of the distance next time)

 

How long ago did you start running?  I want to give it a go sometime.

[AthenaMM]

On 5/8/2016 at 9:10 PM, peelout said:

How long ago did you start running?  I want to give it a go sometime.

I started consistently running during zero week of the last challenge, so about 5 weeks ago. Before that I did some running but not consistently. Sometimes I would do some steady running and sometimes I would do some HIIT with sprints, but I wasn't sticking with any of it. The first time I tried to run a mile without stopping it was really hard, but I was super impressed with myself that I did it. It's tough now, but not nearly as hard as it was that first time. Just decide to give it a try sometime. You go to a gym, so you might want to try on a treadmill sometime. It's boring but it's easier than it is outside.

[AthenaMM]

Day 1 - Sunday May 8, 2016

 

Had a fun day today. Hubby and I went to see Captain America: Civil War and it was good! A long time ago we started going to an early movie on Sundays and having a hotdog, popcorn and candy there as our lunch. It's something we still like to do so the content of that meal wasn't spectacular today. I've stopped drinking soda at the movies so that makes it a little healthier. I made sure I had lots of veggies the rest of the day so it actually worked out to be an okay food day.

 

Quest 1: 30 minutes of yoga this morning and a lot of walking this evening trying to catch Chris-Tien Jinn

 

Quest 2: I stayed within my ratings all day today. When I did this before, I typed in a long winded description of how I felt before and after every meal and snack. This time I think I'm just going to be specific when I don't stay within my ratings. Otherwise I'm going to keep it short. If it seems like it's not working as well, I'll go back to the long winded way. I also had my first variance of the week since I had a hotdog on a bun.

 

Quest 3: I'm usually pretty lazy on Sundays as far as steps go, but @Chris-Tien Jinn challenged me on fitbit to a Weekend Warrior thing so I've ended up with 10,000 steps so far. Since I'm averaging the whole month this gives me some wiggle room down the road.

 

Life Quest: No tossed produce and I didn't finish anything else off.

 

By the way, no matter what browser I use I can't tag people on my computer, but if I use a browser on my tablet (instead of Tapatalk) I can. Anybody know why?

[ninjakitten]

Athena!!!!! Too late for anything week 0, but I am in time for the start of the new challenge. 

 

No idea about the tagging, I still have major problems with getting used to really basic stuff that is still new too me.  That's what you get for skipping so many challenges. I hope you'll have a great start to the new challenge. 

 

(Also that Life Quest is awesome. I really try, but sometimes I am just so bad with these things... Sometimes because they don't keep as well as I expected, other times because I actually just forgot I have something at home?! How ridiculous is that.)

[Lightning]

On 5/5/2016 at 9:57 PM, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Following again! I really like the idea of evaluating your hunger each time you eat.

 

Me too to both.  I didn't make the evaluating hunger part of my challenge but I plan on using it.  Keeping your vegetable goal in my mind also.

[Elastigirl]

We saw Civil War on Sunday too. Really enjoyed it. Yay for a walking PVP!

[erosan]

following now, reading later

[peelout]

On 5/9/2016 at 10:37 PM, AthenaMM said:

Quest 3: I'm usually pretty lazy on Sundays as far as steps go, but @Chris-Tien Jinn challenged me on fitbit to a Weekend Warrior thing so I've ended up with 10,000 steps so far. 

I want to see someone do a leg lift challenge.  Think of the pain that could bring.

[AthenaMM]

On 5/9/2016 at 0:14 AM, ninjakitten said:

Athena!!!!! Too late for anything week 0, but I am in time for the start of the new challenge. 

 

No idea about the tagging, I still have major problems with getting used to really basic stuff that is still new too me.  That's what you get for skipping so many challenges. I hope you'll have a great start to the new challenge. 

 

(Also that Life Quest is awesome. I really try, but sometimes I am just so bad with these things... Sometimes because they don't keep as well as I expected, other times because I actually just forgot I have something at home?! How ridiculous is that.)

Glad to have you! It's definitely NOT ridiculous to forget you have stuff in the fridge. In fact it is very, VERY easy!

 

On 5/9/2016 at 10:11 AM, Lightning said:

 

Me too to both.  I didn't make the evaluating hunger part of my challenge but I plan on using it.  Keeping your vegetable goal in my mind also.

I'm really hoping I get the hunger ratings part embedded this time. I think things would be a lot easier if I could make that a true habit. 

 

On 5/10/2016 at 10:19 PM, Elastigirl said:

We saw Civil War on Sunday too. Really enjoyed it. Yay for a walking PVP!

It's an awesome movie! I can definitely see the benefits of PVP's!

 

22 hours ago, erosan said:

following now, reading later

Thanks!

 

2 hours ago, peelout said:

I want to see someone do a leg lift challenge.  Think of the pain that could bring.

Bite your tongue, peelout!  You'll give someone ideas!!! 

[AthenaMM]

Day 2 - Monday May 9, 2016

 

Today was a really busy and hectic day. Lots of steps but not a lot of organized exercise. It was also a particularly crappy day or at least afternoon/evening. It was like a had a black cloud over my head or something. If it could go wrong it did and if it could get worse it definitely did.

 

Quest 1: 5 minute walk placeholder workout. I considered doing the squats, but I want to do my strength training workout tomorrow and I don't want my legs to be sore after that.

 

Quest 2: I stayed within my ratings except at dinner. I'd been too busy to eat and let myself get too hungry. I did stop before I finished everything but I was a little uncomfortable a few minutes later. That's a 7 on the scale and outside of my ratings. I didn't eat any bread.

 

Quest 3: Soooo many steps! I had a big grocery trip and a lot of stuff to do around the house as well. I finished the day with 14,839 steps.

 

Life Quest: No tossed produce but I bought 10 more types which puts my current total for the challenge at 20.

 

 

Day 3 - Tuesday May 10, 2016

 

A much better day today. Apparently my black cloud left to visit someone else.

 

Quest 1: Startbodyweight.com, 3 sets, 1:30 minutes rest between sets

• Bulgarian Split Squats 7,7,7
• Incline Pike Push-ups 5,4,4  I managed to up the reps on this one today
• Forearm Straight Leg Raises 7,7,7
• 3/4 Push-ups with 5 sec Eccentric Push-ups 6,6,5   I couldn't squeeze out the 6th rep on the last set, so this is the same as last time
• Side Planks 25 sec on each side

Quest 2: I stayed within my ratings all day today and I didn't eat any bread

 

Quest 3: I took it easy on the steps today because my legs were a little tired from yesterday. I have over 10,500 right now.

 

Life Quest: No tossed produce and we ate all the spinach.

[Elastigirl]

So 10,500 steps is an easy day, huh? Glad today was a better day.

[peelout]

What does your husband think of the no pitched produce challenge?  This has to be oozing into his life as well.

[Jayniana Jones]

Just wanted to let you know I'm following along. Good luck on your challenges. I'll be back to read how things are going. 

[AthenaMM]

22 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

So 10,500 steps is an easy day, huh? Glad today was a better day.

In comparison to Monday is definitely was! Plus I'm trying to get as much extra as I can so that I'll have some leeway once the parents visit.

 

15 hours ago, peelout said:

What does your husband think of the no pitched produce challenge?  This has to be oozing into his life as well.

It is a little, but really the biggest difference for him is that I'm cooking more often. He likes my cooking and by now I know what to include to make sure it's a meal he'll like, so that's fine with him. I know that he probably won't eat any leftover veggies, so I'll have to eat them if I want them gone. And there is one veggie I haven't been including in the quest at all because I don't eat them. I won't eat raw tomatoes though I love canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. But since it's completely up to him whether they get used or wasted I excluded them from my quest.

 

7 minutes ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Just wanted to let you know I'm following along. Good luck on your challenges. I'll be back to read how things are going. 

Thanks!

[AthenaMM]

Day 4 - Wednesday May 11, 2016

 

A very nice day. After a very busy (and at times irritating) couple of days there was nothing that "had" to be done today so I took a day off. I read and watched a couple of movies and just in general did what I wanted to. Hubby works late on Wednesdays (so no cooking) and I try to take one Wednesday a month for me.

 

Quest 1: I ran 1.5 miles. I decided last week to up the speed instead of the distance this time. I upped it 0.1 mph at first but that still felt slower than I could go so I upped it another 0.1. That turned out to be very difficult about halfway through, but I did finish. At one point I didn't think I would be able to finish, but I got past that point and it was a little easier after that. I'm probably going to stick with this speed and distance next time and see how it goes, before I try to up anything else.

 

Quest 2: Shark week decided to start just as the challenge started and it's making this quest a little difficult right now. No bread today but I ate too much at dinner again. I kind of knew I was, but I didn't really care. I didn't eat it all though and since I wanted to, that's a small achievement. I've decided to at least post my before and after ratings for each meal, but I'm not going to do a rundown unless I eat too much. The first number is my hunger rating before eating and the second number is after. Just so you don't have to scroll up and read the first post again, I don't want to eat if my hunger is higher than 4 and I don't want to eat past a 6.

• Breakfast 2/6
• Lunch 3/6
• Dinner 3/8

Quest 3: I made sure I got up and moved around throughout the day which left me with a good amount of steps when added to the run this morning. I have over 13,000 steps right now.

 

Life Quest: No tossed produce today and I think I might actually finish off a red onion before it gets moldy. I don't think I've ever done that before. I prefer to cook with yellow onions, but I like red ones on sandwiches and salads so I always have a cut red onion in the fridge.