Harihead Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I wasn't going to do the 4-week challenge this month. I was too busy, too exhausted from trying to reorganize my life, tired of tracking, yadda yadda yadda. Then I stepped on the scale. I'M DOING IT! The 3-month goal is ACTUALLY WORKING! I would be NUTS to change my routine now. This is more remarkable considering that I survived a Death March and maaaajor stress rebound at work. And I'm learning. When I focus on the day-to-day ("Eat a healthy meal tonight. Not forever, just tonight"), all those good choices add up to a solid win. This is amazing! So forward I go. Life Goal: Return to the weight and fitness I had when I worked from home, instead of someone else's office. 3 Month Goal: Lose 15 pounds before I go to France this June. March & April: Down 10 pounds. It's working!!! 4 Week Challenge Goals: Regain a little muscle mass. Consolidate the diet gains. Restore equanimity. Exercise: Cardio = elevate heart rate at least 30 minutes 6x weekly. (Failed this last challenge, so here we are again. Easy to track in MFP.) A = >6/week, STA +3, STR +2 B = >5/week, STA +2, STR +1 C = >4/week, STA +1 Diet: Continue focus on my 2 worst stress-handling fails: processed food and alcohol. But I'm eager to tackle coffee use as well. - <=1 processed food/week - <=3 drinks/week total - <=3 coffee/day total By processed, I mean anything that isn't a fruit, vegetable, natural protein, or healthy whole grain. I allow myself <= 6 dairy/week. A = 0 fails/week, CON +3, DEX +1 B = 1-2 fails/week, CON +2, DEX +1 C = 3-5 fails/week, CON +1, DEX +1 Refresh: Let's revive that spirituality. My choices are 1 per day: - yoga of => 5 minutes per day - Tai Chi or meditation every day A = 1 fails/week, CHA +3 B = 2-3 fails/week, CHA +2 C = 4-5 fails/week, CHA +1 Write My Way Out of a Paper Office: Bringing this one back. Fiction => 100 words per day, or equivalent in editing. Time to nourish the soul. A = 5/week WIS +3 B = 4/week WIS +2 C = 3/week WIS +1 I won't be able to report, as the challenge ends after I get on a plane, but I'll be focused on the long-term gains right up until that moment. Salut! 3 Quote Level 9 Ranger STR 13 | DEX 10 | STA 21 | CON 19 | WIS 20 | CHA 15 Challenges: Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 Groups: | Rangers | Walk to Mordor Nerd Fitness Academy level: 0 | Starting over Eat clean, walk strong, age gracefully with joy. Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Following again! 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
AshPS Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I shall continue the lurketh of thee! And I can sooooo relate to those sentiments for not starting the challenge......except I'm still planning on sitting this one out. Now Rock another round my friend!! Hugs! 1 Quote Level 6 Pixie Assassin Rangerish Adventurer Current Challenge: Guess What?? Previous Challenges: Spoiler 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 12th 13th 14th Battle Log -We can't always change the things we've done, but we can change what we do next. -I don't have a choice. I deserve a better life and this is what I have to do to get there. -Whatever doesn't kill me....Had better start running. Link to comment
Harihead Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 5 hours ago, AshPS said: I shall continue the lurketh of thee! Ash? Ash? *looks around wildly* I DON'T SEE YOU ANYWHERE! ...nice lurking. I'm feeling so much better about myself. Amazing what sleep and good food can do. 1 Quote Level 9 Ranger STR 13 | DEX 10 | STA 21 | CON 19 | WIS 20 | CHA 15 Challenges: Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 Groups: | Rangers | Walk to Mordor Nerd Fitness Academy level: 0 | Starting over Eat clean, walk strong, age gracefully with joy. Link to comment
Harihead Posted May 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2016 Okay, so I haven't been updating. Here's a summary: Week 1 = Yay! Week 2 = Boo! (in Training class all week, with all the carbs and restricted movement that implies) Week 3 = Yay! I'm in the home stretch. I leave Saturday and I'M 2 POUNDS AWAY FROM MY GOAL!!! Yes, my crazy goal to lose 15 pounds in 3 months is almost met. I can taste the success. I practice posing sideways in the mirror. My bathing suit is too big. ALL GOOD THINGS!!! Let's hope I can nail the goal. If not, who cares? I'm on vacation! And when I come back, I can get into some serious summer tuning. I think this is the first time in my life I'm going into summer in fairly good shape. It feels Awesome. Hugs and high fives to all my fellow Rebels! Cheers. 3 Quote Level 9 Ranger STR 13 | DEX 10 | STA 21 | CON 19 | WIS 20 | CHA 15 Challenges: Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 Groups: | Rangers | Walk to Mordor Nerd Fitness Academy level: 0 | Starting over Eat clean, walk strong, age gracefully with joy. Link to comment
AshPS Posted May 31, 2016 Report Share Posted May 31, 2016 Sooooo super proud of you my friend! You Rock!! Now enjoy that well deserved vacation! Big congratulatory hugs!!! 1 Quote Level 6 Pixie Assassin Rangerish Adventurer Current Challenge: Guess What?? Previous Challenges: Spoiler 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 12th 13th 14th Battle Log -We can't always change the things we've done, but we can change what we do next. -I don't have a choice. I deserve a better life and this is what I have to do to get there. -Whatever doesn't kill me....Had better start running. Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted May 31, 2016 Report Share Posted May 31, 2016 Good job! 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Swampling Posted June 1, 2016 Report Share Posted June 1, 2016 WOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! AWESOME! Vacation well deserved... Have fun! 1 Quote Hobbit Challenges: 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1My shiny new "battle" log - probably more of a plodding-along log, but hey, it's mine! Link to comment
Harihead Posted July 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 Just popping in belatedly to thank everyone who cheered me on during my 3-month fest. I came home 4 pounds heavier, which I promptly lost, in part due to immediately coming down with a serious cold. I've finally got my wind back this weekend, and hope to get a nice hike in Sunday. So I'm stable at the new weight, and flirting with the next 3 pounds. Yoyoing a bit, but definitely heading in the right direction. I'm not tracking calories, but trying to apply my diet learnings going forward. After all this time, I know what constitutes a good meal and sufficient calories. So I'm going to do my summer thing, which includes swimming every morning and hiking at least once a week. I'm violently glad my work this Spring is helping me have a better Summer. Thanks again to everyone here. Long live the Rebellion! 1 Quote Level 9 Ranger STR 13 | DEX 10 | STA 21 | CON 19 | WIS 20 | CHA 15 Challenges: Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 Groups: | Rangers | Walk to Mordor Nerd Fitness Academy level: 0 | Starting over Eat clean, walk strong, age gracefully with joy. Link to comment
Harihead Posted August 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2016 Prepping for my next challenge: In reviewing my past challenges, I'm pleasantly surprised by my progress. I've continued to make slow but steady improvements in health and fitness. My doctor's office has requested a cholesterol follow-up, and that got my ambition working. I now want to wow my doctor. This has been a very up and down year for my weight, due to the massive fail to handle work stress. But, I managed to overcome it and break my previous low point by 5 pounds. This puts me at over 50% of my total quest. Yes, it's taking a good, long time. And yes, the changes are sticking. Massive yay! Life Goal: Return to the weight and fitness I had when I worked from home, instead of someone else's office. 4 Week Challenge Goal: Wow my doctor. I have my cholesterol retest the 3rd week of September. I want to wow my doctor by: * Improving on my already improved numbers * Blowing her mind over my weight reduction Exercise: Cardio = elevate heart rate at least 45 minutes 6x weekly. Meet my MFP walking goal 4x/week. A = >6/week, STA +3, STR +2 B = >5/week, STA +2, STR +1 C = >4/week, STA +1 Diet: Track all my cholesterol reducers, plus track sugar and coffee: - Reduce red meat and poultry in favor of fish, <2 red meat and >=3-4 fish or seafood/week - Reduce meat overall and substitute legumes for protein >=2-3/week - Dairy <=6 servings/week - Alcohol <= 5 glasses/week, target=0 - Processed meat or grains <=1/week, target=0 - Sugar grams <= 90 grams/day, target<=45 - Coffee <= 3 cups/day By processed, I mean anything that isn't a fruit, vegetable, natural protein, or healthy whole grain (oatmeal, rice okay). A = 0 fails/week, CON +3, DEX +1 B = 1-2 fails/week, CON +2, DEX +1 C = 3-5 fails/week, CON +1, DEX +1 Refresh: Time to pay more attention to sustaining practices. My choices are 1 per day: - yoga of => 5 minutes per day - Tai Chi or meditation every day A = 1 fails/week, CHA +3 B = 2-3 fails/week, CHA +2 C = 4-5 fails/week, CHA +1 Something with Fiction: This challenge starts right after I return from WorldCon. I'll pick something appropriate as I'll likely have homework. A = 5/week WIS +3 B = 4/week WIS +2 C = 3/week WIS +1 I'll start this challenge ASAP upon WorldCon return, which will probably be Mon or Tues after the challenge begins. But I'll be tracking. Best wishes to all my fellow Rebels. Quote Level 9 Ranger STR 13 | DEX 10 | STA 21 | CON 19 | WIS 20 | CHA 15 Challenges: Current | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 Groups: | Rangers | Walk to Mordor Nerd Fitness Academy level: 0 | Starting over Eat clean, walk strong, age gracefully with joy. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.