Harihead Achieves Accidental Success

[Harihead]

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!  

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following again!

[AshPS]

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!

[Harihead]

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.

[Harihead]

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. 

 

[AshPS]

Sooooo super proud of you my friend! You Rock!! 

 

Now enjoy that well deserved vacation!

 

Big congratulatory hugs!!!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Good job!

[Swampling]

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! AWESOME!

Vacation well deserved...

Have fun!

[Harihead]

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!

[Harihead]

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.