The Legend of Michi: Summer Sojourn

[MichiruSedai]

Since I look so good in green, and can yell "ha! hyah!" with the best of them, it's time for a Legend of Zelda theme challenge!

 

 

 

I chose the name Summer Sojourn because I am keeping things smooth and realistic for summer, instead of going nuts with goals that just aren't realistic. During the course of this challenge I have a week of vacation, and I intend to have some brats and adult beverages on said vacation.  But I know that I can still make progress over the next five weeks!  

 

For the first time since the new format, I AM starting this week, Week 0.  Partially because one of my goals will not be doable on vacation, so I'm doing it this week instead.

 

(cue up the Legend of Zelda theme, whichever version you prefer, that is the soundtrack for my thread!)

 

must...get stronger...break heavy pots!

 

Goal 1:  Go to the gym twice a week.   This will be assisted by the fact that I now have a local gym buddy!  I reconnected with an old friend from high school, and we will be hitting the gym twice a week.  This is the goal I had mentioned before that I can't do on vacation - I'll be hours and hours away!  In week five, I'll be doing something active EVERY DAY of vacation, to help counter the vacation eating and drinking (in place of hitting the gym).

 

Take a nice long strong through the plains of Hyrule...

 

Goal 2: Go for a walk outside once a week.  This might seem small, but left to my own devices I don't always get outside. And I know the sunshine and fresh air are so very, very good for me.

 

 

I wish I was skilled enough to make a Hylian Pizza masterpiece like this!

 

Goal 3: Track all food/drink on MFP daily.  I'm not even making it a rule to stay in calorie range every day, though obviously that is my preference.  But no matter what I eat or drink, it's getting logged, no exceptions.

 

The adventure starts.... NOW!  Or, more accurately, last Sunday!

 

 

 

Results

 

Goal 1 - Hit the gym twice a week

Week Zero: 100%

Week One: 100%

Week Two: 100%

Week Three: 100%

Week Four (no gym access on vacation/do something active daily): 100%

 

Goal 2 - Take a walk outdoors once a week

Week Zero: 100%

Week One: 100%

Week Two: 100%

Week Three: 100%

Week Four: 100%

 

Goal 3 - Track everything on MFP daily

Week Zero: 100%

Week One: 100%

Week Two: 100%

Week Three: 100%

Week Four: 100%

[deftona]

Here to follow again!

[MichiruSedai]

Updated with challenge!  Let's do this!!

[Sylvaa]

Zelda, gym buddies, and pizza. This is the best combination! Can't wait for this challenge to be fantastic (and also vacation)

[deftona]

I love it! 

 

[MichiruSedai]

Glad you guys like the theme!

 

I've had a great zero week, meeting all goals so far.  I've already hit the gym twice, gotten my outdoors walk, and tracked every day with just today and tomorrow to go.

 

This weekend will be challenging with lots of bad foods around (family gathering), so we will see how it goes.

 

I'm happy to say my weekly weigh in today, I'm down 5 lbs from last Friday!  I'm going to credit going to the gym.

[Loveable_Bouncer]

Attempting to follow you again!

 

Love your goals!

[Leigh]

Oh man! That pizza looks awesome

I have a sweet crafty thing I made for my girlfriend at home that I'm gonna snap a picture of. I think it will go nicely with this theme

And high five for five lbs? o/

[MichiruSedai]

Hi Bouncer!  How've you been doing?

 

I like the high five for five lbs!  o/'    Looking forward to picture!

 

I had as healthy of a fish fry as I could tonight.  They literally had no veggies except for a side salad that consisted of lettuce and dressing (blech) and corn drenched in butter (blech).  So I had grilled mahi mahi, baby red mashed potatoes, and a couple bites of cole slaw.   Tomorrow's challenges include going to a brat fry for lunch without killing my mfp, having a cookout for dinner without killing my mfp, and not killing certain family members while spending the day together.  So much killing should really be in Deffy the Vampire Slayer's thread, not a mild mannered Hylian hero. 

[deftona]

6 hours ago, MichiruSedai said:

So much killing should really be in Deffy the Vampire Slayer's thread, not a mild mannered Hylian hero. 

 

I'd be happy to have a Hylian Hero for a cameo to see you through the weekend

[MichiruSedai]

Thank you deftona, for always bring a smile into my thread. 

 

So this might seem stupid to be happy about, but I'm having a really rough morning so I need to be happy about something. I realized that I can scratch the center of my back now. I lost enough weight that I can reach around that far. I haven't been able to do that in years. *scratch scratch scratch*

[Sylvaa]

Fingers crossed for not killing family!

 

Also, I am so proud of your weight loss!

[Leigh]

Thank you deftona, for always bring a smile into my thread.  [emoji4]

 

So this might seem stupid to be happy about, but I'm having a really rough morning so I need to be happy about something. I realized that I can scratch the center of my back now. I lost enough weight that I can reach around that far. I haven't been able to do that in years. *scratch scratch scratch*

Oh man isn't that the best feeling ever though?! Fitting into a smaller set of clothes is awesome but being able to move further is waaaaaaaay more satisfying! I have been able to tackle all parts of an itchy back for most of my life but I lost a bit of range a few years ago when I started to consistently weight over 200 lbs. The first time I got back into the 180s and I noticed I could reach again I did a happy dance without thinking... In the middle of the grocery store... (>*_*)>

It was super embarassing but man is it ever nice to not have to hunt for a back scratcher or a sharp looking corner!

Good luck in not murdering the family! Although if you slip up and someone dies let me know, I know a few great places to hide a body! *wink wink*

[Loveable_Bouncer]

40 minutes ago, MichiruSedai said:

So this might seem stupid to be happy about, but I'm having a really rough morning so I need to be happy about something. I realized that I can scratch the center of my back now. I lost enough weight that I can reach around that far. I haven't been able to do that in years. *scratch scratch scratch*

 

Oh the sweet relief, I can more then cheer for you on this one! Congrats on making pretty good choices for a fish fry! And good luck for the weekend (I myself would be begging to have grilled vegetables made, since their a rarity in my world...)

 

I'm doing pretty good, had a rough week last week, but figured out what I need to work on. Will be having my challenge up tonight or tomorrow (actually have my goals written down on a chart for making it simple). Have my first day of work today (at the hottest day of the weekend...).

[MichiruSedai]

Thanks, Sylvaa!

 

I do like the smaller clothes, but I agree with you Leigh, being able to move around easier/in more ways is so much more amazing. And good for you doing your happy dance right at the store! I didn't murder anyone yet, but we still have today's zoo trip to get through, lol!

 

Thanks, Bouncer! Nice to see you on here! I'm sorry that you had a rough week, and I look foard to cheering you in your challenge thread!

 

I'm pretty happy about the choices I made yesterday.  At the lunchtime brat try, I only had one instead of two or three.  For dinner we were going to cookout, but it changed to fried chicken with stuff like potato salad, raw veggies, fruit salad, etc from the store. I asked to get a baked chicken breast instead, and I ate a pile of raw veggies and some fruit salad.

 

Today we head out to the zoo, so I'll get some walking in.  Lunch is the only family meal today, and it's at Culver's. I've already planned my meal, which is to get the "SnackPak" instead of a value meal. I like their chicken tenders, and to compare, the SnackPak is 2 chicken strips and a small fry (510 calories). The value meal is 4 chicken strips and a large fry (1000+ calories I'm guessing).  Breakfast and dinner I'm eating at home, so I can keep those under control.  After the zoo, this afternoon will be grocery shopping, and batch cooking work lunch for next week. Possibly some videogaming since I was too tired after yesterday to play any.

[MichiruSedai]

This week I'm just not "feeling it".  Probably from all the stress of the weekend/bad sleep and such.  I did go work out yesterday, since my workout buddy would have missed me.  I'm following my goals and such, I'm just... meh.

[Jarric]

Sorry to hear you're not feeling great, but looks like you've made an awesome start to the challenge! Well done on going to your workout even when you weren't feeling it

[Sylvaa]

13 hours ago, MichiruSedai said:

This week I'm just not "feeling it".  Probably from all the stress of the weekend/bad sleep and such.  I did go work out yesterday, since my workout buddy would have missed me.  I'm following my goals and such, I'm just... meh.

 

We all have times like this and it's totally okay! What's important is you keep doing what works for you and not get derailed by a bad day or a bad week!

 

Way to keep to the gym schedule even when you weren't feeling it!

[weaver]

Agree with everyone else—glad you still met your workout buddy despite the mehness!

[MichiruSedai]

Thanks, guys. *group hug*

 

I've decided to rant about one of the things that's caused me lost sleep, since no one from my "real life" is on NF.  I will try not to get too political or anything, but... it's my thread.

Obviously, what happened in Orlando recently was horrific.  It's really hit me hard, as it's hit many of us.  I attempted to talk to one of my parents about this because they could see something was bothering me the other day.  I was reminded that while they agree this was tragic, that if I ever had a serious enough relationship with a woman where I want to introduce her to my parents, it would go very poorly.  The exact words were "You know how I feel about homosexuals".  Surely they haven't forgotten 14 years ago when my other parent invaded my privacy/stalked me online/etc and found out I was bisexual?  Surely they haven't forgotten begging me in tears to get cured of my disease?  My other parent saying I couldn't move in with them after all, because they were afraid I'd try to peek in the shower (which is bull, because she's actually supportive of LGBT, but she desperately wanted a reason not to let me move in)?  Them saying I could no longer share the queen bed with my sister at gatherings because it would be "inappropriate"?  

 

I'm assuming that he thinks I got "cured" since I was with my ex-h for 6 years, and the only relationships I've been public about since my divorce were with men.  I dated a woman for 9 months a couple years ago, and the only parent who knew was my mom.  There was no way I was going to introduce her to my dad until I knew it would be long term (which obviously, it wasn't).  I've been flirting with a woman recently, and while I don't think it will go anywhere serious, now in the back of my mind when we're exchanging texts is the knowledge that, well, "you know how I feel about homosexuals".  Yeah, I do know. I've known ever since the day roughly 17 years ago when you told me in all seriousness that if we allowed "them" to get married, what would be next?  If we could allow "that" would it be such a big step to allow people to marry animals, or to allow pedophiles to marry children?  Yeah. I know how you feel about that half of me.

 

I'm so deeply saddened to have been reminded of his intolerance.  I'm so deeply saddened at the knowledge that I will probably never be fully "out", unless I do happen to find my long term partner in a woman.  I hate that this has to be an issue.  What difference does it make to anyone else who I date?  Shouldn't my loved ones' only concern be that whoever I date treat me well?

End rant.  I know, not about my diet or my exercise, but I have no where else to rant this (part of the joy of being mostly-closeted).  My heart just hurts so much this week.  Here, I can make it health related.  So far I have managed to avoid binge eating.

[Sylvaa]

I hate when you post something and the internet eats it.

 

The gist of it: You can be part of my family.

[weaver]

Much love to your heart.

[MichiruSedai]

Thanks, Sylvaa & weaver.

 

I'm keeping on keeping on... staying mostly in my range, active at work. I have my second workout planned for Saturday, as my workout buddy wasn't available for a second day this week.  Sunday I'll be hiking with some folks (some from NF!) so that will be nice to get outside.  Though it keeps raining when I go to this park, so I'm hoping this time it doesn't.

[MichiruSedai]

Down 1.4lbs this week,which puts me 3.4lbs from my next minigoal.  TGIF. 

[deftona]

5 minutes ago, MichiruSedai said:

Down 1.4lbs this week,which puts me 3.4lbs from my next minigoal.  TGIF. 

 

That's awesome, well done!