The Scarlet Pimpernel Takes on the Walking Dead

[Teancum]

 

"They're everywhere! The walkers are everywhere!"

 

The shout reaches me from across the field where I see Russ sprinting over the horizon with terror on his face. Looks like we'll be moving on, and quick! Our little group has survived so far, some a bit worse for wear, but who knows how long that'll last. We even have a pregnant woman. I run into the farmhouse where we've been staying and alert the others. Our vehicles are always packed - we've learned that much over the last few months - so it's just a matter of getting everyone in as quickly as possible.

 

We've loaded up just as Russ reaches us. I can see the walkers coming over the hill. A huge herd, bigger than any we've yet seen. I do a quick headcount as Russ catches his breath: He and I, Kathy, Nancy, Leigh, Brennan, and the Jean sisters. The older of the Jeans is pregnant. She lost her husband before we met. 

 

We drive as quickly as we can. I'll miss that farmhouse, but we never end up staying anywhere for long. We plan to drive away from the herd, then circle around and hopefully get out of their path. Just as we make the turn I hear a honk from the car behind us. What do they think they're doing! Don't they know the walkers are attracted to noise!?

 

We stop the car, and as I get out I hear their's sputtering to a halt. Out of gas. There are no other cars on the road to siphon from. Looks like we're on foot from here on out. There's no hope of trying to circle around the herd now. We'll just have to hope that we got enough of a head start to out-walk them until we can find a safe place to hunker down and let them pass. We've done this before. We'll hunt for food, take care of any stray walkers we see along the way. Survive...

 

 

***

Quests:

Out-walk the Walkers - Walk 10,000 steps each day

Smash Some Zombie Brain- Do the NFA level 3 body weight workout 3x/week

Hunt for Food- Eat paleoish with 4 or less variances/week

 

So I've been watching the walking dead recently, and got some inspiration for a quest! It's time for me to go back to basics a bit, as I've been having a hard time keeping up my challenge goals through the whole 4 weeks. I really want to change that this time. Otherwise I'll be eaten by zombies!!! I've been all over the place the past few months, but this next month is slightly more stable, so I'm hoping I can get back in the swing of body weight workouts, and remember why I'm eating healthy to overcome the sugar cravings.

 

Here's to a great challenge, and surviving!!

[Manarelle]

Love the story, and the challenges! Not being eaten by zombies is pretty good motivation to get up and moving.  

 

How's it going so far? 

[Teancum]

We were lucky yesterday. Lots of walking, but we found some good food. And no sign of the walkers. It was eerie actually. Not that I like running into walkers, but I think we all get a false sense of security when we don't see any for a while. 

 

I had watch last night. It was quiet, and I managed to snare a rabbit. I was tired, though, when I saw a rustling in the bushes this morning. I thought it might be a fox and drew my bow. I was completely unprepared for the two walkers that seemed to suddenly be right on me. I was thrown off balance and dropped my bow. I started punching wildly, and I think I hit one hard enough to throw it back a few feet. It was just enough time to scramble for my knife in my belt. It was over soon enough.

 

As I pulled my knife out of the second walker's eye socket, a gun discharged close behind me. Furious (we try to avoid using our guns so the noise doesn't attract more), I whipped around to see Leigh with her gun drawn, standing close to me over the body of a third walker between us. She saved my life. 

 

We still have a little ways more to go tonight, I want to put as much distance between us and that gunshot as possible. I had to improvise a bit today, but we didn't lose anyone, and that's what's important. 

 

***

 

Got my steps in yesterday, and ate paleoish. I was on call in the emergency room last night until 2 this morning so I was a bit tired today. I did manage to get a bodyweight workout in though! I did 2 sets for the mini challenge rather than the NFA workout, but I'm ok with that. I was hoping for a third set, but didn't have it in me. I guess not doing much strength training for about a month takes its toll. I did it though, and that's what's important. I've eaten paleoish again today, and almost have my steps. So far so good! 

[Manarelle]

Yay for not getting eaten! I also got two sets of the mini workout in, before and after a walk. Doing it as a warm-up/cool-down was weird though, because without music, I can hear all the noises my knees make when doing squats (ew). Keep it up!

[V for Vetinari]

Good luck avoiding those zombies! I'm not usually a zombie movie person unless it's funny: Shaun of the Dead, and now iZombie. From what I've seen, though, I'm confident you can smush em.

 

I have the same walking goal except mine is in miles. The Internet tells me 5 miles is equivalent to 10k steps, so 5 miles it is.

[Teancum]

4 hours ago, M_J said:

I have the same walking goal except mine is in miles. The Internet tells me 5 miles is equivalent to 10k steps, so 5 miles it is.

 

That's good to know! Enjoy the walking! 

[Teancum]

The rest of this week has been a blur. We made some good progress though. We came across a couple more walkers, but I was able to push through the pain from the last attack and take them down. We've still managed to avoid the big herd. Yesterday we found a van with enough gas to get us a few miles at least. Just in time too, because we had to cross a shallow river and I don't know if we would have made it without the van. We're back walking again, and still have a ways to go before dark today.

 

The biggest challenge the last few days has been finding good food. We managed to hunt down a few squirrels, but the pickings have been slim. Everything is contaminated. We'll need to find some good food soon, or else we could run into some big trouble, especially with Jean being pregnant...

 

 

***

 

The rest of this week has gone alright. I've been good at getting in my steps, and I did another bodyweight workout on Thursday. Yesterday was a bit different, because we were driving home from Hinton, and had to do a bunch of cleaning and things beforehand. Between the cleaning and packing I was able to get in over 7000 steps, so not terrible. I didn't get in a workout per se, but again with the packing and unpacking I wasn't too torn up about it. I also was able to try a couple of the animal walks for the mini.

 

Food has been a problem the last two days. I did quite well the rest of the week, but travelling caused me to break down and eat a bunch of unhealthy foods which continued into today. I think the unhealthy snacks in the car is habit more than anything - a habit I really should try to break. Then I run into the issue of having a bad day, so I "may as well finish off the week" bad. Habits I need to break, but I hope it's slowly happening.

 

I'll get out and get some more steps today, and hopefully this next week will continue to go alright, even though my schedule is a bit less structured now.

[Manarelle]

On 7/24/2016 at 7:54 PM, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Then I run into the issue of having a bad day, so I "may as well finish off the week" bad. Habits I need to break, but I hope it's slowly happening.

 

Do you use any sort of tracking for your food? I know when I was using My Fitness Pal, completing the day's entry and closing it made it easier to get back on track the next day (that is, measuring by the day, not the week). For traveling, I've had good results with keeping water nearby, but packing food in a cooler in the trunk. You're less likely to snack if you know you have to pull over, get out, and dig out the cooler to eat something. 

 

How are you liking the bodyweight workout? 

[Teancum]

5 hours ago, Manarelle said:

 

Do you use any sort of tracking for your food? I know when I was using My Fitness Pal, completing the day's entry and closing it made it easier to get back on track the next day (that is, measuring by the day, not the week). For traveling, I've had good results with keeping water nearby, but packing food in a cooler in the trunk. You're less likely to snack if you know you have to pull over, get out, and dig out the cooler to eat something. 

 

How are you liking the bodyweight workout? 

 

Good plan with the travel food! I've used my fitness Pal in the past, and I do really like it for tracking, but I haven't been using it recently because I've been trying to focus more on the type of food than how much. I feel like no matter which approach I take there are always hangups and bad habits to overcome. Hopefully I'll find a good balance some day! 

 

As for body weight workout, the ones I've done so far have been for the mini. This week I hope to use some of the mini movements as a warm up, and actually get into the NFA workouts. 

[Manarelle]

6 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

I feel like no matter which approach I take there are always hangups and bad habits to overcome.

 

This is definitely true. I still check  in with MFP now and then, just to make sure I'm not backsliding, but they aren't as good when you're trying to hit a higher calorie number. I'm sure you'll find a system that suits you!

 

6 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

As for body weight workout, the ones I've done so far have been for the mini. This week I hope to use some of the mini movements as a warm up, and actually get into the NFA workouts.

 

That mini for world 1 is a darn good intro to bodyweight. Enjoy!

[Teancum]

No story tonight because I'm on my phone and don't want to type that much haha. 

 

Yesterday was kind of meh - I think my pedometer on my phone wasn't taking the whole day, because I swear I got more steps than it showed me. I also had to order Boston Pizza at 11:30 last night for my pregnant wife, and I got some Thai chicken bites too,  so not the best choice. 

 

On the bright side, I was able to weigh myself this morning for the first time in like a month, and I lost a bit of weight! Only like a pound, but I was really worried I had gained weight while being away, so it was good to see! 

 

Today I got my 10000 steps, ate pretty well (I stopped at Safeway and got some pulled chicken and salad from the deli instead of fast food), and did a body weight workout. I did the NFA 3A workout, which wasn't the most exhausting workout I've ever done, but those side planks almost did me in. Also I did incline push ups because I still can't do 5 regular push ups (I'm at about 3, which is better than zero a few months ago!!) 

 

Yesterday and today I also did some ground Kong for the mini. It's not as graceful as I'd like, but kind of fun! 

[V for Vetinari]

6 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

 

Today I got my 10000 steps, ate pretty well (I stopped at Safeway and got some pulled chicken and salad from the deli instead of fast food), and did a body weight workout. I did the NFA 3A workout, which wasn't the most exhausting workout I've ever done, but those side planks almost did me in. Also I did incline push ups because I still can't do 5 regular push ups (I'm at about 3, which is better than zero a few months ago!!) 

 

Yesterday and today I also did some ground Kong for the mini. It's not as graceful as I'd like, but kind of fun! 

Well done! How high is your incline? I'm on a counter, so you're probably beating me.

[Teancum]

5 hours ago, V for Vetinari said:

Well done! How high is your incline? I'm on a counter, so you're probably beating me.

 

I use my kitchen table right now. I could maybe go a bit lower and still get everything in, but I'm having trouble finding something sturdy enough that's not TOO low haha.

[Teancum]

I conquered the savannah today! So many Ground Kongs. Now my body hurts everywhere. Oh well!

 

I also got my steps in, and food has been good. My back has started acting up again though, so I may have to substitute some of my back exercises for my body weight workouts but we'll see...

[Teancum]

So, I've realized the story writing has been keeping me from posting, so I'm going to dispense with that. I know it's a huge disappointment to everyone *sarcasm*

 

Week two went just ok. One thing I have been good at is walking - no zombies are catching up to me! I've got my 10000 steps most days, and those I didn't (mostly due to really bad rain storms) I still was able to get more than usual. 

 

I didn't do any body weight workouts this week due to my back. It's been getting slowly better, but I had to help someone move on Saturday which set me back a bit. I have been able to do some dead hangs for the mini though. 

 

Once again I fell off the food wagon. I did well for a couple days, but the weekend has been terrible again. I think I need to work out a new good plan by next challenge. I feel like I'm dieting, which I want to avoid in favour of making lasting changes. I've come to realize I'm not ok with giving up sweets for the rest of my life, so instead of avoiding them until I cave and end up eating tons, I need to figure out a way to control them that I can keep up forever. I think that will need to center on more mindful eating - knowing when I'm actually hungry and consciously thinking about how I want to fuel my body, and what is worth it or not. 

[Manarelle]

9 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

So, I've realized the story writing has been keeping me from posting, so I'm going to dispense with that. I know it's a huge disappointment to everyone *sarcasm*

 

The story writing was neat to read,  but if it keeps you from posting, then nah. Much rather see progress than a pretty story.

 

Sorry to hear you're having back problems... that affects pretty much every aspect of life. Here's to a speedy recovery. 

[Teancum]

My back issues have really blown this challenge to heck. I've still got my walking in some days in an attempt to stay mobile, but that's about it. I've also really let my eating slide. I think because with the pain I feel like I just can't be bothered to put in the effort. Next challenge will be a respawn methinks...

[Teancum]

My back is still being a butt hole, which is completely sucking my motivation, but I went to the chiropractor Monday and today and it seems to be getting slightly better. I'm really hoping it settles down before school starts next week and I have to sit all day

 

Anyways, I walked today, and I got some more exercises from the chiropractor that I will do each day. My diet is totally off right now - I'm going to need to make some changes next challenge. 

[Teancum]

Welp, this challenge definitely was not what I hoped it would be. My diet crashed and burned pretty quickly, and my back threw off my workout routine. There were some good things however:

1. I was still able to participate in the mini-challenge a fair amount
2. I did pretty well with my walking for most of the time
3. I learned that I need to change the way I view food, or nothing is going to change
4. I actually managed to still lose some weight despite everything, which was unexpected, and probably undeserved, but happily accepted.

Next challenge will be a bit of a respawn diet wise, and I'll still need to take it easy on the back for a bit, but I have high hopes of being able to get back to regular workouts before the end of it!

[Manarelle]

5 hours ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel said:

Welp, this challenge definitely was not what I hoped it would be. My diet crashed and burned pretty quickly, and my back threw off my workout routine. There were some good things however:

1. I was still able to participate in the mini-challenge a fair amount
2. I did pretty well with my walking for most of the time
3. I learned that I need to change the way I view food, or nothing is going to change
4. I actually managed to still lose some weight despite everything, which was unexpected, and probably undeserved, but happily accepted.

Next challenge will be a bit of a respawn diet wise, and I'll still need to take it easy on the back for a bit, but I have high hopes of being able to get back to regular workouts before the end of it!

 

Hey, sounds like you still learned some things to make the next one better! Congrats on the weight loss, and see you in the next one!