In Which Sarah Barr Does Not Have to Go To The Gym In A Terrifying Leotard (#21)

[Sarah Barr]

Hello, Warriors!

After 20 challenges of Adventuring, I thought it was time to finally join you like I meant to about 15 challenges ago. 

(Brief blurb: I'm one of that lot from Scotland. My main goal is, as usual, to lose weight, so I'm not expecting my calorie target to result in much progress regarding the lifting, although I am still progressing slowly. Target weight is 65kg. Target weight is such because I'm 5ft 3, and therefore if I were 65kg I'd be the right weight and height for the wetsuit I want. Then, I buy the wetsuit. Then, I learn how to scuba dive. Then, I become a badass field marine ecologist, which is a step up from That One That Posts About Sharks All The Time. You'll notice a lot of marine biology in this thread, since I like to post something fishy I'm finding interesting every time I update. I'm also a Doodlie, and we generally don't bother with Week 0 because it can kill the rhythm a bit too much, so this challenge started as of this morning for me.)

 

CHALLENGE 21: NOT WEARING A HORRENDOUS LEOTARD IN FRONT OF OTHER HUMAN BEINGS

 

I'm using the Idiot Jar again this challenge. I love the Idiot Jar.

Simply: every time I miss a goal, I stick £1.00 in a jar and say, out loud, “I am an Idiot.” (Exceptions granted for goals missed due to injury or illness, of course.)

If the total in the Idiot Jar hits £5.00, I have to spend that on a hideous leotard I've bookmarked on eBay, and work out in that and some leggings in the gym, in front of real, living people, because that is my idea of Hell. (Although I suppose real, dead people would be worse.)

THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Every bullet point below has a £1 failure fine attached to it, for every relevant day.

Last challenge, the Idiot Jar claimed £6.00, hence the £5 target.

 

Goal 1: Etcetera Etcetera

(I do like soup.)

Same as usual, because it's working. Daily:

• 1600kcal, adjusted if necessary with subsequent weight loss. Bonus 200kcal on lifting days, to be spent on protein shake/ball straight after workout. 

• 5 freggies

• 2 litres water

• NEW: Food prep at least one dish every weekend. Doesn't need to be an extravaganza, a vat of carrot soup counts fine. I usually do this, but this time it counts, because not doing this really does mess up my week.

• NEW: Last challenge I cut caffeine out completely to wean myself off the energy drink habit. Now I no longer need four cans a day to function, I can go back to having one (one) cup of regular tea per day. Rest is decaf. One mug of coffee (equivalent to 2 shots espresso) permitted on late nights, no more than one of those per week. And absolutely no energy drinks.

+5 CON

Goal 2: Lifting, etcetera

(I've lived here 8 years and I've never been up Arthur's Seat.)

Same as before, although the last two exercises on Wed and Sat are new for me. I'm doing okay with back squats and deadlifts on the same day so far, but I'm considering swapping the squats with something the previous day if it starts to cause problems. (Warm ups and cool downs include bird-dogs, planks, and misc. yoga poses that I find challenging.) Once I'm sure I'm doing the new stuff with correct form at a fairly challenging weight, I'm going to start the Danger Method. So, soon, hopefully.

• Monday: Rest

• Tuesday: DB Row, DB Bench, Farmer Carries, Leg Press, Bicep Curls, Shoulder Shrugs

• Wednesday: OH Press, Back Squats, Deadlifts, Lat Pull Downs, Pendlay Rows, Good Mornings

• Thursday: Rest

• Friday: As Tuesday

• Saturday: As Wednesday

• Sunday: Rest

BONUS: Not counted against The Jar because of a dodgy ankle, but the Edinburgh Nerds got challenged by Steve to have climbed Arthur's Seat (see pic above) by... Nov...em...ber, I think? And I want to get it done before Autumn happens too much.

+4 STR, +1 DEX (+1 STA if I make it up Arthur's Seat)

Goal 3: Self Care

• Foam rolling and massage, once a week.

• Bubble bath with book, after foam rolling

• Skincare routine, as follows:

  • Every morning: Wash face with water, apply SPF 30 day cream
  • Every evening: Remove makeup with micellar* water, apply night cream to cheeks, neck and forehead, apply eye cream.
  • Mondays and Thursdays: Use a face scrub.
  • Sundays: Use a face mask.

*I have no idea what that is either.

+2 CHA

 

Life Goal: Adult Movies

(Yes, Scotty.)

• Watch one film from your “movies I've not seen but really should have by now” list, every week.  These are mostly fancy dramas. Last one I checked off the list was Cinema Paradiso. Others include Anne of the Thousand Days, It's a Wonderful Life, Brooklyn, and, er, Jaws 2. Goal is to feel less bad about not having saved up to go see any of the wonderful theatre performances at the international festival.

BONUS (not jar-related because even the free ones are expected to cost a little donation money): GO SEE A FREE FRINGE SHOW. GO.

+2 WIS

Tracking:

I got MyFitnessPal last challenge and I love it. I'll record daily there, and ideally daily on my thread. Weigh-ins are on Monday mornings.

 

Reward:

If I make it to the end of the challenge with under £5 in the Idiot Jar, I can reset the total to £0 and spend the >£4 on something that will be useful the next challenge, like interesting cooking supplies or about 1/5th of a sports bra.

If I make it to the end of the challenge with no money at all in the Idiot Jar, Weekend 0 can include a full Scottish breakfast. I love breakfast so much. 

[SomeGuyFromScotland]

I went up Arthur's Seat once.

 

He wasn't best pleased.

 

Following.

[Terah]

Good luck!

[Grymm]

Welcome aboard!  You seem to have this challenge thing down!

[Vibrantella]

What a well thought-out challenge!  Plus Father Ted and Ron Swanson!!!

 

As I gathered you're in Edinburgh (I'm in London), can I ask you for foam roller recommendations, please?  There are so many different options and prices on Amazon, I have no idea if the cheap ones are any good.

[Sarah Barr]

3 minutes ago, Vibrantella said:

As I gathered you're in Edinburgh (I'm in London), can I ask you for foam roller recommendations, please?  There are so many different options and prices on Amazon, I have no idea if the cheap ones are any good.

Hi Vibrantella!

I got this one here from Amazon because I saw it recommended in a magazine website somewhere - never had one before, so couldn't say if it's good or bad, but it certainly hurts in a generally good way!

(Edit: realised that link might only work for me. This one should work for everyone.)

[SomeGuyFromScotland]

Btw, It's a Wonderful Life is my favourite movie. I watch it every Christmas eve, and I cry EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

 

Right in the Feels.

[Jord]

I like you already. That's one of the best challenge write-ups I've read so far! I'm here to support you because no one should have to go to the gym in an ugly leotard. That really made my day. 

[Sarah Barr]

4 minutes ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

I like you already. That's one of the best challenge write-ups I've read so far! I'm here to support you because no one should have to go to the gym in an ugly leotard. That really made my day. 

Aw, thank you!

 

I found an even worse leotard in Primark today, by the way. It's covered in lips.

Lips.

[Einar]

13 minutes ago, Sarah Barr said:

Aw, thank you!

 

I found an even worse leotard in Primark today, by the way. It's covered in lips.

Lips.

Sounds like a new contender for terrifying leotard for future challenge motivations

[Jord]

Although if you wear the lips one, someone might think you were doing to be intentionally ironic. 

[RedStone]

5 hours ago, Sarah Barr said:

If the total in the Idiot Jar hits £5.00, I have to spend that on a hideous leotard I've bookmarked on eBay

 

OH MY GLOB!!! Hilarious. Good luck with your goals and I'll be quietly stalking!  

[DrFeelgood]

Awesome jump to the Warriors, Sarah!  Following along, as usual.

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

Well I'm just going to go ahead and follow this thread!!!

[Snarkyfishguts]

BAAAAAAH!! I love this challenge!! OH GEEZ, I'm so nervous for you and that UGLY leotard. NOPE. You are going to ace this challenge and we're here to support you and maybe smother you a little bit into success! The idiot jar is gonna get DUSTY.

 

[deftona]

Following along! 

 

4 hours ago, Sarah Barr said:

Aw, thank you!

 

I found an even worse leotard in Primark today, by the way. It's covered in lips.

Lips.

 

Is it weird I totally want to run to Primani and buy this right now?

[Shello]

Awesome challenge!  I hope that idiot jar is a lonely bugger this challenge.  I'm rooting for you. 

[Sloth the Enduring]

I'll be lurking about again.

[Sarah Barr]

2 hours ago, deftona said:

Is it weird I totally want to run to Primani and buy this right now?

If it helps, they're sort of vaguely Rolling Stones lips. Might even be actual Rolling Stones lips. 
There's also a leopard print KISS leotard.

[deftona]

7 minutes ago, Sarah Barr said:

There's also a leopard print KISS leotard.

 

I AM QUESTIONING OUR FRIENDSHIP THAT IT TOOK YOU THIS LONG TO TELL ME THAT. 

[Sarah Barr]

Just now, deftona said:

 

I AM QUESTIONING OUR FRIENDSHIP THAT IT TOOK YOU THIS LONG TO TELL ME THAT. 

I was seriously considering going all out leopard print KISS leotard with metallic leggings and Steel Panther hair as a surprise if I did have to do the forfeit!
but I don't want Gene Simmons to have any of my money

[ArgSki77]

I am certainly in for this. One of my favorite challenge write-ups I have seen on here so far. Welcome to the Warriors!

[deftona]

38 minutes ago, Sarah Barr said:

but I don't want Gene Simmons to have any of my money

 

Don't worry, it's Primark. They don't pay anyone fairly. 

[SevenofSeven]

Love the Challenge and wish you luck because..........leotard!

[wildross]

9 hours ago, Emerald_Dragonfly said:

Well I'm just going to go ahead and follow this thread!!!

me too