tishnicden goes back to basics (there's an app for that)

[tishnicden]

Last challenge was tough on me and taught me a lot. It wasn't my first rodeo, but I definitely got more from it than from my other challenges. Mainly, I need to take care of myself. My main goal is to make sure I take time for myself DAILY. I'm a serious app junky, so I'm adding a little fun by making sure there's an app to track everything. Obviously, I could just get an app to make a spreadsheet (loooove spreadsheets) but that would be too easy lol. 

 

I also want to do a points/rewards system this time around.
 

• Meditate - take at least 10 minutes a day to enjoy some quiet and get centered. Headspace app.
• Stretch - every morning and before bed, minimum 5 minutes. Sworkit & Fitocracy apps.
• Read - pleasure read for at least 20 min/day. Kindle app.
• Sleep - get at least 7 hours/night.
• Language - practice Spanish by passing at least one level/day. Duolingo app
• Hydrate - drink at least 90oz of water/herbal decaf tea/day. Apple Health app

 

I will be editing this prior to week 1 to add reward system and point system.


*******EDITS BELOW*****


10/25 - Afternoon
I take Sunday's off for family time. I tried to do a thing for my sig but it had too many lines. Ah, well. I will be grading each task based on completion. At the end of the challenge, I will average each week for a final percentage in each category, then average the categories together.

75% completion in a minimum of FOUR categories = Suspension Training Straps

75% completion for total challenge = The Academy
 

Meditate - 50%

Spoiler

W1 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W2 []  []  []  [✓]  [✓]  [✓]  - 100%
W3 [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X] - 0%
W4 [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X] - 0%

Stretch - 100%

Spoiler

W1 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W2 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W3 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W4 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%

 

Read - 100%

Spoiler

W1 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W2 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W3 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W4 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%

 

Sleep - 91.5%

Spoiler

W1 [X]  []  []  []  []  [] - 83%
W2 []  [✓]  []  [✓]  []  [] - 100%
W3 []  [X]  []  []  []  [] - 83%
W4 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%

 

Language - 87.5%

Spoiler

W1 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W2 []  []  []  [X]  []  [] - 83%
W3 []  []  [X]  [X]  []  [] - 67%
W4 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%

 

Hydrate - 54%

Spoiler

W1 [✓]  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W2 []  []  []  []  []  [] - 100%
W3 []  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X] - 17%
W4 [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X]  [X] - 0%

 

10/25 - Morning
I have been having a really hard time figuring out rewards. Mostly, because anything I want would be out of my budget at this point *cough*AppleWatch*cough*. However, I have been wanting TRX Suspension Straps for the house. (I am looking at these). Winter is coming and I am going to be needing things I can do indoors. I also really want to joint the Academy. I am thinking those are pretty good. Hopefully, I will be able to come up with a point/tracking system by this afternoon.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

I await the points and rewards.

[tishnicden]

40 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I await the points and rewards.

....me too lol

[tishnicden]

 

...because why not?

[Maigs]

Following again. Hope everyone is feeling better

[tishnicden]

I have edited with some reward ideas.


 

14 hours ago, Maigahane said:

Following again. Hope everyone is feeling better

Thanks!! Glad to have you along again!! We are all feeling soooo much better. Day two of my antibiotics and my head cold was absolutely gone. Psh, and they said it was viral. lol. My throat is wayyyy better, but it's looking like I got a touch of Scarlet Fever. My kinda luck. Hubs was complaining this morning he was coming down with something and my first though was AHHHHH NOOOOO!!!! NOT THE DREADED MAN COLD!!!

[tishnicden]

Ahhhhh!!!!! I think I figured out my rewards/tracking!!!!

[Maigs]

Great points/reward setup!

I'm asking for TRX for Christmas and have been eyeing the Academy for a while. Wish I had bought it before they upped the price

[tishnicden]

Thanks! If I totally screw up this challenge I'll be asking for TRX for Christmas myself. It's something I have been REALLY wanting to do. There's a place here that does TRX classes but I can't ever seem to get away from work or the girls lol. So, why not buy my own straps? Logic. I don't have much of it, but when it pops up, it always makes my day.

[tishnicden]

This challenge is really going to be harder than I thought. Feeling sleepy today, and all I can think about is lifting. It's been 9, NINE, days since I last got a workout in. I may have to add some lifting days to this challenge just for my sanity.

[Sea Level]

Here to follow!

[tishnicden]

Confession: I have been eating like a complete and total asshole this week. Donuts, pastries, nachos, chili dogs, potatoes on potatoes on potatoes, and ALL the bacon. This HAS to stop. Pretty sure I am eating my feelings, as it has been a stressful week. I refuse to have this dictate my whole challenge, and it's ending today. (right after I finish off the box of krispy kremes DH brought home last night... jk jk jk)


 

On 10/27/2016 at 5:38 AM, Sea Level said:

Here to follow!

Thanks!! Happy to have you along for the craziness.

[tishnicden]

Had a good weekend. Nothing too crazy. Yesterday was my day one week one. Halloween is an odd day for that, but I did my best.

 

Meditate W1 []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Stretch W1 []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Read W1 []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Sleep W1 [X]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Language W1 []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Hydrate W1 [X]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]



I did everything I was supposed to EXCEPT get 7 hours of sleep and drink 90oz. So what happened? I ended up super busy. The girls went trick or treating with their class and I chaperoned. Totally had my hands full, so I didn't take my water with me. Then we had to drive to the coast and I didn't refill my water when I drank it all. I did get a little over 60oz, though. Sleep? We got home pretty late. By the time I had relaxed and was ready to go to bed it was 11:30pm and I wake up at 5:10am. This morning I woke up to no electricity. The storm took out the power, but *luckily* my job still had power. Since I went to bed wayyy too late and still had to work, this means I OD'd on coffee (frowned upon) and since, due to unforeseen circumstances, haven't drank all my water yet. That is in progress.

sooooo there is my update

[tishnicden]

I have 5 minutes before I reach my goal finish time for 60 oz of water and I'm over here like...




-ETA- DOOOOONE!!!

[fiddle-on]

17 hours ago, tishnicden said:

I have 5 minutes before I reach my goal finish time for 60 oz of water and I'm over here like...




-ETA- DOOOOONE!!!

 

Good work. I doubt I could handle a 5 gallon water bottle without soaking myself :-P  .

[tishnicden]

On 11/1/2016 at 2:44 PM, tishnicden said:

Meditate W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Stretch W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Read W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Sleep W1 [X]  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Language W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]
 

Hydrate W1 [X]  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

 

^^Updated. 

I'm finding that I really enjoy my mornings and DON'T need coffee when I meditate and stretch/yoga before I head to work. I am still trying to find an app to track my sleeping. I was going to use my Polar A360, but it has mysteriously disappeared and I hate trying to use my fitbit for that. For now, I am just going to loosely base it off Apple Health.

 

 

[tishnicden]

20 hours ago, tishnicden said:

Meditate W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Stretch W1 []  []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]

Read W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Sleep W1 [X]  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

Language W1 []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]
 

Hydrate W1 [✓]  []  []  [ ]  [ ]  [ ]

I have updated again.

I forgot to add yesterday that I am going to add a "get out of jail free" card of sorts. Should I do anything from my older challenges, it will wipe out one red X of my choice (✓). For example, last night I batch cooked a bunch of meals to get me through the weekend. Batch cooking/meal planning is from last months challenge. I have a horrible problem obsessing with perfection and I think this might be a healthy way to keep up on habits that are good for me while taking away pressure to be perfect.

week one is almost over and I find that my easiest tasks are language, reading, and meditating. I am constantly telling myself that I have to stretch but I am still thinking about it as an option, when it isn't. I am getting back in the swing of things as far as hydration goes. It usually takes me a little while to get back in the grove but I think I have it figured out. Sleeping. Oh, sleeping. I have hoping that with the time change this weekend, I'll be able to fit in more sleep. I have been allowing the girls to go to bed an hour later than normal so it won't be a shock when the time goes back. That fun task has messed up my sleeping schedule, and has made it hard for me to go to bed on time. I almost didn't get my 7 hours last night but Still Asleep me turned the alarm off and I slept another 15 minutes before I woke up and flew out of bed.

[tishnicden]

On 11/3/2016 at 0:37 PM, tishnicden said:

Meditate W1 []  []  []  []  []  [ ]

Stretch W1 []  []  []  []  []  [ ]

Read W1 []  []  []  []  []  [ ]

Sleep W1 [X]  []  []  []  [ ]  [ ]

Language W1 []  []  []  []  []  [ ]
 

Hydrate W1 [✓]  []  []  []  []  [ ]

 

 

Had an epiphany, either late last night or early this morning, that working out ISN'T my issue. I actually love it. My problem is my diet. I really need to gain control in a sustainable way. Even though it isn't part of my challenge, that is definitely something I am working on.

 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

.....also....

[tishnicden]

Recap of Week One -

 

So, sleep on Apply Health isn't accurate at all. This says on that night I got 4 hours, but no. I went to bed early that night and my daughter ended up having a bad dream so I used my phone as a light and went to get her. It counted my sleep AFTER that. I'll just have to keep track myself. As long as I am in bed before 10, then I know I get my full sleep. Hopefully DH will be working locally again and I can sleep in an extra hour. I got 7 hours every night except the first one. 5/6 = 83%

 

Water started out kind of rough, as it always does, but now it's no problem. I am constantly thirsty and having my water with me makes all the difference. I even got my oz in on Sunday without trying. Yay good habits. I drank my 90oz every day except day one. I used "good habit" points to fix that, though. 6/6 = 100%

 

 

Language!!! Using Duolingo, I did my Spanish lesson every day. It helps that I love language. Side note: you can now take Klingon. I did all 6 days. 6/6 = 100%

Meditate... I was unsure about it at first, but I am sooo loving it now. I love starting my morning with this and some quick yoga. It is also giving me new strategies for dealing with anxiety. I did all 6 days. 6/6 = 100%


Reading and Stretching

I don't quite know how to use Kindle to show my progress other than how many pages, but I have gotten pretty far in A Game of Thrones. I am just as addicted to the book as I am the show, if not more so. I love all the details I didn't get in the show. I am super excited because season 6 comes out next Tuesday and I haven't seen it yet. yayyy GOT!!! I read all six days. 6/6 = 100%

Stretching is something that I always need to do. My body gets really tight and sore if I don't, and it makes life so much less fun. I have slight scoliosis as well as hip issues from when I was pregnant, so when I don't stretch, moving is excruciating. I got my stretching in every day. 6/6 - 100%

[tishnicden]

Also,

PREP ALL THE FOOD!!!!!


(why it's upside down, I have no idea.)

+2 Good Habit points.

 

 

[RES]

Love the apps, and the challenge...I may have to try a few of these  

[tishnicden]

Ok, so I've been MIA pretty much all of week 2. It was a crazy emotional week for me for a number of reasons, but I think I held it together pretty well.

Meditate - Ok, so maybe I lied. Maybe I struggled a bit. I did 3/6 days. 50%

Stretch - This has been easy. I've made it a point to do it and get my girls involved. 6/6 - 100%

Read - Also becoming easy. I have built it into the girls night time routine. 6/6 - 100%

Sleep - This has been hard. I did pretty well all but two nights. Tuesday night I stayed up entirely too late watching election results. Thursday, zero fucks were given and I stayed up watching a movie. typing it out it isn't as bad as I make it in my mind, but I generally give myself zero tolerance. (note to self, chill tf out, you're human). 4/6 - 67%

Language - Struggled here, as well. I was home most of last week and we have virtually zero service. I mean, one bar MAYBE, and then its slower than dial up. That makes using apps pretty difficult. I did however try to make up for it with language immersion. DH got really impatient with that, though. LOL "just say it in english!" hahahah 5/6 - 83%

Hydrate - Ah, I love hydrate. I'm in this nice little system of waking up and having a glass of water, get to work and have herbal tea, sip on my big cup of water throughout the day, get home and have a glass of water, herbal tea before bed. Definitely makes this one simple. 6/6 = 100%


I'll be updating my original post with my stats.


 

On 11/8/2016 at 8:56 AM, RES said:

Love the apps, and the challenge...I may have to try a few of these  

Welcome!! Thanks, I am an app junkie so I thought I would use it to my advantage

[tishnicden]

OH!!! I forgot to add that I have been logging all my meals on MFP (old challenge goal) and staying within my calorie goal (old challenge goal). I have also pre-prepped/batch cooked all my lunches for this week. (Unfortunately it is a new recipe and I am not a fan. It's going to be a long week.)

+3 Good Habit Points

[tishnicden]

Ended up at the ER last night with DH. We waited 6 hours and finally left and went to another towns ER. He has a herniated disc. Yay....

Last nights activities also means I have had zero sleep since I woke up at 6am yesterday, with the exception of closing my eyes while the girls watched mickey mouse. I am calling today a mental health day, because if I even tried to focus on my goal, it may be just the thing that breaks me. I will use my Sunday off as a make up.

[tishnicden]

Side note, including my good habit points, I had 97% success last week.