Spikings Respawned Here -

[Spikings]

Hi everyone - so it's time to try my first NF challenge in well over a year, as I'm not in a good state right now in terms of fitness or general happiness (more on that here)       and I need that kick again in my life to do something about it, even if I'm not feeling completely up to it...sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!

 

So here are my challenges, some of which I've taken/modified from the template. I'm gonna keep this short and sweet:

 

THE CHALLENGES:

 

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week.   EDIT: Complete a Darebee cardio-based workout four times a week.

 

LEVEL UP MY LIFE:

 

• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house.

 

 

I have a couple of advantages that I'm starting out with already, which probably have stopped me from gaining as much weight as I could have in the last couple of months. The first one is that I walk 25km a week commuting to work. I don't like shedding money for a bus/taxi, so this is always set in stone. The second advantage is that I keep up my daily water intake almost every day, and don't drink any soft drinks unless it's mixed with alcohol. These things I've managed to make habits after the last few times I've done NF challenges, so I have past me to thank for that.

 

Without further ado, I'll begin! ....in three days. Any replies/support is welcomed, even if they are one-word answers. I've been trying to make changes by myself for weeks to no avail, so it's nice to finally come back to this community.

 

My starter Measurements:

 

Bust: 38.0

Waist: 31.9

Hips: 40.1

Arm: 11.0

Leg: 25.8

Weight: 175.2 lbs

 

This might fluctuate over the next few weeks, so I'll probably do a catch-up in two weeks time, then post the final results when I'm done.

[Myrik]

Sounds like you got a great base to start with.  Challenge looks good.  Welcome back

[Sandavia]

[Jormungand]

You're right: walking and drinking water are huge. That is awesome that you already have those base levels down. I think often people overlook just how simple yet critical walking and drinking water can be. What do you typically do as far as evening meals? It's a fine balance to eat enough that it satiates without completely wrecking any diet goals. Overall, a really solid challenge structure.

[Mad Hatter]

Welcome back!

 

Commence respawn.

 

We've got this!

[ctfranklin28]

Love that you're reset (or "respawn") is all about acting on your awareness. Keep creating that loop for even greater respawn sessions!

[LydiaJaybird]

YASSS fellow respawn! You got this

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Spikings]

Thank you everyone for the kind words! Just seeing the replies lights up a lil' spark in me to do my best and remind myself I'm not doing this alone. It's really appreciated.

 

@Jormungand: It's good to know my water intake and walking routine is a pretty solid foundation for starting off here on my respawn journey - like I say, I'm sure that it's helped keep my weight and hydration levels in check, if only a little bit.

My usual evening meals are either curry and rice based (so a small handful of dry-fry chicken, korma sauce and a 1/2 cup of rice), or pasta/bolognese based (three handfuls of pasta and a handful of mince, and a fair amount of tomato sauce). Sometimes I have salmon/brocolli on good days, pizza and takeaway on bad days, but mostly I enjoy my carbs. I'm thinking of trying to 50/50 the carbs with frozen veg to see how that will go, then that could satiate my hunger later on in the evening?

 

@ctfranklin28: Many thanks! This is definitely all about that awareness and making conscious decisions that make my day-to-day life a more positive one. I already feel a difference by not having drank as much alcohol in the week last week, which isn't surprising in the slightest. Let's see how this continues.

 

 

So.... Day 1:

 

I've been away all weekend and have just got back home - I forgot today was the first day, so it's been a bit hit and miss. Going to colour-code it for now, as I can't think of a better way to do it.

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. N/A
  • Still the weekend, but no alocohol consumed today anyways.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Fail
  • Had a frozen pizza for dinner as I got home late. Was filling, but I decided to have 6/7 leftover crackers a few hours later, bad!
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. N/A
  • Not begun today, will be starting this tomorrow after work.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • About to start after I've finished replying here. Should be nice, I hope.

[Spikings]

Day 2:

 

This is like my 'Day 1' almost. The day when everything goes right because I've tried for the first time in months!

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Easy. None in the house, didn't want to buy any.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • I had a chicken korma and rice, with some cauliflower mixed in for extra healthy stuff. Definitely more than enough for tonight, hopefully this will be the same for future evenings too. Just drinking my water now.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. Success!
  • Going to update the main goal slightly on my OP as circumstances have changed for the better. I'm now going to be doing some Darebee workouts that revolve around cardio four times a week, instead of keeping to the same workout throughout. Partly because I know I'll get tired of the BBWW in time, and partly because my boyfriend has decided to join me with this goal in the evenings! He wants to push the limit a little more than me which I'm fine with, so long as I'm doing it with him. So we did the Ready Player One workout today, aiming to get to three sets. We only managed two as his legs gave up and I started to get a banging headache. Despite that, I'm feeling the most relaxed and destressed I have been all month...you really can't beat post-workout endorphins.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • It'll be a success in an hour. I'll do five minutes again today, then see how I feel with ten tomorrow.

Ok, feeling like I could get somewhere with this. I'll also update my OP with some weight/measurements tomorrow morning so I can hopefully see some differences in 4 weeks time.

 

[LydiaJaybird]

Whoop whoop! Good job!

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[Jormungand]

14 hours ago, Spikings said:

Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!

• Easy. None in the house, didn't want to buy any.

 

A few challenges back, I had a very similar challenge goal, and that is honestly the best method I found to curb drinking throughout the week. As simple as it sounds, when it's not in the house, there is zero chance of you drinking any, and the likelihood of you going out to the store just to buy it for that purpose is reduced. Nicely done. 

[Spikings]

@Jormungand Many thanks! I agree, this method is by far the most effective for me, as long as I'm actively doing something about it (and if other people know I'm trying to achieve this goal), then it can be done. Ideally though, I want to get to the next step of being able to have alcohol in the house and not get through it one day after the other. Sounds bad I know, but it tastes nice and it makes quiet nights more fun...and the mornings somewhat worse. >_> That's a goal for another day though, taking it bit by bit right now.

 

Day 3:

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Easy again, same as before.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • I had the munchies today a couple of hours after dinner. Not because I'm hungry, but just because I want to taste flavour. Either way, I distracted myself with some drawing, so I'm all good now.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. Success!
  • Done again today! Took an easier workout to get through, so I could give my muscles a small rest and not burn out real quickly. This time me and my bf tackled the Watch Me workout (three sets, which it will always be throughout this challenge unless some madness takes me) and it was a nice go-between. Still got my heart and muscles thinking, but I wasn't dead by the end of it.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • Shall be doing this in the next half hour. Ten minutes this time, as five minutes is starting to feel a little short.

[Spikings]

Day 4:

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Still going strong.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • This is so hard today. SO hard. I'm not hungry but I just want a strong taste. Wednesdays are usually the days in the week where I have a mid-week pig out. I had some lovely ramen earlier, but it wasn't a strong taste. What's worse though is I have nothing in the house to satiate this. Well, I guess it's a good thing, but still! Argh! Just drinking water atm.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. N/A
  • We were going to workout today, but we really needed the break. Our muscles are complaining a lot since it's been a while.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • Last night's ten minute meditation went well, despite the fact I got a little cold by the end. Will do another sesh tonight.

[Mad Hatter]

Maybe an interesting strong flavoured tea would work as a poor replacement for food?

[Spikings]

44 minutes ago, Mad Hatter said:

Maybe an interesting strong flavoured tea would work as a poor replacement for food?

 

I do have an abundance of teas in my cupboard that I need to get through, I think the best one for that would be cinnamon, even though it doesn't quite feel the same. I'll probably look to tea though in the evenings if I'm feeling like this again.

[Spikings]

Bit of a delay on my end, but still going strong (or as strong as I can):

 

Day 5:

Not the best day, but still kept going!

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Keep it rolling.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • Again a very hard day. Had some less-healthy noodle nests with canned meatballs for dinner, then somehow managed not to eat anything for the rest of the night. Lots of distractions helped!
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. N/A
  • Was going to workout again today, but was feeling a little lazy. Trying not to let that overcome me though.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • Only managed 5 minutes as I got to bed late, but did it nonetheless.

 

Day 6:

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. N/A
  • This is a night where I *could* have alcohol. I'll stay it off until tomorrow night though and be good. It'll make it more rewarding tomorrow night.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • Made some more tikka masala and I should be good to go this evening. Holding out until tomorrow night where I'll let myself go a little bit. : )
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. Success!
  • Done! Three sets of The Slayer Workout today, it was another nice middleground. Tomorrow I'll do some more cardio then that will be my workouts for the week.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • I'll do this tonight and try not to stay up too late again. Gotta try and platinum trophy that Assassin's Creed Unity, so close!

[Sandavia]

So much success this first week! Inspiring! Keep up the awesome work! 

[Spikings]

Thanks Sandavia, really appreciate it!

 

Day 7:

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. N/A
  • Had a bottle of wine in the evening, but it was nice to have it as a treat rather than as a growing regular beverage.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Fail
  • Had a store-bought pizza for a saturday treat, then had a family pack of doritos after. Funnily enough, I didn't finish them for the first time in years, and threw the rest in the bin. I was so bloated and uncomfortable, and the taste just wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Maybe my body and taste buds are starting to adapy to a healthier lifestyle.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. Success!
  • Done it again, this time on my own. The Sweat Generator was exactly what I needed, something to really get my heart pumping and get me tired out. And that's four workouts done in a week and oh my gosh my body knows about it! Feeling good though.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Fail
  • After a bottle of wine it can be hard to meditate, as you might guess. First time failing though, I'll make up for it the next day.

 

Day 8 :

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Woop - this challenge is so much easier when I make myself accountable for messing up. If I didn't put it up here and told no one of this challenge, I'd probably fail it every three days or so. Just goes to show how much of a difference a community makes.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • Had a *bit* of a larger meal than I wanted, but other than that, all good.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. N/A
  • Start of a new week, having a rest day today and will begin anew tomorrow.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • Shall get to sleep at a good time tonight and do 10 minutes before then. I've started to hit a breakthrough with the meditation and can slow my breathing riiiiiggghht down to a minimum, it's almost scary.

 

Well after one week of sticking to this regime, I can't say I've lost any particular weight, but I know for sure that my mood has increased a lot in seven days alone. I'm still not completely there but it's funny how a good diet, meditation and cutting down on the alcohol can do wonders for happiness...t'll be nice to see how the next few weeks go! i

[Mad Hatter]

 

9 hours ago, Spikings said:

Well after one week of sticking to this regime, I can't say I've lost any particular weight, but I know for sure that my mood has increased a lot in seven days alone. I'm still not completely there but it's funny how a good diet, meditation and cutting down on the alcohol can do wonders for happiness...t'll be nice to see how the next few weeks go! i

 

This is really, really great. Keep up the good work!

[Jormungand]

Well done all around on a week of crushing it. And you are not wrong when it comes to food having such an impact on our sense of well-being. I am always amazed (though I guess by now I shouldn't be) how large a role food plays regarding our moods.

[Spikings]

6 hours ago, Jormungand said:

Well done all around on a week of crushing it. And you are not wrong when it comes to food having such an impact on our sense of well-being. I am always amazed (though I guess by now I shouldn't be) how large a role food plays regarding our moods.

 

I totally agree, I mean I knew that having too much food (and junk food) in general would have a negative effect on the body and mind, but I could see myself still getting into the cycle of eating to make myself feel a *little* happier before my mood would spiral anyways. Its funny how cleaning the slate can really do so much good in that respect. And also workouts! My god I never get tired of that good feeling after doing an intense workout after a couple of days rest, wowsers.

 

Day 9 :

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Success!
  • Just cruisin' here.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • I did change up my meal and bought a katsu curry readymade meal from the shop, which replaced my jacket sweet potato for the evening. It wasn't bad and it did fill me, but I felt like I should have stuck it out and not bought the meal anyways... that kinda purchase is what led me to overeating. Anywhos, no food for me after dinner, just plenty of water. Still craving some of that cheese and crackers though.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. Success!
  • Take 2 on the Ready Player One workout from last week, and this time me and my boyfriend got through the three sets! 50% more effort this time, and while we were still dead by the end of it, we felt magnificent. I'm now a floaty being of contentment and peace.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Success!
  • Gonna keep this up, last night was a bit difficult as I went to bed in an 'inspired' mood...if any of you guys are creatives, you'll know that feeling - when you can stay up until 3am creating things, even though your body is screaming for you not to. So I could concentrate on my breathing, but I didn't quite have a clear head. No negative thoughts though, at least.

[Mad Hatter]

13 hours ago, Spikings said:

• • Take 2 on the Ready Player One workout from last week, and this time me and my boyfriend got through the three sets! 50% more effort this time, and while we were still dead by the end of it, we felt magnificent. I'm now a floaty being of contentment and peace.

 

Yay!

[fastergrace]

Following along. You're doing really well so far - congrats!!! 

[Spikings]

Day 10 :

 

Sorry to bring the mood down, but...

• Consume alcohol only on the weekends, includes Friday night. Fail
  • Had a bottle of wine tonight on a work night. Today's work wasn't so good...I work on creative-based content, so I have to gather the drive for that, but today I couldn't. On top of that, I'm damn sure I aggravated my co-worker by checking their work estimates with them...they seemed short with me afterwards even though I tried my best to be reasionable. This usually leads to them complaining via skype to other co-workers, although I can't confirm that for this situation...it's just by past experience. Either way I just felt a bit useless and crappy today, hence the wine. I hope I can pick myself up tomorrow.
• No additional food after dinner. Make sure that dinner is filling enough as it is. Success!
  • Nope, no food. No matter how much I wanted some.
• Complete the Beginner's Bodywieght Workout four times a week. N/A
  • Was supposed to do today, but I can delay until tomorrow.
• Practice meditation at the end every day for ten minutes, unless I'm out/at someone else's house. Fail
  • I've not tried yet, but I just don't feel in the mood today, Just one of those days, y'know?

[Jormungand]

It happens. That's why boots have straps on them. Nothing to do now but just dust yourself off and go again.