Traaki fixes up her batcave and tracks her food.

[traaki]

Hey, y’all! I’m back for some more challenge fun and excitement! 

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG

The problem: 

I realized as I was setting this challenge up and going through the nutrition modules that there’s a BIG part of me that just does. not. want. to. adjust my diet or measure or track or anything.  It’s not that I love junk food so much, it’s that I love food so much. Like, real food.  Eating is a seriously big part of what I consider the best part of life!  I like to eat EVERYTHING! I really cannot get into restrictions on, like, a philosophical level. 

I also have a serious block against weight loss goals.  I have always been a love-me-for-me kind of person, no matter how i look, and the idea of trying to change it just doesn’t sit right with me. (Somehow exercise doesn’t trigger this cantankerousness).  I revisited my big why and I think I’m just going to have to do a LOT of thinking and soul searching to find a way to make improving my diet feel right.  I know I want to have better energy and health and changing my body composition will help that.  I do eat a fair amount of junky food and I just… I don’t know. I have two Traakis inside, one that wants to treat my body like a temple and one that believes my body IS a temple, no matter how I treat it.  (Still, latter Traaki, isn’t it possible to treat a temple like a temple?)

 

The quest:

When I logged my food last time (pre-respawn), I found it really helpful (though socially awkward).  I used YouFood so I just had to take a picture of my food, not try to sort out any calories or anything like that.  So I'm going to track everything I eat or drink during the quest using YouFood (username: traaki).  If any of you are on there, please let me know and I will add you as a buddy. 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS

I was really hoping to have a new food quest after finishing the Nutrition module & also reading the GMB nutrition guide. Instead I have a lot of what I just wrote up there—angst and indecision.  Having veggies with lunch has been a really great practice.  Last week I needed a snack in the late afternoon and ended up with bagel chips and seafood salad…wah wah. So my second nutrition quest is to have healthy snacks available every day at work (Veggies and fruit, with smaller amounts of olives, almonds, pistachios, cheese, hummus).  I don’t HAVE to have a snack at work but each day I will pass this quest if I have something healthy available as an option. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK

We’ve been here before, but we’re doing it again: three bodyweight workouts per week.  I think I’m through the “new job chaos” danger zone, but I’m not through the “holiday chaos” danger zone so we’re going to keep it here until it feels totally normal. I got this done last week and felt like a super hero. I ran around the house singing the Rocky theme song when I was done. 

 

Workout Quest #2: WORKOUT MODULE

Time to read the workouts module! I want to check in here on NF at least twice a week to try to keep up momentum on this non-daily quest (I really struggle with those but not every quest can be daily…) 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish blog posts

I want to publish 2 blog posts this month. I normally have a goal of publishing 4 blog posts but that rarely happens. So maybe aiming at 2 will be better. As with the workout module quest, I really don’t do as well with non-daily quests so I will be checking in on this at least twice a week. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave!

This month I want to take care of a few Batcave improvements: 

• Get bike fixed and ride at least part of way to/from work at least once
  • Call bike shop & make appointment
  • Drop off bike
  • Pick up bike
  • Plan one commute
  • Do commute
• Install pull-up bar 
• Buy a scale
• Set an alarm at 9 pm to alert me to the need to start prepping for bed
• Set up a reminder to check in here on NF
• Set up YouFood app for tracking
• [More may come soon--need to review my respawn notes]

Alright, this one seems kind of gargantuan but I think I can do it. I don't want to have an ever increasing number of challenges--I think this may be the maximum number of individual quests I'm willing to do (given that I have a bunch of maintenance stuff I track on the daily as well).  

Onward! To glory!

[Manarelle]

Another great quest! I agree with not wanting to overload; small steps are easier to build habits on and maintain. 

 

As far as the block on weight loss goals, would it help to change that to weight change goals? The much-touted adage of "muscle weighs more than fat" is true (by volume), so as you build muscle, you can stay the same weight, but still lose fat. I weigh more now than I did last year because I started doing more weight training and less cardio, but I feel great and get compliments now and then. Instead of obsessing about "losing weight" or "restricting food," I focused on being stronger and making healthier food choices (I love food, so I'm with you on not wanting to restrict). Just a thought. 

 

Anyhow, you've got a good challenge here, you can do it!

[traaki]

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (2/7)

This is going really well. I didn't take a picture of dinner last night--it was a sort of chaotic meal, where we got four dishes to split, they all came out at different times, etc.  I did write down what I had though.  

 

I often leave detailed captions of what I've eaten, if I have specific info--which isn't the most fun thing to do on a phone. But the phone also helps because it allows me to track stuff super easily. I wonder if I should be using a paper journal with the phone as backup (at the end of the day reviewing pics and making sure I didn't miss anything).  No matter--I'm going to go ahead with YouFood until the end of the challenge and maybe change course next month.  

 

Just realized that we're having a party this weekend and tracking food/drink then is going to be suuuuuper awkward and tough. Well, I will do my best! 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS (2/7)

I have had a bag of veggies available to me each day this week, as well as pistachios and dried apricots. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (1/3)

I got one done! Tomorrow is #2.  This weekend we have guests, which often stymies me...I'm going to see if I can get my sister to get involved. 

 

Workout Quest #2: WORKOUT MODULE (2/19)

As predicted...I'm not so good at these non-daily ones. Haven't even cracked the workout module Just read two of the modules when I opened it up to check how many there were--I KNEW regular check-ins would help. 

 

I've also been working through more Academy quests lately. I'd like to make a level-related quest for 2017 so I'm trying to go through and mark stuff I've done so I have an accurate starting place (like, I'm not going to take a snorkeling class. I'm SCUBA-certified. That's just silly.)

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish blog posts

I worked on a draft of a post yesterday.  Now, of course, I want to start a DIFFERENT draft instead of finishing and posting that one, because my mind is a monkey with very bad habits.  But I'm aware of this bad habit and I only need to write two posts this month. So if I can finish the first draft of the first post this week, I'll be in good shape to get it live next week. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! (4/10)

Done (right now just so I could say I did something...)

• Set an alarm at 9 pm to alert me to the need to start prepping for bed
• Set up a reminder to check in here on NF

 

Next priorities:

 

• Call bike shop & make appointment
• Fix my pull-up bar so it doesn't damage the doorframe paint so much.

[traaki]

3 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Instead of obsessing about "losing weight" or "restricting food," I focused on being stronger and making healthier food choices (I love food, so I'm with you on not wanting to restrict). Just a thought. 

 

That's been my basic strategy, but I think I need to take it to the next level because I really haven't seen results in terms of losing fat.  I'm a lot stronger than I was before I started, but I look pretty much exactly the same...and for some reason that's disappointing to me, although I don't feel comfortable with or motivated by appearance change?

 

I don't get it either. 

 

Still your suggestion about reframing it is a good one.  I'll have to think about that.  I think finding ways to tie my diet to my workout results could help...  I also have some intermittent and mysterious stomach problems and I'd LOVE to figure out what's causing that.  Maybe reframing it as self-care/treating myself better? Hmmm....

[Manarelle]

32 minutes ago, traaki said:

I don't get it either. 

 

Brains are funny things. You can see the logic, know the logic, and... still just feel that it's not right.  If you can do it without getting caught up in the numbers, measurements (other than the scale) can be helpful. You'd think you'd notice the difference of an inch gain or loss in certain areas, but that's not always the case. Again, just a thought. Definitely keep mulling over what would work best for you. No pressure to implement a change now if it's not right (someone please tell our government this!). 

[peelout]

I've recently started a bww which you can see on my current challenge.  Can you describe yours or where to find it?

[traaki]

7 hours ago, peelout said:

I've recently started a bww which you can see on my current challenge.  Can you describe yours or where to find it?

Sure--it's the Nerd Fitness Academy level 3 BWW, so it's behind their paywall. But the basics are a three-day rotation (rest day between each): 

 

A: 4 sets (stepups, bodyweight push-ups, pull aparts), finish with side planks

B: 4 sets (1 leg Romanian deadlifts, inchworms, assisted pullups) finish with 1-arm farmer's walk

C: 3 sets (jump squats, knee pushups, wall slide, leg lower downs) finish with bar hang

 

I've customized all the numbers as I've gotten stronger but that's what I'm doing. Happy to give more detail if that helps. 

 

I followed your challenge--I'm a fan of Duhigg, too, very helpful for habits. 

 

[traaki]

7 hours ago, Manarelle said:

 

Brains are funny things. You can see the logic, know the logic, and... still just feel that it's not right.  If you can do it without getting caught up in the numbers, measurements (other than the scale) can be helpful. You'd think you'd notice the difference of an inch gain or loss in certain areas, but that's not always the case. Again, just a thought. Definitely keep mulling over what would work best for you. No pressure to implement a change now if it's not right (someone please tell our government this!). 

 

Haha. Someone really SHOULD tell them that.  And my job too, while we're at it.

 

I missed last month's measurements because sometimes planning is hard, but I'm wondering if they will show progress when I take them this month.  Trying to reframe that as "wondering" and not "excited for" because "excited for" is a ticket straight to Disappointmentville. 

[Manarelle]

12 hours ago, traaki said:

I missed last month's measurements because sometimes planning is hard, but I'm wondering if they will show progress when I take them this month.  Trying to reframe that as "wondering" and not "excited for" because "excited for" is a ticket straight to Disappointmentville. 

 

I hear you there. Good luck!

[traaki]

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (5/7)

Doing great! I definitely find taking pictures annoying enough that I will avoid snacks unless I'm really actually hungry.  

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS (5/7)

Nice work, self! Every day I've had some combo of the following available: veggie sticks, apples, dried apricots, pistachios. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (2/3)

Boom! I'm going to have to see what I can fit in on Sunday--if my sister isn't interested in joining, I will do at least some pushups and squats.

 

Workout Quest #2: WORKOUT MODULE (14/19)

Killin' it! I read a bunch of these on the bus yesterday. 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish 2 blog posts (0/2)

I edited the first post yesterday, and will publish it next week after one more round of edits. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! (5/10)

I bought a scale! Still haven't called the bike shop, but I DID just put the number in my phone and set a reminder to call when I leave work today.  That means I basically have a bunch of bike-related tasks to do and I want to put some felt things on my pullup bar so it doesn't rub the paint off my doorframe any more than it already has.  Still, 50% after one week? I'll take it!

 

Overall

Some of my maintenance tasks are slipping: I haven't been hitting 3 bottles of water every day, and I haven't been getting 8 full hours of sleep.  But I'm walking 40 minutes a day and I'm making a big effort to get the water & sleep back on track. 

[peelout]

Great start to the challenge.  Walking 40min/day is a great addition to your workouts.  Be sure to get that bww in even if its only a partial workout.  Doing even a little may not have the health benefits of a full workout, but it goes a long way toward developing an automated habit. It tells the brain that exercise is now event that must be done and the brain will eventually automatically decide to exercise.  Thats much better than having to consciously remind yourself to go do it.

[Manarelle]

13 hours ago, traaki said:

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (2/3)

Boom! I'm going to have to see what I can fit in on Sunday--if my sister isn't interested in joining, I will do at least some pushups and squats.

 

Don't forget that these contribute to the mini! If you're going to do them anyway, might as well use them to cast your vote, right?

 

Nice job on week 1. How is it all feeling as far as becoming habits? 

[otterbyte]

13 hours ago, traaki said:

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (5/7)

Doing great! I definitely find taking pictures annoying enough that I will avoid snacks unless I'm really actually hungry.  

 

 

Congrats! And I actually lost a lot of weight for just this reason. I didn't want to have to track my snacks...I'm too lazy to enter them in the app. So I just didn't eat them, and lo and behold! I lost weight! Who'da thunk? Not this girl!  

[traaki]

Week 2 begins! 

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (1/7)

I had to write some of it down since my phone didn't have charge, but I kept at it. Not a habit yet but getting there. I'm not sure this is a habit I want to have....it seems quite disruptive socially. Do people just try to remember what they ate and write it down later? How does this not get awkward at meal times? 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS (1/5)

I managed to do this today at work, but I also had freggies as snacks on both weekend days, which is more than I was hoping for with this goal.   Especially given that we did a Magic draft on Saturday, a holiday party that night, and football watching all day Sunday, it could have been really bad. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (2/3)

Wellllll....I didn't get the third one done yesterday.   See previous comment about a very full weekend.  I do NOT have a bunch of stuff this weekend so I see no reason I won't get all three done this week. 

 

Workout Quest #2: WORKOUT MODULE (19/19)

BOOM. 

 

I forget how much this section is all about going to the gym. I never go to the gym. I have no desire to go to the gym.  Working out at home is my jam.  I'll try it once to get the quest done and to see if I like it more than the last time, but I feel pretty good about me and my chin-up bar. 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish 2 blog posts (0/2)

Taking the bus this week = time to write and edit = this should be do-able. 

 

Juuuust remembered my blog is borked.  I guess I need time for that this week. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! (6/10)

I called the bike shop!! This is something I've been putting off for TWO SOLID YEARS, which is really sad because I love my bicycle and used to ride it all the time.  Tomorrow is not a good day for dropping it off, but Wednesday is.  

 

Overall

Not getting enough sleep has continued to be a problem--I was supposed to go to bed at 9 pm yesterday to start making up my sleep debt, but...I ended up in bed at 1 am.  I stayed up late for relatively good reasons, but still...I don't function well without enough sleep! Tonight I have a client launch so may not get enough sleep there either. 

 

I also set a reminder to check in here on the forums 3 times per week, and this is actually super helpful. 

[traaki]

On 12/10/2016 at 6:14 AM, Manarelle said:

 

Don't forget that these contribute to the mini! If you're going to do them anyway, might as well use them to cast your vote, right?

 

Nice job on week 1. How is it all feeling as far as becoming habits? 

 

I totally forgot about the mini!  Thanks for the reminder. 

 

As far as habits, the freggies for lunch/snacks is feeling pretty habitual, though I'm glad I have a few more weeks to solidify it. The habit of checking in here on the forums is definitely not formed yet but is really really helping so I'm going to stick with at least 3x a week on that one. The workouts feel habitual for twice a week, and the third one always confounds me....so, I'd say all in all a work in progress. 

[traaki]

On 12/10/2016 at 6:17 AM, otterbyte said:

 

Congrats! And I actually lost a lot of weight for just this reason. I didn't want to have to track my snacks...I'm too lazy to enter them in the app. So I just didn't eat them, and lo and behold! I lost weight! Who'da thunk? Not this girl!  

Haha! I'm glad it worked for you.

 

If I may ask...how long have you been tracking? Do you track every last thing? Preferred app? I'm trying to get over my annoyance about the whole thing.

[otterbyte]

6 hours ago, traaki said:

Haha! I'm glad it worked for you.

 

If I may ask...how long have you been tracking? Do you track every last thing? Preferred app? I'm trying to get over my annoyance about the whole thing.

 

I've been tracking almost 6 months now. And ya, I pretty much track everything. I actually put in a Werther's candy the other day. [I love Werther's even though I'm under 70. Don't judge. ]  

I use LoseIt! to track calories and exercise. I really like it. Hubby uses MyFitnessPal, which seems to be very popular. It's annoying at first, but once you start tracking for a week or two, it learns your foods and makes entering things much simpler. You can also scan barcodes and create recipes. I do recommend a cheap kitchen or postal scale, especially at first. Eventually you'll be able to eyeball amounts fairly accurately. 

As I said, if you can just push through the first week or two, it gets easier and it becomes a habit. And it's helped me a LOT. Good luck with it!

[traaki]

Week 2 mid-point! 

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (3/7)

Killin' it.  I sometimes forget but usually remember about 2 bites in. 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS (3/5)

We've been really dedicated to buying carrots/celery/bell peppers/apples and then prepping them in little lunch bags for me.  It's totally awesome and makes my life really brainlessly easy.

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (1/3)

I normally want to do Tu/Th/Sa, but after not getting enough sleep several days in a row, I decided to get enough sleep and workout this morning. I got a slow start but got in 80% of my workout.  

 

I'm reading Miracle Morning right now, which is aggravating my allergy to over-promising self-help books (skimming the first two chapters helped a lot), but I'm going to keep at it and see if it helps.  I really like working out first thing but am a slow-to-rise person (for now).  So I want to figure out a way to feel stoked as hell about the morning.  I didn't realize he uses the "level ten life" phrase that I see floating around a lot and that I really associate with NF so that was interesting. 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish 2 blog posts (0/2)

Haven't done anything but should have some time on tonight's bus ride. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! (6/10)

I'm figuring out with my partner when I should take this in, but that's still progress. 

 

Overall

I've been catching up on sleep (hoooooray!) and better about drinking water.   My right knee is feeling a little wonky--not sure what the cause is there but nothing seems to be truly wrong with it. 

[traaki]

On 12/13/2016 at 2:57 AM, otterbyte said:

 

I've been tracking almost 6 months now. And ya, I pretty much track everything. I actually put in a Werther's candy the other day. [I love Werther's even though I'm under 70. Don't judge. ]  

I use LoseIt! to track calories and exercise. I really like it. Hubby uses MyFitnessPal, which seems to be very popular. It's annoying at first, but once you start tracking for a week or two, it learns your foods and makes entering things much simpler. You can also scan barcodes and create recipes. I do recommend a cheap kitchen or postal scale, especially at first. Eventually you'll be able to eyeball amounts fairly accurately. 

As I said, if you can just push through the first week or two, it gets easier and it becomes a habit. And it's helped me a LOT. Good luck with it!

 

So far I'm literally just taking pictures of the food I eat.  No calorie goals, no review at the end of the month, nothing.  I figure this is a start to build the habit without making me grumpy about the process. I figured out my BMR and so theoretically the next step is to make sure my calories are below that.  I'm making a lot of my food choices pretty routine, so I just need to make sure they're the RIGHT routines to build.  So maybe next challenge I'll get up my courage/stamina for calorie-based tracking. 

[traaki]

Here's how it went at the end of week 2:  

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (5/7)

I had some trouble with my app on Friday (it wouldn't open) and got kind of demoralized by the whole tracking thing.  Then, on Saturday, I planned a big surprise game day for my partner and had a ton of snacks set up for that.  And....didn't do a good job documenting.  At the end of the day I did my best to reconstruct what happened because I could feel the whole challenge starting to slip away. I've been doing a good job documenting ever since, though. 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS (5/5)

Good work, self!  This week I'm feeling a little behind the eight ball as I didn't have time to prep snacks yesterday, but I'm hoping I can do it tonight. We do have fruit around and I can always run to the grocery store next door. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (3/3)

I DID IT!

 

I realized that the weekend workouts are really hard in part because I like to lay in bed with my partner, cuddling and snoozing, and then all of a sudden I'm like "OH GOD I NEED TO GET UP AND WORKOUT".  At that point it's late and I'm starving.  Also we often get into conversations about scheduling and other stuff and then I get sucked into the computer.  We got into a fight when I tried to ask for help (e.g. "when you know it's workout day, can you help me stay focused?") and I finally just realized there is no help on the way.

 

SO! This coming weekend, which is already going to be hard because my family is in town, I'm going to plan out the night before exactly how my workout is going to happen, and then I'm going to do it first thing.  I really like the way the Miracle Morning talks about raising your wake-up motivation level and so I'm trying to use that as a strategy.  Next challenge I'm all over this morning stuff. 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish 2 blog posts (0/2)

Sooooo....my blog got hacked. And I do know how to fix it but it takes time and time is in short supply these days.  I'm going to put off the publication part of this quest and change it to fixing my hacked blog and writing at least once each week. 

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! (6/10)

I have the bike in the car right now and I'm taking it to the shop in five minutes. Boom. 

 

Overall

This week and next are going to be hugely challenging, because Christmas and family and not staying at my own house.  I'm going to be kind to myself when I screw up, but I'm also going to use this challenge to make better choices as much as I can.  My family is actually really supportive of healthy changes, I just get a little weird and cagey about it.  So I'm going to use the challenge as an excuse to have that conversation. 

Here goes nothing!

[Manarelle]

On 12/19/2016 at 7:29 PM, traaki said:

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (5/7)

I had some trouble with my app on Friday (it wouldn't open) and got kind of demoralized by the whole tracking thing.  Then, on Saturday, I planned a big surprise game day for my partner and had a ton of snacks set up for that.  And....didn't do a good job documenting.  At the end of the day I did my best to reconstruct what happened because I could feel the whole challenge starting to slip away. I've been doing a good job documenting ever since, though.

 

Aw, boo. That stinks. Two bad days in a row, though, no reason to throw the whole thing out. Every day is a new opportunity; why waste all the effort you've already put into it? (I know this is a logical fallacy, but run with it, it's for a good cause this time!). Good job on recovery!

 

Mad props for nailing the freggies and BWW, AND taking the bike in. Progress everywhere, woot!

 

Sorry to hear about the blog getting hacked. That's super frustrating when you don't have the time to devote to getting it back up all at once. Good luck there. Hopefully this week wasn't as bad as anticipated? Merry Christmas, and a Kindly New Attitude!

[peelout]

On 12/19/2016 at 6:29 PM, traaki said:

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG (5/7)

I had some trouble with my app on Friday (it wouldn't open) and got kind of demoralized by the whole tracking thing.  Then, on Saturday, I planned a big surprise game day for my partner and had a ton of snacks set up for that.  And....didn't do a good job documenting.  At the end of the day I did my best to reconstruct what happened because I could feel the whole challenge starting to slip away. I've been doing a good job documenting ever since, though. 

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK (3/3)

I DID IT!

 

I realized that the weekend workouts are really hard in part because I like to lay in bed with my partner, cuddling and snoozing, and then all of a sudden I'm like "OH GOD I NEED TO GET UP AND WORKOUT".  At that point it's late and I'm starving.  Also we often get into conversations about scheduling and other stuff and then I get sucked into the computer.  We got into a fight when I tried to ask for help (e.g. "when you know it's workout day, can you help me stay focused?") and I finally just realized there is no help on the way.

 

SO! This coming weekend, which is already going to be hard because my family is in town, I'm going to plan out the night before exactly how my workout is going to happen, and then I'm going to do it first thing.  I really like the way the Miracle Morning talks about raising your wake-up motivation level and so I'm trying to use that as a strategy.  Next challenge I'm all over this morning stuff. 

 

Overall

This week and next are going to be hugely challenging, because Christmas and family and not staying at my own house.  I'm going to be kind to myself when I screw up, but I'm also going to use this challenge to make better choices as much as I can.  My family is actually really supportive of healthy changes, I just get a little weird and cagey about it.  So I'm going to use the challenge as an excuse to have that conversation. 

Here goes nothing!

I'm not one to kiss boo boos as I'm pretty hard on myself for a screwup and prefer a kick in the azz..  Yeah, issues w/ an app are no reason to get demoralized as paper and pencil still exist.  As for asking for support, it would be nice if partners were always supportive, but they have there own issues and you have NF and family to fall back on.  And family in town does not have to be a reason for no w/o.  Just do a shorter one so you stay keep the habit and can call the day a success (even just a couple sets).  A monumental success because you did what you didn't think could be done.  So keep pushing on the rest of this challenge.  At the end, you will be able to say what few people who start the challenges can say "I pushed on despite of a few slides and I finished the challenge pushing hard".  You can then use that motivating feeling to propel you into the next challenge.  Hope you take this as intended.  I think you are doing great.

 

And thanks for giving me a break between circuits as I start circuit 5 of 10.

[traaki]

So....I totally thought the challenge was over! But it's not.  Ah, the holidaze. 

 

Week three was, as predicted, not great for the challenge  What I'm about to say goes totally against what both @peelout and @Manarelle suggested, but I basically just decided I wasn't going to try for that week.  And I feel great about that choice.  I didn't sleep well, didn't track any of my food, didn't try to eat freggies or workout, didn't work on my batcave or my blog. Basically I decided to just take a real break and see how it went. 

 

And I feel great about that decision!  

 

Did I achieve very much on my quests? Heck no! Did I have a great time with my family? Heck yes!  I still managed to do some good stuff and I also remembered what life is like when I don't stay hydrated, get enough sleep, eat well, or workout: It's terrible!  I was starting to feel little tendrils of doubt creeping after my latest measurements showed only an increase in inches. And if nothing else, letting myself completely detach from this challenge made me realize that I don't want to give up.  It reminded me of why I do this and that was totally worth it.  It also reminded me that taking a week off does not instantly equal total failure. 

 

Nutrition Quest #1: FOOD LOG 

As I mentioned last week, I'm not loving the food tracking. I'm still working on the "why" behind this, because honestly, I don't foresee any system being seamless enough that it easily becomes a habit.  Before I had my exercise habit, I had a lot of discussions with myself about all the problems with regular exercise ("ugh, I'm going to have to shower more", "ugh, look how much time it takes", etc. etc.)  I could never make myself stick to a workout program until I really figured out why it mattered to me to overcome those objections, and I'm still in the "ugh, this is annoying" phase with food logging.  So, I'm stopping for now until I have a better sense of what I hope this will accomplish.  Make-up quest: Instead of logging my food, I will journal for ten minutes about what I want to get out of logging my food. 

 

Nutrition Quest #2: FREGGIES AS SNACKS 

No news to report.

 

Workout Quest #1: 3 BWW PER WEEK 

Worked out yesterday morning and will again tomorrow for two this week. I did not do bodyweight last week but did go on a fairly strenuous hike as well as a long walk.  

 

My dad & stepmom are doing a yearly challenge where they try to get in 208 workouts in one year. While it sounds like a recipe for quitting to me ("ugh, I'm so far behind I may as well stop"), I think I may do a 104 workouts version for myself. 

 

Lifestyle Quest: Publish 2 blog posts

Nope.

 

Mindset Quest: Batcave! 

I got my bike fixed!!!!!! This is the biggest news.  I didn't end up riding to work because I kinda forgot I won't be working again until after the challenge is over....whoops. But in my remaining days off I'm hoping to go for at least a quick ride to get my butt used to the saddle again. 

 

I may do one more check-in on this before it's over, but I'm also thinking about just starting my next challenge in the zero week--so stay tuned!!

[traaki]

On 12/24/2016 at 11:00 AM, peelout said:

I'm not one to kiss boo boos as I'm pretty hard on myself for a screwup and prefer a kick in the azz..  Yeah, issues w/ an app are no reason to get demoralized as paper and pencil still exist.  As for asking for support, it would be nice if partners were always supportive, but they have there own issues and you have NF and family to fall back on.  And family in town does not have to be a reason for no w/o.  Just do a shorter one so you stay keep the habit and can call the day a success (even just a couple sets).  A monumental success because you did what you didn't think could be done.  So keep pushing on the rest of this challenge.  At the end, you will be able to say what few people who start the challenges can say "I pushed on despite of a few slides and I finished the challenge pushing hard".  You can then use that motivating feeling to propel you into the next challenge.  Hope you take this as intended.  I think you are doing great.

 

And thanks for giving me a break between circuits as I start circuit 5 of 10.

Thanks for the pep talk, @peelout!  I'm not really motivated by being hard on myself, but that's part of the fun of NF, right? You get to see how a bunch of people do things and try new ways of getting motivated.  Really appreciate this thought: 

Quote

A monumental success because you did what you didn't think could be done.

 

So thank you, and happy new year!!

[traaki]

On 12/24/2016 at 7:53 AM, Manarelle said:

 

Aw, boo. That stinks. Two bad days in a row, though, no reason to throw the whole thing out. Every day is a new opportunity; why waste all the effort you've already put into it? (I know this is a logical fallacy, but run with it, it's for a good cause this time!). Good job on recovery!

 

Mad props for nailing the freggies and BWW, AND taking the bike in. Progress everywhere, woot!

 

Sorry to hear about the blog getting hacked. That's super frustrating when you don't have the time to devote to getting it back up all at once. Good luck there. Hopefully this week wasn't as bad as anticipated? Merry Christmas, and a Kindly New Attitude!

 

Hahah--I'm a big fan of logical fallacies that support good causes!  Thanks for the cheering!  Merry Christmas to you, as well!