Demosthenes Strikes Back

[demosthenes131]

I am back for the second challenge. I feel the first challenge was very successful, though I have adjusted things going into the second challenge. I feel this is the key to continued success. First, here is my retrospective on the 1st challenge. 

 

Diet
 

• Continuing a ketogenic diet - I did pretty well, though I have went more "paleo low carb" than ketogenic. I feel it is easier to maintain and frees me to not freak out daily concerning what I'm doing.
• No sweets - I had one slip up during the challenge and on 2/11/2017 while out at Valentine's Day dinner I had a slice of cake. That is it!
• No soda - I did 100% on this!
• Log the foods I eat daily in MFP - Complete failure here, but I also decided it was more important to focus on eating healthy while also not fretting over daily tracking and logging. So, this was a mindful choice.
• Drink more water, at least 6 cups - For the most part I did well on this. Drinking more water is hard, but I do flavor my water and drink quite a bit. Mostly, however, I seem to drink more at night. I want to try to drink more during the day.

 
Fitness
 

• Strength training 3 days a week in the gym in my building. - 100% here. Even when I didn't want to I went. I feel I have more energy and starting to enjoy it.

 
Life
 

• Continue studying at least 30 minutes a night toward changing careers to web development - 99% here, and mainly because I may have had a few nights were I did 30 minutes at least but was distracted. I have enrolled at Flatiron Community Based Bootcamp and I'm making great progress.
• Attend the 2 Meetups in the area for web development - I would say 75% here but only because the one Meetup changed a date due to Valentine's Day and I missed it. I think I may focus on the Bmore on Rails Meetup currently. I am also scheduled to speak at the Meetup on their next one in March. This is nerve wracking but necessary.

 

 

So, I will keep most of these and add a few. Here goes:

 

Diet

• Continue eating a "paleo low carb" diet. My biggest change from this is eating cheese. I really like cheese...
• No soda
• No sweets
• Drink more water, especially during the day

Fitness

• Continue strength training 3 days a week alternating with cardio the week after at the gym in my building. I may switch this day to day (so, one day of strength training, then next cardio, then next strength...). I have considered going to a gym outside of my building but for now this is not financially feasible.

Life

• Continue to work on the Flatiron Community Based Bootcamp, at least 30 minutes a night. 
• Attend 2 Meetups a month
• Speak at the Bmore on Rails Meetup in March
• Finally, blog three times a week on my blog about my journey to change careers. My blog is here, From MSW to Web Dev, for those interested.
• Be more social on NF forums
• Continue with Habitica

 

Also, for now I am sticking to the Rebel class. I enjoyed everyone here and want to keep it going!

[Fush]

Great changes and success! Your retrospective is so encouraging to me, just beginning this journey.

[Pherales]

Welcome back for your second challenge

 

Looking good over here!  It'll be awesome to see you rock these goals out!  You've definitely given it a lot of thought, and making small adjustments based on what worked and what didn't last time around is absolutely a great approach!

[Miw_Sher]

Welcome back! 

[demosthenes131]

Thanks @Miw_Sher, @Dalish and @Fush!

 

So, here's my checkin so far

 

I've had two workouts this week. 

 

Tuesday

 

• Treadmill for 10 minutes at 2.5 mph for the most part but last 3 minutes I went up to 3 mph. I need to work myself up, and treadmill walking just seems different. Can't wait for spring to head outside more.
• Chest Press 140lbs 3x10
• Leg Press 160lbs 3x10
• Calf Press 160lbs 3x10

Thursday

• Seated Machine Row 130lbs 3x10
• Leg Press 160lbs 3x10
• Calf Press 160lbs 3x10
• Dumbbell Lateral Raise 20lbs 3x10
• Dumbbell Wood Chops 35lbs 3x10
• Dumbbell Standing Alternate Reverse Curl 35lbs 3x10

 

I've written two blog posts this week as I continue to work through the Flatiron School Bootcamp:

 

Blogging Through a Problem at Flatiron School

The Answer at Last: Nested Arrays and Enumerables

 

These two posts are what I believe I will structure my talk at Bmore on Rails in March. It was an extremely hard issue and one that I learned a lot from.

 

Water continues to be a problem with me! I want to drink more, but I just completely forget. I know that sounds weird, but it happens. I even have water outside in my car... 

 

I also want to say that I am extremely frustrated. I have worked out 3 times a week, and feel that I am pushing myself hard, as well as eating much healthier since January 1st, and I have lost around 18lbs and now I am stuck. I will acknowledge needing more veggies. Any advice?

 

Finally, I really need to be more social here. Going to try to do this more in the next few days. 

[Miw_Sher]

Ooooh programming! I'll be checking in on you!

[fleaball]

Glad to see you back. I have zero advice about the plateau.  You could ask in one of the other forums? Like the weight loss one? 

[demosthenes131]

On 2/18/2017 at 2:33 PM, fleaball said:

Glad to see you back. I have zero advice about the plateau.  You could ask in one of the other forums? Like the weight loss one? 

 

Yeah, I need to take some time and ask. All I can do right now is keeping moving forward!

[Miw_Sher]

Whoops, my brain did not register the plateau part last week. How long have you been plateauing?

 

Have you recently changed activity level, introduced some hormone-based medicine?

 

Do you track your calorie intake at all or are you just doing low carb?

[taymonsta]

Congrats on your success on the first challenge! And welcome back for your second!  

 

I'm sorry to hear you are plateauing.. Maybe it is because you are still losing fat but gaining muscle weight?

 

Even if the number on the scale doesn't go down, you are still making great strides forward and strengthening the habits you are building!! Keep going! Best of luck!!  

[demosthenes131]

On 2/20/2017 at 4:47 AM, Miw_Sher said:

Whoops, my brain did not register the plateau part last week. How long have you been plateauing?

 

Have you recently changed activity level, introduced some hormone-based medicine?

 

Do you track your calorie intake at all or are you just doing low carb?

 

I did recently change activity level as before the last week of December i was pretty sedentary. Since then I have worked out 3 times a week.

 

As for diet, I don't track calories and try to just keep as low carb and healthy as possible. I have introduced some fruits and a bit more veggies in recently, and overall eat much healthier than I did before the first of the year. 

 

I recently lost another pound or two, but I seem to be stalling a bit.

[demosthenes131]

Exercise log:

 

 

Saturday

• Walking 10 minutes at 2.5 mph
• Chest Press 3x10 140lbs
• Leg Press 3x10 160lbs
• Calf Press 3x10 160lbs

Tuesday

• Walking 11 minutes at 2.5 mph, but last minute I cranked it up to 3mph
• Dumbbell Lateral Raise 3x8 15lbs
• Dummbell Standing Triceps Kickback 2x10 12.5lbs; 1x10 15lbs
• Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 3x10 35lbs

And here is my latest blog post which is tracking my progress at Flatiron:

 

Completing the Hardest Section so far at Flatiron School

[taymonsta]

On 2/21/2017 at 1:41 PM, demosthenes131 said:

Exercise log:

 

 

Saturday

• Walking 10 minutes at 2.5 mph
• Chest Press 3x10 140lbs
• Leg Press 3x10 160lbs
• Calf Press 3x10 160lbs

Tuesday

• Walking 11 minutes at 2.5 mph, but last minute I cranked it up to 3mph
• Dumbbell Lateral Raise 3x8 15lbs
• Dummbell Standing Triceps Kickback 2x10 12.5lbs; 1x10 15lbs
• Dumbbell Alternate Hammer Curl 3x10 35lbs

And here is my latest blog post which is tracking my progress at Flatiron:

 

Completing the Hardest Section so far at Flatiron School

 

You are doing great!  Keep up the good work! I also think its cool that you keep a blog - a nice way to stay accountable and look back on all that you have accomplished!