Suzy Q pushes a tiny bit more

[suzyQlou]

Hello.  I'm on a mission for more baby steps this challenge.

 

Goals:

1 Eating. Restaurant planning.

2 Eating:  Roll-the-dice tracking.

3 Workouts. Switcharoo for 5k training.

4 Family Goal:  Fruit with breakfast.

 

Intermittent prizes:

If I hit 100% of my goals for a day I get to brag about functional workouts in the garden and/or post a gardening photo.

 

1 Eating. Restaurant planning.

Restaurant eating was a real struggle for me last challenge.  My family doesn't eat at fancy places, but we do eat out 3-5 meals a week. I need to do better making healthy choices for these meals.  Most of all, I need to stop eating when I'm not hungry anymore.  Here are excruciating details about my new plan to eat better:

1a.  Rate on a scale of 1-10 how hungry I am.

1b.  8 or above?  Go ahead and order a full meal.  7 or below?  Consider a meal sized salad or other mostly-veggie meal.

1c.  Stop half way through the meal and re-rate hunger 1-10.

1d.  5 or below?  Put aside a pile of leftovers to take home.

Bonus points for ordering a bread-less meal (prioritize protein over carbs)

Bonus points for ordering a salad instead of fries (no, I don't need fries to fill me up!)

 

2 Eating:  Roll-the-dice tracking.

Keeping a food journal has become a daily habit of mine.  However, I just jot foods down with a pen and paper.  I don't track numbers.  I get annoyed with detailed tracking and I don't like to do it.  BUT I followed mostly good eating habits for the last challenge...and my weight stayed the same.  It did not magically go down like I was expecting.  So, I feel like I need to do some tracking so I can get a better idea of what I need to change.  Have I mentioned that I don't really want to track numbers?

This challenge, I'm gamify-ing this goal.  I will roll a six-sided die (seven-sided, if I can find one in my husband's collection) every day.  If I roll a "1" I will take the time to track calories, carbs, fat, protein, and fiber in myfitnesspal.  Statistically speaking, I will track about once a week.  That's enough for me right now.

 

3 Workouts. Switcharoo for 5k training.

I want to start thinking of myself as a "fit" person again.  I decided that training for a 5k will help me do that.  This challenge I will add a third cardio workout to my usual schedule.  So, instead of strength MWF and Cardio TTh, I will do cardio on MWF and strength on TThS.  The S can be Saturday or Sunday.  Weekend workouts can be less formal than weekday workouts.  I have not yet scheduled the 5k run, but there will be plenty of local options this summer.

 

4 Family Goal:  Fruit with breakfast.

Last year around this time, I started the family on a mandatory "one vegetable a day" challenge.  They loved it so much that I've decided to add a mandatory fruit at breakfast time.

 

 

Mini Challenge:  

Just so I don't lose track of SuzyPool's weekly mini challenge goals I figured I better keep 'em here, too.

Distance Feat: 18,000 steps in a one day
Speed Feat: Run just a single mile and time it.  It's gotta be better than my jogging pace!
Recover feat: Put up the hammock and use it for at least an hour
Ranger Feat: Hang the tree swing with the most appropriate knot possible. I'm (k)not sure what that is yet...open to suggestions.

 

Intermittent prizes:  

If I hit 100% of my goals for a day I get to brag about functional workouts in the garden and/or post a gardening photo.  Trust me, I can go on and on about my garden.  It's a bit of an obsession.  So I will treat myself this challenge for the opportunity to gush.  But since I don't officially start challenges until Monday, I think I'll treat myself to an intermittent prize sneak peak, free of charge.  My son picked a garden bouquet for me this week and I get to share it .

[Elastigirl]

I love your idea for fitness tracking. What a fun motivator-you're brilliant.

I hope you get 100% of your goals daily a lot, so we can hear all about your garden!

[Suzaqu]

I love the dice idea (also that you own one with 7 sides)!  Following!

[Emerald_Dragonfly]

Ooooh...I'd love to see pics of your garden! 

I love the bouquet that your son picked. 

 

@Taddea Zhaan is also into gardening stuff.  :-)  Maybe you two can nerd-out garden-style. 

 

You got this, SqL!

[Jord]

Great challenge! I'm definitely in for gardening pics! 

 

I also signed up for a 5k (October) because I wanted to feel more fit beyond just picking up heavy things and putting them back down. Haha! 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along again, I love the way you tweaked your goals.

[juliebarkley]

Following for garden rambles (plus I will probably modify and steal your dice idea for next time).

[suzyQlou]

On 4/22/2017 at 3:47 PM, Elastigirl said:

I love your idea for fitness tracking. What a fun motivator-you're brilliant.

I hope you get 100% of your goals daily a lot, so we can hear all about your garden!

Thanks!  I'm trying really hard to be motivated!

 

On 4/22/2017 at 9:10 PM, Suzaqu said:

I love the dice idea (also that you own one with 7 sides)!  Following!

Alas, I couldn't find a 7 sided one in the collection.  So, I will use a regular 6-sided die and take my chances.

 

On 4/22/2017 at 9:48 PM, Emerald_Dragonfly said:

Ooooh...I'd love to see pics of your garden! 

I love the bouquet that your son picked. 

 

@Taddea Zhaan is also into gardening stuff.  :-)  Maybe you two can nerd-out garden-style. 

 

You got this, SqL!

Ahh, the best part of the son-picked bouquet was the thought behind it.  I love the idea of nerding out over gardens!

 

On 4/23/2017 at 11:06 AM, Taddea Zhaan said:

Great challenge! I'm definitely in for gardening pics! 

 

I also signed up for a 5k (October) because I wanted to feel more fit beyond just picking up heavy things and putting them back down. Haha! 

Good to see you!  Hope the gardening pics are fun.  I'm no expert...just obsessing the Spring

 

On 4/23/2017 at 1:14 PM, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along again, I love the way you tweaked your goals.

Thanks and great to see you!

 

On 4/23/2017 at 5:35 PM, juliebarkley said:

Following for garden rambles (plus I will probably modify and steal your dice idea for next time).

Oooo, it's fun to find people who actually want to hear gardening rambles!  Enjoy the dice idea.  Hope it is fun.

 

So far, so good in the challenge.  The dice have been kind, and I've remembered to put out fruit for breakfast.  I was thinking the kids would actually EAT the fruit, but that has only sorta happened.  I think I'll give myself credit for remembering it, though.  My kids do like to eat fruit, so less pressure will likely gain better results in the long run.

 

Speaking of long runs, I remembered to switch-a-roo the workouts, and have both done this week.  So I get a garden photo reward!!!  Tulips and Dogwoods with a guest-star checking out the bird bath.

 

 

 

[Terra]

Garden photos/discussions as a reward, LOVE IT!  Good tweaks

[suzyQlou]

41 minutes ago, Terra said:

Garden photos/discussions as a reward, LOVE IT!  Good tweaks

It's fun seeing so many people excited about getting outdoors and playing in the dirt.  I am still watching for the kale seeds I planted last challenge to pop up.  I see two little spinach shoots in the row next to them but nothing yet in the kale row.  I have flopped on spinach before.  It comes up, but doesn't really thrive for me.  I am hoping the kale is a better substitute...it might just take longer to germinate.

[Elastigirl]

1 hour ago, suzyQlou said:

Thanks!  I'm trying really hard to be motivated!

 

Alas, I couldn't find a 7 sided one in the collection.  So, I will use a regular 6-sided die and take my chances.

 

Ahh, the best part of the son-picked bouquet was the thought behind it.  I love the idea of nerding out over gardens!

 

Good to see you!  Hope the gardening pics are fun.  I'm no expert...just obsessing the Spring

 

Thanks and great to see you!

 

Oooo, it's fun to find people who actually want to hear gardening rambles!  Enjoy the dice idea.  Hope it is fun.

 

So far, so good in the challenge.  The dice have been kind, and I've remembered to put out fruit for breakfast.  I was thinking the kids would actually EAT the fruit, but that has only sorta happened.  I think I'll give myself credit for remembering it, though.  My kids do like to eat fruit, so less pressure will likely gain better results in the long run.

 

Speaking of long runs, I remembered to switch-a-roo the workouts, and have both done this week.  So I get a garden photo reward!!!  Tulips and Dogwoods with a guest-star checking out the bird bath.

 

 

 

So pretty!

[Jord]

3 hours ago, suzyQlou said:

It's fun seeing so many people excited about getting outdoors and playing in the dirt.  I am still watching for the kale seeds I planted last challenge to pop up.  I see two little spinach shoots in the row next to them but nothing yet in the kale row.  I have flopped on spinach before.  It comes up, but doesn't really thrive for me.  I am hoping the kale is a better substitute...it might just take longer to germinate.

Sorry if this is old hat info for you!  Germination actually greatly depends on the soil temperature. Right now in cool weather (depending on where you are) stuff like lettuce will come up first. 

 

Kale isn't on this chart and I don't know how accurate it is, but you will get the idea.  

 

[suzyQlou]

2 hours ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

Sorry if this is old hat info for you!  Germination actually greatly depends on the soil temperature. Right now in cool weather (depending on where you are) stuff like lettuce will come up first. 

 

Kale isn't on this chart and I don't know how accurate it is, but you will get the idea.  

 

BAM!  Just like that, my NF and Pinterest worlds have collided.

 

It's interesting to see the nuances.  All I've really thought about was that spinach and kale are both cold weather crops...so I can plant them early without worrying about frost.  The chart gives a really accurate picture of my lettuce.  This is the first year I've used a heat mat to start seeds inside.  I was blown away when the lettuce literally sprouted overnight.  The lettuce is now planted outdoors in a cold frame.  It is doing much better than the spinach or kale, but I need to close the frame every now and then to keep the frost away at night.  The chart also gives a good argument for planting spinach in the Fall instead of Spring.  Maybe that will be the trick I need for next year!

[Suzaqu]

That is a gorgeous garden! I'm in a townhouse, so I don't have that much space, but this is a great reminder I need to get my pots going!

[suzyQlou]

11 hours ago, Suzaqu said:

That is a gorgeous garden! I'm in a townhouse, so I don't have that much space, but this is a great reminder I need to get my pots going!

Thank you!  I bet your planters will be beautiful, too.  Are you still out East?  You probably have a similar frost-free day that I have in Pennsylvania.  My eyes start getting big around May when so many more plants become possible!

 

Today was another good day for me.  Fruits and cardio this morning.  I still haven't rolled a one on the dice, so I'm feeling a little guilty  The whole point is that tracking will be good for me!  Anyway, I am going to switch to a four-sided die to increase the odds of tracking.  I guess I COULD track without actually rolling a one...but where would the fun and games be?!

 

Garden prize of the day is lilac.  This one smells absolutely AMAZING this week.  It grows at the edge of my yard and I just ignore it and let it go crazy.  It is such a treat to walk past it in the morning and catch a big whiff of the fragrance.

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

How big is your property?

 

[Terra]

My lilacs are just starting to bloom.  Nothing says spring like a huge bouquet of lilacs that take over the kitchen table!!!  They make the house smell so spring-ish!  

[suzyQlou]

1 hour ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

How big is your property?

 

Four times around it is a mile?  I think that's probably the Ranger answer.  More conventional measurements have it around 2.5 acres.

 

1 hour ago, Terra said:

My lilacs are just starting to bloom.  Nothing says spring like a huge bouquet of lilacs that take over the kitchen table!!!  They make the house smell so spring-ish!  

Oh, yeah!  Bringing them indoors is the best.  I love Spring!

[Jord]

I love lilac bushes! I'm totally thinking about planting one on my current property (rental house but planning to stay long term). The only downside is I feel like they only stay in bloom for a couple of weeks then the rest of the year you have an bush to maintain unless you want it to be totally huge and out of control. Which I guess typed out doesn't sound that bad... 

[suzyQlou]

49 minutes ago, Taddea Zhaan said:

I love lilac bushes! I'm totally thinking about planting one on my current property (rental house but planning to stay long term). The only downside is I feel like they only stay in bloom for a couple of weeks then the rest of the year you have an bush to maintain unless you want it to be totally huge and out of control. Which I guess typed out doesn't sound that bad... 

I think the shortness of the bloom time is what makes them seem so special in the Spring.  Every year I forget just how amazing they smell...until they bloom.  I have to admit, I haven't figured out how to prune them well yet.  I have a few bushes around the house, and I'm always hacking at them because of exactly that you said - huge and out of control!  I have book knowledge of how to prune them, but I haven't mastered the art of it yet.  The neglected lilac out at the edge of the yard is far more beautiful than the ones I try to control.

 

Another good day.  Fruits at breakfast, and an outdoor strength circuit.  I substituted some gardening in my mini challenge, too.  My husband beat me to hanging up the tree swing, so I decided planting bushes around the campfire circle was a good rangerly substitution.  There is still more to do to make that area of the yard pretty.  Last summer, we just picked a spot and started having campfires in the middle of the grass.

 

Garden prize goes to lily of the valley.  I love how it starts blooming just as the lilac starts to fade.  It smells so nice...and it's so easy to grow that it kinda takes over.  I grow it here under my favorite garden bench.  This is where I go to sit with some lemonade or tea after I'm warn out from gardening.

 

 

[Elastigirl]

That lilac bush is so pretty!

[Suzaqu]

Lilacs are the best! I agree, I forget how good the smell until the spring. We had one that grew at the edge of the playground in elementary school. Since it was MN, it bloomed late, so the smell of lilacs always reminds me of the last week of school. 

 

I want to hang out on that bench, it looks so gorgeous!

[juliebarkley]

Wow, that bench looks soo inviting...

[suzyQlou]

21 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

That lilac bush is so pretty!

Thanks.  I love it, too!

 

13 hours ago, Suzaqu said:

Lilacs are the best! I agree, I forget how good the smell until the spring. We had one that grew at the edge of the playground in elementary school. Since it was MN, it bloomed late, so the smell of lilacs always reminds me of the last week of school. 

 

I want to hang out on that bench, it looks so gorgeous!

It's funny how a smell can bring back such memories.  So lilacs must be extra happy for you...they will always bring the promise of summer vacation!

 

11 hours ago, juliebarkley said:

Wow, that bench looks soo inviting...

Absolutely.  If NF were local in my town, we would all hang out at the bench when the challenge ends to regroup and recharge!

 

I'm afraid I have some bad news for the day.  I let the portion control smackdown hit me in the face last night....and then I still indulged in ice cream after the middle school band concert.  Technically, those are last challenge's goals, but I still don't feel like I won my daily prize  

 

But I rolled a one today in my dice game, to I got started detailed food tracking today.  A little painful.  Why, oh why weren't strawberries and bananas already in my myfitnesspal?!  But since I'm on track, I'm hoping tomorrow will be a perfect day to indulge in more gardening gushing.  I also ran faster than any other time yet this Spring.  Still a ways to go until I reach last summer's pace but I'm making progress at 12:18.

[suzyQlou]

Only good things today!  I figured out the myfitness app better and it wasn't so terrible.  I haven't logged foods in many years, so the interface had changed a bunch.  Now that I figured out how to search the whole database and not just my own stuff, life is much easier.  So, one day of tracking shows calories are on track, but there are a whole bunch of carbs in my macros.  Interesting...

 

The weekend is definitely the most challenging part of my challenge, and I'm off to a good start.  I mastered restaurant planning for two meals - including pizza shop trickery.  I ordered a grilled chicken salad and had 1/2 slice of veggie pizza on the side instead of having too much pizza with a small salad on the side.  This is big news for me!

 

Plus, I squeezed in a Saturday strength workout.  It is not as easy to do it outside of my normal 30 minute window.  But it is definitely possible.

 

Garden prize is a peek at my vegetable garden.  This is the last week the chickens will be living here.  Frost is mostly gone, and the veggies move in soon.  My coop is on wheels, so the chickens will move up to the part of the garden enclosed in lattice.  During March and April, they earn their keep spreading compost and adding their own magic fertilizer to the veggie beds.  It's kind of hard to see what's planted right now - the strawberry patch is on the left, and sugar snap peas are growing up the fence.  Other than that, I just have onions, radishes, broccoli, and spinach.  Lettuce is in the cold frame in the back.