newbie Life is taking one step at a time

[Diadhuit]

Hi, 

recently joined the forum, this is my first challenge. Any suggestion is welcome!!

No big quests, little steps out of my routine.

I know it is two fitness goals and 1 eating one, but I am more a "lazy ass" and need a kick!

 

Main quests:

I have 15kg to lose and I want to be happier than I already am.

 

My quests:

1)   Walk "The Walk" app (I am at episode 16 now, but the app keeps having tracking issues. One episode should be around 1h 30m, but can be completed over more days)

A = Reach a total of 30 episodes and challenges
B = Reach a total of 26 episodes and challenges
C = Reach a total of 24 episodes and challenges
D = Reach a total of 22 episodes and challenges
F = Reach a total of 20 episodes and challenges

 

2) Dance for at least 1 song a day 

A = 28 days

B = 27 days
C = 24 days
D = 20 days
F = 19 days or lower

Note: keeping the rate bar high because it is 3min/day

 

3) Don't eat chocolate bars from the work tuck shop (they are so cheap and tempting!)

A = 28 days

B = 27 days
C = 24 days
D = 20 days
F = 19 days or lower

Note: keeping the rate bar high because when I break this everything else falls apart in my diet (e.g. skip dinner, eat other crap,...)

 

Level up my life:

Pray the examen (around 15min/day)

A = 20 days or higher

B = 16 days
C = 12 days
D = 10 days
F = 8 days or lower

Note: keeping this simple to not overstress it as it would get the opposite results... it it works I'll add a higher bar next challenge

[fleaball]

Welcome to the Rebellion! Your goals are fine.   You can totally do whatever you want. 

 

Let us know if there's anything we can help with. The best way to keep yourself accountable is to pop around to other threads and build a support system for yourself. It's fun and keeps you coming back.

[Diadhuit]

Thanks fleaball

[Infinity.Creates]

Welcome to the party! 

 

Four goals is perfectly normal, and you do whatever you need. But if you struggle with those four, try to make it as easy for yourself as possible. You're making changes for life, not just for the summer bod, so don't worry about taking it slowly!

But those goals look really good, and the grading is really good. 

 

How is ' The Walk'? Aren't they the same company that does Zombies!Run?

[Diadhuit]

Thank you IAmInfinite!

"The Walk" is allright, but Zombies!Run seems better for tracking. I haven't use the second one enough for a real comparison...

Thing is that my phone wants to switch off the sensors when the screen is off... So it registers around 75% of the time and it relies on it to unlock music.

One night at 3am (while the app was off and the settings were saying not to autoplay) it started talking loudly waking me up... 

But the story is good and I want to know how does it go on. It is worth the money I spent for it (and I am stingy!)

I want to finish this one and work on my core, then start Zombies!Run 5k training again (I started twice and both times I got unrelated health issues... first I broke a leg while crossing a road in high heels and then I fainted due to a mismatch in my medications) for finally get on Zombies!Run...

Hopefully I will get back on my feet without falling  

 

[Diadhuit]

I am doing a test run before the challenge starts.

In the last three days I did finish two episodes of The Walk,  danced 3/3 days often more than 1 song, haven't eaten at the tuck shop 2/2 days, prayed the examen 3/3 days.

What I noticed already: having written the challenge out makes me avoid changing objectives every day (yes, I already thought 5 times to come and edit the quests!! But they are exactly what I need and resisting the urge) and I have been very tempted by tuck shop, but instead of saying "I can eat one and find another objective instead" I stick to it. 

Cool, I bet this is going to be tough but fair and f**k I'll make it through!!

[Aquarii]

Hey @Diadhuit, these look like great goals. I love the way you set up a grading system. I think I might try that sometime, as it seems like a great way to set the bar high, but prevent giving up just because you missed a day. I wish you well on your journey!

[Diadhuit]

@starlordPhoenix TBH I stole the idea of grading from @EternalJourno and he deserves the credit for it

[J3NN]

On 5/23/2017 at 8:41 AM, Diadhuit said:

"The Walk" is allright, but Zombies!Run seems better for tracking.

I'm using the Walk for my challenge too. Are you on an Android? It pairs with Google Fit I guess and the tracking is immensely improved, or so all the reviews say. Just thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't seen them. I just started and have only done one episode, so maybe I'll find it's not that accurate as I go. It's kind of crazy how something like having to unlock the next part of the story keeps you walking a few more minutes. Some people are so clever. Good luck on your challenge!

[fleaball]

Hey @Diadhuit, how's the first week going?

[Diadhuit]

@fleaball thanks for holding me accountable!! 

Week 0 went very well!!

Week 1 is going... 

Yesterday I skipped quest 2 and life level up for pure rage... and the fact that I resisted quest 3 is a big achievement since it was a work issue. Today got a call with the CTO and I hope that it is not going to affect the quests... Big emotional rollercoster doesn't help focus...

 

[fleaball]

Ouch, I hope everything turns out okay. 

[Infinity.Creates]

How's the rollercoaster? Gotten any easier, or do you need to prioritise certain elements of your quests and life? How's this week coming along?

[Diadhuit]

5 hours ago, IAmInfinite said:

How's the rollercoaster? Gotten any easier, or do you need to prioritise certain elements of your quests and life? How's this week coming along?

 

Well, it has been very difficult because I liked the company I was in, but today I resigned. Happy to say that 1 and 3 are still going. 

I think I have failed 2, but not because of work but because of holidays... have to check the data properly tomorrow.

So on the plus side I now have a new job, better pay and (unpaid) holidays between the jobs. And I did stick more or less to the quests.

I am surprised that in two weeks in which I was so nervous (and I even cried at work O_o I hate doing that!) I have sticked this well, better than on holidays!!

Will try to keep more on the forum tho

[Infinity.Creates]

On 6/9/2017 at 5:19 PM, Diadhuit said:

 

Well, it has been very difficult because I liked the company I was in, but today I resigned. Happy to say that 1 and 3 are still going. 

I think I have failed 2, but not because of work but because of holidays... have to check the data properly tomorrow.

So on the plus side I now have a new job, better pay and (unpaid) holidays between the jobs. And I did stick more or less to the quests.

I am surprised that in two weeks in which I was so nervous (and I even cried at work O_o I hate doing that!) I have sticked this well, better than on holidays!!

Will try to keep more on the forum tho

The pluses certainly sound pretty good! And 2/3 of three quests is still fantastic! And it's already an improvement from before.

Keeping on the forums is always a fun challenge, though it's always easier if you find a couple people with similar challenges and aim to encourage them, the rest often comes more naturally.

All the best with the holiday and your quest!

[Diadhuit]

Mid-challenge review

Quest 1:

I am actually at Episode 36 (not completed) so it's already A+, but now I want to complete episode 42 by the end of the challenge (this is like a sub-challenge, won't influence rating)

Quest 2:

4/15 days: ouch! Even if I continue doing it all days I will get a D! But as a sub-challenge I'll try to get at least to 14/28 

Quest 3:

Who-hoo! This is going great! I might take .5 day out because I did eat crap one day, but looking at circumstances I am very much surprised that I could cope this well!  it is a big success that I want to keep on as much as I can!

 

Life quest:

2/15: ouch again! I can still manage to get a B, so I want to focus a bit more on this one...

 

Funnily I discover that all the difficulties happened in one day (30 may) that is when I had a very bad day at work because my dream project got taken away from me, I even cried in front of everybody! I think I should just learn how to get back on my feet, because that's the step I am missing...

[Diadhuit]

Mmm... this week has been challenging! Have been working and sleeping, not much else I have lost the piece of paper where I was tracking my progresses (must have fallen out my wallet... But I can remember what I did I think that when I had that paper on my night-stand I was doing better than when I was in my purse, but maybe it was just the interest of the start of the challenge...

Next will be my last full week of my "old" job on top of being the last for the challenge. And I'll have to travel for work as well... One last stretch

Quest 1:

I am at Episode 38, but I hit a bug in the app, so maybe I'll get to the 42 of the sub-challenge or not, not focusing on this too much.

Quest 2:

6/19, I would have liked to do a bit better, I can still reach the sub-challenge if I focus more, but I might let go that too, if it requires too much effort

Quest 3:

I have to take 1 day out, making 1.5 in total. Interestingly I have been eating crap when I was most bored, not the days I skipped breakfast... Still few days to go here, and hopefully I won't need it in the new job (I heard they have fruit, I hope they won't have junk food)

 

Life quest:

3/19: mmm... I really want to improve here as it was giving me so much joy and will! Before starting this challenge I tried to implement through another method and I just got a reminder to check if I am doing it 3d/w (obviously the answer is no).

 

Any suggestion on how to implement an evening routine? Because in the long-term I dream to have this evening routine (around 30-45min):

1. physio exercises and or yoga

2. mindfulness and meditation

3. prayer

But I really can't stick to it. I tried in many ways and after 1 week I revert back to not doing it. I tried with 1minute and still I don't do it!

[Sloth the Enduring]

That looks like it'd make a good bedtime routine.  Maybe if brushing your teeth triggered it?  The trick would be to brush your teeth before you're too tired to do anything else.

[Diadhuit]

@Sloth the Enduring ha! that's a very good suggestion! I had been setting up alarms or other things, but then I just snooze them because I'm doing something else. 

From now I'll try to implement this:

brushing teeth in the evening -> pray examen

brushing teeth in the morning -> 5 min dance

Not many days to try within this challenge (only 3.5 left in this time zone) and I am travelling, but let's see if I can.

[Diadhuit]

Sooo for a bit of retrospective.

The weeks 0 (pre-challenge) and 1 went ok. Then unfortunately it went a bit downhill. The excuse? Having to decide to leave a job I love for a better opportunity. Yes, I know, good things in life should help morale, but that's not how I felt. These have been tough weeks, but nonetheless I could have picked back up some of the quests, but I really felt resistant to rejoining. Next challenge will be better!

My quests:

1) Walk "The Walk" app: A+

I completed episode 41 and even get around a bug in the app!! Wow! I really didn't expect that. I nearly met the sub-challenge too! In June I walked 152km, with highs and lows, averaging 9490 steps a day, that is quite a good result since that app tends to be conservative on the steps taken. Lots of walking has been made in the trip to London, when I travel with my sister it is impressive how much we can walk. I think that next challenges will be on steps/day more than episodes, but this is for motivation.

2) Dance for at least 1 song a day: F

9 days only! Well, I thought it was easier to build a routine, but it looks it is not. I think that after a while I just started thinking it was awkward and felt more like a chore... Need to rethink this for next times because I want to keep it. During these weeks I even skipped my dance meditation classes, so really don't know what happened here...

3) Don't eat chocolate bars from the work tuck shop (they are so cheap and tempting!): C+

This has been very hard and having passed it is a great deal!! Only 1.5 times I ate from the tuck shop and only one bar, not more!! Who-hoo!! this is an achievement!! And there are two things around it: 1) I get to get pedicure (it was my reward) and 2)I probably won't have a similar challenge next time because the next job should have free fruit but nobody talked about crappy food (finger crossed)

Level up my life:

Pray the examen (around 15min/day): F

Only 3 days This is a big bummer as in the pre-challenge I did it all days and it was helping me a lot. The bummer is not much the lack of doing it, but the fact that I really needed it and instead of doing it I was thinking and beating my head up with the fact that I was not doing it. I think it works better when I am relaxed, but it should help me relaxing too! So... don't know, I want to keep in mind that I had huge problems in setting up a routine, will try again in some form, but need to rethink it.

 

Overall I am satisfied by the fact that I didn't change my mind on what I need to achieve and that I kept going on some of the tasks even when it has been hard. I only want to be better at creating routines, not feel that they are a chore... I'll keep in mind @Sloth the Enduring tip of triggers, any other suggestion?

[Infinity.Creates]

As Sloth said, routine is one of the key things! 

Attaching it to something else is often good, as it makes the recall easier, but also doing it earlier in the morning so you have more energy to do it.

But I think to help the mindfulness is to accept what you did wrong, and then try again the next day. Ignore all the times before that and all the times you might forget in the future - just focus on improving from yesterday alone. 

But well done on achieving some of the things and more importantly - what you need to do to improve in the future! You've got this!

[Diadhuit]

Thanks all, keeping in mind all your helpful comments I have set up new goals

https://rebellion.nerdfitness.com/index.php?/topic/99522-diadhuit-doubles-and-halves/