GillyNomad's Daily Log: Take 2

[GillyNomad]

I had another log here ages ago, but having not used it in months and with all the changes I've had the past couple since I last used it, I figured a fresh start would be beneficial. I've found from previous challenges that posting how I'm doing daily really helps me stick to a routine, as I don't have a form of accountability at home.

 

In terms of my diet, I'm not looking to do anything drastic, I am just trying to eat more healthy foods, i.e get more veg into my diet, so over the next few months will hopefully try and find some new recipes that are great for bulk cooking.

 

In terms of fitness, I don't have access to a gym so I focus mainly on bodyweight exercises. My aim is to get stronger and fitter, so weight loss is generally just a side effect for me. I had major problems with my knees before I joined nerdfitness. I had been see multiple people about what might be wrong with them, was given a load of exercises to do, nothing really worked till I started doing bodyweight exercises like squats and the pain in my knees became less and less to the point where they rarely hurt now!

 

So I attempted my first challenge with the Rangers over the last six weeks and failed on the exercise and diet part as my main focus was on the life part. I had my final year exams in the last three weeks of the challenge and all my effort went into them that my diet and fitness suffered. Now that I have finished my exams (and university which is incredibly scary) my focus is on getting back into a fitness/diet routine. 

 

I'm  going to step out of my comfort zone when it comes to fitness and join my mum and little sister at a circuit training exercise class they go too. I've always found it hard to join classes as I always think I'm going to mess up or be completely unfit compared to everyone else. I think going with family will help the confidence more than if I went myself. I've also restarted the No Soda challenge...I managed to go about 30 days without soda a couple of months back and felt so much lighter and less depressed when I wasn't drinking it, but with stress of uni the habit crept back.

 

I'm also going to focus on doing the things that scare me. For example driving. I have a license but haven't driven in three years due to being at uni. I didn't like driving much before and my feelings about it have not got much better. I am going to book some refresher lessons and a motorway lesson and hopefully I'll start to feel less anxious about driving. There's also job hunting, now that I have finished uni - I am considered a graduate, so will need a job. I'm going to put myself forward for all kinds of jobs and try not to be too picky about where I apply. 

 

Anyway that's a lot of rambling for the first post, but it's nice to have it all written down somewhere. 

[GillyNomad]

So on wednesday I went to the circuit class with my mum and little sister and it was really good. Similar things to what I do normally but in a more disciplined way. The instructor was really good and seemed really knowledgable. She said my squat was really good and deep and I need to work on how I plank as apparently my back curves up slightly which is a bad thing. i felt really good when I left, so will definitely go back again on Monday. 

 

I also have to say....Push Ups are my nightmare exercise, I swear I am getting worse at them. It kinda sucks to be honest. 

 

I'm doing ok on the No Soda, although my cravings can be quite bad, 3 days down though. I've also continued with Running, I'm working on getting my mile under 10 minutes. I believe I am on 11 minutes 38 at the moment so bit of work to do. I've planned to run three times a week until the next challenge ends....which I believe gives me about 24 runs, this way I have numbers to motivate me. 

 

I booked my refresher and motorway lessons for driving so no backing out now. Cost me an arm and a leg but it's something that has to be done. Found a job I might be interested in so need to do a bit more research into it and then apply. 

[ShadowLion]

Looking good! You're doing great with the no soda and the running.

 

Hang in there on the pushups. They are hard, but they will get better. They just take some time and patience.  The circuit class sounds like a good one.

 

Will you be with the Rangers again this coming challenge? Hope so - Rangers rock!

[GillyNomad]

Had a slight hiccup in the No Soda challenge. I ended up having two cans of coke today...it's really hard when they are in the fridge to avoid them. My mum brought coke especially for me coming back home. I went out into the garage today and discovered another 8 cans and two bottles! Hopefully they will stay in the garage where I can't see them. Anyway tomorrow is a new day, and I won't do two in a row. (Funny thing is I didn't even really enjoy them, it's just because I'm used to drinking it that I caved...twice).

 

 

Will you be with the Rangers again this coming challenge? Hope so - Rangers rock!

 

 

I will be joining the Rangers again for the next challenge or Phase 2 of my Road to Graduation!!!

[ShadowLion]

Just keep at the soda challenge - you can do it! It sometimes takes a few tries to get past cravings and work out where the pitfalls are.

 

Awesome on being in the Rangers again! I'll be seeing you on the thread.

[GillyNomad]

Past couple of days have been good. I've not had any soda, and when we went out for dinner, I had apple juice instead of coke, which is a real achievement! Normally that's when I cave the most, as it's my routine. So happy about that. 

 

Circuit training classes is going well. I'm using the Braveheart technique on some days when I really don't want to go and work out. I do that with running too. Once I'm changed I have to go running. 

 

I have discovered I've been doing press/push ups wrong, so I've now corrected my technique and we shall see how it goes

[GillyNomad]

Taken from my Challenge log: 

 

So doing well on the No Soda, on a 7 day streak so far....feeling so much better for it too, the cravings are becoming less...still hard when I am out and about but I am slowly getting there. 

 

Went for my run this afternoon in the glorious sunshine with my new armband. I can actually feel myself getting fitter and it is amazing. I am currently on 11:07 for one mile, so I've cut it down by just over 45 seconds in less than three weeks, (I am following C25K so that's probably why, but I still feel a lot fitter/comfortable running than I did three weeks ago).

 

 

Doing well on the driving front too, got my motorway lessons booked for next week. Going to drive into the bigger city near where I live tomorrow which means parking in the multi-story car park. Little nervous but hopefully it will go ok. 

 

Not started on the job front yet although I have seen a company I will send my CV too. That all begins on Monday. 

[GillyNomad]

From yesterday's challenge blog 

 

 

Really did not want to go for a run today...at all, but then found myself in my room just browsing the internet and not doing anything useful. I realised in the time I had spent being on the internet aimlessly I could have already done my run. So I got dressed and dragged myself outside. It was a decent run. I followed the C25K again and in that time (W2D3) I ran (occasional walks) 1.46 miles and my mile time is now down to 10:50. 

 

I'm really happy that I forced myself outside to run now. 

 

Today's challenge blog

 

Circuit training was pretty awful today. i finished it but I felt so tired the whole way round. I'm finding it quite difficult doing the training at 7:30pm. I think I exercise better earlier in the day. 

 

I'm finding I'm still snacking, and even after I finish lunch I'm still hungry which probably means I'm not eating enough at lunch. I really need to look into some easy and healthy lunchtime meals that I can have. 

 

did some job hunting today. It is so difficult because I don't really know what I want to do. Just have to keep searching I guess. Although there is one job I've found so tomorrows task is to write my cover letter and move some things in my cv around so it's more appropriate for the job. 

 

Drove into the city at the weekend and it went really well (although I did stall 3 times). Not a fan of parking though. I get a little panicky.

 

Also bought my dad his fathers day/birthday gift (it was expensive so it's a part birthday gift in a few months too). I think he's really going to like it. I'll post what it is here after sunday incase he finds his way onto the forums to check out why I keep talking about nerdfitness. 

[GillyNomad]

almost finished my cover letter for the company I'm contacting about working there. There's a little bit at the start where I'm struggling with my words though so I'll get my parents to look at that. My CV is up to date now too. 

[GillyNomad]

Skipped the circuit training tonight as my neck is a bit painful from mondays session and I have a sore quad....not quite sure what the problem is with my quad but I get pain when I walk too fast. (Although I can run which makes me think it is a stride thing. My stride is bigger when I walk so I think it pulls it more causing the pain). I've done some stretches and it feels a lot better but didn't want to risk it tonight. 

[GillyNomad]

taken from today's challenge log

 

 

edited around 900 words today. Need to find a place where I can post it so people can give me advice etc. 

 

Everything that I had to take out of my cupboard for the plumbers is now back in there so thats created a lot of space. 

 

My exercises today were Squats, Push Ups and Planks. Simple but it allows me to see how I've improved. 

 

Squats - 30/35/30

Push Ups - 10/10/10

Plank - 1min/45 secs/1 min

 

I've never managed that many squats before so I'm quite happy. Push Ups, still hate them, but managed three sets of 10 so fairly happy. Doing ok with planks, but the lack of exercise when doing exams has meant I have decreased in time slightly.