This will be my 61-day challenge log. I need to go register on the thread before time runs out (past "1200" I have no clue how military time translates into clock hours for the rest of us, lol). I'll be back with my details shortly!
Ok, here we go.
Fitness Goals
I have been on and off the wagon for the last few months, so my PRIMARY goal is to get back to a consistent approach to both strength and cardio. To me, consistent = at least five days a week. My ULTIMATE goal is to spread the following out over the course of a week:
4 strength sessions/week
3 cardio sessions/week (2 interval, 1 steady state)
1 rest day only
I'm more interested in gaining muscle than losing weight at this point, but some loss in body fat will make me happy. My scale currently ranges between 125 and 127. I'd rather hover a little lower.
Nutritional Goals
Ok, I've read Precision Nutrition from cover to cover. I bought a juicer. I maintain a constant internal dialogue about what I *should* be doing. But do I do it? Um, no. So that will change.
My BIGGER goal, however, is to stop grazing like a cow. The junk has got to go, period. I will allow myself the occasional ice cream (no sense in turning oneself into a potential axe murderer), but everything else is on the "not for the next 61 days" list.
Personal Goals
First, I've been procrastinating on a certification that I'd really like to achieve for work. Ultimately I'll have to take 5 exams to achieve the certification, so for the purposes of this challenge I'd like to be ready, after the 60 days, to take the first exam.
Second, I'm something of a book wh*re, but lately I've been going for fluffy, nonsensical, ultimately irritating fiction. I'm sure it's easier out at the pool BUT for every two fiction novels I pick up, I am going to require myself to read Something Serious. This will be either non-fiction (preferably a biography) or fiction that is critically acclaimed.
Third (ok, so I'm ambitious), I want to spend more quality time with my kids. So, my goal is, one evening a week, for the three of us to do something out of the house, away from the TV and computer. There's an awesome four-mile trail in the local area, so perhaps I will start by forcing them to walk it with me. At the very least, I'd like us to be doing something that requires physical movement or conversation.
My teenager will love that. mwahahahaha
Competition Goal
Here is where I'm clueless. I'm going to have to do some research and add this later.
Military time is hospital time for me. You were in with plenty of time to spare. I actually started off ending the challenge tonight June 1 at 11:59 pm CST because I knew there would be some people with different time zones, etc so I gave that little extra time from the start. No worries. Participation will be locked out tonight though.
Well, Good luck. I wish you the best in your Challenge endeavors and I look forward to working with you.
Newman
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"Branch chainz, bro. Leucine in the sky with diamonds." - Alan Aragon
Hey Maria, welcome to the challenge! Your goals look great and you will do just fine achieving them. I hear you about the food thing. But, for me it's usually just lack of planning. Something I'm hoping this challenge will help me with.
Best of luck, you'll do great!
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On Krista mistressing the chin-up, "It's amazing", said one gym source, "considering that for months she just hung there like a dead fish."
Have fun with your kids! That's part of my personal goals as well. I mean, when you're the mom, you're with them constantly, but it is too easy to just let everyone do their own thing. We've found some great biking trails that we take our kids on. They're 1st & 3rd graders. They bike, we rollerblade and it takes about the same amount of time for both of us. We usually ride along the Mississippi River on this great trail with historical markers so we learn a little too.
Marie, we are close enough geographically that we could find something to do together if you are willing to commute a little bit. We'll have to chat off-line.
Deb, great idea! Let me know if you find anything that looks doable. I was hoping for a walk/run type race since... well, you know, I don't run. Or at least, I never have!
Marie, welcome!! Your goals look great ... I'm a reader too and always was in a rut with a particular genre ... but the ladies in my neighborhood formed a book club and we have read some GREAT stuff ... I just finished The Time Travelers Wife which was excellent ... I can't stop thinking about it! We also recently read The Kite Runner and I loved that too ... and Snowflower and the Secret Fan is another great one! We can dish books anytime!!
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Life's a Journey ... Enjoy the Ride!
Victoria, LOL - that's perfectly ok. *this time* J/K! Actually, that happens all the time so it's no biggie. Don't mind if I call you Victor, though... mwhahaha.
Gosh, I drank too much coffee this afternoon.
Julie, I keep picking both of those books up and putting them back down. I don't know why. I definitely need to give them a shot. I just got Family Portraits from the library - it's an old Sue Miller, but she is really awesome. Have you read The Good Mother? It's very disturbing (if you're a parent) but gripping. I couldn't put it down!
Victoria, LOL - that's perfectly ok. *this time* J/K! Actually, that happens all the time so it's no biggie. Don't mind if I call you Victor, though... mwhahaha.
Very funny!
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On Krista mistressing the chin-up, "It's amazing", said one gym source, "considering that for months she just hung there like a dead fish."
I guess today is official day 1 of the challenge? I'm not sure... I guess I should ask.
At any rate, being the goddess of my own domain, *I* am considering it so. I was tempted to blow off my workout BUT I knew I'd have to face an empty log, so...
I just finished NROL fat loss 1-A. I am really more interested in gaining muscle BUT looking through the NROL book, I am fairly certain I need to work my way up to some of those programs. Particularly since I thought I was gonna hurl by the time I got to the last set of this one. The workout, for those unfamiliar, looks like this:
My last set of lunges were just walking lunges as my form was really suffering. I opted to stay at the higher weight and modify the move instead.
Afterwards I was going to do cardio, but like I said - I wouldn't have lasted long! I jumped in the pool and did six laps (but we're not olympic sized or anything) and then floated around for a while with the dog.
NG: Not bad today, but not great, either. I DID manage to forgego all of the junk. *eh hem* Easier because I have stopped buying stuff I like. However, most of my cals were carbs (complex carbs, but still). Definitely not enough protein. But I'm on the right track.
PG: I read half a chapter of the text. I'm studying for an insurance certification. The material is so dry I feel dehydrated afterwards!
Personal Goals
First, I've been procrastinating on a certification that I'd really like to achieve for work. Ultimately I'll have to take 5 exams to achieve the certification, so for the purposes of this challenge I'd like to be ready, after the 60 days, to take the first exam.
Marie
Hello Marie,
5 exams? Sounds like a Microsoft certification to me or perhaps Cisco? Do I dare hope there are other computer geeks like me out there who actually work out?
Good luck!
Jim~
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The things we want or value the most may not be found under a blanket of warmth and security, but out there, in the cold. ~MMMM~
5 exams? Sounds like a Microsoft certification to me or perhaps Cisco? Do I dare hope there are other computer geeks like me out there who actually work out?
Hi, Jim!
Well, I'm geeky, too, but my field is insurance (technology education in insurance... so I'm obscure, lol). Are you a networking guy???
Day 2: Cathe Friedrich KP&C - kickbox combos and abs only (approx 30 minutes)
I really thought this premix was longer, so I was a little disappointed when it was done. HOWEVER, clearly not disappointed enough to revisit it at the moment. I might break out my barre and do some barre work in a bit, though. Just to feel a little more accomplished. Anyway, this qualified as my steady state w/o of the week.
Marie, I haven't read either of those ... my group doesn't like upsetting books (they didn't want to read Midwives or My Sister's Keeper) which is okay with me as a parent of two young daughters!! I had a hard time wanting to read The Kite Runner too ... but it is easily the best book I've read in a long time ...
We have another thing in common ... I love Cathe too ... she is seriously intense and yet fun too ... I aspire to her body!!
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Life's a Journey ... Enjoy the Ride!
FG: Yesterday was my rest day for the week. Today's workout was NROL FL 1-B. I did much better with this workout this time around; last time I really bonked on the final supersets and ended up not getting anywhere near 15 reps per set. I think that's part of what's been so hard for me with the FL workouts; I don't want to roll back on the weight, and yet 15 reps is really pushing it. So I had to accept rolling back on a couple of things, but I continued on in others. Deadlifts, for example, are a good lift for me, still. Bulgarian split squats - not so much!
My friend Deb (JerseyGirl) and I are looking for a competition to do together for the challenge, because we live within a 3-hour range of each other. I think that will be super cool and fun!
NG: I am doing pretty well on the eating. Not perfect and still too heavy on the carbs BUT I have mostly avoided any snacking. I did eat some popcorn last night, but I limited myself to a handful. Go me!
Goddess in Training
Or at least, I never have! 
Linear Mode
